TY - JOUR T1 - Perigynium removal improves seed germination in awl-fruit sedge (<em>Carex stipata</em>) JF - Native Plants Journal JO - NATIVE PLANTS JOURNAL SP - 41 LP - 44 DO - 10.3368/npj.12.1.41 VL - 12 IS - 1 AU - Nate Hough-Snee AU - Derrick D Cooper Y1 - 2011/03/20 UR - http://npj.uwpress.org/content/12/1/41.abstract N2 - From our experiences, awl-fruit sedge (Carex stipata Muhl. ex Willd. [Cyperaceae]) is an easily propagated wetland plant in Washington State. Because seeds can be collected from the same growth year, germinated without stratification, and grown into plants, C. stipata can be quickly propagated during summer for fall and winter outplanting. We believed, however, that perigynium removal could improve success. We compared germination rates of intact seeds with those having perigynia removed and found that seeds stripped of their perigynia germinated at a greater rate and sooner than did intact seeds (average of 58% versus 21% of seeds at 6 wk). We conclude that removing seeds from their perigynia increases initial germination of C. stipata. ER -