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Silene flos-cuculi

Meadow Campion · Ragged Robin

Family CaryophyllaceaeGenus Silene

A pale pink flower whose five petals are each split into four narrow ragged straps, on a thin stem in tall grass.
FlowerMimi und RuebiCC BY 4.0

About the plant

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

Habit
annual or perennialPlants of the World Online
Flower
PinkWikipedia
Native range
Albania, Altay, Austria, Baltic States, Belarus, Belgium 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; Wikipedia — Wikipedia contributors; GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

Worth knowing

This source reports two treatments. Both are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around December 28, 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

about 3 months from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2, in 8 days.

64% germination in 3–8 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Lychnis p. 55Public domain
Show the original text
Lychnis (Caryophyllaceae). L. flos-cuculi germ. 100% in 4-15 d in either 70D or 70L and 40-70(64% in 3-8 d). Neither GA-3 or DS 6 m had any effect. Seeds DS 2 y germ. 70D(18% in 3rd w) showing extensive dying.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Lychnis p. 55. 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 High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 16, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on March 15, 2025.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 730 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

about 2 years from start to sowing. Then 21 days to germinate.

18% germination in 21 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Lychnis p. 55Public domain
Show the original text
Lychnis (Caryophyllaceae). L. flos-cuculi germ. 100% in 4-15 d in either 70D or 70L and 40-70(64% in 3-8 d). Neither GA-3 or DS 6 m had any effect. Seeds DS 2 y germ. 70D(18% in 3rd w) showing extensive dying.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Lychnis p. 55. 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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