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Eriogonum allenii

Shale Barren Buckwheat

Family PolygonaceaeGenus Eriogonum

A low rosette of thick gray-green leaves pressed to dry shaley ground on a burnt hillside, its old flower stalk bare.
The whole plantSmithh05CC BY-SA 4.0

About the plant

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

Habit
perennialPlants of the World Online
Habit
Perennial, Forb/herbPLANTS Database
Flower
Bright yellowFlora of North America
Native range
Virginia, West VirginiaGBIF 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

  • Shale barren wild buckwheat grows on Devonian shale in the central Appalachian Mountains of West Virginia and Virginia, reaching about 50 cm with yellow flowers. Wikipedia: Eriogonum allenii

Two sources report 5 treatments between them. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around July 16, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on July 15, 2026.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Cold moist stratification

    Temperature: 40°F 4°C

about 6 months from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2, in 84 days.

38% germination in 70–84 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Eriogonum p. 42Public domain
Show the original text
Eriogonum (Polygonaceae). E. allenii (fresh seed) germ. 72% in late March from seed placed outdoors in November. It also germ. 70D(12%) and 40-70D(30% on 2nd d). Light and GA-3 were injurious. Seeds DS 6 m at 70 germ. 70D(1%) and 40(38% in 10-12 w). The results are not as inconsistent as might appear. The fresh seed in the 40-70 pattern was almost ready to germinate after 12 w at 40 and might have germ. at 40 if the time at 40 had been extended.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Eriogonum p. 42. 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 Very high Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around September 17, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on September 16, 2026.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

about 6 months from start to sowing. Germination time not stated; 21 days assumed.

1% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Eriogonum p. 42Public domain
Show the original text
Eriogonum (Polygonaceae). E. allenii (fresh seed) germ. 72% in late March from seed placed outdoors in November. It also germ. 70D(12%) and 40-70D(30% on 2nd d). Light and GA-3 were injurious. Seeds DS 6 m at 70 germ. 70D(1%) and 40(38% in 10-12 w). The results are not as inconsistent as might appear. The fresh seed in the 40-70 pattern was almost ready to germinate after 12 w at 40 and might have germ. at 40 if the time at 40 had been extended.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Eriogonum p. 42. 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.

Sow around November 2027 — a date the source gives, not one counted back from a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on November 2026.

  1. Sow outdoors and leave it

    Sown outdoors in November; up in late March.

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 120 days to germinate.

72% germination in 120 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Eriogonum p. 139Public domain
Show the original text
Eriogonum (Potygonaceae). Germination often occurred at comparable rates at 40 and 70, it often occurred throughout each 3 m cycle, and it often extended over two cycles. The data is summarized in the following Table except for E. allenii germ. 72% in late March from seed placed outdoors in November. It also germ. 70D(12%) and 40-70D(30% on 2nd d). Light and GA-3 were deleterious.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Eriogonum p. 139. 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 Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around January 3, 2027 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 2 days.

30% germination in 2 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Eriogonum p. 139Public domain
Show the original text
Eriogonum (Potygonaceae). Germination often occurred at comparable rates at 40 and 70, it often occurred throughout each 3 m cycle, and it often extended over two cycles. The data is summarized in the following Table except for E. allenii germ. 72% in late March from seed placed outdoors in November. It also germ. 70D(12%) and 40-70D(30% on 2nd d). Light and GA-3 were deleterious.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Eriogonum p. 139. 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 5

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty 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: dark

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

12% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Eriogonum p. 139Public domain
Show the original text
Eriogonum (Potygonaceae). Germination often occurred at comparable rates at 40 and 70, it often occurred throughout each 3 m cycle, and it often extended over two cycles. The data is summarized in the following Table except for E. allenii germ. 72% in late March from seed placed outdoors in November. It also germ. 70D(12%) and 40-70D(30% on 2nd d). Light and GA-3 were deleterious.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Eriogonum p. 139. 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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