My name is Thorin Siglin and I am a senior at Dolores High School in Colorado. This year I chose to study the sexual preferences of dioecious flowering plants for an independant science study. I know of many dioecious plants but am looking for a specific plant that has to meet certain criteria which include:
- Fast Growing
- Early/Fast flowering (To study gender specificity)
- Species suitable for indoor growth
- Something common and easy to get a hold of either by
a- propogation from seed
b- pre-grown, vegetatative stage
-optionally, would like a plant that also displays dimorphism (hermaphrodite).
Most of your specs look pretty easy to meet. The one that may be the most challenging is early/fast flowering. Here's a link to a dioecious plant list:
I noticed in the UBC site where you were considering Amaranthus palmeri. Sounds like an interesting choice, and, since it's an annual, it will hopefully meet your fast flowering requirement. The research about how glyphosate resistance is being increasingly spread because of the dioecious nature of this species might also add interest.
I'd post to the Seed Exchange Forum. I bet someone there might be able to help obtain seed. You might also check in the Farm Life Forum. I've never checked that forum out, but I'd imagine lots of farmers with Carelessweed/Palmer Amaranth/Pigweed problems there.
BTW, the correct scientific name is Amaranthus palmeri.
Germination should be a breeze. Amaranthus palmeri germinates quickly and at a high rate. Varying temperatures increase rates even further. Details are readily available online if you google 'Amaranthus palmeri germination'.
