Thanks Aaron!

Claude
www.picturetrail.com/phalguy

"Aaron Hicks" wrote in message
...
|
| The term "mericlone" is applied to clonal propagules derived from
| the meristematic tissue of sympodial orchids. In other words, plants that
| are cloned from orchids that "spread" (cattleyas, cymbidiums,
| odontoglossums, etc.) are called "mericlones." Used to be that people
| considered mericlones to be virus-free; while it is generally true that
| viruses MAY be eliminated using specific techniques on top of the usual
| mericloning process, these techniques are rarely employed due to the
| additional expense. It is generally easier to simply test parent plants
| for viruses before cloning the bajeezus out of them.
|
| Plants that are "stem propagated" or are "stem props" are derived
| through a process by which the parent plant has the "stem" (not the proper
| term- used here, it is the inflorescence) treated so that it produces
| propagules in sterile culture. In principle, it is similar to the
| induction of keikis using hormones, except that it is carried out in
| sterile culture. A little more hormonal push-and-pull, and additional
| propagules can be wheedled out of a single bit of tissue.
|
| Stem props are used to produce relatively inexpensive clones of
| popular phals. Aside from Phalaenopsis and Doritis, I don't know which
| other genera may be propagated in this manner. Phals are certainly by far
| and away the most popular.
|
| -AJHicks
| Chandler, AZ
|
| E-mail address in the header doesn't work. Send no mail there.
|
|