Colchicum seeds, was how to sow daubenya aurea
Jane McGary (Sat, 04 Jan 2014 10:31:04 PST)
Arnold wrote
This is something similar to a paper I read on Colchicum
seeds. Theory was that when they were released from the plant there
were not fully mature and did so over the next months at a warm temperature.
Colchicum seeds are notorious for erratic germination. I have grown
many species from seed over the years and have rarely if ever seen
germination the year they were sown. Instead, at a certain point in
late winter, it is likely that seed pots from different years and
different species will germinate within one or two weeks. So don't
discard those pots!
Ripe, dehiscing Colchicum seeds are hard, which makes them seem
mature, but I have never looked at the inside under a microscope.
However, the seeds are sometimes sticky, which implies that they have
a coating to attract ants, which will disperse the seeds after eating
the coating. In this case it may be necessary for this coating to be
removed, perhaps by a detergent solution, before sowing. I'll try
that next year.
In flower today are two color forms of Colchicum doerfleri and the
white-flowered Colchicum atticum (Merendera attica). All were grown
from seed more than ten years ago.
Jane McGary
Portland, Oregon, USA