Jim, I know that some Lilies have hypogeal and some epigeal germination. I have only once germinated a Lily seed. Upon germination, it pushed the middle of the cotyledon above ground, doubled over. Within a day or two, it unbent, bringing the seed coat at its tip up and waving it in the air. I would call that epigeal germination. On the other hand, Sisyrinchium (or the ones I've germinated) also begin with a doubled over cotyledon above ground, but in this case, both the hypocotyl end and the suctorial tip remain below ground; the cotyledon never unbends. I have always considered that to be hypogeal germination, despite the fact that the first above ground greenery is the cotyledon -- in particular, the cotyledon tip with attached seed coat never goes above ground. David E. ________________________________ From: Jim McKenney <jamesamckenney@verizon.net> To: Pacific Bulb Society <pbs@lists.ibiblio.org> Sent: Fri, March 15, 2013 4:56:52 AM Subject: Re: [pbs] lily germ pics Germination in Lilium canadense and L. michiganense is hypogeal, in L. philadelphicum it's epigeal. L.canadense and L. michiganense do not have above ground cotyledons, L. philadelphicum does. In L. canadense and L. michiganense the first green you see above ground is the first true leaf. Jim McKenney