Seeds & Germination

Plant: Impatiens

Term: Cultivar

Impatiens wallerianaBusy Lizzy• Plant type: Annual in Virginia, Perennial* • USDA Hardiness Zones: *10a to 11a • Height: 6" to 24" Spread: 12" to 24" • Exposure: shade to partial sun • Bloom Color: Orange, Pink, Red, White • Bloom Time: Late spring to Early fall • Leaf Color: Green, Variegated • Uses: Bedding plant, containers

• Propagate by seed or cuttings• Seed need light to germinate• Next month -we’ll grow doubles from plugs

Cultivar

• Contraction of “cultivated variety”. A plant bred through cultivation. May be trademarked.

• Names are written in quotes.

• Examples are apples:– Prunus domestica, ‘Fuji’, ‘Golden Delicious’,

‘Granny Smith’

Plant Names

• Kingdom• Phlylum• Class• Order• Family• Genus• Species• Variety or Cultivar• Form

• Major Taxa – don’t use in the name

• Minor Taxa – do use in the botanical name for the plant

Sweet Pea Example

• Genus• Species• Cultivar• Form

• Lathyrus• oderatus• “Royal”• n/a

Lathyrus oderatus “Royal”

Plant ClassificationsTextbook Page 61 – 63

Write the descriptions (3-4 words)

• Stems– Herb– Shrub– Tree

• Foliage– Deciduous– Evergreen

• Stem Type– Woody– Herbaceous

• Hardiness– Tender– Hardy

• Cotyledons– Monocots– Dicots

• Use– Edible– Ornamental

Seeds

Flowers

Complete

Pollination – sexual reporduction

Seed Structure

• A – Seed coat

• B – Endosperm

• C – Cotyledon

• D – Hypocotyl– Epicotyl - stem– Radicle - root

Germination

• Process

• 1. Seed absorbs water

• 2. Seeds proteins activated

• 3. Radicle (root) emerges

• 4. Plumule or embryonic shoot emerges

• 5. Leaves form and food production begins

Movie

• http://plantsinmotion.bio.indiana.edu/plantmotion/earlygrowth/germination/germ.html

Germination

• Different seeds have different conditions for germination

• Some need a cold period

• Some need light or dark

• Some need a certain temperature

• Some need an opening in the seed coat

• All need moisture

Plant Life Cycles

Vegetative

Reproductive

Dormancy

Annuals

• Germinate from seed• Grow to Maturity• Flower• Produce Seeds• Die

• All in one growing season

Annuals are planted for short-term seasonal color

Biennials –Complete life cycle in 2 years

• 1st year– Summer – vegetative

growth– Winter - dormancy

• 2nd Year– Flower– Produce Fruit– Die

Examples: Blackberries, Cabbage, Hollyhocks

Perennials

• Live for 3 or more seasons

• The above ground portion may die in the winter, but new growth will resprout the next spring

• Examples: Butterfly Bush, Daffodils, Black-eyed Susan, vines, trees

Today

• Start Impatiens• www.ballhort.com• Search Growers• Culture Sheet• Key points:

– Needs light to germinate– Sow on the surface of tray– Moderate temperatures– Media must be SATURATED