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Nigella hispanica

Fennel-flower · Pale Fennelflower · Spanish Fennel

Family RanunculaceaeGenus Nigella

Blue flowers with almost black centers and a crown of dark stamens, held above feathery foliage.
FlowerYoko NekonomaniaCC BY 2.0

About the plant

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

Habit
annualPlants of the World Online
Flower
BlueWikipedia
Native range
France, Portugal, SpainGBIF 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.

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

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1998

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

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

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Temperature: 40°F 4°C

Germination happens during step 1, in 56 days.

100% germination in 21–56 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1998 · 2nd Supplement, Nigella p. 50Public domain
Show the original text
Nigella (Ranunculaceae). Data is now more complete. N. hispanica germ. 70D(6%)-40(75% in 3-5 w), 70L(100% in 1-3 w), and 40(100% in 3-8 w).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement, 2nd Supplement, Nigella p. 50. 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, 1998

Difficulty Low 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. Then 21 days to germinate.

100% germination in 7–21 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1998 · 2nd Supplement, Nigella p. 50Public domain
Show the original text
Nigella (Ranunculaceae). Data is now more complete. N. hispanica germ. 70D(6%)-40(75% in 3-5 w), 70L(100% in 1-3 w), and 40(100% in 3-8 w).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement, 2nd Supplement, Nigella p. 50. 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, 1998

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around December 1, 2026 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

    6 germinated in this phase.

  2. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

about 3 months from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2, in 35 days.

75% germination in 21–35 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1998 · 2nd Supplement, Nigella p. 50Public domain
Show the original text
Nigella (Ranunculaceae). Data is now more complete. N. hispanica germ. 70D(6%)-40(75% in 3-5 w), 70L(100% in 1-3 w), and 40(100% in 3-8 w).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement, 2nd Supplement, Nigella p. 50. 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 Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 27, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: light

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 9 days to germinate.

45% germination in 9 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Nigella p. 61Public domain
Show the original text
Nigella (Ranunculaceae). N. hispanica germ. 70L(45% on 9th d) and 70D(6% in 6-8 d).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Nigella p. 61. 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, 1996

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

Start around March 28, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 8 days to germinate.

6% germination in 6–8 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Nigella p. 61Public domain
Show the original text
Nigella (Ranunculaceae). N. hispanica germ. 70L(45% on 9th d) and 70D(6% in 6-8 d).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Nigella p. 61. 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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