Figure 1. Flowers of J. darycana last one day. Note that the curved style orients the stigma (at white arrow) to the side. We can see that the corolla is adaxially densely pilosulose with erect, gland-tipped (droplet-tipped on fresh flowers) finger hairs; these are (4) 5—6 celled and 210—290 µm long. Note the drop of nectar between two stamens where the androecium meets the corolla. This species lacks a pistillate phase: anthers open and present pollen when the flower opens. We can see in the above photo that all anthers have dehisced.

Look at the calyx in the upper left corner of the above photo, the corolla-androecium dropped, and this means that the flower in the upper left corner was open yesterday or the day before this photo was taken.

Plant grown and photo by Thomas Mione, J. D. Amith et al. 1858 grown as Mione 313

left: Two inflorescences, each with one open flower.

lower left: Overhead view of flower. Shape of the base of the stamen is evident, as are corolla maculae and curved style.

lower right: One stamen was removed to reveal style and ovary of a flower. Droplets of clear nectar are evident on the corolla where the corolla meets the expanded bases of the stamens. Anthers have all dehisced.

These photos are of plants grown from seeds of the type collection Mione & Yacher 694, and were taken in Connecticut by Thomas Mione

When Jaltomata darcyana was named (described) it was known only from the seasonally dry Pacific Coast of Costa Rica where it grows at lower elevations than the other Jaltomata species of Costa Rica. Now (2014) it is also known from Nicaragua (specimen studied by Jamie Kostyun, see below), and Mexico for certain (I grew plants from seeds) .

Reproductive Biology of Jaltomata darcyana

J. darcyana has a curved style orienting the stigma to the side (J. procumbens, a more common and more commonly collected species has a straight style)

The curved style may increase the chances of delayed self-pollination after an opportunity for outcrossing.

Day 1: dehisced anthers are several mm away from the stigma (no self-pollination going on during this phase).

Then, at the end of the first and only day the corolla closes.

Two possibilities that are not mutually exclusive:

A) when the corolla closes (at the end of the first day) pollen comes in contact with the stigma,

B) when the corolla abscises (the next day) the stamens (attached to the corolla) drop with the corolla, causing pollen to come in contact with the stigma

Two collections from two different countries have been studied to date.

Prior to the recognition of J. darcyana as a distinct species collections were annotated by previous workers as J. procumbens. The latter not only has straight styles, but it also has a day of protogyny during which the flowers are functionally pistillate. J. darcyana lacks protogyny: the flowers are functionally hermaphroditic within an hour of opening.

J. darcyana is self-compatible and autogamous, based on abundant fruit production by spatially isolated plants grown for study in 2000, 2001, 2002.  Translucent nectar droplets were observed where the corolla and androecium meet (the base of the corolla). This nectar might be produced by the ovarian disk and then, taking the path of least resistance, seep through the bases of the stamens on to the corolla.

Flowers of this species last only a single day during which they are functionally hermaphroditic. The flowers of all other Jaltomata of the black-purple fruited clade studied to date last at least two days and are always pistillate for a day prior to filament elongation and anther dehiscence. In contrast, J. darcyana has lost this initial period during which the flower cannot self-pollinate. To date, this is the only Jaltomata species of the black-purple fruited clade that is not protogynous. Link to floral phenology of Jaltomata darcyana.

Cleistogamy: Plants grown in Connecticut showed self-pollination in the bud! The above bud (left) would open for the first time the day after this photo was taken (note small slit beginning to appear where corolla lobes meet). When I opened the bud (with fine forceps) I found (flower above right) that all five anthers had dehisced. Now we can see (above right) that the style curves slightly, and pollen is present on the stigma; the curve of the style seems to facilitate self-pollination. WE CAN SEE POLLEN ON THE STIGMA in the above right photo, pollen that either got there prior to my opening the bud, or during the opening of the corolla (by me). Given the curve of the style, it is entirely possible that the pollen got on the stigma (pollination took place) prior to the bud being manually opened.

In both of these photos two mm were cut from a plastic ruler, taped to the plant, and can be seen in the photos.

The combination of large somewhat coriaceous leaves, and flowers that lack protogyny, last only a single day and have curved styles, contributed to the recognition of this taxon as a distinct species.

In this description trichomes are not gland-tipped unless indicated as such. Finger hairs are uniseriate, unbranched and multicellular. Branchlet hairs have multiple termini (Seithe, 1979). Gland-tipped finger hairs (on the Jaltomata of Costa Rica found only on the adaxial face of the corolla) have an expanded terminal cell that stains densely with neutral red. As well, the multicellular head of the stalked glands (common on the abaxial faces of the perianth) also stains densely with neutral red. Pollen grain diameter was measured after staining pollen 30 minutes in "cotton blue" stain; anthers were stored in 70% ethanol prior to staining. Floral phenology was observed in the field, and on healthy plants grown for study both outdoors, and indoors under lights. Pollen grains were counted using the method of Anderson and Symon (1989).

The following information will be organized into the table above
Paratypes. COSTA RICA. Guanacaste: Santa Rosa National Park, ca. 10 50’ N., 85 37’ W., 0--320 m, 16 July 1981, Janzen 12113 (MO), and 10 50’ N., 85 35’ W., 8 Nov. 1981, Janzen 12125 (F);
Nicoya Peninsula, Cantón Nandayure, Pilas de Bejuco, Quebrada Seca, 9o 52’ 01” N., 85o 20’ 45” W., 40 m, 15 Oct. 1994, Estrada & Rodríguez 242 (CR, INB).
Puntarenas: Reserva Biológica Carara Estación Quebrada Bonita, 9 46’ N., 84 36’ W., 30 m, 26 June 1990, Bello & Rojas 2295 (CR, F, INB);

Nicoya Peninsula, Curú, pastures S of entrance road, mouth of Marianas Canyon, 50 m, 13 Sep. 1995, Sanders & Baker 17892 (F, NY).

Figure . Upper leaves of Jaltomata darcyana serve as a gutter system for water: leaves angle toward stem, directing rain toward stem and down to ground at base of plant. White ruler 18 cm long. J. D. Amith et al. 1858 grown as Mione 313. Plant grown in Connecticut by and photo by Thomas Mione, August 2011

Seed Germination year 2009, Mione & Yacher 694: Seeds planted 1 April germinated sporadically; 5 showed their first above-ground sign of germination on 6 June 2009, over 2 months after being planted! Germination was very poor indoors where there was no natural light, distilled water was used for watering, and a heat mat was used to warm cups holding seeds.
When the cup holding the seeds was placed outdoors (date not recorded, approximately end of May or first few days of June) germination was triggered. Why was germination triggered by the outdoors? Was it natural light, heat, fluctuating temperatures, drying between waterings, or some combination of these?

Seed Germination year 2010, Mione & Yacher 694: On 12th of March seeds were divided into two groups, a) seed coat partially removed with a razor blade (while observing through a dissection microscope), and b) no treatment. Both were planted on potting mix and kept moist, on a heat mat. The first above-ground signs of germination was on 30 April 2010 (group a only). As of 13 May, only two seedlings, both of group a, are present.

Seed Germination year 2011: Mione 313: Seeds planted 20 April showed the first signs of above-ground germination on 2 May (12 days); a heat mat was used under the cups containing the seeds.

Seed Germination year 2023: Mione 311: Seeds planted 27 Jan showed the first signs of above-ground germination on 7 Feb (11 days); a heat mat was used under the pot containing the potting mix and seeds.