%0 Journal Article %A Kimberlee J Chambers %A Pat Bowen %A Nancy J Turner %A Peter C Keller %T Ethylene Improves Germination of Arrow-leaved Balsamroot Seeds %D 2006 %R 10.1353/npj.2006.0023 %J Native Plants Journal %P 108-113 %V 7 %N 2 %X Preliminary research indicates that treating arrow-leaved balsamroot (Balsamorhiza sagittata (Pursh) Nutt. [Asteraceae]) seeds with ethylene before stratification increases germination without affecting seedling morphology. Arrow-leaved balsamroot is one of the most dominant forbs in sagebrush and grassland ecosystems of the Interior Plateau of northwest North America. Widely used as a food and medicinal plant by indigenous peoples of this region, this plant has shown in recent research that it has potential as a medicinal herb, as a source of inulin, for ecological restoration purposes, and in horticulture. The significance of this species in native ecosystems and the difficulty inherent in wild harvesting of balsamroot identifies it as a candidate for crop development to meet future needs. Improving germination is the first step to meeting the objectives of economic development in First Nations communities and for environmental conservation. %U https://npj.uwpress.org/content/wpnpj/7/2/108.full.pdf