Iris virginica, the Louisianas, and to a somewhat lesser extent Iris
tridentata, have corky seed coats. I guess in nature this allows the
seeds to float away to a new site. Then it rots away and the seed can
germinate.
If you peel off the cork, then the seeds will germinate faster. I call
it shucking, but maybe that's not the best word.
My hands felt arthritic after trying to peel off 27 tridentata seeds.
Well, 28, except one went flying out of my hands and landed who knows
where. (Awwww, shucks!)
The LA seeds are big, and easier to shuck... especially after soaking.
The biggest iris seeds I've ever seen were some of Tony Huber's
tetraploid versatas. They were gigantic, and didn't have a corky seed
coat ! I think they're going to be monsters. :-)
Dennis
Anita Moran wrote:
>
>
> Dennis what do you mean by "Shuck"I am trying Iris sintenisii seeds
> for the first time
>
> and they look like they need to be shucked
>
> LOL
> A
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Dennis Kramb
> Sent: Feb 7, 2009 11:13 AM
> To: iris-species@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: Re: [iris-species] iris tub
>
> well i planted 169 seeds in my tub...
> about 100 of tetra versatas...
> about 30 of iris prismatica
> about 30 of iris tridentata
> and 3 iris fulva... woo hoo!
>
> Out of curiosity... does anyone else "shuck" their seeds before
> planting
> them? I learned long ago from Heather Pryor to do that to
> Louisiana iris
> seeds... and so I also did it with my Iris tridentata seeds. That was
> difficult however since they are so small! But I did it anyway,
> and boy
> were my hands & fingers cramped afterwards.
>
> Now to stratify them and wait for spring germination!
>
> Dennis in Cincy where it is warm & sunny for the first time in years!
> well, it sure seems that long.
>
>
>
>
> Anita Moran
> Pilmore Gardens
> USDA 6B
> Maryland
> AIS, ASI, FSKIS
