Carex (athrostachya)

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:	Cyperaceae
Family Common Name:	Sedge family
Scientific Name:	Carex athrostachya Olney.
Common Name:	Slender-beaked sedge
Species Code:	CARATHÿ
Ecotype:	Marsh, Camas- Glacier National Park, 1100m elev. Flathead Co., MT.
General Distribution:	C. athrostachya is a widespread cordilleran species, occurring from low to mid-montane elevations, in wet habitats such as marshes, seeps or swales where water is standing at least part of the year.
Propagation Goal:	plants
Propagation Method:	seed
ProductType:	Container (plug)
Stock Type:	172 ml conetainers
Time To Grow:	11 Months
Target Specifications:	Stock Type: Container seedling<br> Height: 15 cm<br> Caliper: n/a<br> Root System: Firm plug in 172 ml (10 cu. in.) conetainer.ÿ
Propagule Collection:	Hand collect mature inflorescences when perigynia and scales turn dark brown are are easily stripped from the stalk. Seeds are collected in early October and stored in paper bags prior to cleaning.
Propagule Processing:	Seeds are cleaned with a hammermill and fanning mill. Seed longevity is unknown. Seeds/Kg: 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 Method: Direct Seeding. Seeds are surface sown. 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 172 ml conetainer. Conetainers are filled and sown in late fall and irrigated thoroughly prior to winter stratification.
Establishment Phase:	Medium is kept moist during germination. Seeds did not germinate until June, when temperatures reached into the 22C+ range during the day. This species appears to require warmer germination temperatures. Germination appeared to be very uniform. 2 to 4 true leaves were evident 3 weeks after initial germination.
Length of Establishment Phase:	4 weeks
Active Growth Phase:	Shoot and root development occur at a moderate rate compared to high elevation species. Plants were fertilized with 20-20-20 during the growing season.
Length of Active Growth Phase:	12 weeks
Hardening Phase:	Plants are fertilized with 10-20-20 liquid NPK at 200 ppm during August and September. Irrigation is gradually reduced in September and October. Plants were given one final irrigation prior to winterization.
Length of Hardening Phase:	8 weeks
Harvesting, Storage and Shipping:	Total Time to Harvest: 11 months Harvest Date: September Storage Conditions: Overwinter in outdoor nursery under insulating foam cover and snow.
Length of Storage:	5 months
Other Comments:	This species requires a suitably wet site for successful establishment. ÿ Vegetative Propagation Method: Divisions can be made of mature nursery stock.
References:	Flora of the Pacific Northwest, Hitchcock and Cronquist, Univ. of Washington Press, 7th printing, 1990. Glacier Park Native Plant Nursery Propagation Records, unpublished. Native and Introduced Species Statistics, National Park Service, Denver Service Center, Hassell, Wendel, April 1996.

Citation:

Luna, Tara; Evans, Jeff; Wick, Dale. 2008. Propagation protocol for production of Container (plug) Carex athrostachya Olney. plants 172 ml conetainers; USDI NPS - Glacier National Park West Glacier, Montana. In: Native Plant Network. URL: https://NativePlantNetwork.org (accessed 2025/04/18). US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources.