Only a few studies have been performed on seed germination of perennial ephemeral species native to the cold deserts of central Asia. We hypothesized that seeds of the cold desert perennial ephemeral Leontice incerta exhibit versatility in the timing of germination, that is, having the capacity to germinate at any time in summer, autumn and next spring. At dispersal in late May, only about 30% of the seeds could germinate; thus, a high percentage of the seeds was dormant. Seeds had a fully developed embryo, and dry storage, cold stratification, warm stratification and gibberellin promoted germination; we concluded that they have non-deep physiological dormancy. Seeds buried under natural conditions during summer germinated to 57–86% in autumn (late October) when exhumed and incubated at 5/2–25/15°C. However, seeds were sown in soil exposed to natural temperature and (low) precipitation did not germinate until next spring when the soil was moist. Thus, like various cold desert annuals, seeds of the perennial L. incerta can germinate in summer, autumn and next spring, depending on the availability of soil moisture (rainfall). Rainfall in cold deserts can play an important role in shaping seed germination traits of desert plants.

中文翻译：

---

寒冷沙漠草本多年生无叶莲（小檗科）种子萌发时间的多功能性

只有少数研究对原产于中亚寒冷沙漠的多年生短暂物种的种子萌发进行了研究。我们假设寒冷沙漠的种子常年转瞬即逝无定论在发芽时间上表现出多样性，即具有在夏、秋和次春任何时间发芽的能力。5月下旬散播时，只有约30%的种子能发芽；因此，大部分种子处于休眠状态。种子有充分发育的胚，干燥贮藏、冷分层、温分层和赤霉素促进萌发；我们得出结论，它们具有非深度生理休眠。夏季在自然条件下埋藏的种子在秋季（10 月下旬）挖出并在 5/2-25/15°C 下培育时发芽率达到 57-86%。然而，种子播种在暴露于自然温度的土壤中，（低）降水直到明年春天土壤湿润时才发芽。因此，像各种寒冷的沙漠一年生植物一样，多年生植物的种子L. incerta可以在夏季、秋季和明年春季发芽，具体取决于土壤水分（降雨）的可用性。寒冷沙漠的降雨对沙漠植物种子萌发性状的形成具有重要作用。