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Menyanthes trifoliata

Bogbean · Buckbean · Bog Buckbean

Family MenyanthaceaeGenus Menyanthes

White star flowers whose petals are deeply fringed into feathery threads, opening beside a cluster of pink-tipped buds.
FlowerDidier DescouensCC BY-SA 4.0

About the plant

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

The plant

Habit
helophytePlants of the World Online
Habit
Perennial, Forb/herbPLANTS Database
Height
0.8 ft25 cmPLANTS Database
Flower
WhitePLANTS Database
Blooms
Mid SpringPLANTS Database
Native range
Afghanistan, Alaska, Albania, Alberta, Aleutian Is., Altay and elsewhereGBIF Backbone Taxonomy

Growing conditions

Sun
Shade tolerance: MediumPLANTS Database
Soil
Adapted to medium, fine textured soilsPLANTS Database
Soil pH
4.8-6.5PLANTS Database
Moisture
Moisture use: HighPLANTS Database
Watering
Drought tolerance: NonePLANTS 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; GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

Worth knowing

This source reports 5 treatments. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

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: light

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

12% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Menyanthes p. 58Public domain
Show the original text
Menyanthes (Gentianaceae). M. trifoiiata germ. 70L(1/8), 70 GA-3(1/28), and none in 70D, 40, or OT. After 6 m DS it germ. 70 GA-3(1/16) and none in 70D or 70L. The ungerm. seed appeared to be afl empty seed coats sö in fact germination was virtualiy 100%, but the amount of viable seed was too small to establish any pattern with confidence.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Menyanthes p. 58. 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. Gibberellic acid soak

  3. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C

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

6% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Menyanthes p. 58Public domain
Show the original text
Menyanthes (Gentianaceae). M. trifoiiata germ. 70L(1/8), 70 GA-3(1/28), and none in 70D, 40, or OT. After 6 m DS it germ. 70 GA-3(1/16) and none in 70D or 70L. The ungerm. seed appeared to be afl empty seed coats sö in fact germination was virtualiy 100%, but the amount of viable seed was too small to establish any pattern with confidence.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Menyanthes p. 58. 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 Very high Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 15, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Gibberellic acid soak

  2. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C

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

4% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Menyanthes p. 58Public domain
Show the original text
Menyanthes (Gentianaceae). M. trifoiiata germ. 70L(1/8), 70 GA-3(1/28), and none in 70D, 40, or OT. After 6 m DS it germ. 70 GA-3(1/16) and none in 70D or 70L. The ungerm. seed appeared to be afl empty seed coats sö in fact germination was virtualiy 100%, but the amount of viable seed was too small to establish any pattern with confidence.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Menyanthes p. 58. 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

  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, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Menyanthes p. 58Public domain
Show the original text
Menyanthes (Gentianaceae). M. trifoiiata germ. 70L(1/8), 70 GA-3(1/28), and none in 70D, 40, or OT. After 6 m DS it germ. 70 GA-3(1/16) and none in 70D or 70L. The ungerm. seed appeared to be afl empty seed coats sö in fact germination was virtualiy 100%, but the amount of viable seed was too small to establish any pattern with confidence.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Menyanthes p. 58. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 5

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

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

  1. Sow outdoors and leave it

    Nothing germinated outdoors.

No stated waiting before sowing.

0% germination.

This source doesn't state how long step 1 lasts.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Menyanthes p. 58Public domain
Show the original text
Menyanthes (Gentianaceae). M. trifoiiata germ. 70L(1/8), 70 GA-3(1/28), and none in 70D, 40, or OT. After 6 m DS it germ. 70 GA-3(1/16) and none in 70D or 70L. The ungerm. seed appeared to be afl empty seed coats sö in fact germination was virtualiy 100%, but the amount of viable seed was too small to establish any pattern with confidence.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Menyanthes p. 58. 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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