Gnaphalium californicum DC.
Green everlasting
Family: Asteraceae
Habit: Annual or biennial, stoutish, 4 to 8 dm. high, glandular and highly scented.
Distribution: Commonly scattered in coastal sage scrub, woodland, and chaparral, usually in disturbed places, from Baja California to Oregon.
Seed unit: Achene.
Seed: Achene small, brown, less than 1 mm.; pappus bristles free, usually shed.
Embryo: Foliar embryo, no endosperm.
Purity instructions: Pure seed definition:
AOSA: PSU# 50 - Intact achene, with or without one or more of the following structures: beak, bristle, hairs, pappus, wing, or firmly attached floral remnants, provided a true seed with some degree of embryo development can be detected (either by slight pressure or by examination over light).
Piece of broken achene larger than one-half of the original size, unless no seed is present. Seed, with or without pericarp/seed coat; if broken, larger than one-half the original size.
ISTA: PSD #4 – Achene, with or without pappus, unless it is obvious that no seed is present.
Lab notes: Smallest, shriveled achenes without substance called inert. Difficult to draw line between pure and inert.
Average pure seed units per gram: 60,221 seeds per gram (based on AOSA pure seed units only from 37 samples received for testing from 1992 to 2004).
Range of percent pure seed: 1 to 17%
Range of percent inert: 82 to 99%
Description of inert: Plant material, insects.
Planting instructions: 400 seeds, TB, 21 days @ 15-25°C; for fresh and dormant seed, prechill recommended.
References: (link to main reference page)
Hickman, J.C., Ed. 1993. p.271.
Munz, P.A. and D.D. Keck. 1968. p. 1260.
Ransom Seed Laboratory
Smith, C.F. 1998. p. 162.
