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Central Texas Native Seeds Project is focused on collecting, increasing, and commercializing ecotypic native seed sources that are needed for restoration activities in Central Texas.
As we enter our fourth year of operation in Central Texas, the development of regionally adapted native plant materials for this region continues with the first ecotype seed releases closer at hand. The hard work and dedication from all of our collaborators including the Knox City NRCS Plant Materials Center and Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Stephenville has contributed tremendously to our efforts. Generous landowners who have provided support to Texas Native Seeds (TNS) and allowed seed collection on their property have also made our rapid progression towards new commercial seed releases possible.
The collections of seven native plants species from this region have been transplanted into research plots and evaluated for potential release. Many of these species are early successional grasses-a key need for more successful native grass seeding in Central Texas. Others like Little Bluestem, Meadow Dropseed, and Silver Bluestem are some of the most common plants throughout the region, yet no ecotypic commercial seed sources are available. Grasses we are currently working with include White Tridens, Purple Threeawn, Little Barley, Texas Wintergrass, Sliver Bluestem, Tall Dropseed, Little Bluestem. We hope to make ecotype seed releases of all of these species by the end of 2015, with the first releases being Purple Threeawn and White Tridens by the end of 2014.
We made over 700 seed collections from the Central Texas area in 2013, thanks to many of you reading this. Hopefully, we can double that number this year. Collections were sourced from private properties, public lands, and roadsides. These collections enabled us to begin working toward regional seed source releases, and are vital to our work.
New evaluation projects beginning in 2014
This spring, collections of the species detailed below were grown in the greenhouse at Stephenville and transplanted into research plots at multiple locations. Irrigation will be supplemental for 1 year and then removed to allow for further selection under natural conditions. If suitable materials for commercialization are identified, ecotypes of these species could be released to commercial seedsmen as early as 2016. Our evaluation process includes monitoring each accession for vegetative characteristics, agronomic characteristics such as seed production and quality, and regional adaptation.
- Hooded Windmillgrass – Chloris cucullata – Native warm season perennial that grows 12-18 inches tall. This early successional species is easily established from seed and valued for restoration purposes. Found on a variety of soil types. Provides forage and nesting material for wildlife and seed is eaten by birds and small mammals. Blooms August – September.
- Sand Dropseed – Sporobolus crytandrus – Native warm season perennial growing 24-45 inches tall. Early successional species found on a variety of soils especially sand and is easily established through range seedings and on disturbed sites. Seed is eaten by birds and small mammals. Blooms May – November.
- Hairy Grama – Bouteloua hirsuta – Native warm season perennial that grows 6-30 inches tall. Mid-late successional species that forms dense tufts, found on a variety of soils and is easy to establish by seeding. Fair forage for wildlife and is the larval host plant for the green skipper and orange roadside skipper. Blooms June – November.
- Slim Tridens – Tridens muticus – Native warm season perennial growing 8-18 inches tall, this species is adapted to dry slopes on sandy or clay soil. An extremely drought tolerant early–mid successional species that increases in population on heavily grazed or disturbed sites. Provides fair forage value for wildlife and nesting materials for birds. Blooms May – November.
- Dotted Gayfeather – Liatris punctata – Native warm season perennial forb growing 12-30″ tall. Mid-late successional species found on a variety of soils, most often loose, well drained rocky areas. Young foliage provides good forage for wildlife. Blooms July – October.
We Still Need Your Help!
In addition to weather limitations, access to native species on private lands in the areas highlighted within the red circles has been very limited. We are constantly seeking landowners and conservation professionals interested in assisting TNS to obtain access to large native stands of various species.
TNS is interested in obtaining new collections of these species: Golden Prairie Clover, Scarlet Pea, Milkweed species, Texas Croton, Bristlegrass species, Texas Grama, Bushy Bluestem, Texas Cupgrass.
In addition to supporting our efforts through land access for collections, we are always looking for educational outreach opportunities. Over the past three years we have given more than 30 presentations about our efforts and the importance of native plants and restoration to groups from the Texas Wildlife Association, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, NRCS and the Native Plant Society of Texas. These opportunities allow us to connect with enthusiastic landowners and conservation professionals, which greatly enhances our success in seed collection efforts. If we can add to a program you have coming up, please let us know!
Monetary donations are another great way to support the Texas Native Seeds Project work in Central Texas. Funds from private sources are an important match for agency grants. Every dollar of donations made to Texas Native Seeds goes toward restoration seed source development. Donations are tax-deductible; we are a 501(c)3 educational organization.
If you would like to consider making a donation in support of our work, please go online to the “Giving Page” or contact the Texas Native Seeds statewide project director, Forrest Smith (forrest.smith@tamuk.edu). Please make sure to designate the donation for Texas Native Seeds in the “Special Instructions” section.
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