RNGR.net is sponsored by the USDA Forest Service and Southern Regional Extension Forestry and is a colloborative effort between these two agencies.

U.S. Department of Agriculture USDA Forest Service Southern Regional Extension Forestry Southern Regional Extension Forestry

Skip to content. | Skip to navigation

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

Carex (paysonis)

Mark E. Majerus
USDA NRCS - Bridger Plant Materials Center
99 South River Road, Rte. 2, Box 1189
Bridger, Montana 59014-9718
(406) 662-3579
(406) 662-3428 (fax)
mmajerus@mt.nrcs.usda.gov
http://plant-materials.nrcs.usda.gov/mtpmc
Family Scientific Name: Cyperaceae
Family Common Name: Sedge Family
Scientific Name: Carex paysonis Clokey
Common Name: Payson's sedge
Species Code: CARPAY
Ecotype: Ecotype collected from Logan Pass area of Glacier National Park.
Propagation Goal: seeds
Propagation Method: seed
ProductType: Propagules (seeds, cuttings, poles, etc.)
Stock Type: Propagation Goal: Develop technology for direct seeding of this species for high elevation habitat restoration.
Time To Grow: 0
Propagule Processing: Process seed heads in a hammermill with a #8 (0.125 in diameter holes) screen. Hand rubbing of small lots works equally well. Clean processed materials over a fanning mill with moderate wind to remove light seed and chaff.
Pre-Planting Treatments: Our only experience is with a 6-month cold moist chilling in a refrigerator maintained at 34 to 37øF. The seeds were sown on germination pads in petri dishes and kept moist for the duration of the cold chill. The stratified seeds were subsequently exposed to 3 irradiance levels (full, partial, zero) in an environmental growth chamber maintained at 86øF days for an 8-hour daylight photoperiod and 68øF nights for 16 hours. Each treatment consisted of 5 reps of 25 seed/rep. This species was not as sensitive to decreasing light intensities as other Carex tested, but germination did decrease below the full irradiance level.Germination decreased from 49.6% at full irradiance (mean 268 footcandles) to 35.2% at partial (mean 23 foot candles) and 33.6% at zero irradiance. Seedling mortality was 0% at all irradiance levels. There was no gain in germination as the result of exposure of all three treatments to a secondary full irradiance.
Other Comments: Study results indicate that a 6-month cold moist chilling is adequate to break dormancy, although the optimum amount of cold chilling was not determined. Germination is effected negatively by reduced irradiance below the full irradiance level, but not as much as other Carex tested. During propagation from seeds, provide adequate intensities of light. Increase seeding rates to meet target cover or species composition when using mulch or agronomy cloth.

Citation:

Scianna, Joe. 2003. Propagation protocol for production of Propagules (seeds, cuttings, poles, etc.) Carex paysonis Clokey seeds Propagation Goal: Develop technology for direct seeding of this species for high elevation habitat restoration.; USDA NRCS - Bridger Plant Materials Center Bridger, Montana. In: Native Plant Network. URL: https://NativePlantNetwork.org (accessed 2025/04/24). US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources.