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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

Bothriochloa (barbinodis)

Allegra Mount
Seed Lab Manager
Borderlands Restoration
PO Box 1191
Patagonia, Arizona 85624
949-690-2592
borderlands.restoration@gmail.com
www.borderlandsrestoration.org

Family Scientific Name: Poaceae
Family Common Name: Grass Family
Scientific Name: Bothriochloa barbinodis (Lag.) Herter
Common Name: cane bluestem
Ecotype: Madrean Archipelago
General Distribution: Cane bluestem prefers calcareous loamy soils and can survive in very dry areas that receive seasonal flooding (Garner et al 2014). Found in open areas, along wash banks, and on slopes at elevations from 1,000 to 7,000 feet (Gucker 2011). It is one of the first species to disappear from unsustainably grazed landscapes, and so its presence can be a good indication of good grazing practices (Garner et al 2014). It is an important food and shelter plant for Gambel’s quail and rabbits, and it can be useful in erosion control (Garner et al 2014).
Propagation Goal: Plants
Propagation Method: Seed
ProductType: Container (plug)
Propagule Collection: Seeds are collected when they form a white fluffy fan at the top of the culms and when they readily detach from the plant. Gently collect seed tufts by hand, removing them from the culms.
Propagule Processing: Borderlands Restoration does not currently have access to equipment to completely clean grass seed, so seed cleaning for this species is minimal and just involves picking out larger sticks and other debris by hand. Orthodox storage is assumed.
Establishment Phase: Cane bluestem is typically easy to germinate with no pretreatment necessary (Gucker 2011). In lab and field settings germination rates are generally 75% or higher (Gucker 2011). Seeds germinated at 25°C (77°F) show the highest germination rates of 88-93% (Gucker 2011). Abrupt temperature changes and seeds kept at lower and higher temperatures had lower germination rates of 0-76% (Gucker 2011).
References: Garner, E.R., B.D., Munda, and M. Pater. “Plant Guide for Bothriochloa barbinoides (Lag.) Herter.” USDA NRCS PLant Fact Sheet. USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service, Tucson Plant Materials Center, Tucson, AZ, 2014.

Gould, Frank W. Grasses of the Southwestern United States. U of Arizona, 1951. Print.

Gucker, Corey L. “Bothriochloa barbinodis.” Fire Effects Information System. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory, 2011. Web. http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/ [2017, February 7]

Borderlands Restoration Network (2018). BRN Native Plant Materials Program Database. Unpublished Raw Data.

Citation:

Claverie, Francesca ; McNelis, Perin; Mount, Allegra; Allen-Cantú, Juniper. 2018. Propagation protocol for production of Container (plug) Bothriochloa barbinodis (Lag.) Herter Plants Borderlands Restoration Patagonia, Arizona. 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.