Oldest seeds sprouting

[Gileno Machado]

I was just reading Matt's post about a method of inducing old seeds to germinate, and it really sounds like a good idea. Last week I noticed that a 18 months old Raphia hookerii seed has finally awakened and started sprouting, after I re-soaked and changed the medium some 2 months ago. I wonder if this procedure could always be beneficial to old seeds too...It didn't work for the old Manicarias, Jubaeas, Orania ravaka and Beccariophoenix yet, just to mention the other big seed species I've re-soaked and cleaned at that time. Does anyone have other experiences with old seeds? Could be that using some warm water might alter the dormancy state as well?

By the way, my oldest seed ever to sprout, without any special attention was Bactris tomentosa var. tomentosa, after 20 months of sleeping in moist cocopeat. Some other Bactris, like militaris have been quite fast though. What are the laziest palm seeds for you?

[Kamipalms]

Gileno,

At least you got some to germinate. The seeds of Bactris tomentosa are still dormant here but still good.

Received some Cham. seeds in '04 some germinated within a couple of weeks and I've just had another of the remaining couple germinate a week or so ago. Didn't think they would be viable for that long but you just never know.....

[SubTropicRay]

Hi Gileno,

I once had a three year old Acrocomia aculeata seed germinate in a pile of oak leaves.  Apparently, this is nothing unusual for this genus.

Ray