Microseris (heterocarpa)

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:	Asteraceae
Family Common Name:	Sunflower Family
Scientific Name:	Microseris heterocarpa Chambers
Common Synonym:	Stebbinsoseris heterocarpa (Nutt.) Chambers nom. illeg.
Common Name:	Brown Microseris
Species Code:	MICHET
Ecotype:	Catalina Island, California
General Distribution:	Brown Microseris is an infrequent, annual species found throughout southern California and the Channel islands. On Catalina Island, it inhabits open, dry grassy slopes and coastal sage shrub communities.
Propagation Goal:	plants
Propagation Method:	seed
ProductType:	Container (plug)
Stock Type:	2 or 4 inch containers
Time To Grow:	4 Months
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. We have collected seeds from May to July.
Propagule Processing:	After seeds have been cleaned, they are stored under refrigeration in air tight glass containers at 40 F and 40% RH. With 7 collections, seeds average 0.32 grams per 100 seeds.
Pre-Planting Treatments:	We have used a 5 minute 5% bleach solution to surface sterilize seed coats prior to testing or sowing. Germination percentage: 32%
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.
Establishment Phase:	Seeds are germinated during late winter andearly spring months 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 germinate 1 to 2 weeks after sowing.
Length of Establishment Phase:	2 to 4 weeks
Active Growth Phase:	After seedlings are well established and have at least 2 true leaves, they are transplanted into 2 or 4 inch 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 several weeks. By mid-May most plants are in fruit.
Length of Active Growth Phase:	3 months
Hardening Phase:	No hardening required; this ia an annual species.

Citation:

Herrera, Mike; Takara, Janet. 2006. Propagation protocol for production of Container (plug) Microseris heterocarpa Chambers plants 2 or 4 inch containers; Catalina Island Conservancy Avalon, California. 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.