News Release

Native Seedsters, Inc. Publishes Comprehensive Index of Harvestability of U.S. Native Wildflowers.

Billings, MT March, 2011  Wildflowers present unique challenges to mechanical harvesting methods.  Mark Majerus, Plant Scientist of Native Seedsters, Inc. (NSI) completed a study of wildflower morphological characteristics drawing on other botanists and plant scientists.  This study makes it possible to categorize groups of species into distinct harvesting approaches.

Native wildflowers have much more variability in morphological characteristics such as type of inflorescences, uniformity in ripening, and seed appendages than do native grasses.  Nevertheless it was possible to pattern the study after a previous morphological study of native grass species.   In addition, NSI has made direct comparisons between the Arbuckle Native Seedster and a combine. The end result is identification of groups of species that the Seedster has a unique advantage. This report will be followed by field validation tests with the Native Seedster on a number of species of wildflowers, selected to represent broader groups.

The native grass study helped target NSI efforts to address such biofuel feedstock species such as switchgrass, miscanthus, big bluestem, and indiangrass.

The Montana Board of Research & Commercialization Technology, of the Montana Department of Commerce awarded Native Seedsters, Inc. a grant to conduct this study of the effects of the Morphology and Physiology of Native Wildflower Seed on harvestability, with focus on the Arbuckle Native Seedster.

For additional information on the Seed Morphology of Native Wildflower Seed, please contact Lee or Maggie Arbuckle at info@nativeseedsters.net.

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 the Seedster FH are offered.  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, miscanthus, indiangrass and little bluestem.  Harvesters are being developed to harvest seed of wildflowers, camelina, and specialty crops.  Native Seedsters serves a nationwide market from its base in Billings, MT.

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