Sisyrinchium (bellum)
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Michael Herrera Nursery Manager Catalina Island Conservancy PO Box 2739 Avalon, California 90704 (310) 510-2904 (310) 510-3157 (fax) mherrera@catalinaconservancy.org www.catalinaconservancy.org |
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| Family Scientific Name: | Iridaceae | ||
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| Family Common Name: | Iris Family | ||
| Scientific Name: | Sisyrinchium bellum S. Wats. | ||
| Common Synonym: | Sisyrinchium eastwoodiae Bickn. | ||
| Common Name: | Western Blue Eyed Grass | ||
| Species Code: | SISBEL | ||
| Ecotype: | Catalina Island, California | ||
| General Distribution: | Western Blue eyed grass is found throughout Oregon and California and the Channel islands. On Catalina Island, it is considered rare and inhabits grassy slopes. | ||
| Propagation Goal: | plants | ||
| Propagation Method: | seed | ||
| ProductType: | Container (plug) | ||
| Stock Type: | Plant Bands | ||
| Time To Grow: | 3 Years | ||
| Target Specifications: | Height: N/A<br> Caliper: N/A<br> Root System: Firm root plug in container. | ||
| Propagule Collection: | Seeds are hand collected when they are fully matured. May and June are optimum for collection. Seeds are brown at maturity. | ||
| Propagule Processing: |
Seeds dry in paper bags in a warm, dry room. We clean the seeds by running htem through a .0787 inch roud sieve to remove rough chaff, and use a 5.5/64ths screen with sandpaper block to free seeds from pods. We blow material at 16 and 20 settings to remove any remaining debris. After seeds have been cleaned, they are stored under refrigeration in air tight glass containers at 40 F and 40% RH. With 12 collections, seeds average 0.12 grams per 100 seeds. |
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| Pre-Planting Treatments: |
We have used a 5 to 10 minute Physan disinfectant soak or a 3 to minute 5% bleach solution to surface sterilize seed coats prior to sowing or testing. We have used 30 minute hot water scarifiation or Wrights Liquid Smoke at the rate of 1:2 (v:v) liquid smoke to water for 24 hours. Germination percentages have ranged up to 15% using these treatments. Seeds undergo a natural cold, moist stratification during winter months. In some cases, seeds continue to germinate until the second spring. |
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| Growing Area Preparation/ Annual Practices for Perennial Crops: |
The James H. Ackerman Native Plant Nursery is located on Catalina Island off the coast of southern California. From 1993 to 2004, the average maximum and minimum temperatures have been 75.4 F and 46 F, with an average of 361 frost free days per year and annual rainfall of 14 inches. The facility is comprised of shade houses, mist propagation house, and an outdoor growing area. All propagation environments are utilized at different stages of seedling growth to provide for the variance in temperature and shading requirements needed during the growing season. We irrigate all containers with an overhead emitter system in the shadehouses and use a drip system or hand water in the outdoor nursery. |
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| Establishment Phase: |
Seeds are sown during early fall late and germinate in the spring in a shadehouse were they remain for several weeks. Seeds are directly sown into flats filled with a 1 inch layer of special seed germination mix of 1:1 (v:v) Sunshine Professional Growing Mix and sand on top of 4:1:1 (v:v:v) peat, perlite, and organic compost. We incorporate Osmocote time release fertilizer (9 month release rate) (14 N:14P2O5:14K2O) at the rate of « cup per 0.75 cubic yard of medium. Seeded flats are watered with an overhead emitter system as needed. Seeds continue to germinate throughout the growing season and into the second spring. |
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| Length of Establishment Phase: | 3 to 4 months (per season) | ||
| Active Growth Phase: |
After seedlings are well established and have at least2 true leaves, they are transplanted into containers filled with a growing medium of 4:1:1 (v:v:v) peat, perlite, and organic compost. Osmocote time release fertilizer (9 mo release rate) (14 N:14P2O5:14K2O) is incorporated into the medium at a rate of of « cup per .75 cubic yards of medium. Following transplanting, seedlings are moved to another shadehouse with more temperature variance where they remain for the remainder of the growing season. |
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| Length of Active Growth Phase: | 7 months (per season) | ||
| Hardening Phase: | Any nursery stock grown under shadehouse conditions are hardened by placing them in full sun exposure for a minimum of 2 weeks prior to outplanting. | ||
| Length of Hardening Phase: | 2 to 4 weeks | ||
| Harvesting, Storage and Shipping: | Containerized seedlings are over wintered directly in the open growing area. | ||
| Length of Storage: | Variable; depends on out planting date. | ||
Citation:
Serrill, Doug; Herrera, Mike; Takara, Janet. 2006. Propagation protocol for production of Container (plug) Sisyrinchium bellum S. Wats. plants Plant Bands; Catalina Island Conservancy Avalon, California. In: Native Plant Network. URL: https://NativePlantNetwork.org (accessed 2024/07/22). US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources.
