| Common name | Butchers broom |
|---|---|
| Scientific name | Ruscus aculeatus |
| Storage characteristics | Orthodox |
| Storage moisture content and temperature | 10-15% @ < 0°C |
| Dormancy characteristics | Deep |
| Pretreatment method | 8 (8-12) weeks warm (c. 15°C) plus 12 (12-20) weeks cold (c. 4°C) See pretreatment of deeply dormant species |
| Efficacy of pretreatment / remarks | Generally effective although pretreatment durations, and numbers of repeat cycles may vary significantly between seedlots |
| Approximate date to initiate artificial pre-treatment (for 1 March sowing) | 11 October |
Footnotes
Storage characteristics
Orthodox - seeds that can be dried without harm, and once dried can be frozen, stored for years with little deterioration and relatively easily revived.
Pre-treatment method
Figures in brackets indicate that different seedlots often require different pretreatment durations. There are three potential courses of action:
- Adhere to the pretreatment duration in bold, with the knowledge that the maximum potential germination of the seedlot may be sacrificed for the sake of simplicity.
- Inspect the pretreating seed regularly. Sow when c. 10% of seed is chitted, with the hope that this is indicative that the remaining seeds are now close to germination.
- Inspect the pretreating seed regularly. At suitable intervals, remove chitted seeds (by hand, flotation, and/or sieving). Sow chitted seeds and return balance to pretreatment until no more seeds germinate.
Practice Guide
Raising Trees and Shrubs from Seed (PDF-648K)
Forestry Commission Practice Guide 18.
