Silene (uralensis)

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:	Caryophyllaceae
Family Common Name:	Pink family
Scientific Name:	Silene uralensis (Rupr.) Bocq.
Common Synonym:	Lychnis apetala L.
Common Name:	Alpine campion
Species Code:	SILURA
Ecotype:	N/A
General Distribution:	S. uralensis is a circumboreal species and is found in North America south through the higher elevations of the Rocky Mountains; from Montana and Idaho to Colorado. It inhabits talus and scree slopes above treeline.
Propagation Goal:	plants
Propagation Method:	seed
ProductType:	Container (plug)
Stock Type:	160 ml conetainers
Time To Grow:	8 Months
Target Specifications:	Stock Type: Container seedling<br> Height: 4 to 6 true leaves, 4 cm<br> Caliper: n/a<br> Root System: firm plug in conetainer.
Propagule Collection:	Seeds are collected in late August when capsules turn papery and seeds are easily shaken out of the capsules. Seeds are brown at maturity and are collected in paper bags and kept in a well ventilated drying shed prior to cleaning.
Propagule Processing:	Seeds are hand cleaned by rubbing the capsules. Seed longevity is unknown. Seed dormancy is classified as physiological dormancy. Seeds/Kg: 1,200,000/kg approx. % Purity: 100% % Germination: 50%
Pre-Planting Treatments:	5 month outdoor cold, moist stratification.
Growing Area Preparation/ Annual Practices for Perennial Crops:	Outdoor nursery growing facility. Sowing/Planting Technique: Direct Seeding. Seeds are covered with medium. Growing medium used is 6:1:1 milled sphagnum 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 conetainer. Containers are filled in late fall and seeded prior to winter stratification.
Establishment Phase:	Medium is kept slightly moist during germination. Initial germination appeared uniform and occurred following 2 weeks of temperatures at 22C or above during the day. 4 true leaves were evident 2 weeks after germination.
Length of Establishment Phase:	4 weeks
Active Growth Phase:	Plants were fertilized with 20-10-20 liquid NPK at 100 ppm during the growing season. Plants were fully root tight 8 weeks after germination.
Length of Active Growth Phase:	8 weeks
Hardening Phase:	Irrigation is gradually reduced in September and October. Plants are fertilized with 10-20-20 liquid NPK fertilizer at 200 ppm during September and October. Plants are leached with clear water before winterization.
Length of Hardening Phase:	4 weeks
Harvesting, Storage and Shipping:	Total Time To Harvest: 8 months ÿ Harvest Date: July Storage Conditions: Overwinter in outdoor nursery under insulating foam cover and snow.
Length of Storage:	5 months
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. 2008. Propagation protocol for production of Container (plug) Silene uralensis (Rupr.) Bocq. plants 160 ml conetainers; USDI NPS - Glacier National Park West Glacier, Montana. In: Native Plant Network. URL: https://NativePlantNetwork.org (accessed 2025/04/20). US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources.