Publication of the Wyoming Native Plant Society
Dec. 2007, Volume 26, No. 4

Posted at www.uwyo.edu/wyndd/wnps/wnps_home.htm

Left:

Western wheatgrass
( Elymus smithii; syn.
Pascopyrum smith)

Reprinted from: USDA-
NRCS PLANTS Database
/ Hitchcock, A.S. (rev. A.
Chase). 1950. Manual of
the grasses of the
United States. US DA
Miscellaneous
Publication No. 200.
Washington, DC.

Glad Tidings in Grass

Before we ring in the new year, it's time to
ring in the old grass. Western wheatgrass
{Elymus smithii, syn. Pascopyrum smithii) was
decreed the State Grass of Wyoming after a little-
publicized debate in the 2007 state legislature
(W.S. 8-3-121). It had previously been
designated the state grass in the early 1950's by
a legislative resolution. All other Wyoming state
emblems were ensconced in state statutes except
the state grass.

Blue grama {Boute/oua gracilis) was a
contender in this year's debate, but distribution of
western wheatgrass, spanning all counties of
Wyoming, swung the vote. Blue grama may have
better spike-recognition, with its graceful

inflorescence that looks like a stylized smile.
Western wheatgrass has a compact spike (above)
that is not as readily discerned.

Outside of the competitive political arena,
these two grass species are widespread
associates overlapping across northern and
eastern Wyoming. Western wheatgrass is a cool-
season, rhizomatous grass of medium height
while blue grama is a sod-forming, warm-season
short grass. The productive western wheatgrass
is a fitting mascot for Wyoming's ranching
tradition. (Cont. on p. 8)

In this issue:

Glad Tidings in Grass 1, 8

Exotics are Conquering Natives 3

Black Hills Native Plant Material Program 4

Spotlight on Lathrocasis tenerrima. 5

Practicing Safe Seed 7-9

WNPS News

Mark Your Calendars!

The 2008 Annual Meeting of the Wyoming Native
Plant Society is being hosted by the Teton Chapter
and will be held on Saturday and Sunday, July 12th
and 13th. We hope you will take this opportunity to
visit the beautiful Jackson Hole/Grand Teton
National Park area and experience the great
educational opportunities of this event. Please look
for more detailed information and highlights of this
event in the March issue of Castilleja. Contact Amy
Taylor at ajrtaylor@hotmail.com, or 307.733.3776
with questions.

Proposed By-Laws Amendments : IT'S BACK!! A
streamlined by-laws amendment is being proposed
again. YOU are needed to get Wyoming Native
Plant Society into a calendar-year operation. The
proposed amendments are attached to the renewal
form and ballot in this issue.

Photo by Curtis Haderlie

New Members : Please welcome the following new
members to WNPS: Dan Doak, Laramie; Brian and
Emily Elliott, Laramie; Robert Henry, Cheyenne;
Natalie Kashi, Victor, ID; Martin Lenz, Montague,
CA; and David Skinner, Buffalo.

Ballot and Renewal : Please renew early in 2008
and vote in Board elections. Return the yellow
insert to Wyoming Native Plant Society.

WNPS Markow Scholarship : The 2008 WNPS
Markow Scholarship announcement is in this issue,
open to all who are pursuing graduate research
related to native plant species and vegetation in
Wyoming. The deadline is February 15.

Contributors to this issue : Beth Burkhart (BB),
Robert Dorn (RDD), Richard Dunne (RD2), Curtis
Haderlie (CH), Bonnie Heidel (BH) and Dave Scott
(DS).

Treasurer's Report : Balance as of 29 Nov 2007 -
General Fund: $1,390.68; Markow Scholarship
Fund: $1,126.00. Total Funds: $2,516.68

Contributions : Feature articles, news,
announcements, and book reviews are welcome
any time of year by mail or email. The next
newsletter deadline is February 18.

Wyoming Native Plant Society
P.O. Box 2500
Laramie, WY 82073

WNPS Board - 2007

President: Beth Burkhart '07 605-673-3159

Vice President: Lynn Moore '07 472-3603

Sec.-Treasurer: Ann Boelter'07 745-5487

Board Members: Dave Scott '07-'08 690-1683

Curtis Haderlie '06-'07 690-4381

Newsletter Editor: Bonnie Heidel (Laramie;
bheidel@uwyo.edu)

Teton Chapter: PO Box 82, Wilson, WY 83014
(Joan Lucas, Treasurer)

Bighorn Native Plant Society: PO Box 21, Big Horn,
WY 82833 (Jean Daly, Treasurer)

Webmaster: Melanie Arnett (arnett@uwyo.edu)

2

Exotics Are Conquering Natives

By Robert Dorn

In the late summer of 2005, I received fragments
of an unknown plant from BKS Environmental
Associates from two different coal mine sites in
Campbell County, Wyoming. The fragments
resembled Bassia sieversiana (formerly called
Kochia scoparia) but were definitely not that
species. This past summer they were able to send
me a complete specimen. It immediately struck me
as our next potential weed. It was not the worst
possible weed, since it did not seem to have
rhizomes. But it was a stout perennial with a root
12 inches long and an inch in diameter. Perennials
are usually much more difficult to eradicate than
annuals.

It was pretty clear that this plant belonged to the
genus Bassia or Kochia. I thought that I might
need to look at European and Asian floras to try to
identify it. First I checked the regional floras that I
had available and found that one of them (A Utah
Flora) had a perfect description of this plant. It was
called Kochia prostrata (now Bassia prostrata) and
was reported as “being tried in reclamation
plantings and is to be expected throughout Utah.”
On doing more research on the internet, I found
that it had been introduced into this country in 1966
from the USSR and the cultivar ‘Immigrant’ (aptly
named) was released by federal and state agencies
in 1984 for general use. It is called “forage Kochia”
and is reported to have a taproot that can reach 1 6
feet long. It is being pushed as “an unqualified high
value, perennial, non-invasive, fire-resistant forage
with the capacity to choke out invasive exotic
weeds ....”

But how many native plants will it choke out?

For every forage Kochia plant, one or more native
plants will be unable to grow in that spot.

Displacing native plants is the most overlooked
consequence of introducing exotic plants that have
the potential to naturalize. And we are now
introducing exotics to try to displace other exotics
that were introduced earlier! How many more
exotics will be introduced to take the space that
could be occupied by native plants? Alfalfa took
decades to become naturalized in every county in
Wyoming. It will likely be decades before forage
Kochia can become as widespread, but time is on

its side. It has been documented to have spread
0.6 mile in about 10 years at one location. As more
seed sources become available, the rate of spread
becomes much greater.

**********************************************************

Displacing native plants is the most
overlooked consequence of introducing
exotic plants that have the potential to
naturalize.

**********************************************************

When I began studying the Wyoming flora in the
1960’s, there were not many exotic weeds in the
state, even though there were many more in
adjacent states. I thought at the time that it was
because they could not survive at our higher
elevations. But they only needed more time and
perhaps some climatic warming. We are now being
overrun by exotics.

Sand Creek in the Black Hills is the location for
several rare Wyoming plants. In September of
2005 while taking some plant photographs along
the stream, I noticed how many weeds were now
covering the creek bottom. I stopped in a ± 5 acre
stretch and counted the number of exotic species.
There were 1 2 that I found. I had a hard time
finding 5 native species in the same stretch. An
open ridge in the Bear Lodge Range that had a
nice native prairie when I first visited it in the 1970’s
is now mostly exotic species. Our native vegetation
is disappearing before our eyes. We need to stop
introducing more exotics, but it may be already too
late to save much of our native flora.

Major Stephen H. Long, whose expedition
crossed the plains to the Colorado Rockies in 1820,
characterized the plains as the Great American
Desert that would be uninhabitable by settlers. He
was “proved” to be wrong, but with the mining of
the ground water and the proliferation of exotic
vegetation, ultimately he may be right.

For more information on weeds, see the articles
by Walter Fertig in Castilleja 18(2), May 1999. RDD

3

Above:

Beth Burkhart and Geum triflorum seed, photo by Cheryl Mayer

Black Hills Native Plant Material Program

By Beth Burkhart, Black Hills NF Botanist

The Black Hills area has joined the joined the
native plant materials march and bandwagon! Congress
earmarked funding under the National Fire Plan
Restoration/ Rehabilitation of Burned Areas for
development and use of native plant materials. The
funding is awarded to projects promoting restoration
and rehabilitation of sites with the use of native plant
materials; reintroduction of native plant material into
burned areas; or development of regional supplies of
native plant materials for rehabilitation.

In 2007, proposals submitted by the Black Hills
National Forest (BHNF) and the Rocky Mountain
Research Station - Rapid City Lab (RMRS) received
funding. The two proposals were submitted separately,
but when both received funding, we met and
determined that both would benefit from collaboration.

The BHNF proposal is a pilot project for
restoring stands of a plant community type endemic to
the Black Hills (Marriott et al. 1999) - Black Hills
Montane Grasslands. The RMRS proposal is a large-
scope native plant material program that would
eventually include commercial partnerships and provide
materials for a wide variety of rehab/restoration needs
on public and private lands in the Black Hills. To
highlight 2007 project accomplishments, intensive
efforts were made to collect seeds from a number of
selected species from diverse sites, including species
components of Black Hills montane grasslands. These

seeds are being processed and will be analyzed for
viability and germinability in early 2008. A set of seeds
from Black Hills montane grasslands was sent to USFS
Bessey Nursery for growing into plugs which will be
replanted into montane grassland restoration sites in
2008. Selected species will also be sown into a newly
established two-acre Native Plant Materials site in Rapid
City in early spring of 2008. Their establishment,
growth, and seed production will be evaluated through
the 2008 growing season and beyond.

Proposals for both projects have been submitted
for continued funding in 2008. Seeds collected in 2007
and plugs grown out from some of the collected seed at
Bessey Nursery will be planted in up to three Black Hills
Montane Grassland sites chosen for restoration, with the
assistance of members of the Great Plains Native Plant
Society and any other willing volunteers! Permanent
plots will be installed and monitored to evaluate species'
establishment and persistence. Seed from montane
grassland species will also be planted at the Native Plant
Materials site in Rapid City for seed production.

Additional seed of montane grassland species will be
collected in 2008 and more plugs produced in the winter
of 2009 for additional restoration sites in future years.
2008 funds would continue the RMRS project by
expanding partnerships to facilitate seed collecting and
partnerships. The projects will also provide workshops
on field plant identification and native seed collection. A
focus of the RMRS project is to promote native plant
materials for general large-scale production. The RMRS
project will work on propagating native plant materials
at the new Native Plant Materials site.

The BHNF and RMRS projects form a powerful
combination because the montane grassland project has
a small-scale scope that will be able to show specific
benefit to vegetation management on the ground on
BHNF, while the RMRS project has a large-scale scope
that facilitates completing the montane grassland project
while meeting many other revegetation needs on public
and private lands in the Black Hills. BB

Literature Cited :

Marriott, H. J., D. Faber-Langendoen, A. McAdams, D.
Stutzman, B. Burkhart. 1999. The Black Hills community
inventory: final report. Minneapolis, MN: The Nature
Conservancy, Midwest Conservation Science Center.

Grass in perspective , from an address bv John James Ingalls , the year before being elected to the U.S. Senate in Kansas

"Grass is the forgiveness of nature-her constant benediction. Fields trampled with battle, saturated with blood, torn with
the ruts of cannon, grow green again with grass, and carnage is forgotten. ... Beleaguered by the sullen hosts of winter,
it withdraws into the impregnable fortress of its subterranean vitality, and emerges upon the first solicitation of
Spring... 1 , "

1 John James Ingalls (1872), reprinted in "The Yearbook of Agriculture 1948", USDA Washington, DC.

4

Above: Lathrocasis tenerrima, by Jeanne Janish. From:
Hitchcock, C.L., A. Cronquist, and M. Ownbey. 1959. Vascular
Plants of the Pacific Northwest, Vol. 4. Posted at eFIora of
British Columbia.

Spotlight on Lathrocasis tenerrima

By Dave Scott

Western and central Wyoming delimit the
eastern range limits of Lathrocasis tenerrima
(slender gilia) , an interesting and often overlooked
species of the Phlox family (Polemoniaceae).

Plants are inconspicuous annuals growing on
porous soils and dry slopes at mid elevations, and
are often only seen in small and sparse
populations. Individuals are usually less than 30
cm tall and, even in full flower, can be overlooked
when you are standing right over them. Some
would call the tiny flowers "precious" or "cute", but
we'll just stick to the facts; the flowers are usually
less than 3 mm in length.

Lathrocasis tenerrima was transferred from
the genus Giiia where it now represents the only
species in Lathrocasis (Porter and Johnson 2000;
Dorn 2003). This taxon has been somewhat
elusive to taxonomists set on teasing out its best

classification. Asa Gray described Giiia tenerrima in
1870 but its unique characters became apparent
when considered against other Giiia in later studies
of the group. DNA analysis in the mid-nineties
finally provided additional support to traditional
classifications that this species should be split out
of Giiia (Johnson and Soltis 1995). An in-depth
study by Johnson and others shortly thereafter
cemented the indication that a new genus be
constructed for this species. Lathrocasis tenerrima
is now closely allied with Giiia, Navarretia, Coiiomia,
and Allophyllum in the Phlox family (Porter and
Johnson 2000). There are no single distinguishing
characters but a combination of nearly entire
leaves, downward curved pedicels, and stamens
attached near the middle of the corolla tube set
Lathrocasis apart from Giiia and other close
relatives.

This glandular annual does have an
interesting story surrounding the selection of its
type locality as well. It was first vouchered in 1869
by Sereno Watson in the vicinity of present day
Evanston, WY. Johnson and Weese (2000) provide
a detailed analysis of the type specimens and
locality. Essentially, the specimen labels and taxon
description indicate the types were collected in
"Utah, on hills above Bear River, near Evanston."
The Utah/Wyoming border had just been
delineated slightly west of Evanston just a year
prior to Watson's collection. He referred to this
general area as Utah though it had recently been
named Wyoming. Watson's collecting routes from
the geological exploration on which he was working
in 1869 were however, shown on maps from the
report of that expedition (Watson 1871). The
report shows two collecting routes on hills above
the Bear River near Evanston. The first is a mere
1.5 miles from the town in present-day Wyoming,
and the other about 22 air miles from Evanston,
but in present-day Utah. Considering these maps,
chances are that the first collecting route was the
one referred to in the species description and
labels. Johnson and Weese corroborate this idea
that the type locality most likely was in Wyoming
( 2000 ).

Lathrocasis tenerrima has gone largely
unnoticed in years past but its populations not
quite so sparse that it is considered rare. Wyoming
counties where it is common are Fremont, Lincoln,
Park, Sublette, and Teton, though it does occur in
the state beyond these areas. This spotlight serves
as an encouragement to get out (cont. on next page)

5

and find new populations of this interesting
wildflower. For this species, Mae West had it right
when she was quoted "It is better to be looked
over, than overlooked.", DS

Literature Cited:

Dorn, R. 2003. Redrawing the Phlox Family tree.
CastiHeja 22(1): 3.

Johnson, L.A. and D.E. Soltis. 1995. Phylogenetic
inference in Saxifragaceae sensu stricto and
GHia (Polemoniaceae) using matK sequences.
Ann. Missouri Bot. Gard. 82(2): 149-175.
Johnson, L.A. and T. L. Weese. 2000. Geographic
distribution, morphological and molecular
characterization, and relationships of Lathrocasis

tenerrima (Polemoniaceae). West N. Amer.
Nat 60(4): 355-373.

Porter, J.M. and L.A. Johnson. 2000. A phylogenetic
classification of Polemoniaceae. A/iso.

19(1): 51-91.

Watson, S. 1871. Vol. V, Botany /^United States
Geological Exploration of the Fortieth
Parallel. Government Printing Office, Washington.

Announcements

Book Still Available

Flowers of Wyoming's Big Horn Mountains and Big
Horn Basin, 1987, by Earl R. Jensen, is available by
order from: earljensen@tctwest.net. This guide
has keys and descriptions for many species of
north-central Wyoming from Montana to Casper;
partially illustrated (paperback); for $25.00 +
postage.

Revegetation Recommendations from a
Native Plant Society Perspective

After the 2003 wildfire in the San Diego area, the
local chapter of the California Native Plant Society
developed recommendations for revegetating, fire-
wise landscaping, scientific research, etc. You can
view the various CNPS policies and other docs at:
http : //www. cn pssd . o rg/fi re/i ndex. htm I .

Revegetation Reference Still Available

The U.S. Forest Service publication: "Genetically
appropriate choices for plant materials to maintain
genetic diversity," by Deborah Rogers and Arlee
Montavalo (2004) is still available and posted at:
http://www.fs.fed.us/r2/publications/botany/plantg
enetics. It was reviewed in CastiHeja March 2005.

2008 High Altitude Revegetation Workshop

Date: March 5-6, 2008

Location: Fort Collins, Colorado
The 18th High Altitude Revegetation Workshop will
be held on March 5-6, 2008, at the Hilton Hotel in
Fort Collins, Colorado. For more than 30 years,
interested people from the environmental
restoration industry, academia and regulatory
agencies have gathered at the biennial workshops
to learn about new techniques, products and
methods for solving revegetation problems. The
High Altitude Revegetation Committee is a Colorado
State University group of professionals involved in
reclamation and restoration activities, organizing
these Workshops to educate and to foster the
exchange of ideas and interaction among
participants. The topics to be emphasized at the
2008 Workshop are:

-Bark Beetle Epidemic
-Wetlands Restoration
-Restoration Case Studies
-Restoration of Highly Disturbed Sites
-Wildfire Protection Forest Management
near Cities

-Reclamation of Oil and Gas Developments

Commercial exhibitors will be provided with booth
space. For more information on exhibiting, contact
Mark Phillips (303-665-2618) or Ed Spence (720-
544-2869, ed wa rd . spence@co . usda . gov) .

A workshop brochure with the final agenda,
registration form and other details will be mailed in
December if you are on the mailing list. To be
added, please contact Gary Thor (970-484-4999,
garythor@colostate.edu).

Conservation Directory Updated and Posted

The 2007 Conservation Directory prepared by the
Center for Plant Conservation is now available
online, posted at:

http://www.centerforplantconservation.org/CPCDire
ctory/CPC_DIR_Find.asp .

Corrections and updates to the Wyoming contacts
should be sent to: Jo Meyerkord
[Jo.Meyerkord@mobot.org].

6

Practicing Safe Seed 2

By Richard Dunne

Maximizing
seed establishment
begins before seed is
purchased. Selecting
the right seed mix,
writing clear
specifications and
choosing the
appropriate application methods with reasonable
time-lines should be finished before you go to bid.

It may seem odd to deal with weeds in
early planning stages, however, some weed control
is frequently required long before any seed is
planted. Weed control on your site will hinge on
three factors: Weed seeds already in your soils,
weeds seeds entering from external inputs such as
seed and mulch and most importantly, the level of
competitive growth created by the species selected
for planting. The pre-existence of common weeds
such as kochia or Russian thistle will not usually
compromise seeding results unless present in very
high numbers, whereas the presence of just a few
spotted knapweed plants may require pre-treating
the soil for weed control. If you can, check growth
on your site from previous years to ascertain the
types of weeds and their abundance. If nothing is
growing on site, find out why before going any
further. Absence of growth may indicate soil
toxicity.

Once an "ideal" seed mix is selected, go to
the market place and see if the seed is available in
the quantities envisioned within your required time
frame. To select species and cultivars for a project,
special attention should be devoted the adaptability
of seed for your site. Some species, such as cool
season grasses, are often broadly adaptive to
elevation, climate and soil type; whereas many
species of forbs and shrubs are extremely narrow
in their adaptive range to both climate and soil
type. Do not try to force poorly adapted seeds into
projects. Find out before you go to bid if adaptive
species are available in the seed market. If not,
either drop that species from your mix or undertake
a collection of seed from a locally adapted ecotype.
Be wary of depending on a very scarce seed unless
you are prepared to purchase it immediately or
unless the vendor will hold it for you.

Ambiguity or conflicts in every part of the
seeding process should be resolved before any
contracts are let. Here is an all-too-frequent
scenario which compromises revegetation results:

A designer, engineer or consultant specifies an
impossible species or quantity in a seed mix and
sends it out to bid. Contractors or vendors,
knowing the species is unavailable bid that species
cheap expecting that an inexpensive substitute will
be allowed in the end. Then, two days before the
seeding, the contractor calls the engineer,
complains that the seed isn't available but smooth
brome or annual ryegrass will do just as well. Any
ambiguity in any contract tends to favor the least
conscientious fulfillment of that contract.

Creating vigorous growth requires selecting
the right seed for soil, climate, aspect and goals
each unique project. Avoid "one size fits all"
solutions that claim to do well in different soil types
or elevations. In formulating a seed mix, soil
conditions and climate should drive all other
decisions. Check soil types, soil depth, nature of
the substrate, aspect of the land, slope, drainage,
temperature extremes, precipitation and seasonal
distribution, snow cover and elevation. If that
seems like too much, find what's already growing
there and use that as a basis for a seed mix.

2 This article was a presentation and handout by the
author at the Native Plant Summit held in Bismarck,
North Dakota, 1999.

A common factor in such scenarios is lack of
communication between designers and
implementers and the two most common reasons
for lack of communication are professional
chauvinism and lack of experience. This is just one
example of many that I could use to illustrate a
basic theme that frequent and comprehensive
communication between designers, vendors and
applicators creates realistic goals, clear
expectations and rigorous oversight. The following
discussion can be used to create a check list of
what should be discussed before going to bid, what
should be included in a seed bid and what
oversight tools exist to verify proper
i m plementation . ( Cor it. on next page ) .

7

All external inputs such as hay-mulch,
topsoil, fill and machinery should be evaluated for
contaminants. Hay-mulch is notorious for
harboring noxious weed seed. Mulch should be
sifted for weeds and sent to a seed lab for
identification. If your fill material or mulch contains
yellow star thistle it's too late to practice safe seed.
Machinery should be clean before entering the site.
Built up mud on vehicles harbors weed seeds and
is probably one of the top three vectors for seed
dispersal, (hay, animals, vehicles).

Enough time must be incorporated into the
project to allow all participants to do their jobs
well. Compressed time-lines are one of the most
common causes of poor results. For instance, if a
seed dealer orders in seed for a project but doesn't
have time to inspect the seed, or replace it if
necessary before delivery, your chances of
receiving substandard seed increases. Allow two
weeks minimum delivery time, especially if you
have a difficult seed mix with many unusual
species. If samples are to be sent for testing, give
yourself enough time to get results back before you
plant. At all stages allow time for negotiation,
adjudication, or re-ordering in a worst case
scenario.

Seeding dates should reflect the needs of
seedling establishment. Plan your job around the
needs of the seed. As a general rule of thumb your
seedlings should be at least six weeks emerged
before the temperature climbs into the nineties, so
if you find a project running late into the spring
delay seeding until fall. Seed often will stay in the
ground awaiting proper conditions to germinate but
if it germinates late and dies in the summer, you
lose your seed bank. For cool season grasses,
forbs and shrubs the optimal seeding time is
usually in the fall after the soil cools below
germination temperature, but before spring rains
arrive. Some species are more forgiving than
others, so the nature of your seed mix can
influence the window of opportunity greatly; as can
aspect, soil type or probability of summer rain.

As requirements for reclamation and
restoration seedings continue to grow, along with
the demand for local ecotypes, be aware the seed
industry may only supply several of the hundreds
of species that grow on your site. Many species
collections originate from areas that may not be

suitable for your site or your goals. Ask reputable
authorities since the capability and needs of each
species vary significantly. If the job requires
unusual species or large quantities, call reputable
seed companies and inquire about availability,
quality and suitability. If you will need seed for
which supplies may be problematical, broadcast
your prospective need to as many dealers as you
can to let them know of your expected future
demand. You may have to change your seeding
date to allow for a season or two of seed collecting.
If enough dealers agree that it is possible to supply
species and quantities as planned then go ahead
with formulating your bid package. If you discover
that the seed you wish may not be available, then
designate an acceptable substitution before going
to bid. Specify the conditions under which the
substitution will be allowed.

Ask about incompatibility of species within
the seed mix. Such incompatibilities may include
presence of deep seeded species with surface
seeded species in the same mix, seeds that will
separate from each other in a drill leaving erratic
coverage, or the inclusion of expensive diminutive
species with cheap aggressive species. Be wary of
dealers who always have every locally endemic
ecotype you want, for it is my experience that all
seed companies have limitations in this area.
Discuss seeding rates. Some vendors have
programs which can quickly determine seeds per
square foot by species which can be used to reveal
imbalances in the seed mix. Rates can vary
depending on seeding method, applicator
proficiency and site conditions. Going to bid before
these steps are completed risks a corrupted
bidding process, costly delays and poor
performance.

Clear specifications should exist in any
solicitation. Specs must include species scientific
name, rather than common name like "Goldenrod;"
pure live seed rates and total quantity required.

Any unusual requirements you have such as
furnishing test copies, testing dates, specific
origins, weed content or species prohibitions should
be stated. Also include minimum acceptable
purities and germs, (or TZ's); desired bag weight;
Certified or not; mixed or unmixed; bag weight;
palletized or not; delivery dates; testing
procedures; delivery costs; (Cont. on next page)

8

and ask for any extra costs such as mixing, bag
charge, sales tax or inoculation fee.

The use of Certified seed deserves
consideration for any project. Certified seed is
usually higher quality than uncertified. Generally,
higher quality seed is cleaner, has greater
germination potential, better seedling vigor, fewer
weeds and better shelf life. Certified seed reduces
the risk of introducing alien species and also helps
establish a chain of accountability that is important
in bringing out the best in vendors and contractors.
In seeding specs the term "certified seed" is
ambiguous and frequently misused so bids should
state, "blue-tagged Certified seed," to reduce
confusion. Require the blue tags be on the bags,
or with a blend, require the blue tags of individual
constituents be sent with the mix. Mixes cannot be
certified and many hand collected species are not
certified or source identified as a matter of
practicality. Blue tagged certified seed status does
not exist for most native shrubs, wildflowers and
for many native grasses. Blue-tagged Certified
seed is usually more expensive than common seed
and its requirement should be evaluated on a job
by job basis. For example, Certified rosana western
wheatgrass frequently contains some Bromus
tectorum, while native western wheatgrass from
some areas does not.

After seed arrives, check labels and weights
for accuracy, origins and test dates. Check bags for
stems, mildew or signs of dampness, tears, bugs
and any other factors that could interfere with
germination or flowability in seeding equipment.

If seed is to be tested, draw samples and
send them to a seed lab. Be sure you know the
proper method for sampling or call a State seed
inspector. Seed tests measure purity, germination
and weed or crop content. Standard operating
procedure should include sending the seed to a lab
for a noxious weed test which is inexpensive and
quick. Test results should be interpreted with
established tolerances in mind and an
understanding of factors that could skew results.
Red flags on a seed test would be absence of key
species in a mix, especially the rare and expensive
ones, large presence of cheap or unordered
species, presence of noxious weeds, or significant
deviations between advertised purity /germination
and test results. Tests are intended to be

statements of probability and should be interpreted
with care. If discrepancies appear on seed tests,
ask vendor for an explanation before you form an
opinion.

Germination requirements and protocol
have not been established for many native species,
particularly shrub and forbs. Consequently some
seeds should not be germinated but should be
submitted for a tetrazolium test instead. The TZ is
quick, (a germination test may take 30 days or
more), and measures the respiratory byproducts of
a seed. Very hard seeded or dormant species such
as snowberry or penstemon should always be Tzed.
If possible, seed should be sampled and tested
before mixed. If a problem arises it is much easier
to pinpoint an offending seed lot and negotiate a
solution than after the seed has been mixed.

Many issues in seed testing undermine the
definitive results that we would all like to see on a
seed test, but in spite of these issues, testing is the
only way to insure compliance over the broad
spectrum of vendors and contractors. Common
seeds of high purity and germ tend to yield fairly
uniform analysis results while trashy, uncommon
seed tend to vary greatly from one test to another.
Sometimes, it is much an art as a science to know
what test variations are significant, but a good
seed lab can help you interpret results.

Seeding failure can occur from lack of
oversight of the seed applicator. Seed should
usually be planted into a firm seed bed in which
your shoe heel leaves no more than 1/4 inch
indentation. Check seed depth as it is being place
into the ground for optimal seed placement. More
than one depth may be required, and the seeding
contractor should have the equipment capable of
planting to two depths for say, grasses and
legumes. Be sure drill row orientation minimizes
the threat of erosion and that amendments or
straw have been properly incorporated.

Even under the best of plans applied in the
best possible way, future rainfall events will
determine the extent of your success or failure.

So, as a last measure, consider prayer as an
integral part of seeding success! RD2

9

continued from p. 1

Also in 2007, the two long-awaited Flora of
North America volumes on grasses were released.
Western wheatgrass is in Volume 24, along with
the key to the entire Grass family (Poaceae).
Volume 25 contains all tribes with warm-season
grass species, like blue grama. The grass volumes
were initiated prior to the Flora of North America
(FNA) project, as sequel to Hitchcock (1950). They
have features that differ from other FNA volumes.
Besides the printed volumes, a grass manual with
more detailed distribution maps, the illustrations
and text has been posted on the web by Utah
researchers, linked at:

http://hua.huh.harvard.edu/FNA/volumes.shtml.
The grass volumes also break with the FNA
tradition by including species that are strictly
agricultural crops. It is a fitting exception for a
family of plants that feeds the world. BH

Hitchcock, A.S. (rev. A. Chase). 1950. Manual of the
grasses of the United States. USDA Miscellaneous
Publication No. 200. Washington, DC.

The Wyoming Native Plant Society is a non-
profit organization established in 1981, dedicated
to encouraging the appreciation and conservation
of the native flora and plant communities of
Wyoming. The Society promotes education and
research on native plants of the state through its
newsletter, field trips, and annual student
scholarship award. Membership is open to
individuals, families, or organizations. To join or
renew, return this form to:

Wyoming Native Plant Society
P.O. Box 2500, Laramie, WY 82073

Name:

Address:

Email:

$7.50 Regular Membership

$15.00 Scholarship Supporting Member

($7.50 goes to the Markow Scholarship Fund)

Check one:

Gift membership

New member

Renewing member

Renewing members, check here if this is an address change

Wyoming Native Plant Society
P.O. Box 2500
Laramie, WY 82073

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