Castration for cause

[Tracy]

So earlier this week, my wife warned me that if I didn't do something about the smell of three Male Cones on Cycas thouarsii, she would do something.  Rather than have her attempt to rip out the plants, I decided that premature cone removal or male castration would fix the problem until they cone again.  So out with a sharp knife I went.  The largest cone dropped significant amounts of pollen as I removed it, so I carried it over to two adjacent females which have megasporophylls and are pushing flushes through them.  I tapped vigorously, and watched the pollen drop onto the megasporophylls as well as all over my shorts, legs and feet.  We will see in a while comes of that, but my wife was happy with the decreased odor wafting into the house.  While the female plants still have an odor, its different and not as strong.  At one point, a neighbor from across the street came over to ask about the smell last week and I pointed out the offending cone to her.  She was appreciative knowing that it was a plant and not something different.

The interesting thing I noted, is that my sons and other males may not like the smell, but don't find the male cones as offensive as many women, independent of knowing where the source of the odor.  Has anyone else noticed how different people find the odor's more or less unpleasant?  How about having to remove Cycad cones because you, a spouse or neighbor finds the smell unbearable?  Of all the cones I have smelled, it seems that Cycas thouarsii is the strongest, but perhaps you feel different and can share another one that you find particularly strong (pleasant, neutral or unpleasant).  Share if you care. Some post-castration photos of the boys, and the pair of girls with a light dusting of pollen.