Volume 2, Issue 6

Field Guide to Sedges of the Pacific Northwest
by Barbara L. Wilson and others
reviewed by Brian Thompson

Field Guide to Sedges of the Pacific Northwest is regarded by reviewers across the country as one of the best field guides on any topic, and is even better in the newly released 2nd edition. Included are entries for all 169 species, subspecies, and varieties that grow wild in Oregon and Washington, with typically 4-6 photographs or diagrams of each. An extensive key helps with identification, as do detailed tips with each entry, while comments discuss habitat, ethnobotanical uses, and the significance for restoration.

This summer, check out a good book

We hope summer brings you sun, fresh air, and time to read. On display this month near the large table, you'll find a few off-the-beaten-path selections to engage your intellect this summer. With topics ranging from poetry to environmental policy and history to biography, there's something for every reader.

Ask the Plant Answer Line:
Propagating Gaultheria procumbens from seed

Q: How can I germinate Gaultheria procumbens in soilless media?
I would appreciate any tips on seed stratification, as well as cultural advice.

A: I consulted Seeds of Woody Plants in North America by James A. Young (Dioscorides Press, 1992, rev.ed.), and the general information on Gaultheria states that cold dry storage will help maintain seed viability. … This resource says that G. procumbens seeds should be sown in the fall. Another source says to propagate by seed starting in July in a mix of acid peat and sand in a cold frame.

The most detailed information I found, however, comes from the website of Plants for a Future: "The seed requires a period of cold stratification. Pre-chill for 4-10 weeks and then surface sow in a lime-free compost in a shady part of the greenhouse and keep the compost moist. The seed usually germinates well, usually within 1-2 months at 20° C, but the seedlings are liable to damp off. It is important to water them with care and to ensure that they get plenty of ventilation. Watering them with a garlic infusion can also help to prevent damping off. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are about 25 mm tall, and grow them in light shade in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out in late spring or early summer. The seedlings are susceptible to spring frosts so might need some protection for their first few years outdoors. …” (This is an excerpt. Read the full question and answer on our website).

New to the Library May 2015