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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

Townsendia (alpigena)

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

Family Scientific Name: Asteraceae
Family Common Name: Sunflower family
Scientific Name: Townsendia alpigena Piper. alpigena Piper.
Common Synonym: Townsendia montana M.E. Jones
Common Name: Mountain Townsendia
Species Code: TOWALP
Ecotype: Alpine slope, southwestern Montana
General Distribution: T. alpigena var. alpigena is found from southwest Montana across central Idaho to the Wallowa Mountains, Oregon, south to Wyoming and Utah.
Propagation Goal: plants
Propagation Method: seed
ProductType: Container (plug)
Stock Type: 172 ml conetainers
Time To Grow: 6 Months
Target Specifications: Height: 4 cm, 6 to 10 true leaves<br> Caliper: n/a<br> Root System: firm plug in 172 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 bags and kept in a well ventilated drying shed prio to cleaning.
Propagule Processing: Seeds are hand cleaned using screens.
Seed longevity is estimated at 5 to 7 years.
Seed dormancy is classified as non deep physiological dormancy.
Seeds/Kg:1,200,000/kg
% Purity: 100%
% Germination: 50%
Pre-Planting Treatments: Dry storage of seed for 5 months.
Growing Area Preparation/
Annual Practices for Perennial Crops:
Greenhouse; 22C/13C day/night temperature cycle.
Sowing Method: Direct Seeding. Seeds are covered with media.
Growing media used is 6:1:1 milled spaghnum 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.
Establishment Phase: Media is kept slightly moist during germination. Initial germination appeared uniform. Do not over water seedlings.
Length of Establishment Phase: 4 weeks
Active Growth Phase: Root and shoot development occurs rapidly following germination. Plants were fertilized with 20-10-20 liquid NPK fertilizer at 100 ppm during the growing season.
Length of Active Growth Phase: 16 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.
Length of Hardening Phase: 4 weeks
Harvesting, Storage and Shipping: Total Time To Harvest:6 months
Harvest Date: July
Storage Conditions: Overwinter in outdoor nursery under insulating foam cover and snow.
Length of Storage: 5 months
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.
Glacier National Park Propagation Records, unpublished.

Citation:

Luna, Tara; Evans, Jeff; Wick, Dale. 2001. Propagation protocol for production of Container (plug) Townsendia alpigena Piper. plants 172 ml conetainers; USDI NPS - Glacier National Park West Glacier, Montana. 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.