Pinaceae (Pinus)

Protocol Information for:

Label_title:
Pinus (flexilis)

Family Names:

Family Scientific Name:
Pinaceae

Family Common Name:
Pine family

Scientific Names:

Genus:
Pinus

Species:
flexilis

Scientific Classification:

Scientific SubSpecies:

Species Authority:
James

Scientific SubAuthority:

Authors:

Common Synonym:

Genus:

Species:

Synonym Classification:

Synonym SubSpecies:

Species Authority:

Synonym SubAuthority:

Other Information:

Common Name:
Limber pine

Species Code:
PINFLE

Ecotype:
Rising Sun, Glacier National Park, Glacier Co., MT.,1585m elev.ÿ

General Distribution:
P. flexilis occurs at or near treeline in mostly semi-arid ranges from southeast B.C. to southwest Alberta and the Dakotas, south in Idaho and Montana to New Mexico, California, Nevada. It is also found in northeastern Oregon. It occurs east of the Continental Divide in Glacier National Park.

Known Invasiveness:

Propagation Goal:
plants

Propagation Method:
seed

Product Type:
Container (plug)

Stock Type:
172 ml Conetainers

Grow Time:
20 Months

Target Specifications:
Stock Type: Container seedling.
Height:9.0 cm
Caliper:8 mm
Root System: Firm plug in container.

Propagation Collection:
Cones are collected in late September when cones are yellowish brown and before cone scales are opened. Cones are cut from branches using pruning poles and hand pruners. Cones are kept in burlap sacks in the drying shed prior to cleaning. Seeds are brown at maturity.

Propagation Processing/Propagule Characteristics:
Seeds are easily extracted from opened cones using a tumbler. Seeds are dewinged and stored at 0C.
Seed longevity is up to 5 years at 0C in sealed containers.
Seed dormancy is classified as physiological dormancy.
Seeds/Kg: 22,000/kg
% Purity: 100%
% Germination: 68 to 80%

Pre-Planting Propagule Treatments:
Seeds were cleansed with a 8 minute 3:1 (v:v)water/bleach soak followed by a 48 hour running water rinse and a 45 to 100 day cold, moist stratification.
Seeds are placed in fine mesh bags buried in moist peat moss in ventilated containers under refrigeration at 3C.

Growing Area Preparation / Annual Practices for Perennial Crops:
Greenhouse and outdoor nursery growing facility.
Sowing Method: Direct Seeding. Seeds are covered with medium.
Growing medium used is 6:1:1 milled sphagnum peat, perlite, and vermiculite with Osmocote controlled release fertilizer (13N:13P2O5:13K2O; 8 to 9 month release rate at 21C) and Micromax fertilizer (12%S, 0.1%B, 0.5%Cu, 12%Fe, 2.5%Mn, 0.05%Mo, 1%Zn) at the rate of 1 gram of Osmocote and 0.20 gram of Micromax per 172 ml conetainer.
Greenhouse temperatures are maintained at 21 to 25C during the day and 16 to 18C at night. Seedlings are hand watered and remain in greenhouse until mid May. Seedlings are moved to outdoor nursery for the remainder of the growing season.
Seedlings are irrigated with Rainbird automatic irrigation system in early morning until containers are thoroughly leached.

Establishment Phase:
Seedings emerge 7 to 10 days after sowing. Seedlings are thinned at the bird cage stage. Germinants shed seedcoats 15 days after emergence.
It is important to allow medum to dry slightly after seedlings are established.This prevents pre and post emergence damping off disease and other root diseases.
Seedlings are fertilized with Conifer Starter 7-40-17 liquid NPK at 50 ppm for 1 month.

Length of Establishment Phase:
4 weeks

Active Growth Phase:
Seedlings reach the rapid growth stage 4 to 5 weeks after germination.
Average height was 5 centimeters 4 months after germination. Plants attained root-tightness 6 months after germination.
Plants were regularly fertilized with 20-7-19 liquid NPK at 200 ppm. Plants are moved from the greenhouse to the outdoor nursery inlate May.

Length of Active Growth Phase:
20 weeks

Hardening Phase:
Plants are fertilized with 10-20-20 liquid NPK at 200 ppm in early fall; pots are leached with water, irrigation is gradually reduced through September and October.

Length of Hardening Phase:
4 weeks

Harvesting, Storage and Shipping:
Total Time To Harvest: 1.8 years
Harvest Date: September of the second year
Storage Conditions: Overwinter in outdoor nursery under insulating foam cover and snow.

Length of Storage:
5 months

Guidelines for Outplanting / Performance on Typical Sites:

Other Comments:
3 L (1 gallon) container stock can be produced in 2.5 years with an average height of 15 cm and 8 mm caliper.

References:
Flora of the Pacific Northwest, Hitchcock and Cronquist, Univ. of Washington Press, 7th printing, 1990.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, Second Edition, Deno, Norman, published 1993.

Glacier Park Native Plant Nursery Propagation Records, unpublished.

Seeds of the Woody Plants of the U.S., Agriculture Handbook #450, U.S.F.S., Washington D.C., 1974.

Citation:
Luna, Tara; Evans, Jeff; Wick, Dale. 2008. Propagation protocol for production of Container (plug) Pinus flexilis James plants 172 ml Conetainers; USDI NPS - Glacier National Park West Glacier, Montana. In: Native Plant Network. URL: https://NativePlantNetwork.org (accessed 2024/12/22). US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources.

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