[MAIPC] FWD: Microstegium (stiltgrass) seed collecting help

[Ossi, Damien (DOEE)]

Forwarded on behalf of:

Jules NeSmith, M.Sc.
Interdisciplinary Ecology
University of Florida
florylab.com<http://www.florylab.com/>

Hi all, we need your help collecting Microstegium (stiltgrass) seed! We have a new grant where we are
trying to understand the long-term effects of pathogens on invaded plant communities. Seed from
populations throughout the invaded range would be helpful.

Our seed collecting protocol is outlined below, note that we can cover shipping charges via FedEx. It
would be helpful if you could provide a close up photo of the plants so we can determine if the
population is infected, and if you happened to know the approximate age of the invasion that also could
be useful.

Please circulate this to others who might be able to help out.

Thank you!


__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Note: Microstegium seed is mature when it is mostly brown and can be easily shaken from the seed
head. Seed collected while still green will have lower germination. Seed matures at the end of
September through mid to late October depending on latitude, with more northern latitudes maturing
first.

Microstegium has a mixed mating system, which means that it produces seed by both selfing and
outcrossing. Outcrossed or chasmogomous seed is the seed that you see produced at the end of tillers
and those are the seeds we are interested in obtaining.

We are focused on among population variation, not within population, so to collect seed you can simply
collect seed from anywhere within an approximately 20m diameter area. The simplest method is to
arbitrarily walk around in a given area, grab the ends of tillers in large bunches, and shake the seed
heads into a paper grocery bag.

We need about at least 50ml or ¼ cup of seed from each population for it to be useful. That amount can
be collected from with a dense invasion in about 5-10 minutes. Collecting more seed could be very
helpful.

We need the approximate lat/long coordinates of the collection location. If you happen to be in the field
a lot and can collect seed from multiple populations, they need to be separated by 2-5 km. A short
description of the site would also be useful.

Please send seed in a padded envelope to:

S. Luke Flory
Agronomy Dept, IFAS
McCarty B 3127
Gainesville, FL, 32611

Cell: 352-231-2376<tel:(352)%20231-2376>
Email: flory at ufl.edu<mailto:flory at ufl.edu>

* For international shipments contact me via email prior to shipping! I will need to provide a permit and
special shipping label. There are specific packing instructions.

If you can ship FedEx I can provide you with an account number for billing.

Thanks!

Jules NeSmith (on behalf of) S. Luke Flory
University of Florida




_________________________________________________________________________
Damien P. Ossi
Wildlife Biologist
Fisheries and Wildlife Division
Department of Energy & Environment
Government of the District of Columbia
1200 First Street NE, 5th Floor
Washington, DC 20002
Desk: (202) 741-0840
Web: doee.dc.gov<http://www.doee.dc.gov/>


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