I've germinated seeds of at least 8 species of Arisaema, including all those mentioned by Eugene, and have never had much trouble. I routinely soak for 1-2 days and then plant at room temperature (60-70F). Sometimes I get lazy and skip the soaking and I'm not sure it makes a big difference. Sprouting usually starts in 4-8 wks, occassionally sooner. The same seed lot may sprout in different times when planted at different times of years but I haven't analyzed this. I keep seeds in the fridge and know they will remain viable for years. Paul Paul Licht, Director University of California Botanical Garden 200 Centennial Drive Berkeley, CA 94720 (510)-643-8999 http://botanicalgarden.berkeley.edu/ On 2/19/2010 4:06 PM, Eugene Zielinski wrote: > Ellen. > Are you referring to both the Asian and North American Arisaema species? > I've had A. sikokianum germinate for me at 70 F (20 C) without any > pretreatment at cold temperatures. I've heard, however, that A. triphyllum > is difficult to get to germinate. (I haven't tried, though.) > Apologies to Rodger Whitlock for continuing the germination thread, but I > am not incurious about the factors that trigger seed germination. > (Something about meeting Norm Deno at an impressionable age, I guess.) > > Eugene Zielinski > Augusta, GA > USA > > > >> [Original Message] >> From: Ellen Hornig<hornig@earthlink.net> >> To: Pacific Bulb Society<pbs@lists.ibiblio.org> >> Date: 2/19/2010 5:02:34 PM >> Subject: Re: [pbs] Soaking colchicum seeds >> >> Right...and at least as applied to arisaema seeds, it's a total myth. >> Almost all of them are straightforward cold/warm germinators (or possibly >> just warm, but I tend to get them cleaned and sowed in winter, so they >> > get > >> cold/warm, like it or not, and they like it fine). I do clean the seeds >> first, i.e. squeeze them out of the "fruits" and rinse them, but there is >> > no > >> prolonged soaking. I've long wondered where that particular bit of folk >> wisdom originated. >> >> Ellen >> >> Ellen Hornig >> Seneca Hill Perennials >> 3712 County Route 57 >> Oswego NY 13126 USA >> http://www.senecahillperennials.com/ >> http://pacificbulbsociety.org/list.php >> http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/ >> > > _______________________________________________ > pbs mailing list > pbs@lists.ibiblio.org > http://pacificbulbsociety.org/list.php > http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/ > >