Dictionary of Hosta  Terms;  This list has been put together to help you more clearly understand the diagram shown on page 5 of this newsletter.

This information was copied from the extensive  Dictionary of Hosta Terms listed on the website of the American Hosta Society.   ( Http://www.hosta.org/About_Hosta/dictionary_of_hosta_terms.htm)



Anther:              The upper part of the stamen, male flower par. In a capsule-like structure that splits to
                            release yellow pollen.

Corolla:             (in hosta) the collective set of petals and sepals, fused into tepals; normally appearing
                           as two sets of three.

Filament:            A long thin structure that holds the anther.

Flower Stem:     The main stem of the inflorescence.

Hybrid:               A seedling from two distinct parents.  (result of  pollination)

Inflorescence:     The flowering part of a hosta including the raceme, peduncle, and flower.

Ovary:                 The basal portion of the pistil where eggs are contained.

Pedicel:               The structure attaching an individual flower to the flower stem.

Pistil:                   The female part of the flower consisting of style, stigma and ovary.

Pollen:                 The male gamates.

Pollination:         The transfer of pollen to a receptive stigma.

Scape:                  (in hosta) the stem bearing the complete set of flowers for a single division.

Stamen:               The male flower parts consisting of the filament and the anther, usually six per
                              flower.

Style:                    The long tube connecting the stigma with the ovary.

   

Chuck Finke has put together detailed information explaining the process of hybridization.  You might want to put this newsletter in safe keeping for future reference should you decide to take your chances with producing a hybrid that you can call your own.  This coming hosta season walk through your garden to determine what two cultivars you would like to choose for the process. Cross pollinating the flowers is relatively easy.  Saving the seeds from these flowers, planting and germinating the resultant seeds is another process----- the process that will determine whether or not you were successful in
coming up with a new cultivar.

Have fun!  It's a great challenge!