Seed from Jim and Jenny Archibald

[Paul Garrett]

Hi all, these are my results from seed from Jim and Jenny.  Seed was
received on 7 May, soaked and stored at 18C on damp paper (Deno method).
Once any of a species germinated, all of that species went into potting mix
over mild heat and with14/24 hrs light.

candidissimum 6 seed received, 3 germinated
ciliatum var. liubaense 10 received, 5 germinated
dilatatum 6 received, all but 2 fungussed after 2weeks, no germination yet
griffithii var. pradhanii 20 received, all but one fungussed, 1 still OK but
not germinated
propinquum 8 received, all fungussed
rhombiforme 5 received, 4 germinated
tortuosum 12 received, 9 germinated

I have no idea whether these results are "good" or "bad" as this is my first
go with Arisaemas - or whether my failures were due to unviable seed or my
poor husbandry.  Hey, this is a person who just a few month ago completely
failed to get even one Sweet Pea out of 25 to germinate!.  All the Arisaema
seed looked OK, but what would I know?  Other perennial seed I purchased
from Jim and Jenny has done well.

I have also bought Arisaema seed from B&T (flavum and kishidae).  Almost all
the flavum germinated (very quickly) and all the kishidae turned to mush.

A couple of other observations which might be relevant - Germination times
varied greatly; in fact I found a new rhombiforme germinating today, almost
six weeks after the first of that batch started.  (I therefore refuse to
give up hope for my one remaining griffithii and the two dilatatum).  Also,
there is some (shudder!) "variability" within the batches of seedlings.  One
of the tortuosum has only a single dark ruffled leaf on a squat, green stem
and is about one third the height of its siblings. One of the ciliatum has a
really weird twisted leaf.  I have unilaterally christened these "Arisaema
ring-ins".  I'll watch these ugly ducklings closely and, if they survive,
I'll pass them on to Paul T to cross with that blue and orange striped
candidisumum he's been keeping from us ;-)


Paul Garrett
Canberra, Australia



----- Original Message -----
From: "Paul Tyerman" <ptyerman at OZEMAIL.COM.AU>
To: <ARISAEMA-L at NIC.SURFNET.NL>
Sent: Thursday, June 28, 2001 6:58 PM
Subject: Seed from Jim and Jenny Archibald


> Howdy All,
>
> Recently I've been speaking to a few people here in Australia who have
> purchased Arisaema seed from Jim and Jenny Archibald in Wales.  Most who I
> have spoken with have had troubles with certain species of seed they
> received from the Archibalds, and had generally poor germination on the
whole.
>
> How have others found seed from this source?  Have others had the same
> problem?  I have recently purchased seed from them and now I am wondering
> whether I have done the wrong thing, given that others I have spoken to
> have never germinated seed of some of the species I bought.
>
> Do we know if there is a problem with the viability of their seed due to
> source or storage?
>
> Any information would be appreciated.
>
> Cheers.
>
> Paul Tyerman
> Canberra, Australia.  USDA equivalent - Zone 8
> mailto:ptyerman at ozemail.com.au
>
> Growing.... Galanthus, Erythroniums, Fritillarias, Crocus, Cyrtanthus,
> Liliums, Hellebores, Aroids, Irises plus just about anything else that
> doesn't move!!!!!
>