Dodecatheon pulchellum

[Gene Mirro]

My pulchellum seeds, which were collected in western Oregon, didn't germinate until Spring. 

Take a look at this distribution map:  http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=dopu

I don't think we should expect seeds collected in southern California to behave the same as those collected in Alaska.  Dodecatheon clevelandii, which is native only in California, is an immediate germinator at around 60F.  That's good, because some of them grow in areas where there is no winter cold.

[cohan]

No doubt, Gene, and likely some of the widespread species include a number of significantly different variants over long distances;
One interesting thing is that pulchellum (the presumed pulchellum I sent to Kristl were warm germinators) and conjugens have overlapping ranges in Alberta, and still presumably the different germination strategies... It would be very interesting to know what any hybrids the two make would have as germination strategies..

[Lori S.]

I was told by a botanist acquaintance that the most definitive way to separate them is to look at the seed capsules... not something I've yet done.

From Flora of Alberta, Dodecatheon conjugens is supposed to have seed capsules that are cylindric and *operculate (with truncate [squared-off] capsule teeth), while S. pulchellum is supposed to have capsules that are cylindric to ovoid and **valvate (with acute [pointed] capsule teeth).  It would be nice to be able to compare these side-by-side to understand the differences... assuming one wasn't looking at a hybrid swarm.

* Like the seed capsule of Jeffersonia dubia.
**Like an aquilegia seed capsule.

[cohan]

It would be good to rent a botanist for some outings 

[Gene Mirro]

I've sown two lots of D. pulchellum seeds, one from plants native to the Willamette Valley, Oregon, and one from the NARGS seed exchange.  I'm going to give them every opportunity to germinate at warm temps.  I'll let you know what happens right around the end of February.