Tips for germinating 'Butterfly Iris' seeds

I've was given some butterfly iris seeds last year and just found them again this year. How do I germinate these. I thought an overnight tea bath and then just plant them. Should I soak them and wait for them to swell. They're kinda small.
HELP! I really want this to work
Jan

Hi Jan, can you tell you more specifically what butterfly iris are? I have heard that term used for Pardancanda (Candy Lily) by one breeder. Certain Iris may need a cold treatment. John

John is the one to ask, lol. I have only had good luck with Louisiana and Japanese Iris seeds. I just sowed them and they came up.
Forgot to add, I started some African Iris(dietes) from seed too. They were pretty easy to germinate.

This message was edited Sunday, Jun 2nd 9:40 PM

John
Sorry I have no further information. All I can tell you is that they came from a garden in Louisiana and are reputed to be quite beautiful. I have had these stored for the last 6 month in the butter compartment of the refridgerator. Does that count as cold treatment?
Jan

Jan, are the seeds large and fat and sort of corky, or are they flat and a bit papery?

I think Calalily is right, they are probably African Iris, Dietes. Did a quick search, and that would be the most usual use of the name. Jan, for many seeds, just cold is not enough, they need to be in moist peat or soil. I sow my Iris in the winter in pots, which I put on the cold porch. They come up beautifully in spring when the conditions are right. Yes, a seed description would help! John

John, that's why my bearded and Siberian iris didn't come up!! I didn't know they needed chilled, but it makes sense. The Japanese and La iris are from warm climates and don't normaly freeze in the ground, but the others do. Thanks.

Calalily they are neither, the seeds are dark brown to black, teardrop shaped and flat, but not papery. The are about the tickness of a cd. They are hard and woody.
John - how cold is that front porch? I assume above freezing
Jan

Jan, it is glassed in, but gets well below freezing! This just protects them from the elements. Each seed has a good chance this way, as often I'll have only a few of some special ones, and I don't want them washed away or something.

Cala, yes, try starting them in the late fall/early winter, they will come up readily at the right time. I get almost 100% germination with Pardancanda this way, compared to very poor started under lights in the house.

From the seed description, I am wondering about Neomarica, but far from certain.

Could they be Japanese Iris? They are sort of like that, and very hard seed coat. I just sowed them in potting soil and got very good, but slow germination.

They sound like Japanese Iris to me. I have grown those from seed, with the cold period followed by warm.

Thanks Badseed
I'll put them in a good mix and stick them in the back of the fridge for a few weeks (is this enough), keep them moist, then pull them out and see what happens
What do you think?
Jan