Propagation by Seeds
Bobea timonioides bears oval fruit about 1/2 inch long containing 2 to 7 seeds. Lilleeng-Rosenberger suggests ripening the fruit in a plastic bag to soften the pulp. After this, the seeds can be removed from the pulp more easily. Separate the seeds from the fruit by soaking them in cold water for 24 hours. Discard the pulp and wash the seeds in a strainer. Fresh seeds germinate best, but germination time varies from one to six months.
For the related species, Bobea sandwicensis, repondents to the Stratton et al survey suggest planting the seeds 1/8 inch deep in a medium composed of either 3 parts perlite #2 to 1 part Sunshine Mix #4 or 4 parts cinder to 1 part soil. Keep the medium moist and in a shaded area until the seeds germinate.
For storage, seeds of Bobea sandwicensis should be separated from the pulp and air-dried. The seeds should then be kept in an envelope or paper bag cool, dry (25% relative humidity) place. (Lilleeng-Rosenberger 1998; NTBG 1998; Stratton 1998; Wagner 1990)
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References
Lilleeng-Rosenberger, Kerin. 1998. Propagation techniques for native Hawaiian plants. Newsletter of the Hawaiian Botanical Society 37 (2):33-35.
National Tropical Botanical Garden (NTBG). 1998. Native Hawaiian plant: 'Ahakea. In Native Hawaiian plant information sheets. Lawai, Kauai: Hawaii Plant Conservation Center. National Tropical Botanical Garden. Unpublished internal papers.
Stratton, Lisa, Leslie Hudson, Nova Suenaga, and Barrie Morgan. 1998. Overview of Hawaiian dry forest propagation techniques. Newsletter of the Hawaiian Botanical Society 37 (2):13, 15-27.
Wagner, Warren L., Darrel R. Herbst, and S. H. Sohmer. 1990. Manual of the flowering plants of Hawai'i. 2 vols., Bishop Museum Special Publication 83. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press and Bishop Museum Press. p. 1118.
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