A Detailed Guide to Collecting and Raising Davidia involucrata Seeds

Davidia involucrata has become the "living fossil" of the plant kingdom today, hailed as "China's dove tree", also known as "dove flower tree" and "water pear", with wild species growing only in southwestern Sichuan Province, central Hubei Province and surrounding areas of China. It has been listed as a national first-class key protected wild plant. It is a plant genus endemic to China, a relict plant, and also a world-famous ornamental plant and a national first-class protected plant. So how are Davidia involucrata seeds collected? What seedling-raising methods are there? Let's take a look together below.

1. How are Davidia involucrata seeds collected?

In October-November, collect ripe Davidia involucrata fruits and pile them directly on a cool, damp concrete floor indoors, turning them regularly so the flesh gradually rots, then rub them repeatedly with clean water to obtain clean seed.

Before sowing in March of spring, seed soaking treatment can be used. Pour the washed seeds directly into a bucket filled with diluted fresh human urine and feces; the human urine and feces must completely submerge the seeds. Cover with a lid and soak for 6-8 weeks, stirring appropriately several times during this period. Once the Davidia involucrata fruit shells split open, pour them into a bamboo basket and wash them clean with water.

2. What seedling-raising methods are there for Davidia involucrata?

1. Sowing and seedling raising

Davidia involucrata seeds mature in October. The seeds are large and hard, with a long physiological after-ripening period, and have the habit of germinating in alternate years; the germination cycle can last 2-3 years. Under natural conditions, most seeds often rot before they even germinate. Long germination time and low germination rate are common problems faced in artificial sowing and propagation of Davidia involucrata. The author has successively carried out experiments using methods such as sand storage stratification for sprouting and soaking seeds in human urine and feces, and achieved certain results.

2. Cutting propagation

Davidia involucrata cuttings can use hardwood cuttings and softwood cuttings, but the survival rate of hardwood cuttings is relatively low. Using semi-lignified branches for softwood cuttings, cell division is relatively vigorous and vitality is strong, making rooting easier.

3. Layering propagation

Davidia involucrata can be propagated in spring by air layering. Select 1-year-old robust branches, perform ring-barking 10-20cm from the tip of the high branch, wrap with leaf mold and plastic film, and roots can form in about 4 months. This method produces few seedlings and is not often used; it is mostly used for scientific research experiments.

4. Seedling-stage management

(1) Shading

Whether sown seedlings or cuttings, during the seedling stage, to prevent high-temperature sunscald and drought and to pass the summer safely, a shade net with 70% shading rate should be set up. After September, gradually extend the light time to increase the resistance of the seedlings and raise the degree of lignification of the young seedlings.

(2) Thinning and filling in seedlings

When sown Davidia involucrata seedlings grow to about 5cm, thinning should be carried out, with a plant spacing of 10cm. Combine thinning with filling in gaps by replanting the thinned seedlings in sparse areas and watering and firming the soil. Ensure the seedlings are evenly distributed. When thinning, follow the principles of "thin out the small and keep the large, remove the inferior and keep the superior, thin where dense and keep where sparse, and keep all seedlings equally spaced".

(3) Water and fertilizer management

Davidia involucrata seedlings are not tolerant of waterlogging. From sprouting to the appearance of true leaves, in environments with poor drainage and standing water, they easily rot and the mortality rate is relatively high. Therefore, normally strengthen ditch clearing and drainage work, and appropriately control soil moisture. In summer drought, pay attention to appropriate watering to maintain soil moisture. From June to August, topdressing can be carried out along with drought resistance by irrigating with a 0.2%-0.3% urea aqueous solution, then washing the seedlings with clean water to avoid fertilizer damage. For cuttings, use 0.2% potassium dihydrogen phosphate for foliar spraying, once every 15 days, for 2-3 consecutive times, which can effectively promote the growth of Davidia involucrata seedlings.

(4) Loosening soil and weeding

Loosen the soil and weed at the same time. For sown seedlings, a hoe can be used to directly remove weeds from the seedbed; for cuttings, a small pointed shovel can be used to remove weeds. Seedlings that have become loose must be watered and firmed. Weeds in the nursery surrounding ditches, middle ditches, and bed ditches can be removed with a hoe or killed by spraying glyphosate. When spraying herbicide, the spray range of the sprayer should be well controlled, and spraying on Davidia involucrata seedlings is strictly prohibited to prevent phytotoxicity. From May to September, weeds should be removed at least once a month. This reduces opportunities for weeds to compete with Davidia involucrata seedlings for fertilizer, water, and space, helping the seedlings grow vigorously.

The above is an introduction to Davidia involucrata. Davidia involucrata is transplanted after leaf fall and before sprouting the following spring; the survival rate of transplanting with soil is higher. Although seedlings can be cultivated through seed propagation, germination is very slow due to seed dormancy and other reasons, and may take 2 years or even longer, and improper methods may make germination difficult.

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