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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

Poa (macrantha)

Ian Silvernail
Conservation Agronomist
USDA NRCS - Corvallis Plant Materials Center
3415 NE Granger Ave
Corvallis, Oregon 97330
541-801-2282
ian.silvernail@usda.gov
http://plant-materials.nrcs.usda.gov/orpmc

Family Scientific Name: Poaceae
Family Common Name: Grass
Scientific Name: Poa macrantha
Common Name: seashore bluegrass
Species Code: POMA26
Ecotype: Central Oregon Coast
General Distribution: coastal sand dunes from Northern California to Southeast Alaska
Known Invasiveness: none
Propagation Goal: Plants
Propagation Method: Seed
ProductType: Container (plug)
Stock Type: small plug (2.5 in3, 2.75 in. deep)
Time To Grow: 12 weeks
Target Specifications: well-rooted plug, not root-bound
Propagule Collection: Mature inflorescences were collected from wild populations on the Central Oregon Coast from late July to early September
Propagule Processing: After drying at room temperature, inflorescences were first processed in a Westrup LA-H brush
machine with a solid mantle. Seed (both naked and those enclosed in bracts) was then separated from inert material on a Clipper Office Tester using a 1/10 x 1/2 screen and no bottom screen with air at medium setting. Most florets were empty and a large percentage of the bulk material prior to screening was composed of empty palea, lemma, and glume tissues. TO further separate naked caryopses from those enclosed in lemma and palea, a 1/16 x 1/4 screen was used.
Pre-Planting Treatments: Germination requirements were evaluated in germination boxes by looking at two seed forms (naked caryopsis or caryposis enclosed in palea and lemma) and different periods of cold-moist stratification (0 weeks, 2 weeks, 4 weeks). All naked caryopsis treatments germinated at 96-98% regardless of stratification treatment. Treatments with the caryposis enclosed in the palea and lemma germinated at 68-90%, with the highest germination treatment being without any stratification. Differences in germination between seed form treatments may be explained by an actual lack of a mature caryposis in the enclosed caryopsis treatment, as it was more difficult to verify the presence of a viable caryposis in this treatment. Regardless of seed form, germination was not improved by any period of cold-moist stratification. Most germination was rapid and even, occurring within one week. For container production and direct seeding on restoration sites, the author recommends sowing both naked caryopses and those still enclosed in lemma and palea, as both treatments resulted in satisfactory germination.
Growing Area Preparation/
Annual Practices for Perennial Crops:
Half of the containers were filled with ProMix-HP+, a high porosity peat and perlite-based medium. The remaining half of containers were filled with a mix of 1 part washed river sand to 2 parts ProMix-HP+.
Establishment Phase: Plugs were well-rooted and ready for transplant 12 weeks from the sowing date. No differences in performance between planting media were noted.

Citation:

Silvernail, Ian. 2022. Propagation protocol for production of Container (plug) Poa macrantha Plants small plug (2.5 in3, 2.75 in. deep); USDA NRCS - Corvallis Plant Materials Center Corvallis, Oregon. 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.