Spring 2007 Minnesota Plant Press ~ Minnesota Native Plant Society Newsletter

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    Minnesota Plant PressThe Minnesota Native Plant Society Newsletter

    Volume 26 Number 3 Spring 2007

    Monthly meetingsThompson Park Center/Dakota Lodge

    Thompson County Park360 Butler Ave. E., West St. Paul, MN 55118

    651-552-7559 (kitchen)

    6 p.m. Social period7 9 p.m Program, society business

    ProgramsThe MN NPS meets the first Thursday

    in October, November, December,February, March, April, May, and June.Check the website for more programinformation.

    In this issuePresidents column.................2Field trips......................1, 2, 6Wildflower photo project ....3Endangered species debate...4Riparian vegetation ..............5MN NPS plant sale ..............5Reed canary grass control .....6Bob Jacobson dies ...............7Plant Lore -Spiderwort..........7

    Restoring Minnesotasecological landscapeby Hannah Texler, regional plant ecologist, Minnesota DNR. This isan abstract of part of her talk at the March 8 Society meeting.

    As a plant ecologist and an avid native plant gardener, I am heartenedby the burgeoning use of native plants for landscaping, gardening,and restoration of disturbed landscapes, and I am grateful to all of theorganizations and native plant and seed businesses that are crucial tomaking this happen. In this age of national discussions about usingnative prairie mixes for biofuels, it is especially exciting. This makesit an excellent time to take a step back and ask whether the use ofnative plants is as informed by ecology as it could be.

    This article summarizes some of the ways the science of ecologycan help us create more successful, diverse, and locally adapted nativeplantings and restoration projects.

    The ecological issuesThe four levels of ecology most pertinent to the topic include

    landscape, plant community, species, and genetic ecology. Ill briefly

    discuss why each is important and give some practical suggestionsabout resources for incorporating them into practice.

    Landscape ecologyMost of Minnesotas landscape is characterized by fragmented

    patches of vegetation, often separated by land uses that provide barriersto the movement of native plants and animals. By paying attention tolandscape ecology, one can look for opportunities to connect patchesof native habitat, provide meaningful animal movement corridors,and surround isolated native plant communities with appropriaterestored habitat.

    Plant community ecology

    Many restoration projects arevery low in diversity and have beeninformed by a single goal, such aspreventing erosion on steep slopesor providing habitat for a fewwildlife species. While these areworthy goals, plantings tend to bemore successful and ecologicallymeaningful when many plantspecies that occur in the native

    Continued on page 3

    May 3: Motorized Recreation inMinnesota: Social and EcologicalConsequences, by Matt Norton,Minnesota Center for EnvironmentalAdvocacy. Plant of the Month:Carexgarberi, Scott Milburn.

    June 7: Decorative Tree Harvest

    from Minnesotas Spruce Bogs: Socialand Ecological Consequences, by MikePhillips, DNR Division of Forestry.Annual Native Plant Sale.

    See and count orchidsWestern prairie fringed orchids and Red

    River prairies are the focus of a field tripto wildlife management areas nearCrookston, Minn., July 7 and 8. Co-sponsors are the MN NPS, MinnesotaDepartment of Natural Resources, and

    Nature Northwest. Nancy Sather andDerek Anderson of the Minnesota NaturalHeritage and Nongame ResearchProgram, MN DNR, will lead participantsto orchids in several wildlife managementareas. In addition to counting orchids,they will visit a state-of-the artmanagement study at Pembina TrailPreserve and enjoy an eveningpresentation on recent orchid research. Formore information and to register, write [email protected]

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    MN NPS Boardof Directors

    Presidents Columnby Scott Milburn

    Another year of botanizing is about to begin. This has been an excitingyear, and we still have quite a bit to do. The Society has a great deal ofmomentum, much thanks to our last president, Jason Husveth. Jasonstenure on the board will end in June after six years, and we look forwardto his participation in the future. The formula derived by Jason under his

    tenure was to focus on a few things and to do them well. These few things,which include monthly programs, symposia, the newsletter, and field trips,are the bread and butter of the Society. Logic would suggest continuingwith this approach.

    As noted in our last newsletter, the Society has been in existence for 25years. We will celebrate this milestone next September and hope that ourentire membership will be able to participate. It is amazing to think howmuch has changed over the past 25 years, especially in terms of technology.With this increased ability to communicate, we still face the challenge ofhow best to reach prospective members in an attempt to increase overallmembership. The board has started to develop new materials for that verypurpose. We are also looking into new ways to make annual membership

    renewal less burdensome. With this, we are looking to grow, but we cannotdo this without your help. I have been extremely impressed with effortsthus far, but I would encourage all of our members to think of ways toattract new members and to expand.

    by Ken ArndtNow is the time to sign up for MN

    NPS field trips. Sign-up sheets anddetailed information will be at eachmonthly meeting. Or, go to our

    website and follow the link to FieldTrips for information and to sign up.

    Saturday, April 28, 1-4 p.m., joinBarr Engineering Botanists DanielJones, a Society board member, andDaniel DeJoode at Nerstrand-BigWoods State Park. This fineexample of Big Woods is home tomany spring ephemerals and thefederally endangered dwarf trout lily.

    Saturday, May 12, 11 a.m. to 2p.m., join MN DNR Regional PlantEcologist Ann Pierce and explore theWhitewater Wildlife ManagementArea in coulee country insoutheastern Minnesota.

    June 16and 17 is a follow-up tothis years symposium on the PrairieCoteau. Join the DNRs Fred Harris,Nancy Sather and Robert Dana insouthwestern Minnesota, hikingthrough several plant communities,including a calcareous fen.

    June 30 is a field trip to theChippewa National Forest nearGrand Rapids. MN DNR ForestEcologist John Almendinger willlead an all-day hike through cedarswamps, black spruce bogs, andmany upland areas. Plants willinclude orchids, carnivorous plants,sedges, rushes and grasses.

    Saturday, July 14, 9 a.m. to 3p.m., the Society will co-sponsor aworking field trip to Pioneer Parkin Blaine. Work with CriticalConnections Ecological ServicesEcologist Jason Husveth in thecontinued effort to restore the fen thatis home to several of Minnesotas

    most rare plants.Aug. 9, 6 to 8:30 p.m., join MN

    DNR Regional Plant EcologistHannah Texlar at St. Croix SavannaScientific Natural Area for a hikethrough a fantastic hill prairie andoak savanna and assist Hannah withsurveying for the rare Louisianabroomrape. This parasitic plant istypically found west of Minnesota,but recently a population was foundat this SNA.

    Spring and summer field trips

    Future plant eventsThe Linnaeus Symposium is

    April 24 and 25 at GustavusAdolphus College, St. Peter, Minn.

    The annual Friends School PlantSale will be May 11 - 13 at the StateFair Grandstand.

    Phalen WaterFest is May 19 atthe Phalen Park Pavilion, WheelockPkwy. and Arcade St., St. Paul.

    The Iowa Prairie Conference willbe July 13 and 14 at Briar CliffUniversity, Sioux City, Iowawww.ipc2007.com

    President: Scott [email protected]

    Vice President: Shirley MahKooyman, [email protected]

    Secretary: Daniel [email protected]

    Treasurer: Ron and CathyHuber, [email protected]

    Ken Arndt, board [email protected]

    Jason Husveth, board [email protected]

    Linda Huhn,board member andprogram coordinator, 612-374-1435

    Sean Jergens,[email protected]

    Beth Nixon,[email protected]

    Listserv Coordinator: CharlesUmbanhowar, [email protected]

    Field Trips:[email protected]

    M e m b e r s h i p [email protected]; 651-739-4323

    Historian/Archives: RoyRobison, historian/[email protected]

    Technical or membershipinquiries: [email protected]

    Minnesota Plant Press editorGerry Drewry, phone, 651-463-8006; [email protected]

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    plant communities that have becomeadapted to each site over thousandsof years are used. Diverse, locallyappropriate plantings also createhabitat for more animal species;nectar for butterflies; food for

    migrating birds, and nesting habitatfor reptiles, amphibians, andmammals all are necessarycomponents of ecosystems. Plantcommunity ecology providesinformation that can be used to creatediverse, locally adapted restorations.

    Species ecology

    Species ecology (also calledautecology) gives information abouttraits of individual species that make

    each adapted to a particular set ofconditions. Many of us choose plantspecies based on their beauty or theirpotential use as food by a favoriteanimal. Landscape plantings andrestorations are more successfulwhen the species used are thosenative to and adapted to the locallandscape.

    Genetic ecology

    Genetic ecology providesinformation about how a particular

    ecotype of a species is adapted to asite. There is a great deal of geneticvariation among populations of manyplant species, giving each populationtraits that make it adapted to localenvironmental conditions.

    Using plants or seeds from faraway may mean the plants are notadapted to local conditions. This canresult in lower success and can alsoimport genetic material that canspread to naturally occurring plants,reducing the original populationsviability by making the plants lessadapted to local conditions. This isespecially important with rarespecies, but is a concern with allnaturally occurring plantpopulations.

    Sources of ecological informationHere are a few ecological resources

    for native plant gardeners andrestoration practitioners:

    General informationAn overview of using native plants

    for landscaping is found at:www.dnr.state.mn.us/gardens/nativeplants/index.html

    The Global Restoration Network,a project of the Society forEcological Restoration International:

    www.globalrestorationnetwork.org/Landscape Ecology: MinnesotasEcological Classification Systemprovides a hierarchical frameworkfor mapping the landscape based ongeology, soils, hydrology, andvegetation. For more information:www.dnr.state.mn.us/ecs/index.html

    A number of programs are planningfor ecologically meaningfullandscape protection and restoration.One is the Conservation Corridors

    program:www.dnr.state.mn.us/met roconserva t ioncor r idors /index.html

    Plant community, species ecology The three-volume set of fieldguides,Native Plant Communities ofMinnesota , provide the mostcomprehensive information availableabout the states native plantcommunities. The books can bepurchased from Minnesota s

    Bookstore: www.comm.media.state.mn.us/bookstore/bookstore.asp

    Fact sheets from the books are at:www.dnr.state.mn.us/npc/index.html

    Complete species lists for nativeplant communities in the greaterTwin Cities area, derived fromvegetation plot data and developedfor restoration practitioners are at:www.great r ivergreening.org/plant_communities.asp

    Genetic ecologyA good discussion about the issues

    surrounding genetic ecology is in thearticle: How local is local? A reviewof practical and conceptual issues inthe genetics of restoration, by JohnMcKay et al, inRestoration EcologyVol. 13, No. 3, pp. 432-440,September 2005. The authors advisethat practitioners use local seeds andmatch climatic and environmentalconditions between the sites.

    Continued from page 1Ecological issues Wildflower photos

    help minority groupPeter Dziuk, a nursery inspector for

    the Minnesota Department ofAgriculture and a Society memberhas started a wildflower greeting cardbusiness wi th a smal l minor ity

    collective in North Minneapolis. Itis called Wildflowers for OrdinaryPeople.

    Proceeds from card sales benefitJames Everetts and Sister Jeansefforts to rebuild Minneapolis NorthSide. Their projects include at-riskyouth programs, the SubZeroCollective (collectivesight.com), andMothers of Slain Sons, a politicalaction committee supporting womenwho have lost sons to domestic

    violence or war. For informationcall 612-521-8021, ext. 285.

    My intent is to provide a validsource of economic capital for ahistorically excluded group, while atthe same time providing meaningfuoutreach on a topic that both myspouse and I have become passionateabout, to inner-city minoritycommunities and the public at large,Peter said.

    Peter has about 20,000 digitaimages of wildflowers. He hasdonated all the tools of his project hundreds of images , severahundred handmade cards, card racksmaterials, cutting boards and acomputer. Everett is enlistingvolunteers to create new cards,

    Peter has started to translate thecards into Spanish, Hmong, andSomali and wants to develop tribal

    contacts. This is an opportunity toremind people that humans lived inharmony with all of these species forthousands of years, he said.

    The cards are sold at $3.95 each atthe Science Museum of Minnesotain St. Paul; Highland Nursery onWest 7th St., St. Paul; 101 Market inOtsego, Minn., and throughEnvironmental Justice Advocates ofMinnesota. For more information, goto www.ejamn.org.

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    by Roy Robison, president,Landscape Alternatives, Inc., and aformer MN NPS board member.

    Concern for the diminished natural

    occurrence of all native plants iscentral to Landscape Alternativesvery existence. Our policy regardingthe plants we propagate and offer forsale has always been that the plantsmust be of local ecotype as much asis possible and be able to becommercially produced either by ourcompany or by another reputable,licensed nursery.

    This policy automatically leads usto avoid all federally listed

    endangered species. We also avoidplants that either take exceptionallylong to produce or haveexceptionally stringent establishmentcriteria, such as the lady slippers.There are many wonderful speciesthat are not considered threatenedthat we still dont sell because theyare just too difficult or unreliable topropagate. Wed like to change thatbut can only do so much on our own.We look to the University ofMinnesota and the appropriate stateagencies for leadership in researchand support for our industry.

    Thus, we were very disappointedwhen we learned recently of effortsto apply the Minnesota EndangeredSpecies prohibitions to our work. Wecertainly support the intent of the lawto stop the wanton destruction ofMinnesotas rare natural resources.We have always strongly

    discouraged digging from the wildbecause even if the transplant issuccessful, there is no net increasein population. This is the key to thematter. Landscape Alternatives andother reputable native plant and seednurseries work to increasepopulations of native plants and, bytheir use of local germplasm sources,preserve the existing gene pool.

    There are three main aspects to theMinnesota Endangered Species Act,

    as we understand it. The first is theprohibition. This is the gist of thecomplaint being made. The secondlooks beyond protecting what is here

    to the future, when listed species maybe so abundant as to no longer bethreatened. This is whereMinnesotas native plant nurserieshave a great role to play. We shouldbe seen as partne rs with st ateregulatory agencies, not adversariesin protecting Minnesotas naturalplant re sources! Minnesota sprofessional native plant nurserieshave the propagation experience andfacilities required to make a valuable

    contribution to solving theendangered species problem.

    Finally, as with all state legislationthat may affect interstate commerce,there is an important exclusion to thelaw. Any state-listed (not federal)plants purchased legally outside ofthe state may be transported legallyinto the state. Such interstatecommerce is protected by the UnitedStates Constitution.

    The natural ranges of nativespecies do not follow politicalboundaries. A given species may berare in one state because the stateline crosses through the edge of thespecies natural range. On the otherside of that line, the plant may notbe considered rare at all and thuscan be propagated and sold.Therefore, should efforts to restrictMinnesota native plant nurseriesfrom working with certain listed

    species succeed, all that will beaccomplished is to harm part of ourstates business community. Ourcustomers will just buy from outstatesources. This will only increase thethreat to local genetic populations.

    For the good of all Minnesotanative plants and the small nurserybusinesses that raise them, we askstate officials to work with us so thatone day no Minnesota native plantwill be endangered.

    Regarding endangeredand other listed species

    DNRresponseby Hannah Texler, regional planecologist, Minnesota DNR

    On behalf of the DNR, I want tothank Roy for expressing his

    concerns and for participating withme and others on the panel at the MNNPS meeting where th is wadiscussed.

    As I said at the meeting, we greatlyappreciate the vital work done bynative plant and seed nurseries, andwe consider them important partnerin the protection and stewardship obiodiversity. We also acknowledgethat the endangered species statute

    and rules are imperfect and difficulto interpret and hope to be able toimprove them once we have theresources to do so.

    I would like to correct two pointsthat Roy made in his letter. First, thelaw has always applied to native planand seed nurseries; this is not newSecond, he is correct in stating thaby law (Minnesota Statute 84.0895we cant prohibit importation intothis state and subsequent possession

    transport or sale of state-endangeredand threatened plants that are legallybrought here from another stateHowever, we can regulate theseactivities.

    Our interpretation is that whilenurseries from other states can legallybring plants or seeds from speciesthat are endangered or threatened inMinnesota into the state, thesespecies cannot be propagated o

    planted here without a permit. Soeffectively, no one can plant statelisted endangered or threatenedspecies without a permit. For adiscussion about why we believe thelaw does protect rare species, see thearticle in the Winter 2007 MinnesotaPlant Press.Note:Roy Robisons comments and

    the DNR response are a follow-up tothe panel discussion at the March 82007, MN NPS meeting.

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    by Brian Nerbonne, stream habitatspecialist, Minnesota DNR CentralRegion Fisheries. This is an abstract

    of his presentation at the Nov. 2,2006, meeting.

    Its easy to think of a stream as aworld unto itself its ownecosystem contained within thebanks that define it, with separateworlds living above and below thewaters surface. However, streamsare intimately tied to the land use ofthe entire watershed that surroundsthem, especially the streamsideenvironment known as the riparian

    area.The riparian area of streams serves

    many functions that are crucial totheir physical condition as well asbio log ical makeup, and thevegetation present is the mostimportant factor in how riparianareas affect streams. One of the mostdirect effects is how vegetationcontrols the stability of stream banks,thereby contributing to the shape anddimensions of the stream channel.Non-native species such as Kentuckybluegrass or smooth brome haveroots that penetrate up to only a footinto the soil, while native grassessuch as big bluestem or switchgrasshave root masses that extend up tosix feet deep.

    For stream banks that exceed morethan a foot in height, only deeper-rooted native vegetation is able tohold soil together to reduce erosion.

    The same can be said for native treeand shrub species such as green ash,cottonwood, various dogwoodspecies, and most willow species.These woody plants have roots thatpenetrate around three feet into thesoil. They are generally better atholding stream banks in place thanherbaceous vegetation, due to thegreater diameter of the roots ofwoody plants. Non-native woodyinvasives such as buckthorn do not

    provide as much protec tion forstream banks because they createdense monocultures that limit

    understory growth and deter theregeneration of longer lived anddeeper-rooting tree species.

    Runoff from the surroundinglandscape must pass through theriparian area as it drains off the land,meaning the riparian area serves animportant function in buffering thestream from pollutants such as siltand excessive nutrients. Riparianvegetation slows runoff velocity andsettles out sediment particles, as well

    as the phosphorus that is frequentlybound to them. Both woody andherbaceous vegetation are able toremove sediment, although grassedbuffers tend to be slightly moreeffective due to a higher stem densitythat is better at slowing runoff.Buffers are also effective at removingnitrogen and pesticides.

    Riparian vegetation is especiallyimportant in providing habitat fororganisms that live in the stream.Overhanging vegetation andundercuts below well-rooted streambanks provide overhead cover that isimportant in protecting fish fromavian predators. Additionally, woodhabitat in streams is crucial to theinvertebrates that form a lower levelof the aquatic food chain. Theseinvertebrates rely on wood as stablerefuge from the shifting sands thatoften comprise the bed of streams.

    Other invertebrates, especially insmall streams where shading limitsalgal production, rely on leafydetritus from surrounding vegetationas their primary food source.

    Excessive stream bank erosion cancontribute to a decline in sensitivestream biota due to reduced foragingefficiency in turbid waters,sedimentation of gravel areasimportant for invertebrateproduction, or the smothering of fish

    Native vegetation hasvaluable riparian role

    eggs while they incubate on thestream bottom.

    Stream restoration work oftenfocuses on stabilizing eroding streambanks, although the methods usedvary significantly. Traditionallystream banks were covered in rockriprap to reduce erosion, but this

    approach often only shifts erosionproblems downstream, does notimprove habitat, and can lead toincreased warming of the stream. Analternative is to employ temporarytechniques to stabilize the steambank while establishing suitablevegetation to create a stable streambank in the long term. A riparianbuffer of an appropriate mix of nativegrasses, forbs, sedges, shrubs, ortrees suited to site conditions is one

    of the best long-term solutions toprotect stream health.

    Plant sale is June 7by Ken Arndt

    Our annual native plant sale willbe June 7, following the speakerspresenta tion. We encouragemembers to divide or propagate theirown native plants and donate themA few volunteers are needed to helpset up the sales area and assist

    members with their plants. When thesale begins, volunteers will selectplants first, followed by those whodonated plants, and then by othermembers and visitors.

    The sale will be on the patio outsideof Dakota Lodge. Bring your plantsby 6 p.m. We want only native plantsfrom Minnesota and westernWisconsin. Do not bring cultivars(horticultural selection) of nativeplants. Plants should come from

    your own property, gardens or otherprivate property, with that ownerspermission, but not public property

    Dig your plants two to four weeksbefore the sale, put them in typicanursery containers, and label themwith both common and scientificnames. Pricing will be done byvolunteers. Dave Crawford and KenArndt are co-chairs. To volunteercontact [email protected] or cal651-433-4410.

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    by Craig A. Annen, consultingecologist, Michler & Brown, LLC.

    In a previous article (MinnesotaPlant Press, Spring 2005), I reported

    on the effects of a grass-specificherbicide, Vantage (sethoxydim),on reed canary grass. [Vantage ispresently marketed as Sethoxydim GPRO .] After observing substantialrecovery in the post-treatmentregrowth year, I postulated that apicaldominance in reed canary grassrhizomes might affect herbicideperformance and the ability of thisspecies to recover (resurge) fromherbicide treatments. In this article,

    I summarize results of an experimentdesigned to test if short-circuitingrhizome apical dominance prior tosethoxydim application wouldenhance this herbicides effects onreed canary grass.

    The purpose of this experiment wasto determine if either tillage or plantgrowth regulator (PGR) pretreatmentfollowed by sethoxydim applicationwould suppress reed canary grass toa greater extent than solitary use ofherbicide. One year of couplingtillage (ca. June 1) to sethoxydimapplication (ca. June 21) reducedreed canary grass stem density 35percent greater than sethoxydimapplication only.

    Two consecutive years of thetillage-sethoxydim treatmentreduced reed canary grass stemdensity 443 percent greater thansethoxydim application only. Tillage

    also enhanced native speciesabundance (up to 270 percent) anddiversity (up to 87 percent) becausetillage stirs up the seed bank andburies litter, facilitating germination.Application of a 2:1 mixture ofCycocel (chlormequat chloride) andProxy (ethephon) growth regulators(ca. June 15) followed by herbicideapplication (ca. June 21) for twoconsecutive growing seasonsreduced reed canary grass stem

    density 26 percent greater thansethoxydim application alone.

    A vegetation survey was conductedduring the post-treatment regrowth

    year to assess the degree of reedcanary grass resurgence taking placein each treatment. Resurgenceoccurred in all treatment plots duringthe regrowth year, but it occurred toa lesser extent in tillage-herbicideand PGR-herbicide plots than insethoxydim-only plots. Thus,coupling tillage and PGRpre treatmen ts to se thoxydimapplication for two consecutivegrowing seasons reduced reed canary

    grass resurgence capacity relative tosolitary herbicide use. In general,plots that were more diverse at thebeg inning of the experimentresponded more positively totreatments than plots that were lessdiverse or monotypic at thebeg inning of the exper iment ,regardless of which treatment wasadministered. The presence of nativevegetation may augment controlmeasures by shading out reed canarygrass during its recovery period.Although tillage and PGRpre treatmen ts enhancedsethoxydims effectiveness on reedcanary grass, multiple-yeartreatments were required to reduceresurgence capacity, demonstratingthe necessity for long-termmanagement to control this species.

    Surges in native species abundanceand diversity may not always

    accompany tillage treatments. Thediversity-enhancing effects of tillagemay be limited to transitionalcommunities where reed canarygrass is commingled with nativespecies or occurs as a clonal patchwithin a native species matrix, areaswhere native species seed banks aremore likely to be intact and inmoderate or high density. I ampresently testing this hypothesis witha tillage experiment in a restored

    landscape that has a limited seedbank due to previous land-usehistory.

    A variety of treatments andtreatment combinations are availablefor reed canary grass abatement andsubsequent native speciesrestoration. Results of this study

    demonstrate that tillage and plantgrowth regulator pretreatments canenhance the effectiveness ofsethoxydim on reed canary grass ifadministered for at least twoconsecutive growing seasons.

    Craig A. Annen is a practicingrestorationist and researcher. Formore information, contact him a608-424-6997 [email protected].

    Accessory treatments helpsuppress reed canary grass

    Help search fordwarf trout liliesThe Minnesota Natural Heritage

    and Nongame Research Program isseeking volunteers to help with dwarftrout lily monitoring and searchesThey especially need volunteers whoare available on weekdays.

    Volunteers work in teams to searchdesignated areas under supervisionof DNR staff and/or experienced

    volunteers. The exact scheduledepends on lily phenology and canoccur anytime between April 23 andMay 10. All work is within an hoursdrive south of the Twin Cities in RiceGoodhue, or Steele CountiesMinimum time commitment is onefull day. Sites vary in topographicdifficulty and risk of getting wet feetTraining is in the field.

    To volunteer, contact Derek

    Anderson, botany [email protected] or651-259-5071. Include your fulname; phone number where you arebest reached at the last minute; ande-mail if possible. Indicate the totalnumber of days you are willing tocommit, and list dates during thetwo-week time period when you areavailable. You can expect a follow-up e-mail or phone call no earlierthan the week of April 16.

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    Plant Loreby Thor KommedahlWhat is spiderwort?

    Spiderwort is Tradescantiabracteata, T. occidentalis, or T.ohiensis. They are in the spiderwortfamily (Commelinaceae) of

    monocotyledons these three ofsix species are native to Minnesota.

    Where did it get its names?Tradescantia was named after

    British plant collector JohnTradescant (1608-1637). He wasgardener to King Charles I inLondon. It was named spiderworteither because the sap from brokenstems forms filaments like a spidersweb, or the angular leaf arrangement

    suggests a squatting spider.Bracteata refers to bracts in theinflorescence. Occidentalis meanswestern and ohiensis means of Ohio.Wort means herb, but is often addedto common names if a plant was onceused in medicine.

    Where does the plant grow?Spiderworts are typically prairie

    plants: T. bracteata is the mostwidely distributed of the three nativespecies in Minnesota, and T. ohiensisoccurs in extreme southeast countiesof the state. However, T. ohiensis andsome other species have been plantedin gardens and have escapedcultivation elsewhere.

    What does the plant look like?Plants are perennials. All three

    species have three petals that are blueto rose-colored, six stamens, andflowers that are borne in umbel-likecymes. Long bracts that resemble

    leaves in shape subtend the flowers.T. bracteata has dense, sticky hairson sepals and pedicels, T.occidentalis is sparsely hairy, and T.ohiensis is hairless.

    Does it have any medicinal uses?Cherokee Indians made a plant tea

    for treatment of kidney and stomachailments. A leaf poultice was appliedto insect bites, and a root poultice forcancers.

    Does it have any economicimportance?

    Although grown as an ornamentalin gardens, none of these threespecies is as popular as T. virginiana.Wandering Jew (T. fluminensis) isgrown as a house plant. Spiderwortshave been eaten as a raw salad or potherb.

    Photo ofT. bracteata by SeanJergens

    Photo ofT. occidentalis by ScottMilburn

    A winter afternoonby Ken Arndt

    On Feb. 17, 10 MN NPS membersenjoyed a warm afternoon outing at

    Terrace Horticultural Books in St.Paul, shopping for plant books.Owner Kent Petterson opened hisstore for us and also donated 10percent of sa le s from memberpurchases to the Society. He gaveus a tour and a short history of thebusiness before we were let loose inthe candy store. If you didnt makeit, go to this great little bookstoresometime. Information is atwww.terracehorticulturalbooks.com

    Robert (Bob)Jacobson diesby Roy Robison and George Hild

    The Minnesota Native PlantSociety lost a good friend whenRobert (Bob) Jacobson diedsuddenly Jan. 23 at his home in StPaul.

    Bob was a very active member ofthe Society. Besides attendingnumerous monthly meetings, leadingfield trips and presenting severatalks, he also was the editor of theMinnesota Plant Press from fall of1990 through spring of 1993 and afrequent contributor of articles.

    He is survived by his parents, Jeanand Robert L. Jacobson of

    Minnetonka, and his brother, RonaldJacobson, of White Bear Lake.

    Bob worked at MnDOT for 19years and played an important rolein getting the state to use local nativeecotypes in MnDOT projects. Heworked closely with otherorganizations to developspecifications that are still usedtoday. He was currently working onvarious wetland programs in theEnvironmental Services Department

    of MnDOT.Bob helped the use of Minnesota

    native plants by testifying beforeseveral committees at the stateCapitol a few years ago, supportingthe use of natives along roadsidesand against a law that would havebanned their use.

    Bob loved plants; he also lovedanimals. He lost his big black dog afew years ago, and that was hard on

    him. Bjorn was a slobberingscoundrel that Bob insisted onbringing with him on field trips. Hewas also a leaner, so combinedwith the dripping, the experiencealways proved interesting.

    There are plans to rename a coupleof wetland projects for Bob, as welas the establishment of the BobJacobson Wetland Memorial FundDonations are also being accepted bythe Humane Society.

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    Minnesota Native Plant Society

    P.O. Box 20401

    Bloomington, MN 55420

    Spring 2007