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Asarum europaeum

Asarabacca · European Wild Ginger · Hazelwort

Family AristolochiaceaeGenus Asarum

A dark maroon bell flower with three pointed lobes, furred inside and out, sitting at ground level below two hairy leaves.
FlowerBernd HaynoldCC BY 2.5

About the plant

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

Habit
perennialPlants of the World Online
Flower
Dull purpleWikipedia
Native range
Albania, Altay, Austria, Baltic States, Belarus, Belgium and elsewhereGBIF 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; Wikipedia — Wikipedia contributors; GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

Worth knowing

  • Its roots smell of ginger, but it is not closely related to true ginger. It was once used in snuff, and the FDA warns against eating Asarum, which harms the kidneys. Wikipedia: Asarum europaeum
  • Shade-tolerant enough to cover ground where little else will grow. It holds the RHS Award of Garden Merit. Wikipedia: Asarum europaeum

Protocol

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Very high Rated by us, not by the source.

  1. Clean the flesh off the seed

  2. Leach in running water

    Duration: 7 days

    Washed and cleaned daily for 7 days.

  3. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  4. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

about 3 months from start to step 4. Germination happens during step 4, in 35 days.

3% germination in 35 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Asarum p. 102Public domain
Show the original text
Asarum (Aristolochiaceae). The two species had large numbers of empty seed coats. The tips of the radicles tended to die in the seedlings which led to death of the seedling. For the moment it is recommended to transfer the germinated seedlings immediately to media and place outdoors. GA-3 needs to be tried. A. europaeus seed was WC 7 d. Seed all rotted in 40-70D or 40-70L. The only germination was in 70-40(3% in 5th w).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Asarum p. 102. 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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