Fwd: Definition of Mitten Thumb Needed

A mitten is a deep notch in one of the segments making up the perianth of
the flower. When the effect has begun and how deeply entangled the petal
is determines the location and depth. It is usually caused by a petal
caught in another portion of the flower, usually the cup as the flower
develops and opens. More expansive and frilly cups may also be more prone
to catch. Petals can catch each other. Some varieties are prone to this
effect and in some seasons one gets many more. Rapid growth and opening
of the flower produces more mittens or notches in the perianth segments.
This happens often in sunny, warm and dry weather. Cultivars that produce
many mitten thumbs do not when grown in other areas or regions. It takes
several years to have bulbs settle into their location to know if a
particular cultivar is prone to mittens in your location. This is one
aspect of consistency in a cultivar and few flowers grow well in many
areas of the country. The Pannill award is given by the American Daffodil
Society to outstanding show cultivars. All of those flowers that receive
this award are not likely to produce flowers with mittens.

Michael R. Berrigan | Senior Development Specialist
3M Corporate R & D
3M Center, 218-2B-03 | Maplewood, MN
Office: 651 736 9865 | Fax: 651 737 4055
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3 comments for “Fwd: Definition of Mitten Thumb Needed

  1. Michael,
    I have no doubt that your description and suggested causes are mostly accurate – but it is the name ‘mitten fingers’ that has always puzzled me. I understand Mittens to be gloves without finger ends to allow the tips of fingers to project and facilitate the use of those fingers in difficult, delicate situations.
    If you visusalise, or even photograph a hand in a mitten and a daffodil with a so-called ‘mitten thumb’ on one petal I think we would struggle to see the connection? I wonder who first used the term and how it achieved such widespread acceptance. HAving said that I do accept that my perception may be different to the general view. We tend to talk about nicks (which I suppose result in the so-called mitten fingers).
    In addition to the causes you list I think more and most important is the question of the hereditary cause. For breeders this is critical and some of the best breeders of ‘exhibition’ flowers had a strict rule – never use ‘nickers for breeding and especially never cross nickers x nickers’. (tempted to spell with a K)
    I was slow to catch onto this important rule as my major early pursuit was colour improvement, especially in pinks where ‘pink’ was mostly ‘salmon’. ‘Pismo Beach’ pleased me for colour but was a dreadful ‘nicker’ and I crossed it with ‘High Society’ which had additional vigour and seldom nicked – some lovely seedlings resulted but the dominant ‘nicky’ gene kept coming through, so most of those cultivars have now been retired from the show scene.
    So advice to breeders is – never cross your ‘Mitten fingers’.
    I bet nobdy has a good photograph of a flower with nicks or mitten fingers – they don’t get photographed! Come on Tom or Kirby – a challenge for you.
    Brian

  2. Sounds like there are regional differences in what is a mitten. This illustration from a child’s coloring book is what I understand as a mitten:

    Janet G. Hickman
    107 Lee Circle
    Lynchburg, VA 24503
    434-384-0314

    —-

  3. Brian,

    I came from a warmer climate in the “Colonies” and I never wore mittens
    until I was in the Army and sent to German. The mittens the Army issued us
    had all the finger in one common pouch with only the thumb in its own
    holder. So to me a mitten was a large glove without fingers or holes like
    the ones you described. So when I see a daffodil with a large segment of the
    petal split off from the main petal that’s what I call a mitten.

    But I did notice what you had to say about Pismo Beach that I inherited from
    Marie Bozievich’s garden. I also liked the color.

    Clay

    Clay E. Higgins

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    240-642-0002

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