Species: Acer glabrum douglasii
Common name and alpha code Douglas or Rocky Mountain maple ACGLD4
Propagation Method (Seed, Vegetative) Seed 51
Miscellaneous

 

 

Aceraceae; maple family

Male and female flowers usually occur on separate trees. Due to its flexible stemsstems, it can withstand heavy snow pack and often codominates avalanche chutes. . 98

TABLE: SEED
Seeds/Lb. 7,820-20,300; average 13,430 cleaned 129 29.6 seeds/gram 146

13,400 (Uchytil 1989) 98 13,000-20,000 191

Germ % 52%. Best at a constant 50-60oF. Moist. Difficult to overcome dormancy. 139

16% 138

Germ Test Amt  
Germ Test Cost  
Purity %  
Purity Test Amt  
Purity Test Cost  
Germination Pretreatment

Requirement

 

 

Warm-cold stratification: 68-86oF for 180 days, 37-41oF for 180 days. 129

In ref #139: Moist chill at 3-5oC for 2-6 months (Heit, 1968). Moist chill at 41oC for 90 days (Babb, 1959). Needs a long stratification period (Peterson, 1953). Moist chill December-March (Swingle, 1939).

180-day warm stratification followed by 180-day cold stratification gives a 25% germination rate in container seeding in a greenhouse. 98 Warm stratify 180 days, then cold stratify up to 180 days (varies for different seed lots so check stratified seed for pregermination). 191

Warm, moist stratification for 6 months, followed by cold-moist stratification for 6 months. 216138.

Warm stratify 30-60 days at 68-86oF, cold stratify 90-180 days at 38oF. 192

Seed Processing Needed e.g. Awns Air dry samaras before storage. Freshly collected they have a moisture content from 30-160%. Moisture content of 10-15% recommended before storage. 129
Storage

Requirements

Store seeds of most maple species for 1-2 years in sealed containers at 35o to 41oF. 129

Duration of good viability: 1-2 yrs 139

Dry to 10-15% moisture content and store at 2-5oC in sealed containers. 98 Dry storage reduces viability; 15% moisture content recommended for 1-2 years at 1-5oC. 191

Storage

Length (Years)

1-2 years 139, 191
Maturity Date Seed maturity Aug-Sept. 139

Seed retained on branches for weeks 138

Begins to produce seed as early as 10 years of age. Seed maturity Aug-early Oct. 98 Seed availability and collection: Sept-Feb; seed may slowly lose viability in dry winter conditions. 191

Pollinators  
Seed Dispersal Mechanism Wind 187. Wind, water. Fruit ripens Aug-Oct, seed disperses Sept-Feb. 129
Breeding: self; Cross; Asexual Reproduction  
Disease Problems  
Insect Predation  
Hand Collection Methods, Problems and Cost/Lb.. 1-3 year interval between large seed crops . Pick from trees or shake trees and collect fruits (samaras) on tarps. Remove debris by hand, screening, or fanning. Seeds are generally not extracted from the fruits. 129 Keep seed from drying out. 138

Clean by hand rubbing or hammermilling of the wings and blowing off chaff. 98

TABLE: SEED INCREASE INFO
Sow Rate for Seed Increase Plantation, Lb./Acre  
1st Year Yield, Lb./acre  
2nd Year Yield, Lb./acre  
Field Life Span: Years  
Production Cost/Lb.  
Field Distance Requirements  
Sow Date Fresh seed should be sown in fall. 134
Miscellaneous Increase Info.
TABLE: VEGETATIVE PROPAGATION
Type of Material (Age, Plant Part,

Etc.)

Vegetative propagation trials have not been successful (Kruckeberg 1982). 138 Seed propagation is currently the only successful method of propagation. 191 Fresh seed should be sown in fall. Cuttings grown in greenhouse conditions somewhat successful. 213134
Size of Material to Collect  
Season of Collection  
Collection Method  
To Nursery: Storage and Shipping Requirements  
Nursery Stock Type and Size  
Miscellaneous Vegetative Propagation Info. Rapid sprouting usually follows cutting. Cut stems have averaged 10 sprouts per stem within 3 years. Growth of sprouts averages 0.5-1.5 m/yr. and can reach 2.5 m/yr. on productive sites. Light fires promote sprouting 187.
TABLE: NURSERY PRODUCTION (See also J. H. Stone Nursery Desk Guide, reference # 185)
Nursery Stock Type; Container Size Container 51
Cost/1,000  
Number of Growing Seasons  

 

Grow Specifications  
Miscellaneous Nursery Production Info.

 

 

 

 

Stratified maple seeds may be sown in the spring, but it is preferable to sow in the fall in mulched beds. 15-30 seeds per square foot. Usually sown ¼-1" deep, broadcast or in drills. Seedbeds may require treatment with repellents against birds and mice, and fungicides to prevent damping off. Shade is recommended during seedling establishment. Sometimes planted as 1-0 stock, but 2-0 or 2-2 stock may be needed. In general, the larger the planting stock, the better the survival. 129

Plant stratified seed, with or without attached samaras, just below soil surface in flats. Transplant to one-gallon pots in peat/soil/perlite mix. Maples generally considered to be easily transplanted. 138 Seed can be sown by direct field planting in the fall. 98 Preferably fall sow outdoors 1.0-2.5 cm deep as soon as seed has ripened; seeds very palatable to rodents. If overcrowded, young seedlings may damp off; can be adversely affected by sudden introduction to strong sunlight; seedlings are large and under favorable conditions will grow rapidly in the first season; can be field grown and lifted as a bareroot when dormant; frost resistance is high. 191

Sow seeds soon after fall harvest in a rich sandy loam. Transplant seedlings to containers or nursery rows soon after the first leaves mature. 192

TABLE: HABITAT
Plant Association Groups

 

Habitat: along streams and moist sites 152 Dry to moist sites, often on rocky soils 187 Rocky slopes, understory or open canopy; ranges up to higher elevations than vine maple (collected at 6600 ft at Crater Lake NP, 3900 ft at Mt. Rainier NP). 138 Sheltered canyons, ravines, moist slopes and along streams. From southern Alaska to New Mexico. 98 Moist soils to well-drained thin gravelly soils, especially along canyons, rocky cliffs and mountain slopes in openings of coniferous forests 191
Drought Tolerance  
Soil: Texture, Chemicals Silty to sandy or gravelly and rocky well-drained soils. 98
Soil Depth  
Ave. Precip. Needs  
Flooding or High Water Tolerance  
Soil Stabilization Seeds itself in disturbed soil 187.
Palatability and Attractiveness to Animals; Response to Grazing Important as winter forage for deer; moderately important in winter and spring for elk, moose, and bighorn sheep. 187 Poor palatability to livestock. 34
Elevation Range 1200-1800 m 98
Competitiveness Never becomes a strong competitor with conifer species as does vine maple 191
Plasticity  
Root System: Rhizomes, Stolons, etc. Mixture of deep and lateral roots for good anchorage 191
Shade tolerance Moderate 187 Prefers sunny habitats 191 Intolerant of shade 208
TABLE: CONSERVATION SOWING OR PLANTING ON N.F. SITES
WCF Cost/Lb. (1997)  
Sow Rate for  Sowing on National Forest Sites, Lb./Acre  
Sowing Method and Date  
Planting Density, Spacing  
Planting Method and Date  
Animal Damage Control in Plantings  
Miscellaneous  

 

BACK