Odd drops

21 years ago

Hi, I'm growing a coral tree (Erythrina) as a bonsai, from seed. It's 3 mos. old, about 7" high, with 10 big med. green healthy looking leaves. There are about 4 very small drops of what looks like clear water beneath a few leaf axils, but I can find no sign of any bugs at all. It's only ever been indoors, under special lights in an enclosure with orchids, bromeliads, other trops., and a few days ago I put it in another room with good humidity, to keep a little cooler, which I believe it needs, but the drops were present before I moved it. Any ideas, please? Thanks.

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Comments (6)

ilima
21 years ago
If it is Erythrina crist-galli then they are thorns and part of the leaf stucture. They will get more pronounced and thornier as the plant grows.

ilima
lucy
Original Author
21 years ago
Hi, it's not crista galli (but Smithiana), and thorns and water drops are different (last time I looked :-), but thanks.
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ilima
21 years ago
Then it could be water drops from the process of transpiration. Do they wipe off or dry up?

ilima
lucy
Original Author
21 years ago
Hi. Don't seem to be drying up too quickly, but it's been SO humid here, there have been no new drops, I wonder if it's just water, either from inside the plant for some reason, or from outside... the humidity (indoors actually). Thanks anyhow, it's probably nothing.
eken9966
21 years ago
Several of the Erythrina species are known as 'cry baby trees' because of their habit of dripping sap or nectar. This could be the cause of the odd drops you are finding. Or it could be as others have suggested, that it is just water from Guttation
lucy
Original Author
21 years ago
Eken! Thank you! I forgot about the cry-baby thing and it makes great sense. There was no 'humidity' on the leaves (or other plants), and no visible bugs, and it looks very healthy and happy, and I just couldn't imagine what was wrong... whew! This is a special tree because, not being C-Galli, the seeds were only avail. from one place for a short time, and the tree only grows on one Ecuadorian island, and it's just not likely I'll ever see it any time soon anywhere else, though they are 'known' to some databases. Anyhow, thanks a lot.