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Polygonatum glaberrimum

Smooth Solomon's Seal · Caucasian Solomon's Seal

Family AsparagaceaeGenus Polygonatum

An arching stem with broad ribbed leaves held in two ranks, seen from above on a floor of leaf litter.
The whole plantСофия ХМCC BY 4.0

About the plant

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

Habit
rhizomatous geophytePlants of the World Online
Native range
Iran, North Caucasus, Transcaucasus, TürkiyeGBIF 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; GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

This source reports three treatments. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around December 1, 2026 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 35 days.

70% germination in 2–35 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Polygonatum p. 196Public domain
Show the original text
Polygonatum (Iiliaceae). The three species germ. hypogeally at 70 and form only a corm and branching root system at 70. When development of this is complete, the seedlings were shifted to 40. It was found that 3 m at 40 was insufficient to destroy growth inhibitors in the epicotyl. A 6 m period at 40 and a shift to 70 initiated stem and leaf formation in P. glaberrimum germ. 70D(33% in 3-8 w) and 40-70D(70% in 2 d-5 w). Seeds placed outdoors in April germ. 3/17 in July-October and 10/17 the following April.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Polygonatum p. 196. 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, 1993

Difficulty Moderate 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.

33% germination in 21–56 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Polygonatum p. 196Public domain
Show the original text
Polygonatum (Iiliaceae). The three species germ. hypogeally at 70 and form only a corm and branching root system at 70. When development of this is complete, the seedlings were shifted to 40. It was found that 3 m at 40 was insufficient to destroy growth inhibitors in the epicotyl. A 6 m period at 40 and a shift to 70 initiated stem and leaf formation in P. glaberrimum germ. 70D(33% in 3-8 w) and 40-70D(70% in 2 d-5 w). Seeds placed outdoors in April germ. 3/17 in July-October and 10/17 the following April.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Polygonatum p. 196. 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 High Rated by us, not by the source.

Sow around April 2027 — a date the source gives, not one counted back from a May 3 last frost.

  1. Sow outdoors and leave it

    Sown outdoors in April; up in July-October.

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 90 days to germinate.

18% germination in 90 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Polygonatum p. 196Public domain
Show the original text
Polygonatum (Iiliaceae). The three species germ. hypogeally at 70 and form only a corm and branching root system at 70. When development of this is complete, the seedlings were shifted to 40. It was found that 3 m at 40 was insufficient to destroy growth inhibitors in the epicotyl. A 6 m period at 40 and a shift to 70 initiated stem and leaf formation in P. glaberrimum germ. 70D(33% in 3-8 w) and 40-70D(70% in 2 d-5 w). Seeds placed outdoors in April germ. 3/17 in July-October and 10/17 the following April.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Polygonatum p. 196. 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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