Description Marah watsonii

1 description

1.1 foliage
1.2 flower
1.3 fruit
1.4 seeds , germination

description
foliage

taw manroot shares marah species non-twining stems , tendrils. unlike other manroot species, however, marah watsonii vines hairless glaucous, grey-green color. vines appear in late winter or spring in response increased rainfall, , can climb or scramble length of 6 meters (20 ft). unlike leaves of other manroot species, taw manroot leaves highly dissected , multi-lobed - reminiscent of jigsaw puzzle pieces.

vines emerge large, hard tuberous root can reach several meters in length , weigh in excess of 100 kilograms (220 lb). newly exposed tubers can seen along road-cuts or eroded slopes , have scaly, tan-colored surface. injured or decaying tubers take on golden or orange color.

flower

flowers white. flowers appear after vine emerges. flowers monoecious, is, individual flowers either male or female, both sexes can found on same plant. male flowers appear in open spikes while females flowers, distinguished swollen base, appear individually , hang down axis of male flower-spike. plant self-fertile, i.e. pollen male flowers can fertilize female flowers on same plant; pollination insects.

fruit

the fruit spherical oblong, 6–8 centimeters (2.4–3.1 in) in diameter, , suspended long, wrinkled stem. taw manroot fruit have fewer , more robust, hornlike spikes other manroot species spikes tapering smooth ridges @ bottom of fruit. plants have smooth fruit dark green veins running top bottom. unripe fruit light green, faint dark green stripes, ripening yellow. fruit begin form in spring , ripen vine dies heat , drought of late spring/early summer. fruit swells ripens until rupturing , expelling large seeds. in more moist areas, vine may stay green until after fruit have ruptured.

seeds , germination

marah watsonii seeds more spherical other manroot species. fruits hold 4 or more of these large seeds. seeds have unusual germination process. initial shoot emerges seed , grows downward earth. shoot splits, 1 part beginning swell , form tuber, while second part grows surface , becomes vine.