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Seed germination and early growth rates of Heinsia crinita from four sources in Nigeria were conducted. Seeds of H.
crinita were collected from Benin, Port Harcourt, Umuahia and Calabar and examined for variation in germination
performance and early seedling growth attributes. A total of 400 seeds (4 replicate of 100 seeds) per location were sown
and germination was monitored every day from the date of sowing for 30 days or until there was no further germination for
a few days. Following germination, fifty (50) seedlings at uniform height from each location were selected and transplanted
into polythene bags filled with topsoil collected from forest floor. The growth parameters such as root and shoot length,
leaf area, leaf production and seedling biomass were assessed at six months after planting. Analysis of variance revealed
significant difference (p < 0.05) in germination of seeds from the different sources as well as significant differences (p <
0.05) in all studied growth attributes of the seedlings from the different seed sources after 6 months of growth. Seeds from
Calabar gave the highest germination percentage (92%), followed by seeds from Umuahia (86%) while the lowest
germination percentage (54%) was recorded for seed from Benin City. Commencement of germination was earliest (8 days
after sowing) in Calabar seed source, which was closely followed by seeds from Umuahia that commenced germination 10
days after sowing. Seedlings from Calabar seed source had the highest mean values for all the seedling growth attributes
investigated. There was significant difference in the dry weight seedlings from the different seed sources at 0.05 significant
level. Seedlings from Calabar seed source produced the largest amount of dry weight (3.34 g plant-1), while seedlings from
Benin City seed source had lowest dry weight of 1.67g plant-1. Seed sources with higher longitude tend to perform better in
terms of germination and produce seedlings with better growth attributes. The study has shown that the choice of an
appropriate seed source is an important process in restoration and domestication of the plant species.