You’re Growing that Nasty ?

Native plant propagators are often called upon to grow some unusual for unusual projects. This collection of 4 propaga- tion protocols highlights irritating plants—irritating in what they can do to our skin and sometimes irritating in their difficulty to be propagated. However, these plants have important ecological niches and a couple of them have importance to the herbal mar- ket. Read on. . . you may find some aspect of these nasty plants that really intrigues you. I for one am interested in the purported hair-raising abilities of stinging nettle! —The (balding) Editor

Propagation Protocol for Devil’s Club (Oplopanax horridus)

TARA LUNA

KEY WORDS: seed propagation, stem cuttings, divisions

NOMENCLATURE: ITIS (2000)

106

FALL 2001 FALL Devil’s club (Oplopanax horridus) seedlings at Glacier National Park Native Plant Nursery. Photo by Tara Luna Photo by Tara

NATIVE PLANTS JOURNAL For anyone hiking through devil’s club or as a tattoo dye inserted under the running water soak to remove any (Oplopanx horridus Miq. [Araliaceae]) skin. Devil’s club is still regarded as a inhibitors and fully imbibe seeds before habitat, they have probably regretted protective force in some localities. It is stratification. We treat freshly harvested not bringing a pair of tweezers in their placed above doorways, on fishing boats seeds with a 400 d stratification—four backpack. Brushing against this spiny or worn as an amulet to ward of evil. 100-d-long periods of alternating warm- results in festering splinters and Traditionally, the smoke from burning moist (20 ˚C [68 ˚F]) and cold-moist (1 unpleasant words. The Latin name plants was used to scare off disease caus- ˚C [34 ˚F]) stratification beginning descriptively translates as “a prickly por- ing spirits (Turner 1998). with the warm-moist treatment. Seeds cupine ginseng.” It is an easy plant to germinate after the second cold-moist RATIONALE FOR PROPAGATION identify and a difficult one to forget! stratification and initial establishment The very spiny shrub grows up to 3 Devil’s club is propagated at the Glacier and growth of seedlings is slow. m (9 ft) tall, with large palmately lobed National Park Native Plant Nursery for Seedlings form firm root plugs in 2 to 3 . Veins of the leaves and the stems restoration projects in the Avalanche y, depending on container size (Wick are covered with sharp prickles. Flowers Creek drainage. It is a component of and others 2001). are greenish white and are borne in a ter- the mature western redcedar (Thuja pli- Growing medium is a 2:1:1 (v:v:v) minal cluster during spring. The bright cata Donn. [Cupressaceae]) habitat and milled spaghnum peat moss:perlite:ver- red mature in July and August, can form dense patches in moist seepage miculite with Osmocote controlled each bearing 1 to 3 tan-colored seeds. areas and swales in the under story of release (13N:13P2O5:13K2O; 8 Devil’s club is found in moist woods the forest. It is an effective species for to 9 month release rate at 21 ˚C [70 ˚F]) and thickets and along streams and blocking undesired off-trail use in suit- and Micromax fertilizer (12% S, 0.1% seepages from sea level to the subalpine ably moist to wet sites that are sensitive B, 0.5% Cu, 12% Fe, 2.5% Mn, 0.05% zone (0 to 1524 m [0 to 5000 ft]). It is to trampling. The development of prop- Mo, 1% Zn) at the rate of 2 g (0.07 oz) found from Alaska south along the agation techniques is also desirable to of Osmocote and 1 g of Micromax per Pacific coast to southern Oregon, restore the species to areas that have 800-ml container. Plants have a shallowly extending east to southwestern Yukon been over harvested in other portions of rhizomatous root system and will require Territory, central Alberta and the Rocky its range. Perhaps devil’s club can be shallow square containers in order to Mountains of Idaho and Montana, with effectively propagated on small farms or obtain firm root plugs. disjunct populations around Lake nurseries in the near future to relieve Seedlings require shade throughout Superior and Lake Michigan collecting pressure from natural stands. nursery production and for establish- (Hitchcock and Cronquist 1996). Devil’s club is also utilized as an ment on the outplanting site. Other For all its ferociousness, devil’s club ornamental landscape shrub. The large effective seed propagation techniques has many redeeming properties and leaves and course texture is desired by are currently being investigated in uses. It belongs to the same family as some as a specimen plant or as an effec- Alaska. Devil’s club readily germinates American, Asian, and Siberian ginseng, tive barrier on the edge of the garden in the wild after passing through the and like ginseng, it is used as a general (Kruckeberg 1989). Wildlife uses devil’s digestive system of brown bears and a tonic and system-strengthening herb. club as a food source; birds eat the red mild but rapid scarification simulating Many Pacific Northwest and Alaskan berries and grizzly and black bears eat the action of stomach acid on seeds may native groups use devil’s club root tea leaves and young shoots in spring and prove to be an effective treatment for for colds, arthritis, toothaches, stomach ripe berries in fall (USDA 2001). breaking seed dormancy (Ianson 2000). problems, gallstones, and as a blood The Alaska Plant Materials Center in PROPAGATION medicine. It is also used as an external Palmer, Alaska, is the priority site for wash for boils and festering skin irrita- Devil’s club can be propagated by seeds devil’s club in the National Germplasm tions and insect bites (Moerman 1998). or vegetatively from stem tip cuttings. System. Mycorrhizal relationships have An extract of the inner bark has been In Glacier National Park, Montana, been found and are currently being shown to have anti-bacterial and anti- seeds are collected in July and August investigated. fungal properties (Marles and others when fruits have fully matured. Seeds Because of the delayed germination 1999). Indigenous people have used it most likely exhibit a combination of observed on seed propagated plants at to treat tuberculosis and cancer. The morphological and physiological dor- Glacier National Park, methods for traditional uses of devil’s club as an mancy. Morphological and physiological obtaining plants vegetatively were anti-diabetic and studies regarding its employed. Using heavy-duty leather dormancy is exhibited by the related 107 blood-sugar-lowering activity have been genus Panax, and requires prolonged gloves, cuttings were collected from FALL 2001 reviewed (Marles and Farnsworth periods of warm and cold stratification field plants. Stem tip cuttings taken in 1995). for after ripening of the embryo and to early June during bud break but before Some coastal groups used stem sec- break the physiological dormancy leaves have expanded were successful. tions of devil’s club as fish lures. Other (Baskin and Baskin1998). Cuttings were 20 cm (8 in) in length groups used the charcoal of devil’s club At Glacier National Park Native and 1.5 cm (0.6 in) in diameter and mixed with grease as a black face paint Plant Nursery, seeds are placed in a 72-h were recut at the base and treated with

VOLUME 2 • NUMBER 2 3000 ppm IBA rooting powder. Hosokawa J, Wick D, Luna T. 2001. Propagation [USDA] USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain protocol for vegetative production of contain- Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory. Cuttings were struck with at least 2 er Oplopanax horridus Miq. plants (3 L con- 2001. Fire Effects Information System [Online]. nodes below the surface of rooting tainers); Glacier National Park, West Glacier, URL: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/ Montana. In: Native Plant Network. URL: plants/shrub/oplhor/ (accessed 3 Jan 2001). medium (1:1 v:v perlite:sand) in an out- http://www.nativeplantnetwork.org (accessed Wick D, Luna T, Evans J, Hosokawa J. 2001. 3 Jan 2001). Moscow (ID): University of Idaho, door mistbed with bottom heat main- Propagation protocol for production of con- College of Natural Resources, Forest Research tainer Oplopanax horridus Miq. plants (490 ml tained at 22 ˚C [72 ˚F]. All cuttings Nursery. containers); Glacier National Park, West rooted in 8 wk and were potted into 3-l Ianson D. 2000. Personal communication. Palmer Glacier, Montana. In: Native Plant Network. (1-gal) containers containing the same (AK): Curator, National Arctic Plant Germplasm URL: http://www.nativeplantnetwork.org Unit, Alaska Plant Materials Center. (accessed 3 Jan 2001). Moscow (ID): University medium, Osmocote, and Micromax fer- of Idaho, College of Natural Resources, Forest [ITIS] Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Research Nursery. tilizer described above, but at the rate of 2000. Biological names. Version 4.0 (on-line 4 g (0.14 oz) of Osmocote and 2 g of database). URL: http://www.itis.usda.gov/plant- proj/itis/itis_query.html (accessed 29 Dec 2000). Micromax per container. Cuttings are Kruckeberg A. 1989. Gardening with native grown in the shade house for the plants of the Pacific Northwest. Seattle (WA): University of Washington Press. 252 p. remainder of the growing season. AUTHOR INFORMATION Cuttings produce firm root systems in 1 Marles R, Clavelle C, Monteleone L, Tays N, Burns D. 1999. Aboriginal plant use in Canada’s to 1.5 y (Hosokawa and others 2001). northwest boreal forest. Vancouver (BC): Tara Luna University of British Columbia Press. 368 p. PO Box 447 REFERENCES Marles R, Farnsworth N. 1995. Antidiabetic plants East Glacier, MT 59434 and their active constituents. Phytomedicine [email protected] Baskin CC, Baskin JM. 1998. Seeds: ecology, biogeog- 2:137–189. raphy, and evolution of dormancy and germina- tion. San Diego (CA): Academic Press. 666 p. Moerman D.1998. Native American ethnobotany. Portland (OR): Timber Press Inc. 927 p. Hitchcock CL, Cronquist A. 1996. Flora of the Pacific Northwest—an illustrated manual. Seattle (WA): Turner N. 1998. Plant technology of first peoples University of Washington Press. 730 p. in British Columbia. Vancouver (BC): University of British Columbia Press. Royal British Columbia Museum Handbook. 256 p.

Propagation Protocol for Poison ( diversilobum)

MIKE EVANS

KEY WORDS: , seed germination, vegetative propagation, revegetation

NOMENCLATURE: USDA NRCS (1999)

“Why in the world would anyone grow THAT?” is the most common question we hear when someone walks by a healthy crop of poison oak (Toxicodendron diversilobum (Torr. & Gray) Greene [Anacardiaceae]) in containers at our nursery. Hopefully, they didn’t step too close as to have brushed against the plants. If they were wearing shorts on a 108 summer day, they might leave Tree of Life Nursery in good shape, but in a couple days they would remember us with an irritating rash on their legs, and their itch might last more than a week.

FALL 2001 FALL Poison oak is an important member of many plant communities in the west Photo by Thomas D Landis from Baja California to British Colum- Poison oak (Toxicodendron diversilobum)

NATIVE PLANTS JOURNAL bia. Tree of Life Nursery is a wholesale including a respirator on hot days. If grower of California native plants for use inhaled for a prolonged period, the in ecological restoration and authentic volatile oils can affect the sensitive areas landscapes. So that explains what it is and of the mouth, throat, and lungs. Most why we grow it. Poison oak provides firefighters in the west are familiar with valuable habitat for wildlife; cover, nest- the dangers in breathing the smoke of ing materials, and edible berries for the burning poison oak. birds. It is an significant component of With extreme care, we take softwood coastal sage scrub, chaparral, oak wood- or semi-hardwood cuttings throughout land, and mixed evergreen forest, usually the year. Of course, the most “conven- growing near water or in moist canyon ient” time to do this would be the dor- bottoms. Its wide range makes it a well mant winter season when the plants are known plant in California—notorious leafless, but handling the stems can still with campers and hikers who try to avoid result in skin irritation. The most success- brushing up against it. ful stem cuttings are about 5 cm (2 in) To avoid skin contact, we wear special long and 3 to 9 mm (0.125 to 0.375 in) protective gear when we handle this in caliper. If cuttings are taken during the Photo by Mike Evans species in propagation. Seeds can be col- active growing season, we remove or trim Figure 1 • Protective gear must be worn when lected in late summer (the worst time to leaves to reduce transpiration during the taking poison oak cuttings. be near the plant—the leaves are blister- rooting period. We stick the cuttings with ing with toxic oils) and the fresh can 1 or 2 nodes in the coarse rooting medi- be stored and handled as dried berries in um (3:3:3:1 [volume basis] course sand, months before being transplanted up to the fall. Even seeds and berries must be perlite, vermiculite, and sphagnum peat 3-l (1-gal) containers that are filled with handled with caution because all parts of moss). Cutting flats are placed in a the same medium and fertilizer. Poison the plant can cause skin irritation. To humid, cool, greenhouse environment. oak in nursery containers prefers light simulate digestion by bird species, we We experience relatively high humidity shade and plenty of water. It is a rapid scarify seeds by soaking the dried berries levels being only 16 km (10 miles) from grower and we have saleable plants in 6 in sulphuric acid for 3.5 h. The fruit will the Pacific Ocean so periodic sprinkling to 9 mo. disintegrate and the seed coat will be (a few times each day depending on Certainly poison oak is not an appro- affected to allow more rapid, even germi- weather) of the cuttings is sufficient. Too priate choice for any use other than nation. After the acid soak, we thorough- much misting results in stem rot. Roots wildlife habitat in ecological restoration ly rinse the seed until no trace of acid form in 4 to 6 wk and the rooted cut- projects. However, if it is omitted at a remains by slowly running fresh water tings can be transplanted into small pots. revegetation jobsite within its native through the seeds all night. Seeds are Both our 2-mo-old seedlings and 4- range, an essential component of the ready for sowing the next day. We gener- to 6-wk-old rooted cuttings are trans- plant community will be missing. Native ally like to sow seeds immediately after planted into small containers. We use plant nurseries can play an important role collection into nursery flats containing a either 250 ml (2.25 in wide X 3 in deep) by producing all the key plant species coarse seed germination mix (1:1:1:1 or 1050 ml (4 in) containers filled with a needed for habitat restoration. . . even [volume basis] perlite, vermiculite, coarse 4:1 organic:inorganic (v:v) medium. The those we consider “less desirable” from sand, and sphagnum peat moss). Sown organic component is a 1:2 (v:v) mixture our human perspective. flats are placed into a shadehouse and of bark:wood shavings and sawdust. The REFERENCE seeds are allowed to germinate during fall, wood components include redwood USDA NRCS. 1999. The PLANTS database, Version winter, and spring. Winter temperatures (Sequoia sempervirens (Lamb. ex D. Don) 3.0. URL: http://plants.usda.gov/plants (accessed at our nursery range from 0 to 13 ˚C (32 Endl. [Taxodiaceae]), ponderosa pine 7 May 2001). Baton Rouge (LA): National Plant to 55 ˚F). Most germination occurs dur- (Pinus ponderosa P. & C. Lawson var. Data Center. ing fall and spring when are warmer. ponderosa [Pinaceae]), and white fir (Abies We keep the flats moist during the germi- concolor (Gord. & Glend.) Lindl. ex. nation period. Germination can occur in Hildebr. [Pinaceae]). The inorganic com- about 3 wk. Seedlings are ready for trans- ponent is coarse sand. We also add planting into small containers about 2 Osmocote 18N:6P O :12K O (9 mo 2 5 2 109 mo later (see below). release rate at 21 ˚C (70 ˚F) at a rate of AUTHOR INFORMATION FALL 2001 Poison oak is easy to grow from cut- about 2.7 kg/m3 (4.5 lb/yd3) and inocu- Mike Evans tings but we take extreme precautions lum of the vesicular arbuscular mycor- Tree of Life Nursery (Figure 1). By cutting into the stem and rhiza Glomus intraradices via Grolife PO Box 635 exposing the sap, there is a high probabil- (Gro-Power, Chino, California) at a rate San Juan Capistrano, CA 92693 ity the propagator will get a case of “poi- of 6 kg/m3 (10 lb/yd3). Plants generally [email protected] son oak” unless they wear protective gear, stay in these containers a couple of

VOLUME 2 • NUMBER 2 Propagation Protocol for Stinging Nettle ( )

TARA LUNA

KEY WORDS: seed propagation, stem cuttings, divisions

NOMENCLATURE: ITIS (2000)

Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica L. [Urtica- ceae]) is found throughout temperate regions of the world, commonly growing in rich soils in forest clearings, stream banks, old fields, and waste places. It is a common component of riparian commu- nities. In the eastern and midwestern US, it occurs as far south as Virginia, Missouri, and Kansas. It ranges from Alaska south to central California and through the Rocky Mountains to Mexico. It is an herbaceous perennial plant with opposite leaves that are sharply toothed and commonly grows to 1 to 3 m (3 to 9 ft) tall. It is strongly rhizoma- tous and spreads vegetatively once estab- lished. Leaves and stems are covered with hollow, fluid-filled hairs that break off when touched, leaving a sharp point like a miniature hypodermic needle that allows the fluids to enter the skin and cause stinging or blistering. The com- pounds causing the unpleasant effect are reported to be a histamine and acetyl- choline (Boufford1997). Inconspicuous flowers are greenish and are borne in drooping clusters at the stem nodes. Flowers are unisexual, staminate, or pistil- late or borne in separate inflorescences or sometimes intermixed in the same inflo-

rescence. Plants flower in late spring or Luna Photo by Tara early summer and seeds form by late Stinging nettle ( Urtica dioica) August or early September. The fruit is a tiny hard-coated achene. Four subspecies are recognized. holosericea has softly hairy stems with textiles, sail cloth, and rope for cen- Urtica dioica ssp. dioica is the most stinging hairs. turies in Europe. Its use as a fiber disap- common and is distinct by having pis- Stinging nettle has a long history of peared after the introduction of flax, 110 tillate and staminate flowers on separate use by people throughout the Northern but it was used again for army clothing plants and stinging hairs on both sur- Hemisphere. The common name is during flax shortages of World War I. faces of the blade. The other 2 sub- thought to be derived from Anglo Roots yield a yellow dye and leaves yield species (gracilis and holosericea) have pis- Saxon “noedl,” meaning “a needle,” a green dye used in Russia for woolens tillate and staminate flowers on the alluding to its sharp sting or use as a (Philips and Foy 1990).

FALL 2001 FALL same plant. Urtica dioica ssp. gracilis has thread for sewing before the introduc- Nettle fiber was widely used by mostly glabrous stems with a few sting- tion of flax. Nettle fiber is very similar many groups of American Indians for ing hairs while Urtica dioica ssp. to hemp or flax and was used for fine thousands of years as a source of fiber

NATIVE PLANTS JOURNAL for bowstrings, fishing nets and lines, PROPAGATION snares, and cordage. The Dakota, Ponca, and Winnebago tribes wove spe- Stinging nettle can be propagated by cial ceremonial nettle cloth for bundles seeds or vegetatively by divisions. (Moerman 1998). Propagation of the plant for home use Nutritionally, stinging nettle is high or by commercial herb farms is desired. College of in vitamins A, C, D, and minerals iron, Nettle may also have potential for Natural Resources manganese, , and calcium. It restoration in suitable habitats as it readily establishes in disturbed moist contains 21% to 23% crude protein An integrated approach ground. Seeds can be collected using and 9% to 21% crude fiber. Young to understanding the leaves are collected in early spring and gloves by hand stripping the female inflorescences or cutting the tops. Seeds ecology and management prepared like spinach. Drying or cook- of ecosystems. ing removes the stinging hairs. Nettles exhibit physiological dormancy and were used throughout North America, most likely require a prolonged stratifi- Europe, and Asia as a culinary plant, in cation period to soften the hard seed salads and soups or as a cooked veg- coats and break the physiological dor- etable. It is important to remember to mancy (Baskin and Baskin 1998). use only the young leaves; steam or dry Germination is reported at alternating before taking internally as a medicinal temperatures of 25 and 15 ˚C following or food! a warm stratification and in the pres- Stinging nettle has several medici- ence of light on seeds that were dry nal properties: astringent, tonic, anti- stored for 3 mo (Grime and others asthmatic, and diuretic. In Europe, it 1981). Seeds can be sown in late fall was widely used for the treatment of with germination occurring the follow- dropsy, gout, rheumatism, and for ing spring or summer. Divisions of established plants are Undergraduate (BSc) and graduate weight loss. It was also widely used as (MSc and PhD) degrees in: another propagation method since this far back as ancient Greece as an astrin- • Ecology and Conservation Biology gent for the removal of kidney stones species spreads vigorously by rhizomes. • Fish and Wildlife Resources and as a urinary aid (Gerard 1633). Nettles prefer nitrogen rich soils in the • Forest Products The practice of flogging with nettle wild so using a rich potting medium • Forest Resources (urtification) was used as an anti-rheu- and regular fertilization will result in • Rangeland Ecology and Management healthy nursery stock. • Resource Recreation and Tourism matic treatment since ancient Greece • Interdisciplinary Master of Natural and Rome. Romans introduced the REFERENCES Resources southern species, U. pilofera, to the Baskin CC, Baskin JM. 1998. Seeds: Ecology, bio- British islands, as they believed flog- geography, and evolution of dormancy and Native plant research and production germination. San Diego (CA): Academic Press. at the Forest Research Nursery ging with the plant would be necessary 666 p. to stay warm! Boufford D. 1997. Urticaceae—nettle family. In: Web site: www.uidaho.edu/cnr Many American Indian tribes also Flora of North America editorial committee E-mail: [email protected] (editors). Flora of North America. Volume 3, College of Natural Resources, used nettle medicinally as an anti-rheu- Magnoliophyta: Magnoliidae and matic (they also practice urtification), Hamamelidae. New York (NY): Oxford University of Idaho, for urinary disorders, as an orthopedic University Press. p 400–403. Moscow, Idaho 83844-1130 Gerard J. 1633 (reprinted 1975). The herbal or 208-885-7302 aid and as a hemostat for bloody noses general history of plants. New York (NY): (Marles and others 2000). Nettle roots Dover Publications. 1631 p. An AA/EO employer and educational institution are used to relieve eczema and dandruff Grime JP, Mason G, Curtis A., Rodman J, Band S, Mowforth M, Neal A, Shaw S. 1981. A compar- and are reputed to stimulate hair ative study of germination characteristics in a growth. Today, nettle root extract is local flora. Journal of Ecology 69:1017–1059. commonly found as a component of [ITIS] Integrated Taxonomic Information System. 2000. Biological names. Version 4.0 (on-line many shampoos and conditioners. database). URL: http://www.itis.usda.gov/plant- Roots are harvested in the fall. proj/itis/itis_query.html (accessed 29 Dec 2000). With such a long history of so many Marles R, Clavelle C, Monteleone L, Tays N, Burns D. 1999. Aboriginal plant use in Canada’s 111 uses throughout the world, it is hard to northwest boreal forest. Vancouver (BC): AUTHOR INFORMATION FALL 2001 be too upset with the plant for long. University of British Columbia Press. 368 p. Usually the itching or burning sensation Moerman D.1998. Native American ethnobotany. Tara Luna Portland (OR): Timber Press Inc. 927 p. subsides in 7 to 10 min and is known PO Box 447 Philips R, Foy N. 1990. Herbs. New York (NY): East Glacier, MT 59434 by many outdoor enthusiasts as the 7 Random House Publishing Inc. 192 p. [email protected] min itch!

VOLUME 2 • NUMBER 2 Propagation Protocol for Poison Sumac ( )

JENNIFER KUJAWSKI

KEY WORDS: native wetland shrub, the year when sus- Anacardiaceae, revegetation, seed ceptible individuals germination touch the plant (AAD 1999). NOMENCLATURE: USDA NRCS (1999) Poison sumac grows in swamps, Deep in the heart of southeastern wet woodlands, and Washington, DC, lives a very nasty plant. shrub-tree bogs, Hidden among enticing highbush blue- usually in the berries (Vaccinium corymbosum L. shade. It is a species [Ericaceae]) and sweetbay magnolias found in threatened (Magnolia virginiana L. [Magnoliaceae]) mid-Atlantic coastal is poison sumac (Toxicodendron vernix plain “magnolia (L.) Kuntze [Anacardiaceae]), waiting to bogs” as described brush the unwary visitor with a dose of by McAtee (1918) its itching oil. Poison sumac is closely in the early part of related to other such nasties as the 20th century. ( (L.) Kuntze), the Its range is from poison ( P. southern Maine Mill. and Toxicodendron diversilobum and southwestern (Torr. & Gray) Greene), and the benign, Nova Scotia to nonpoisonous sumacs (Rhus spp. L.), all Minnesota and Photo by R Mohlenbrock members of the cashew family southwestern Poison sumac (Anacardiaceae). Ontario, south to Poison sumac is a multi-stemmed, Maryland, Ohio, deciduous shrub that grows to 5 m (16 and Indiana, and along the coast from poison sumac. All propagules were col- ft) tall. Its stems, when broken, exude a Delaware to Florida and Texas (Gleason lected on site. milky sap. It has compound leaves com- and Cronquist 1991). posed of 7 to 13 oblong leaflets that have PROPAGATION entire margins (unlike Rhus spp. that RATIONALE FOR PROPAGATION have serrated leaf edges). The leaves are We propagated poison sumac from seeds. Posion sumac was propagated for a hairless and smooth, with petioles that Ripe seeds were collected in late summer revegetation project at Oxon Run are reddish or maroon. The leaves turn (end of August at Oxon Run Parkway); Parkway in southeastern Washington, yellow or red in fall, a characteristic com- collectors wore long sleeves and latex DC. Oxon Run is a “stream corridor mon to most sumacs. Plants in the vege- gloves. After seeds were brought back to park that contains several northern mag- tative stage may be confused with young the NPMC, processing procedures simi- nolia bogs and a rare wetland complex, ash (Fraxinus L. [Oleaceae]) saplings lar to those for Rhus species (Brinkman the only such example in the national (Magee 1981). 1974) were used. Seeds were allowed to park system” (Rudy 2000) and has been The flowers of poison sumac are not dry for several weeks, after which they impacted over the years by US Army particularly noticeable; they are tiny, were rubbed over a wire screen or wire ordnance testing during World War I, green, and form drooping clusters (up to kitchen strainer to remove the outer subway tunnel construction beneath the 20 cm [8 in] long) from leaf axils in May white seedcoat and any remaining pulp. bog, runoff from an adjacent hospital and June. In contrast, poison sumac fruit Cleaned seeds were stored dry in paper 112 parking lot, and urban pollution. is distinctive and a key feature of the envelopes at 4 ˚C (40 ˚F) and 35% rela- To mitigate the effects of unexplod- species. Each fruit is a creamy white tive humidity. Because we collected so ed ordnance removal and other recent drupe about 4 to 5 mm (0.18 in) in size few seeds, we did not experiment with activities at Oxon Run, the National and makes up part of a dangling cluster. pre-germination treatments, but seeds Park Service asked the National Plant FALL 2001 FALL Fruit, leaves, and other juicy parts of poi- may benefit from a scarification treat- Materials Center (NPMC) to propagate son sumac contain an oil called ment, as is the case with poison oak and transplant a number of representa- that causes an allergic rash at any time of (Evans 2001) and related Rhus spp. tive magnolia bog species, including

NATIVE PLANTS JOURNAL (Brinkman 1974). Our nonscarified poison the second growing season, seedlings were REFERENCES sumac seeds had only 3% germination. transplanted into 3-l (1-gal) containers [AAD] American association of dermatology. Seeds were sown in late winter on using the same woody plant mix that was 1999. Poison plants: ivy, sumac, oak. URL: http://www.aad.org/pamphlets/PoisonIvy.html Sunshine Mix #1 (containing sphagnum used for quarts. These larger plants were (accessed 7 Jan 2001). peat moss, perlite, major and minor overwintered outside under a 6-mm-thick Evans M. 2001. Propagation protocol for poison nutrients, gypsum, dolomitic lime, and a (0.25-in) microfoam insulating blanket oak (Toxicodendron diversilobum). Native wetting agent; Sun Gro Horticulture Inc, and were ready for outplanting in spring Plants Journal 2:108-109. Gleason HA, Cronquist A. 1991. Manual of vascu- Bellevue, Washington). Seed flats were set of the third growing season. lar plants of the northeastern United States on a bench in the greenhouse under nat- and adjacent Canada. 2nd ed. Bronx (NY): The ural light and were hand watered as need- New York Botanical Garden. 910 p. Brinkman K A. 1974. Rhus L. Sumac. In: ed. Greenhouse temperatures ranged Schopmeyer CS, technical coordinator. Seeds of from 26 to 29 ˚C (80 to 85 ˚F) during woody plants in the United States. Washington (DC): USDA Forest Service. the day, while night temperatures were Agriculture Handbook 450. p 715–719. maintained at 18 to 20 ˚C (65 to 68 ˚F). Magee DW. 1981. Freshwater wetlands: a guide By late spring, seeds had germinated. to common indicator plants of the Northeast. Amherst (MA): University of Massachusetts Seedlings were transplanted into 1-l Press. 245 p. (quart) containers using a woody plant McAtee WL. 1918. Magnolia bogs near potting mix composed of 201 l (7.1 ft3) Washington, D.C., and their relation to the pine barrens. Bulletin of the Biological Society 3 Sunshine Mix #1, 113 l (4 ft ) of shred- of Washington 1:74–90. ded pine bark mulch, and 565 g (20 oz) Rudy S. 2000. Interagency cleanup of a former Nutricote Total 18N:8P O :6K O (270 d AUTHOR INFORMATION Army camp at Oxon Run. Park Science 2 5 2 20(1):5–6. release rate at 25 ˚C [77 ˚F]). Staff wore Jennifer Kujawski USDA NRCS. 1999. The PLANTS database, Version latex gloves at all times when handling Resource Conservationist 3.0. URL: http://plants.usda.gov/plants (accessed seeds, as well as long sleeves when work- USDA Natural Resource 7 Jan 2001). Baton Rouge (LA): National Plant Data Center. ing with container plants. Seedlings were Conservation Service National Plant Materials Center moved outside to a shade house during BARC-East, Building 509 the first season; quart pots were overwin- Beltsville, MD 20705 tered in a cold storage room at 4 ˚C (40 [email protected] ˚F) and 60% relative humidity. During

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VOLUME 2 • NUMBER 2