Notes on dormancy and effects of stratification on germination of some eucalypt seeds.  R. J. Grose.  1957.  Forests Commission, Victoria.  23 pp.

Stratification at 40°F. (4.4°C.) promotes germination of some dormant eucalypt seeds and increases the germination rate of seeds which exhibit the feature of delayed germination.

The primary dormancy of some eucalypt seeds is strengthened by moist storage at temperatures of 63°F. (17.2°C.) and greater. Temperature conditions unfavourable for germination of stratified seeds often induce a secondary dormancy in the embryos.

Stratification widens the range of temperatures within which seeds of some species will germinate. Non-stratified seeds of E. delegatensis will not germinate at temperatures in excess of approximately 70°F. (21.1°C.), but some seeds stratified for four weeks will germinate at 85°F. (29.4°C.). Seeds of E. delegatensis and E. niphophila germinate at the stratification temperature of 40°F. after approximately 10 weeks.

There appears to be some relationship between degree of dormancy of a seed-lot and elevation above sea level of its site of collection.

Progress of the removal of dormancy from E. delegatensis seeds overwintered in the field is described.