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Lysichiton americanus

American Skunk-cabbage · Swamp Lantern · Skunk Cabbage · American Skunkcabbage

Family AraceaeGenus Lysichiton

Bright yellow hoods wrapped round green flower spikes, among large leaves on a wet forest floor
FlowerMartin BravenboerPublic domain

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
Yellowish greenFlora of North America
Native range
Alaska, Canada, lower 48 statesPLANTS Database

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.

Worth knowing

This source reports 4 treatments. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

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

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: light

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 42 days to germinate.

100% germination in 14–42 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Lysichiton p. 55Public domain
Show the original text
Lysichiton (Araceae). Germination is much faster and in higher percentagè in light, but there is significant germination in the dark. L. americanum germ. 70L(100% in 2-6 w) and 70D(63% in 2-12 w). This clarifies the peculiar resufts reported in the 2nd Ed. A second sample collected a year later germ. 70L(100% in 2-7 w) and 70D(25% in 1-8 w) confirming the general pattern.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Lysichiton p. 55. 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 February 15, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: light

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 49 days to germinate.

100% germination in 14–49 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Lysichiton p. 55Public domain
Show the original text
Lysichiton (Araceae). Germination is much faster and in higher percentagè in light, but there is significant germination in the dark. L. americanum germ. 70L(100% in 2-6 w) and 70D(63% in 2-12 w). This clarifies the peculiar resufts reported in the 2nd Ed. A second sample collected a year later germ. 70L(100% in 2-7 w) and 70D(25% in 1-8 w) confirming the general pattern.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Lysichiton p. 55. 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, 1996

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around January 11, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 84 days to germinate.

63% germination in 14–84 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Lysichiton p. 55Public domain
Show the original text
Lysichiton (Araceae). Germination is much faster and in higher percentagè in light, but there is significant germination in the dark. L. americanum germ. 70L(100% in 2-6 w) and 70D(63% in 2-12 w). This clarifies the peculiar resufts reported in the 2nd Ed. A second sample collected a year later germ. 70L(100% in 2-7 w) and 70D(25% in 1-8 w) confirming the general pattern.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Lysichiton p. 55. 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, 1996

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around February 8, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 56 days to germinate.

25% germination in 7–56 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Lysichiton p. 55Public domain
Show the original text
Lysichiton (Araceae). Germination is much faster and in higher percentagè in light, but there is significant germination in the dark. L. americanum germ. 70L(100% in 2-6 w) and 70D(63% in 2-12 w). This clarifies the peculiar resufts reported in the 2nd Ed. A second sample collected a year later germ. 70L(100% in 2-7 w) and 70D(25% in 1-8 w) confirming the general pattern.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Lysichiton p. 55. 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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