Your low germination rate is likely coming from the dry storage. Several weeks of moist cold should have improved germination.

Lindera benzoin:

"Seed Collection: Collect seeds in late summer through October when the fruit has turned red. Seeds must be cleaned before storing. Store seeds in moist sand or sow immediately. Seeds allowed to dry out lose viability.
Seed Treatment: Stratify for 90-120 days at 41 degrees. "

Adding definition of stratify - period of moist cold condition. The process of pretreating seeds to simulate natural winter conditions that a seed must endure before germination. Many seed species undergo an embryonic dormancy phase, and generally will not sprout until this dormancy is broken. The time taken to stratify seeds depends on species and conditions

This post was edited by morz8 on Sun, May 25, 14 at 9:56