Undeniably splendid... Oxytropis splendens

[Lori S.]

Scarification can usually hasten the germination of any Fabaceae seed.  I scarify all Oxytropis, Astragalus, Trifolium, etc. by rubbing the seeds across a fine half-round rat-tail file before sowing on moist medium... works very well!  

[cohan]

Scarification can usually hasten the germination of any Fabaceae seed.  I scarify all Oxytropis, Astragalus, Trifolium, etc. by rubbing the seeds across a fine half-round rat-tail file before sowing on moist medium... works very well!  

How picky is this process? One seed at a time carefully? Or are you able to put a number on the file at once and rub quickly? I've heard of putting sandpaper on the bottom of a vessel and shaking seed back and forth, not sure how good contact is like that...
Though if Trond got good germination with no scarification....

[Todd Boland]

Breaks my heart that I cannot grow any western Oxytropes or Astragulus in my garden....there are so many beauties that exist!

[Lori S.]

How picky is this process? One seed at a time carefully? Or are you able to put a number on the file at once and rub quickly? I've heard of putting sandpaper on the bottom of a vessel and shaking seed back and forth, not sure how good contact is like that...
Though if Trond got good germination with no scarification....

Some Fabaceae have thick, hard seed coats that take a long time to soften up (or just get moldy) so scarifying is very helpful especially for those.  The scarifying is easily done just by picking up a few or couple of seeds on a moistened fingertip and rubbing them along the file a bit (be careful not to grind the softer ones into dust!   )  Bigger seeds can be nicked through the seed coat with a blade or fingernail clippers.  I'm never planting more than a few seeds of anything so it's not too time-consuming.

[cohan]

How picky is this process? One seed at a time carefully? Or are you able to put a number on the file at once and rub quickly? I've heard of putting sandpaper on the bottom of a vessel and shaking seed back and forth, not sure how good contact is like that...
Though if Trond got good germination with no scarification....

Some Fabaceae have thick, hard seed coats that take a long time to soften up (or just get moldy) so scarifying is very helpful especially for those.  The scarifying is easily done just by picking up a few or couple of seeds on a moistened fingertip and rubbing them along the file a bit (be careful not to grind the softer ones into dust!   )  Bigger seeds can be nicked through the seed coat with a blade or fingernail clippers.  I'm never planting more than a few seeds of anything so it's not too time-consuming.

I know some are espeically tough, and probably need scarification or a lot of patience, others are listed as 'easy warm germinators' though not all species are listed anywhere  I'd like to plant a lot more than a few of some of the natives, no doubt some experimenting is in order...

[McGregor]

Hi Lori

Love the Oxytropis - it is very pretty. If you collect any seed this year I would love some.

I quite agree with all your comments on scarifying. If I do it lupins and Astragalus germinate, if I don't, they don't. I just use very fine sandpaper and usually try an hold each one and just rub it across the paper. And that is OK unless the seeds are really small when it gets a bit more tricky.

Just getting Lupinus argenteus seedlings appearing from this year's seed exchange - very first of all my selections to germinate.



 

[Spiegel]

Scarifying definitely works with the pea seeds.  I use a fine sandpaper in a sheet and rub the seeds, a few at a time, over the sheet with my fingers.  The seeds get scarified and so do my fingertips!  I love the larger seed which can be nicked with an exacto knife.

[Lori S.]

Hi Lori
Love the Oxytropis - it is very pretty. If you collect any seed this year I would love some.

Yes, I always get lots of seed so I will surely send some!  I am told that the form that occurs in this area is quite a good one, being especially furry and silvery (and as I google around and look at photos from other areas, I'm inclined to agree).

[cohan]

Hi Lori
Love the Oxytropis - it is very pretty. If you collect any seed this year I would love some.

Yes, I always get lots of seed so I will surely send some!  I am told that the form that occurs in this area is quite a good one, being especially furry and silvery (and as I google around and look at photos from other areas, I'm inclined to agree).

I was actually going to ask if you had noticed different forms--I would agree that the forms I have seen and collected from are definitely very fuzzy and silvery, but flowers are not that showy--I think I have seen pictures of plants with much larger/showier flowers--maybe from farther south/east?

[McGregor]

Lori

That would be great - been editing so not looked at the forum for a couple of days so I'm a bit slow saying thanks.