Leptarrhena (pyrolifolia)

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:	Saxifragaceae
Family Common Name:	Saxifrage family
Scientific Name:	Leptarrhena pyrolifolia (D.Don.) R. Br.
Common Name:	Leatherleaf saxifrage
Species Code:	LEPPYR
Ecotype:	Subalpine streambank, Lunch Creek, 2010 m elev.,Glacier Co.,Glacier National Park, MT.
General Distribution:	L. pyrolifolia occurs in moist subalpine habitats, from southern Alaska to the Cascades of Oregon, east from B.C. to Alberta, Montana, and northern Idaho.
Propagation Goal:	plants
Propagation Method:	seed
ProductType:	Container (plug)
Stock Type:	172 ml containers
Time To Grow:	8 Months
Target Specifications:	Stock Type: Container seedling<br> Height: 3 cm, 4 to 6 true leaves<br> Caliper: n/a<br> Root System: Firm plug in container.
Propagule Collection:	Seeds are collected in early fall when capsules turn brown and begin to split open at the apex. Seeds are red or tan at maturity. Capsules are collected in paper bags and kept in a well ventilated drying shed prior to cleaning.
Propagule Processing:	Seeds are cleaned with a hammermill and screened. Seed longevity is at least 2 years at 1 to 3C in sealed containers. Seed dormancy is classified as non dormant. Seeds/Kg: Unknown % Purity: 100% % Germination: N/A
Pre-Planting Treatments:	5 month cold, moist stratification.
Growing Area Preparation/ Annual Practices for Perennial Crops:	Outdoor nursery growing facility. Sowing Method: Direct seeding. Seeds are lightly covered with medium. Growing medium 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 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:	Germination occurs during late spring under fluctuating temperatures. 2nd year germination occurred in unfilled conetainers. Germination ceased once temperatures reached 25C or above during the day. Once established and thinned after emergence, the seedlings produce rapid shoot and root development.
Length of Establishment Phase:	4 weeks
Active Growth Phase:	Seedlings begin to develop numerous rhizomatous leaf buds 4 weeks after emergence. Plants are fertilized with 13-13-13 liquid NPK at 100 ppm and given frequent irrigation. This species has rhizomatous shoots with a spreading leathery leaves which can make effective irrigation difficult in conetainers.
Length of Active Growth Phase:	10 weeks
Hardening Phase:	Plants are fertilized with 10-20-20 in fall, pots are leached with water, and irrigation frequency is gradually reduced in September and October. One final irrigation is applied before covering for the winter.
Length of Hardening Phase:	5 weeks
Harvesting, Storage and Shipping:	Total Time to Harvest: 8 months Harvest Date: August Storage Conditions: Overwinter in outdoor nursery under insulating foam and snow cover.
Length of Storage:	5 months
Other Comments:	L. pyrolifolia is a vigorously rhizomatous perennial, which forms dense mats along streambanks and in wet, boggy ground in the subalpine zone. Only a few flowers may be produced on a given mat. Vegetative divisions of mats from established nursery stock would be a easy means of propagation, as this species transplants and re-establishes easily.
References:	Flora of the Pacific Northwest, Hitchcock and Cronquist, Univ. of Washington Press,7th printing, 1990. Glacier Park Native Plant Nursery Propagation Records, unpublished. Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Edition, Deno, Norman, publ. 1993. Seeding Rate Statistics for Native and Introduced Species, Hassell, Wendel, National Park Service and National Resources Conservation Service, April 1996.

Citation:

Luna, Tara; Evans, Jeff; Wick, Dale; Hosokawa, Joy. 2008. Propagation protocol for production of Container (plug) Leptarrhena pyrolifolia (D.Don.) R. Br. plants 172 ml containers; USDI NPS - Glacier National Park West Glacier, Montana. In: Native Plant Network. URL: https://NativePlantNetwork.org (accessed 2025/04/21). US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources.