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Ranunculus gramineus

Grass-leaved Buttercup

Family RanunculaceaeGenus Ranunculus

A single glossy yellow buttercup on a gray-green stem
FlowerPiPublic domain

About the plant

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

Safety

Toxicity
Poisonous to cattle, goats, horses. All parts. Protoanemonin. Stated for Ranunculus spp.Plants Poisonous to Livestock

The plant

Habit
perennialPlants of the World Online
Flower
YellowRead from the photograph on this page
Native range
Algeria, France, Italy, Morocco, Portugal, Sardegna and elsewhereGBIF Backbone Taxonomy
Note
GA-3 killed the seed outright here, which is the opposite of its effect on R. lyallii.Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed.

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; Read from the photograph on this page — Deno's Garden; GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Global Biodiversity Information Facility; Plants Poisonous to Livestock — Cornell University Department of Animal Science; Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno.

Worth knowing

This source reports 4 treatments. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around November 17, 2026 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

    Deno gives no length for this period; three months is his standard cycle.

  2. Cold moist stratification

    Temperature: 40°F 4°C Light: either

    60%, over 3-7 weeks.

about 3 months from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2, in 49 days.

60% germination in 21–49 days.

The shortest route to the best figure. Light makes no difference either way.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, RanunculusPublic domain
Show the original text
Ranunculus (Ranunculaceae). Germination was remarkably varied A. gramineus germ. 40(58% in 6-12 w)-70(9% in 4-12 d)-40(7%), 70-40(60% in 3-7 w), and 30% in late April and May in outdoor treatment. Light had no effect. Seeds treated with GA-3 were killed.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Ranunculus. 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 Low Rated by us, not by the source.

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

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Temperature: 40°F 4°C Light: either

    58%, over 6-12 weeks.

  2. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

    A further 9%, in 4-12 days. Deno gives no length for this period; three months is his standard cycle.

  3. Cold moist stratification

    Temperature: 40°F 4°C

    A last 7%.

Steps after step 1 run on after germination.

Germination happens during step 1, in 84 days.

58% germination in 42–84 days.

58% in the cold itself, then 9% and 7% over the two cycles after.

This source doesn't state how long step 3 lasts.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, RanunculusPublic domain
Show the original text
Ranunculus (Ranunculaceae). Germination was remarkably varied A. gramineus germ. 40(58% in 6-12 w)-70(9% in 4-12 d)-40(7%), 70-40(60% in 3-7 w), and 30% in late April and May in outdoor treatment. Light had no effect. Seeds treated with GA-3 were killed.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Ranunculus. 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 Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

  1. Sow outdoors and leave it

    Up in late April and May.

No stated waiting before sowing.

30% germination.

Half what the bench gives, for none of the work.

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

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, RanunculusPublic domain
Show the original text
Ranunculus (Ranunculaceae). Germination was remarkably varied A. gramineus germ. 40(58% in 6-12 w)-70(9% in 4-12 d)-40(7%), 70-40(60% in 3-7 w), and 30% in late April and May in outdoor treatment. Light had no effect. Seeds treated with GA-3 were killed.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Ranunculus. 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, 1993

  1. Gibberellic acid soak

    Seeds treated with GA-3 were killed.

  2. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C

No stated waiting before sowing.

0% germination.

GA-3 does not merely fail here -- it kills the seed outright.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, RanunculusPublic domain
Show the original text
Ranunculus (Ranunculaceae). Germination was remarkably varied A. gramineus germ. 40(58% in 6-12 w)-70(9% in 4-12 d)-40(7%), 70-40(60% in 3-7 w), and 30% in late April and May in outdoor treatment. Light had no effect. Seeds treated with GA-3 were killed.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Ranunculus. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record; 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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