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Species Profiles

These species were identified by participants at Kew's 'Difficult' Seeds Project workshops as showing poor germination during initial testing and/or during re-tests after storage. Low germination may be due to inherent issues such as seed storage behaviour, dormancy or seed longevity, or to handling and storage difficulties. Follow the links for information about germination requirements and storage behaviour that can help overcome these difficulties.

  • Explanation of terms: The various terms used in the species profile pages are explained in more detail.
  • Share information with us: Use the form to send us any more information about these species, that will further help to overcome difficulties in their handling.
  • Other species with 'difficult' seeds: We could not find enough information for some species. Browse the remaining species and send us any information to overcome difficulties in handling their seeds.
 Species name
English common nameFrench common name
 Send us an image of this species Abelmoschus caillei West African okra gombo
 Send us an image of this species Abelmoschus esculentus okra, lady's fingers gombo
 Acacia senegal Acacia senegal gum arabic, Cape gum, Egyptian thorn, Senegal gum 
 Afzelia africana Afzelia africana  
 Send us an image of this species Alchornea cordifolia  
 Allium cepa Allium cepa onion oignon
 Anacardium occidentale Anacardium occidentale cashew anacarde, pomme cajou
 Ananas comosus Ananas comosus pineapple ananas
 Andropogon gayanus Andropogon gayanus  
 Send us an image of this species Anogeissus leiocarpa  
 Arachis hypogaea Arachis hypogaea groundnut arachide
 Send us an image of this species Aristida pungens  
 Artocarpus altilis Artocarpus altilis breadfruit arbre à pain
 Azadirachta indica Azadirachta indica neem margousier
 Balanites aegyptiacus Balanites aegyptiacus desert date datte
 Barleria acanthoides Barleria acanthoides  
 Berchemia discolor Berchemia discolor wild almond 
 Send us an image of this species Blighia sapida akee 
 Bombax costatum Bombax costatum cotton tree kapok
 Brassica oleracea Brassica oleracea kale, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, savoy cabbage, brussel sprouts, kohlrabi chou, choufleur, chou pommé, feuilles verts
 Send us an image of this species Cajanus cajan pigeon pea pois d'angole
 Capsicum annuum Capsicum annuum pepper piment, poivreau, poivron
 Carica papaya Carica papaya papaya, common pawpaw papaye
 Cassia sieberiana Cassia sieberiana senna séné
 Casuarina equisetifolia Casuarina equisetifolia aru, beach she oak, beechwood, horsetail tree, ironwood, roe, toa 
 Celosia schweinfurthiana Celosia schweinfurthiana  
 Cenchrus biflorus Cenchrus biflorus  
 Chenopodium quinoa Chenopodium quinoa quinoa 
 Send us an image of this species Chrysophyllum albidum star apple 
 Cicer arietinum Cicer arietinum chick pea 
 Citrullus lanatus Citrullus lanatus water melon pastéque, egusi
 Send us an image of this species Citrus reticulata mandarin, tangerine mandarine, tangerine, tangelo
 Cleome gynandra Cleome gynandra spiderwisp, African cabbage, cat's whiskers 
 Send us an image of this species Coccoloba uvifera sea grape raisin bord du mer
 Send us an image of this species Cocos nucifera coconut noix de coco
 Coffea arabica Coffea arabica arabica coffee café
 Coffea humbertii Coffea humbertii  café
 Commiphora africana Commiphora africana African myrrh 
 Commiphora schimperi Commiphora schimperi Glossy-leaved corkwood 
 Conocarpus lancifolius Conocarpus lancifolius axlewood 
 Corchorus olitorius Corchorus olitorius nalta jute, Jew's mallow corète
 Corchorus tridens Corchorus tridens wild jute, fodder jute 
 Cordia sinensis Cordia sinensis grey-leaved cordia, grey-leaved saucer-berry 
 Send us an image of this species Coriandrum sativum coriander, cilantro coriandre
 Cucumis africanus Cucumis africanus wild cucumber, wild gherkin 
 Send us an image of this species Cucumis metuliferus horned cucumber, horned melon, kiwano, melano, metulon 
 Cucumis zeyheri Cucumis zeyheri  
 Cucurbita pepo Cucurbita pepo marrow, pumpkin, squash, gourd courge, potiron
 Cyclanthera pedata Cyclanthera pedata
 stuffing gourd 
 Cyperus cyperoides Cyperus cyperoides flatsedge souchet
 Send us an image of this species Cyperus polystachyos
  
 Dactyloctenium aegyptium Dactyloctenium aegyptium Durban crow's foot grass 
 Dalbergia melanoxylon Dalbergia melanoxylon blackwood palissandre
 Send us an image of this species Daucus carota carrot carotte
 Digitaria exilis  Digitaria exilis crabgrass, fingergrass fonio
 Send us an image of this species Dodonaea viscosa hopbush 
 Eleusine coracana Eleusine coracana finger millet 
 Eleusine indica Eleusine indica goose grass gratteron
 Send us an image of this species Endostemon ctenoneurus  
 Send us an image of this species Eragrostis pallens  
 Euclea divinorum Euclea divinorum  
 Euclea undulata Euclea undulata  
 Felicia muricata Felicia muricata  
 Ficus dicranostyla Ficus dicranostyla  
 Fimbristylis littoralis Fimbristylis littoralis  
 Send us an image of this species Garcinia kola  
 Glycine max Glycine max soya bean soja
 Gomphocarpus stenophyllus Gomphocarpus stenophyllus  
 Gossypium herbaceum Gossypium herbaceum cotton coton
 Grewia flava Grewia flava  
 Helianthus annuus Helianthus annuus sunflower tournesol
 Heliotropium zeylanicum Heliotropium zeylanicum heliotrope 
 Hibiscus aponeurus Hibiscus aponeurus  
 Hibiscus cannabinus Hibiscus cannabinus kenaf, bilmi 
 Holarrhena floribunda Holarrhena floribunda  
 Hoodia currori subsp. lugardii Hoodia currori
  
 Hoodia gordonii Hoodia gordonii  
 Hordeum vulgare Hordeum vulgare barley 
 Hyphaene thebaica Hyphaene thebaica doum palm 
 Send us an image of this species Ipomoea batatas sweet potato patate douce
 Send us an image of this species Irvingia gabonensis mango (wild) mangue sauvage
 Kigelia africana Kigelia africana sausage tree arbre à saucisses
 Lactuca sativa Lactuca sativa lettuce laitue
 Lagenaria siceraria Lagenaria siceraria bottle gourd calabasse, gourde
 Send us an image of this species Lecaniodiscus cupanioides  
 Lens culinaris Lens culinaris lentil 
 Lepidium sativum Lepidium sativum garden cress 
 Leptadenia pyrotechnica Leptadenia pyrotechnica  
 Leptothrium senegalense Leptothrium senegalense  
 Leucaena leucocephala Leucaena leucocephala white leadtree, wild tamarind 
 Send us an image of this species Leucas neuflizeana  
 Lycopersicon esculentum Lycopersicon esculentum tomato tomate
 Send us an image of this species Macadamia integrifolia macadamia nut 
 Macrotyloma geocarpum Macrotyloma geocarpum  
 Send us an image of this species Maesobotrya barteri  
 Malva verticillata Malva verticillata Chinese mallow, farmer's tobacco, large whorl mallow 
 Mangifera indica Mangifera indica mango mangue
 Send us an image of this species Manihot esculenta cassava, tapioca manioc
 Melia volkensii Melia volkensii  
 Mimusops zeyheri Mimusops zeyheri  
 Monodora myristica Monodora myristica calabash nutmeg, Jamaica nutmeg 
 Send us an image of this species Myrothamnus flabellifolia  
 Send us an image of this species Nauclea latifolia  
 Nicotiana tabacum Nicotiana tabacum tobacco tabac
 Oryza longistaminata Oryza longistaminata  
 Oryza sativa Oryza sativa rice riz
 Ozoroa obovata Ozoroa obovata  
 Panicum laetum Panicum laetum  
 Pappea capensis Pappea capensis  
 Parinari curatellifolia Parinari curatellifolia mobala plum nëw
 Pennisetum clandestinum Pennisetum clandestinum kikuyu grass 
 Pennisetum glaucum Pennisetum glaucum pearl millet mil
 Persea americana Persea americana avocado avocat
 Phaseolus lunatus Phaseolus lunatus butter bean, lima bean pois du Cap
 Phaseolus vulgaris Phaseolus vulgaris common bean, French bean haricot vert
 Phoenix reclinata Phoenix reclinata Senegal date palm 
 Pisum sativum Pisum sativum pea pois
 Pseudocedrela kotschyi Pseudocedrela kotschyi  
 Pterocarpus erinaceus Pterocarpus erinaceus barwood 
 Rhigozum brevispinosum Rhigozum brevispinosum  
 Send us an image of this species Rorippa nudiuscula  
 Rosa rubiginosa Rosa rubiginosa  
 Salvadora persica Salvadora persica toothbrush tree 
 Schinziophyton rautanenii Schinziophyton rautanenii  
 Sclerocarya birrea Sclerocarya birrea maroola plum 
 Send us an image of this species Senna italica  
 Sesamum indicum Sesamum indicum sesame sésame
 Send us an image of this species Sesamum latifolium  
 Setaria sphacelata Setaria sphacelata African bristlegrass 
 Sida cordifolia Sida cordifolia Indian country mallow 
 Send us an image of this species Solanum macrocarpon African eggplant 
 Solanum mammosum Solanum mammosum nipple eggplant 
 Send us an image of this species Solanum melongena aubergine, eggplant aubergine
 Send us an image of this species Solanum tuberosum white potato pomme de terre
 Solanum villosum subsp. villosum Solanum villosum nightshade, red nightshade 
 Sorghum bicolor Sorghum bicolor sorghum, great millet sorgho
 Send us an image of this species Spondias mombin hog plum, mombia plum, yellow mombin 
 Sterculia setigera Sterculia setigera  
 Send us an image of this species Stylosanthes scabra  
 Tamarindus indica Tamarindus indica tamarind tamarin
 Tarchonanthus camphoratus Tarchonanthus camphoratus  
 Send us an image of this species Telfairia occidentalis oyster nuts 
 Terminalia mollis Terminalia mollis  
 Theobroma cacao Theobroma cacao cocoa cacao
 Treculia africana Treculia africana African breadfruit 
 Trichilia emetica Trichilia emetica  
 Send us an image of this species Triplochiton scleroxylon obeche 
 Triticum aestivum Triticum aestivum common wheat blé
 Urtica dioica Urtica dioica common nettle 
 Vernonia anthelmintica Vernonia anthelmintica  
 Vernonia brachycalyx Vernonia brachycalyx  
 Vigna radiata Vigna radiata mungbean 
 Vigna subterranea Vigna subterranea bambara groundnut voandzou
 Vigna unguiculata Vigna unguiculata cowpea niébé
 Vitellaria paradoxa Vitellaria paradoxa shea-butter karité
 Send us an image of this species Xylopia aethiopica  
 Send us an image of this species Zanthoxylum zanthoxyloides candlewood, Senegal prickly-ash 
 Zea mays Zea mays maize, corn maïs
 Ziziphus mauritiana Ziziphus mauritiana Indian jujube 

 

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