Deschampsia (elongata)

Dave Skinner PMC Farm Manager USDA NRCS - Pullman Plant Materials Center Room 211A Hulbert Hall WSU Pullman, Washington 99164-6211 509-335-9689 509-335-2940 (fax) abbie@wsu.edu http://plant-materials.nrcs.usda.gov/wapmc

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Family Scientific Name:	Poaceae
Family Common Name:	Grass
Scientific Name:	Deschampsia elongata (Hook.) Munro
Common Name:	Slender hairgrass
Species Code:	DEEL
Ecotype:	near Albion, WA
General Distribution:	Western North America from Alaska east to Alberta and south to New Mexico (Hitchcock & Cronquist 1973). Mean annual precipitation range is from 10-24 inches (USDA NRCS 2006). It may be found in moist meadows and along streams (Hitchcock & Cronquist 1971, Mohlenbrock undated). In eastern Washington it may also occur on drier soils (Piper & Beattie 1914, St. John 1963). Wetland indicator status is FACW- (US Fish and Wildlife Service 1988).
Propagation Goal:	plants
Propagation Method:	seed
ProductType:	Container (plug)
Stock Type:	10 cu. in.
Time To Grow:	0
Target Specifications:	Tight root plug in container.
Propagule Collection:	Seed is collected when the inflorescence begins to dry and the seed is in the soft to hard dough stage but before it shatters from the inflorescence. Seed can be stripped from the inflorescence or the inflorescence can be clipped from the plant.
Propagule Processing:	Small amounts are rubbed to free the seed, then cleaned with an air column separator. Larger amounts can be threshed with a hammermill, then cleaned with air screen equipment. Clean seed is stored in controlled conditions at 40 degrees Fahrenheit and 40% relative humidity. Seed is greyish tan in color and small. 1,860,000 seeds/lb (USDA NRCS 2006).
Pre-Planting Treatments:	Laboratory germination is best with gibberellic acid and a 5 day prechill at 5 degrees centigrade (Chirco & Turner 1986). Seed germinates readily without pretreatment. Trials conducted at the PMC comparing untreated seed with cold, moist stratified seed showed no benefit from stratification. Seeds given 30 days on cold, moist stratification began germinating a few days earlier than untreated seed, but took longer to reach maximum germination levels.
Growing Area Preparation/ Annual Practices for Perennial Crops:	In January seed is sown in the greenhouse in 10 cu. in. Ray Leach Super cell conetainers filled with Sunshine #1 and covered lightly. Head space of ¬ to « inch is maintained in conetainers to allow deep watering. A thin layer of pea gravel is applied to prevent seeds from floating. Conetainers are watered deeply.
Establishment Phase:	Medium is kept moist until germination occurs. Germination usually begins in 5 days and is complete in 7 days.
Length of Establishment Phase:	1 week
Active Growth Phase:	Plants are watered deeply every other day and fertilized once per week with a complete, water soluble fertilizer containing micro-nutrients.
Length of Active Growth Phase:	3 months
Hardening Phase:	Plants are moved to the cold frame in late March or early April, depending on weather conditions. They are watered every other day if the weather is cool, and every day during hot, dry spells.
Length of Hardening Phase:	2-4 weeks
Other Comments:	No insect or disease problems have been noted. Plants probably can be propagated by division. This method should only be used for plants growing in cultivation. Plants should not be dug up from stands in the wild.
References:	Chirco, Ellen, and Terry Turnoer. 1986. Species without AOSA Testing Procedures. The Newsletter of the Association of Official Seed Analysts 60(2):2-66. Available online at http://www.aosaseed.com/Species%20wo%20AOSA%20list%20plus%20adds.pdf. Updated November 11/10/03. Accessed 2/16/06. Hitchcock, A.S. 1971. Manual of the Grasses of the United States. 2nd edition. Revised by Agnes Chase. Dover Publications, Inc., New York, NY. 2 vol. Hitchcock, C. Leo, and Arthur Cronquist. 1973. Flora of the Pacific Northwest. University of Washington Press. Seattle, WA. 730 pp. Mohlenbrock, Robert H. Undated. Western Wetland Flora: A Field Office Guide to Wetland Species. USDA, NRCS Western Region. Sacramento, CA. Piper, C.V., and R.K. Beattie. 1914. The Flora of Southeastern Washington and Adjacent Idaho. Lancaster, PA. Press of the New Era Printing Company. 296 p. St. John, Harold. 1963. Flora of Southeastern Washington and of Adjacent Idaho. 3rd edition. Outdoor Pictures. Escondido, CA. 583 pp. USDA, NRCS. 2006. The PLANTS Database, Version 3.5 (http://plants.usda.gov). Data compiled from various sources by Mark W. Skinner. National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA. US Fish and Wildlife Service. 1988. National list of vascular plant species that occur in wetlands. US Fish & Wildlife Service Biological Report 88 (24).

Citation:

Skinner, David M,. 2006. Propagation protocol for production of Container (plug) Deschampsia elongata (Hook.) Munro plants 10 cu. in.; USDA NRCS - Pullman Plant Materials Center Pullman, Washington. In: Native Plant Network. URL: https://NativePlantNetwork.org (accessed 2025/04/25). US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources.