Galium (boreale)

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:	Rubiaceae
Family Common Name:	Madder
Scientific Name:	Galium boreale L
Common Name:	Northern bedstraw
Species Code:	GABO2
Ecotype:	Paradise Creek drainage near Pullman, WA.
General Distribution:	Widespread circumboreal species. In eastern Washington it is usually found on more mesic sites in grasslands of the Palouse Prairie and in open coniferous woods. Mean annual precipitation range is from 20-55 inches (USDA NRCS 2007). Wetland indicator status is FACU (US Fish and Wildlife Service 1988).
Propagation Goal:	plants
Propagation Method:	seed
ProductType:	Container (plug)
Stock Type:	10 cu.
Time To Grow:	4 Months
Target Specifications:	Tight root plug in container.
Propagule Collection:	Seed is collected in September when the inflorescence is dry and the seeds are brown in color. Seed can be stripped from the stalks by hand or entire stalks can be cut. Plants hold their seed well, shattering is not generally a problem. Harvested seed is stored in paper bags at room temperature until cleaned.
Propagule Processing:	Small amounts are rubbed to free the seed, then cleaned with an air column separator. Larger amounts are 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. 756,000 seeds/lb (Hassell et al 1996). We determined 725,760 seeds/lb for this ecotype.
Pre-Planting Treatments:	Germination was equally low for seeds from a Wisconsin source either without pretreatment or after 2 months cold moist stratification (Green & Curtis 1950). Maguire and Overland (1959) found 4 weeks of cold moist stratification resulted in 84% germination, while untreated seed germinated at 64%. For this ecotype, germination without pretreatment is high. Trials conducted at the PMC comparing untreated seed with cold, moist stratified seed showed no benefit from stratification.
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 #4 and covered lightly. Head space of ¬ to « inch is maintained in conetainers to allow deep watering. A thin layer of coarse grit is applied to the top of the planting soil to prevent seeds from floating during watering. Conetainers are watered deeply.
Establishment Phase:	Medium is kept moist until germination occurs. Germination usually begins in 10-12 days and is complete in 3 weeks.
Length of Establishment Phase:	3 weeks
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:	2-3 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 problems have been noted. It may also be possible to propagate this species from pieces of the rhizome or from divisions.
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. Craighead, John J., Frank C. Craighead, and Ray J. Davis. 1963. A Field Guide to Rocky Mountain Wildflowers. Houghton Mifflin Co. Boston, MA. 277 pp. Greene, H.C. and J.T. Curtis. 1950. Germination Studies of Wisconsin Prairie Plants. American Midland Naturalist 43:186-194. Hassell, Wendell, W. Rocky Beavers, Steve Ouellette, and Thomas Mitchell. 1996. Seeding Rate Statistics for Native and Introduced Species. USDI National Park Service and USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. 25 pp. Hitchcock, C. Leo, and Arthur Cronquist. 1973. Flora of the Pacific Northwest. University of Washington Press. Seattle, WA. 730 pp. Kruckeberg, Arthur R. 1996. Gardening with Native Plants of the Pacific Northwest. 2nd ed. University of Washington Press. Seattle, WA. 282 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. Lyons, C.P. 1956. Trees, Shrubs and Flowers to Know in Washington. J.M. Dent & Sons (Canada) Limited. Vancouver, BC. 211 pp. Lyons, C.P. 1997. Wildflowers of Washington. Lone Pine Publishing, Renton, WA. 192 pp. Maguire, James D. and Alvin Overland. 1959. Laboratory Germination of Seeds of Weedy and Native Plants. Washington State Agricultural Experiment Station Circular 349, Pullman, WA. 15 p. Mohlenbrock, Robert H. Undated. Western Wetland Flora: A Field Office Guide to Wetland Species. USDA, NRCS Western Region. Sacramento, CA. Parish, Roberta, Ray Coupe, and Dennis Lloyd (eds.). 1996. Plants of Southern Interior British Columbia. Lone Pine Publishing, Vancouver, BC, Canada. 463 pp. Patterson, Patricia A, Kenneth E. Neiman, and Jonalea R. Tonn. 1985. Field Guide to Forest Plants of Northern Idaho. General Technical Report INT-180. USDA Forest Service Intermountain Research Station. Ogden, Utah. 246 pp. Piper, C.V., and R.K. Beattie. 1901. The flora of the Palouse region: Containing descriptions of all the psermatophytes and pteridophytes known to grow wild in the area within 35 kilometers of Pullman, Washington. Pullman, Washington Agricultural College and School of Science. 208 pp. 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. Rickett, Harold W. 1973. Wildflowers of the United States: The Central Mountains and Plains. Vol. 6. (3 parts). McGraw Hill, New York. St. John, Harold. 1963. Flora of Southeastern Washington and of Adjacent Idaho. 3rd edition. Outdoor Pictures. Escondido, CA. 583 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/taxon.pl?448068 (01 February 2007). USDA NRCS. 2007. The PLANTS Database (http://plants.usda.gov, 1 February 2007). 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,. 2007. Propagation protocol for production of Container (plug) Galium boreale L plants 10 cu.; USDA NRCS - Pullman Plant Materials Center Pullman, Washington. In: Native Plant Network. URL: https://NativePlantNetwork.org (accessed 2024/07/03). US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources.