Viability of Erythronium Seed
Jane McGary (Mon, 16 Jan 2006 11:49:21 PST)

Gerhard asked,

Seeds of most western American species of Erythronium retain their
viability well in dry storage for at least two years and possibly more,
although germination may be slow. This is not ture of eastern American and
Eurasian species, which have a brief period of viability.

No doubt the difference stems from the different climatic patterns in these
regions. The western American species ripen their seeds during a dry part
of the year and the seeds may not receive any moisture for 5 months or more
after dropping. Erythronium species elsewhere in the world would probably
experience rain soon after the seeds ripen.

Jane McGary
Northwestern Oregon, USA