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Parnassia (fimbriata)

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

Family Scientific Name: Saxifragaceae
Family Common Name: Saxifrage family
Scientific Name: Parnassia fimbriata Konig.
Common Name: Rocky Mountain Grass-of-Parnassus
Species Code: PARFIM
Ecotype: Subalpine streambanks, Logan Pass, Glacier National Park, Glacier Co., MT., 2032m elevation.
General Distribution: P. fimbriata occurs from Alaska south to California, and east in the Rockies to Alberta, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico; in bogs, streambanks and wet meadows, from the montane to the alpine zone.
Propagation Goal: plants
Propagation Method: seed
ProductType: Container (plug)
Stock Type: 490 ml containers
Time To Grow: 2 Years
Target Specifications: Stock Type: Container seedling<br> Height: 3 cm, 6 to 10 true leaves<br> Caliper: n/a<br> Root System: firm plug in conetainer.
Propagule Collection: Seeds are collected in fall when capsules turn light tan and seeds are easily shaken out of capsules. Seeds are light tan at maturity.
Seeds are collected in paper bags and kept in a well ventilated drying shed prior to cleaning.
Propagule Processing: Seeds are hand cleaned at the nursery.
Seed longevity is unknown.
Seed dormancy is classified as physiological dormancy.
Seeds/Kg: Unknown
% Purity: 100%
% Germination: N/A
Pre-Planting Treatments: 5 month outdoor germination. Germination occurs under fluctuating temperatures and is reported to be higher in the presence of light; seeds should be surface sown.
Growing Area Preparation/
Annual Practices for Perennial Crops:
Outdoor nursery growing facility.
Sowing Method: Direct Seeding. Seeds are surface sown.
Growing media used is 6:1:1 milled spaghnum peat, perlite, and vermiculite 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.
Conetainers are filled and sown in late fall and irrigated thoroughly prior to winter stratification.
Seedlings germinate in spring under fluctuating outdoor temperatures and are grown under full sun exposure. 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: Media is kept slightly moist during germination. Initial germination appeared uniform and occurred following several days of temperatures at 21C or above during the day.
Length of Establishment Phase: 4 weeks
Active Growth Phase: Root and shoot development occurs slowly following germination. 2 to 4 true leaves were evident 6 weeks after germination. Plants were fertilized with 13-13-13 liquid NPK fertilizer during the growing season. Plants were not root tight at the end of the first growing season.
Length of Active Growth Phase: 12 weeks
Hardening Phase: Plants are fertilized with 10-20-20 liquid NPK during the fall. Irrigation is gradually reduced in September and October. Plants are flushed with clear water once before winterization.
Length of Hardening Phase: 4 weeks
Harvesting, Storage and Shipping: Total Time To Harvest: 2 years
Harvest Date: June

Storage Conditions: Overwinter in outdoor nursery under insulating foam cover and snow.
Length of Storage: 5 months
Other Comments: There are 3 botanical varieties of this species: var. fimbriata, var. hoodiana, and var. intermedia.
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.
Seeds: Ecology, Biogeography, and Evolution of Dormancy and Germination, Baskin and Baskin, Academic Press, 1998.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, Deno, Norman, Penn State University, 1993.
Glacier National Park Native Plant Nursery Propagation Records, unpublished.

Citation:

Luna, Tara; Evans, Jeff; Wick, Dale. 2001. Propagation protocol for production of Container (plug) Parnassia fimbriata Konig. plants 490 ml containers; USDI NPS - Glacier National Park West Glacier, Montana. In: Native Plant Network. URL: https://NativePlantNetwork.org (accessed 2024/03/28). US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources.