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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

Collomia (grandiflora)

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
Family Scientific Name: Polemoniaceae
Family Common Name: Phlox
Scientific Name: Collomia grandiflora Dougl. ex Lindl
Common Name: Large-flowered collomia
Species Code: COGR4
Ecotype: Paradise Creek drainage, Pullman, WA., USA
General Distribution: Dry, open prairies and lightly wooded areas in western North America from British Columbia east to Colorado and south to Arizona.
Propagation Goal: plants
Propagation Method: seed
ProductType: Container (plug)
Time To Grow: 3 Months
Target Specifications: Tight root plug in container.
Propagule Collection: Seed is collected when inflorescence begins to dry and the capsules begin to open by cutting the stalk below the inflorescence. Maturity usually occurs in late July or early August. Seeds are dark brown at this point. Plants, especially the inflorescence, are muscilaginous. Disposable gloves are helpful during seed collection.
Seed is expelled forcefully when mature. Collected material must be covered by a material which permits air circulation but prevents seed loss.
Small amounts are stored in paper bags at room temperature with the top of the bag covered with open weave cloth.
In seed increase plantings, entire plants are cut and dried on tarps in a shed or greenhouse. Plants are covered with garden row cover. Fans are used to assure good air circulation. Stems and leaves are green at this point and mold can be a problem with poor air circulation.
We determined 146,986 seeds/lb for this ecotype.
Propagule Processing: Most of the seed will shatter in the bag or on the tarp. Plant parts are discarded. Very little seed is left in the inflorescence and recovering it is not worth the time and effort required. Small amounts of seed are cleaned with an air column separator. Larger amounts are cleaned with air screen equipment. Seed is large and easy to clean.
After cleaning, seed is stored at 40 degrees Fahrenheit and 40% relative humidity. Germination remains high for at least years storage under these conditions.
Pre-Planting Treatments: None required. There may be an after-ripening requirement. Seed which has been stored under cool, dry conditons has been observed to germinate at a higher rate than newly harvested seed.
Trials at the PMC showed stratifying seed did not increase germination rates.
Growing Area Preparation/
Annual Practices for Perennial Crops:		 In February seed is sown in the greenhouse in 10 cu. in. Ray Leach Super cell conetainers filled with Sunshine #4 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: Germination begins in 5-6 days and is complete in 10 days. Medium is kept moist during this period.
Length of Establishment Phase: 2 weeks
Active Growth Phase: Roots develop quickly after germination. Plants are watered deeply every other day and fertilized once per week with a water soluble, complete fertilizer containing micronutrients.
Length of Active Growth Phase: 2 months
Hardening Phase: Plants are moved to the cold frame in late March or early April, depending on weather conditions.
Length of Hardening Phase: 2-4 weeks
Other Comments: Collomia grandiflora is an annual. It will reseed well and establish itself on sites where there are openings in the vegetative cover.
Both chasmogamous and cleistogamous flowers are present in the inflorescence (Wilken 1982, Minter & Lord 1983, Lord & Eckard 1984, Ellstrand et al 1984).
References: Ellstrand, N.C., E.M. Lord, and K.J. Eckard. 1984. The Inflorescence as a Metapopulation of Flowers: Position-Dependent Differences in Function and Form in the Cleistogamous Species Collomia grandiflora Dougl. ex Lindl. (Polemoniaceae).
Faust, Ralph and Peggy Faust. 1999. Wildflowers of the Inland Northwest. Museum of North Idaho. Coeur d'Alene, ID. 141 pp.
Hitchcock, C. Leo, and Arthur Cronquist. 1973. Flora of the Pacific Northwest. University of Washington Press. Seattle, WA. 730 pp.
Larrison, Earl J., Grace W. Patrick, William H. Baker, and James A. Yaich. 1974. Washington Wildflowers. The Seattle Audubon Society. Seattle, WA. 376 pp.
Lord, E.M. and K.J. Eckard. 1984. Incompatibility between the Dimorphic Flowers of Collomia grandiflora, a Cleistogamous Species. Science 223(4637):695-696.
Lyons, C.P. 1997. Wildflowers of Washington. Lone Pine Publishing, Renton, WA. 192 pp.
Minter, T.C. and E.M. Lord. 1983. A Comparison of Cleistogamous and Chasmogamous Floral Development in Collomia grandiflora Dougl. ex Lindl. (Polemoniaceae). American Journal of Botany 70:1499-1508.
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.
Strickler, Dee. 1993. Wayside Wildflowers of the Pacific Northwest. The Flower Press, Columbia Falls, MT. 272 pp.
USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information Network - (GRIN) Online Database. National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland. URL: http://www.ars-grin.gov2/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxgenform.pl (12 April 2005)
USDA, NRCS. 2004. The PLANTS Database, Version 3.5 (http://plants.usda.gov). National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA.
Underhill, J.E. 1986. Sagebrush Wildflowers. Hancock House Publishers, Inc. Blaine, WA. and Surrey, BC, Canada. 64 pp.
Wilken, Dieter H. 1982. The Balance between Chasmogamy and Cleistogamy in Collomia grandiflora (Polemoniaceae). American Journal of Botany 69:1326-1333.

Citation:

Skinner, David M,. 2005. Propagation protocol for production of Container (plug) Collomia grandiflora Dougl. ex Lindl plants USDA NRCS - Pullman Plant Materials Center Pullman, Washington. In: Native Plant Network. URL: https://NativePlantNetwork.org (accessed 2024/07/01). US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources.