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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

Carex (nebrascensis)

Kasten Dumroese
Research Plant Physiologist
USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station
1221 S. Main St.
Moscow, Idaho 83843
(208) 883-2324
kdumroese@fs.fed.us
http://plant-materials.nrcs.usda.gov/copmc/

Family Scientific Name: Cyperaceae
Family Common Name: Sedge Family
Scientific Name: Carex nebrascensis Dewey
Common Name: Nebraska sedge
Species Code: CARNEB
Ecotype: Idaho
General Distribution: Nebraska sedge is found from Alberta and Saskatchewan south throughout the western United States and Great Plains to Nebraska and east to Missouri and Illinois. It inhabits wet meadows and swales in open grasslands from sea level to 2,500 m (0 to 8,202 ft).
Propagation Goal: plants
Propagation Method: seed
ProductType: Container (plug)
Time To Grow: 0
Propagule Collection: Mature female spikes containing the achenes can be collected by hand stripping the flowering stems in late summer and early fall. Filled, ripe seeds will shatter or easily shake out of the seed head.
Propagule Processing: Store collected material in a dry place until cleaning. Large collections could be cleaned with a hammermill or with a clipper "Office" fanning mill, using a Number 8 top screen and a Number 20 screen, with the airflow adjusted to a very slow speed.
Additional cleaning to remove the perigynia improves germination. Perigynia can be removed by various methods, but a brief, light rubbing of achenes with sandpaper is an easy method for small quantities.
Pre-Planting Treatments: Removal of the perigynium, the
saclike structure around mature achenes, either with forceps or sandpaper, provided sufficient scarification to significantly
increase total germination about 50% compared with that of nonscarified achenes.
A combination of scarification and 32 d of cold, moist stratification resulted in 25% higher total germination
than stratification alone. Cold, moist stratification
also improved germination rate.
Stratification of scarified achenes with Sphagnum peat moss resulted in 17% more germination
than when scarified achenes were stratified in distilled water only. Our results indicate Nebraska sedge
can be efficiently germinated in nurseries if perigynia are removed by scarification and achenes stratified 32 days at
3øC (37øF) with a Sphagnum peat moss substrate. More methods can be found in Hoag et al. 2001.
References: Hoag JC, Dumroese RK, Sellers ME. 2001. Perigynium removal and cold-moist stratification improves germination of Carex nebrascensis (Nebraska sedge) achenes. Native Plants Journal 2:63-66.

Citation:

Sellers, Michael E.; Hoag, J. Chris; Dumroese, Kasten. 2009. Propagation protocol for production of Container (plug) Carex nebrascensis Dewey plants USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station Moscow, Idaho. 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.