Catch them if you can II

I finally had the pleasure a couple of days ago to collect seeds from my own Jeffersonia dubia! I knew that it is part of the ‘catch me if you can’ club, so I was prepared.

There are not too many (hopefully we will get ‘help’ from someone else with more seeds) but it is always exciting when you collect seeds from a plant that was grown from seeds. The circle is now complete :)
Our native Jeffersonia diphylla (Twinleaf) also flowered and now has a first capsule (yet to mature) – to many more next year!

Jeffersonia fruit is a green capsule which only changes to light yellow-green at maturity at which point the suture near the top opens like a lid. After opening, the capsule dries out fast and it turns downwards spreading the seeds on the ground. The seeds are equipped with elaiosomes, which you can notice that in case of Jeffersonia dubia have frilly appendages. The purpose of the elaiosomes is to attract the ants which help with the seeds dispersal.

Do not expect your friends to gift you small divisions of these species because, like other species from the barberry family (Berberidaceae), they grow from a tight rhizome which is difficult to divide. Some specialty nurseries are selling them, but otherwise one has to grow them from seeds.
Luckily they are easy to germinate from fresh or moist packed seeds and not difficult to grow.

The beautiful Helleborus caucasicus is also close to ‘throwing out’ its seeds; same for Helleborus purpurascens and Stylophorum diphyllum.

Soon enough a new ‘wave’ of species from the category “best results when sown fresh” will be posted on the inventory. They will be announced. The on-going seeds collections are now posted on the front page on the Announcement corner (bottom, right corner).