Carex (spectabilis)

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:	Cyperaceae
Family Common Name:	Sedge family
Scientific Name:	Carex spectabilis Dewey
Common Name:	Showy sedge
Species Code:	CARSPEÿ
Ecotype:	Subalpine meadows, Logan Pass, 2200m elev.
General Distribution:	C. spectabilis is a western North American species,found from the Yukon south to California and western Montana. It is also found in eastern Asia. It inhabits moist meadows and wet places, in subalpine to alpine habitats.
Propagation Goal:	plants
Propagation Method:	seed
ProductType:	Container (plug)
Stock Type:	172 ml conetainers
Time To Grow:	11 Months
Target Specifications:	Stock Type: Container seedling<br> Height: 6 to 10 true leaves; 8 to 10 cm<br> Caliper: n/a<br> Root System: Firm plug in 172 containers.
Propagule Collection:	Collect mature inflorescences when perigynia and scales turn dark brown. Seeds are collected in late August to mid September. Seeds are kept in paper bags in drying shed prior to cleaning.
Propagule Processing:	Seeds are cleaned using a Hammermill and 3/16" screen, followed by an office clipper and #14 screenwith medium air. Seed longevity is unknown. Seed dormancy is classified as physiological dormancy. Seeds/Kg: 2,030,368/kg % Purity: 100% % Germination: 80 to 90%
Pre-Planting Treatments:	Seeds are fall sown and undergo a 5 month outdoor cold,moist stratification.
Growing Area Preparation/ Annual Practices for Perennial Crops:	Outdoor nursery growing facility. Sowing Method: Direct Seeding. Seeds are surface sown for the light requirement. Growing medium used is 6:1:1 milled spaghnum 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:	Seedlings germinate in early spring under fluctuating outdoor temperatures of 15 to 21 C during the day and 0 to 15 C at night. Seedlings are irrigated with Rainbird automatic irrigation system in early morning until containers are thoroughly leached. Average growing season of nursery is from late April after snowmelt until October 15th. Media is kept moist during germination. Shoot and root development occur at a moderate rate following germination. Additional germination occured the second spring.
Length of Establishment Phase:	8 weeks
Active Growth Phase:	Root development of this species occurs at a moderate rate during the growing season. Plants were fertilized regularly with 20-20-20 liquid NPK at 100 ppm during the growing season.
Length of Active Growth Phase:	12 weeks
Hardening Phase:	Plants are fertilized with 10-20-20 liquid NPK at 200 ppm during August and September. Irrigation is gradually reduced in September and October. Plants were given one final irrigation prior to winterization.
Length of Hardening Phase:	4 weeks
Harvesting, Storage and Shipping:	Total Time to Harvest: 11 months Harvest Date: July and August Storage Conditions: Overwinter in outdoor nursery under insulating foam cover and snow.
Length of Storage:	5 months
Other Comments:	This species has a loosely caespitose root system.
References:	Flora of the Pacific Northwest, Hitchcock and Cronquist, Univ. of Washington Press, 7th printing, 1990. Growing Colorado Plants from Seed, A State of the Art, Vol. 2, USDA Forest Service General Technical Report INT-103, Jan.1981. Glacier Park Native Plant Nursery Propagation Records, unpublished. Native and Introduced Species Statistics, National Park Service, Denver Service Center, Hassell, Wendel, April 1996. The Sedge Family of British Columbia, Taylor,T.M.C., B.C. Provincial Museum, Handbook No.43,1983. 1999 Revegetation Monitoring Report, Glacier National Park, Asebrook, J. and Brenneman, B., unpublished.

Citation:

Luna, Tara; Corey, Susan; Wick, Dale; Hosokawa, Joy. 2008. Propagation protocol for production of Container (plug) Carex spectabilis Dewey plants 172 ml conetainers; USDI NPS - Glacier National Park West Glacier, 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.