I noticed a few years ago that Brodiaea leaves come right up through holes in leaves, instead of just pushing their way up. I figure that they probably produce a substance that dissolves the dead leaves, leaving a clean hole. I took a bunch of photos of them. This year I tried an experiment, and secured several squares of paper over patches of Brodiaea, including newspaper, lined notebook paper, copy paper and card stock paper. The newspaper actually dissolved a few days after getting wet, of course! But the brodiaea came up through the copy paper and the sturdier notebook paper. The card stock has only been outside a few days yet. There are small dark dots and then they poke through. I’ve noticed that the tips of the leaves sometimes have a tiny drop of clear fluid at the top, that’s probably where the enzyme is. I took a few drops with a stick and dotted them on two spots on the paper, also, next to one of the leaves coming through. But, these drops dry out and so I had to reapply it. Not sure if there has to be continuous wet for it to keep working, but if it is an enzyme it does. I laid a stick with the tip wetted with these drops on the paper, in case that would help, but I think it has to be done a little more properly than that..don’t have lots of time, the leaves will be done trying to emerge soon!
ellensgarden.us 