Nectar (orange-red) pools around ovary on a bowl-shaped ring of (presumably staminal) tissue. (Leiva G. 3155, photo by Segundo Leiva G.)	Flower bud (upper left), open flower in pistillate phase (lower left), open flower in hermaphroditic phase (lower right), ripe fruit is very pale green (upper right). (Photo by Segundo Leiva G.)
Above: Jaltomata at center of photo and right of center. Hummingbird reapeatedly visted the flowers. Bird visible in photo under the letter H of humminbird. We determined, by remaining at the site and making observations, that the only flowers that had nectar were those that were not found by the hummingbirds, others were lacking nectar because the birds were repeatedly visiting and removing nectar by vising as many flowes as they could find. Leiva 3658 = Mione 758, 23 March 2007. Photo by Tom Mione.	Habitat (Photo by Segundo Leiva G., March 2007)
Flower, showing that the nectar pools not on the corolla but on tissue formed by fused bases of the stamens (Photo by Tom Mione in Peru, 758)	Above: bowl-shaped ring of tissue formed by the base of the androecium (flower stored in ethanol, photo by Thomas Mione in Connecticut with dissecting scope, Leiva 3154).
Flower in side view (photo by Segundo Leiva G.)	Leaves (photo by Segundo Leiva G.)
	Above-ground parts die during dry season. Rains come in December January and March (Segundo Leiva, personal communication). Note ruler (probably 12 cm long) in photo. Photographed 9 June 2005   (photo by Thomas Mione, 711)

Since about 2005 Segundo Leiva has been of the opinion that this species should be segretated into a new genus. The species shown on this page, Jaltomata aspera, and an undescribed species from southern Peru all share a fantastic bowl-like structure (formed by the bases of the stamens) on which nectar pools, and stigma not at all expanded with style tapering to a point, berries very pale green at maturity, and ripe fruit hidden in side view by the calyx. We are not sure if all three of these species share the herbaceous habit.

Specimens Examined: all Peru, Department La Libertad, province Otuzco:

Research in Connecticut, summer 2008, plants of accession Mione 758:

Question 1. Are the flowers protogynous? The first thing I noticed, when this species began to bloom, is that flowers look protogynous because the anthers remain undehisced for one day (phase 1) after the flower opens. To test whether or not the flowers are protogynous (vs just look protogynous) we are manually self-pollinating flowers during phase 1, emasculating at the time of pollination, pollen from the same plant is being applied, and waiting to see if fruit is set. (These tags are labeled A, B, C....)

Question 2. Do unmanipulated flowers set fruit in the absence of pollinators? To answer this question we are using the flowers that were tagged to make observations on floral phenology. After the flower is done, the tag will remain. These tags are labeled 1, 2, 3...... First notes on answer to this question: after the flower has been open for days the corolla changes color to brownish-green/greenish-brown and the flower closes (pinches in) in a manner that may bring the anthers into contact with the stigma (observation of 8 Aug 08). If this is happening, the flowers are exhibiting delayed self-pollination.

Question 3. Does a plant synchronize the flowers, so that at any one time the flowers are in phase 1 or phase 2 (phase 2 = anthers dehisced and stigma receptive)?
Answer: No, flowers of both phases can be seen on one plant at any time (except for the first day of the first flower--at this time only phase 1 is present on the whole plant and the plant is an obligate outcrosser).

Question 4. Is this species SC or SI? To answer this question we are seeing if flowers from question 1 set fruit. Note that to answer question one, pollinations are being done with pollen from the same plant.

Question 5. How much nectar does a flower have at any one time (if nobody/ no pollinator has removed nectar before). Measurements are being made separately for phases 1 and 2, and the time of day is being recorded. Answer: Hermaphroditic phase (phase 2) flowers have 44.5 and 46 microliters (10 Aug 2008, n = 2 flowers). Nectar sucked from microcapillary pipets tastes sweet.

Question 6. Do flowers refill if nectar is removed? Measurements are being made separately for phases 1 and 2, and the time of day is being recorded.

Question 7. What is the sugar concentration of the nectar, as estimated with a refractometer? Measurements are being made separately for phases 1 and 2, and the time of day is being recorded.

Floral Phenology Questions. How long does a flower last (not visited by pollinators)? How long is phase 1(anthers undehisced)? What color is nectar when it first appears? Does the nectar change color while the flower is open? Do flowers close at night? To answer these we are tagging flowers and making observations several times a day.

Floral Phenology Notes

Materials and Methods: Plants from Mione, Leiva G. & Yacher 758 were grown in pro-mix, with an unmeasured amount of slow release fertilizer added at each repotting. One plant of two was given to the greenhouse at the University of Connecticut in July of 2008. The second plant was grown on a window sill of an air-conditioned building until August, when it was moved outdoors. When floral phenology observations were made, the time was recorded to the nearest hour.

Top leaf shows abaxial (bottom) face. Bottom leaf shows adaxial (top) face. Mione et al. 758, from seeds collected in Peru, grown on a window sill at Central Connecticut State University, scanned August 2008.	Top leaf shows adaxial (top) face. Bottom leaf shows abaxial (bottom) face. Mione et al. 758, from seeds collected in Peru, grown on a window sill at Central Connecticut State University, scanned August 2008.