New York woodland seedlings

[Diane Whitehead]

A friend sowed what she thought were hellebore seeds, but the seedlings
are not hellebores.  They look like arisaema seedlings, but the veins are
wrong - arisaema leaves have one central vein from which smaller ones
go off on each side like a fern.  Other possible woodland plants, like trillium
and paris, never germinate so readily.

From a woodland garden where there are arisaemas, asarums, hostas,
hellebores and more that I don't know of.

The seeds were ripe in July or August and sown in late September at a temp
of about 12 to 16C.  They started germinating in mid-November and are
continuing to do so.

[annew]

Maianthemum maybe?

[Diane Whitehead]

The leaves DO look like maianthemum, though they are seedling leaves,
 and the mature leaves may not look like that.  I will have to ask my friend
if she removed the seeds from a berry.  I don't know how readily the seeds
come out of maianthemum berries, as I rip out any maianthemum leaves
that dare to show themselves in my garden, so I've never had a flower, let
alone berries. Do they drop out as readily as hellebore seeds, which I usually
have to search for on the ground?

[annew]

I don't know, as they get the same treatment here!

[Geebo]

Hi Diane,
Looking for "Maianthemum in Google Picture,the Biflorum could be the one you are looking for.
Geebo.

[Diane Whitehead]

It's not Maianthemum.  My friend knows that plant, but doesn't have it growing in her woods.

[ellenndan]

Hi there
 I have some Arisaema Ringens that look just like your seedling.

[Diane Whitehead]

I have a newer picture of that pot of mystery seedlings.

[annew]

They do look like arisaema now.

[annew]

Or Pinellia?

[Paul T]

I'd be thinking Arisaema, in fact there is a good chance that they are Arisaema flavum as they are fairly distinctive in my experience with that much larger main leaflet and the two smaller ones like in your pic.  Might not be exclusive to that species though, but definitely rules out a lot of them.  Pinellia I have found don't have that arrangement their second season.

[Diane Whitehead]

Thanks, everyone.

The owner of the garden where the seeds originated says yes, she does
grow Arisaema flavum, and does collect the seeds.  When she was away,
her husband mailed them to the owner of the seedlings as hellebore seeds.

She says that now they've matured a bit they look recognizable.

Everyone is very pleased that they aren't anything invasive.

It does show that one should ALWAYS label the seeds one collects.  I am
growing at least three lots of seeds I collected from my garden last summer
which I couldn't give to anyone.  Instead, I'm growing them with a ? on the
pots.  Next year I'm going to remember.

[Maggi Young]

Next year I'm going to remember.

AH, Diane, how often have I heard ... and said.... that?