Juncus (mertensianus)

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:	Juncaceae
Family Common Name:	Rush family
Scientific Name:	Juncus mertensianus Bong.
Common Name:	Mertens' rush
Species Code:	JUNMER
Ecotype:	Subalpine wet meadows, Logan Pass, 2032m, elevation,
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:	160 ml conetainers
Time To Grow:	9 Months
Target Specifications:	Stock Type: Container seedling<br> Height: 6 to 8 true leaves; 8 cm<br> Caliper: n/a<br. Root System: Firm plug in conetainers.
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. Seed dormancy type is unknown. Seeds/Kg: unknown % Purity: 100% % Germination: 50 to 80%
Pre-Planting Treatments:	5 month outdoor cold, moist stratification.
Growing Area Preparation/ Annual Practices for Perennial Crops:	Outdoor Nursery. Sowing Method: Direct Seeding. Seeds are surface sown for the light requirement. Growing medium used is 6:1:1 milled spaghnum 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 0.20gram of Micromax per 172 ml conetainer. Conetainers are filled and sown in late fall and irrigated thoroughly prior to winter stratification. Seedlings germinate in spring under fluctuating outdoor temperatures and are grown under full sun exposure. 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 are subjected to winter stratification and fluctuating temperatures during germination. Medium is kept moist during germination. Shoot and root development occur rapidly following germination.
Length of Establishment Phase:	4 weeks
Active Growth Phase:	Seedlings were root tight 8 weeks after germination. Seedlings were fertilized with 20-20-20 liquid NPK at 100 ppm during the rapid growth phase.
Length of Active Growth Phase:	8 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: 9 months Harvest Date: August Storage Conditions: Overwinter in outdoor nursery under insulating foam cover and snow.
Length of Storage:	5 months
Other Comments:	Vegetative Propagation Method: Divisions of nursery stock.
References:	Flora of the Pacific Northwest, Hitchcock and Cronquist, Univ. of Washington Press, 7th printing, 1990. Growing Colorado Plants from Seed, A State of the Art, Vol. 2, USDA Forest Service General Technical Report INT-103, Jan.1981. Glacier Park Native Plant Nursery Propagation Records, unpublished.

Citation:

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: https://NativePlantNetwork.org (accessed 2024/04/19). US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources.