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Asphodeline lutea

Jacob's-rod · Yellow Asphodel · Yellow King's-spear

Family AsphodelaceaeGenus Asphodeline

Several tall spikes of yellow star flowers above narrow blue-green leaves, on a wooded bank
The whole plantFranz XaverCC BY-SA 3.0

About the plant

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

Habit
perennialPlants of the World Online
Flower
Bright yellowWikipedia
Native range
Albania, Algeria, Bulgaria, Cyprus, East Aegean Is., Greece 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

  • King's spear was brought into the Oxford Botanic Garden in 1648, though it had no medicinal use. John Parkinson wrote that it was "not... used in Physicke for any purpose". It has been linked with the asphodel of the Greek underworld. Wikipedia: Asphodeline lutea

Three sources report 4 treatments between them. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1998

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 26, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 10 days to germinate.

100% germination in 6–10 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1998 · 2nd Supplement, Asphodelus p. 16Public domain
Show the original text
Asphodelus (Liliaceae). A. luteus germ. 70D(0/3), 70L(4/4 in 6-9 w), and 40-70D(1/2 in 6th w). A second sample germ. 70D(5/5 in 6-10 d). This latter pattern is identical to that found for Asphodeline luteus (2nd Ed.) suggesting that this second sample was the Asphodeline not the Asphodelus.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement, 2nd Supplement, Asphodelus p. 16. 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 Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 1, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 35 days to germinate.

100% germination in 14–35 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Asphodeline p. 23Public domain
Show the original text
Asphodeline (Liliaceae). A. lutea germ. 70D(100% in 2-5 w). This was unchanged by DS for 1 y.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Asphodeline p. 23. 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 3

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around February 22, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 28 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  2. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C

about 4 weeks from start to sowing. Then 14 days to germinate.

100% germination in 14 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Asphodeline p. 104Public domain
Show the original text
Asphodeline (Liliaceae). A. lutea germ. 70(7/7 in 2nd w) A preliminary 4 w at 40 had no effect.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Asphodeline p. 104. 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 4

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 22, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 14 days to germinate.

100% germination in 14 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Asphodeline p. 104Public domain
Show the original text
Asphodeline (Liliaceae). A. lutea germ. 70(7/7 in 2nd w) A preliminary 4 w at 40 had no effect.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Asphodeline p. 104. 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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