Saussurea (densa)

Tara Luna USDI NPS - Glacier National Park West Glacier, Montana 59936 (406) 888-7835 http://plant-materials.nrcs.usda.gov/azpmc

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Family Scientific Name:	Asteraceae
Family Common Name:	Sunflower family
Scientific Name:	Saussurea densa ( Hook. ) Rydb.
Common Synonym:	Saussurea nuda ( Hook. ) Rydb. densa
Common Name:	Dwarf Saussurea
Species Code:	SAUDEN
Ecotype:	Alpine slope, southeastern B.C.
General Distribution:	S. densa is found in rocky slopes on the mountains, from southwestern Alberta and southeastern B.C. to scattered locations along the east front of the Rocky Mountains of northern Montana.
Propagation Goal:	plants
Propagation Method:	seed
ProductType:	Container (plug)
Stock Type:	160 ml conetainers
Time To Grow:	9 Months
Target Specifications:	Height: 4 cm, 4 to 6 true leaves<br> Caliper: n/a<br> Root System: firm plug in 160 ml conetainer.
Propagule Collection:	Seeds are hand collected in late August when achenes turn gray and are easily removed from the disc. Seeds are collected in paper envelopes and kept in a well ventilated drying shed prior to cleaning.
Propagule Processing:	Seeds are hand cleaned by rubbing against screens. Seed longevity is unknown. Seed dormancy is classified as non-deep physiological dormancy. Seeds/Kg: 1,200,000 /kg approx. % Purity: 100% % Germination: 35%
Pre-Planting Treatments:	Fresh seeds were sown in the outdoor nursery and subjected to a 5 month cold, moist stratification.
Growing Area Preparation/ Annual Practices for Perennial Crops:	Outdoor nursery growing facility. Sowing Method: Direct Seeding. Seeds are covered with medium. Growing medium used is 50% milled sphagnum peat, perlite, and vermiculite and 50% washed sand 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 conetainer. Conetainers are filled and sown in late fall and irrigated thoroughly prior to winter stratification.
Establishment Phase:	Medium is kept slightly moist during germination. Initial germination was uniform and occurred following 2 weeks of temperatures at 22C or above during the day.
Length of Establishment Phase:	4 weeks
Active Growth Phase:	Root and shoot development occurs rapidly following germination. Plants were fertilized with 20-20-20 liquid NPK fertilizer at 100 ppm during the growing season. Plants were fully root tight 10 weeks after germination.
Length of Active Growth Phase:	8 weeks
Hardening Phase:	Irrigation is gradually reduced in September and October. Plants are leached with clear water and fertilized with 10-20-20 liquid NPK fertilizer at 200 ppm once before winterization.
Length of Hardening Phase:	4 weeks
Harvesting, Storage and Shipping:	Total Time To Harvest: 9 months Harvest Date:August Storage Conditions: Overwinter in outdoor nursery under insulating foam cover and snow.
Length of Storage:	5 months
Other Comments:	S. densa is found growing in calcareous soils of talus and scree slopes in the alpine zone.
References:	Flora of the Pacific Northwest, Hitchcock and Cronquist, 7th edition, University of Washington Press, 1973. Seeding Rate Statistics for Native and Introduced Species, Hassell, Wendel, U.S.D.I. and U.S.D.A., April 1996. Seeds: Ecology, Biogeography, and Evolution of Dormancy and Germination, Baskin and Baskin, Academic Press, 1998. Seed Germination Theory and Practice, Deno, Norman, Penn State University, 1993. Glacier National Park Native Plant Nursery Propagation Records, unpublished.

Citation:

Luna, Tara; DeSanto, Jerry; Evans, Jeff; Wick, Dale. 2008. Propagation protocol for production of Container (plug) Saussurea densa ( Hook. ) Rydb. plants 160 ml conetainers; USDI NPS - Glacier National Park West Glacier, Montana. In: Native Plant Network. URL: https://NativePlantNetwork.org (accessed 2025/02/23). US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources.