Collomia (linearis)

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:	Polemoniaceae
Family Common Name:	Phlox
Scientific Name:	Collomia linearis Nutt.
Common Name:	Tiny trumpet, Narrow-leaf collomia
Species Code:	COLI2
General Distribution:	Across much of North America except the southern US from dry, open ground to moist,open meadows and open forest. In the Pacific Northwest region its wetland status is FACU (US Fish and Wildlife Service 1988).
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 the 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.
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.
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. Seeds from subalpine rangeland of Utah and Montana were found to germinate at 98% under alternating greenhouse temperatures of 17/12 degrees Centigrade, while warmer temperatures reduced germination. (McDonough 1969).
Growing Area Preparation/ Annual Practices for Perennial Crops:	In February, seeds are sown in the greenhouse in 10 cu. in. Ray Leach Super cell containers filled with Sunshine # 4 and covered lightly. A thin layer of pea gravel is applied to prevent seeds and media from floating and the containers 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:	2-3 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:	No insect or disease problems have been noted. This species is an annual. It will reseed and establish itself on sites where there are openings in the vegetative cover. Seed can be planted into a firm, weed free seedbed in the fall or early spring. Preliminary results from direct seeding trials in the field suggest that seed sown in the fall establishes at a higher rate than seed sown in the spring.
References:	Craighead, John J., Frank C. Craighead, and Ray J. Davis. 1963. A Field Guide to Rocky Mountain Wildflowers. Houghton Mifflin Co. Boston, MA. Hitchcock, C. Leo, and Arthur Cronquist. 1973. Flora of the Pacific Northwest. University of Washington Press. Seattle, WA. McDonough, Walter T. 1969. Effective Treatments for the Induction of Germination in Mountain Rangeland Species. Northwest Science 43:18-22. Parish, Roberta, Ray Coupe, and Dennis Lloyd (eds.). 1996. Plants of Southern Interior British Columbia. Lone Pine Publishing, Vancouver, BC, Canada. St. John, Harold. 1963. Flora of Southeastern Washington and of Adjacent Idaho. 3rd edition. Outdoor Pictures. Escondido, CA. USDA, NRCS. 2004. The PLANTS Database, Version 3.5 (http://plants.usda.gov). 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,. 2005. Propagation protocol for production of Container (plug) Collomia linearis Nutt. 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.