Fertilization/reproduction of Milkweed - can it self-fertilize?

8 years ago

Hi,

Anyone familiar with the details of fertilization/reproduction of Asclepias (specifically interested in Calotropis procera)?

Can a single plant self-fertilize with no intervention? Is pollen from another plant needed? Are pollinating insects required?

For about three years, have been growing Calotropis procera indoors under lights all year round, keeping them small and propagating from cuttings to bring outside for the summer (annual in my zone). Never saw any flowers - indoors or outside. But just noticed one of my small plants (in a very tiny pot) is quite obviously pumping out some sort of mini inflorescence at the top.

Too early to move outside and too early for pollinating insects, so I am curious if it can self-pollinate - like tomato flowers.

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Comments (4)

acg85
Original Author
8 years ago
Too late to edit post. Anyway, had time to do a deeper web-search and biologically, milkweed fertilization seems pretty involved - nothing like the simple loose pollen "powder" of a tomato. I see no way for self-pollination. Pretty interesting mechanism though (if a bit violent). - OP
William Kelly
8 years ago
Whenever I plant any Asclepias/gomphocarpus/calotropis, I plant 3 to 4 of the same species near each other. The only species I know that can self pollinate are A. incarnata, and A. curassavica.
acg85 thanked William Kelly
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jy20thcent_5a
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Thanks for the info! Milkweed fertilization does look interesting. There are videos online. Photo please?
acg85
Original Author
8 years ago
> I plant 3 to 4 of the same species near each other

Sounds like a good idea. And yes once had only a single container A. curassavica outdoors in summer with no others in sight. And it did develop seed pods. So I assumed there is no self-incompatibility.

> Photo please?

Could the very small yellowish "points" seen below each vertex of the central pentagon in the open flower be pollinia showing from the embedded pollinarium?