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Asphodelus fistulosus

Asphodel · Hollow-stemmed Asphodel · Onion-leafed Asphodel · Onionweed

Family AsphodelaceaeGenus Asphodelus

A dense stand of fine green stems carrying many small white flowers, in front of still water
The whole plantZeynel CebeciCC BY-SA 4.0

About the plant

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

Habit
rhizomatous geophytePlants of the World Online
Habit
Perennial, Forb/herbPLANTS Database
Flower
White, pale pinkFlora of North America
Native range
Albania, Algeria, Azores, Baleares, Canary Is., Cape Verde 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; PLANTS Database — USDA NRCS; Flora of North America — Flora of North America Editorial Committee; GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

Worth knowing

  • Onionweed is a Mediterranean plant that has become an invasive weed in the United States, especially California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas, and is listed as a Federal Noxious Weed. Wikipedia: Asphodelus fistulosus

Two 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 15, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

No stated waiting before sowing. Germination time not stated; 21 days assumed.

75% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1998 · 2nd Supplement, Glyphosperma p. 36Public domain
Show the original text
Glyphosperma (Liliaceae). G. palmeri data is now complete. Seeds germ. 70D(3/4 on 11 th d) and 70L(none). When the sample in 70L was shifted to 70D after 9 w, 1/3 germ. in 5th d.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement, 2nd Supplement, Glyphosperma 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, 1998

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 24, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 12 days to germinate.

33% germination in 4–12 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. fistulosus germ. 70D(4/12 in 4-12 d) and 40-70D(2/20 in 4-7 w).
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 3

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1998

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around November 17, 2026 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  2. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

about 3 months from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2, in 49 days.

10% germination in 28–49 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. fistulosus germ. 70D(4/12 in 4-12 d) and 40-70D(2/20 in 4-7 w).
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 4

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

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

Start around January 18, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Temperature: 40°F 4°C

Germination happens during step 1, in 77 days.

7% germination in 77 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Asphodelus p. 104Public domain
Show the original text
Asphodelus (Llliaceae). A. fistulosus germ. 40(1/14 in 11th w) and 70(all rotted). Astelboides (see Rodgersia).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Asphodelus 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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