Our hardy Hibiscus species as ornamentals
As a common plant name, "Hibiscus" is more often applied to the showy tropical sorts, especially Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L., than to other species of the genus. There is, however, another equally showy group, the hardy herbaceous mallows, native mostly to the Eastern United States. This group includes Hibiscus moscheutos L., H. militaris Cav., H. coccineus (Medicus) Walter, H. grandiflorus Michx., H. lasiocarpus Cav., and their many garden hybrids. The various species in this group are commonly called Rose Mallows. They grow naturally in marshy areas of the Atlantic States from southern New England to Florida, also inland along rivers and lakes. Isolated populations appear in areas such as the Sacramento River Valley of California. The tall vigorous growth of Rose Mallow plants plus the abundantly produced, large, gaily colored flowers makes them a conspicuous and attractive feature of the vegetation. Hibiscus moscheutos most often occurs in almost pure stands along tidal rivers of the mid-Atlantic states. During the peak of flowering, late July to mid-August, these stands are a striking sight to behold. In spite of the large fleshy roots, Rose Mallow plants withstand transplanting easily even when in full flower. They are also readily groxvn from seed and will flower the first season if sown early. Unlike their woody tropical relatives, the Rose Mallows are herbaceous perennials, and the plants become somewhat coarse by the end of the growing season. They also lack the yellow and orange flower colors so prominent in many Hibiscus rosa-sinensis clones. Nevertheless, the various species have been cultivated as ornamentals in the United States since Colonial times. As cultivated plants they perform best when grown in good garden soil with moderate amounts of water.
The new amphidiploid plant named“Momiji-Fuyo” (Hibiscus muta-coccineus KUWADA), obtained from the progeny of H. mutabilis × H. coccineus
(1) The author bred up a new amphidiploid plant at the progeny of the cross between“Fuyo” (H. mutabilis) (2n=92) and“Momiji-Aoi”(H. coccineus) (2n=38).(2)The main characteristics of this new amphidiploid plant named“Momiji-Fuyo”were as follows:This amphidiploid plant showed heterosis. The stem resembled H. mutabilis which are shrublike. The color of stem, petiole and vein were intermediate of the parents. The flower color was beautiful like H. coccineus. The petal size and flower size across were larger than the parents. The flowering period was longer than the parents, about 110 days. The calyx was 5-toothed like the parents. The number of bracteole was intermediate of the parents.The pollen fertility was higher and the size of the pollen grains was larger than the parents. The seed number per pod was intermediate of the parents. The seed shape was similar H. mutabilis. The seeds had many hairs on their surface like H. mutabilis, but their color was darker than H. mutabilis and their size was larger than H. mutabilis in length, width and thickness.(3) In these amphidiploid plants, the chromosome configuration at MI of PMCs showed 65II with no irregularities. The chromosome number in root tips was 2n=130.(4) The author would like to propose that these new amphidiploid plants be given the Japanese name “Momiji-Fuyo”and scientific name H. muta-coccineus KUWADA.
Pig Vocalizations Under Selected Husbandry Practices
Acoustical characteristics of vocalizations of sows, piglets, and nursery pigs under selected husbandry practices were analyzed with a digital signal processing system. The duration (D) and major energy-resonance frequency (P) for each call were determined as follows: a) processing of piglets (D = 0.81 s and f* = 3 700 Hz); b) food anticipation of breeding-gest ation sows (2.50 s and 3 000 Hz); c) isolation of piglet (0.34 s and 500, 3 500 Hz); d) startling of nursery pigs (0.29 s and 900 Hz); e) sows in heat (3.07 s and 1 375 Hz); f) farrowing (0.10 s and 3 000 Hz); g) sow nursing (0.15 s and 1 000 Hz); and h) mate greeting of sow (0.13 s and 1 000 Hz). Calls a) to d) are responses to human generated stressors, and calls e) through h) responses to social and physiological states of the pigs. Thus, vocalizations can be segmented for different pig production situations.