Calamagrostis (rubescens)

Tara Luna USDI NPS - Glacier National Park West Glacier, Montana 59936 (406) 888-7835 http://plant-materials.nrcs.usda.gov/azpmc

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Family Scientific Name:	Poaceae
Family Common Name:	Grass family
Scientific Name:	Calamagrostis rubescens Buckl.
Common Name:	Pinegrass
Species Code:	CALRUB
Ecotype:	Open Lodgepole pine forest, Tally Lake Ranger District, Flathead national Forest, Flathead Co., MT, 1500m elevation.
General Distribution:	C. rubescens ranges from B.C. south to central California and east to the Rocky Mountains south to northern Colorado. It is a common understory species in open pine forests and meadows.
Propagation Goal:	plants
Propagation Method:	seed
ProductType:	Container (plug)
Stock Type:	172 ml conetainers
Time To Grow:	12 Weeks
Target Specifications:	Stock Type: Container seedlings<br> Height: 10 to 20 true leaves, 25 cm.<br> Caliper: n/a<br> Root System: firm plug in conetainer.
Propagule Collection:	Mass flowering and high seed production occurs in stands that have been burned during the previous year. Seed production is usually very high 2 to 3 years after the fire. Seeds are collected in mid to late August when florets turn papery and light tan and seeds are easily stripped out of floret. Hand held sickles are used to cut stalks. Seeds are spread on an open tarp in a drying shed and turned twice a day to ensure even drying and prevent mold development.
Propagule Processing:	Seeds are cleaned using a huller and fanning mill at NRCS. Seed Storage is at least 10 years at 3 to 5C in sealed containers. Seed dormancy is classified as non dormant. Seeds/Kg: 1,250,000/kg % Purity: 100% % Germination: 50%
Pre-Planting Treatments:	None. Germination occurs at 21C. Germination is reported to be higher in the presence of light. 10 year old seed was used.
Growing Area Preparation/ Annual Practices for Perennial Crops:	Greenhouse and Outdoor Nursery growing facility. Sowing Method: Direct Seeding. Seeds are lightly covered with perlite or surface sown. Growing medium used is 70% 6:1:1 milled sphagnum peat, perlite, and vermiculite and 30% sand with Osmocote controlled release fertilizer (13N:13P2O5:13K2O; 8 to 9 month release rate at 21C) and Micromax fertilizer (12%S, 0.1%B, 0.5%Cu, 12%Fe, 2.5%Mn, 0.05%Mo, 1%Zn) at the rate of 1 gram of Osmocote and 0.20 gram of Micromax per 172 ml conetainer. Greenhouse temperatures are maintained at 21 to 25C during the day and 16 to 18C at night. Seedlings are hand watered and remain in greenhouse until mid May. Seedlings are then moved to outdoor nursery for the remainder of the growing season. Seedlings are irrigated with Rainbird automatic irrigation system in early morning until containers are thoroughly leached. Average growing season of nursery is from late April after snowmelt until October 15th.
Establishment Phase:	Medium is kept slightly moist during germination. Initial germination appeared uniform. After seedlings are established, they must dry down slightly between irrigations.
Length of Establishment Phase:	2 weeks
Active Growth Phase:	Root and shoot development occurs rapidly following germination.ÿ Four to 6 true leaves were present 3 weeks after germination. Plants were fertilized with 20-20-20 liquid NPK fertilizer during the growing season.
Length of Active Growth Phase:	10 weeks
Hardening Phase:	Plants are fertilized with 10-20-20 liquid NPK at 200 ppm during August and September. Irrigation is gradually reduced in September and October. Plants were given one final irrigation prior to winterization.
Length of Hardening Phase:	4 weeks
Harvesting, Storage and Shipping:	Total Time To Harvest:4 months Harvest Date: 12 weeks to root tightness Storage Conditions: Overwinter in outdoor nursery under insulating foam cover and snow
Length of Storage:	5 months
Other Comments:	Vegetative Propagation Method: Yes, not done. Divisions can be made of established nursery stock if seeds are unavailable. C. rubescens is considered a late seral to climax species and is found in open pine woods, prairies, and under forest canopies. It is moderately tolerant of shade and grows on a wide range of soils. Pinegrass is forage for elk, deer, pronghorn and black bear.
References:	Flora of the Pacific Northwest, Hitchcock and Cronquist, 7th edition, University of Washington Press, 1973. Seeding Rate Statistics for Native and Introduced Species, Hassell, Wendel, U.S.D.I. and U.S.D.A., April 1996. Growing Colorado Plants From Seed, A State of the Art. Vol. 2: Grasses, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, NTIS General Technical Report, 1982. Glacier National Park Native Plant Nursery Propagation Records, unpublished. Propagation of Pacific Northwest Native Plants, Rose, R., Chachluski, C., and Haase, D. Oregon State University Press,1998.

Citation:

Luna, Tara; Hosokawa, Joy. 2008. Propagation protocol for production of Container (plug) Calamagrostis rubescens Buckl. plants 172 ml conetainers; USDI NPS - Glacier National Park West Glacier, Montana. In: Native Plant Network. URL: https://NativePlantNetwork.org (accessed 2024/04/18). US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources.