Family TAXONOMY Names
Family Scientific Name: Family Common Name: Pinaceae Pine family Tsuga mertensiana (Bongard) Carriere.
Scientific Names
Genus: Species: Species Authority: Variety: Sub-species: Cultivar: Authority for Variety/Sub-species:
Common Synonym(s)
Genus: Species: Species Authority: Variety: Sub-species: Cultivar: Authority for Variety/Sub-species: Common Name(s): Species Code (as per USDA Plants database): General Distribution (geographical range (states it occurs in), ecosystems, etc): Climate and elevation range
Mountain hemlock TSME
GENERAL INFORMATION
Found in Alaska, British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho, Nevada and Montana. Sub alpine climate, ranging between 1,000 and 8,000 feet elevation. Temperature range from -20 to 38 degrees C. Abundant in clump formations on avalanche prone slopes. Associated with Abies amabilis, Abies lasiocarpa, Chamaecyparis nookatensis, Picea engelmanii, Pinus contorta, and Vaccinium membranaceum. Plant tolerates sites with long lasting snowpack. Plants of this genus are very resistant to honey fungus. 3
Local habitat and abundance; may include commonly associated species
Plant strategy type / successional stage (stress-tolerator, competitor, weedy/colonizer, seral, late successional) Ecotype (this is meant primarily for experimentally derived protocols, and is a description of where the
PROPAGATION DETAILS
seed that was tested came from): Propagation Goal (Options: Plants, Cuttings, Seeds, Bulbs, Somatic Embryos, and/or Other Propagules): Propagation Method (Options: Seed or Vegetative): Product Type (options: Container (plug), Bareroot (field grown), Plug + (container-field grown hybrids, and/or Propagules (seeds, cuttings, poles, etc.)) Stock Type: Time to Grow (from seeding until plants are ready to be outplanted): Target Specifications (size or characteristics of target plants to be produced): Propagule Collection (how, when, etc):
Plants
Seed Container
5 to 8 years. 3 Plants 36 inches tall and of inch caliber. 3 Mature trees bear cones at 20 -30 years of age. 2 Good seed crops are observed to occur every 3 years. 2 The cones should be collected just prior to opening. Seeds are usually shed in October through December. 4 For Tsuga heterophylla, seeds average 600,000 per kilogram. Tsuga seeds are very similar, so it is estimated that Tsuga mertensiana seeds are of close weight. If dry stored in a sealed jar at low temperatures, viability can be maintained for several years. 4 Cones open with warmth and seeds can be shaken out. Seeds are very light and small. 4 The seeds are somewhat tolerant of drying and can be stored dry. Improper drying may affect viability of the seeds. 4 All species of hemlock demonstrate some dormancy in their seed embryo, while others show no dormancy condition. It is not essential to cold stratify seeds, but an increase in germination rates can occur with a cold treatment. 1 A cold moist stratification for 90 days has been proven effective. 6 Especially likes sandy, acidic soil. 2 Plants become thin and poor when grown in dry exposed places. 3
Propagule Processing/Propagule Characteristics (including seed density (# per pound), seed longevity, etc):
Pre-Planting Propagule Treatments (cleaning, dormancy treatments, etc):
Growing Area Preparation / Annual Practices for Perennial Crops (growing media, type and size of containers, etc): Establishment Phase (from seeding to germination): Length of Establishment Phase: Active Growth Phase (from
Seeds should be sown, firmed and covered. 500 plants per square meter planting density. 4 Germination occurs after 30 days. 6 It is recommended that seedlings are shaded during
germination until plants are no longer actively growing): Length of Active Growth Phase: Hardening Phase (from end of active growth phase to end of growing season; primarily to related the development of cold-hardiness and preparation for winter): Length of Hardening Phase: Harvesting, Storage and Shipping (of seedlings):
Length of Storage (of seedlings, between nursery and outplanting): Guidelines for Outplanting / Performance on Typical Sites (eg, percent survival, height or diameter growth, elapsed time before flowering): Other Comments: References:
their first growing season. High light intensity can be damaging. 4 Spring through Autumn Plants should be allowed many years to establish. Due to their slow growth rate it may take up to 8 years before out-planting. 3 Once seedlings are large enough to handle, they should be individually potted before the hardening phase. 3 3-4 months a year. 5 Trees transplant well at 36 inches tall, but are best planted when between 12 and 16 inches tall. Large trees establish poorly and develop root and wind resistance problems. 3 Store trees at 45 degrees F when transporting long distances. It is recommended to water plants weekly on the outplanting site. After two months, plants should be established enough to compete for water.
Named after the German naturalist, Karl H. Mertens. 1. Dirr. M.A. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Varsity Press. 1987. 2. Elias. T. The Complete Trees of North America, Field Guide and Natural History. Van Nostrand Reinhold Co. 1980. 3. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. 4. McMillan-Browse. P. Hardy Woody Plants from Seed. Grower Books. 1985. 5. Sheat, W.G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co. 1948. 6. Baskin, Carol C.; Baskin, Jerry M. 2002. Propagation protocol for production of container Tsuga mertensiana (Bongard) Carriere plants; University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky. In: Native Plant Network. URL: http://www.nativeplantnetwork.org (accessed 23 May, 2007). Moscow (ID): University of Idaho, College of Natural Resources, Forest Research Nursery.
INFORMATION SOURCES
Other Sources Consulted (but that contained no pertinent information): First Name of Author: Chris Last Name of Author: Duprey Date Entered or Updated 05/23/2007 (MM/DD/YY):
Species
Mountain Hemlock, Tsuga mertensiana
Range
From Sequoia National Park in California to Look Inlet in Alaska
Climate, elevation
Sub Alpine. Temp Range 20-38C
Local...