Field Office 2008 Seed Collection List

The Plant Materials (PM) Program is requesting seed collections of 7 species in Montana and Wyoming. In 2008, continued collection is requested of Pediomelum argophyllum (synonym Psoralea argophylla), large Indian breadroot Pediomelum esculentum (synonym Psoralea esculenta), slimflower scurfpea Psoralidium tenuiflorum (synonym Psoralea tenuiflora), scarlet globemallow Sphaeralcea coccinea, prairie thermopsis Thermopsis rhombifolia and American vetch Vicia americana. New to the list this year is the Montana state grass, bluebunch wheatgrass Pseudoroegneria spicata.

When scouting around for likely sites in which to make seed collections, look for populations of healthy plants growing in harsher than normal conditions. Specific guidelines for seed collecting can be found in an online technical note at the websites mentioned below. Collections are needed from all areas of Montana and Wyoming.

A bulletin will be distributed electronically to each field office in Montana and Wyoming to provide guidance on accessing the seed collection instructions via each state’s homepage. For immediate access to the respective guidance documents, species descriptions, and photos, go to the Montana or Wyoming NRCS homepage and click on Plant Materials, and then the Seed Collection List. Seed is subsequently planted in evaluation studies to test performance and utility for solving conservation problems outlined in the Plant Materials Long-Range Plans for Montana and Wyoming.

By Jim Jacobs, Plant Materials Specialist.

< Back to Plant Materials Today, April 2008 Issue

Last Modified: 04/11/2008