Epilobium canum

Epilobium canum (E. Greene) Raven
California fuchsia, zauschneria  (syn. Zauschneria canum)

Family:  Onagraceae

Habit:  Perennial subshrub, generally glandular, clumped with basal scaly shoots 1 to 9 dm. high; flowers red-orange.

Distribution:  Found on dry slopes in rocky situations from northern Mexico to California, Oregon and New Mexico, and Wyoming.  Hummingbird-pollinated; sub-species often intergrading.

Seed unit:  Seed found in a loculicidal capsule, 20 to 35 mm., beaked and hairy.

Seed:  1.5 to 2.3 mm., rounded, beak-shaped.

Embryo:  Fully developed foliar embryo with endosperm.

Purity instructions:   Pure seed definition: 
AOSA:  PSU #1 – Seed with or without seed coat.  Piece of broken seed, with or without seed coat, larger than one-half the original size.

Lab notes:  Typically many seeds of poor quality, small and shriveled.

Average pure seed units per gram:  2,044 seeds per gram (based on AOSA pure seed units only from 11 samples received for testing from 1999 to 2004).

Range of percent pure seed:  1% to 72%

Range of percent inert:  27% to 98%

Description of inert:  Broken seed, sticks, plant material, dirt and stone.

Planting instructions:  400 seeds, TB, 21 days @ 20°C; for fresh and dormant seed, prechill recommended.

References:  (link to main reference page)
Hickman, J.C., Ed.  1993.  p. 796.
Ransom Seed Laboratory

Clarkia bottae

Clarkia bottae (Spach) Harlan Lewis & M. Lewis
Punchbowl godetia

Family:  Onagraceae

Habit:  Annual, erect, to 1 m.; glabrous, glaucous; with lavender inflorescence.

Distribution:  Found in openings in chaparral, woodland and coastal scrub of South Coast and Peninsular Ranges of California.

Seed unit:  Free seed.

Seed:   Seed brown, .5 to 2 mm., angled, scarcely if at all crested.  In elongate, indehiscent capsule.

Embryo:  Linear embryo with no endosperm.

Purity instructions:   Pure seed definition: 
AOSA:  PSU #1 – Seed, with or without seed coat.  Piece of broken seed, with or without seed coat, larger than one-half the original size.
ISTA:  PSD #10 – Seed, with or without testa.  Piece of seed larger than one-half the original size, with or without testa.

Lab notes:  Pale intact seeds, possibly devoid of embryo, considered pure.

Average pure seed units per gram:  4,990 seeds per gram (based on AOSA pure seed units only from 3 samples received for testing from 1996 to 2004).

Range of percent pure seed:   97 to 98%

Range of percent inert:  1 to 2%

Description of inert:   Plant material, insects, dirt.

Planting instructions:  400 seeds, TB, 21 days @ 15°C; for fresh and dormant seed, prechill with GA3 recommended.

References:  (link to main reference page)
Hickman, J.C., Ed.  1993.  p. 789.
Munz, P.A. and D.D. Keck.  1968.  p. 940.
Ransom Seed Laboratory

Camissonia cheiranthifolia

Camissonia cheiranthifolia (Sprengel) Raim.
Beach evening primrose

Family:  Onagraceae

Habit:  Perennial, prostrate, short-lived subshrub with wiry stems radiating from central rosette.  Day-flowering. 

Distribution:  Found on beaches, coastal dunes, and sandy slopes from Oregon to Baja California.

Seed unit:  Free seed.             

Seed:  1.2 to 1.3 mm. long, dull brownish to black, obovoid minutely cellular-pitted.  Fruit is four-angled, coiled capsule containing seeds in one row per chamber.

Embryo:  Foliar embryo.

Purity instructions:   Pure seed definition: 
AOSA:  PSU #1 – Seed, with or without seed coat.  Piece of broken seed, with or without seed coat, larger than one-half the original size.
ISTA:  PSD #10 – Seed, with or without testa.  Piece of seed larger than one-half the original size, with or without testa.

Average pure seed units per gram:  5,997 seeds per gram (based on AOSA pure seed units only from 13 samples received for testing from 1994 to 2004).

Range of percent pure seed:  87% to 99%

Range of percent inert:  1% to 12%

Description of inert:  Dirt, broken seed, plant material.

Planting instructions:  400 seeds, TB, light, 21 days @ 20°C; for fresh and dormant seed, prechill recommended.

References:  (link to main reference page)
Hickman, J.C., Ed.  1993.  p. 782.
Munz, P.A. and D.D. Keck.  1968.  p. 957.
Ransom Seed Laboratory
Rules for Testing Seeds, AOSA