Updated 2000 Ephemeral Seed List
View last year's (1999) list here!
A number of us participate in an exchange of seed with short viability. When seed of this type goes through the seed exchange and dry storage it germinates poorly. Appropriate candidates are members of the Ranunculaceae: Aconitum, Adonis, Anemone, Eranthis, Glaucidium, Helleborus, Hepatica, Ranunculus, Thalictrum; and the genera Asarum, Colchicum, Corydalis, Cyclamen, Dicentra, Dryas, Erythronium, Galanthus, Hacquetia, Hylomecon, Jeffersonia, Lysichiton, Salix, Sanguinaria, Shortia, Stylophorum and Trillium.
This list is not exhaustive, but please restrict offerings to species with
known short viability or those which exhibit dramatic differences in
germination when sown promptly. If you have seeds to offer, please fill out the
form below and mail it in now - the deadline is March
15. The list will be published in a spring newsletter, letters, or
e-mails and this webpage along with the procedure for obtaining seeds. Some
guidelines for submission: * A modest offering is advised. If you submitted one
or two last year, increase it a little. Try to offer up to half a dozen
species, but no more. * There tend to be many offerings of some taxa. If you
have a copy of last year's list, choose items that were not offered or were
offered by only one or two donors. If you don't have last year's list, keep the
one that comes out this year for reference. I have last years list available
for sending. * Diversity is one of our goals. Last year we were short in
Colchicum, and Epimedium and there is never enough Shortia. * Don't offer items
from your garden that you haven't seen flower and fruit. Wait another year. *
Don't be afraid of crop failure. If there's no seed, drop a postcard to the
requester and save the request for next year. When the list is published, these
are the directions that will be given to requesters: To request seeds, send a
self-addressed, stamped envelope to the donor. (If the donor is across an
international boundary, obtain International Reply Coupons). Write the species
name on the return envelope. If you are requesting more than one species from a
donor, send the appropriate number of envelopes, though multiple forms of the
same species are safe for a single envelope. You are responsible for
appropriate packaging and sufficient postage. Donors are not expected to reply
or to send seed if you have not included enough postage and protective
packaging. Don't forget the postal surcharge of $.07 for packages that must be
hand canceled.
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------ Submission form: Ephemeral Seeds for the 2000 Exchange
Your Name & Address:
Genus, species and form Collection Date
Mail this form to:
Nancy Swell
505 Baldwin Road
Richmond, VA 23229
or e-mail swell@erols.com
Deadline is March 15