Gerhard asked, >just received some seed of Eranthis stellate from Siberia. Does anyone >have experience in sowing this one. Any help/experience is appreciated. I haven't grown this species, but I've grown other Eranthis species from stored seed, and also Adonis, another member of the Ranunculaceae that is not believed to stay viable (able to germinate) in storage. I find that one doesn't get very good germination, but with these difficult-to-obtain plants, even a single plant is welcome and can usually produce seeds that can be sown fresh. My experience is that seeds sown in late winter have germinated the following midwinter after being left in outdoor temperatures and never allowed to dry out after sowing. Ranunculus and Anemone are related genera with geophytic members and similar problems, but I've grown Ranunculus abnormis from seed. I find that Anemone species that produce seeds coated in woolly "fuzz" germinate well after storage, but those with smooth seeds generally do not. This may account for the frequent appearance of A. multifida, a woolly-seeded species, in exchange seed lists under far more tempting names! Jane McGary Northwestern Oregon, USA