Polygonaceae (Polygonum)

Protocol Information for:

Label_title:
Polygonum (paronychia)

Family Names:

Family Scientific Name:
Polygonaceae

Family Common Name:
Buckwheat

Scientific Names:

Genus:
Polygonum

Species:
paronychia

Scientific Classification:

Scientific SubSpecies:

Species Authority:

Scientific SubAuthority:

Authors:

Ian Silvernail

Common Synonym:

Genus:

Species:

Synonym Classification:

Synonym SubSpecies:

Species Authority:

Synonym SubAuthority:

Other Information:

Common Name:
beach knotweed, black knotweed

Species Code:
POPA7

Ecotype:
Central Oregon Coast

General Distribution:
San Luis Obispo County, CA north to Vancouver Island, BC. Found in sandy coastal habitats including dunes and scrub.

Known Invasiveness:
none

Propagation Goal:
Seeds

Propagation Method:
Seed

Product Type:
Propagules (seeds, cutings, poles, etc.)

Stock Type:
Deepot D40 (2.5" diam. x 10" deep)

Grow Time:
6-8 months

Target Specifications:
large well-rooted plug

Propagation Collection:
Seed ripens indeterminately and this species can be found in bloom in nearly all months of the year. Achenes were collected on the Central Oregon Coast in August, but the general collection window in this region begins as early as June and extends as late as October.

Propagation Processing/Propagule Characteristics:
Dry plant material was threshed in a Westrup LA-H brush machine with solid mantle at low speed. Seed was separated from inert plant matter on a Clipper Office Tester using a 6 round top screen and 1/16 round bottom screen with air at medium-high setting. It is difficult to separate seed from all inert plant matter, especially broken leaf pieces. Further conditioning may be necessary depending on ultimate use of seed.

Pre-Planting Propagule Treatments:
In controlled tests, germination was optimized with 8 weeks cold-moist stratification (71%). Germination did not improve significantly with scarification or longer periods of cold-moist stratification.

Growing Area Preparation / Annual Practices for Perennial Crops:
Half of the containers were filled with ProMix-HP+, a high porosity peat and perlite-based medium. The remaining half of containers were filled with a mix of 1 part washed river sand to 2 parts ProMix-HP+.

Establishment Phase:
Plugs were well rooted and ready for transplant in 6+ months from emergence. Establishment from seed was 95% in ProMix-HP+ and 75% in the sand-HP mix. Large plugs were used in this effort because the project had goals other than plug production; smaller plugs would likely be successful and could be established quicker.

Length of Establishment Phase:
This species is slower to emerge and grow than many other coastal dune species, requiring up to 30 days to germinate.

Active Growth Phase:
Plugs were planted in a seed increase field in November in Willamette silt-loam soil in Corvallis, OR (very different than the native habitat soils). Plants grew slowly through the winter and then actively throughout the spring and summer. Plants received no supplemental water. Plants bloomed abundantly and seed was harvested in November by cutting all branches back to the main stem, leaving about 6" of the main stem in the ground. The following year, plants regrew actively and were reharvested.

Length of Active Growth Phase:

Hardening Phase:

Length of Hardening Phase:

Harvesting, Storage and Shipping:

Length of Storage:

Guidelines for Outplanting / Performance on Typical Sites:

Other Comments:

References:

Citation:
Silvernail, Ian. 2023. Propagation protocol for production of Propagules (seeds, cutings, poles, etc.) Polygonum paronychia Seeds Deepot D40 (2.5" diam. x 10" deep); USDA NRCS - Corvallis Plant Materials Center Corvallis, Oregon. In: Native Plant Network. URL: https://NativePlantNetwork.org (accessed 2025/05/21). US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources.

Personal tools