Biscuitroot, Beardtongue, Biscuitroot, Beardtongue, Buckwheat and BeyondBuckwheat and Beyond

Ann DeBolt and Nancy L. Shaw

USDA-FS Rocky Mountain Research Station, Boise, ID

Greg H. Lowry

Idaho Crop Improvement Association

USDA-FS Rocky Mountain Research StationGreat Basin Native Plant Selection and

Increase Project

Supported by:

USDI BLM Great Basin Restoration and

Native Plant Initiatives

Objective:Increase seed supplies of native plant species, particularly forbs, for the Great Basin

(Cronquist et al. 1972)

The Great Basin

BLM

75 million acres

FS

20 million acres

RMRS - Boise

Penstemon - BEARDTONGUE• P. acuminatus – sand• P. deustus – scabland• P. speciosus – sagebrush

Lomatium - BISCUITROOT• L. dissectum - fernleaf• L. grayi - Gray’s • L. triternatum – nineleaf

Eriogonum – BUCKWHEAT• E. umbellatum – sulfur

Penstemon - BEARDTONGUE

• 3rd largest genus in Intermountain region (Scrophulariaceae)

• Approx. 250 species

• Showy tubular flowers

• 4 fertile stamens & 1 bearded stamen (“beardtongue”)

• Common forb in rangelands

• Insect pollinated, particularly bees

• Wildlife forage

• Cultivated for many years

• Generally easy to grow, harvest, and manage

• Seed production by 2nd year, earlier than some forbs

• Seed dormancy; sow in fall for cold stratification

• Seed easily cleaned to a purity of 90+ percent

• 225,000 – 500,000+ seeds/lb

• Can be seeded in mixtures with most other herbs

• Will hybridize

Cultural Practices

Penstemon acuminatus Sand penstemon

Sandy soils at low elevations (650-1400 m)

Short-lived perennial (2-6 dm)

Flowers pale blue (April, May)

Capsules open soon after ripening (550,000/lb)

Penstemon speciosus (Sagebrush penstemon)

Distribution, Habitat, and Collection Sites

Loamy soils from 1200-3300 m Short-lived perennial (4 dm)Wide-ranging speciesBlue-violet flowers (May-June)Capsules retain seed longer than previous sp. (508,000/lb)

OREGON

NEVADA

Burns

Boise

Penstemon deustus Scabland or hot-rock penstemon

Variable sites and habitats, often rocky (800-2,550 m)

Perennial with woody base (4 dm)

Small white flowers (May, June)

Wide ecological amplitude; 2 vars. in Intermountain Region

Capsules remain closed at maturity (2,900,000/lb)

RESULTS

Common gardens in ID, OR, NV - 2003-2006

Well drained soils essential due to damping off

Developed TZ testing, cleaning protocols

• Long stratification required:

deustus 10%

acuminatus 14% with 12 week treatment

speciosus 33%

• Dormancy related to environmental conditions

• GA3 reduces dormancy

• P. deustus more responsive to GA3 than P. acuminatus

• Pollinators not limited

Lomatium spp.

L. dissectum Fernleaf biscuitrootL. grayi Gray’s biscuitrootL. triternatum Nineleaf biscuitroot

– 70 species in west/central N. America (Apiaceae)

– Perennial herb, taproot often highly thickened

– Individual flowers small, united in umbel

– Flowers yellow (white); early spring growth

– Pollinators - solitary bees

– Common forb in rangelands

– High forage value

Lomatium - BISCUITROOT

Cultural Practices

– Still learning how to grow & manage for seed production

– Large seed, easily harvested, easily cleaned w/uniform ripening*

– 30,000-50,000 seeds/lb

– Early phenology - short irrigation season

– Seed dormancy; sow in fall for cold stratification

– Hybridization uncommon

Lomatium dissectum Fernleaf biscuitroot

Large perennial (1.5 m) with large, thickened woody taproot

Widespread on variable soils, medium to coarse

700-2600 m

Leaves dissected

Yellow (purple) flowers; early phenology (April-May)

Lomatium grayi Gray’s biscuitroot

Rocky sites to moderately heavy soils

700-2800 m

Strong, parsley-like odor; fly pollinated

Highly dissected leaves (100s-1000s segments)

Yellow flowers (April, early May)

Harvest seed May/June

Lomatium triternatum Nineleaf biscuitroot

Highly variable soils (600-2700 m)

Perennial w/elongate, slightly thickened taproot

Leaves with minimal dissection

Yellow flowers (April)

Harvest seed (May/June)

RESULTS

• Common garden seeded – fall 2004

• Developed TZ testing, cleaning protocols – easily cleaned

• Seed ripening - L. grayi < L. triternatum < L. dissectum

• Early dormancy – no water after dormant

• Susceptible to aphids in greenhouse

• Long stratification required – immature embryos responsible • Good seed production by 2nd year

Eriogonum - BUCKWHEAT

• 150 species, chiefly in the W. U.S. (Polygonaceae)

• > 50 species in UT; many endemics

• Annual, perennial forb, or subshrub

• Flowers small, simple to compoundly umbellate

(white, cream, yellow, or pink)

• Common rangeland plant

• Important nectar source for bees

• Moderate to well-drained soil

• Seed is a 3-angled achene (120,000 – 145,000 seeds/lb)

• Easy to collect and clean to 90% purity

• Seed matures August/September

• At least 2 species have been grown for landscaping

• Pollinated by bees, wasps, flies

• Ripening uniformity

• Seed predators

Cultural Practices

Eriogonum umbellatum Sulfur buckwheat

Common, widespread species with numerous varieties

500-3100 m on variable soil types

Yellow flowers – July/August; Harvest – August/Sept.

Pollinators various - bees, wasps, flies, others

Erigonum umbellatum collection sites

Still in the seed collection phase

Common gardens – 2005/2006

Germination studies

A prolific spreader from seed

Seed quality and insect predators are problematic

BEYOND?BEYOND?

Cooperative Native Seed Increase Program

To accelerate development of native forb seed supplies, RMRS is collaborating with AOSCA & State Foundation Seed agencies in the GB to facilitate seed distribution to private growers.

• Multi-state, multi-agency effort - facilitates collaboration across state lines with a greater number of species

• Coordinate w/BLM to identify forb species & populations

• Coordinate w/State Foundation Seed Agencies to distribute seeds to interested growers

SEED INCREASE PROGRAMS

- Cooperative Native Seed Increase Program (RMRS coordinates with BLM on identification of plant materials for increase and w/AOSCA for program admin)

- Buy-back Program(RMRS coordinates w/UCIA in Logan, UT for seed increase of plant materials generated by the Great Basin Native Plant Project)

• Ann DeBolt

adebolt@fs.fed.us

• Nancy Shawnshaw@fs.fed.us

• Greg H. Lowry

ghlowry@aol.com