Not Lancea tibetica.... Silene?

[Rick R.]

I received Lancea tibetica seed (srgc Seed X 71 2248) and went looking for advice on planting.  I found this and my seed certainly aren't dust like as indicated.  So they are not Lancea. Does anyone recognize these? (1mm grid)


Of course, they just look black to the naked eye.  I think they are a Silene sp. 
From this lady's incredible work, I can kind of narrow the list (maybe)
Ss. alba, asterias, bosniaca, chlorantha, foetida, pedula, roemeri, vulgaris
http://semina-tischler.de/bilder/buch-2/138.jpg
http://semina-tischler.de/bilder/buch-2/141.jpg
http://semina-tischler.de/bilder/buch-2/145.jpg
http://semina-tischler.de/bilder/buch-2/157.jpg
http://semina-tischler.de/bilder/buch-2/163.jpg

I have no idea how probable any of these might occur in the seed ex, and obviously the list is not exhaustive.  Any guesses as to which might be more likely?  Or any other suggestions of species or genera is welcome!

[ArdfearnAli]

Hello
I think you may be on the right track with Silene or perhaps Lychnis. Sometimes I wonder what the difference is  between them. If I remember Lychnis chalcedonica seed is very similar. It is kidney shaped and is  nobbly and around the size of a pin head. I reckon the only way to find out may be to sow it and see. In the past I have had many batches of lychnis viscaria masquerading under dwarf desirable lychnis from the seed schemes.  I had a quick google and there is a Lychnis tibetica mentioned but it may also be a synonym for Silene stewartii?

Hope you have success with them and it turns out to be something really special.

Alasdair

[Maggi Young]

There are photos of  various Silene species  ( fifteen actually!) in our  Seed Identification pages .....
here's a screengrab of the  list of them....



This is the thread to search for seed ID pix : http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=4426.0

[Maggi Young]

Those photos .....
    Silene acaulis x55 magnification
    Silene alpestris.JPG
    Silene flos-jovis syn Lychnis flos-jovis.jpg
    Silene jailensis.jpg
    Silene kantzeensis.JPG

[Maggi Young]

and
     Silene keiskei.jpg
    Silene miqueliana.jpg
    Silene regia.JPG
    Silene uniflora x55 magnification
    Silene zawadskii.jpg

[Maggi Young]

and .....

    Silene_ciliata_var_graelsii.jpg
    Silene_compacta.jpg
    Silene_petersonii.jpg
    Silene_pratensis.jpg
    Silene_viscariopsis.JPG

[Gabriela]

Rick - With a few exceptions (alpestris, pusilla...), Silene species are hard to ID after the seeds, unless the photos are taken at a microscopic level. The differences cannot be seen well enough with regular camera pictures.

After the shape your seeds look more like belonging to a Lychnis - but in any case, the best way is to grow few plants and then we'll know for sure what species to associate with them.

[Rick R.]

Thanks, everyone.  Yes, I would not expect an exact identification.  Just some probable cases, and for that I am happy.