We need mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum) seeds for use in a study of seed dispersal. Seeds are not available in sufficient number in our area, so we are asking the EcoLog community for help.
We will pay 25 cents (plus postage) for every ripe seed delivered by September 15, for the first 2000 seeds we receive. If you work in Eastern forests and encounter ripe fruit (and collection is permitted), I would appreciate it if you could pick the fruit and mail the whole fruit to me. Mayapple typically has ca. 20 viable seeds per fruit (= ca. $5 per fruit). Ripe fruits are a pale yellow color, slightly smaller than a golf ball, and often droop towards the ground as the parent plant senesces (see photos at my website: http://www.ohio.edu/people/en331709/Photos.html ) IMPORTANT: The fruit need to be ripe or very near ripe. In my neck of the woods, they ripen in the latter part of July and early August. Please don't refrigerate the fruit. To mail, I suggest placing the fruit in a watertight ziploc bag (or two) inside a box. Please include a short note with the bag with the location, approximate date of collection, and reimbursement information. Label the outside of the box: "Plant material: Mayapple fruit (Podophyllum peltatum)." We will confirm receipt and send you a check upon verifying the condition and number of seeds. Please contact me if you have any questions or comments . Thank you very much! Eric Niederhauser, PhD Candidate Dept. of Environmental and Plant Biology 315 Porter Hall Ohio University Athens Ohio 45701 Email [email protected]
