Ae Ae Seeds?

[imdocrob]

Does anyone know if you can buy Ae Ae seeds? I don't know if it is possible with this species that is why I am asking you experts. Thanks, Rob

[JoeReal]

Don't even think about it. It will always be bogus, no matter who you buy it from, this was discussed extensively in this forum. Here' the recent one:

ae ae seeds on ebay for real?

[MediaHound]

Joe is right.
No seeds, no tissue cultures.
Must be a pup cut from a mother plant.

[D'Andra]

I'm curious. If you can get explants, aren't they a clone? how is it then, that the plants would be all green? I wonder if they changed with time. Has anyone here tried to TC this?

[imdocrob]

Thanks guys, one more question. Do these plants rarely pup? I mean what make it sooooo hard to get one? I would think that there are enough around that if they pup on a regular basis then there should be more of them. I also am curious as was noted above, what about TC this species? Why can't it be done? Genetically speaking it doesn't seem to require cross hybridation or anything does it?
Thanks, Rob

[MediaHound]

Here's another thread worth reading about the AeAe, it was one of the first - looking back, it's interesting reading.
Ae-ae
Terry quoted some prices on the AeAe that he had seen lately (back then) and compared them to real estate to the complainers. He predicted that they would be going up in value, that those prices were good. Well, sure enough, a decent sized pup recenly closed on ebay for over $300, delivered. Albeit, they can still be found for around $150 or so for the smaller pups.

[Zac in NC]

Ae Ae is a chimera and chimeras are hard to TC, at least this is my understanding. As a Chimera, it has two different genetic lines in one plant. The Variegated tissue is mutated from the original green and it has slightly different DNA. It can be Tissue Cultured, but the plants come out green and not variegated, as the mutation doesn't cross over into the explants and yes they still are a clone of the original green which mutated and sent out the first variegated pup. It is expensive because it has to be propagated by division( which is slower), and there is a huge demand for it, so the market supports the price being so high. This is how I interpret what I have heard. Gabe could add more and correct if some is wrong.

Zac

[imdocrob]

Well Zac, from what you are telling me it sounds like the varigated portion of the plant must be a recessive gene. Interesting, that would mean that not every pup that it produces should be varigated then as well. I just saw one about 15" tall sold on ebay for around $125.00. Since this plant is originally from Hawaii does anyone know if the plant is more common there thus easier to obtain and maybe less expensive?