Germination of Native Prairie Forb Seeds

Abstract

A study was conducted on 23 tallgrass prairie forb and legume seeds to determine conditions that would lead to a high level of germination. Seed fill was physically determined, seed viability was determined chemically with triphenyl tetrazolium chloride, and germination was done on moist filter paper in petri dishes. Of the 23 species of seeds tested, 69.5% germinated under normal conditions, 21.7% required moist-cold treatment, 4.4% required scarification, and 4.4% never germinated.