UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

FOREST SERVICE, ROCKY MOUNTAIN RESEARCH STATION

PROVO, UTAH

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT, BOISE, IDAHO

UTAH DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES

DIVISION OF WILDLIFE RESOURCES

EPHRAIM, UTAH

UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY, AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION

LOGAN, UTAH

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE

BOISE, IDAHO

UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO, AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION

MOSCOW, IDAHO

**NOTICE TO RELEASE**

**ANATONE GERMPLASM BLUEBUNCH WHEATGRASS**

**(SELECTED CLASS NATURAL POPULATION)**

The United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky
Mountain Research Station; United States Department of the Interior,
Bureau of Land Management, Idaho State Office; Utah Department of
Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife Resources; Utah State University
Agricultural Experiment Station; United States Department of
Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service; University of
Idaho, Agricultural Experiment Station propose the release of Anatone
Germplasm bluebunch wheatgrass (*Psuedoroegneria spicata* \[Pursh\] A.
Löve ssp. *spicata)* for restoration of disturbed sites within the
natural range of this species.

Anatone is a natural, non-manipulated bluebunch wheatgrass population
accession originating from Asotin County in Southeastern Washington. It
is a long-lived perennial bunchgrass better adapted to low elevation,
semi-arid sites with long, hot growing seasons than other bluebunch
wheatgrass accessions or available releases. Its seedling vigor and
establishment also exceed those of other accessions and released
cultivars. Anatone's ready germination, rapid development, ability to
compete with exotic annuals, and drought tolerance make it an excellent
choice for restoration of cheatgrass (*Bromus tectorum* L*.*) infested
landscapes. It can also be used to convert stands of introduced
perennial grasses to native plant communities in areas where it once
existed. Anatone is widely adapted throughout the natural range of this
species, and can be used to restore extensive disturbances once occupied
by shrubs and bunchgrass. Bluebunch wheatgrass is one of the most common
native grasses of the Intermountain West. There is a need for a release
that can be used in the drier portions of the species range to improve
species diversity, resilience, and habitat values.

**Scientific Name:** *Pseudoroegneria spicata* (Pursh) A. Löve ssp.
*spicata*. Synonyms include *Festuca spicata* Pursh, *Agropyron
spicatum* (Pursh) Scribner & Smith, *Elymus spicatus* Gould, and
*Elytrigia spicata* (Pursh) D. Dewey.

**Common Name:** Bluebunch wheatgrass, 'Anatone' wheatgrass.

**Germplasm Identification:** The germplasm will be referred to as
\'AnatoneGermplasm\' bluebunch wheatgrass to identify and document the
original collection site.

**Identification Number:** Anatone has been identified by the Forest
Service as AGSP B53-88.

**Origin:** Extensive collections of bluebunch wheatgrass were obtained
by scientists of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (formerly
the Soil Conservation Service) between 1934 and 1938 from the Palouse
Prairie, Snake River Canyon, and adjacent areas in Idaho, eastern
Oregon, and eastern Washington. Collections from this region performed
exceptionally well when planted throughout the Intermountain West.
Results of this earlier work prompted further evaluations of materials
from the area for big game habitat improvement in central and southern
Idaho beginning in 1968. Additional collections from this area were
acquired for comparative trials at low elevation, semiarid areas of the
Intermountain region as a cooperative study with Idaho BLM and USDA,
Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. Stanley Kitchen
collected Anatone bluebunch wheatgrass in 1988 about 4.8 km (3.0 miles)
east of Anatone, Asotin County, Washington (N 46^o^ 9.57' W 117^o^
4.72'). Numerous other collections were made in close proximity from
southeastern Washington, northeastern Oregon, and western Idaho area.
Subsequent collections have been made from this region since 1988.

The Anatone Germplasm collection site is approximately 0.8 km (0.5 mile)
south of Highway 129 near Mill Creek Road at the edge of Mill Creek
Canyon. Plants occur on a series of closely related soils. Soils on the
flats and ridge tops are identified by USDA-NRCS as the Neconda soil
series. The Gwinly-Mallory #36 soil series dominates slopes of 3 to 30%,
and the Gwinly-Mallory #37 soil series complex occupies slopes of 30 to
70%. These soils are shallow to moderately deep, well drained, and
derived from weathered basalt. Surface layers are typically dark or
grayish brown very stony silt loam to cobbly clay loam. Underlying soils
vary in depth from 25 to 50 cm (10 to 20 inches), and depth to underlain
basalt may vary from 25 to 100 cm (10 to 40 inches). Sub soils are dark
grayish brown very cobbly silty clay loam. Rocky and extremely stony
loam soils are common. Soils are well drained, but permeability may be
slow and available water capacity is low to moderate. Soils are
calcareous below a depth of about 85 cm (34 inches). Elevation at the
collection site is 975 m (3,200 ft), but the Neconda soil type ranges
from 975 to 1097 m (3,200 to 3,600 ft).

Other species associated with bluebunch wheatgrass at the Anatone
collection site include Idaho fescue (*Festuca idahoensis* Elmer),
Sandberg bluegrass (*Poa secunda* J. Presl), arrowleaf balsamroot,
(*Balsamorhiza sagittata* \[Pursh\] Nutt.), mountain big sagebrush
(*Artemisia tridentata Nutt. ssp. vaseyana* \[Rydb.\] Beetle), stiff
sagebrush (*Artemisia rigida \[Nutt.\] Gray),* current (*Ribies spp*),
serviceberry (*Amelanchier alnifolia* Nutt.), and Wyeth eriogonum
(*Eriogonum umbellatum* Torr.).

Average annual precipitation at the collection site during the period
1951 through 1978 was 508 mm (20 inches), but in 2 of every 10 years,
total annual precipitation may be as low as 440 mm or as high as 600 mm
(17.5 to 23.87 inches). Precipitation is well distributed throughout the
year with nearly all months receiving more than 25 mm (1.0 inch)
moisture. November through January monthly precipitation averages more
than 50 mm (2 inches) while February through June average slightly less.
Average daily maximum temperature for the entire year is 13 ^o^C.
Maximum daily temperatures may equal or exceed 27 ^o^C for nearly 7
months (April through October). Average daily minimal temperatures
remain high throughout the year with averages minimal monthly
temperatures below freezing only in December and January. The frost-free
period ranges from 110 to 135 days. Based on these conditions, the
region would be classified as having a long growing season with high
temperatures, particularly during the summer months (NOAA 1997,
USDA-NRCS, Lewiston, ID, data on file).

The collection site is classified as Major Land Resource Area B9,
Palouse and Nez Perce Prairie, by the USDA-NRCS (Anonymous 1981),
Intermountain Semi desert Province 342 by Bailey (1995), and EPA Level
III Ecoregion 10, Columbia Plateau (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
2000).

**Description:** Anatone Germplasm bluebunch wheatgrass is similar in
general appearance to 'Goldar' bluebunch wheatgrass, 'Whitmar' beardless
wheatgrass (*Pseudoroegneria spicata* \[Pursh\] A. Löve ssp. *inermis*
\[Scribner & J.G. Smith\] A. Löve), and 'Secar' Snake River wheatgrass
(*Elymus wawawaiensis* J. Carlson and Barkworth). The selection is a
densely tufted perennial bunchgrass with abundant, long, narrow, light
green leaves that are 45 to 50 cm (18 to 20 inches) long. Plants occur
as distinct large bunches with numerous leaves creating a characteristic
tufted growth habitat. Anatone is a diploid (2n=14) and
cross-pollinating. Leaves are mostly basal, erect to lax. Some upper
cauline leaves are flat, but mostly involute throughout their length and
less than 2mm wide. Blades and sheaths are glabrous. Stems are also
numerous, erect, and usually less than 1 m tall (40 inches) with very
fine, narrow, lax heads. Spikes are slender, mostly 10 to 15 cm long (4
to 6 inches); spikelets are distinct but not as long as the internodes.
Seeds are about 10 mm long, rarely longer than 13 mm. Glumes are short,
5 to 10 mm long, unequal in length, with slightly blunt ends narrowing
to a short tip. About 70 percent of the lemmas produce a short,
divergent awn that is 8 to 9 mm long.

'Whitmar', 'Goldar' and 'Secar' were all collected from southeastern
Washington. Whitmar beardless bluegrass, collected from a
prairie-grassland receiving 500 mm of annual precipitation, is an
awnless form. It was developed by selection from a spaced planting after
the ecotype had been tested in outplanting nurseries (Anonymous 1964;
Hein 1958; Kelley, C. \[n.d.b\]). The original collection site of
Whitmar is near Colton, Whitman County, Washington, and the cultivar
exhibits similar adaptive traits to arid sites (Anonymous 1947; Mann
1954; Wolf and Morrison 1957) as Anatone. Goldar bluebunch wheatgrass, a
cultivar with divergent awns that are 1 to 2 cm long, originated from an
open park within a ponderosa pine (*Pinus ponderosa* Douglas ex P. & C.
Lawson) woodland (Gibbs and Young 1989). It was collected at a higher
elevation and moister climate than Anatone. P-7 is a genetically
diverse, multiple-origin polycross of 25 bluebunch wheatgrass
collections. Twenty-four of these are diploid while one is tetraploid.
Most P-7 plants are without awns (Jones et al. 2002; Larson et al.
2000). Secar, once considered a bluebunch wheatgrass, but later
recognized as a new allotetraploid species, Snake River wheatgrass, is
awned (Carlson and Barkworth 1997; Jones et al. 1991; Kelley \[n.d.b\];
Morrison 1981). It is distinguished from bluebunch wheatgrass by its
more compact spikelets, shorter internodes, lanceolate glumes, and
smaller seeds.

**Method of Selection:** Anatone Germplasm bluebunch wheatgrass was
selected from a series of comparative field trials involving
approximately 80 collections from eight Western states: Washington,
Oregon, Idaho, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming, Colorado, and Montana. Field
plantings of 53 collections, including Goldar and Secar Snake River
wheatgrass were established at the Orchard Research Site near Boise,
Idaho, and at Nephi, Utah, in the spring of 1989 and 1990 (Monsen et al.
1999). Plantings were evaluated to compare and evaluate establishment,
growth habit, growth rate, seasonal growth, vigor, plant stature, seed
production, and survival. Seeds of 47 natural populations were examined
to determine optimum germination at near freezing temperatures (Kitchen
and Monsen 1994, 1999). In addition, greenhouse trials were conducted to
develop an index of seedling vigor based on germination and emergence in
relation to planting depth. Seed production and seed quality studies
were conducted at the Spanish Fork Station, Brigham Young University
Field Center in conjunction with wildland and nursery collections from
the Orchard and Nephi sites. The USDA-ARS Forage and Range Research
Laboratory in Logan, Utah conducted direct seedlings at Blue Creek and
Green Canyon, Utah involving 48 perennial grass accessions including
Goldar, Secar, P-7, and Anatone. Scientists from the USDA, ARS Forage
and Range Research Laboratory, Logan, Utah also conducted DRN tests of a
wide array of collections throughout the West, including Anatone and
many other sources furnished by the USDA, Forest Service, Shrub
Laboratory. Seed production fields varying in size from 0.4 to 40 ha
have been established in Utah (1997, 1998, and 1999); Colorado (1998);
Washington (1999), and Idaho (2002).

**Environmental Considerations and Evaluation:** This release is a
native species that is widely distributed throughout the western United
States. The collection site is in close proximity to the collection
locations of Goldar bluebunch wheatgrass and Whitmar beardless
wheatgrass and the closely related Secar Snake River wheatgrass. Study
sites have been established and maintained under similar ecological
conditions in which bluebunch wheatgrass naturally exists. No attempt
has been made to segregate or eliminate genetic characteristics inherent
to this ecotype. No definitive attributes have been reported that would
suggest this selection would interfere with or prevent natural recovery
of associated plants existing in native plant communities. Seed
production fields established under cultivation have not demonstrated
cultural problems. This species is not regarded as having any adverse
negative characteristics that would preclude its use (see attached
Environmental Evaluation of Plant Materials Releases). It is an
important species that is widely used to restore disturbed areas and
re-establish native plant communities.

**Anticipated Use:** Anatone Germplasm bluebunch wheatgrass can be used
to restore extensive areas once dominated by big sagebrush/bluebunch
wheatgrass communities and foothill regions dominated by bunchgrass
communities in western North America. It is particularly useful for
seeding semiarid regions supporting only remnant populations of this
species. Anatone is better able to establish on dry sites than other
bluebunch wheatgrass cultivars, and it competes relatively well with
exotic annuals. It can be used in conjunction with other native plants
to re-establish native communities in areas presently occupied by exotic
annuals or sites where stands of introduced perennial grasses have been
established if the site is properly prepared. It is an important species
for re-establishing native communities to regain species diversity,
increase seasonal forage quality, improve wildlife habitat, and reduce
the incidence of extensive and destructive wildfires. It is also a key
species in the successional recovery of important shrub and woodland
communities.

**Area of Adaptation:** Anatone Germplasm bluebunch wheatgrass is widely
adapted to the Palouse Prairie, Snake River drainage, southern Idaho,
northern Nevada, northern Utah and other areas where the species
naturally exists. It is recommended for areas receiving at least 250 to
300mm (10 to 12 inches) of annual precipitation, and it is particularly
well adapted to sites with long growing seasons. Whitmar and Secar are
recommended for areas receiving similar amounts of annual precipitation,
although Secar can be used on sites receiving as little as 200 mm (8
inches) (Ogle and others 2003). Anatone does well on sites that receive
fall rains prompting regrowth. It also establishes well and persists on
exposed slopes where growth may begin early in the season and where
extremely high daily temperatures may occur during the summer and fall
months. Anatone is adapted to light and medium-textured soils that are
normally well drained and may dry early in the growing season, but it
will grow and remain green well into the summer if soil moisture is
available. It is adapted to a broad range of sites occupied by big
sagebrush. Anatone can be planted on sites supporting mountain big
sagebrush (*Artemisia tridentata* Nutt. ssp. *vaseyana* \[Rydb.\]
Beetle), basin big sagebrush (*A. tridentata* Nutt. ssp. *tridentata)*
or Wyoming big sagebrush (*A. tridentata* Nutt. spp. w*yomingensis*
Beetle & Young). It is also well adapted to upper bench lands and
mountain slopes with antelope bitterbrush (Purshia tridentata \[Pursh\]
DC.), Idaho fescue (*Festuca idahoensis* Elmer), bitter cherry (Prunus
emarginata \[Dougl.\] Walp.). It can also be seeded on shallow and rocky
soils supporting stiff sagebrush (*Artemisia rigida* Nutt) It has
survived well when seeded on heavy-textured soils previously occupied by
black greasewood (*Sarcobatus vermiculatus* \[Hook.\] Torr*.*), but it
would not be recommended as a replacement for species in salt desert
shrub communities.

**Increase and Distribution:** The USDA Natural Resources Conservation
Service, Plant Materials Center, Aberdeen, Idaho will maintain
Generation 1 seed. This seed can be requested from the Utah Crop
Improvement Association and the Idaho Foundation Seed Program. Growers
may produce G2, G3, and G4 generations of seed.

**Prepared by:** This Notice for the Release of Anatone Germplasm
bluebunch wheatgrass was prepared by Stephen B. Monsen (retired),
Stanley G. Kitchen, Kelly Memmott, Botanists, U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Provo, UT,
and Nancy Shaw, Botanist, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest
Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Boise, ID; Mike Pellant,
Coordinator, Great Basin Restoration Initiative, USDI, Bureau of Land
Management; Boise, ID; Stanford Young, Secretary/Manager, Utah Crop
Improvement Association, Utah State University, Logan, UT; Dan Ogle,
Plant Materials Specialist, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service,
Boise, ID; Loren St. John, Team Leader, USDA Natural Resources
Conservation Service, Aberdeen Plant Materials Center, Aberdeen, ID; and
as a joint release by these agencies and Utah Department of Natural
Resources, Division of Wildlife Resources; University of Idaho,
Agricultural Experiment Station; and Utah State University, Agricultural
Experiment Station.

**References**

Anonymous. 1847. Beardless wheatgrass for conservation use in dryland
areas. Technical Supplement #25. Nursery Division, Soil Conservation
Service, U.S. Dept. Agr., Pullman, Washington. (Mimeo.)

Anonymous. 1964. 'Whitmar' -- A new drought tolerant grass for summer,
fall, and winter use. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation
Service, Pullman, WA. 3 p.

Anonymous. 1981. Land resource regions and major land resource areas of
the United States. USDA-SCS Agric. Handb. 296. U.S. Government Printing
Office, Washington, DC.

Bailey, R.G. 1995. Description of the ecoregions of the United States.
2^nd^ ed. Misc. Publ. 1391 (rev.). U.S. Department of Agriculture,
Forest Service, Washington, DC. 108 p.

Carlson, J.R. and M.E. Barkworth. 1997. *Elymus wawawaiensis*: A species
hitherto confused with *Pseudoroegneria spicata* (Triticeae, Poaceae).
Phytologia 83:312-330.

Gibbs, J. and G. Young. 1989. 'Goldar' bluebunch wheatgrass public
release documentation. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation
Service, Boise, ID. 73 p.

Hein, M.A. 1958. Registration of varieties and strains of grasses.
Wheatgrasses (*Agropyron* spp.) III. Whitmar beardless wheatgrass (Reg.
No. 4). Agron. J. 59:685-686.

Jones, T.A., S.R. Larson, D.C. Nielson, S.A. Young, N.J. Chatterton, and
A.J. Palazzo. 2002. Registration of P-7 bluebunch wheatgrass germplasm.
Crop Sci. 42:1754-55.

Jones, T.A., D.C. Nielson, and J.R. Carlson. 1991. Developing a
grazing-tolerant native grass for bluebunch wheatgrass sites. Rangelands
13:147-150.

Kelley, Clarence A. \[n.d.a\]. Notice of release of 'Secar' bluebunch
wheatgrass. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service,
Pullman, WA. 52 p.

Kelley, C. \[n.d.b\]. Recommendation for the release of a variety of
bluebunch wheatgrass. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation
Service, Pullman, WA. 3 p.

Kitchen, S.G. and S.B. Monsen. 1994. Germination rate and emergence
success in bluebunch wheatgrass. J. Range Manage. 47:145-150.

Kitchen, Stanley G. 1995. Return of the native: A look at select
accessions of North American Lewis flax, p. 321-326. In: Bruce A.
Roundy, E. Durant McArthur, Jennifer S. Haley, and David K. Mann, comps.
Proceedings: wildland shrub and arid land restoration symposium; 1993
October 19-21; Las Vegas, NV. Gen. Tech. Rep. INT-GTR-315. Ogden, UT:
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Research
Station.

Kitchen, S.G. and S.B. Monsen. 1999. Selection for seedling vigor in
bluebunch wheatgrass, p. 14-21. In: Cooperative research studies: U.S.
Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research
Station, Shrub Sciences Laboratory, Provo, Utah, 1989-1998.

Larson, S.R., T.A. Jones, Z-M. Hu, C.L. McCracken, and A. Palazzo. 2000.
Genetic diversity of bluebunch wheatgrass cultivars and a
multiple-origin polycross. Crop Sci. 40:1142-1147.

Mann, David H. 1954. Whitmar beardless --New Range Promise. Idaho
Farmer: 72(16): 641.

Monsen, S.B., D.G. Naillon, and S.G. Kitchen. 1999. Comparing 53 native
collections of bluebunch wheatgrass and Snake River wheatgrass in two
garden experiments at Nephi, Utah and Orchard, Idaho, p. 3-13. In:
Cooperative research studies: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest
Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Shrub Sciences Laboratory,
Provo, UT 1989-1998.

Morrison, K.J. 1981. Secar bluebunch wheatgrass. Extension Bull.
Washington State University, Cooperative Extension Service, Pullman.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). 1997.
Climatological Data Annual Summary, Washington 1997. 10:1-21.

Ogle, D., L. St. John, M. Stannard, and L. Holzworth. 2003. Grass,
grass-like, forb, legume, and woody species for the Intermountain West.
TN plant materials 24. USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service,
Boise, ID. 42 p.

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service,
Soil Survey Division (USDA NRCS SSD). 2003. Official Soil Series
Descriptions \[Online WWW\]. Available URL:
\"http://ortho.ftw.nrcs.usda.gov/osd/\" \[Accessed 25 September 2003\].

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 2000. Level III Ecoregions of the
Continental United States. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
Washington, DC.

Vogel, K.P. and R.A. Masters. 2001. Frequency grid - a simple tool for
measuring grassland establishment. J. Range Manage. 54:653-655.

Wolfe, H. H. and Morrison, K. J. 1957. Whitmar Beardless Wheatgrass,
State College of Wash. Ext. Cir. 273.

**SIGNATURES FOR RELEASE OF:**

**ANATONE GERMPLASM BLUEBUNCH WHEATGRASS (SELECTED CLASS NATURAL
POPULATION) *Pseudoroegneria spicata* (Pursh) A. Löve ssp. *spicata*
(*s*ynonyms include *Festuca spicata* Pursh, *Agropyron spicatum*
(Pursh) Scribner & J.G*.* Smith, *Elymus spicatus* Gould, and *Elytrigia
spicata* (Pursh) D. Dewey**

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**USDA-FS Director, Rocky Mt. Exp. Stn. Date**

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**USDI-BLM Idaho State Director Date**

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**State of Utah Director, DWR Date**

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**Utah State Univ. Director, Utah Ag. Exp. Stn. Date**

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**Univ. of Idaho Director, Idaho Ag. Exp. Stn. Date**

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**USDA-NRCS Idaho State Conservationist Date**

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**USDA-NRCS Director ESD, Washington, DC Date**

**Environmental Evaluation of Plant Materials Releases**

<table>
<colgroup>
<col style="width: 8%" />
<col style="width: 5%" />
<col style="width: 6%" />
<col style="width: 21%" />
<col style="width: 3%" />
<col style="width: 1%" />
<col style="width: 0%" />
<col style="width: 10%" />
<col style="width: 0%" />
<col style="width: 10%" />
<col style="width: 0%" />
<col style="width: 9%" />
<col style="width: 1%" />
<col style="width: 16%" />
</colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr class="odd">
<td colspan="3"><strong>Name of person scoring:</strong></td>
<td colspan="3"><p><strong>Loren St. John</strong></p>
<p><strong>Dan Ogle</strong></p></td>
<td colspan="5"><strong>Date of scoring:</strong></td>
<td colspan="3"><strong>3/19/03</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td colspan="3"></td>
<td colspan="3"></td>
<td colspan="5"></td>
<td colspan="3"></td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td colspan="3"><strong>Scientific Name:</strong></td>
<td colspan="3"><strong>Pseudoroegneria spicata spicata</strong></td>
<td colspan="5"><strong>Common Name:</strong></td>
<td colspan="3"><strong>Bluebunch Wheatgrass</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td colspan="3"></td>
<td colspan="3"></td>
<td colspan="5"></td>
<td colspan="3"></td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td colspan="3"><strong>Release Name:</strong></td>
<td colspan="3"><strong>Anatone</strong></td>
<td colspan="5"></td>
<td colspan="3"></td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td colspan="3"></td>
<td colspan="3"></td>
<td colspan="5"></td>
<td colspan="3"></td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td colspan="8"><strong>Is the plant native to the US?</strong></td>
<td colspan="5"><strong>Yes</strong></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td colspan="8"><strong>Is the plant native to the area of intended
use?</strong></td>
<td colspan="5"><strong>Yes</strong></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td colspan="8"><strong>Authority used to determine native
status:</strong></td>
<td colspan="5"><strong>NRCS PLANTS Database</strong></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td colspan="8"></td>
<td colspan="5"></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td colspan="8"><strong>What is the intended area of use for this
plant?</strong></td>
<td colspan="5"><strong>Intermountain west</strong></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td colspan="8"></td>
<td colspan="5"></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td colspan="8"><strong>What is the intended use for this
plant?</strong></td>
<td colspan="5"><strong>Erosion control, rangeland
restoration</strong></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td colspan="8"></td>
<td colspan="5"></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td colspan="8"><strong>Areas in which the release is known to be
invasive or has a high probability of being invasive:</strong></td>
<td colspan="5"><strong>None</strong></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td colspan="8"></td>
<td colspan="5"></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td colspan="10"><strong><u>Summary of Criteria from Section
A</u></strong></td>
<td colspan="2"><strong><u>Score</u></strong></td>
<td colspan="2"></td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td colspan="10"><strong>Part 1. Impact on Habitats, Ecosystems, and
Land Use</strong></td>
<td colspan="2"><strong>3</strong></td>
<td colspan="2"></td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td colspan="10"><strong>Part 2. Ease of Management</strong></td>
<td colspan="2"><strong>14</strong></td>
<td colspan="2"></td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td colspan="10"><strong>Part 3. Conservation Need and Plant
Use</strong></td>
<td colspan="2"><strong>8</strong></td>
<td colspan="2"></td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td colspan="10"><strong>Part 4. Biological
Characteristics</strong></td>
<td colspan="2"><strong>28</strong></td>
<td colspan="2"></td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td colspan="14"></td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td colspan="14"><strong><u>Final Determination of Release Based on the
Environmental Evaluation:</u></strong></td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td><strong>X</strong></td>
<td></td>
<td colspan="12"><strong>OK to Release</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td colspan="12"><strong>OK to Release but qualify use and intended area
of use*</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td colspan="12"><strong>Do Not Release - NPL determines if release is
made*</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td colspan="12"><strong>Do Not Release - document and destroy
materials</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td colspan="7">I certify that this Environmental Evaluation was
conducted with the most accurate and current information possible.</td>
<td colspan="7">/s/ Loren St. John 3/19/03</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td colspan="7"></td>
<td colspan="7">Signature of Person Scoring Date</td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td colspan="14"><strong>Signature of NPL indicating that it is OK to
make the release:</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td colspan="4"></td>
<td></td>
<td colspan="4"></td>
<td colspan="5"></td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td colspan="4"><strong>National Program Leader, PM</strong></td>
<td></td>
<td colspan="4"><strong>Date</strong></td>
<td colspan="5"></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

**[Section A. Scoring of Criteria for Impact, Management, Need and
Biological Characteristics]{.underline}**

Circle the appropriate number for each of the following criteria. Add up
the scores for each part and record at the end of each part. Comments
which clarify answers or provide supporting information may be included
in the right margin of the worksheet or attached on a separate sheet of
paper.

**[Part 1: Impact on Habitats, Ecosystems, and Land Use]{.underline}**

*This section assesses the ability of the species or release to
[adversely]{.underline} affect habitats, ecosystems, and agricultural
areas.*

+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| 1)  **Ability to invade natural systems where the species does  |    |
|     not naturally occur**                                       |    |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| a.  Species not known to spread into natural areas on its own   | 0  |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| b.  Establishes only in areas where major disturbance has       | *  |
|     occurred in the last 20 years (e.g., natural disasters,     | *3 |
|     highway corridors)                                          | ** |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| c.  Often establishes in mid- to late-successional natural      | 6  |
|     areas where minor disturbances occur (e.g., tree falls,     |    |
|     streambank erosion), but no major disturbance in last 20-75 |    |
|     years                                                       |    |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| d.  Often establishes in intact or otherwise healthy natural    | 10 |
|     areas with no major disturbance for at least 75 years       |    |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
|                                                                 |    |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| 2)  **Negative impacts on ecosystem processes** (e.g., altering |    |
|     fire occurrence, rapid growth may alter hydrology)          |    |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| a.  No perceivable negative impacts                             | *  |
|                                                                 | *0 |
|                                                                 | ** |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| b.  Minor negative impacts to ecosystem processes               | 2  |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| c.  Known significant negative impacts to ecosystems processes  | 6  |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| d.  Major, potentially irreversible, alteration or disruption   | 10 |
|     of ecosystem processes                                      |    |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
|                                                                 |    |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| 3)  **Impacts on the composition of plant communities where the |    |
|     species does not naturally occur**                          |    |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| a.  No negative impact; causes no perceivable changes in native | *  |
|     populations                                                 | *0 |
|                                                                 | ** |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| b.  Noticeable negative influences on community composition     | 5  |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| c.  Causes major negative alterations in community composition  | 10 |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
|                                                                 |    |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| 4)  **Allelopathy**                                             |    |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| a.  No known allelopathic effects on other plants               | *  |
|                                                                 | *0 |
|                                                                 | ** |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| b.  Demonstrates allelopathic effects on seed germination of    | 3  |
|     other plants                                                |    |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| c.  Demonstrates allelopathic effects to mature stages of other | 5  |
|     plants                                                      |    |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
|                                                                 |    |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+

+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| 5)  **Impact on habitat for wildlife or domestic animals        |    |
|     (aquatic and terrestrial), including threatened and         |    |
|     endangered species (coordinate with USFWS and state         |    |
|     Heritage Programs as appropriate)**                         |    |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| a.  No negative impact on habitat, or this criteria not         | *  |
|     applicable based on intended use for the plant              | *0 |
|                                                                 | ** |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| b.  Minor negative impact on habitat (e.g., decreased           | 2  |
|     palatability; lower wildlife value; decreased value for     |    |
|     undesirable animal species)                                 |    |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| c.  Significant negative impact on habitat (e.g., foliage toxic | 5  |
|     to animals; significantly lower value for wildlife;         |    |
|     excludes desirable animal species from an area)             |    |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
|                                                                 |    |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| 6)  **Impact on other land use**                                |    |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| a.  No negative impacts on other land uses                      | *  |
|                                                                 | *0 |
|                                                                 | ** |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| b.  Minor impacts (plant could invade adjacent areas and        | 3  |
|     decrease its value)                                         |    |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| c.  Significant impacts (plant may alter the system or adjacent | 5  |
|     lands significantly enough to prevent certain uses)         |    |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| **Total Possible Points**                                       | ** |
|                                                                 | 45 |
|                                                                 | ** |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| **Total Points for Part 1**                                     | *  |
|                                                                 | *3 |
|                                                                 | ** |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+

**[Part 2. Ease of Management]{.underline}**

*This part evaluates the degree of management which might be needed to
control the species or release if it becomes a problem, or eradicate the
species or release if it is no longer desirable.*

+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| 1)  **Level of effort required for control**                    |    |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| a.  Effective control can be achieved with mechanical treatment | 0  |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| b.  Can be controlled with one chemical treatment               | *  |
|                                                                 | *2 |
|                                                                 | ** |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| c.  One or two chemical or mechanical treatments required or    | 5  |
|     biological control is available or practical                |    |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| d.  Repeated chemical or mechanical control measures required   | 10 |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
|                                                                 |    |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| 2)  **Effectiveness of community management to potentially      |    |
|     control the plant release**                                 |    |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| a.  No management is needed, the plant release is short-lived   | 0  |
|     and will significantly decrease or disappear within 5 years |    |
|     under normal conditions without human intervention          |    |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| b.  Routine management of a community or                        | *  |
|     restoration/preservation practices (e.g., prescribed        | *2 |
|     burning, flooding, controlled disturbance, pasture          | ** |
|     renovation) effectively controls the release                |    |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| c.  Cultural techniques beyond routine management can be used   | 4  |
|     to control the release                                      |    |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| d.  The previous options are not effective for managing or      | 10 |
|     controlling the release                                     |    |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
|                                                                 |    |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+

+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| 3)  **Side effects of chemical or mechanical control measures** |    |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| a.  Control measures used on release will have little or no     | 0  |
|     effect on other plants                                      |    |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| b.  Control measures used on release will cause moderate        | *  |
|     effects on other plants                                     | *3 |
|                                                                 | ** |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| c.  Control measures used on release will cause major effects   | 5  |
|     on other plants                                             |    |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
|                                                                 |    |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| [\*\*If spreads by seed, or both seed and vegetative means, go  |    |
| to #4]{.underline}                                              |    |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| [\*\*If spreads by vegetative means only, go to #5]{.underline} |    |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
|                                                                 |    |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| 4)  **Seed banks**                                              |    |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| a.  Seeds viable in the soil for 1 year or less 0               | 0  |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| b.  Seeds remain viable in the soil for 2-3 years 1             | 1  |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| c.  Seeds remain viable in the soil for 4-5 years 3             | *  |
|                                                                 | *3 |
|                                                                 | ** |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| d.  Seeds remain viable in the soil for more than 5 years 5     | 5  |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
|                                                                 |    |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| 5)  **Vegetative regeneration under natural conditions**        |    |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| a.  Regeneration from resprouting of cut stumps                 | *  |
|                                                                 | *1 |
|                                                                 | ** |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| b.  Regeneration from pieces of the root left in the soil       | 3  |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| c.  Regeneration from root or stem parts left in the soil       | 5  |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
|                                                                 |    |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| 6)  **Resprouts after cutting above-ground parts**              |    |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| a.  Does not resprout [or]{.underline} resprouts but the        | 0  |
|     release is sterile and does not produce seed                |    |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| b.  Resprouts and produces seed in future years                 | *  |
|                                                                 | *3 |
|                                                                 | ** |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| c.  Resprouts and produces seed in same year                    | 5  |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| **Total Possible Points**                                       | ** |
|                                                                 | 40 |
|                                                                 | ** |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| **Total Points for Part 2**                                     | ** |
|                                                                 | 14 |
|                                                                 | ** |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+

**[Part 3. Conservation Need and Plant Use]{.underline}**

*This part evaluates the importance of the species or release to meet a
conservation need.*

+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| 1)  **Potential Use(s) of the Plant Release**                   |    |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| a.  Used for low-priority issues or single use                  | 1  |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| b.  Has several uses within conservation                        | *  |
|                                                                 | *2 |
|                                                                 | ** |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| c.  Has many uses within conservation as well as outside of     | 4  |
|     conservation                                                |    |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| d.  Has high-priority use within conservation                   | 5  |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
|                                                                 |    |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| 2)  **Availability of Other Plants to Solve the Same Need**     |    |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| a.  Many other plants available                                 | 1  |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| b.  Few other plants available                                  | *  |
|                                                                 | *3 |
|                                                                 | ** |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| c.  No other plants available                                   | 5  |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
|                                                                 |    |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+

+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| 3)  **Consequences of [Not]{.underline} Releasing This Plant**  |    |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| a.  No impact to conservation practices                         | 0  |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| b.  Minor impact on one or more conservation practice           | 1  |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| c.  Serious impact on one conservation practice                 | *  |
|                                                                 | *3 |
|                                                                 | ** |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| d.  Serious impact on more than one conservation practices      | 5  |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| **Total Possible Points**                                       | ** |
|                                                                 | 15 |
|                                                                 | ** |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| **Total Points for Part 3**                                     | *  |
|                                                                 | *8 |
|                                                                 | ** |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+

**[Part 4. Biological Characteristics]{.underline}**

*This part evaluates the biological properties which indicate the
natural ability of the species or release to propagate and maintain
itself under natural conditions. Note: these criteria relate to the
species [under natural conditions]{.underline}, as opposed to the
species under managed conditions used to increase the species, i.e. seed
increase programs, or specific propagation methods which do not normally
occur in nature.*

+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| 1)  **Typical mode of reproduction under natural conditions**   |    |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| a.  Plant does not increase by seed or vegetative means ([skip  | 0  |
|     to #11]{.underline})                                        |    |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| b.  Reproduces almost entirely by vegetative means              | 1  |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| c.  Reproduces only by seeds                                    | *  |
|                                                                 | *3 |
|                                                                 | ** |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| d.  Reproduces vegetatively and by seed                         | 5  |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
|                                                                 |    |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| 2)  **Reproduction (by seed or vegetative) in geographic area   |    |
|     of intended use**                                           |    |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| a.  Reproduces only outside the geographic area of intended use | 1  |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| b.  Reproduces within the geographic area of intended use       | 3  |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| c.  Reproduces in all areas of the United States where plant    | *  |
|     can be grown                                                | *5 |
|                                                                 | ** |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
|                                                                 |    |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| 3)  **Time required to reach reproductive maturity by seed or   |    |
|     vegetative methods**                                        |    |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| a.  Requires more than 10 years                                 | 1  |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| b.  Requires 5-10 years                                         | 2  |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| c.  Requires 2-5 years                                          | 3  |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| d.  Requires 1 year                                             | *  |
|                                                                 | *5 |
|                                                                 | ** |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
|                                                                 |    |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| [\*\* If reproduces only by seed, skip to #5]{.underline}       |    |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+

+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| 4)  **Vegetative reproduction (by rhizomes, suckering, or       |    |
|     self-layering)**                                            |    |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| a.  Vegetative reproduction rate maintains population (plant    | 1  |
|     spreads but older parts die out)                            |    |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| b.  Vegetative reproduction rate results in moderate increase   | 3  |
|     in population size (plant spreads \<3' per year)            |    |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| c.  Vegetative reproduction rate results in rapid increase in   | 5  |
|     population size (plant spreads \>3' per year)               |    |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+

+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| [\*\* If reproduces only vegetatively, skip to #11]{.underline} |    |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
|                                                                 |    |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| 5)  **Ability to complete sexual reproductive cycle in area of  | *  |
|     intended use**                                              | *5 |
|                                                                 | ** |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| a.  Not observed to complete sexual reproductive cycle in the   | 1  |
|     geographic area of intended use, but completes sexual       |    |
|     reproduction in distant areas of the United States          |    |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| b.  Not observed to complete sexual reproductive cycle in the   | 3  |
|     geographic area of intended use, but completes sexual       |    |
|     reproduction in adjoining geographic areas                  |    |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| c.  Observed to complete the sexual reproductive cycle in the   | *  |
|     geographic area of intended use                             | *5 |
|                                                                 | ** |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
|                                                                 |    |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| 6)  **Frequency of sexual reproduction for mature plant**       |    |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| a.  Almost never reproduces sexually                            | 0  |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| b.  Once every five or more years                               | 1  |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| c.  Every other year                                            | 3  |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| d.  One or more times a year                                    | *  |
|                                                                 | *5 |
|                                                                 | ** |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
|                                                                 |    |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| 7)  **Number of viable seeds per mature plant each reproductive |    |
|     cycle**                                                     |    |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| a.  None (does not produce viable seed)                         | 0  |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| b.  Few (1-10)                                                  | 1  |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| c.  Moderate (11-1,000)                                         | *  |
|                                                                 | *3 |
|                                                                 | ** |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| d.  Many-seeded (\>1,000)                                       | 5  |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
|                                                                 |    |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| 8)  **Dispersal ability**                                       |    |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| a.  Limited dispersal (\<20') and few plants produced (\<100)   | *  |
|                                                                 | *1 |
|                                                                 | ** |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| b.  Limited dispersal (\<20') and many plants produced (\>100)  | 3  |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| c.  Greater dispersal (\>20') and few plants produced (\<100)   | 7  |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| d.  Greater dispersal (\>20') and many plants produced (\>100)  | 10 |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
|                                                                 |    |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| 9)  **Germination requirements**                                |    |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| a.  Requires open soil and disturbance to germinate             | *  |
|                                                                 | *1 |
|                                                                 | ** |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| b.  Can germinate in vegetated areas but in a narrow range or   | 5  |
|     in special conditions                                       |    |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| c.  Can germinate in existing vegetation in a wide range of     | 10 |
|     conditions                                                  |    |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
|                                                                 |    |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| 10) **Hybridization**                                           |    |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| a.  Has not been observed to hybridize outside the species      | *  |
|                                                                 | *0 |
|                                                                 | ** |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| b.  Hybridizes with other species in the same genera            | 3  |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| c.  Hybridizes with other genera                                | 5  |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
|                                                                 |    |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+

+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| 11) **Competitive ability (of established plants)**             |    |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| a.  Poor competitor for limiting factors                        | *  |
|                                                                 | *0 |
|                                                                 | ** |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| b.  Moderately competitive for limiting factors                 | 5  |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| c.  Highly competitive for limiting factors                     | 10 |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| **Total Possible Points**                                       | ** |
|                                                                 | 70 |
|                                                                 | ** |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+
| **Total Points for Part 4**                                     | ** |
|                                                                 | 28 |
|                                                                 | ** |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+----+

**References**

Many of the criteria used in this rating system were adapted from the
following sources:

Hiebert, Ron D. and James Stubbendieck. 1993. Handbook for Ranking
Exotic Plants for Management and Control. US Department of the Interior,
National Park Service, Denver, CO.

Randall, John M., Nancy Benton, Larry E. Morse, and Gwendolyn A.
Thornhurst. 1999. Criteria for Ranking Alien Wildland Weeds. The Nature
Conservancy, Arlington, VA.

**[Section B. Scoring and Interpretation]{.underline}**

Based on the scores from above, circle the points range you scored to
determine the appropriate interpretation. The interpretation will be
used to determine the course of action for the release.

  -------------------------- ------------- ------------------------------
  **Part**                   **Points      **Interpretation**
                             Scored**      

  Part 1. Impacts on         0-15          **[Low]{.underline}** chance
  Habitats, Ecosystems, and                plant is going to affect the
  Land Use                                 environment

                             16-25         **[Mod]{.underline}**erate
                                           chance plant is going to
                                           affect the environment

                             26-45         **[High]{.underline}** chance
                                           plant is going to affect the
                                           environment

  Part 2. Ease of Management 0-20          **[Easy]{.underline}** to
                                           control

                             21-30         **[Mod]{.underline}**erate to
                                           control

                             31-40         **[Diff]{.underline}**icult to
                                           control

  Part 3. Conservation Need  0-5           **[Low]{.underline}** need
  and Plant Use                            

                             6-9           **[Mod]{.underline}**erate
                                           need

                             10-15         **[High]{.underline}** need

  Part 4. Biological         0-25          **[Low]{.underline}** chance
  Characteristics                          plant is going to propagate
                                           and increase itself

                             26-40         **[Mod]{.underline}**erate
                                           chance plant is going to
                                           propagate and increase itself

                             41-70         **[High]{.underline}** chance
                                           plant is going to propagate
                                           and increase itself
  -------------------------- ------------- ------------------------------

Release Documentation

**For**

**Anatone Bluebunch Wheatgrass**

**Site Adaptability Studies**

**Seed Collection:**

Eighty native seed collections of bluebunch wheatgrass (*Pseudoroegneria
spicata* \[Pursh\] A. Löve ssp. *spicata*) and Snake River wheatgrass
(*Elymus wawawaiensis* J. Carlson and Barkworth) were obtained in 1988
and 1989. Bluebunch wheatgrass was acquired in eight western states from
principal locations in Idaho, Colorado, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah,
Washington, and Wyoming. Snake River wheatgrass was also collected from
southeastern Washington and northeastern Oregon. A primary objective was
to select and develop plant materials adapted to the more arid areas of
the species range, particularly sites in the Lower Snake River Plain and
portions of the Great Basin. Plants exhibiting good seedling vigor,
adaptability to arid sites, and competitive attributes to compete with
annual weeds were also emphasized. Unaltered germ plasm was emphasized
to provide material that would be native to specific regions. Previous
site adaptability trials in central Idaho beginning in 1979 reveled that
material from the Palouse Prairie exhibited these characteristics, and
collections were concentrated from this region. 'Goldar' and 'Whitmar'
bluebunch wheatgrass are currently the only two released cultivars
available, and both originate from this region. Goldar does not have
sufficient drought tolerance to persist in the more arid regions where
the species naturally occurs. Whitmar is an awnless form selected, in
part, for this trait. Limited selection was made to promote this
cultivar, yet it exhibits many of the seedling vigor and drought
tolerance traits of Anatone. The selection processes used to develop
this cultivar may have diminished some adaptive traits.

**Field Evaluation Studies**

Field plantings were established to evaluate initial establishment,
survival over time, annual growth, plant vigor, seed production, and
phenological growth responses on arid study sites naturally occupied by
this species. Containerized seedlings of 53 of the bluebunch wheatgrass
and Snake River wheatgrass collections were planted at the Orchard
Research Site, Ada County, Idaho, and at Nephi, Juab County, Utah, in
the spring 1989 and 1990. At each field location, plantings were
arranged in three blocks with a completely randomized block design.
Within blocks, a plot of 24 plants represented each accession. Data were
collected during the years of 1989, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, and 2001.

[Orchard Research Study Site Description]{.underline}

The site is located on the Lower Snake River Plain, about 32 km
southeast of Boise, Idaho at an elevation of about 955 m. Mean annual
precipitation is 200 to 300 mm and the average frost-free season is 140
to 190 days, Appendix 1. Soils are sandy, mixed, mesic Xeric
Torriorthents. Native vegetation at the site was dominated by basin big
sagebrush (*Artemisia tridentata* Nutt. ssp. *tridentata*), Wyoming big
sagebrush (*Artemisia tridentata* Nutt. ssp. *wyomingensis* Beetle &
Young*)*, Sandberg bluegrass (*Poa sandbergii* J. Presl), Thurber
needlegrass (*Achnatherum thurberianum* \[Piper\] Barkworth), and
bluebunch wheatgrass. This area is typical of the drier regions of the
Snake River Plain and portions of the Great Basin supporting big
sagebrush and native bunch grasses including bluebunch wheatgrass.
During the period of field evaluations, the area was subjected to
periods of extremely low precipitation.

[Description of Nephi/Levan Research Study Site]{.underline}

The Nephi site is 13 km southwest of Nephi, UT, on the Utah State
University Agricultural Experiment Station's Nephi farm. Elevation is
1,580 m. The soil is deep with a clay loam texture and located on a 0 to
2 percent slope. Mean annual precipitation is 340 mm with 67 percent
occurring from November to May, Appendix 2. Monthly precipitation during
the first growing season was slightly below normal, particularly during
the months of April, May, and June when transplants were becoming
established. Mean annual temperature is 9.7 ^o^C. This study site
initially supported some basin big sagebrush, Wyoming big sagebrush,
antelope bitterbrush (*Purshia tridentate \[Pursh\] DC.*), bluebunch
wheatgrass, and western wheatgrass (*Pascopyrum smithii \[Rydb.\]
Love)*. The site has been used for testing dryland grains, oil crops,
numerous introduced and native forage grasses, broadleaf herbs, shrubs,
and some seasonal livestock grazing trials.

**Results \-- Plant Establishment and Survival**

[Orchard Study Site -]{.underline} All five collections of Snake River
wheatgrass, 'Secar' (B24); Enterprise, OR (B51); Colton, WA (B66);
Wawawai, WA (B79); Penawawa, WA (B82), established and persisted better
than most all collections of bluebunch wheatgrass, Table 1. With the
exception of the Asotin (B54) collection that is in close proximity to
the Anatone (B53) and Colton (B67) collection sites, total survival in
2001 of each Snake River wheatgrass collections exceeded any other
collection of bluebunch wheatgrass under study. Total survival is a
percentage of plants actually alive at the 2001, and is based on the
numbers alive in 1990. Accessions with high initial establishment
percentages are more likely to record high total survival rates.
Collections of bluebunch wheatgrass from southeastern Washington,
northeastern Oregon, and extreme western Idaho established better under
arid conditions than collections from any other region. Bluebunch
wheatgrass collections with the highest total survival in 2001 consisted
of material from Asotin, WA (B54); Dodge, WA (B7); Colton, WA (B67); and
Levan, UT (B34). Total survival percentages of these collections were
not significantly different from the five collections of Snake River
wheatgrass.

Persistence of plants that initially established is an important index
of the adaptability of each accession to the individual study site. All
five Snake River wheatgrass collections including Secar ranked in the
top eight positions for survival in 2001. Collections of bluebunch
wheatgrass from Colton, WA (B67); Brownlee Dam. ID (B49); Pataha, WA
(B77); Dodge, WA (B76); Roosevelt, WA (B74); Asotin, WA (B54); Grande
Ronde, WA (B52); and Anatone, WA (B53) recorded the highest survival
percentages in 2001 of all bluebunch wheatgrass accessions under test.
Survival percentages were not significantly different among these
accessions or among the Snake River wheatgrass accessions. However,
percent survival for the Colton accession was 97 percent compared with
79 percent for the Anatone accession. All southeastern
Washington/northeastern Oregon/western Idaho collections of bluebunch
wheatgrass are within a radius of about 100 kilometers. Most collections
from southwestern Washington are located within 20 to 40 kilometers from
the Anatone collection site, and appear as similar genetic material.

Although the origin of Goldar bluebunch wheatgrass is from Asotin County
in southeastern Washington, the total or long-term survival of this
cultivar (B25) was significantly lower at the Orchard site than other
collections assembled from this same region. Total survival of many
other accessions of bluebunch wheatgrass from other regions also
surpassed that of Goldar (B25). In addition, Goldar plants exhibited
poor survival during the period between 1990 and 2001. Of the initial
plants that established in 1990, only 32 percent survived for the
11-year period. In comparison, survival percentages of other accessions
from southwestern Washington ranged from 97 percent Colton (B67) to 79
percent Anatone (B54).

Establishment and persistence of material collected from local stands in
close proximity of the Orchard study site included Birds of Prey (B26)
and Crows Nest (B 27). These accessions failed to establish or survive
at even moderate percentages. In addition, collections from central
Utah, Levan (B34), failed to persist well from the time of initial
establishment (1990) to 2001.

Table 1. Percent survival of bluebunch wheatgrass and Snake River
wheatgrass accessions

planted at the Orchard study site in 1989. Within years accessions
followed by different

letters differ at \<0.05. Survival at the juvenile stage in 1990 and the
mature stage in 1995 are

> based on the plants surviving from the previous stage. Survival in
> 2001 is based on the number of plants alive in 1990. Overall survival
> is the percent of plants to survive through the 2001 season. **Bold
> print designates Snake River wheatgrass accessions.**

\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

Origin Accession 1989 1990 1995 2001 Total

Number Transplant Juvenile Adult Adult Survival Survival Survival
Survival Survival

\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

**Enterprise, OR B51 75 ab 85 a 95 a 93 a 79 a**

**Penawawa, WA B82 79 a 81 ab 95 a 84 a 71 ab**

**Wawawai, WA B79 63 abcd 72 abcd 95 a 88 a 64 abc**

Asotin, WA B54 71 abc 75 abc 87 a 82 a 60 abcd

**Colton, WA B66 53 abcde 56 abcde 100 a 98 a 54 abcde**

**Secar B24 60 abcde 65 abcde 89 a 86 a 54 abcde**

Dodge, WA B76 58 abcde 63 abcde 100 a 83 a 53 abcde

Colton, WA B67 46 abcde 50 abcde 100 a 97 a 49 abcdef

Lavan, UT B34 61 abcd 68 abcde 73 a 69 a 47 abcdefg

Roosevelt, WA B74 47 abcde 54 abcde 94 a 82 a 44 bcdefgh

Grand Gorge, WA B52 47 abcde 54 abcde 78 a 80 a 43 bcdefghi

Pataha, WA B77 49 abcde 50 abcde 86 a 86 a 43 bcdefghi

Anatone, WA B53 44 abcde 46 abcde 86 a 79 a 38 bcdefghij

Baker, OR B68 44 abcde 56 abcde 78 a 65 a 35 bcdefghij

Connell, WA B80 38 abcde 46 abcde 55 a 63 a 35 bcdefghij

Snowville, UT B45 49 abcde 57 abcde 79 a 50 a 33 cdefghij

Lewiston, ID B55 51 abcde 54 abcde 73 a 62 a 33 cdefghij

Crows Nest, ID B27 42 abcde 56 abcde 52 a 52 a 32 cdefghij

Colton, WA B83 46 abcde 47 abcde 63 a 59 a 31 cdefghij

Walla Walla, WA B75 29 abcde 38 abcde 65 a 74 a 28 cdefghij

Maryhill, WA B72 38 abcde 44 abcde 58 a 56 a 26 cdefghij

Salmon, ID B57 40 abcde 46 abcde 55 a 55 a 24 defghij

Livingston, WA B81 33 abcde 42 abcde 68 a 59 a 23 defghij

Lamoille Cyn, NV B43 33 abcde 44 abcde 52 a 58 a 22 defghij

Roosevelt, WA B73 51 abcde 53 abcde 65 a 42 a 21 defghij

Denio, NV B41 28 abcde 31 bcde 82 a 76 a 21 defghij

Goldar B25 47abcde 56 abcde 60 a 32 a 21 deghij

Riggins, ID B64 47 abcde 46 abcde 55 a 39 a 19 efghij

Council, ID B48 42 abcde 40 abcde 43 a 42 a 18 efghij

Dingle, ID B61 53 abcde 51 abcde 33 a 22 a 17 efghij

Brownlee Dam, ID B49 19 cde 19 de 91 a 88 a 17 efghij

Arco, ID B60 15 de 31 bcde 78 a 45 a 17 efghij

Yakima, WA B84 21 cde 32 bcde 66 a 38 a 13 fghij

Salt Lake City, UT B30 46 abcde 46 abcde 27 a 19 a 10 fghij

Wallowa Mtns., OR B50 29 abcde 38 abcde 48 a 20 a 8 fghij

Pittsburg Landing, ID B46 17cde 19 de 68 a 68 a 8 fghij

Immigrant Pass, NV B42 26 abcde 32 bcde 38 a 29 a 8 fghij

Riggings, ID B65 29 abcde 31 bcde 45 a 39 a 7 ghij

Mona, UT B33 44 abcde 43 abcde 46 a 18 a 7 ghij

Pittsburg Landing, ID B47 17 cde 17 e 30 a 34 a 7 ghij

Lindon, UT B31 22 bde 19 de 74 a 18 a 6 hij

Table 1 continued

Hyde Park, UT B32 18 cde 24 cde 18 a 16 a 4 hij

Yuba Dam, UT B28 29 abcde 32 bcde 39 a 22 a 4 hij

Birds of Prey, ID B26 13 de 15 e 77 a 43 a 4 hij

Fairfield, ID B63 24 bcde 22 cde 25 a 11 a 4 hij

Provo, UT B29 25 bcde 15 e 64 a 27 a 4 hij

Grandview Cyn., ID B58 22 bcde 25 cde 53 a 27 a 4 hij

Yuba Dam, UT B62 38 abcde 39 abcde 44 a 16 a 4 hij

Pequop Summit, NV B44 6 e 14 e 57 a 8 a 3 hij

The Dalles, OR B71 24 bcde 29 bcde 5 a 5 a 1 hij

Arco, ID B59 19 cde 21 de 50 a 17 a 1 hij

Paradise Valley, NV B40 18 cde 18 de 42 a 7 a 1 hij

Frisco, UT B36 35 abcde 31 bcde 27 a 0 0 j

[Nephi Study Site - Bluebunch]{.underline} wheatgrass accessions
survived much better at the Nephi study site than any accessions of
Snake River wheatgrass, indicating that bluebunch wheatgrass is better
adapted to more mesic sites within the range of this species and Snake
River wheatgrass is better adapted to more arid conditions. Accessions
of bluebunch wheatgrass from Anatone, WA (B53) and Colton, WA (B67)
survived and preformed better than any other accession including
material from southeastern Washington/northeastern Oregon/western Idaho.
Total survival of accessions from Council, ID (B48); Colton, WA (B67);
Yuba Dam, UT (B28); Wallowa, OR (B50); and Anatone, WA (B53) exceeded 50
percent. However, plant survival of the Anatone (B53) accession from
1990 to 2001 exceeded the other accessions. Total survival of plants
from the Council, ID (B48) accession exceeded any other accession under
study, but significant loss of plants occurred from 1990 to 2001
indicating persistence of this accession is only fair or poor.

Selections of bluebunch wheatgrass from Utah populations near the Nephi
planting site were much better adapted to this location than accessions
from most other regions. Accessions from Yuba Dam, UT (B28), Levan, UT
(B34), and Provo, UT (B29) had high total survival and persisted well
during the study period. However, survival of accessions from the
Anatone region equaled or excelled the Utah and all other accessions.

Goldar (B25) bluebunch wheatgrass preformed much better at this site as
it receives higher amounts of precipitation than the Orchard study site.
However, total survival and survival from 1990 to 2001 of Goldar (B25)
was both lower than Anatone (B53) and three Utah accessions. Based on
plantings at the Idaho and Utah study sites, the Anatone, WA and Colton,
WA accessions demonstrated better adaptability to a wider range of sites
than accessions from other regional locations.

Table 2. Survival percentages of bluebunch wheatgrass and Snake River
wheatgrass

Accessions planted at the Nephi study site in 1989. Within years
accessions

followed by different letters differ at \<0.05. Survival at the juvenile
stage in 1990

and the adult stage in 1995 is based on the plants surviving from the
previous stage.

Survival in 2001 is based on the number of plants alive in 1990. Overall
or total

survival is the percent of plants to survive through the 2001 season.
**Bold print**

**designates Snake River wheatgrass accessions.**

Accession Origin 1989 1990 1995 2001 Total

Number Transplant Juvenile Adult Adult Survival

Survival Survival Survival Survival

\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

B48 Council, ID 63 abcdef 40 abcdefg 74 a 54 ab 60 a

B83 Colton, WA 65 abcde 63 abc 98 a 88 ab 56 ab

B28 Yuba Dam, UT 92 a 71 ab 90 a 72 ab 53 abc

B50 Wallowa Mtns. OR 75 abc 61 abcd 94 a 78 ab 50 abc

B53 Anatone, WA 54 abcdefg 54 abcdesg 95 a 96 ab 50 abc

B29 Provo, UT 63 abcdef 51 abcdef 91 a 89 ab 47 abc

B34 Levan, UT 65 abcde 61 abcd 100 a 77 ab 46 abc

B25 Goldar 51 abcdefg 51 abcdef 88 a 84 ab 43 abc

B70 Prouder Park, CO 89 ab 86 a 90 a 50 ab 43 abc

B52 Grande Ronde, WA 57 abcdefg 56 abcde 85 a 78 ab 43 abc

B61 Dingle, ID 68 abcdef 53 abcdef 97 a 76 ab 42 abc

B43 Lamoille Cyn. NV 56 abcdefg 46 abcdefg 94 a 91 ab 40 abc

B67 Colton, WA 72 abc 57 abcde 93 a 73 ab 40 abc

B68 Baker, OR 61 abcdef 57 abcde 90 a 72 ab 40 abc

B32 Hyde Park, UT 51 abcdefg 43 abcdefg 95 a 93 ab 40 abc

B80 Connell, WA 71 abc 42 abcdefg 100 a 100 a 40 abc

B32 Conners Pass, NV 78 abc 64 abc 96 a 65 ab 39 abc

B31 Lindon, UT 61 abcdef 42 abcdefg 100 a 92 ad 39 abc

B60 Evanston, WY 72 abc 71 ab 96 a 56 ab 39 abc

**B70 Wawawai, WA 68 abcd 47 abcdefg 72 a 77 ab 38 abc**

B69 Meeker, CO 54 abcdgeg 47 abcdefg 94 a 74 a 36 abc

**B66 Colton, WA 74 abc 47 abcdefg 82 a 76 ab 36 abc**

B55 Lewiston, ID 71 abc 47 abcdefg 82 a 65 ab 35 abc

B54 Asotin, WA 50 abcdefg 54 abcdef 92 a 65 ab 38 abc

B47 Pittsburg Landing, ID 38 abcdefg 35 abcdefg 94 a 93 ab 32 abc

B75 Walla Walla, WA 50 abcdefg 43 abcdefg 88 a 72 ab 31 abc

B27 Crows Nest, ID 67 abcde 51 abcdef 85 a 54 ab 29 abc

B56 Lolo, MT 40 abcdefg 40 bcdefg 97 a 57 ab 29 abc

B49 Brownlee Dam, ID 43 abcdefg 35 bcdefg 83 a 80 ab 28 abc

B46 Pittsburg landing, ID 57 abcdefg 36 bcdefg 83 a 75 ab 26 abc

**B24 Secar 46 abcdefg 38 bcdefg 84 a 68 ab 25 abc**

B65 Riggins, ID 56 abcdefg 44 abcdefg 86 a 75 ab 24 abc

B64 Riggins, ID 51 abcdefg 29 bcdefg 86 a 74 ab 22 abc

B62 Yuba Dam, UT 47 abcdefg 43 abcdefg 92 a 49 ab 21 abc

B30 Salt Lake City, UT 50 abcdefg 35 bcdefg 100 a 50 ab 19 abc

B33 Mona, UT 40 abcdefg 22 cdefg 95 a 54 ab 17 abc

B45 Snowville, UT 50 abcdefg 31 bcdefg 85 a 49 ab 15 abc

**B82 Penawawa Cyn., WA 64 abcdef 28 bcdefg 67 a 60 ab 15 abc**

B74 Roosevelt, WA 44 abcdefg 18 cdefg 63 a 61 ab 15 abc

B59 Arco, ID 53 abcdefg 32 bcdefg 67 a 48 ab 15 abc

Table 2, continued

B41 Denio, NV 25 cdefg 14 cdefg 100 a 100 a 14 abc

B37 Grt Basin Natl. Park, NV 57 abcdefg 42 abcdefg 75 a 29 b 14 abc

B71 The Dalles, OR 47 abcdefg 31 bcdefg 88 a 55 ab 13 abc

**B51 Enterprise, OR 32 cdefg 22 cdefg 92 a 50 ab 11 abc**

B42 Immigrant Pass, NV 13 fg 11 defg 100 a 92 ab 10 abc

B76 Dodge, WA 42 abcdefg 25 bcdefg 73 a 36 a 8 abc

B72 Maryhill, WA 47 abcdefg 29 bcdefg 65 a 26 b 8 abc

B26 Birds of Prey, ID 46 abcdefg 19 cdefg 60 a 49 b 7 abc

B58 Grandview, ID 25 cdefg 26 bcdefg 67 a 30 b 7 abc

B36 Frisco, UT 74 abc 64 abc 63 a 8 b 6 bc

B63 Fairfield, ID 42 abcdefg 11 defg 71 a 44 b 6 bc

B57 Salmon, ID 6 g 6 efg 77 a 75 ab 4 bc

B44 Pequop Summit, WA 15 efg 13 defg 72 a 33 b 3 bc

B40 Paradise Valley, NV 18 defg 10 defg 57 a 22 b 3 bc

B77 Pataha, WA 29 cdefg 6 fg 25 a 33 b 1 bc

B84 Yakima, WA 6 g 3g 100 a 33 b 1 bc

B73 Roosevelt, WA 43 abcdefg 10 defg 57 a 6 b 1 bc

B35 Minersville, UT 54 abcdefg 17 cdefg 100 a 0 0

Plant vigor and annual growth were recorded between 1989 and 1995 and
data was used to determine the health of each accession. Plant vigor,
annual height, and crown measurements were summarized each year to
create index values representing overall health and growth indices.
Plant heights and crowns were given approximately equal value by adding
the centimeters representing each together. This number was multiplied
by plant vigor to provide an index of the general health of each
accession. Index values were compared by year using analysis of
variance. The index values for the Orchard and Nephi sites were not
significantly different, thus data from both sites was combined to
compare the overall differences among accessions, Table 3.

Plants from southeastern Washington/northeastern Oregon/western Idaho
are larger and reach maturity faster than accessions from other regions.
They also grow rather quickly in the early spring months. These growth
attributes are similarly expressed in both bluebunch wheatgrass and
Snake River wheatgrass collections obtained from this central region.
The growth index of mature plants of Snake River wheatgrass from
Enterprise, OR (B51) recorded in 1995 exceeded all other accessions in
general health and plant vigor. Of all accessions under study, three of
the top nine accessions were Snake River wheatgrass species. Although
the index values of bluebunch wheatgrass from Grande Rhonde, WA (B52);
Colton, WA (67); Anatone, WA (B54); Baker, OR (B68); Brownlee Dam, ID
(B49); and Lewiston, ID (B67) are lower than the Enterprise accession,
ratings are not significantly different among the entire group. The
index ratings are significantly better than Secar Snake River
wheatgrass, which, in turn, is significantly better than Goldar
bluebunch wheatgrass.

The growth index can be used to evaluate the vigor and rate of
maturation of individual accessions. Index values recorded in 1991,
1993, and 1994 indicate the vigor of young developing plants and are
indicative of plant vigor and establishment capabilities, Table 3. The
index values of Goldar and three accessions of Snake River wheatgrass
including Secar exceed values of other accessions in 1991. By 1993, the
index vales of nearly all accessions from the Washington/Oregon/Idaho
region are similar and exceed values of all other accessions. As plants
attain mature stature, the index values for Goldar, Secar, and a few
other accessions from the same region diminish significantly. In
contrast, accessions from Anatone, Colton and a few additional
accessions from the same closely related location recorded high values
as young and mature plants.

  ------------------- ---------- ------------- ----------- --------- --------
  Table 3. Growth                                                    
  Index values for 25                                                
  collections of                                                     
  Snake River                                                        
  wheatgrass and                                                     
  bluebunch                                                          
  wheatgrass grown at                                                
  Orchard Research                                                   
  Site, Ada Co.,                                                     
  Idaho and Nephi,                                                   
  Juab Co., Utah. The                                                
  index was derived                                                  
  for each accession                                                 
  by summing the mean                                                
  height and crown                                                   
  dimensions (cm) and                                                
  multiplying the                                                    
  result by a                                                        
  subjective vigor                                                   
  rating of 1-5 with                                                 
  5 indicating                                                       
  greatest vigor.                                                    
  Within years, means                                                
  followed by                                                        
  different letters                                                  
  differ                                                             
  significantly                                                      
  (p\<0.05) (Monsen                                                  
  et al. 1999).                                                      
  **Bold print                                                       
  distinguishes Snake                                                
  River wheatgrass                                                   
  accessions.**                                                      

                                                                     

                      **Year**                                       

  **Accession**       1989       1991          1993        1994      1995

                                                                     

  **Enterprise, OR**  **76 b c** **147 b c d e **510 a b c **458 a b **719
                                 f g**         d**         c**       a**

  Grande Ronde, WA    61 c d     133 c d e f g 528 a b c d 521 a     612 a b
                                 h I                                 

  Colton, WA          50 d e     151 b c d e f 558 a b c   466 a b c 611 a b
                                 g                                   

  Anatone, WA         35 e f g   163 b c d e   520 a b c d 459 a b c 610 a b

  Baker, OR           82 b       155 b c d e f 539 a b c d 532 a     601 a b
                                 g                                   

  Brownlee Dam, ID    44 d e f   162 b c d e f 591 a       484 a b   600 a b

  **Wawawai, WA**     **101 a**  **210 a**     **579 a b** **507 a** **586 a
                                                                     b**

  Lewiston, ID        80 b       161 b c d e f 524 a b c d 434 a b c 586 a b

  **Penawawa Canyon,  **83 b**   **189 a b**   **486 a b c **454 a b **581 a
  WA**                                         d e**       c**       b**

  **Secar**           **49 d e   **173 a b c   **474 a b c **423 a b **567 b
                      f**        d**           d e**       c d**     c**

  **Colton, WA**      **75 b c** **137 c d e f **485 a b c **454 a b **531 b
                                 g h**         d e**       c**       c d**

  Wallowa Mtns, OR    57 c d e   125 b c d e f 427 b c d e 415 a b c 494 b c
                                 g h i                     d e       d

  Dayton, WA          51 d e     112 e f g h i 411 c d e f 373 b c d 485 b c
                                 j                         e         d e

  Lamoille Canyon, NV 44 d e f   91 h i j      430 b c d e 348 c d e 469 b c
                                                           f         d e

  Pittsburg Landing,  43 d e f   107 g h i j   507 a b c d 359 c d e 443 c d
  ID                                                       f         e f

  Dingle, ID          45 d e f   130 c d e f g 435 a b c d 423 a b c 441 c d
                                 h i           e           d         e f

  Goldar              26 f g     179 a b c     500 a b c d 440 a b c 438 c d
                                               e                     e f

  Riggins, ID         61 c d     124 d e f g h 349 e f g h 364 c d e 399 f g
                                 i                         f         

  Levan, UT           46 d e f   110 f g h i j 414 c d e f 323 d e f 395 f g

  Evanston, WY        42 d e f   106 g h i j   381 d e f g 314 e f   352 f g

  Crows Nest, ID      46 d e f   87 h i j      281 f g h   217 g h   329 f g

  Arco, ID            43 d e f   92 h i j      412 c d e f 275 f g   312 f g

  Salmon, ID          42 d e f   115 e f g h i 257 g h     271 f g   302 f g

  Snowville, UT       42 d e f   84 i j        281 f g h   305 f g   272 g

  Birds of Prey, ID   20 g       63 j          226 h       175 h     261 g
  ------------------- ---------- ------------- ----------- --------- --------

Leaf and culm heights of all bluebunch wheatgrass and Snake River
wheatgrass are similar within and among species and accessions, Table 4.
The greatest differences were recorded in crown diameter. Based on crown
diameter, plants from the Grande Rhonde (B52) and Anatone (B53)
accessions are the largest specimens of all accessions under study.
Anatone bluebunch wheatgrass plants are slightly larger than those of
Goldar particularly when grown under arid conditions. Under favorable
moisture conditions, Anatone plants are usually similar in leaf and stem
heights as Secar, but have much larger crowns. Crown diameters of plants
from Anatone also exceed those from Asotin (B54), Colton (B67),
Roosevelt (73), and Connell (B80).

Seasonal periods of growth generally reflect the inherent adaptability
of different populations to climatic conditions from the site of origin.
Most accessions of bluebunch wheatgrass and Snake River wheatgrass begin
growth early in the season and attain near maximum size within a few
weeks, Table 5. Plants from the Anatone site follow this growth pattern,
but continue to grow and retain some green leaves late into the summer
months until soil moisture is exhausted. In comparison, plant
collections from very arid regions typically senesce and become dormant
in late spring or early summer as daily temperatures increase. Plants
from the Anatone site also resume growth in the fall if moisture becomes
available, and plants can remain green and active into the early winter
months. The seasonal growth pattern of Anatone is extremely important in
providing competition to the establishment and persistent of annual
weeds, particularly fall germinating winter annuals such as cheatgrass.
Early spring and late fall growth of Anatone furnishes competition to
germinated seedlings in both the spring and fall months. In addition,
plants that retain some green leaves into the summer months reduce the
period when wildfires are likely to occur.

Table 4. Leaf and stem heights, crown size, and number of culms per
plant of different

bluebunch wheatgrass and Snake River wheatgrass accessions growing at
the

Nephi, UT study site, 2001. **Bold print distinguishes Snake River
wheatgrass**

**accessions.**
\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

Accession Origin Leaf Stem Crown Number

Number Height Height Diameter Culms

(cm) \(cm\) (cm)

\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

**B24 'Secar' 46 81 79 74**

B25 'Goldar' 41 66 93 94

B27 Crows Nest, ID 40 71 48 27

B28 Yuba Dam, UT 41 68 67 37

B29 Provo, UT 44 76 80 43

B33 Mona, UT 43 71 88 72

B34 Levan, UT 39 78 72 63

B43 Lamoille Cyn., NV 45 76 82 96

B44 Pequop Summit, NV 45 71 58 52

B48 Council, ID 41 65 76 36

B50 Wallowa Mtns, OR 41 70 72 57

**B51 Enterprise, WA 46 88 77 108**

B52 Grande Rhonde, WA 50 76 100 84

B53 Anatone, WA 46 74 98 98

B54 Asotin, WA 45 72 82 42

B55 Lewiston, ID 52 80 91 75

B56 Lolo, MT 44 71 72 62

B60 Evanston, WY 45 68 62 66

B62 Yuba dam, UT 41 72 65 63

**B66** **Colton, WA 44 81 69 50**

B67 Colton, WA 42 71 68 43

B69 Meeker, CO 44 74 92 74

B74 Roosevelt, WA 45 82 68 49

B76 Dodge, WA 44 71 88 52

**B79 Wawawai, WA 56 86 96 136**

B80 Connell, WA 45 70 84 75

**B82 Penawawa Cyn.,WA 49 86 84 80**

Table 5. Weekly growth rates of different accessions of bluebunch
wheatgrass and

Snake River wheatgrass, Orchard, ID study site, March 5 to March 26,
1997.

> **Bold print distinguishes Snake River wheatgrass accessions**.

\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

Origin [Heights \_\_\_]{.underline} [Crowns\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_]{.underline}

3/5 3/12 3/19 3/26 3/5 3/12 3/19 3/26

\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_
(cm)\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

**B24, Secar 30 38 34 33 49 54 47 53**

B25, Goldar 10 7 20 20 20 17 17 33

B27 Crows Nest 16 16 15 12\* 26 28 30 33

B28 Yuba Dam 19 17 \* 34 34

B34 Levan 37 18 17 15 29 21 27 25

B43 Lamoille, NV 22 17 17 15 35 31 33 22

B45 Snowville 10 12 12 18 19 39 24 25

B50 Wallawa 12 15 17 \* 25 22 20

**B51 Enterprise 27 26 26 25 43 43 43 43**

B52 Grande Ronde 32 23 24 22 43 50 42 43

B53 Anatone 28 30 25 33 49 43 43 48

B54 Asotin 40 34 34 25 49 52 51 50

B60 Evanston 14 18 13 \* 26 27 26

**B66 Colton 46 43 45 45 68 62 66 68**

B67 Colton 52 46 49 43 58 58 58 45

B74 Roosevelt 44 47 52 40 54 61 62 60

B76 Dodge 34 33 33 27 50 53 51 58

**B79 Wawawai 41 44 43 30 69 67 60 60**

**B82 Penawawa 37 39 41 30 60 54 57 60**

B89 Antelope Island 15 10 17 17\* 17 10 20 22

B90 Boise 27 23 17 24 27 26 20 26

\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

\* Plant senescence detected

**Seed Features, Germination, Seedling Vigor and Establishment Studies**

A series of closely related seed germination, planting depth trials,
seed weight, and seed production trials were conducted and reported by
Kitchen and Monsen (1994). Seeds collected from 47 naturally occurring
populations of bluebunch wheatgrass and commercial collections of
'Hycrest' crested wheatgrass and Goldar bluebunch wheatgrass were
germinated under laboratory conditions at 15/25 and 2 ^o^C to determine
near-optimum and near- freezing germination rates. Indices of
germination rate were calculated using methods modified from Maguire
(1962). In addition, greenhouse experiments were conducted to determine
germination and emergence success from a planting depth of 0.4 cm. Seed
weights for nine selected populations of bluebunch wheatgrass were also
collected and weighed from native parental populations, common garden
plantings, and field studies sites at Orchard, ID and Nephi, UT from
1988 to 1993.

Greenhouse germination rate indices varied from 25.2 to 51.2 at 15/25
^o^C and from 9.6 to 20.5 at 2 ^o^C, Table 6. Cold-germination rate,
seedling emergence success, and mean dry shoot weight of the Anatone
accession were superior to all other accessions including Goldar. At 2
^o^C the germination rate index of Anatone approached that recorded for
Hycrest crested wheatgrass, Table 7. Seeds of Anatone are programmed to
germinate in the early spring at cool soil temperatures, which enhances
seedling establishment and allows emerging seedlings to compete with
early germinating weeds. Difference in germination rate is due to the
rapid initiation of the coleoptile. The germination rate index of
Anatone is significantly better than accessions from areas throughout
the Snake River Plain and Great Basin where competition with annual
weeds is a significant problem to artificial restoration and natural
recruitment.

Seedling success of Anatone from a deep planting trial was superior to
all bluebunch accessions and closely compared with Hycrest crested
wheatgass, Tables 6, 7. In addition, the size or dry shoot weights of
Anatone seedlings were also greater than any other bluebunch wheatgrass
accession tested and compared favorably with Hycrest crested wheatgrass.
The ability of this accession to germinate quickly at cold temperatures
and emerge from deep planting trials affirms its superiority in seedling
establishment and seedling vigor attributes.

Field plantings of a series of native and introduced perennial grass
cultivars conducted as part of a Northern Great Plains Regional Grass
Trials by scientists from the USDA, ARS Laboratory, gan, Utah included
the Anatone accession, (Data on file at USDA, ARS Laboratory, Blair
Waldron, Logan, UT). Direct seeding trials were established at Green
Canyon, UT and Blue Creek, UT in 2000. Field ratings completed in the
seedling year, 2001, recorded stand frequency and stand vigor, Table 9.
Stand ratings of Anatone exceeded most accessions of bluebunch
wheatgrass including Goldar, and equaled or exceeded the ratings of most
other species under evaluation including many cultivars of crested
wheatgrass.

  -------------- ------------- -------- ------------- ----------- --- ----------- ------------- --------- --
  Table 6. Mean                                                                                           
  germination                                                                                             
  rate,                                                                                                   
  emergence                                                                                               
  percentage,                                                                                             
  dry shoot                                                                                               
  weight (mg),                                                                                            
  and number of                                                                                           
  seeds per gram                                                                                          
  for 47                                                                                                  
  collections of                                                                                          
  bluebunch                                                                                               
  wheatgrass                                                                                              
  from natural                                                                                            
  occurring                                                                                               
  populations                                                                                             
  and the                                                                                                 
  cultivar,                                                                                               
  'Goldar'                                                                                                
  (Kitchen and                                                                                            
  Monsen 1994)                                                                                            
  produced under                                                                                          
  agricultural                                                                                            
  conditions.                                                                                             

                                                                                                          

  Geographic                            Germination                   Deep                                
  region                                rate index                    planting                            

  County, state                         15/25 ^o^C    1 ^o^C          Emergence   Dry shoot     Seeds g-1 
                                                                                  weight                  

                                                                      \%          mg                      

  Palouse                                                                                                 
  Prairie                                                                                                 

                 Anatone                34.8          20.5            66          9.5           228       

                 Asotin, WA             40.3          16.0            65          7.1           259       

                 Garfield, WA           39.1          20.3            25          4.0           276       
                 (1)                                                                                      

                 Garfield, WA           42.3          19.3            50          5.0           298       
                 (2)                                                                                      

                 Whitman, WA            38.5          16.6            53          5.7           255       

                 Nez Perce, ID          40.8          15.0            43          6.8           233       

                                                                                                          

  Snake River                                                                                             
  Canyon Area                                                                                             

                 Adams, ID              33.1          \-\-\-\--       48          7.5           216       

                 Idaho, ID (1)          34.5          14.4            39          5.6           260       

                 Idaho, ID (2)          30.2          13.6            53          4.7           274       

                 Idaho, ID (3)          29.7          14.6            41          4.1           243       

                 Washington,            33.3          14.3            43          7.2           176       
                 ID (1)                                                                                   

                 Washington,            30.4          \-\-\-\--       16          2.5           240       
                 ID (2)\*                                                                                 

                 Washington,            36.3          16.7            53          5.4           197       
                 ID (3)                                                                                   

                 Baker, OR (1)          33.9          13.3            38          5.6           196       

                 Baker, OR (2)          28.5          11.8            25          2.7           253       

                 Baker, OR (3)          31.7          12.8            58          5.7           176       

                 Baker, OR (4)          27.0          15.3            59          5.7           178       

                                                                                                          

  Snake River                                                                                             
  Plain                                                                                                   

                 Ada, ID                33.9          14.8            40          4.0           258       

                 Butte, ID              35.5          16.8            19          5.6           309       

                 Clark, ID              29.7          14.6            8           0.6           437       

                 Owyhee, ID             30.4          12.0            8           2.2           374       

                 Malheur, OR            25.2          11.0            20          2.0           264       

                                                                                                          

  Western Great                                                                                           
  Basin                                                                                                   

                 Elko, NV               27.0          13.1            24          3.4           262       

                 Eureka, NV             29.3          14.3            36          3.7           270       

                 Humboldt, NV           32.7          10.6            22          3.4           323       
                 (1)                                                                                      

                 Humboldt, NV           33.2          17.6            17          2.8           273       
                 (2)                                                                                      

                                                                                                          

  Eastern Great                                                                                           
  Basin                                                                                                   

                 Bear Lake, ID          32.7          14.2            25          2.7           376       

                 Cache, UT              28.0          12.5            39          3.8           344       

                 Davis, UT (1)          33.4          15.3            14          5.5           301       

                 Davis, UT              29.3          12.2            \-\-\-\--   \-\-\-\--     285       
                 (2)\*\*                                                                                  

                 Juab, UT (1)           29.8          15.0            14          3.5           343       

                 Juab, UT (1)           33.3          13.9            12          3.3           317       

                 Juab, UT (1)           31.5          13.0            5           5.5           403       

                 Salt Lake, UT          28.4          12.0            8           3.3           312       

                 Utah, UT               25.9          12.6            15          3.0           432       

                 Utah, UT (2)           29.5          14.4            12          5.8           262       

                                                                                                          

  Salmon River                                                                                            
  Valley                                                                                                  

                 Custer, ID             40.1          18.1            28          2.7           352       

                 Lemhi, ID              46.5          17.5            44          7.3           279       

                                                                                                          

  Bitterroot                                                                                              
  River Valley                                                                                            

                 Missoula, MT           36.8          12.3            55          4.7           254       

                 Ravalli, MT            37.6          15.3            39          3.6           237       

                                                                                                          

  Upper Colorado                                                                                          
  Plateau                                                                                                 

                 Garfield, CO           36.0          10.2            23          3.0           360       

                 Moffat, CO             33.5          11.0            58          4.3           356       

                 Rio Blanco,            33.0          10.8            34          3.9           356       
                 CO                                                                                       

                 Uinta, WY              32.9          13.0            6           2.5           378       

                                                                                                          

  Colorado Front                                                                                          
  Range                                                                                                   

                 Larimer, CO            31.2          10.9            8           1.6           375       
                 (1)                                                                                      

                 Larimer, CO            26.1          9.6             \-\-\-\--   \-\-\-\-\--   403       
                 (2)\*\*                                                                                  

                 Larimer, CO            33.3          14.1            21          2.5           318       
                 (3)                                                                                      

                                                                                                          

  Cultivar                                                                                                

                 Goldar\'               51.2          17.8            47          8.4           201       

  Overall mean                          33.4          14.2            32          4.4           291       

  \*The 1 ^o^C                                                                                            
  germination                                                                                             
  rate test was                                                                                           
  omitted for                                                                                             
  these                                                                                                   
  accessions due                                                                                          
  to lack of                                                                                              
  seed.                                                                                                   

  \*\*These                                                                                               
  accessions                                                                                              
  were not used                                                                                           
  in the                                                                                                  
  greenhouse                                                                                              
  emergence                                                                                               
  test.                                                                                                   
  -------------- ------------- -------- ------------- ----------- --- ----------- ------------- --------- --

+-------------+------------+-----+---+---------+---------------+--------+
| Table 7.    |            |     |   |         |               |        |
| Mean        |            |     |   |         |               |        |
| germination |            |     |   |         |               |        |
| rate,       |            |     |   |         |               |        |
| emergence   |            |     |   |         |               |        |
| percentage, |            |     |   |         |               |        |
| dry shoot   |            |     |   |         |               |        |
| weight      |            |     |   |         |               |        |
| (mg), and   |            |     |   |         |               |        |
| number of   |            |     |   |         |               |        |
| seeds per   |            |     |   |         |               |        |
| gram for    |            |     |   |         |               |        |
| select      |            |     |   |         |               |        |
| accessions  |            |     |   |         |               |        |
| of          |            |     |   |         |               |        |
| bluebunch   |            |     |   |         |               |        |
| wheatgrass  |            |     |   |         |               |        |
| and Hycrest |            |     |   |         |               |        |
|             |            |     |   |         |               |        |
| crested     |            |     |   |         |               |        |
| wheatgrass  |            |     |   |         |               |        |
| (Kitchen    |            |     |   |         |               |        |
| and Monsen  |            |     |   |         |               |        |
| 1999).      |            |     |   |         |               |        |
|             |            |     |   |         |               |        |
| This table  |            |     |   |         |               |        |
| summarizes  |            |     |   |         |               |        |
| data in     |            |     |   |         |               |        |
| Table 6 and |            |     |   |         |               |        |
| compares    |            |     |   |         |               |        |
| performance |            |     |   |         |               |        |
| of all      |            |     |   |         |               |        |
| bluebunch   |            |     |   |         |               |        |
| wheatgrass  |            |     |   |         |               |        |
| accessions  |            |     |   |         |               |        |
| in Table 6, |            |     |   |         |               |        |
| Goldar,     |            |     |   |         |               |        |
| Anatone,    |            |     |   |         |               |        |
| and Hycrest |            |     |   |         |               |        |
| crested     |            |     |   |         |               |        |
| wheatgrass. |            |     |   |         |               |        |
| The Goldar  |            |     |   |         |               |        |
| and Hycrest |            |     |   |         |               |        |
| seed was    |            |     |   |         |               |        |
| produced in |            |     |   |         |               |        |
| seed        |            |     |   |         |               |        |
| fields, all |            |     |   |         |               |        |
| other       |            |     |   |         |               |        |
| accessions  |            |     |   |         |               |        |
| were        |            |     |   |         |               |        |
| wildland    |            |     |   |         |               |        |
| c           |            |     |   |         |               |        |
| ollections. |            |     |   |         |               |        |
+-------------+------------+-----+---+---------+---------------+--------+
|             |            |     |   |         |               |        |
+-------------+------------+-----+---+---------+---------------+--------+
|             | G          |     |   | Deep    |               |        |
|             | ermination |     |   | P       |               |        |
|             | Rate Index |     |   | lanting |               |        |
+-------------+------------+-----+---+---------+---------------+--------+
| A           | 15/25 ^o^C | 1   |   | Em      | Dry Shoot     | Seeds  |
| ccession(s) |            | ^   |   | ergence | Weight        | g^-1^  |
|             |            | o^C |   |         |               |        |
+-------------+------------+-----+---+---------+---------------+--------+
|             |            |     |   | \%      | mg            |        |
+-------------+------------+-----+---+---------+---------------+--------+
| Mean of 48  | 33.4       | 1   |   | 32      | 4.4           | 291    |
| bluebunch   |            | 4.2 |   |         |               |        |
| wheatgrass  |            |     |   |         |               |        |
| accessions  |            |     |   |         |               |        |
+-------------+------------+-----+---+---------+---------------+--------+
|             |            |     |   |         |               |        |
+-------------+------------+-----+---+---------+---------------+--------+
| Goldar      | 51.2       | 1   |   | 47      | 8.4           | 201    |
|             |            | 7.8 |   |         |               |        |
+-------------+------------+-----+---+---------+---------------+--------+
|             |            |     |   |         |               |        |
+-------------+------------+-----+---+---------+---------------+--------+
| Anatone     | 34.8       | 2   |   | 66      | 9.5           | 228    |
|             |            | 0.5 |   |         |               |        |
+-------------+------------+-----+---+---------+---------------+--------+
|             |            |     |   |         |               |        |
+-------------+------------+-----+---+---------+---------------+--------+
| Hycrest     | 47.1       | 2   |   | 69      | 12.2          | \      |
|             |            | 6.8 |   |         |               | -\-\-- |
+-------------+------------+-----+---+---------+---------------+--------+
|             |            |     |   |         |               |        |
+-------------+------------+-----+---+---------+---------------+--------+

  ------------------- ------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- --
  Table 8. Mean                                                                                                                                                                  
  number of seeds per                                                                                                                                                            
  gram for nine                                                                                                                                                                  
  accessions of                                                                                                                                                                  
  bluebunch                                                                                                                                                                      
  wheatgrass                                                                                                                                                                     
  collected from                                                                                                                                                                 
  native parent                                                                                                                                                                  
  populations and                                                                                                                                                                
  from common garden                                                                                                                                                             
  and nursery sites                                                                                                                                                              
  at Orchard, Idaho                                                                                                                                                              
  and Nephi and                                                                                                                                                                  
  Spanish Fork, Utah                                                                                                                                                             
  from 1988 to 1993.                                                                                                                                                             
  Within accessions                                                                                                                                                              
  means followed by                                                                                                                                                              
  the same letter are                                                                                                                                                            
  not significantly                                                                                                                                                              
  different (p\>0.05)                                                                                                                                                            
  (SNK) (Kitchen and                                                                                                                                                             
  Monsen 1999).                                                                                                                                                                  

                                                                                                                                                                                 

                                                                                                                                                                                 

                              **Seed Collection Site and Year^1^**                                                                                                               

                                                                                                                                                                                 

  **Accession**       ** **   **P-88/89**                                                                                **P-93**      **0-93**      **N-93**      **S-93**      

                              **\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\--seeds                                                                         
                              g^-1^\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\--**                                                           

  Brownlee, ID                175b                                                                                       173b          170b          175b          136a          

  Anatone                     228c                                                                                       \-\-\-\-\--   205b          194a          186a          

  Provo, UT                   262b                                                                                       263b          \-\-\-\-\--   \-\-\-\-\--   217a          

  Salmon, ID                  279c                                                                                       250b          \-\-\-\-\--   \-\-\-\-\--   186a          

  Asotin, WA.                 \-\-\-\-\--                                                                                282b          286b          \-\-\-\-\--   172a          

  Grand Rhonde, WA            298c                                                                                       \-\-\-\-\--   210b          164a          \-\-\-\-\--   

  Levan, UT                   316d                                                                                       254c          233b          196a          196a          

  Hamilton, CO                356c                                                                                       256b          \-\-\-\-\--   214a          211a          

  Meeker, CO                  356d                                                                                       302c          \-\-\-\-\--   236b          218a          

                                                                                                                                                                                 

  ^1^P-88/89 or P-93                                                                                                                                                             
  = Parent site or                                                                                                                                                               
  naturally occurring                                                                                                                                                            
  population                                                                                                                                                                     
  collected in                                                                                                                                                                   
  1988/89 or 1993.                                                                                                                                                               
  O-93 = Orchard, ID                                                                                                                                                             
  common garden, 1993                                                                                                                                                            
  collection. N-93 =                                                                                                                                                             
  Nephi, UT common                                                                                                                                                               
  garden 1994                                                                                                                                                                    
  collection. S-93 =                                                                                                                                                             
  Spanish Fork, UT                                                                                                                                                               
  nursery, 1993                                                                                                                                                                  
  collection.                                                                                                                                                                    
  ------------------- ------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- --

  ------------------- ------------------ ----------- ---------- --------- ---------- --------- ----------
  Table 9.                                                                                     
  Performance of                                                                               
  selected grass                                                                               
  accessions at Green                                                                          
  Canyon and Blue                                                                              
  Creek, UT.                                                                                   
  Collections were                                                                             
  seeded in November                                                                           
  1999 with a cone                                                                             
  seeder at a rate of                                                                          
  40 PLS ft^-2^. Data                                                                          
  were collected in                                                                            
  2000 after the                                                                               
  first growing                                                                                
  season. Stand                                                                                
  frequency is based                                                                           
  on the grid method                                                                           
  described by Vogel                                                                           
  and Masters (2001).                                                                          
  Dry matter yield                                                                             
  (DMY) is expressed                                                                           
  in kg ha^-1^. Stand                                                                          
  vigor: Visual                                                                                
  rating: 1-9                                                                                  
  (9=best).                                                                                    
  Obs=observations,                                                                            
  14 possible (Data                                                                            
  provided by Blair                                                                            
  Waldron, USDA-ARS,                                                                           
  Logan, UT).                                                                                  

                                                                                               

  **Species**         **Entry**          **DMY (kg   **Obs.**   **Stand   **Obs.**   **Stand   **Obs.**
                                         ha^-1^)**              freq                 vigor**   
                                                                (%)**                          

  Bluebunch           ACC_238_2X         1670        6          42        6          6.2       6
  wheatgrass                                                                                   

  Bluebunch           ANATONE            1855        5          54        5          7.2       5
  wheatgrass                                                                                   

  Bluebunch           GOLDAR             2109        6          46        6          7.0       6
  wheatgrass                                                                                   

  Bluebunch           P4_4x              2089        6          46        6          6.3       6
  wheatgrass                                                                                   

  Bluebunch           P5_2X              1918        5          52        5          7.8       5
  wheatgrass                                                                                   

  Bluebunch           P7_2X              1706        5          40        5          6.6       5
  wheatgrass                                                                                   

  Crested wheatgrass  CD2                2226        6          30        6          7.3       6

  Crested wheatgrass  DOUGLAS            1507        6          46        6          5.5       6

  Crested wheatgrass  FAIRWAY            1693        7          39        7          6.0       7

  Crested wheatgrass  HXB28              2560        6          41        6          7.8       6

  Crested wheatgrass  HYCREST            3858        6          39        6          7.5       6

  Crested wheatgrass  I28                2820        7          49        7          7.9       7

  Crested wheatgrass  KAZAK_SIB          1471        4          32        5          4.6       5

  Crested wheatgrass  NE_AC1             2024        6          37        6          5.7       6

  Crested wheatgrass  NE_AC2             2574        7          50        7          6.7       7

  Crested wheatgrass  NORDAN             2806        6          48        6          7.7       6

  Crested wheatgrass  NORDAN_HYLD_HDMD   2566        5          36        5          6.6       5

  Crested wheatgrass  P27                2192        5          46        6          5.7       6

  Crested wheatgrass  PUB_SIBERIAN       1514        7          46        7          6.6       7

  Crested wheatgrass  ROADCREST          1828        5          39        6          5.2       6

  Crested wheatgrass  RUFF_HYLD_HDMD_C   2872        6          49        6          6.8       6

  Crested wheatgrass  VAVILOV            2712        6          45        6          6.8       6

  Indian ricegrass    NEZPAR_IRG         1130        3          34        6          2.5       6

  Indian ricegrass    RIMROCK_IRG        568         2          35        5          2.2       5

  Russian wildrye     BOZETET            1076        6          47        6          6.8       6

  Russian wildrye     BOZOISKY           929         6          28        6          4.8       6

  Russian wildrye     MANKOTA            743         6          31        6          4.0       6

  Russian wildrye     ND_SYN_1831_2x     562         6          43        6          4.7       6

  Russian wildrye     ND_SYN_1981_2x     1179        5          44        5          6.6       5

  Russian wildrye     ND_SYN_1983_4x     915         5          44        5          6.8       5

  Russian wildrye     SYNA               1182        3          48        4          6.5       4

  Russian wildrye     TETRA1             609         4          43        5          5.6       5

  Russian wildrye     TETRACAN           931         6          43        6          6.0       6

  Snake River         E21                1436        6          34        6          6.0       6
  wheatgrass                                                                                   

  Snake River         E25                1155        4          33        5          4.8       4
  wheatgrass                                                                                   

  Snake River         E29                1528        6          47        6          5.7       6
  wheatgrass                                                                                   

  Snake River         SECAR              605         3          44        5          3.0       4
  wheatgrass                                                                                   

  Snake River         SECAR_YAKIMA       860         4          34        5          5.4       5
  wheatgrass                                                                                   

  Squirreltail        SANDHOLLOW_ST      1437        6          33        6          5.3       6

  Thickspike          BANNOCK            2236        5          57        5          6.4       5
  wheatgrass                                                                                   

  Thickspike          CRITANA            1983        5          50        5          6.8       5
  wheatgrass                                                                                   

  Thickspike          CRITANAXBANNOCK    1891        6          55        6          6.7       6
  wheatgrass                                                                                   

  Thickspike          SODAR              1282        6          48        6          5.8       6
  wheatgrass                                                                                   

  Western wheatgrass  ARRIBA             2085        5          69        5          6.6       5

  Western wheatgrass  FLINTLOCK          996         5          62        6          5.2       6

  Western wheatgrass  NE_EXP_1           855         5          70        5          4.8       5

  Western wheatgrass  RODAN              1447        3          59        5          4.0       4

  Western wheatgrass  ROSANA             748         5          61        5          6.2       5
  ------------------- ------------------ ----------- ---------- --------- ---------- --------- ----------

**Seed Production:**

Seed production fields have been in place since 1999, and first-year
harvests from nine locations report yields ranging between 168 to 195 kg
ha^-1^. Mature stands produce between 195 and 328 kg ha^-1^, although
yields as high as 563 kg ha^-1^ have been reported. Bulk seed production
of Anatone (170 kg ha^-1^) exceeded that of a same-age Goldar field (156
kg ha^-1^) at the Aberdeen NRCS Plant Center, but seed production from
much larger and mature fields in central Washington report that Anatone
produced only half the rate as established fields of Secar.

Anatone seeds are relative large and easy to clean. Approximately 60
percent of all seeds support a short awn that is easily removed, and
does not create problems in harvesting or processing.

Wildland stands of Anatone normally produce some seeds each year. The
number of seed stocks that develop are reflective of the conditions of
the planting site. Seed stocks were counted from planting sites at
Orchard, ID and Nephi, UT at various years but no clear pattern was
recognized among collections or annual growing conditions. Anatone
plants produced about average number of stocks at the Orchard site in
1997, Table 11. Individual accessions appear to adjust to climatic
conditions by reducing vegetative growth and seed stock formation.
Plants from the Anatone location were able to produce seed under arid
conditions in sufficient amounts to repopulate an existing stand.

Table 10. Seed production of Anatone bluebunch wheatgrass from
cultivated plantings in

Utah, Colorado, Idaho, and Washington

\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

Planting Location Hectares Age of Yields Comments

Planted Planting kg ha^-1^

\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

Sanpete Co., UT

Spring City

> 2001 2.2 2 years 168 Weedy site

2002 2.2 3 years 195 Moderate stand

2003 2.2 4 years 240 Mature stand

Ft. Green

> 1999 0.6 2 years 294 Mature plants

Utah Co., UT

Spanish Fork

2002 1.82 2 years 0 Frost destroyed crop

> 2003 1.82 3 years 225

Montezuma Co., CO

2000 2.0 2 years 226

2001 38.0 3 years 304

2002 38.0 4 years 177 Drought problems

2003 42.0. 5 years 328

Payette Co., ID

Field 1

2001 2.83 1 year 140

2002 2.83 2 year 56

2003 2.83 3 year 56

Field 2

2001 1.6 1 year 141

2002 1.6 2 year 168

2003 1.6 3 year 140

Field 3

2002 2.88 1 year 337

2003 2.88 2 year 563

Bingham Co., ID

> 2002 1year 120 Spring frosts

Lincoln Co., WA

2002 44.5 1 year 123

2003 58.7 2 year 210

Table 11. Number of seed stocks per plant for different accessions of
bluebunch

Wheatgrass and Snake River wheatgrass accessions growing at the Orchard,
ID

study site, 1997. **Bold print distinguishes Snake River wheatgrass
accessions**.

\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

Accession Origin Number

Seed Stocks

\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

**B24 'Secar' 63.0**

B25 'Goldar' 29.0

B27 Crows Nest, ID 71.0

B28 Yuba Dam, UT 71.0

B34 Levan, UT 50.6

B43 Lamoille Cyn., NV 108.4

B45 Snowville, UT 33.2

B50 Wallawa Mtns.,OR 33.0

**B51 Enterprise, OR 61.6**

B52 GrandeRonde,WA 112.9

B53 Anatone, WA 76.9

B54 Asotin, WA 46.7

B60 Evanston, WY 39.3

**B66 Colton, WA 63.0**

B67 Colton, WA 119.6

B74 Roosevelt, WA 87.4

**B79 Wawawai 138.5**

B82 Penawawa, WA 59.7

**B83 Colton, WA 103.0**

**\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_**

**Areas of Adaptation**

Anatone bluebunch wheatgrass demonstrates adaptability to areas outside
its native region. From plantings conducted in the northern region of
the Snake River Plain and central Utah, the over-all performance of
Anatone was better than any other accession including Goldar. DNA
studies conducted by scientists at the USDA, ARS Laboratory, Logan Utah,
indicate that plant materials from Asotin, Garfield, and Whitmar
Counties, Washington; Umatilla, Grant, and Wallowa Counties, Oregon; and
Washington County, Idaho are genetically quite similar, Fig 1. Materials
from Ada and Idaho Counties, Idaho are closely grouped together, but are
also aligned with materials from southeastern Washington/northeastern
Oregon/western Idaho. In addition, materials from Humboldt, Elko,
Lander, and Eureka Counties, Nevada are also closely grouped together,
yet are aligned as a part of a broad group with the
Washington/Oregon/Idaho collections. The broad genetic relationship of
bluebunch wheatgrass from these geographical regions would suggest plant
materials from certain areas within the regions could have wide
ecological adaptability. This has been conformed by the broad
adaptability exhibited from field plantings of the Anatone selection.

Anatone is adapted to the sagebrush communities, foothill and
mountainous regions where mountain brush species are intermixed with
bunchgrasses. It persists in open parks and with moderate density of
over story shrubs. It is adapted to well-drained and heavy texture
soils, including rocky but deep profiles. It naturally grows with
numerous other herbaceous species, but does persist and dominates many
areas.

Table 12. Collection sites of bluebunch wheatgrass accessions included
in DNA trials

. Data on file Dr. Steve Larson, USDA, ARS Laboratory, Logan, Utah.

\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

OTU Seed Origin

Identification

\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

AB1 Old man Dam, AB

AK1 Milepost 289, Richardson Hwy

BC1 Slocan, BC

CO1 Poudre Park, Lamar Co., CO

> CO2 Black Hawk, Gilpin Co., CO
>
> ID1 Winchester, Lewis Co., ID
>
> ID2 Brownlee Dam, Washington Co., ID
>
> ID3 Hell's Canyon, Idaho Co., ID
>
> ID4 Boise, Ada Co., ID
>
> ID5 Salmon, Lemhi Co., ID
>
> ID6 Magic Reservoir, Blaine Co., ID
>
> ID7 Arco, Butte Co., ID
>
> ID8 Aston Hill, Fremont Co., ID
>
> MT1 Grinnell Glacier, Glacier N. P., MT
>
> MT2 Lolo, Missoula Co., MT
>
> MT3 Drummond-Garrison, Powell Co., MT
>
> MT4 Lewis and Clark Co., MT
>
> MT5 Broadwater Co., MT
>
> MT6 Madison Co., MT
>
> MT7 Livingston, Park Co., MT
>
> NV1 Fish Springs, Washoe Co., NV
>
> NV2 Cottonwood Creek, Humboldt Co., NV
>
> NV3 Winnemucca, Humboldt Co., NV
>
> NV4 Owyhee Desert, Elko Co., NV
>
> NV5 Battle Mt. Lander Co., NV
>
> NV6 Lone Mt., Elko Co., NV
>
> NV7 Elko, Elko Co., NV
>
> NV8 Eureka, Eureka Co., NV
>
> NV9 Toano, Elko Co., NV
>
> NV10 Montello, Elko Co., NV
>
> MV11 Pinto Summit, Eureka Co., NV
>
> MV12 Comins Lake, White Pine Co., NV
>
> OR1 Hermiston, Umatilla Co., OR
>
> OR2 Potamus Point, Marrow Co., OR
>
> Table 12 , continued
>
> OR3.1 Stumbough Ridge, Morrow Co., OR
>
> OR4 Walla Walla RD., Umatilla Co., OR
>
> OR5 Indian Creek, Grant Co., OR
>
> OR6 Wallowa-Minam, Wallowa, OR
>
> OR7 Burns, Harney Co., OR
>
> OR8 Imnaha, Wallowa Co., OR
>
> P1 Unknown
>
> P7 Multiple Origin
>
> UT1 Devil's Playground, Box Elder Co., UT
>
> UT2 Curlew Junction, Box Elder Co., UT
>
> UT3 Pinyon Flat, Box Elder Co., UT
>
> UT4 Cold Water Canyon, Box Elder Co., UT
>
> UT5 Logan Canyon, Box Elder Co., UT
>
> UT6 Mantua, Box Elder Co., UT
>
> UT7 Hardware Ranch, Cache Co., UT
>
> UT8 Ogden Canyon, Weber Co., UT
>
> UT9 Antelope Island, Davis Co., UT
>
> UT10 Chriss Creek, Juab Co.,
>
> UT11 North Tintic, Tooele Co., UT
>
> UT12 Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Co., UT
>
> UT13 Lindon, Utah Co., UT
>
> UT14 Orem, Utah Co., UT
>
> UT15 Paul Bunyan Woodpile, Juab Co., UT
>
> UT16 Hobble Creek, Utah., UT
>
> UT17 Mona, Juab Co., UT
>
> UT18 Springville, Utah Co., UT
>
> UT19 Yuba Dam, Juab Co., UT
>
> UT20 Antelope Mt., Millard Co., UT
>
> UT21 Spencer Fork, Sanpete Co., UT
>
> UT22 Mud Springs, Millard Co., UT
>
> UT23 Levan, Juab Co., UT
>
> UT24 Mayfield, Sanpete Co., UT
>
> UT25 Pigeon Hollow, Sanpete Co., UT
>
> UT26 Ephraim, Sanpete Co., UT
>
> UT27 Salina Canyon, Sevier Co., UT
>
> UT28 Pigeon Water, Duchesne Co., UT
>
> UT29 La Point, Uintah Co., UT
>
> UT30 Antelope Canyon, Duchesne Co., UT
>
> WA1 White Salmon, Klickitat Co., WA
>
> WA2 Roosevelt, Klickitat Co., WA
>
> WA3 Connell, Adams Co., WA
>
> WA4 Steptoe Butte, Whitman Co., WA
>
> WA5 Union Flat-Almota, Whitman Co., WA
>
> WA6 Colton, Whitman Co., WA
>
> WA7 Asotin-Wenaha, Garfield Co., WA
>
> Table 12, continued
>
> WA8 Asotin Co., WA
>
> WA9a Anatone, Asotin Co., WA
>
> WAb Anatone, Asotin Co., WA
>
> WY1 Moon Lake, Sublette Co., WY
>
> WY2 Flaming Gorge, Sweetwater Co., WY
>
> WY3 Hiland, Natrona Co., WY
>
> ![](media/image1.jpeg){width="5.303472222222222in"
> height="8.995138888888889in"}
>
> Summary-Justification for Release

Anatone bluebunch wheatgrass is more widely adapted than any released
cultivar throughout the broad region where this species naturally
occurs. It is particularly adapted to mid and low elevations with more
arid climatic conditions. It is superior to Goldar, and compares
favorably to Secar at low elevations. Whitmar bluebunch wheatgrass was
not included in any of the adaptability and survival studies. This
cultivar was selected from a site near Colton, WA that is similar to the
Anatone location. It has demonstrated excellent establishment traits and
adaptability to arid regions. Only awnless plants were originally
collected, and only certain plants within a spaced planting were
selected for increase. The extent in which these selection measures may
have diminished the germ plasm is not known, but it is apparent that
material from this general region has superior traits that should be
promoted. The objective of our selection process has been to provide an
unaltered cultivar. Attempts were made to retain the genetic integrity
of the native material from the Anatone location. The Anatone selection
clearly demonstrates superior seedling survival and vigor from all
accessions under study. Seeds germinate quickly from cold temperatures,
and seedlings are much more vigorous and robust than other selections,
comparing favorably with Hycrest crested wheatgrass. Under field
plantings, seedling establishment and vigor exceeds accessions of other
bluebunch wheatgrass and many other species. This selections provides a
bluebunch wheatgrass accession that is much more drought tolerant than
any cultivars currently available, and also furnishes an ecotypes with
superior seed germination and seedling vigor.