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Native Plant Propagation Guidelines:
forbs

Sanicula crassicaulis (Pacific sanicle)

Category: 
forbs

photo by Moralea Milne

Tap-rooted perennial herb. Solitary, erect, leafy stem 25-120 cm tall. Alternate leaves; lower leaves stalked, becoming smaller and sessile above. Basal and lower stem leaves with 3-5 palmate lobes, primary divisions slightly lobed or toothed, blades 3-13 cm long and 2-18 cm wide. Flowers yellow or sometimes purple tinged, small. 8-13 in small, compact, rounded clusters less than 1 cm wide on long stalks subtended by leafy bracts. Fruits ellipsoidal to spherical burrs, 2-5 mm long, 2-4 mm wide, covered with stout, hooked prickles (Pojar and MacKinnon, 1994). Photo by Moralea Milne.

Scientific Name: 

Sanicula crassicaulis Poepp. ex DC. var.

Family: 
Apiaceae
English Name: 
Pacific sanicle
Other Names: 
black snake-root

Geographical Range and Habitat Requirements

Ecological Setting: 

Common in moist to dry, open forest, thickets and shoreline bluffs at low elevations (Douglas et al., 1998).

Soil Texture: 

Slightly coarse to fine loamy soils.

Nutrients: 

Nitrogen-and base-rich soils (Klinka et al., 1995).

Soil Reaction and Salinity: 

Moderately acidic to slightly alkaline (Douglas et al., 2001).

Moisture Regime: 

Moist to dry sites (Douglas et al.,1998).

Shade Tolerance: 

Moderately shade tolerant to shade intolerant (Klinka et al., 1995).

Successional Status: 

Seral species in moist, open canopied young forests. Climax species on drier sites.

BEC Zone and GOE Community Status: 

Associated with almost all Garry oak communities from meadows to rocky outcrops.

Uses

Site Rehabilitation: 

Potentially-valuable species for rehabilitation of Garry oak meadow and outcrop ecosystems.

Wildlife: 
n/a
Landscaping: 

Possible rock garden ornamental.

First Nations: 

No known uses.

Other Uses: 
n/a

Seed Propagation

Flowering Time: 

Early to late May

Fruit Ripening Time: 

Late May to early July

Seed Collection Time: 

July to late August.

Crop Intervals: 

Annual

Number of Seeds per Kilogram: 

Unknown

Seed Viability: 

> 50%

Fruit and Seed Collection and Extraction: 

Collect seeds when inflorescence and fruits turn brown. Rub fruits over a screen to break them apart and release the seeds (Young, 2001).

Seed Storage: 

Air-dry seeds and store in a refrigerator at 5º C (Young, 2001).

Fruit/Seed Dormancy and Treatment: 

Soak seeds for 24 hours and cold stratify for six weeks at 5º C. Sow into flats in a sandy/loam soil mix. Germination occurs within 15 days. Prick out germinants and transplant into containers. Seedlings experience die back three to four months after transplanting but re-grow in the spring (Young, 2001).

Vegetative Propagation

       

Outplanting Characteristics and Requirements

         

Seed and Cutting Propagation Techniques

      

Additional Information and Photos

For more information and pictures, visit the E-Flora BC website at www.eflora.bc.ca.www.eflora.bc.ca