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About the plant What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.
Habit rhizomatous geophyte Plants of the World Online
Flower White, lavender, mauve, purple, violet Wikipedia
Native range Iran, Transcaucasus, Türkiye GBIF 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 Paradoxa comes from the Greek for unusual. Its large upright petals and smaller lower petals are unique among most irises, and in Azerbaijan male carpenter bees (Xylocopa valga) have been seen pseudo-copulating on the velvety lower petals. Wikipedia: Iris paradoxa This source reports two treatments. Both are shown.
Protocol 1 N. C. Deno, 1993 Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.
Start around March 1, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.
1 Warm moist stratification
Duration: 90 days · Temperature: 70°F 21°C
2 Cold moist stratification
Duration: 90 days · Temperature: 40°F 4°C
3 Warm moist stratification
Duration: 90 days · Temperature: 70°F 21°C
4 Cold moist stratification
Duration: 90 days · Temperature: 40°F 4°C
5 Warm moist stratification
Duration: 90 days · Temperature: 70°F 21°C
6 Cold moist stratification
Duration: 90 days · Temperature: 40°F 4°C
Steps after step 1 run on after germination.
Germination happens during step 1, in 35 days.
29% germination in 21–35 days.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Iris p. 156Public domain Show the original text Iris (Iridaceae). This genus gave -not only great diversity in germination behavior but also some of the most extended multicycle germination observed. Germination is always hypogeal, and true leaves develop in 'a week or two once the radicle emerges even when germination was delayed for years. Empty seed coats and deformed seeds are relatively easy to recognize so that seed counts and percent germination are accurate. A major problem is how to stimulate the germination of Oncocyclus and Regelia Iris since they have such extended natural germinations. Panayoti Kelaidis of the Denver Botanical Garden has iritorrmed me that Fritz Kummert In Austria, Frank Norris in Tennessee (USA), and David Shahak in Israel are growing Oncocyclus Iris from seed in large numbers. Panayoti said that there are reports that germination was much improved by rinsing the seed in dilute Chlorox (aqueous NaOCI) and rubbing off the seed coats after which the seeds germ. readily at 40. There are also reports that gibberelic acid and other chemicals stimulate germination. Data is needed using scientific procedures. A recent book, "The Iris" by B. Mathew, is devoted to this genus. Mathew divides the genus into six subgenera with further division into sections and series. His arrangement is used only in part. The species are arranged in alphabetical order for convenience with subgenus or section indicated in parentheses using the abbreviations B (bearded), Bx (beardless), E (Evansia), 'N (Nepalensis), .0 (Oncocyclus), P (Pardanthopsis), A (Regelia), At (Aeticulata), and X (Xiphium). I. paradoxa (0) was received as wild collected seed from Armenia and from Sevan National Park in USSR. The Armenia seed germ. 40-70(1/7 in 2nd w)-40-70- 40-70 and none when sown at 70 or in outdoor treatment. The Sevan seed germ 70(2/7 in 3-5 w)-40-70-40-70-40 and none when sown at 40. A single seed germ. in the 4th y and was normal and healthy. Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Iris p. 156. 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 N. C. Deno, 1993 Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.
Start around December 22, 2026 for a May 3 last frost.
1 Cold moist stratification
Duration: 90 days · Temperature: 40°F 4°C
2 Warm moist stratification
Duration: 90 days · Temperature: 70°F 21°C
3 Cold moist stratification
Duration: 90 days · Temperature: 40°F 4°C
4 Warm moist stratification
Duration: 90 days · Temperature: 70°F 21°C
5 Cold moist stratification
Duration: 90 days · Temperature: 40°F 4°C
6 Warm moist stratification
Duration: 90 days · Temperature: 70°F 21°C
Steps after step 2 run on after germination.
about 3 months from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2, in 14 days.
14% germination in 14 days.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Iris p. 156Public domain Show the original text Iris (Iridaceae). This genus gave -not only great diversity in germination behavior but also some of the most extended multicycle germination observed. Germination is always hypogeal, and true leaves develop in 'a week or two once the radicle emerges even when germination was delayed for years. Empty seed coats and deformed seeds are relatively easy to recognize so that seed counts and percent germination are accurate. A major problem is how to stimulate the germination of Oncocyclus and Regelia Iris since they have such extended natural germinations. Panayoti Kelaidis of the Denver Botanical Garden has iritorrmed me that Fritz Kummert In Austria, Frank Norris in Tennessee (USA), and David Shahak in Israel are growing Oncocyclus Iris from seed in large numbers. Panayoti said that there are reports that germination was much improved by rinsing the seed in dilute Chlorox (aqueous NaOCI) and rubbing off the seed coats after which the seeds germ. readily at 40. There are also reports that gibberelic acid and other chemicals stimulate germination. Data is needed using scientific procedures. A recent book, "The Iris" by B. Mathew, is devoted to this genus. Mathew divides the genus into six subgenera with further division into sections and series. His arrangement is used only in part. The species are arranged in alphabetical order for convenience with subgenus or section indicated in parentheses using the abbreviations B (bearded), Bx (beardless), E (Evansia), 'N (Nepalensis), .0 (Oncocyclus), P (Pardanthopsis), A (Regelia), At (Aeticulata), and X (Xiphium). I. paradoxa (0) was received as wild collected seed from Armenia and from Sevan National Park in USSR. The Armenia seed germ. 40-70(1/7 in 2nd w)-40-70- 40-70 and none when sown at 70 or in outdoor treatment. The Sevan seed germ 70(2/7 in 3-5 w)-40-70-40-70-40 and none when sown at 40. A single seed germ. in the 4th y and was normal and healthy. Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Iris p. 156. 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.
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