Chapter 5: Cultivars and Species for Use in Alaska Released for Commercial Seed Production Wheatgrass, Thickspike Solomon Germplasm thickspike wheatgrass is a Selected Class release developed by the PMC and released in 2006 (Wright, 2006). This grass species is fairly common in Alaska. It naturally occupies dry mineral soils and gravelly sites. Solomon was collected east of Nome, Alaska, near the Solomon Roadhouse. Wheatgrass, Tufted Slana Germplasm tufted wheatgrass was released as a Selected Class in 2007 (Wright, 2007). As with most wheatgrass species, this accession does best on gravel soils in dry conditions and is recommended for revegetation in Interior Alaska. This accession can be interchanged with the other Alaska releases of wheatgrass in the Interior region. It was collected in 1995 near the settlement of Slana. Wildrye, Downy Cantwell Germplasm downy wildrye is a 2007 pre-certified Selected Class release (Wright, 2007). This accession was collected near Cantwell on a dry, gravelly site and is useful on revegetation projects in Interior Alaska. Its true value shows when used for revegetation on dry mine sites and south-facing cut and fill slopes. Yarrow, Boreal Twenty Mile boreal yarrow is a 2006 Selected Class Germplasm release derived from parent material collected near Portage, Alaska, in 1994 (Wright, 2006). This is a coastal collection and does well in coastal settings, but has sufficient adaptability to be useful in inland areas also. Yarrow, like the parsley family species, has the ability to create the appearance of a natural meadow stand in reseeded areas; the presence of the white/cream flowers breaks up the usual homogeneity of grass plantings.
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