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Spalding's Catchfly Mitigation Project
PCEI is working on this project in conjunction with Idaho Transportation
Department.The Spalding Catchfly Migitgation Project will mitigate
damage done to the endangered population and habitat of Silene
spaldingii. Existing Spalding catchfly sites will be rehabilitated
through weed control and native bunchgrass restoration to promote the
reestablishment of the catchfly. The seeds collected from the sites
will be propagated in the Learning Nursery to mimic natural
stratification and weather patterns. The propagated plants will then be
used for restoration in seasons to come. |
Spalding's Catchfly plant
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Kramer prairie where the seeds were
collected.
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Summer Spalding's Catchfly Seed Collection
On August 21st, 2007 Spalding's
catchfly (Silene spauldingii) seeds were collected from
Kramer Prairie, a Palouse Prairie remant located near Colton,
Washinton. At the time of collection the plants were still green and
10% of the seed capsules on the site were collected. Each catchfly
capsule seemed to hae 50 or more seeds!
Three other locations - Genesee, Pitt Cemetary, and Upper Steptoe - in
Idaho and Washington served as collection sites for PCEI. In total the
Watersheds Program collected approximately 724 seeds!
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At Kramer collecting seeds.
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Autumn Catchfly Planting
In November 2007, 238 of the seeds collected were used for an autumn
planting. The seeds were first soaked overnight in filtered water and
then planted in styroblocks in a native soil, coir particles, and sand
mixture (a 1:1:1 mix). The then planted seeds were moved out to our
Learning Nursery for the winter. |
Isaak and Sara planting Spalding catchfly
seeds!
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Reports:
Seed Collection Protocol |
