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Butomus umbellatus

Flowering Rush · Grassy-rush · Greater Flowering-rush

Family ButomaceaeGenus Butomus

A rounded head of white flowers veined pink on long stalks, above a lake covered with floating leaves
FlowerIvar LeidusCC BY-SA 3.0

About the plant

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

Habit
helophytePlants of the World Online
Habit
Perennial, Forb/herbPLANTS Database
Flower
Pinkish whiteFlora of China
Native range
Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Altay, Amur, Austria 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 China — Wu Zhengyi, Peter H. Raven and Hong Deyuan (eds.); GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

Worth knowing

  • The only species in its family. Butomus comes from the Greek bous, ox, and tome, a cut. Brought to North America as an ornamental, it is now a serious invasive weed around the Great Lakes. Wikipedia: Butomus umbellatus

This source reports three treatments. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around December 15, 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: light

about 3 months from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2; time not stated, 21 days assumed.

31% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Butomus p. 108Public domain
Show the original text
Butomus (Butomaceae). B. umbellatus requires light for germination, but the light is more effective after 3 m moist at 40. The data were 40-70L(31% in 516 d), 70L(8%), and none in 70D and 40-70D. In the mildly anaerobic atmosphere as described in Chapter 12, 2% germ.. Treatment with GA-3 did not initiate germination.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Butomus p. 108. 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, 1993

Difficulty Very high 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: light

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

8% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Butomus p. 108Public domain
Show the original text
Butomus (Butomaceae). B. umbellatus requires light for germination, but the light is more effective after 3 m moist at 40. The data were 40-70L(31% in 516 d), 70L(8%), and none in 70D and 40-70D. In the mildly anaerobic atmosphere as described in Chapter 12, 2% germ.. Treatment with GA-3 did not initiate germination.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Butomus p. 108. 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

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

No stated waiting before sowing.

0% germination.

Nothing germinated at 70.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Butomus p. 108Public domain
Show the original text
Butomus (Butomaceae). B. umbellatus requires light for germination, but the light is more effective after 3 m moist at 40. The data were 40-70L(31% in 516 d), 70L(8%), and none in 70D and 40-70D. In the mildly anaerobic atmosphere as described in Chapter 12, 2% germ.. Treatment with GA-3 did not initiate germination.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Butomus p. 108. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record; 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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