Re: CP digest 606 Re: VFT double traps on leaves

Paul Temple (temple_p@gmt.dec.com)
Wed, 31 Jan 96 14:25:26 +0000

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Many many years ago I reported a double headed VFT to the UK's CP
Society (CPS).

I think it was the then chairman John Sirkett who explained that this
freak or monstrosity is a result of a local change. i.e. it's not
reproducible using any form of propogation technique. It seems to occur
as a result of a sudden shock to the lef as it develops. This could be
a rather sudden temperature change, maybe an insect bite at just the
wrong time and place, etc., etc.. I don't believe anyone has ever
succeeded in deliberately creating or instigating this sort of growth.
It remains a "mystery of nature" (did I really say that - ugh!).

It does result in a leaf where you get the normal flat leaf surface
(lamina) and two actual traps, both fully operational, sitting together,
side by side, at the end of the leaf surface just where you'd expect to
find a single trap.

So, amazingly enough, you can get weird VFT's, as if they weren't already weird
enough!!!

Regards

Paul