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Rumex alpinus

Monk's-rhubarb · Munk's Rhubarb · Alpine Dock

Family PolygonaceaeGenus Rumex

Tall reddish-brown seed spikes rising above large broad leaves on a rocky mountain slope
The whole plantTigerenteCC BY-SA 3.0

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
Native range
Albania, Austria, Bulgaria, Czechia-Slovakia, France, Germany and elsewhereGBIF 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; PLANTS Database — USDA NRCS; GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

This source reports 4 treatments. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around December 15, 2026 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

    4 germinated in this phase.

  2. Warm moist stratification

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

about 3 months from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2, in 21 days.

96% germination in 7–21 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Rumex p. 73Public domain
Show the original text
Rumex (Polygonaceae). Some species require light and others do not. The seeds were DS 8 m when received. They were studied when received. They were also studied after DS for 2 y except for R. alpinus germ. 70D(81% in 1-4 w), 70L(86% in 5-11 d), 40(4%)-70L(96% in 1-3 w), and 70 GA-3(2%). This was not significantly changed after 2 y DS.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Rumex p. 73. 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 March 25, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: light

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 11 days to germinate.

86% germination in 5–11 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Rumex p. 73Public domain
Show the original text
Rumex (Polygonaceae). Some species require light and others do not. The seeds were DS 8 m when received. They were studied when received. They were also studied after DS for 2 y except for R. alpinus germ. 70D(81% in 1-4 w), 70L(86% in 5-11 d), 40(4%)-70L(96% in 1-3 w), and 70 GA-3(2%). This was not significantly changed after 2 y DS.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Rumex p. 73. 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 Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 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 28 days to germinate.

81% germination in 7–28 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Rumex p. 73Public domain
Show the original text
Rumex (Polygonaceae). Some species require light and others do not. The seeds were DS 8 m when received. They were studied when received. They were also studied after DS for 2 y except for R. alpinus germ. 70D(81% in 1-4 w), 70L(86% in 5-11 d), 40(4%)-70L(96% in 1-3 w), and 70 GA-3(2%). This was not significantly changed after 2 y DS.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Rumex p. 73. 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 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.

2% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Rumex p. 73Public domain
Show the original text
Rumex (Polygonaceae). Some species require light and others do not. The seeds were DS 8 m when received. They were studied when received. They were also studied after DS for 2 y except for R. alpinus germ. 70D(81% in 1-4 w), 70L(86% in 5-11 d), 40(4%)-70L(96% in 1-3 w), and 70 GA-3(2%). This was not significantly changed after 2 y DS.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Rumex p. 73. 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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