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The Forest Service National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources (RNGR) is a leading source of technical information for nurseries and land managers regarding production and planting of trees and other native plants for reforestation, restoration, and conservation.

 
NPN Protocol Details Image

Cerbera (dilatata)

David
Limtiaco
USDA FS - Guam Division of Forestry and Soil Resources
192 Dairy Rd
Mangilao, Guam 96923

Family Scientific Name: Apocynaceae
Family Common Name: Plumeria family
Scientific Name: Cerbera dilatata Markgraf.
Common Name: Chiute
Species Code: CERDIL
Ecotype: Guam
General Distribution: Chiute is an endemic species to the Mariana islands; found on Guam, Saipan,Rota, Tinian and Pagan. It inhabits moist forests and may be foundon limestone soils. It is a very attractive native with large, showy plumeria-like flowers.
Propagation Goal: plants
Propagation Method: vegetative
ProductType: Container (plug)
Stock Type: 3L (1 gal) containers
Time To Grow: 4 Months
Target Specifications: Height: 20 cm<br> Caliper: N/A<br> Root System: Firm Root Plug in container.
Propagule Collection: Collect softwood stem cuttings when the leaves have expanded and the stems are firm. During collection, stem cuttings need to be kept moist and cool, and must be treated immediately after collection.
Pre-Planting Treatments: Each cutting must have a healthy, terminal shoot bud. Stems are cut to 15 cm (6.0 in) lengths, and all mature leaves are removed except the terminal leaves. Leaf buds in the axils of leaves are not removed and will form new leaves once the cuttings are well rooted. Cuttings are directly stuck into containers filled with moistened, well aerated medium. We do not use rooting hormones.
Growing Area Preparation/
Annual Practices for Perennial Crops:
The Guam Forestry nursery has a year round growing season with periods of high rainfall.
The facility is comprised of shade structures and an outdoor growing compound. All propagation environments are utilized at different stages of seedling growth to protect seedlings from heavy rains, and provide to temperature and shading variance during production. We irrigate all containers by hand, but are investigating a sub-irrigation system for the nursery.
Establishment Phase: Cuttings begin to form roots about 4 weeks after sticking. We plant them in
polybags filled with a growing medium of 2:1:1 (v:v:v) sand, commerical medium, and crushed rock. Cuttings are kept evenly moist during establishment.
Length of Establishment Phase: 4 weeks
Active Growth Phase: Once cuttings are well rooted, new leaves from the axillary leaf buds begin to form. We keep cuttings in the shelterhouse during active growth to protect them from wind and heavy rains.
Length of Active Growth Phase: 8 weeks
Hardening Phase: Irrigation frequency and duration is gradually reduced for 4 to 8 weeks prior to outplanting. We move cuttings to open growing compound at this stage.
Length of Hardening Phase: 4 weeks
Harvesting, Storage and Shipping: Containerized seedlings are stored in the open growing compound until moved to outplanting site.
Length of Storage: Variable; depends on outplanting date.

Citation:

Limtiaco, David. 2005. Propagation protocol for production of Container (plug) Cerbera dilatata Markgraf. plants 3L (1 gal) containers; USDA FS - Guam Division of Forestry and Soil Resources Mangilao, Guam. In: Native Plant Network. URL: https://NativePlantNetwork.org (accessed 2024/07/01). US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources.