TY - JOUR T1 - Ethylene Improves Germination of Arrow-leaved Balsamroot Seeds JF - Native Plants Journal JO - NATIVE PLANTS JOURNAL SP - 108 LP - 113 DO - 10.1353/npj.2006.0023 VL - 7 IS - 2 AU - Kimberlee J Chambers AU - Pat Bowen AU - Nancy J Turner AU - Peter C Keller Y1 - 2006/06/20 UR - http://npj.uwpress.org/content/7/2/108.abstract N2 - 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. ER -