7/31/2019 Fall 2003 Minnesota Plant Press ~ Minnesota Native
Plant Society Newsletter
3/4
Plant Loreby Thor Kommedahl
What is Culvers-root?Culvers-root, or Culvers-physic,
isVeronicastrum virginicum, in thesnapdragon family.
How did it get its name?It was once named Veronicavirginica, but
the genus name waschanged to Veronicastrum; the suffix-astrum means
false, so this is afalse veronica. It was named forSt. Veronica who
was reputed to havewiped the sweat off of Christs faceThe roots
contain a powerful laxativeand emetic substance, hence thename.
Culver or Culvert was said tohave used it in his medical
practice
in Massachusetts.What does the plant look like?It is a native
perennial, about two tofive feet tall, with leaves in whorlsof
three to seven around the stemleading to terminal
spike-likepanicles of tiny, usually white, tubelike flowers that
bloom from June toSeptember.
Where does it grow?Culvers-root grows in almost al
counties in the state in moistmeadows, thickets, and woods.
Does it have any medicinal uses?Early colonists learned its uses
fromIndians. The Seneca Indians, forexample, used the root as a
purgativeDried roots are used. Fresh roots areviolently laxative.
Cotton Mathersdaughter in 1716 had tuberculosisand Mather specially
requestedCulvers-root as a treatment (notappropriate for a lung
ailment). She
died soon after.
will improve water quality andreduce runoff to the river
whileproviding wildlife habitat andconnectivity to other natural
areas.
Wet meadows are one of thewetland types most likely to be
impacted by development projectsand least likely to be restored
bymitigation projects. Wetlandmitigation projects typically
createdeeper emergent marsh wetlands.Wet meadows have
becomeincreasingly rare across the state, soit will be a treat to
see a sizable onerestored. This project also providesa link in an
important greenwaycorridor across Rosemount thatconnects the
Vermillion River withthe Mississippi River. Eventually, theMet
Council hopes to make this siteavailable to the public for birding
andwildlife viewing.
A 30-acre wet meadow and wetprairie restoration is also
underwaythis fall at Lock and Dam No. 2, inHastings. Friends of the
MississippiRiver is working with the City ofHastings to establish
nativevegetation at a former industrial site
that used to be occupied by numerouspetroleum tanks. The tanks
wereremoved in 1995, most of theproperty was donated to the city,
andit is now known as Hastings RiverFlats Park. The city has been
workingto improve the property and restoreits natural features for
publicenjoyment and education. Aninterpretive center and other
facilitiesare part of a long-term site plan.
RestorationsContinued from page 1
Symposium tobe March 27
The 2004 Native Plant SocietySymposium has been scheduled
forSaturday, March 27, at the BunkerHills Activity Center in Coon
Rapids.
The topic will be savanna andwoodland ecology the
dominanthistoric plant communities of themetropolitan area.
We will explore details about thesecommunities, their geologic
origins,current threats, research andrestoration efforts, and much
more.The Bunker Hills building issurrounded by recent native
prairieand savanna restorations that mayprovide an opportunity
for
exploration. Watch the newsletterand Web site for more
information.
Members of the symposiumcommittee are Karen Schik, chair
,Shirley Mah Kooyman, and JasonHusveth.
Fall Plant Sale?Various means of raising money
were discussed at the Sept. 4 MNPSBoard meeting, as a $1,000
deficit is
projected for 2003/04 if currentproject funding levels are
sustained.
One suggestion was to have a plantsale in September. This sale
wouldnot be as extensive as the spring sale.Plants that are left
over could betaken home by the grower, or theywould be donated to a
public parkrestoration project. Before MNPSattempts a fall plant
sale we wouldlike to hear from the members.
1. Would you be interested inpurchasing native plants in the
fall?
2. Would you be likely to have anynative plants to donate to
such a saleif it were held in September?
Please contact Dianne PlunkettLatham with your response. Call
herat 952-941-3542, send an e-mail [email protected] or
write:Dianne Plunkett Latham, 7013Comanche Ct., Edina MN 55439.
Seed exchange is Nov. 6The annual exchange of native plantseeds
will be held Nov. 6. Seedsshould be in individual envelopesand
labeled with the common andscientific names, place of
collectionoriginal location of the seed sourceif known, and type of
habitat. DaveCrawford is chair of the exchange.
Equal ProtectionThe MNPS board has endorsed aCalifornia NPS
campaign for equalprotection of plant species under thefederal
Endangered Species Act. TheESA protects listed animalsanywhere they
live, but mostendangered plant species areprotected only on land
under federaljurisdiction. The campaigns goal isto raise public
awareness of thisdiscrepancy in federal law.
