[Arisaema-l] Viability of older Seeds?

[Gordon Tingley]

I'm wondering if anyone has information on how to germinate older Arisaema
seeds. Recently I received seed from the seed exchange, and have had no
trouble at all germinating any of the species with fresh seed from this past
season's bloom. I pre germinate the seeds, sandwiched between sheets of
lightly dampened paper towel, then placed inside zip lock sandwich bags.
These have been stored at room temperature until germination occurred.

 

Two batches of seed have failed to show any sign of life for over a month
using this method:

 

                Arisaema nepenthioides (# 67- AC- 2012 ex Bhutan 1990).
These seeds had a much darker seed coat than any of the others on receipt.

                Arisaema spec.                   (# 59- MG- 2011 Mt. Fuji,
Yamanashi Prefecture Japan).

 

All of the other species germinated readily using this method (A.
consanguineum, ciliatum, fargesii, sikokianum, taiwanense and tortuosum are
now planted out in growing media, and are sending up first leaflets). The
nepenthioides seeds are now showing signs of mould on the seed coat, and the
A. spec. seeds are little changed since receipt (tan seeds much like the
others that germinated successfully, only that they are a little darker
now). Should Arisaema nepenthioides be treated differently than the rest? I
realize that the Japanese seed I ordered may not have been fully ripe at
harvest, so this might also explain the lack of activity.

 

Does anyone have any tips I ought to try to induce germination in these
seeds, or should I wait and start over with fresher seed?

 

With Thanks,

 

Gordon Tingley

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