Dell and all, I have good news. When I received my seeds from BX 76, there was a label on packet #30, Hippeastrum cybister, saying 'there is reason to believe this seed may not be viable - you have not been charged for this packet'. I used my usual germination technique for Hippeastrum seed - floating on water in a sealed container in the clothes cupboard (temperature about 20-25oC / 68-77oF). I floated the seeds on 30 October. Of the 12 seeds I received, 6 have so far germinated, and are large enough to be potted up. If you also received these seeds, and thought it might not be worth the effort - do try them - 50% germination is better than I get for many seeds! Paul Dr Paul Chapman, Wallington, Surrey, UK South London commuter belt suburbia - zone 9a, where we had the first slight frost of the winter last night, after a very sunny but very cold day, and where the flowers of Cyrtanthus elatus x falcatus are just about to open in the greenhouse. mailto:cyrtanthus@blueyonder.co.uk