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Aliciella formosa

Aztec Gilia

Family PolemoniaceaeGenus Aliciella

Violet five-petalled flowers with long pale stamens on sticky, glandular stems
FlowerPictured: Aliciella pinnatifida, a relativeCecelia AlexanderCC0

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

Habit
biennial or perennialPlants of the World Online
Habit
Biennial, Perennial, Forb/herbPLANTS Database
Flower
Pinkish purpleWikipedia
Native range
New MexicoGBIF Backbone Taxonomy

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; PLANTS Database — USDA NRCS; Wikipedia — Wikipedia contributors; GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

Worth knowing

  • Aztec gilia is endemic to New Mexico, where it is known only from San Juan County. Its pinkish-purple, trumpet-shaped flowers can be over 2 cm long. Wikipedia: Aliciella formosa

Two sources report two treatments between them. Both are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1998

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around April 1, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on March 31, 2026.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 365 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

about 12 months from start to sowing. Then 5 days to germinate.

17% germination in 5 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1998 · 2nd Supplement, Gilia p. 36Public domain
Show the original text
Gilia (Polemoniaceae). G. formosa DS 1 y germ. 70D(2/12 on 5th d) and 40(rotted). Fresh seed had germ. 70D(rotted) and 40(2/5 in 3rd w).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement, 2nd Supplement, Gilia p. 36. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 15, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Temperature: 40°F 4°C

Germination happens during step 1, in 21 days.

40% germination in 21 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Gilia p. 46Public domain
Show the original text
Gilia (Polemoniaceae). G. formosa germ. 40(2/5 in 3rd w) and 70D(none).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Gilia p. 46. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

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