Jaltomata spooneri Mione
Mexico
page updated September 2009  
Link to Jaltomata homepage The information on this page may be cited as a communication with
professor Thomas Mione, Central Connecticut State University,
Biology Department, Copernicus Hall, 1615 Stanley Street, New Britain, CT 06050-4010.
Link to Jaltomata of Mexico and Central America
Flower at center shows pistillate phase (anthers undehisced); flower at lower left shows what this flower will look like 24 hours later, the hermaphroditic phase. Link to floral phenology data.
Back of flower showing calyx. Each sepal (in cross section) is recurved

Flowers in hermaphroditic phase, and flower buds

Ripe berry. Each sepal continues to be recurved both in cross section and away from fruit. Unripe berries upper right.
Younger stems of J. spooneri are green or purple.
Plant grown in a pot in Connecticut from seed of the type collection.
Photo by Mione.
Only the oldest / widest stems of J. spooneri are brown (the stem on the right was harvested to make the photo of a stem cross section shown lower on this page). Note the purple (relatively new) stem on the left originating from ground level. Plant grown in a pot in Connecticut from seed of the type collection. Photo by Mione.

Habit & Height  
Young Branches  
Older Branches  
Leaf Size  
Leaf Shape  
Leaves  
Flowers Per Inflorescence  
Peduncle  
Pedicel  
Calyx at Flowering  
Corolla shape including lobes/lobules, and size  
Corolla lobes/lobules  
Corolla color and hairs  
Stamens  
Anther length & color  
Pollen Grains  
Stigma  
Disk around ovary  
Style length  
Ovules per ovary  
Nectar clear, droplets form at base of corolla, looks like it may come from between each pair of stamens, present during hermaphroditic phase
Herkogamy?  
Protogyny  
Fruit color (at maturity) and size  
Calyx at fruit maturity  
Infructescence  
Seeds  
Chromosome number  
Growability in Connecticut, USA Easy, outdoor temperatures in September are more favorable than those of August
How long does it take from flower to ripe fruit?  
Self-Compatible?  
Seed Germination Seeds planted 13 Feb 2009 showed first signs of germination on 22 Feb 2009, 9 days after being sown. These seeds continued to germinate through March 2009.

 

Above Two Photos: The left leaf is among the largest seen (few leaves were this large); on the lower photo the underside of the left leaf is up. The leaves on the right are the most common size encountered; darker green is the upper side of leaf and lighter green is the lower side of the leaf. These leaves were removed and then scanned while still fresh by T. Mione July 2009.
Above: J. bohsiana stem cross section near the ground, where stem was widest. The blue-green tissue on the left is secondary xylem and the pith is at the extreme left. Cork (radially oriented files of cells) at surface (extreme right). Stem 12 mm diameter and brown, the brown being the outer surface of the periderm (cork). Sectioning and photo by Sarah Saunders Oct 2009 at Central Connecticut State University.
Above: Jaltomata spooneri stem (square, 7 mm diam.) cross section. Collenchyma (lower right) is under the epidermis. Pith at top left. Note that phloem is located on both sides of xylem. Toluidine blue stain. Sectioned with razor blade by hand and photographed Aug 2009 by Mione.
Above: Jaltomata spooneri stem (pentagonal, 5 mm diam.) cross section. Collenchyma (top right) is under the epidermis; pith at lower left. Toluidine blue stain. Sectioned with razor blade by hand and photographed Aug 2009 by Mione.
Jaltomata spooneri petiole cross section. Note a single crescent shaped vascular bundle, and collenchyma under the epidermis. The projections at top left and top right are leaf blade. Cross section made by hand with razor blade August 2009, stained with toluidine blue. Plant grown outdoors in Connecticut, USA. Microscope 40X when photo was taken. Jaltomata spooneri petiole cross section, blowup of portion of vascular bundle (same microscope slide as in photo at left). Note the presence of phloem on both sides of the xylem. Microscope 100X when photo was taken.

Literature Cited