Hedysarum (sulphurescens)

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:	Fabaceae
Family Common Name:	Pea family
Scientific Name:	Hedysarum sulphurescens Rydb.
Common Name:	Yellow Sweetvetch
Species Code:	HEDSUL
Ecotype:	Subalpine meadows, Logan Pass, 2032 m elev.
General Distribution:	H. sulphurescens occurs in open wooded slopes to the alpine; from east slope of the Cascades to Alberta, Montana and Wyoming.
Propagation Goal:	plants
Propagation Method:	seed
ProductType:	Container (plug)
Stock Type:	172 ml conetainers
Time To Grow:	5 Months
Target Specifications:	Stock Type: Container seedling<br> Height: 4 to 6 true leaves, 6 cm<br> Caliper: n/a<br> Root System: Firm plug in container.
Propagule Collection:	Seeds are hand collected in late August when loments are turn tan. Seeds are red-brown at maturity. Seeds are stored in paper bags prior to cleaning.
Propagule Processing:	Seeds are threshed with a hammermill and screened. Seed longevity is up to 10 years at 1 to 3C in sealed containers. Seed dormancy is classified as physical dormancy. Seeds/Kg: 158,400/kg % Purity: 100% % Germination: 70%
Pre-Planting Treatments:	Both an 85 day cold moist stratification and no stratification was used; with no notable difference in germination percentages. Seeds are inoculated with Rhizobium at time of sowing.
Growing Area Preparation/ Annual Practices for Perennial Crops:	Greenhouse and outdoor nursery growing facility. Sowing Method: Direct Seeding. Seeds are covered with media. Growing media used is 70% 6:1:1 milled sphagnum peat, perlite, and vermiculite and 30% sand 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. Greenhouse temperatures are maintained at 21 to 25C during the day and 16 to 18 C at night. Seedlings are hand watered and remain in greenhouse until mid May. Seedlings are then moved to outdoor nursery for the remainder of the growing season. 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:	Seeds germinate uniformly in 8 days at 21C.Germination to true leaf stage is 7 to 15 days.
Length of Establishment Phase:	4 weeks
Active Growth Phase:	There is rapid root and shoot development during the growing season. Plants are fertilized with 13-13-13 liquid NPK at 100 ppm bi-weekly until fall. Plants are susceptible to root rot.
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:	4 weeks
Harvesting, Storage and Shipping:	Total Time To Harvest: 5 months Harvest Date:August Storage Conditions: Overwinter in outdoor nursery under insulating foam and snow.
Length of Storage:	5 months
Other Comments:	This species produces a taproot;careful attention to watering is critical. Plants should be uppotted or outplanted the first year. Unlike most legumes, Hedysarum does not require scarification of seed coats. However, a presoak in water prior to sowing would likely increase germination percentages.
References:	Flora of the Pacific Northwest, Hitchcock and Cronquist, Univ. of Washington Press, 7th printing, 1973. Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Edition, Deno, Norman, publ.1993. Glacier Park Native Plant Nursery Propagation Records, unpublished. Seeding Rate Statistics for Native and Introduced Species, National Park Service, Hassell, Wendel, April 1996.

Citation:

Evans, Jeff; Wick, Dale; Hosokawa, Joy. 2001. Propagation protocol for production of Container (plug) Hedysarum sulphurescens Rydb. plants 172 ml conetainers; USDI NPS - Glacier National Park West Glacier, Montana. In: Native Plant Network. URL: https://NativePlantNetwork.org (accessed 2024/04/26). US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources.