Eranthis stellata
Jane McGary (Fri, 07 Mar 2008 08:43:30 PST)

Gerhard asked,

I haven't grown this species, but I've grown other Eranthis species from
stored seed, and also Adonis, another member of the Ranunculaceae that is
not believed to stay viable (able to germinate) in storage. I find that one
doesn't get very good germination, but with these difficult-to-obtain
plants, even a single plant is welcome and can usually produce seeds that
can be sown fresh. My experience is that seeds sown in late winter have
germinated the following midwinter after being left in outdoor temperatures
and never allowed to dry out after sowing.

Ranunculus and Anemone are related genera with geophytic members and
similar problems, but I've grown Ranunculus abnormis from seed. I find that
Anemone species that produce seeds coated in woolly "fuzz" germinate well
after storage, but those with smooth seeds generally do not. This may
account for the frequent appearance of A. multifida, a woolly-seeded
species, in exchange seed lists under far more tempting names!

Jane McGary
Northwestern Oregon, USA