Pink Microsteris
(Microsteris gracilis)
Range:
Climate,
elevation:
Low to Mid elevations
Local
occurrence: Very common in eastern
Habitat
preferences: Dry to moist slopes
Plant
strategy type/successional stage: Often is
the first plant to come up in disturbed areas. Seeds can bank for a long time
in soil.
May
be collected as: Collected as seeds in mid summer.
Seed
germination: 2 weeks of cod stratification
35-40 F (Bartow, 2004)
Seed
life: Seeds can remain viable for a few seasons.
Recommended
seed storage conditions: Dry seeds to
a few % moisture, and store in cold dry environment.
Propagation
recommendations: Propagate by seed.
Soil
or medium requirements: Non soil medium-
peat based with plenty of aeration, to simulate natural preference (Bartow,
2004).
Installation
form: Propagate and plant from cone containers, as they are less
expensive and larger containers are not necessary.
Recommended
planting density: There is not necessary
planting density, however gracilis can spread rather quickly, and is often described as
behaving like a weed.
Care
requirements after installed: Water well
when first planted. It will be fine after that, as it is a hearty plant.
Normal
rate of growth or spread; lifespan: Spreads
rapidly, is often described as weedy in disturbed areas. (
Sources
cited
Bartow, Amy. 2004. Propagation protocol for production
of container Microsteris gracilis E. Greene plants;
Pojar, Jim and Markinnon,
Andy. 1994. Plants of The
Data
compiled by: Joshua Hegarty,