Juncus (mertensianus)

Lee Riley Horticulturist USDA FS - Dorena Genetic Resource Center 34963 Shoreview Road Cottage Grove, Oregon 97424 541-915-7324 541-767-5709 (fax) lee.riley@usda.gov

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Family Scientific Name:	Juncaceae
Family Common Name:	Rush
Scientific Name:	Juncus mertensianus
Common Name:	Merten's rush
Species Code:	JUME3
Ecotype:	Mt Hood National Forest, Oregon; Mt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, Washington
General Distribution:	J. mertensianus is a found in wet places and along streams from the montane to the alpine zone. It occurs from Alaska to California and east to the Rocky Mountains from Alberta to New Mexico.
Propagation Goal:	Plants
Propagation Method:	Seed
ProductType:	Container (plug)
Stock Type:	107 ml (6.5 in3) container
Time To Grow:	10 weeks
Target Specifications:	Stock Type: Container seedling. Well-developed crown and firm plug in container.
Propagule Collection:	Hand collect mature inflorescences when capsules are black-brown; just prior to splitting . Seeds are brown at maturity. Seeds are collected in late August using scissors and paper bags and are kept in a well ventilated drying shed prior to cleaning.
Propagule Processing:	Hammermill and fanning mill are used for cleaning. Seed longevity is unknown.
Pre-Planting Treatments:	Due to small seed size and short growing season, seeds are mixed with sand and sown directly into target containers. Growing medium used in these cells consists of 40:20:20:20 peat:composted fir bark:perlite:pumice with Nutricote controlled release fertilizer (18N:6P2O5:8K2O with minors; 140-d release rate at 21C) at the rate of 0.5 gram Nutricote per 107 ml container. Entire racks are sealed inside plastic bags and placed into refrigeration at 1 to 3 °C for 30 days. Cells are checked weekly and kept moist throughout the stratification period.
Growing Area Preparation/ Annual Practices for Perennial Crops:	Greenhouse growing facility. Racks are removed from stratification facilities and placed directly into greenhouses in mid-July. No additional time-release fertilizer is added to medium. Cells are irrigated lightly several times per day to ensure seeds are kept quite moist throughout the germination period.
Establishment Phase:	Germination is uniform and is usually complete in 1 to 2 weeks. Following germination, plants are fertilized with soluble 12-2-14-6Ca-3Mg at 100 ppm for 1 week.
Length of Establishment Phase:	2 weeks
Active Growth Phase:	Plants grow quickly during the active growth phase Soluble fertilizer 20-9-20 NPK at 150 ppm is applied weekly for 8 weeks.
Length of Active Growth Phase:	8 weeks
Hardening Phase:	No dry-down is done to induce dormancy. Seedlings are moved to an outdoor growing area in mid-September.
Length of Hardening Phase:	2 weeks
Harvesting, Storage and Shipping:	Harvest Date: Mid-October Storage Conditions: Seedlings are usually outplanted in fall. No storage except in outdoor growing area. Plants are well irrigated prior to shipping and shipped in containers.
Other Comments:	Wetland classification: OBL
References:	Dorena Genetic Resource Center Propagation Records, unpublished. Luna, Tara; Evans, Jeff; Wick, Dale; Hosokawa, Joy. 2008. Propagation protocol for production of Container (plug) Juncus mertensianus Bong. plants 160 ml conetainers; USDI NPS - Glacier National Park West Glacier, Montana. In: Native Plant Network. URL: http://NativePlantNetwork.org (accessed 2018/10/07). US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources. [NRCS] USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. Juncus mertensianus Bong. Merten’s rush. URL: https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=JUME3 (accessed 7 Oct 2018).

Citation:

Riley, Lee E.; Klocke, Allison. 2018. Propagation protocol for production of Container (plug) Juncus mertensianus Plants 107 ml (6.5 in3) container; USDA FS - Dorena Genetic Resource Center Cottage Grove, Oregon. 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.