Learning from the success of Joon Y to germinate the dried seeds of Dipterocarpus kunstleri, I did the same trial follow the steps I suggested to him. The steps as follow:
1. Cut the wings of the seed.
2. Wash the seeds
3. Soak the seeds into water. The water amount is enough to make them floating.
4. Change the water each day.
5. On my case, the seed it seen sprouting on the eight days. I germinated the seed on Saturday morning and the root is started to emerge on next Saturday morning. On this happy morning, I found four seeds were germinated.
6. Transfer the seeds onto polybags. Plant the seed side way to ease the root growth.


A fresh fallen fruit. Sorry for the blur image.


The freshness of the fruit is well supported by the presence of sticky sap on fruit stalk.


Dried fruits those were collected together with Joon Y on February 9, 2016.


Wingless fruits before soaking.


Wingless fruits after wash and soak immediately.


Dried fruit after day 1 soak.


Dried fruit after day 8 soak.

During the fruiting season particularly for the mass fruiting one, the amount of seeds is enormous. The fallen seeds will dry within few days. Coupled with common acceptance that the seed validity is very narrow and conservation status of most Dipterocarpaceae species largely falls into critically threatened category, the success of this trial provides a fresh optimism in conservation of Dipterocarpaceae species.

Oh wow! This is excellent news that more of the dried seeds have germinated.

Yes,

If you are interested to collect more seeds, we may arrange the time.

Hi Dr Khadijah,

Sorry for the late reply. I can make it either on this Sunday morning to afternoon or next Sunday around the same time.

Cheers,
Joon Yee

Dear Joon Y,

Let me check the seed first. It will be better if you have the fresh ones this time. If you are here, please bring the camera with you to capture the interesting findings. You might see for example:


Ripe seeds on the tree.


A freshly fallen seed.


Seedling of Dipetrocarpus kunstlerii which over the two stage leave. In the forest, when the seeding passed this stage, the survival probability is much higher. In contrast to urban area, any seedling are seen as weed that destroy landscaping configuration. Therefore, the seedling should be killed or unintentionally killed.


Ectomychorriza fungus of Russula.


Another Russula species.

If you are not in hurry, I like to share with you how to take botanical photo for identification purposes.

Dear Dr Khadijah,

Please do check on the seeds. It is a privilege for me to learn how to take botanical photos from an expert like you! I will certainly make the time for it.

Cheers,
Joon Yee

Hi ,

Is the germination applied to all other dipterocarp family?

Regards
Leong

Hi,

Usually Dipterocarpaceae seeds are believed to be recalcitrant. That means that these seeds cannot resist the effects of drying or storage for long periods.

It is also known that after a masting (main fruiting of dipterocarpaceae) the whole soil is covered with a "carpet" of two-leaves stage germinations. (I have personally counted 97000 germinations over 0.4 ha for two canopy trees of Shorea leprosula in Pasoh Forest Reserve with densities exceeding 100 germinations per square meter.)

In the present case we do not really know how long these seeds were fallen. Their dry appearance made us thinking they were old and will not germinate.