germinating Crinum & more
Jim Lykos (Fri, 21 Nov 2003 03:50:46 PST)

Hi Angelo,

Yes I think you have hit on the right explanation. I've also had
exactly the same results last summer- very little seed set on C.
pedunculatum, C. flaccidum, and none on C. luteolum or C. moorei.
Almost all the Crinum seed that was set late in the flowering season
also failed to germinate during Autumn, winter and Spring.
We have experienced the worst drought for 150 years on the east coast
of Australia, and while no species Crinums were very troubled by
the dry conditions they were certainly reluctant to set seed and
where seed that was obtained it proved reluctant to germinate -
despite irrigating the Crinum garden weekly.
However, the good news that I can now report is that most of the
recalictrant Crinum seeds survived are now germinating, 7 or 8 months
after seed set.
Last January I crossed a couple of C. abyssinicum and later in
April harvested 4 seeds which was quite a lengthy seed development
period. Within a month of harvest three of the smaller seeds changed
colour and rotted away. The largest of these seeds did nothing for 7
months sitting on the surface of the moist sandy potting mix.
However, it too has developed a 3 cm radicle in the past week - perhaps
its no coincidence that finally substantial rain is falling in the
Sydney region and the atmosphere has been humid for the past two weeks!

Cheers

Jim Lykos
Blue Mountains Australia Zone 9b/10

Angelo Porcelli wrote: