Packera (multilobata)

Derek Tilley PMC Manager USDA NRCS - Aberdeen Plant Materials Center PO Box 296 Aberdeen, Idaho 83210 208-397-4133 x 104 derek.tilley@id.usda.gov http://plant-materials.nrcs.usda.gov/idpmc

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Family Scientific Name:	Asteraceae
Family Common Name:	Sunflower
Scientific Name:	Packera multilobata (Torr. & A. Gray ex A. Gray) W.A. Weber & A. L”ve
Common Synonym:	Senecio multilobatus Torr. & A. Gray ex A. Gray
Common Name:	Multilobed groundsel
Species Code:	PAMU11
Ecotype:	Intermountain West and Rocky Mountains
General Distribution:	Western North America
Propagation Goal:	seeds
Propagation Method:	seed
ProductType:	Propagules (seeds, cuttings, poles, etc.)
Time To Grow:	Weeks
Propagule Collection:	Wildland collections can be made by hand stripping or shaking ripe seed into collection bags. Seed can be collected slightly early by harvesting the entire inflorescence and allowing the seed to after ripen.
Propagule Processing:	Unprocessed seed is first sent through a Westrup laboratory brush machine with a number 7 mantle at a speed of 2. The gate is left approximately 1 cm open to allow the brushed seed to fall through to the catch pan below. The brushes dislodge the seed from the heads and remove the pappus. The brushed material is then cleaned using a Westrup LA-LS multi-deck air screen cleaner with a 1.55 top screen, blank middle, and solid bottom screen. The air is set at approximately 1.5 to pick up the removed pappus, unfilled achenes and light inert matter. These methods yield high purities (90-100%). There are approximately 900,000 seeds/lb.
Pre-Planting Treatments:	Seed is stored in cool-dry conditions with temperatures of approximately 10ø C (50ø F) and relative humidity of 20 to 30%.
Growing Area Preparation/ Annual Practices for Perennial Crops:	Seed is sown into weed barrier fabric at 23 to 30 cm (9 to 12 in) spacing. Seed should be planted in late fall into slightly roughened soil and then lightly covered and packed.
Establishment Phase:	First emergence occurs in early spring in late April and early May.
Active Growth Phase:	Seed can be harvested the first full growing season. Two to three years of additional harvests may be possible depending on ecotype. Plants go dormant in late summer and can be mowed for the winter.
Harvesting, Storage and Shipping:	Seed can be collected by hand, combine, flailvac, or vacuum-type harvester. We use a "jet harvester" (Bair and Tilley 2010) with the fan running at 3,000 to 5,000 rpm. This ensures that only ripe seed is harvested and allows for multiple harvests during the season. Seed readily disarticulates from flowerheads when ripe.
Other Comments:	Multilobed groundsel has been found to contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids which will cause hepatic disease in horses and cattle (Tilley and St. John, 2011).
References:	Bair C, Tilley DJ. 2010. The jet harvester: a shop built tool for harvesting forb and shrub seed. Aberdeen (ID): USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Aberdeen Plant Materials Center. Technical Note 55. 6 p. Tilley D, St. John L. 2011. Initial toxicity screening of groundsel (Senecio spp.); 2011 Progress Report. Aberdeen (ID): USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Aberdeen Plant Materials Center. 3 p.

Citation:

Tilley, Derek J.. 2011. Propagation protocol for production of Propagules (seeds, cuttings, poles, etc.) Packera multilobata (Torr. & A. Gray ex A. Gray) W.A. Weber & A. L”ve seeds USDA NRCS - Aberdeen Plant Materials Center Aberdeen, Idaho. In: Native Plant Network. URL: https://NativePlantNetwork.org (accessed 2025/02/25). US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources.