Photo by Ellen Colodney Propagation Protocol for Gordonia lasianthus

ELLEN COLODNEY

ordonia lasianthus (L.) Ellis In 1999, my nursery had an oppor- Our observation that seedling sur- g (Theaceae), commonly known as tunity to supply 15,000 small Gordonia vival in the wild appears poor gave us loblolly bay, is a small, broad-leaf lasianthus plants to restore a Carolina an ethical basis for vegetatively propa- evergreen, single-stemmed tree of unsur- bay ecosystem in North Carolina. The gating the tree, rather than collecting passed beauty. It normally grows in wet, techniques we used to vegetatively prop- seeds. For this I was quite grateful, acid, nutrient-poor soils of the south- agate this species for wetland restoration because: 1) flowers are usually high up eastern US coastal plain and is an are described below. on the tree, rarely abundant, and important component of pocosin and Gordonia lasianthus produces seeds in bloom sporadically throughout the sea- Carolina bay ecosystems. The tree is quantity from its large, fragrant white son; 2) the branches supporting flowers sometimes grown commercially as an flowers that appear through much of the always break when one stands in the ornamental, although its use is limited summer. Seeds (300,000/kg tree and attempts to put a collection by its cultural demands and a tendency (135,000/lb); USDA NRCS [1999]) device over the bloom; and 3) 42 to break during shipping. germinate readily, but seedlings are pocosins, where our donor trees live, rarely observed in the wild. The mecha- are considered impenetrable (one could nism of natural regeneration is unclear. drop a lunch box at one’s feet in a It is possible that the species depends on pocosin and never find it again, let KEY WORDS: loblolly bay, pocosin, fire clearing the ground for most regen- alone a Gordonia lasianthus seed), and eration; vegetative reproduction in the there is no place to stand a ladder. To

SPRING 2001 cuttings, container seedlings field after severe injury to the parent compensate for what might have NOMENCLATURE: ITIS (2000) plant also seems quite strong. become a limited pool of genetic

NATIVE PLANTS JOURNAL material, we collected cuttings from a Rooting took place under mist gov- Transporting 15,000 broad leaf ever- large number of wild growing trees erned by a Mist-a-Matic™ (EC Geiger green plants to the remote restoration (we stopped counting after tree num- Inc, Box 285, Harleysville, site was a daunting task for the planting ber 50). Pennsylvania 19438) controller in contractor. Because the species’ root sys- Collection took place in mid-May raised outdoor tables covered with a tems seemed as fragile as its branches, it (USDA Zone 8, in the coastal plain of lightweight porous, polypropylene, row was necessary to leave medium on the North Carolina) when the trees' new cover (19 g/m2 [0.55 oz/yd2]). With root balls intact, making transport even growth had firmed up a bit and would this system, protection from the hot more difficult. We did remove the con- snap off the tree about 20 cm (8 in) afternoon sun was essential. Most cut- tainers for the trip, however, with no back from the tip like the choice part of tings had protection of dappled shade adverse consequences. a fresh asparagus stalk. Only branches produced by scattered tall trees; those Based on our experience, we have above the chest-high shrubby understo- without such protection were provided made some changes to subsequent ry seemed to have sufficient current- 30% to 50% shade with cloth and crops of Gordonia. In 2000, we opted year growth to obtain a decent cutting. even then suffered during especially to start Gordonia lasianthus cuttings in Our collection was limited to ends of hot days. 6 X 12 cm (2.5 X 5 in) RootMaker branches in the middle third of each Gordonia lasianthus carries a wetland containers (RootMaker Products Co tree, and we were able to obtain several indicator status of FACW (facultative LLC, PO Box 14553, Huntsville, 13- to 15-cm long (5- to 6-in) tip cut- wetland; the species occurs in wetlands Alabama 35815-0553). These contain- tings with a pencil-thick or thicker stem 67% to 99% of the time), but in our ers hold 235 ml (14.5 in3) of medium from most of these branches. nursery its motto was clearly “hydrate and prevent spiraling of roots by guid- Outdoor temperatures reached near- or die.” As foliage grew thick and lush, ing them into openings that then cause ly 38 ˚C (100 ˚F) during the collection watering the small containers became air pruning. Finished plants will still be period, but cuttings seemed to tolerate very difficult, and the slightest spot of difficult to transport to remote loca- this fine if they were immediately sprin- dryness in a plants’ medium caused its tions, but we feel that the superior kled with ice water and placed in insu- irreversible demise within a few hours. vigor of the plant will outweigh this lated containers to protect them during The soils Gordonia normally grows disadvantage. We also changed the the drive back to the nursery. Cuttings in are quite nutrient-poor and acidic, summer covers of the beds from the were prepared and in mist beds within and it does not tolerate much fertilizer lightweight porous, polypropylene, row 12 h of collection. under cultivation. Plants, once well- covers to plain nylon window screen- We experimented with a number of rooted, were fertilized during each irri- ing, with white plastic stretch wrap ways to prepare cuttings; in the end, tip gation. We found that feeding with a part way up the sides. The new covers cuttings of crisp green wood, stripped 20N:10P2O5:10K2O liquid fertilizer, prevent extreme temperature rises while of all but 2 to 3 firm leaves near the diluted to provide 25 ppm nitrogen, keeping mist from drifting excessively. apical meristem, dipped 5 s in a 1:10 gave lush growth as long as irrigation dilution of Wood's liquid rooting com- water had a pH of 4.2 to 4.5. We used REFERENCES pound (Earth Science Products, PO 35% sulfuric acid to keep pH of irriga- [ITIS] Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Box 327, Wilsonville, Oregon 97070) tion water this low. 2000. Biological names. Version 4.0 [on-line rooted the most consistently. Clipping We did not apply any pesticides to database]. URL: http://www.itis.usda.gov/plant- off the apical meristem had no influ- the plants. We found many predatory proj/itis/itis-query.html (accessed 3 Nov 2000). USDA NRCS. 1999. The PLANTS database, Version ence; all cuttings had at least 1, and insects in the beds during the first few 3.0. URL: http://plants.usda. gov/plants usually 2, nice growth spurts before weeks after cuttings were stuck; the (accessed 15 Aug 2000). Baton Rouge (LA): winter set in. Cuttings were stuck into insects probably arrived on the cut- National Plant Data Center. individual Spin-Out-treated (The Lerio tings. Some leaves were disfigured by Corporation, PO Box 2084, Mobile, insects (particularly cranberry cut- Alabama 36652) containers filled 1.5:1 worms (Lepidoptera:Noctuidae), which perlite:sphagnum peat moss medium so entered the unprotected bottoms of the that subsequent roots would be pruned tables from the ground at night), but by the copper-coating and prevented damage was no more than cosmetic. from spiralling. Most containers held In our area, winters are fairly mild, AUTHOR INFORMATION about 125 ml (8 in3) of medium; this and the plants only had to survive a Ellen Colodney 43 was clearly too small—root systems few –9 ˚C (15˚ F) nights at the nursery Coastal Plain SPRING 2001 were many-branched and filled the con- before their final outplanting in Conservation Nursery tainers well, but cuttings in 10 X 10 X February. To provide some protection, 3067 Conners Drive 10 cm (4 X 4 X 4 in) square containers we covered beds with a heavyweight Edenton, NC 27932 had much more robust top growth. porous, polypropylene, row cover (51 [email protected] Overall, 77% of the cuttings were g/m2 [1.5 oz/yd2]) that maintained an saleable 9 mo after being stuck. interior temperature > –2 ˚C (28˚ F).

VOLUME 2 • NUMBER 1