Re: Romneya coulteri propagation



>
>>California, mentions that it is also propagated from
>>cuttings, and seed requires fire pretreatment.
>
>This is true but doing fire treatment at home is tricky business; it's easy
>to get it too hot and zap the seed.  A nurseryman I know soaks the seed in
>gasoline for about 10 minutes and gets very good germination -- evidently
it
>is not the heat that breaks seed dormancy but rather the volatiles that are
>released during burning in habitat.  I don't know if other substances might
>work just as well as gasoline but that seems to work well for him.
>
>Bob


I've never heard of the gasoline story before - though if it is the volatile
essences that are the determining factor, I can see a logic there. I think
the fire/heat treatment is not the determining factor but the smoke, as it
is for dormancy breaking for seed & bulbs here in SA. Here though, we have
the option of using special smoke impregnated discs of blotting paper,
produced by Kirstenbosch. Just drop them in a saucer of water with your seed
& the jobs done. Theres perhaps a commercial opening in the USA for someone
with a bit of enterprise there.

Interesting the parallel evolutionary development, in the worlds different
Med regions, of fire related dormancy breaking mechanisms. I wonder if this
could be said to be another determinant of Med plants.

Thanks for the answers. The bees are busy working my Romneya flowers at the
moment. Perhaps they really are self sterile & need to be crossed.

Regards

Glenn Breayley. Ragnarok & Valhalla Research.
POBox 26158, Hout Bay, 7872, Capetown, South Africa
Ph/Fax SA 021 7904253 E-mail valhalla@iafrica.com
Wholesale nurseryman & Tillandsia specialist wholesale & retail grower.
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