LAMAR MARSHALL, Cultural Heritage Director for Wild South - Cowee Office and webmaster of Cherokee Journey. 19-minute youtube VIDEO (2018): "Cherokee Now Episode 20 - Lamar Marshall, Research Director - Southeast Heritage Associates.
• LOCATION & ELEVATION: 2,200 feet elevation on the south-facing slope along Mica Creek, leading into Cowee Valley, which is 8 miles due north of Franklin, NC.
• SEED HISTORY: Lamar received seeds from the 2013 autumn harvest by Torreya Guardians. He used a hacksaw (and pliers) to scarify each seed, as physical or chemical methods of partially eroding tough seed-coats often accelerates germination....
ABOVE: May 2023 - First year of seed production!
By early May 2015, 11 of the 26 germinated seeds had growth visible above the soil surface.
Note: Torreya seeds often build elaborate roots before appearing above ground. Unlike small-seeded plants, Torreya's big seeds contain a lot of stored energy for growth before they must begin to photosynthesize.
Seedling emergence continued into autumn 2015, when 10 of the tiny plants were outplanted.
• PATTERN FOR PLANTING - Lamar chose an orchard style for planting: open ground next to his house with lots of sun. The intent is to maximize growth so that this grove can begin producing seeds for future seed distribution.
Lamar's terrier dog, Scout, does a fine job of chasing away the squirrels and eating the voles. Photo right is Scout looking out upon the full-sun planting of Torreyas. He gives a distinctive bark at rodents, signifying that he needs to be let out to do his job.
... The seeds were grouped together in big pots for germination. None sprouted in 2014. But by spring 2015, 26 of those seeds had germinated. He transplanted the germinated seeds into separate 1/2 gallon pots.
Lamar Marshall uses Bio-Tone Starter Plus to ensure that his mixture of top soil, sterile potting soil, leaf litter, and a pinch of lime will offer the torreya seedling any of the mychorrizal fungal symbionts that it coevolved to associate with.
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ABOVE: Stakes mark the locations of 10 seedlings planted, autumn 2015, on this south-facing slope.
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April 2017 Lamar reports that all ten seedlings are thriving. Note how the growth form indicates a very sunny location. In shadier locations, Torreya adopts a more yew-like growth habit in its needle orientation.
11 November 2018: "I lost a few trees this summer which just turned yellow, then brown and dead. Tried to lime and change PH but could not save them. Bad luck with the seeds I tried to sprout last spring. I have 4 thriving trees. The tallest is 38”; then 36”; another about 18”; and a younger about 12."
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Summer 2020 update: Six Torreyas still alive This photo was taken mid-August 2020. Notice in the upper left corner 2 more torreyas growing on this south-facing slope. Because Torreyas are slow-growing, the only way they can maintain full sun for growing is where humans take care to mow, brushcut, or weed-whack their surrounds. Lamar Marshall keeps this slope open by [fill in how you do it and how often]. |
"I have six surviving Torreyas, a few of which are producing seeds for the first time."
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