Low‐cost technology supports propagation of endemic species from a global biodiversity hotspot

A widespread myth in tropical grassy biome restoration is that most native plants are not amenable to propagation. This untested assumption has hampered the development of restoration productive chains in the campo rupestre , a megadiverse edaphic grassy‐shrubby ecosystem where native species often produce a large proportion of embryoless or nonviable, minute seeds. Likely, the myth arises due to the limited development and testing of techniques for seed cleaning and plant propagation, coupled with the lack of synthesis of current successful techniques. Here, we conducted a series of experiments on germination and propagation of campo rupestre endemics, providing evidence to dispel this persisting myth and foster grassland restoration. First, we adapted a seed flotation method—a reliable, low‐cost, fast, and low‐technology technique—that successfully separates high‐quality seeds from low‐quality ones. Germination of floating seeds was significantly lower than that of precipitated seeds for all species, indicating the effectiveness of the method. We also ran experiments showing that germination under nursery conditions was equal to or outperformed germination in chambers, suggesting that laboratory studies might underestimate the germination potential of campo rupestre species. Our nursery experiment indicates a high potential for seedling production of campo rupestre , with relatively high survival rates and growth under common nursery settings. Finally, we provide evidence from a total of 70 studies demonstrating propagation success under nursery conditions for 117 species. Dispelling the myth that edaphic grassland species are not amenable to cultivation creates numerous opportunities for further partnerships among governments, the mining industry, academics, and local producers.