Trispadia speciosissima
Trispadia speciosissima is an example of a heterogenetic plant, or a plant which is a fusion of three plants, each with a distinctively different set of chromosomes. These plants grow as nonsexual pseudo-gametophytes until they encounter others of their genus whose genetic constitution differs enough to allow for the fusion process to complete. Genetic variance in Trispadia occurs as a result of mutations over the growth cycle of the plant. Once each plant has mutated to a sufficient degree, they become able to fuse with neighboring diversified specimens. Three of these fusing together enables the production of a fertile tripartite inflorescence.
The nature of morphological development in Trispadia leads to the formation of unique colonies.
| In the Lab | In the Field | The Species | Fruiting | The Hybrids |