Linnaea (borealis)

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:	Caprifoliaceae
Family Common Name:	Honeysuckle family
Scientific Name:	Linnaea borealis L.
Common Name:	Twinflower
Species Code:	LINBOR
Ecotype:	Lodgepole forest, West Glacier, Glacier National Park, Flathead Co., MT.1100m elevation.
General Distribution:	L. borealis is a circumboreal species, that occurs south to California, Arizona, New Mexico, South Dakota, Indiana, and West Virginia in open to dense woods.
Propagation Goal:	plants
Propagation Method:	seed
ProductType:	Container (plug)
Stock Type:	160 ml conetainers
Time To Grow:	9 Months
Target Specifications:	Height: 2 to 3 runners, 2.5 cm in height and 7 cm long.<br> Caliper: n/a<br> Root System: Firm plug in conetainers.
Propagule Collection:	Hand collect mature indehiscent capsules in late August when they turn brown. Each capsule contains only one seed, thus large quantities are needed. Seeds are brown at maturity and reach maturity 36 days after flowering. Seeds are collected in paper bags and is stored in dry location prior to cleaning.
Propagule Processing:	Seeds are hand cleaned by rubbing capsules against screens. Seed longevity is unknown. Seed dormancy is classified physiological dormancy. Seeds/Kg: unknown % Purity: 100% % Germination: 50%
Pre-Planting Treatments:	5 month outdoor stratification. A minimum of a 60 day cold, moist stratification is recommended. Seeds have been reported to have a light requirement.
Growing Area Preparation/ Annual Practices for Perennial Crops:	Outdoor nursery growing facility. Sowing Method: Direct Seeding. Seeds must be surface sown for light requirement. Growing medium used is 6:1:1 milled sphagnum 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. Conetainers are filled and sown in late fall and irrigated thoroughly prior to winter stratification.
Establishment Phase:	Germination occurred in late May following several days of temperatures of 22C or above during the day. Germination continued for over 1 month. True leaves were evident 10 days after germination.
Length of Establishment Phase:	4 weeks
Active Growth Phase:	Shoot growth was rapid following establishment. Seedlings had produced 2 to 3 stems with multiple leaves 8 weeks after germination. Seedlings were fertilized with 20-20-20 liquid NPK weekly at the rate of 100 ppm during active growth. This species produces a shallow root system.
Length of Active Growth Phase:	12 weeks
Hardening Phase:	Seedlings were fertilized with 10-20-20 liquid NPK at the rate of 100 ppm during fall months. Irrigation is gradually reduced in September and October. One final irrigation is applied prior to winterization.
Length of Hardening Phase:	4 weeks
Harvesting, Storage and Shipping:	Total Time To Harvest: 9 months Harvest Date: September Storage Conditions: Overwinter in outdoor nursery under insulating foam and snow.
Length of Storage:	5 months
Other Comments:	L. borealis is described as a pioneer species which spreads through the surface ash layer devoid of humus following a fire. It is reported to spread as much as 30 cm (1 foot) per year in lowland revegetation sites.
References:	Flora of the Pacific Northwest, Hitchcock and Cronquist, 7th edition, University of Washington Press, 1973. 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. Aspects of the Seed Ecology of Woody Plants of the Alaska Taiga and Tundra, Densmore, R., PhD Thesis, Department of Botany, Duke University, 1979.

Citation:

Luna, Tara; Evans, Jeff; Wick, Dale. 2008. Propagation protocol for production of Container (plug) Linnaea borealis L. plants 160 ml conetainers; USDI NPS - Glacier National Park West Glacier, Montana. In: Native Plant Network. URL: https://NativePlantNetwork.org (accessed 2024/07/02). US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources.