Euclea divinorum

Why are the seeds of this species difficult? The seeds may have physiological dormancy, which can be overcome by mimicking the seasonal patterns of the species' native habitat.

Euclea divinorum (Image: S. Wood, RBG Kew)

Seed Storage

This species has Orthodox seeds - dry to 15-20% eRH and store at -20ºC, or as cool as possible.

Germination Requirements

Remove the seed covering structures before germination. Germinate on agar, germination paper or sand at 20ºC.

The seeds of this species may be Physiologically Dormant (based on other species in the same genus). If germination is low, this type of seed dormancy can be overcome by mimicking the seasonal patterns of the species' native habitat. Use a moist pre-chill or pre-heat treatment (depending on local climatic conditions) or a dry after-ripening treatment, before germinating the seeds on agar, germination paper or sand at their optimum temperature. If this does not work, you can perform delicate surgery to enable the embryo to grow. Excise the tissue near the root tip.

Seed Morphology

Euclea divinorum
(Image: S. Wood, RBG Kew)

Taxonomy

Family: EBENACEAE

Accepted name: Euclea divinorum Hiern

Synonyms: Euclea katangensis De Wild., Euclea huillensis Gürke, Euclea kiwuensis Gürke, Euclea divinorum subsp. keniensis (R.E.Fr.) de Wit, Euclea keniensis R.E.Fr., Euclea stuhlmannii Gürke, Euclea oleifolia S.Moore, Embelia oleifolia S.Moore.

Common name:

References and Links

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and International Plant Genetic Resources Institute (1994). Genebank Standards. FAO/IPGRI, Rome, Italy.

AFPD (African Flowering Plants Database) - Conservatoire et Jardin Botaniques de la Ville de Genève, Switzerland, and South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria, RSA: Euclea divinorum.
PROTAbase (Plant Resources of Tropical Africa) - Wageningen, Netherlands: Euclea divinorum.
SID (Seed Information Database) - Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, UK: Euclea divinorum.
Tropicos - Missouri Botanical Garden, USA: Euclea divinorum.