• IMPORTANCE TO LIVESTOCK AND WILDLIFE
• PALATABILITY
• NUTRITIONAL VALUE
• COVER VALUE
• VALUE FOR REHABILITATION OF DISTURBED SITES
• OTHER USES AND VALUES
• MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS

IMPORTANCE TO LIVESTOCK AND WILDLIFE:

Apache-plume is generally considered "fair" food for livestock [22,50]. Reports of its value as food to wildlife vary, but most sources rate it as fair or moderate [28,29,31]. There are no references in the literature describing its value as cover for livestock or large wildlife, but it does provide cover for small mammals and birds [39,60].

PALATABILITY:

Apache-plume is usually considered low to fair in palatability to livestock [7,11,38,60]. However, in the southeastern part of its range [7,38] and in winter [7,11,38,50,60] it is considered important forage.

Reports on palatability of Apache-plume to wildlife vary. Many sources refer to its use by deer in general with no description of species. Wasser [60] describes palatability of Apache-plume as "better" in winter for deer and it provides good browse for deer according to Thornburg [54]. Short [48] reports (after a literature search) Apache-plume makes up 1-5% of the diet of southwestern deer during winter and spring in Arizona and New Mexico. Stubbendieck and others [50] consider it important browse for big game.

Mule deer use of Apache-plume in the Southwest has been discussed. Kittams and others [28] found Apache-plume leaves, stems, and fruit to be of "some" importance to mule deer during an average growing season in the foothills of Carlsbad National Park, Texas. During poor growing seasons, browse use is high, including Apache-plume. At upper elevations, Apache-plume is especially important during the non-growing season. A study of mule deer diets in south-central New Mexico determined that Apache-plume was "highly" preferred [33] and Krausman and others [29] report Apache-plume to comprise 1-5% of desert mule deer diet.

Sundsrom and others [52] report Apache-plume as a "major browse species" consumed by pronghorn in the Trans-Pecos shrub savanna of western Texas and adjacent New Mexico.

NUTRITIONAL VALUE:

In-vitro digestibility of Apache-plume during winter was 29.8%, low in comparison to other winter forages. Crude protein (% dried matter) was 4.8, also low when compared to other winter forage [10,62]. Winter leafiness (% of current-year growth) of Apache-plume was 27.3% in a common garden study in Idaho [62].

COVER VALUE:

Apache-plume provides cover for small mammals and ground-dwelling birds [60]. The Colorado chipmunk, an endangered species in New Mexico, occurs in the Organ Mountains of that state in ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) and juniper or oak woodlands that contain Apache-plume [39].

Although not mentioned specifically as providing nesting cover, Apache-plume is listed as one of the common plants occurring in the deciduous woodlands association in Big Bend National Park, Texas. This plant association provides nesting cover for the mourning dove, roadrunner, black-chinned hummingbird, ladder-backed woodpecker, ash-throated flycatcher, cactus wren, mockingbird, crissal thrasher, brown-headed cowbird, pyrrhuloxia, blue grosbeak, varied bunting, and house finch [61].

VALUE FOR REHABILITATION OF DISTURBED SITES:

Apache-plume's chief value for rehabilitation of disturbed sites is erosion control/soil stabilization [7,11,12,34,38,54,60], especially under arid or semi-arid conditions [12,38,54]. It is valuable for erosion control/soil stabilization because it spreads underground vegetatively [7,34,38,60]. Both nursery stock and wildings have been planted for erosion control and where seed sources exist, Apache-plume spreads naturally to roadside shoulders and barrow pits [7]. A 1-gallon plant can be fully established in 18 months. Succulent root-tip cuttings also sprout fairly easily but are extremely perishable [20].

In addition to its utilization for erosion control, Apache-plume is also used for seeding rangeland. It is a recommended browse plant for seeding New Mexico rangeland, except on clay, silty or wet soils [1]. James [23] recommends Apache-plume for seeding desert grassland areas of Arizona between 3,500 to 5,000 feet (1,077-1,539 m) and Monsen and Davis [38] recommend it to improve or revegetate disturbances in shrubland communities of the Four Corners region. It is rated as medium for range restoration and adapted for juniper-pinyon, blackbrush (Coleogyne ramosissima), big sagebrush, and mountain brush vegetal types by McAruthur and others [34].

Direct seeding is difficult because the long plumose style is difficult to detach when cleaning the seed. Uncleaned seeds do not readily flow through a drill, causing irregular seeding rates and planting depths [38]. Up to 1/2-inch planting depth is probably usable on drier range sites [60].

In southwestern United States, Apache-plume has been broadcast sown from July to October or from February through April with good results. It germinates without special treatment, hence seeding times should precede growing season with most dependable moisture for establishment [60]. Germination occurs within 4 to 10 days after sowing [12]. It is usually used as a minor ingredient in seed mixes [60].

Seed is available commercially [9] or can be collected from summer through fall, when the plumes have faded to white and easily detach from the receptacle [20]. Seeds can be stripped or shaken onto a canvas. Chopping or rubbing to break off the styles should be followed by fanning or screening to remove debris [12]. Fresh seed germinates in five days at 68 to 78 degrees Fahrenheit (20-26⁰C), with an average germination rate of 30-40%. Because seedlings dampen off easily, good air circulation is necessary [20].

When seeds were separated into 1 group without styles and another group with styles, and placed in the same environment, germination was significantly higher for seeds with detached styles (89%) than for seeds with intact styles (69%) (P<0.0001) [58].

Minimum purity and viability standards for commercial Apache-plume seed in Utah are 90 and 70%, respectively. Seed with a moisture content of 7 to 12% can be stored in cloth or burlap bags for at least 2 or 3 years in a dry, ventilated warehouse or granary without significant loss in viability [12].

OTHER USES AND VALUES:

Bundles of twigs from Apache plume were used by Native Americans as brooms and older stems for arrow shafts. A decoction from leaves was used as a growth stimulant for hair [16,50].

Because of its conspicuous flowers and decorative, plumelike seeds, Apache4-plume has been used in ornamental planting since 1877 and is hardy as far north as Massachusetts [12]. It is especially recommended for landscaping in dry, informal settings [20]. Since it is drought tolerant, it is a prime candidate for ornamental use on non-irrigated sites [46].

Jones and Barclay [24] suggest that Apache-plume may be a possible source of seed oil and protein for industrial raw material since the protein % is 30.6 and oil % is 36.8.

MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS:

Apache-plume is cold tolerant and hardy. However, it is important to be certain of adaptation of seed sources used because there is some variability in these characteristics. It has good drought tolerance although less productive under drought conditions. Loss of productivity is most evident in less flowering and seed production when stressed. Plants thrive in full sunlight [60] but seedlings have less competitive ability [18,60]. It is better sown with quicker developing associates and is compatible with these associates. Compatibility increases after full establishment [60].

Apache-plume is included as a minor ingredient in game range revegetation seed mixtures in the blackbrush (Coleogyne ramosissima), mountain brush, and pinyon-juniper range types in Utah [60] and has been successfully established on southern Idaho deer winter range [18]. It endures close grazing very well and shows excellent "recuperative powers" [11].

Related categories for SPECIES: Fallugia paradoxa | Apache Plume