News & Articles Native Seedsters, Inc. Funded to Analyze U.S. Native Wildflower Seed Morphology by Montana Board of Billings, MT April, 2010 Native Seedsters, Inc. The Montana Board of Research & Commercialization Technology, of the Montana Department of Commerce awarded Native Seedsters, Inc. a grant to study the effects of the Morphology and Physiology of Native Wildflower Seed on harvestability, with focus on the Arbuckle Native Seedster. Native Seedsters, Inc. (NSI), under the direction of Mark Majerus, NSI’s Plant Scientist, will document and describe the seed and plant morphology of native wildflowers, drawing on botanists and other plant scientists. Initially, general information will be gathered from regional Flora manuals and websites throughout the U.S., describing harvest-related morphological features. The ranking of each of these morphological characteristics as to their positive or negative impact on harvestability will result in a ‘Harvestability Index’ for each of nearly 400 commercially traded native wildflowers. This work will be completed about June 1, 2010 and will be followed by field validation tests with the Native Seedster on a number of key wildflower species during the summer of 2010. The objective is to web publish a report on how seed and plant morphology of individual native wildflower species affects seed harvestability. Analysis of the field validation tests including high speed video at 1000 frames per second and review by other wildflower botanists will lead to a quantified Harvestability Index. For additional information on the Seed Morphology of Native Wildflowers, please contact Mark Majerus or Lee or Maggie Arbuckle at info@nativeseedsters.com. ABOUT Native Seedsters, Inc. Native Seedsters, Inc. is a harvest technology firm that designs, manufactures and markets the Arbuckle Native Seedster (the Seedster). Four models of Seedster FH have been released. With the support of USDA grants the Seedster was developed to harvest the seed of those native grasses that are particularly difficult to harvest, such as switchgrass, green needlegrass, needleandthread, big bluestem, and little bluestem. Harvesters are being designed and tested to harvest the seed of wildflowers, camelina, and specialty crops. Native Seedsters serves a nationwide market from its manufacturing and marketing base in Billings, MT. |
Research & Commercialization Technology.