Spring 2002 Minnesota Plant Press ~ Minnesota Native Plant Society Newsletter

7/31/2019 Spring 2002 Minnesota Plant Press ~ Minnesota Native Plant Society Newsletter

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Minnesota Plant PressThe Minnesota Native Plant Society Newsletter

Volume 21 Number 3 Spring 2002

Monthly meetingsMinnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge

Visitor Center, 3815 East 80th St.

Bloomington, MN 55425-1600

952-854-5900

6:30 p.m. Building east door opens

6:30 p.m. Refreshments,information, Room A

7 9 p.m. Program, society business7:30 p.m. Building door is locked

9:30 p.m. Building closes

ProgramsThe MNPS meets the first Thursday in

October, November, December, February,March, April, May and June. Check theWeb page for additional programinformation.

May 2: Gardening with Butterflies,by Dean Hanson; Plant of the Month:Wild Lupine, by Robert Dana, DNR.

June 6: Sustainable Spiritual Design:

Visioning Your Own Sacred Space, by

Douglas Owens-Pike, Energyscapes;

Plant Sale following the meeting.

MNPS Web sitehttp://www.stolaf.edu/depts/biology/mnps

e-mail: [email protected]

Plant sale guidelinesMembers are urged to donate plants for

the June 6 sale, which is our annual

fundraiser. Plants must have been grownin your garden or started from seed. Donot dig wild plants. Put the plants inindividual containers and label them.Members who help will have first choiceof plants. To volunteer, call Gerry Drewryat 651-463-8006.

Buckthorn can becontrolled or reducedPart II

By Janet R. Larson, Consulting Arborist and Master Gardener[Note: Part I, published in the Winter 2002 issue, discussed thedifferences between common and glossy buckthorn and the reasons

why both species are listed as noxious weeds in Minnesota.]

Control or reduction?Where buckthorn has not completely infested an area, control is a

reality. Where it has created a near monoculture throughout a sizablearea, reduction might be a better reality than control. A single stem ofbuckthorn cut down to the ground and not chemically treated will re-sprout from the stump and grow many new stems up to six feet in asingle season. In one to two years, the plant can be producing frui

again. If you cut it, you just anger it, says Norm Erickson oRochester. This aggressive re-growth must be stopped or the plantwill soon reach its former size, take up more space, and continue toexist indefinitely.

Chemical treatmentsFor larger buckthorn control projects, some type of chemical

treatment is the best control method. It is important notto treat duringthe spring-flush growth period. This is a time when the plant is usingits stored energy reserves to grow, from the break of dormancy in lateMarch until about June 1. During the spring-flush, the plant generallydoes not store energy, it spends energy. Chemical treatments work

best when the plant is dormant or transporting sugars to its root system(storing energy).

Summer, autumn, and winter are the three seasons when chemicaltreatment of buckthorn is effective. Late September through November

is a convenient time, since buckthorn leaves remain green and attached

while leaves of our native plants are turning color, falling, and

gone.When using herbicides, always follow label instructions and takerecommended precautions; be certain that your chemical is labeledfor your site.

Continued on page 4


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Minnesota Native Plant Societys purpose

(Abbreviated from the bylaws)

This organization is exclusively organized and operated for educational

and scientific purposes, including the following:

1. Conservation of all native plants.

2. Continuing education of all members in the plant sciences.

3. Education of the public regarding environmental protection of plant

life.4. Encouragement of research and publications on plants native to

Minnesota.

5. Study of legislation on Minnesota flora, vegetation and ecosystems.

6. Preservation of special plants, plant communities and scientific and

natural areas.

7. Cooperation in programs concerned with the ecology of natural

resources and scenic features.

8. Fellowship with all persons interested in native plants through

meetings, lectures, workshops and field trips.

MNPS Board ofDirectors

President: Joel Dunnette, 4526

Co. Rd. 3 S.W., Byron, MN 55920

507-284-3914 (W); 507-365-8091

(H); [email protected]

Vice-President: Harriet Mason905 5th St., St. Peter, MN 56082-

1417; 507-931-3253;

[email protected]

Secretary: Deborah Strohmeyer

Education and Outreach Chair, 7900

Wyoming Ave. S., Bloomington, MN

55438; 952-943-9743;

[email protected]

Meredith Cornett, Conservation

Committee Co-Chair, 1520 N. 9thAve. E., Duluth, MN 55805; 218-

728-6258; [email protected]

Linda Huhn, 2553 Dupont Ave

S., Minneapolis, MN 55405; 612-

374-1435

Jason Husveth, 1284 N. Avon St.

St. Paul, MN 55117; 651-222-2009;

[email protected]

Janet Larson, 7811 W. 87th St.Bloomington, MN 55438; 952-941-

6876; [email protected]

Esther McLaughlin, Biology

Dept., Augsburg College

Minneapolis, MN 55454; 612-330-


Ethan Perry, Conservation

Committee Co-Chair, 1520 N. 9th

Ave. E., Duluth, MN 55805; 218-

728-6258; [email protected]

Treasurer: David Johnson, 6437

Baker Ave. N.E., Fridley, MN 55432

763-571-6278;

[email protected]

Listserve Coordinator: Charles

Umbanhowar, [email protected]

Editor: Gerry Drewry, 651-463


Be a Prairie Carevolunteer at WildRiver State Parkby Dave Crawford

If you like plants, being outdoors,and learning about the natural world,consider helping with Wild RiverState Parks Prairie Care Project. Weneed your help (and the help of otherinterested persons you know) tomake the project a success thissummer. You will make a bigdifference to the future of the park,and youll learn about prairiesfirsthand.

There are two ways you can help.

The ability to use maps and to walkoff-trail on uneven ground areneeded for both.

Species Steward: Locate, identify,and mark sites of occurrence andrecord blooming and ripening timeof a native plant species assigned bypark staff. Collect seed when it isripe. Stewards are needed startingin mid-spring to mid-summer, with

a minimum commitment of once

every two weeks throughout theprocess. Being a Species Stewardwill give you an opportunity to learna tremendous amount about yourspecies, and see parts of the park thatyou might otherwise miss. WildRiver provides detailed data onidentification, observation, and

locations of your species.Collector: Arrange in advance to

come to the park on a specific dayand collect seeds of one or morespecies that are ripe at the time ofyour visit, using directions weprovide. We also need people whomwe can call on short notice to collectseed that is ripe and about to be lost.

All seeds collected will be used on

restoration sites within Wild RiverState Park. Prairie Care participantswho meet or exceed our goals areeligible for recognition awards suchas Prairie Care patches or certificates.

To volunteer with the Prairie CareProject, please call or e-mail DaveCrawford, Park Naturalist, WildRiver StatePark, 39797 Park Trail,Center City, MN 55012, 651-583-2925 (Visitor Center),

[email protected].


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In memory of Tom MorleyDr. Thomas Morley, professor emeritus at the University of Minnesota,

died Saturday, Feb. 2, 2002, at his home. He was 85.

Dr. Morley received his A.B. (1940), M.A. (1941), and Ph.D. (1949) degreesin botany at the University of California, Berkeley. A scholars son, his fatherS. Griswold Morley, was the president of the Modern Language Association

of America during the 1950s. Dr. Morley was predeceased by a sister, and issurvived by her children and a brother.

Tom Morley joined the Botany Department (now Plant Biology) in the falof 1949 to share in the teaching of taxonomy with Gerald Ownbey (thencurator of the herbarium). He was successful in helping recruit suchdistinguished faculty as Eville Gorham. After advising several graduatestudents, including Kingsley Stern, Lawrence C.W. Jensen, and BarbaraDelaney, he retired in 1987.

Dr. Morley was a specialist in the genera Mouriri and Votomita (tropicatrees of theMelastomataceae), and he described several new species in thesegroups from central Amazonia, where he conducted field work around Manaus

and Belem, Brazil. During his tenure at the University of Minnesota, DrMorley also developed an extensive, firsthand knowledge of Minnesotasnative flora. He revised and updated Frederic Clements original Guide toSpring Flowers,which is now used as a standard spring text. He co-authoredwith Gerald Ownbey Vascular Plants of Minnesota: A Checklist and Atlas,another seminal work for the state.

A strong advocate for the preservation of nature, Tom Morley was a chartermember of the Minnesota Chapter of the Nature Conservancy and served onthe board during the 1970s. He was also active in the Minnesota NativePlant Society, having a special concern for rare plants and serving as an earlychampion of buckthorn eradication in Minnesota natural areas. He enjoyed

canoeing and was a generous contributor to the Friends of the BoundaryWaters Wilderness.

In retirement, Tom Morley maintained an office adjacent to the herbariumin the Biological Sciences Building on the Saint Paul campus of the UniversityHe was a familiar face around the department remembered for his habit ofwalking to work each day across the expanse of experimental fields, even inthe coldest of Minnesota winters. His daily routines contributed to the rhythmof life at the University, including his climbing the eight flights of stairs tohis office, which he performed until the very day before his death. A sofspoken and kind man, he is missed by his colleagues.

The family asks that memorials be sent to the Lake Itasca Forestry & Biology

Station, University of Minnesota Foundation, 200 Oak St. NE (Suite 500)Minneapolis MN 55455.

Three field tripsscheduled in May

Two Duluth trips May 19The Minnesota Native Plant

Society, the Hartley Nature Center,and the Arrowhead Chapter of Wild

Ones are sponsoring two field tripsin Duluth Sunday, May 19. Tripleaders will be Carol Reschke, DNRCounty Biological Surveyecologist, and Ethan Perry andMeredith Cornett, MinnesotaNative Plant Society boardmembers.

9 a.m. to noon: Magney-SnivelyCity Park, Duluth

If the season progresses normally,

this hardwood forest should host awide variety of spring-bloomingwildflowers at their mostspectacular peak. Chances are thatone of them will be Moschatel, ararity of mature sugar maple foreststhat is listed as a species of specialconcern by the DNR.

1:30 to 3:30 p.m.: LighthousePoint, Two Harbors

This will be a unique chance to

have the unusual plants of the rockyshoreline identified and describedby Carol Reschke, who studies thenatural communities that persist inthe harsh conditions along LakeSuperior.

There is no cost for these trips,but each will be limited to 20 to 25people. Register for one or bothtrips by contacting Ethan Perry [email protected] or by callinghim at 218-728-6258. He will senddirections to the meeting locationsto those who sign up.

Wildflower Walk May 25Jason Husveth will lead a Spring

Wildflower Walk from 9 a.m. to12:30 p.m. Saturday, May 25, at theMinnesota Valley Wildlife Refuge.

During the walk, beginners andexperienced naturalists will learn

how to identify herbaceous plants,shrubs and trees in the valley.

Participants will meet in theFireplace Room at the refuge at 9 a.m.Jason, a professional ecologist/botanist, will give an introductory talkon the spring flora and the use of plantkeys and wildflower guides.

Participants will visit prairie, forestand wetland plant communities closeto the building.

The walk will be held rain or shinefor up to 30 participants. Bring awildflower guide, boots and a handlens or magnifying glass. To registercall the refuge at 952-854-5900.


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Cut stump treatment

During cutting and brush-haulingoperations, stumps are easily lostunder leaves and debris. Markingstump locations with wire flags,similar to those used by utilities tomark underground pipes or wires, ishelpful when it comes time to locatethe stump for treatment after an areahas been cleared. Secure the flagswell, so they will not be draggedaway with the brush.

Stumps can be chemically treatedwith a paint brush, a wick applicator,or with an ultra low volume spraynozzle and wand. It is very importantthat bark on the sides of the stump,

including exposed root flares, betreated as well as the top of thestump. Under the bark, many latentbuds have the capability to re-sproutwith vigor. Chemicals are mosteffective if applied within 24 hours,but can be applied up to 48 hoursafter the cutting.

Frill cuts with chemical sprayWound the bark with an axe at a 45-

degree angle around the

circumference of the tree, to create afrill. Its not necessary to girdle thestem completely. Then applyherbicide spray to exposed cut areasand adjacent bark. This is aneffective method when trees can beleft standing. Consider this methodespecially when buckthorn hasovertaken steep slopes. If youphysically remove all the buckthorn,you set the site up for erosion. Thismethod works well on stems greaterthan 4 inches in diameter.

Basal bark treatmentWhen mixed with a diluent (a

solvent that may contain dye that canbe mixed with some herbicides),ester formulations of Triclopyr canbe applied directly to the bark at thebase of the tree to provide effectivecontrol. Spray the lowest 1 1/2 feetof bark around the entire

circumference of the tree. Fordiameters 2 inches or less, only oneside of the stem needs to be sprayed.This is a fast, effective way ofcontrolling trees up to 6 inches indiameter on large sites. Dead treescan be left standing or cut at a latertime. Garlon 4 and Crossbow areeffective brand-name chemicals forbasal bark treatment.

Herbicides that work well1. Roundup (now off patent;Glyphosate active ingredient) =Razor, GlyStar Plus, others. Mixwith water for stump, frill and foliarapplications. A 25 percent solution is needed for

stump and frill methods. A 3 percent solution is needed for

foliar spray.2. Rodeo (now off patent; for aquaticuse; Glyphosate active ingredient) =Aqua Neat, others. Same rates as Roundup apply for

Rodeo

3. Garlon 3A (Triclopyramine activeingredient) = Ortho Brush B-Gon Mix with water for stump and frill

applications.

4. Garlon 4 (Triclopyr ester active

ingredient) = Crossbow, (Pathfinderis ready-to-use) Mix with diluent or kerosene for

stump, frill, and basal barktreatments

Mix with water for foliarapplications

Tordon is not recommended.

Spraying in a buckthorn thicket

1. In densely infested areas, use a

hand-held tank sprayer; backpacksprayers can be difficult to negotiate

through the woods.

2. An ultra low volume spray wand

can cut chemical use by 75 percent.

3. Wear appropriate clothing whenusing chemicals, especially whenmixing concentrate. Use neoprenegloves, not latex, cloth, or leather.Wear goggles or safety glasses when

mixing chemicals. Be sure to readand follow label instructions.

Mechanical controlMechanical control is not possible

with large infestations of buckthornit is extraordinarily labor-intensiveThe following methods arerecommended for people who wishto avoid chemicals and have smallareas to clear.

Hand pullingPulling plants out of the ground by

hand works well for stems 1/2-inchdiameter or less. The soil must bemoist, or your efforts will befrustrating and with very little resultWhen the soil is dry, the plants wontbudge. If they do budge, they breakoff, leaving the root system intact. Toremove, pull at the base of the stemlightly to loosen the soil, then pullagain to dislodge the plant from theground. When you pull buckthornyou will discover buckthorns denseblack, highly successful, fibrous, rootsystem.

DiggingWith a sharp shovel blade, it is

possible to cut the roots around smallstems (about 1 inch in diameter orless). Stomp your shovel blade intothe ground up to a foot away fromthe stem, and pull the shovel handleback; this will sever roots, but mayneed to be repeated. Do this allaround the stem until all lateral rootsare severed. There will likely be acouple of central roots to cut, tooThis method works well with single-stemmed plants, but is quite difficultwith shrubby individuals that have

re-sprouted after a previous cuttingWrenching

A few tools are available on themarket to facilitate the manualeveraging of a woody stem or stemsout of the ground. With a steel clampor claw, a stem is grasped; then thetool handle becomes a lever, bendingthe stem down and lifting the rootsout of the ground. Tools range in sizeand will pull stems up to 2 inches in

Continued from page 1

Buckthorn


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diameter. The largest tools are heavyand need to be wielded by large,strong individuals. Somecommunities have organized topurchase various wrench sizes andhave made them available for freerental from local hardware stores.

Continuous cutting

Cutting buckthorn withoutchemically treating the stump is notrecommended unless there are onlya few plants to remove and you arewilling to re-cut new sprout-growthnearly every week for the entiregrowing season and beyond.Continuous cutting will exhaust theplant of its extensive energy reserves.It may exhaust you, too!

Tin can method

This approach, developed by SteveGlass, University of WisconsinArboretum, is only recommended forvery small removal projects and forstump sizes small enough to fit undera metal can. Find a can large enoughto fit over the stump and root flare.Cut the stump 1 to 2 inches shorterthan the height of the can. Sincebuckthorn re-sprouts from latentbuds under the bark, including stumpbark, it is important that the invertedcan cover all exposed bark. Drivelong nails through the can into thestump to secure it in place. Sproutsthat grow into the can will not haveenough light and will die. Leave thecan in place for one to two completegrowing seasons.

BurningJohn Moriarty, Ramsey County

Parks and Recreation Department,reported on a study he conductedwith Hennepin Parks to controlbuckthorn in Carver Park. Burningcan be a good technique for forest orpark-like settings, but is not reallypractical for homeowners. Burntiming is very critical, and it may bedifficult to coordinate factors such asground fuel, moisture, wind speed inthe woods, and approval from thelocal fire department. Fire is amanagement tool, but it will not

eliminate buckthorn. A recent studyout of DePaul University explainswhy it is difficult to burn inbuckthorn-infested sites, due to therapid degradation of the leaf litter.

Overwhelmed by it all?

If youve worked in a heavilybuckthorn-infested area, it is easy tofeel overwhelmed. Dont give up.Buckthorn has had decades to get aroot-hold ahead of those of us whowould like to eliminate it. However,with the control methods describedhere, total elimination is not really apossibility. These plants are simplytoo widespread, and the volume oftheir biomass is staggering. The costin terms of human-power, time,equipment and funds is unreasonably

high in economic terms. Reductionof the critical mass is a possibility.Following are my suggestions forthose who would like to dosomething, but have limited time andbudget. Prioritize. Doing somethingis far better than leaving the invasionunchecked.

Priorities for a limited budget1. Partner with conservation groups,neighborhood groups, your

municipality, volunteers.2. Search locally for potential grantfunding, thenwrite grant proposals.Ask local businesses andfoundations for assistance.

3. Survey your site to find treasurepockets of remaining native plants.Clear around these plants first torelease them from their buckthorncompetition. Protect them duringcutting and removal. Sometimes

these natives are very, very small, butwhen they are freed, they bounceback with new growth. Find a localnative plant expert to help you withidentification. Mark them with flags.

4. Protect quality areas that are onlymarginally infested.

5.Remove female buckthorn first.Mark them in late fall, when full offruit, for later removal.

6. Prioritize removals to be in highprofile areas (along bike pathsparkways, play areas).

7. Publicize what youre doing. Puup informational signs in the projectarea, distribute flyers to nearbyresidents, write an article for yourlocal paper or association.

8. Stop to answer questions of althose who inquire.

Hope for a biological controlGood news came this month,

wrote Cynthia Boyd in the St. PaulPioneer Press, Sept. 26, 2001, in a$20,000 report commissioned by thestate Department of NaturalResources from the Center forApplied Bioscience International inDelmont, Switzerland. The 100-

page research paper includes a list of14 insects that are possible naturapredators (of buckthorn), thus

potential control agents. Accordingto Luke Skinner and Jay Rendallcoordinators in the DNRs exoticspecies program, the feasibility studywas completed in August, but theentire study may take up to 10 yearsto complete, provided funds tocontinue the research materialize

The next step will be to test the 14species and determine which onesharm buckthorn exclusively. Tax-deductible contributions can be madeto: DNR Buckthorn Research FundExotic Species Program, 500Lafayette Rd., St. Paul, MN 55155-4025.

A Web page within the MN DNRWeb site contains buckthornbiocontrol research updates atwww.dnr.state.mn.us. (Search on

buckthorn biocontrol).The herbicide information given in thisarticle is for educational purposes onlyReference to commercial products ortrade names is made with theunderstanding that no discrimination is

intended and no endorsement is implied

The MNPS has received adonation to the Think Native

Program in memory of Wright andElizabeth Reed.


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by Kim Chapman, visiting assistantprofe ssor, biology andenvironmental studies, MacalesterCollege. Abstract of his Nov. 1,2001, talk on For the Birds: Nature

reserves, rural lands and suburbscontribution to the avifauna of theTwin Cities region.

Kim Chapman spoke about hisdoctoral research. His message waspositive, yet cautionary. Theincreasingly intensive use of landwhich the Twin Cities region isexperiencing raises concerns thatspecies might disappear from theregional biota. Kim studied theresponses of bird, tree, and shrubspecies to the variety of land-usetypes and habitats in the region.Working in some 300 plots locatedin nature reserves such as Wild RiverState Park and Sherburne NationalWildlife Refuge, in rural lands, andin the suburbs of the north metroarea, Kim measured speciesabundances in a variety of habitats,from grasslands to forests. He soughtto understand how communities or

species simultaneously varied as landuse and habitat varied.

Unexpectedly, within single plotshe found that bird richness anddiversity were equal at all land-useintensities in nature reserves, rurallands or suburbs. But looking acrossthe entire region, the rural landssupported the greatest bird richnessand diversity, with reserves beingslightly lower. His results for treesand shrubs (which he did not present)

were somewhat different than resultsfor birds. For example, rural landssupported fewer species of woodyplants than reserves and suburbs, butthe increased woody plant diversityin suburbs was largely due toplanting of non-native species.

In general, suburban styledevelopment depressed bird speciesdiversity and shrub abundance over

large areas. In suburbanstructuralgrasslands and savannas, often withshort grass, pavement and buildings,the abundance of non-native specieswas much higher than elsewhere in

the region. But on a positive note,wild vegetation and forest remnantsin suburbs were used by severalnative bird species, such as GrayCatbird and Baltimore Oriole.

Interestingly, the bird communitiesof forests in reserves and rural landswere similar, while the grasslandsand savannas in reserves and rurallands were less similar to each other.Those species most likely to requirespecial management, or which were

decreasing steadily in the region,preferred grasslands, savannas, andnature reserves.

Kim and his colleagues in the fieldencountered some 120 species ofbirds in the two-year study. Of 63bird species common enough fordetailed analysis, one-fifth appearedintolerant of development (e.g.,Vesper Sparrow, Eastern Towhee,Least Flycatcher), two-fifths

tolerated agriculture but notsuburbanization (e.g., EasternBluebird, Indigo Bunting, Yellow-throated Vireo), and 29 percentbenefited from suburbanization (e.g.,House Sparrow, House Wren, GrayCatbird). Even though forestsongbirds have been considered quitesensitive to habitat fragmentation,the grassland and savanna birds ofthe region are more vulnerablebecause grassland-savanna habitat

loss is greater than forest loss in theregion, and grasslands and savannasare more intensively used.

Kim presented severalrecommendations for conservation.Reserves may best serve as refugesfor regionally declining grasslandand savanna birds, while suburbscould support large populations ofdevelopment-tolerant native birds if

development were concentrated andmodified, leaving more vegetationand larger expanses of wild land andforests. Rural lands represent anunrecognized conservation

opportunity threatened by dispersedresidential and suburban-styledevelopment. Conservationmeasures taken in rural lands wouldincrease the likelihood that mostmembers of the regions biota wouldpersist well into the future.

Birds are most diverse in rural areas

Showy locoweedin Minnesotaby Michael Heinz

Oxytropis splendens (showy

locoweed) thrives on the northernplains, but in Minnesota thishandsome species of locoweed hasbeen collected only once. On June25,1853, while members of a railroadexpedition camped on the ChippewaRiver in Pope County, in the west-central part of the state, one of thescientists added the species to the

expeditions extensive plancollection.

Members of the surveying partyunder the command of Lt. E. GBeckwith, had left Pike Lake andstopped at the Chippewa beforeheading to a camp on the Bois deSioux River, which flows out of LakeTraverse along the South Dakotaborder. In a report published by theU.S. War Department, John Torrey

and Asa Gray listed the specimen asOxytropis splendens Dougl.

They wrote: A most elegant plantwith its crowded silvery-villousfoliage and spikes, and deep bluecorollas. It was gathered on theChippewa River. This note refersto the specimen in the collection atGray Herbarium. Showy locoweed

Continued on page 7


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Plant Loreby Thor Kommedahl

What is blue cohosh?

Blue cohosh is Caulophyllumthalictroides in the barberry familyIt is a perennial that grows in moiswoods throughout most of Minnesota

except in the northeast. Anothercommon name is blue ginseng.

How did it get its names?The name cohosh comes from an

Algonquian word that means roughbecause of the knotty, roughrhizomes; its stems and pea-sizedseeds are bluish. Caulophyllum isderived from the Greek words stemand leaf and alludes to the emergencein spring of a naked stem that ends

in a compound leaf without a petioleThe stem seems to form a stalk forthe three-parted leaf.

What aboutthalictroides?Its leaves resemble meadow rue, in

the buttercup family, whose genus isThalictrum.

What about its growth?It is striking in spring as the

unfolding leaf is prominent over thestill barren forest floor. Later, theattractive, large, cluster of blue seedscaptures ones attention. The ovarywall splits to expose two blue drupe-like seeds. It is somewhat shrub-likeand can be two to three feet tall. Itblooms from April to May.

Has it medicinal properties?Yes, American Indians used

infusions from the roots for treatingrheumatism and in aiding childbirthThe Chippewa Indians used a strong

root decoction as a contraceptiveResearch since then has shown itsvalue in treating menopausasymptoms, and the root is officinalin the U.S. Pharmacopeia.

Is any part of the plant edible?Plant parts, including seeds, can be

poisonous. The plant is also anirritant to the skin. Its seeds havebeen roasted to make a beverage.

Minnesota fungiare on centralizeddatabaseby David J. McLaughlin, Professor,Department of Plant Biology, andCurator of Fungi, Bell Museum of

Na tural History, Universit y ofMinnesota, St. Paul

The fungi of Minnesota are poorlydocumented. To aid in their study, acentralized database for mushrooms,plant pathogens, and other fungi hasbeen produced as a result ofconsolidation of the two Universityof Minnesota fungal collections, withsupport from the LegislativeCommission for MinnesotaResources. Access to the databaseis available at www.fungi.umn.edu.

This database provides informationon the distribution, ecology, andhistory of the fungi of the state. Itincludes a non-technical generalintroduction to the fungi, illustrationsof mushrooms and plant pathogens,a history of the collection and thestate of knowledge of the fungi ofMinnesota, and a taxonomic outline

for the specialist. The database issearchable in multiple ways,including by plant host and habitat,and it can produce reports that canbe sorted by up to three fields. Thedatabase contains about two-thirds ofthe herbarium records. Record entryis continuing.

An example of the way thedatabase can be used is in analyzingthe results of last summers NorthAmerican Mycological AssociationForay held at St. Johns University,Collegeville, July 5-8. Half-daycollecting trips were made to varioussites, including three Scientific andNatural Areas, Quarry Park, PartchWoods, and Clear Lake. Specimenswere brought to a laboratory on theSt. Johns University Campus for

processing and identification byscientists. Through the efforts of staffof the Field Museum of NaturalHistory, Chicago, especially Dr.Patrick Leacock, the data have beencompiled and specimens processed.Vouchers specimens will bedeposited in the Universityherbarium.

The specimens collected duringthis foray not only provide an

important initial survey of the fleshyfungi for these Scientific and NaturalAreas, but also are among the firstmushroom records for StearnsCounty. Our previously documentedcollections showed 19 StearnsCounty records, but almost all ofthese are microscopic plantpathogens. Continued surveys areneeded to obtain a complete pictureof the fungal diversity, i.e., to observespecies that appear in early spring,

late summer, and fall.

Of the 217 species collected duringthis foray, approximately 45 are newstate records. Members of theMinnesota Native Plant Society canmake an important contribution tothe study of Minnesota fungi byassisting in future collecting,documenting, or processing ofspecimens.

grows about a foot tall from a taprootand woody root crown. The collectorprobably was James Snyder, who iscredited by Torrey and Gray withcollecting and submitting many ofthe expeditions plants, including allof those from Minnesota.

The expedition was following theRed River Cart Trail used to transport

goods from Selkirks settlement atPembina, on the Canadian border, toSt. Paul. Quite possibly, the seedsof Oxytropis splendens weretransported from the settlement, anarea within or near the species range,to the hills of the Chippewa inMinnesota. The chief range of thespecies is from the northern countiesof North Dakota into the prairieprovinces of Canada. It reappearson the foothills of the Rockies.

Continued from page 6Showy locoweed


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NON-PROFIT ORG.

U.S. POSTAGE

PAIDMinneapolis, MN

Permit No. 2233

Minnesota Native Plant Society

University of Minnesota

220 Biological Sciences Center

St. Paul, MN 55108

Spring 2002 Issue

Documents

Spring 2002 Minnesota Plant Press ~ Minnesota Native Plant Society Newsletter