Nassella (lepida)
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Michael Herrera Nursery Manager Catalina Island Conservancy PO Box 2739 Avalon, California 90704 (310) 510-2904 (310) 510-3157 (fax) mherrera@catalinaconservancy.org www.catalinaconservancy.org |
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| Family Scientific Name: | Poaceae | ||
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| Family Common Name: | Grass Family | ||
| Scientific Name: | Nassella lepida (A.S. Hitchc.) Barkworth | ||
| Common Synonym: | Stipa lepida A.S. Hitchc. | ||
| Common Name: | Foothills Needlegrass | ||
| Species Code: | NASLEP | ||
| Ecotype: | Catalina Island, California | ||
| General Distribution: | Foothills Needlegrass is found throughout southern California and the channel islands. On Catalina Island, it inhabits dry, rocky slopes and bluffs. | ||
| Propagation Goal: | plants | ||
| Propagation Method: | seed | ||
| ProductType: | Container (plug) | ||
| Stock Type: | 40 cubic inch containers | ||
| Time To Grow: | 1 Years | ||
| Target Specifications: | Height: N/A<br> Caliper: N/A<br> Root System: Firm root plug in container. | ||
| Propagule Collection: | Seeds are hand collected when they are fully matured. We have collected seeds from late May to June. | ||
| Propagule Processing: | After seeds have been cleaned, they are stored under refrigeration in air tight glass containers at 40 F and 40% RH. With 5 collections, seeds average 0.9 grams per 100 seeds. | ||
| Pre-Planting Treatments: |
We have used a 5 minute Physan fungicide soak or a 3 minute 5% bleach solution to surface sterilize seed coats prior to testing or sowing. Germination percentages have ranged from 15% to 50%. |
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| Growing Area Preparation/ Annual Practices for Perennial Crops: |
The James H. Ackerman Native Plant Nursery is located on Catalina Island off the coast of southern California. From 1993 to 2004, the average maximum and minimum temperatures have been 75.4 F and 46 F, with an average of 361 frost free days per year and annual rainfall of 14 inches. The facility is comprised of shade houses, mist propagation house, and an outdoor growing compound. All propagation environments are utilized at different stages of seedling growth to provide for the variance in temperature and shading requirements needed during the growing season. We irrigate all containers with an overhead emitter system in the shadehouses and use a drip system or hand water in the outdoor nursery. |
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| Establishment Phase: |
Seeds are sown in late fall andgerminate the following spring. Seeds are directly sown into containers. Plants remain for several weeks in a shadehouse. Flats and containers are filled with a 1 inch layer of special seed germination mix of 1:1 (v:v) Sunshine Professional Growing Mix and sand on top of 4:1:1 (v:v:v) peat, perlite, and organic compost. We incorporate Osmocote time release fertilizer (9 month release rate) (14 N:14P2O5:14K2O) at the rate of « cup per 0.75 cubic yard of medium. Seeded flats are watered with an overhead emitter system as needed. |
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| Length of Establishment Phase: | 5 months | ||
| Active Growth Phase: | Seedlings are watered as needed during the active growth phase. | ||
| Length of Active Growth Phase: | 4 months | ||
| Hardening Phase: | Any nursery stock grown under shadehouse conditions are hardened by placing them in full sun exposure for a minimum of 2 weeks prior to outplanting. | ||
| Length of Hardening Phase: | 2 to 4 weeks | ||
| Harvesting, Storage and Shipping: | Containerized seedlings are over wintered directly in the open growing compound. | ||
| Length of Storage: | Variable; depends on out planting date. | ||
Citation:
Serrill, Doug; Herrera, Mike; Takara, Janet. 2006. Propagation protocol for production of Container (plug) Nassella lepida (A.S. Hitchc.) Barkworth plants 40 cubic inch containers; Catalina Island Conservancy Avalon, California. In: Native Plant Network. URL: https://NativePlantNetwork.org (accessed 2025/02/25). US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources.
