Podophyllum seeds – Botanically Inclined

Umbrellas are in high demand this spring in many regions.
Podophyllum are especially well prepared for these events; always delightful to see them appearing either in the woods or in the garden.

Podophyllum peltatum, our native Mayapple, it is the first one to show up and grows very fast. Here they are: one picture taken in the woods and one in the garden.

Podophyllum peltatum, woods

Podophyllum peltatum, garden

Podophyllum hexandrum (syn. Sinopodophyllum), the Himalayan mayapple follows closely, with the seedlings which have been in the cold frames more advanced.

Podophyllum hexandrum seedlings

Podophyllum hexandrum, garden

And, after growing them from seeds, we can also rejoice in Chinese umbrellas :) (Podophyllum or Dysosma). The seedlings Chinese Podophyllums have their ‘umbrellas’ fully open because they were grown in the garage starting early spring.

Podophyllum pleianthum planted in the ground last year will even flower!

Podophyllum versipelle hybrid seedlings

Podophyllum pleianthum, garden

They are all so very easy to grow from seeds!

This Friday I indulge in one of my favourite plant families; say it out loud – Berberidaceae!

It is a large family and here I emphasize of course, the ornamental side of it. Many known and beloved garden perennials (usually for the woodland gardens) belong to this family: Epimediums, Vancouveria, Achlys, Podophyllums, Jeffersonia, Ranzania, Diphylleia and so on. From the woody species, Berberis and Mahonia are widely cultivated.

What else they have in common, seeds speaking and referring to the perennials, is the fact that in most cases, these are hydrophilic (i.e. do not tolerate desiccation) and so for optimum results they need to be sown fresh or kept in moist storage.
The pattern required for germination in most cases is WARM/COLD, sometimes with multiple cycles (see Caulophyllum).
Hover over pictures for names

Jeffersonia diphylla (L.)Pers.

Plagiorhegma dubium Maxim.

Dysosma versipellis

Two genera, Caulophyllum and Gymnospermium, present another rarely seen feature in Angiosperms, namely that the ovary walls burst open and the seeds develop and ripen in a ‘naked’ state (they look like fruits, but nonetheless are just seeds). Fascinating.

Gymnospermium altaicum (Pall.)Spach

Caulophyllum thalictroides (L.) Michx.

For more please see the newly published Berberidaceae page, the 10th in line!

I know seeds are boring (but how else can we obtain plants?), so here are few plant pictures, mostly to show species I don’t have seeds yet: Vancouveria hexandra, Achlys triphylla, a nice, fat Dysosma and a hybrid Epimedium raised from ‘Amber Queen’ seeds (hybrid). For others like Caulophyllum, Jeffersonia, Podophyllum…I already showed pictures many times and they are also featured in the Seeds shop.

Vancouveria hexandra, garden cultivated; the fruits and seeds are very close with those of Epimedium.

Achlys triphylla, Vanilla leaf (Deer foot) in wild habitat, Victoria Island, BC.

Dysosma versipellis (syn. Podophyllum versipelle) at Butchart Gardens, BC

Epimedium ex. ‘Amber Queen’, a 3-years old plant flowering in my garden (for Epimedium only hybrids will be obtained when growing from seeds)

Only one more picture, more for the purpose to emphasize the name that should be used for Jeffersonia dubia – guilty of charge myself; I’ll try to go the right way from now on.