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Desmodium (canadense)

Cathy Thomas
Propagator
Chicago Botanic Garden - Propagation
1000 Lake Cook Rd.
Glencoe, Illinois 60022
847-835-8240
847-835-1635 (fax)
cthomas@chicagobotanic.org
http://chicagobotanic.org

Family Scientific Name: Fabaceae
Family Common Name: Pea family
Scientific Name: Desmodium canadense (L.) DC.
Common Synonym: Meibornia canadensis (L.) Kuntze
Common Name: showy ticktrefoil
Species Code: DEDCN
Ecotype: mesic prairie, Chicago Botanic Garden, Glencoe, IL
General Distribution: Prairies, wet meadows and open thickets. Range: Quebec to North Dakota and Saskatchevan south to Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, Illionis, Missouri and Oklahoma.
Propagation Goal: plants
Propagation Method: seed
ProductType: Container (plug)
Stock Type: 2 1/2 inch container
Time To Grow: 16 Weeks
Target Specifications: Firmly rooted 2 1/2 inch container.
Pre-Planting Treatments: Scarification: rubbed between two pieces of coarse emery cloth. Stratification: mixed with damp sand and stored at 38 F for 4 weeks in a sealed plastic bag. Inoculation: inoculated with inoculum for Desmodium.
Growing Area Preparation/
Annual Practices for Perennial Crops:
Growing Environment: Fully automated greenhouse.
Containers: Seed sown into ITML brand 128 cell plug trays. Plugs transplanted into T.&O. Plastics brand SVD2 1/2 inch containers.
Media: Seed sown into Fafard Super Fine Germinating Mix. Plugs transplanted into Sunshine SB300 Universal bark mix.
Establishment Phase: Sow date was late February. Seeds were hand sown 2 to 3 seeds per cell to compensate for possible lower germination rates. Seed was then covered with a thin layer of coarse vermiculite and watered in under a mist system. Flats were places in a shaded greenhouse under an automated mist system set at 3 seconds of mist every 30 minutes. Air temperature was set at 65 F and bottom heat was run at 70 F days and 65 F nights. Seedlings were moved to a fully automated full sun greenhouse after germination. Temperatures were set at 68 F days and 64 F nights. Day length was extended to 12 hours using HID lights. Constant feed with 20-2-20 fertilizer at 100 ppm was used. Seedlings were thinned to one per cell.
Length of Establishment Phase: 5 weeks from sowing until plugs were ready to transplant
Active Growth Phase: Plugs were transplanted when firmly rooted. Plants were grown in a fully automated greenhouse where temperatures were set at 65 F days and 61 F nights. Day length was extended to 12 hours using HID lights. Plants were hand watered when dry and fertilized with 20-10-20 fertilizer at 237 ppm weekly.
Length of Active Growth Phase: 5 weeks
Hardening Phase: Plants were moved outdoors to a cold frame in early May.
Length of Hardening Phase: 2 weeks
Harvesting, Storage and Shipping: N/A
Length of Storage: N/A
References: USDA, NRCS. 2006. The PLANTS Database (http:/plants.usda.gov, 27 October 2006) National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA.

Citation:

Thomas, Catherine Suzanne. 2007. Propagation protocol for production of Container (plug) Desmodium canadense (L.) DC. plants 2 1/2 inch container; Chicago Botanic Garden - Propagation Glencoe, Illinois. In: Native Plant Network. URL: https://NativePlantNetwork.org (accessed 2024/07/23). US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources.