Lupinus (sericeus)

Scott Jensen Botanist USDA FS - Rocky Mountain Research Station, Shrub Sciences Laboratory 735 N 500 E Provo, Utah 84606 801-356-5128 801-375-6968 (fax) sljensen@fs.fed.us www.fs.fed.us/rm/boise

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Family Scientific Name:	Fabaceae
Family Common Name:	Legume family
Scientific Name:	Lupinus sericeus Pursh
Common Name:	silky lupine
Species Code:	LUSE4
Ecotype:	3 biotypes from Utah and Nevada from elevations between 5775 and 6350 ft.
General Distribution:	Meadows, dry banks, bunchgrass prairies, sagebrush plains, and openings in brush-woodland and aspen-conifer forest, reaching 8200 ft. in the Rocky Mountains, 10,200 ft. in Utah, and descending to 820 ft. in the Columbia Basin. Common in the eastern plains of the Snake River valley Idaho into Wyoming, reaching Nevada only in the mountainous northern Elko county, in Utah frequent on the north slope of the Uinta mountains and both slopes of the Wasatch mountains and Utah Plateaus into Arizona.
Propagation Goal:	plants
Propagation Method:	seed
ProductType:	Container (plug)
Stock Type:	7.5 cu.in. QPlug
Time To Grow:	11 Weeks
Target Specifications:	Readily transplantable plug. 4+ true leaves.
Propagule Collection:	Lupine pods shatter when ripe, requiring collection while the seed is still green. As seed ripens pods become thin and change from green to yellow becoming somewhat transparent. Pods are ripe for harvest when individual seeds can be readily discerned when held against a light background. Seed can be collected by hand stripping the pods or breaking or cutting ripened inflorescences. This species does not ripen uniformly. Multiple collecting trips are required to maximize harvest. Harvested lupine seeds and pods have high moisture content and must be spread out to dry quickly. Small collections are covered with metal screens and large collections with mesh tarps to catch seed as the pods forcefully dehisce. Seed cleans out to 3-4% of initial bulk green weight.
Propagule Processing:	Separate loose seed at the bottom of the bag or tarp from pods. Lupine seed tends to be brittle and can be damaged by aggressive abrasion. Dry pods are run rapidly through a debearder then processed through a Clipper seed cleaner using a # 14 round screen and full wind to remove chaff.
Pre-Planting Treatments:	Seed is placed in boiling water for 1 minute, removed then placed on moistened blotter paper in a Petri dish to imbibe. Most seed that is adequately scarified by this method will imbibe within a week. Damaged seed will begin to imbibe immediately. Seed is refrigerated during the imbibing interval to retard fungal growth. Imbibed seed is inoculated with rhizobium and mycorrhizae then planted. Planting occurs in late January or early February.
Growing Area Preparation/ Annual Practices for Perennial Crops:	Greenhouse: 65øF day/ 50ø night with 12 hours of light. Beaver Plastics 91/130 Styroblock containers are filled with 7.5 in3 Q plugs leaving a ¬" headspace. Two seeds per cell are planted ¬" to «" deep. Trays are heavily watered three to four times to saturate potting media. (QPlugs are available from International Horticultural Technologies, LLC. Hollister CA. www.ihort.com)
Establishment Phase:	Germination begins in about 4 days. Trays are watered as needed to ensure seed remains moist.
Length of Establishment Phase:	3 weeks. Most germination occurs during the first 10 days.
Active Growth Phase:	Trays are thinned to 1 plant per cell. At 2 week intervals, beginning at 4 weeks, plants are fertilized with a liquid drench (15N:15P:15K).
Length of Active Growth Phase:	8 weeks.
Other Comments:	Funding was provided by the Great Basin Native Plant Selection and Increase Project.
References:	Cronquist, A., Holmgren, A. H., Holmgren, N. H., Reveal, J.L. and Holmgren, P. K. 1989. Intermountain Flora; Vascular Plants of the Intermountain West, U.S.A. Vol. 3, Fabales. New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, New York. USDA, NRCS. 2007. The PLANTS Database (http://plants.usda.gov, 26 February 2007). National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA.

Citation:

Jensen, Scott L. 2007. Propagation protocol for production of Container (plug) Lupinus sericeus Pursh plants 7.5 cu.in. QPlug; USDA FS - Rocky Mountain Research Station, Shrub Sciences Laboratory Provo, Utah. 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.