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Tofieldia pusilla

Scotch False Asphodel · Scottish Asphodel · Scottish False Asphodel

Family TofieldiaceaeGenus Tofieldia

Short white bottlebrush heads of tiny flowers on thin green stalks, rising from grassy leaves among low shrubs.
FlowerHedwig StorchCC BY-SA 3.0

About the plant

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

Habit
rhizomatous geophytePlants of the World Online
Habit
Perennial, Forb/herbPLANTS Database
Flower
White, yellowish greenFlora of North America
Native range
Alaska, Alberta, Austria, British Columbia, Buryatiya, Chita 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.

Worth knowing

  • In Scottish folk medicine, Scottish asphodel was used for skin, breathing and digestive complaints. Its roots were made into a tea believed to soothe the stomach and intestines. Wikipedia: Tofieldia pusilla

This source reports 4 treatments. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 15, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: light

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 21 days to germinate.

72% germination in 7–21 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Tofieldia p. 81Public domain
Show the original text
Tofieldia (Liliaceae). T. pusilla germ. 70L(72% in 1-3 w), 70 GA-3(70% in 2- 4 w), and 40-70D(72% in 2nd w). Germ. declined and slowed in 70D(53% in 3-7 w).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Tofieldia p. 81. 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 December 22, 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 Light: dark

about 3 months from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2, in 14 days.

72% germination in 14 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Tofieldia p. 81Public domain
Show the original text
Tofieldia (Liliaceae). T. pusilla germ. 70L(72% in 1-3 w), 70 GA-3(70% in 2- 4 w), and 40-70D(72% in 2nd w). Germ. declined and slowed in 70D(53% in 3-7 w).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Tofieldia p. 81. 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. Gibberellic acid soak

  2. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 28 days to germinate.

70% germination in 14–28 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Tofieldia p. 81Public domain
Show the original text
Tofieldia (Liliaceae). T. pusilla germ. 70L(72% in 1-3 w), 70 GA-3(70% in 2- 4 w), and 40-70D(72% in 2nd w). Germ. declined and slowed in 70D(53% in 3-7 w).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Tofieldia p. 81. 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 Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around February 15, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 49 days to germinate.

53% germination in 21–49 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Tofieldia p. 81Public domain
Show the original text
Tofieldia (Liliaceae). T. pusilla germ. 70L(72% in 1-3 w), 70 GA-3(70% in 2- 4 w), and 40-70D(72% in 2nd w). Germ. declined and slowed in 70D(53% in 3-7 w).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Tofieldia p. 81. 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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