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Dipsacus fullonum
Good morning folks
I've just found the group and enjoyed browsing around the helpful (& occasionally not so helpful:-) comments & discussions. I'm planning my undergraduate dissertation at the moment and would appreciate any thoughts, input and suggestions that anyone might be able to make. I plan to measure the effects of leaf axil pools on reproductive fitness in Dipsacus fullonum, the Wild Teasel, by measuring pollen & seed production in 3 groups - one with regularly topped-up leaf axils, one with drained axils and a control. Whilst the old question of whether there is any degree of carnivoury in D fullonum is interesting, I want to try going back a step to see if I can measure any increase in fitness based just on the presence of axil pools without trying (at this stage) to pin down a specific mechanism. There are a few specific questions which have arisen from my reading about Dipsacus. 1. Is there a clear difference between D fullonum and D sylvestris. Many US studies refer to D sylvestris and I would expect 2 different latin names to be different species but I have seen it suggested that they are synonyms for 1 species. (should I expect long diatribes on what constitutes a species here? I will read them with interest without even TRYING to add anything useful!) 2. Does anyone have any experience of dispersal in D fullonum? Particularly could the seeds survive a trip through the gut of a finch? Everything I've read seems to suggest the it simply drops seeds locally, but as it is a coloniser of disturbed ground this method od dispersal seems inadequate. I may have to spend too much time this autumn copying Darwin & trying to germinate bird shit!! I guess if it's good enough for Darwin... I wonder whether D fullonum could be "hitching a ride" on something like a thistle by being excreted on disturbed ground which the thistle seed has floated to by a bird which is eating the seeds of both plants. This is very speculative, but would be a nice mechanism if it could be seen in action! 3. Any comments on where people are finding teasels growing (either as isolated plants or clumps) would be very helpful, as would any information on what might limit teasel distribution and growth. Around here (Northampton, UK) where Hemlock (Conium maculatum) grows well it clearly seems to outcompete the Teasels, but close by there may be ground where the Hemlock does poorly and the teasels seem to be growing well. 4. Whilst I said that I'm not looking at carnivoury; any tales of large or unusual organisms found in Tease axils would be very interesting. Here they seem to particularly enjoy drowning molluscs. The smell of a teasel with 4 or 5 decaying molluscs on board is really beyond compare! I appreciate that I am asking a lot but I am becoming somewhat obsessed by this fascinating plant and any info would be very warmly received. Many many thanks Ian Wilson |