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.
The bookstore at Kirstenbosch in Cape Town sells these discs for
13.70 Rands for, I think, 5 discs. They are very light, so overseas
postage is very cheap: 2.30 Rands. So a total of 16 Rands delivered,
which is only US$2.14.
They take credit cards, and you can order it from:
The Botanical Society of SA
PO Box 53445
Kenilworth 7745
South Africa
Tel: 021-762-1621
Fax: 021-762-0923
botbkshp@iafrica.com
Or if you have web access, just go to:
<http://www.botanicalsociety.org.za/books.asp?subcat=7>
and order it directly online. The product is called "Kirstenbosch
Instant Smoke Primer"
I bought some while I was visiting South Africa last August, and am
now trying it on some Patersonia seed which is supposed to require
smoke treatment to germinate. So far none have germinated yet, but
maybe I haven't waited long enough.
>
>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.
--
--Lee Poulsen
Pasadena area, California, USDA Zone 9-10
wlp@radar-sci.jpl.nasa.gov
