Thalictrum (occidentale)

Tara Luna USDI NPS - Glacier National Park West Glacier, Montana 59936 (406) 888-7835 http://plant-materials.nrcs.usda.gov/azpmc

---

Family Scientific Name:	Ranunculaceae
Family Common Name:	Buttercup family
Scientific Name:	Thalictrum occidentale Gray.
Common Synonym:	Thalictrum breitungii Boivin
Common Name:	Western meadowrue
Species Code:	THAOCC
Ecotype:	Two Medicine, Glacier National Park, MT.
General Distribution:	Thalictrum occidentale occurs from southern B.C. to northern California on both sides of the Cascades, east to Alberta, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, and Utah. It inhabits mountain meadows and montane and alpine forests.
Propagation Goal:	plants
Propagation Method:	seed
ProductType:	Container (plug)
Stock Type:	172 ml containers
Time To Grow:	10 Months
Target Specifications:	Stock Type: Container seedling<br> Height: 4 to 6 true leaves, 9 cm<br> Caliper: n/a<br> Root System: Firm plug in container.
Propagule Collection:	Thalictrum is a dioecious genus and strongly rhizomatous. Usually, there are male and female patches within close proximity in habitats where this species is abundant. Female stands must be identified during flowering prior to seed collection. Follicles are collected in early September when they turn tan and just begin to split open. Seeds are black at maturity. Follicles are collected in paper bags and kept in a well ventilated drying shed prior to cleaning.
Propagule Processing:	Seeds are easily extracted when follicles open during drying and usually do not require further cleaning. Seeds/Kg: 70,500/kg Seed longevity is at least 2 years. Seed dormancy is classified as morphological-physiological dormancy. Theembryo is underdeveloped at time of seed dispersal. % Purity: 100% % Germination: 78%
Pre-Planting Treatments:	Seed Propagation Method: Seeds are treated with 500 ppm gibbereliic acid for 24 hrs and thoroughly rinsed with water follwoing treatment. Seeds are placed in fine mesh bags and cold, moist stratified in moistened milled sphagnum peat moss for 90 days at 1 to 2 C in a refrigetor. Seeds begin to germinate during cold, moist stratification after 80 to 90 days.Cold temperatures are necessary for breaking dormancy.
Growing Area Preparation/ Annual Practices for Perennial Crops:	Greenhouse and outdoor nursery growing facility. Sowing Method:Planting Germinants. Seeds are sown into containers when the radicle becomes visible. Usually, all GA3 treated/stratified seeds have germinated within 80 to 100 days of cold, moist stratification. One germinant is sown per container and is very lightly covered with a thin layer of perlite to allow light transmission but keep medium moist around the germinated seed. Growing medium used 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 18C 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:	Thalictrum seedlings grow more slowly than many other forb species. Seedlings are susceptible to overwatering at this stage. Seedlings should be kept partially shaded during nursery production.
Length of Establishment Phase:	8 weeks
Active Growth Phase:	Seelings are fertilized with 20-10-20 liquid NPK at 100 ppm bi-weekly during the growing season. Seedlings were root tight in 172 ml (4.5 inch) containers 4 months after germination.
Length of Active Growth Phase:	12 weeks
Hardening Phase:	Plants are fertilized with 10-20-20 liquid NPK in early fall. Containerss are leached with water, irrigation is gradually reduced through September and October.
Length of Hardening Phase:	4 weeks
Harvesting, Storage and Shipping:	Total Time To Harvest: 10 months Harvest Date: September Storage Conditions: Overwinter in outdoor nursery under insulating foam cover and snow.
Length of Storage:	5 months
Other Comments:	Vegetative Propagation Method: Divisions of rhizomes can be done from established nursery stock if seeds are unavailable.
References:	Flora of the Pacific Northwest, Hitchcock and Cronquist, Univ. of Washington Press, 7th printing, 1973. Seed Germination Theory and Practice, Second Edition, Deno, Norman, published 1993. Glacier Park Native Plant Nursery Propagation Records, unpublished. Seeds: Ecology, Biogeography and Evolution of Dormancy and Germination, Baskin and Baskin, Academic Press, 1998.

Citation:

Luna, Tara. 2008. Propagation protocol for production of Container (plug) Thalictrum occidentale Gray. plants 172 ml containers; USDI NPS - Glacier National Park West Glacier, Montana. In: Native Plant Network. URL: https://NativePlantNetwork.org (accessed 2024/04/16). US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources.