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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 (cusickii)

Rae Watson
Forestry Technician
USDA FS - J Herbert Stone Nursery
2606 Old Stage Rd.
Central Point, Oregon 97537
541.858.6131
541.858.6110 (fax)
rewatson@fs.fed.us
gillyflowernursery.com

Family Scientific Name: Cyperaceae
Scientific Name: Carex cusickii
Common Name: Cusick sedge
Species Code: CARCUS
Propagation Goal: plants
Propagation Method: seed
ProductType: Container (plug)
Stock Type: Root Trainer 20
Time To Grow: 3 Months
Target Specifications: Height - 30 to 45cm (12 to 18 in). Caliper is not applicable to sedges. Rootsystem must fill container but because of the propagation environment, many roots came out of the bottom of the plug. The Root Trainer 20 opens up and allows easy extraction of the root system.
Propagule Collection: Field collected from marshes around Parsnip Lake, 22km (14 miles) southwest of Ashland Oregon at 1200m (4000ft) in the Cascade Mountains by David Steinfeld, late summer 1998. Seeds were collected when the seed was tan in appearance and came free when rubbed between the palms of hands. Green seed stays attached. Seed heads were cut or stripped from stem and placed in paper bags for several days before processing. This allowed for the seed to continue to dry. Seed was rubbed between two small pieces of corrugated plastic until the seed was free. It wassieved through one screen and further cleaned by running it through a vacuum separator. Seed was stored in closed-lid jar and placed in a refrigerator at 2C (35F).
Propagule Processing: 3 million seeds/kg (7 million seeds/lb) (Hurd and Shaw 1991)
Pre-Planting Treatments: Seed was placed in linen bags and soaked in cold running water for 2 days. Bags were placed between layers of shagnum moss which was kept at 2C (35 F) for thirty days and then seed was sown.
Establishment Phase: Very controlled greenhouse environment for establishment phase. Daily temperatures are kept between 32 to 35C (90 to 95F) and nighttime temperatures 21C (70F). Lights are on all night. Foggers come on when humidity drops below 90% and irrigation by small set sprinklers occurs every hour. After establishment, seedlings are moved out of the greenhouse and placed in cattle troughs and filled with water. Growing period is from June to September. The climate in the Rogue Valley at during this period is very dry and clear. Average daily high in the summer averages 30C (86F) with occasional highs of over 40C (105F). Summer humidity is usually below
Length of Establishment Phase: 1 month
Active Growth Phase: After the plants were moved into the cattle troughs, the troughs were filled with water to a level approximately one inch lower than the surface of the media. At this time, fertilizer is added to the water by mixing a Excel 21-5-20 into solution and pouring into the tank. We used enough fertilizer to bring the tank up to 100 ppm of nitrogen. We calculated the ppm of nitrogen using the filled volume of water. The trough is filled each after each time the water has drawn down to the bottom of the trough. This occurs two to three times during the growing season and is temperature dependent.
Length of Active Growth Phase: 2 months
Hardening Phase: No special measures were taken to harden the seedlings off.
Harvesting, Storage and Shipping: Harvested late September to early fall. Seedlings were not stored
References: Hurd HG, Shaw NL. 1991. Seed technology for Carex and Juncus species of the Intermountain Region. Intermountain Nurseryman Association Annual Meeting, 1991 August 12-16; Park City, Utah. P 74-83.

Citation:

Steinfeld, David E. 2001. Propagation protocol for production of Container (plug) Carex cusickii plants Root Trainer 20; USDA FS - J Herbert Stone Nursery Central Point, Oregon. 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.