Investigation of growth stages and development, exploitation and propagation methods of Foxtail Lily (Eremurus spectabilis M. Bieb.)

Foxtail lily (Eremurus spectabilis M. Bieb.) is a perennial plant from Liliaceae family, the sticky roots of which has been used for many years in various industries. In order to study the plant growth calendar (Phenology) and determine the most suitable methods for the plant propagation and exploitation, two habitats in the northern and southern parts of Binaloud Mountain (Dehbar and Disbad Olya) were selected and the plant phonological stages were determined in every 10- 15 days. In addition, the flowering period was evaluated by marking 40 uniform plants during 2014 -2017 and also sexual and non-sexual reproduction process was studied in late autumn in Dehbar site. The results showed that for every 200-meter elevation above the sea level, the plant’s phenological stage would be delayed for 6-8 days. The flowers gradually opened during May and the seeds maturity stage were completed in early July. Furthermore, the results indicated that the plant propagation stage has mainly been achieved by the cultivation of seeds, through which only 15-20% of the seeds were established. The non-sexual reproduction process by the tuber roots division was not successful. Seeds of the plant have a physiological dormancy and need to have a cool period to break through the dormancy. The results also indicated that the plants need cold period for flowering and do not die after flowering, but depending on the amounts of rootstocks, they may flower again in the following year or remain in the vegetative stage.