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Silene laciniata

Indian-pink · Mexican Campion · Mexican Catchfly · Cardinal Catchfly

Family CaryophyllaceaeGenus Silene

A scarlet flower whose petals are each cut into four narrow pointed lobes, spreading like a star, on a wiry stem in dry grass.
FlowerStickpenPublic domain

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
Flower
ScarletFlora of North America
Native range
Arizona, California, Mexico Central, Mexico Gulf, Mexico Northeast, Mexico Northwest 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; Flora of North America — Flora of North America Editorial Committee; GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

Two sources report 4 treatments between them. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around September 29, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on September 28, 2026.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

about 6 months from start to sowing. Then 9 days to germinate.

81% germination in 3–9 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Silene p. 78Public domain
Show the original text
Silene (Caryophyllaceae). S. laciniata seeds DS 6 m germ. 70D(81% in 3-9 d) but after 2 y DS germination dropped to 15% and seeds DS 3 y were all dead. Light and GA-3 had little effect. The seeds DS 6 m also germ. 40-70D(60% in 2-10 d).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Silene p. 78. 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 Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around June 30, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on June 29, 2026.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  3. Warm moist stratification

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

about 9 months from start to step 3. Germination happens during step 3, in 10 days.

60% germination in 2–10 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Silene p. 78Public domain
Show the original text
Silene (Caryophyllaceae). S. laciniata seeds DS 6 m germ. 70D(81% in 3-9 d) but after 2 y DS germination dropped to 15% and seeds DS 3 y were all dead. Light and GA-3 had little effect. The seeds DS 6 m also germ. 40-70D(60% in 2-10 d).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Silene p. 78. 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 Low 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: dark

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

81% germination in 3–9 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Silene p. 214Public domain
Show the original text
Silene (Caryophyllaceae). While many Silene germ. at 70 like typical Caryophyllaceae, complex patterns and photoeffects were found in some species. OS seed of the following species germ. in 2-5 w at 70: S. laciniata germ. 70D(81% in 3-9 d) and 40-70(53% in 2-15 d). Light and GA-3 had no effect.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Silene p. 214. 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

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around December 21, 2026 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C Light: either

  2. Warm moist stratification

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

about 3 months from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2, in 15 days.

53% germination in 2–15 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Silene p. 214Public domain
Show the original text
Silene (Caryophyllaceae). While many Silene germ. at 70 like typical Caryophyllaceae, complex patterns and photoeffects were found in some species. OS seed of the following species germ. in 2-5 w at 70: S. laciniata germ. 70D(81% in 3-9 d) and 40-70(53% in 2-15 d). Light and GA-3 had no effect.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Silene p. 214. 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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