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Sphaeralcea incana

Gray Globemallow · Soft Globe-mallow

Family MalvaceaeGenus Sphaeralcea

A ring of dry papery seed cases opened out like a rosette at the top of a furry gray-green stem.
FruitPatrick Alexander from Las Cruces, NMCC0

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/herb, SubshrubPLANTS Database
Flower
Red-orange, pale redFlora of North America
Native range
Arizona, Mexico Northeast, Mexico Northwest, New Mexico, TexasGBIF 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.

Worth knowing

  • Gray globemallow's flowers are of special value to native bees and butterflies. The Hopi traditionally used the plant to treat diarrhoea, and its leaves and flowers can be made into a tea for respiratory irritation and flu. Wikipedia: Sphaeralcea incana

This source reports 5 treatments. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1998

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around February 22, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: light

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 42 days to germinate.

100% germination in 2–42 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1998 · 2nd Supplement, Sphaeralcea p. 62Public domain
Show the original text
Sphaeralcea (Malvaceae). S. incana data is now complete. Seeds germ. 70L(100% in 2 d-6 w), 70D(50% in 2-14 d), and 40(8%)-70D(15% in 2nd w). After 1 y DS the seeds germ. 70L(27% on 6th d) and 70D(10% on 7th d) showing significant dying.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement, 2nd Supplement, Sphaeralcea p. 62. 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, 1998

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 22, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 14 days to germinate.

50% germination in 2–14 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1998 · 2nd Supplement, Sphaeralcea p. 62Public domain
Show the original text
Sphaeralcea (Malvaceae). S. incana data is now complete. Seeds germ. 70L(100% in 2 d-6 w), 70D(50% in 2-14 d), and 40(8%)-70D(15% in 2nd w). After 1 y DS the seeds germ. 70L(27% on 6th d) and 70D(10% on 7th d) showing significant dying.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement, 2nd Supplement, Sphaeralcea p. 62. 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, 1998

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 31, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on March 30, 2026.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 365 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: light

about 12 months from start to sowing. Then 6 days to germinate.

27% germination in 6 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1998 · 2nd Supplement, Sphaeralcea p. 62Public domain
Show the original text
Sphaeralcea (Malvaceae). S. incana data is now complete. Seeds germ. 70L(100% in 2 d-6 w), 70D(50% in 2-14 d), and 40(8%)-70D(15% in 2nd w). After 1 y DS the seeds germ. 70L(27% on 6th d) and 70D(10% on 7th d) showing significant dying.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement, 2nd Supplement, Sphaeralcea p. 62. 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, 1998

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around December 22, 2026 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

    8 germinated in this phase.

  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 14 days.

15% germination in 14 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1998 · 2nd Supplement, Sphaeralcea p. 62Public domain
Show the original text
Sphaeralcea (Malvaceae). S. incana data is now complete. Seeds germ. 70L(100% in 2 d-6 w), 70D(50% in 2-14 d), and 40(8%)-70D(15% in 2nd w). After 1 y DS the seeds germ. 70L(27% on 6th d) and 70D(10% on 7th d) showing significant dying.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement, 2nd Supplement, Sphaeralcea p. 62. 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 5

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1998

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

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

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 365 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

about 12 months from start to sowing. Then 7 days to germinate.

10% germination in 7 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1998 · 2nd Supplement, Sphaeralcea p. 62Public domain
Show the original text
Sphaeralcea (Malvaceae). S. incana data is now complete. Seeds germ. 70L(100% in 2 d-6 w), 70D(50% in 2-14 d), and 40(8%)-70D(15% in 2nd w). After 1 y DS the seeds germ. 70L(27% on 6th d) and 70D(10% on 7th d) showing significant dying.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement, 2nd Supplement, Sphaeralcea p. 62. 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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