Timing of anthesis for staminate flowers on Halophila engelmannii aschers. From Texas and Halophila decipiens ostenfeld from Panama

Abstract

Seedlings of Halophila engelmannii Aschers. from Redfish Bay, Texas, and H. decipiens Otenfeld from Toro Point, Panama, opened statminate flowers in light. Among 12 H. engelmanii seedlings and 11 H. decipiens seedlings that had been germinated in the laboratory, flowers opened during a 9-h light period extending from the commencement of ligh at 05.30 until mid-afternoon, 14.30. Unopened flowers that were monitored in subsequent light from 14.30 until the time of darkness at 20.30 did not reach anthesis until the following day. The lenght of the light period for anthesis, 9 h, correlated with the length of the night.