Winter 2005 Minnesota Plant Press ~ Minnesota Native Plant Society Newsletter

7/31/2019 Winter 2005 Minnesota Plant Press ~ Minnesota Native Plant Society Newsletter

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Minnesota Plant PressThe Minnesota Native Plant Society Newsletter

Volume 24 Number 2 Winter 2005

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 opens6:30 p.m. Refreshments,

information, Room A

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

9:00 p.m. Building closes

ProgramsThe MNPS meets the first Thursday in

October, November, December, February,March, April, May, and June. Check theWeb site for more program information.

Feb 3: Botanical Survey of Lyle-Austin,Minn., Wildlife Management Area:Prairie Remnants of the Chicago Great

Western Railroad, by Paul Bockenstedt,restoration ecologist, Bonestroo NaturalResources. Plant-of-the Month: Sweetconeflower, by Bockenstedt.

March 3: Wetland Restoration atPioneer Park, Blaine, Anoka County,by Jason Husveth, Critical ConnectionsEcological Services, Inc. Plant-of-theMonth: Jasons choice.

April 7: Hardwood forest declinesyndrome: The synergistic impact of deerand invasive earthworms, by Lee Frelich,

U of Minn.; Plant-of-Month: botrychium.May 5: Native Grass IdentificationWorkshop, by Anita Cholewa, Ph.D,curator of temperate plants, J.F. BellMuseum of Natural History. POM: TBD.

June 2: Program TBD. Annual Plant Saleopen to the public.

New MNPS Web sitewww.mnnps.orge-mail: [email protected]

Symposium on bogsand fens to be April 6by Karen Schik

Registration will soon be open for the 2005 MNPS SymposiumBogs And Fens Minnesotas Mysterious Mires. It will be held Apri6, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Warner Nature Center in Marine on St. CroixThe charming center, just 40 minutes northeast of St. Paul, issurrounded by woods and overlooks a bog a perfect place for nativeplant enthusiasts!

Visit the new Web site (www.mnnps.org) for registration details andto download a registration form, which will be available soonRegistration brochures will also be mailed to MNPS members. Pleasenote: space for the symposium is very limited, so register early forthis popular topic. A special attraction this year will be unscheduledtime to visit the nature centers real bog and indoor bog exhibit.

Speakers and Topics: Introduction to Bogs and Fens Paul Glaser, senior researchassociate, Limnological Research Center, University of Minnesota.

The Flora of Minnesotas Last Frontier: Characteristic VascularPlants of Fens and Bogs Scott Zager, plant ecologist, WildlandsEcological Services.

Hydrology of Bogs and Fens Jeanette Leete, hydrogeologissupervisor, DNR Waters.

Patterned Peatlands Paul Glaser.

Saving Savage Fen Steve Eggers, senior ecologist, U.S. ArmyCorps of Engineers, St. Paul.

Large-Scale Bog Restorationfor Wetland Mitigation Thomas Malterer, programdirector, University of MinnesotaDuluth Natural ResourcesResearch Institute.

SNA Program: Successes andOpportunities BobDjupstrom, program supervisor,DNR Scientific and NaturalAreas Program.

In this issueMNPS board, purpose.......... 2Think Native seed grant....... 2

Outdoor opportunities........ 3

Little bluestem research........4

Bird habitats, numbers..........5

Garlic mustard control..........5

American lotus..................... 6

Lance-leaved violet.............. 7

New Jersey tea (Plant Lore) 7


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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 plantlife.4. Encouragement of research and publications on plants native toMinnesota.5. Study of legislation on Minnesota flora, vegetation and ecosystems.6. Preservation of special plants, plant communities and scientific andnatural areas.7. Cooperation in programs concerned with the ecology of naturalresources and scenic features.8. Fellowship with all persons interested in native plants throughmeetings, lectures, workshops and field trips.

MNPS Board ofDirectors

President: Jason HusvethCritical Connections EcologicaServices Inc., 14758 Ostlund TraiN., Marine on St. Croix, MN; 651247-0474; [email protected]

Vice-President: Scott Milburn744 James Ave., St. Paul, MN 55102651-261-4381;[email protected]

Secretary: Karen Schik, 13860236th St. N., Scandia, MN 55073651-433-5254 (h), 651-222-2193(w); [email protected]

Treasurer: David Johnson, 6437Baker Ave. N.E., Fridley, MN 55432763-571-6278; [email protected]

Ken Arndt, 2577 Co. Rd. F, WhiteBear Twp., MN 55110; 651-4268174; [email protected]

Ron Huber, 2521 Jones Place W.Bloomington, MN 55431-2837; 952886-0783; [email protected]

Shirley Mah Kooyman, 4520Terraceview Lane N., Plymouth, MN55446; 952-443-1419 (w), 763-5593114 (h);

[email protected] Plunkett Latham, 7013

Comanche Court, Edina, MN55439-1004; 952-941-3542;[email protected]

Douglas Mensing, 5814 GrandAve. S., Minneapolis, MN 55419612-926-8637 (H);[email protected]

Program Chair: Linda Huhn2553 Dupont Ave. S., MinneapolisMN 55405; 612-374-1435

Listserv Coordinator: CharlesUmbanhowar, [email protected]

Minnesota Plant Press editorGerry Drewry, 24090 NorthfieldBlvd., Hampton, MN 55031; phone651-463-8006; fax, [email protected]

Technical or membershipinquiries: [email protected]

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Century Collegeaccepts ThinkNative seed grantby Dianne Plunkett Latham, chair

of the MNPS Think Native program

Horticulture Instructor GinnyCoyle and 11 of her students in the

Century College HorticultureProgram accepted the MNPS ThinkNative seed grant at the Nov. 4MNPS meeting. The seeds will beused to develop native plantings ontheir campus in White Bear Lake.With the Century Collegegreenhouses, they are able topropagate plants from cuttings,divisions, or seeds to expand campusgardens or to share with otherorganizations. There are a wide

variety of growing conditions oncampus, and many areas are visibleto the public.

For many years, the horticultureprogram at Century College wassolely represented by satelliteprograms at Stillwater and LinoLakes Correctional Facilities. Whenthe Department of Correctionscancelled its contract with the collegeto provide vocational horticulture

education in prisons, horticulture wasreopened on campus. CenturyCollege now offers a two-yearassociate of science degree, which

transfers to the University ofMinnesota, as well as occupationalcertificates, diplomas, and anassociate of applied science.

Century College connects studentswith the community through servicelearning projects. Last fall, studentsin Coyles Biology of Horticultural

Crops class collected seed fromJims Prairie for Ginny Gaynor,open spaces coordinator inMaplewood. Students in theHerbaceous Plants class thissemester sowed the seed and willreturn the plants they grew to theMaplewood Nature Center for prairierestoration. Joy Cedarleaf, a biologyinstructor, teaches field biology and

restoration ecology at the college.

Coyle will coordinate plantings with

Cedarleafs classes as well, toinvolve as many students as possible.Last summer a pest managementclass was also offered. Anyoneinterested in the horticulture programat Century College should contactGinny Coyle at 651-773-1726, ext.

2, or [email protected]

MNPS ListserveSend a message that includes the

word subscribe or unsubscribeand your name in the body of themessage to:[email protected]


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Learn to identifywinter woody plantsat Falls Creek SNAby Doug Mensing

On Saturday, March 12, MNPSBoard Members Ken Arndt and ScottMilburn will lead a woody plantidentification field trip to Falls Creek

Scientific Natural Area. This is threemiles north of Copas on StateHighway 95 in Washington County(between Stillwater and TaylorsFalls).

We will meet at 9 a.m. at theparking lot off of Hwy. 95, where wewill enter the SNA and hike untilnoon. We will be learning how toidentify the trees, shrubs, and vinesthat comprise this type of northernhardwood and coniferous forest bytheir buds, bark, and form. You willalso learn about the history andcurrent management practices thatthe DNR has implemented for thisspecial SNA.

For more information about FallsCreek Scientific Natural Area and amap on how to get there, go tow w w . d n r . s t a t e . m n . u s / s n a s /sna01057/index.html.

The field trip is limited to 25people . Steep slopes wi ll beencountered along the walk down tothe creek to the bottom of the ravine.Look for more details in the nearfuture at www.mnnps.org.

MSHS plans Junewildflower, forestecology weekendon North Shore

The Minnesota State HorticulturalSociety is sponsoring a late spring

wildflower and forest ecologyweekend in the Grand Marais areaon Lake Superiors North ShoreFriday, June 3, through Sunday, June5. They will have a series ofexploratory hikes to discover theregions rich diversity of wildflowersand forest ecology.

Naturalist Kent Jones will lead aninterpretive tour of some uniquehabitats that will feature the springwildflowers of the boreal forest,

northernmost maple-basswoodforest, northern wetlands andSuperior shorelands. Hikes will alsoinclude participants interests inbirds , bu tt erf li es, chari smaticmegafauna, geology, cultural history,and general forest ecology.

The program begins Friday witha 7 - 9 p.m. wine and snack social ata location to be announced. Saturdaywill include two or three hikes

(depending on the weather) and aprovided lunch. A Sunday morninghike will conclude the program.

Kent Jones worked for over 20years in the metro area as aninterpretive naturalist for a variety ofnature centers and the Three RiversPark District. His love of the northfinally got the best of him in 2001,when he moved to the Grand Maraisarea. He spends his spare timecanoeing, kayaking, and hiking the

north shore area in search of the bestblueberry patches, unusualwildflowers, and rare birds.

The cost is $125 per MSHSmember, $150 for non-members.This includes snacks and beverageson Friday night, and deli style lunchon Saturday. Participants must beable to hike on uneven ground andbe prepared for inclement weather.Transportation is on your own. For

Volunteer Opportunitiesat Grey Cloud Dunes SNAby Karen Schik

Funding for the DNR Scientific and Natural Areas Program was drasticallyreduced in recent years, so the DNR is more than ever in need of volunteer

to help manage our highest quality natural areas. In response to that needand as part of the core mission of thesociety, the MNPS board voted in2004 to adopt Grey Cloud DunesSNA in Cottage Grove. We havecommitted to work with the DNRand to assist with managementactivities at this spectacular dryprairie site along the Mississippi. Wewill post volunteer opportunities ineach newsletter, as well as on the

MNPS website. Check back often!

Burning Desire

Saturday, Feb. 19, 10 a.m. 2 p.m

Come to Grey Cloud Dunes to burn

brush piles (already stacked). Bring

something to roast for lunch!

Brush cuttingSaturday March 26, 9 a.m. 1 p.m

Cut, treat and stack honeysuckle

Training and tools provided.

Site Steward

Any time, any day. In addition togroup events, individual volunteers

are needed to be site stewards at Grey

Cloud Dunes. Site stewards typically

make regular (e.g. monthly) site

visits and report their findings to the

DNR. They record things like new

invasive species locations and

evidence of illegal activities, and do

simple activities like picking uptrash. Being a site steward is a goodexcuse to do what most of us want todo anyway get out to a beautifulnatural area on a regular basis. Andyoud be doing something valuablein the process.

To sign up for any activity, pleasee-mail Karen Schik [email protected] or call: 651-222-2193, ext. 15 (w) or 651-433-5254(h). More instructions and directionswill be provided.

information on lodging or to pre-register, contact Vicky Vogels,community outreach coordinator,MSHS, at 800-676-6747; 651-643-3601, ext. 211; or atwww.northerngardener.org


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by Mary H. Meyer, associateprofessor, Departmen t ofHorticultural Science,University ofMinnesota. This is an abstract of her

talk at the May 6, 2004 meeting.Schizachyrium scoparium, orlittle

bluestem, is native to most of theUnited States, with the exception ofthe far western states and Florida.Typically an upland grass, littlebluestem is known for its droughttolerance and ability to grow onsandy and poor soils. It is a dominantgrass in tall- and short-grass prairiesand is found throughout Minnesota.

The USDA has released severalvarieties of Schizachyriumscoparium,beginning in the 1960s.Aldous, Blaze, Camper,Cimarron, and Pastura were theresult of breeding programs toimprove grasses available for forageand range use in the central UnitedStates. In 1997, the USDA PlantMaterials Center in Bismarck, N.D.,released Badlands, an ecotypeselected from collections from North

and South Dakota. Badlands isadapted for range seeding, prairierestoration and prairie landscaping.None of these selections are fromMinnesota native little bluestem.

At the University of Minnesota,we have conducted research on littlebluestem in five projects that aredescribed below. All of theseprojects, except the competitionstudy, have been published.

Seeding date and establishmentIn this research, the best planting

dates for little bluestem were May 1through July 20. Dormant seedingswere not successful for the two years,1996 and1997, of the project. Asexpected, rainfall influenced thesuccess of most seedings.

Field seedling identificationIdentification of grasses without

floral parts can be a challenge. Inprairie restoration, the abili ty to

identify grass species in the seedlingstage is necessary to determine if theplanting has been successful. Littlebluestem was one of 15 native and

introduced grasses that wereanalyzed and described in avegetative key to identify seedlings.Little bluestem seedlings have a flatsheath, are folded in the bud, haveno auricles, the culm base is oftentinged pink or maroon, and the firsttillers fan out in a plane.

Minnesota population and newselections

A spaced planting of 35 Minnesotalittle bluestem populations wasestablished in 1996 and 1997.Collections were made from parks,nature preserves, railroad rights ofway, and other natural areas. Seedwas germinated, and plants wereestablished in three replications ofeight plants each on the St. Paulcampus. Plants continue to beevaluated for variation in flowertime, height, color, and lodging. In2004, a selection from Benton

County that has been evaluated atseveral Research and OutreachCenters was advanced to a newrelease, and a plant patent has beenapplied for Schizachyriumscoparium, Blue Heaven.TM Thisselection is taller, with dark bluesummer foliage color and bright blueto pink fall color. Commercialgrowers interested in propagatingthis new release should contact theU of M for a nonexclusive license.

Work will continue to identify othernew ornamental forms of littlebluestem.

Propagation time and aerationporosity

Little bluestem plugs and fielddivisions grew equally whenpropagated in the fall or spring inanother study. Both over-winteredwell and grew adequately in allaeration porosities from 5-41

percent. Little bluestem appears tobe well adapted to diverse growingconditions and methods ofpropagation.

Competition study withMiscanthus

This study has not been finalizedfor publication, but in an additive

competition study, little bluestemwas not affected by addingMiscanthus, a non-native ornamentalgrass that has been shown to beinvasive in Middle Atlantic StatesLittle bluestem was not reduced inroot or shoot growth when grownwith one or two Miscanthus plantsin this 22-week greenhousecompetition study. Thus littlebluestem is a competitive, adaptablenative grass.

Research evaluates littlebluestem varieties for state

Study predictsbroad changes fromglobal warming

Global warming wont affect just afew species of plants and insects it will challenge many interdependentspecies, according to a report recentlyreleased by the Wildlife Society.

Some results of early springs are

already visible, such as the shrinkingPorcupine herd of caribou, whosemigration patterns have beendisrupted. Seasonal ponds in theMidwest are drying up earlier in theyear, affecting ducks. Sugar maplesmay disappear from this country astheir range moves northward.

Time factors, such as arrival ofpredators and pollinators, will bemajor concerns. The surgingpopulation of timber-des troyingspruce budworms in Minnesotasboreal forests has been attributed to anorthward shift of warblers that onceheld the worms in check.

The study also shows that someecosystems will not move, but wilvanish. For example, if rising sealevels flood coastal zones, physicaand man-made barriers will prevenwetlands from re-creating themselvesfurther inland.


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by Dianne Plunkett LathamGarlic mustard,Alliaria petiolata,

looks innocent on the forest floor ofa local park, or at the edges of your

property but it is not innocent.This rapidly spreading aliendisplaces native wildflowers andother flora in woodlands. Check yourproperty garlic mustard is easy tospot now because it is one of the fewgreen plants on the forest floor fromlate fall until wildflowers breakdormancy in early April.

In its first season, garlic mustardhas rosettes of three or four roundedor kidney-shaped, dark green leaveswith scalloped edges two to sixinches tall. In May and June duringits second year, the rosettes send upflower stalks, one to four feet tall,with alternate, sharply toothedleaves. Clusters of small whiteflowers top the stem. New leavessmell like garlic when crushed. Thefragrance fades by fall. The seedcapsules are one to two inches long,with 100 or more seeds per plantdisseminated mid-July to August.

Because this biennial overwintersas a green plant, it gets a head starton native plants in the spring andaggressively monopolizes light,moisture, nutrients and soil. If notcontrolled, it can carpet a woodlandfloor. Garlic mustard threatens notonly woodland plant diversity, butalso the wildlife whose sources of

food are the foliage, pollen, nectarfruits and seeds of our native plantsGarlic mustard has no known naturalenemies in North America, is self-

fertile, and is difficult to eradicateonce established. Thus, the best andmost effective control method is toprevent its initial establishmentGarlic mustard is on the State ofMinnesotas Prohibited NoxiousWeed list requiring its control orelimination (Rule 1505.0730).

To remove garlic mustard fromyour property, you may either hand-pu ll , sp ray wi th th ree percentRoundup (glyphosate), or placemulch over seedlings. If you hand-pull, remember that this biennial hasa taproot like a dandelion and wilregenerate if any part of the rootremains in the ground. Seedpods mayripen even after pulling, so if flowersand seedpods are present, bag theplants immediately and send them tothe landfill, not to the compost pile.

If you choose to spray, the best timeto do it is when native plants are

dormant between mid September andmid March. Glyphosate is a non-selective herbicide and will kill anyplant that is photosynthetic (activelygrowing). Because garlic mustardstays green all winter, you can sprayit whenever the temperature is above32 degrees.

Garlic mustard seeds remain viablefor five to seven years, continuing tosprout after removal of the colonyAs a consequence, it is critical that

the area be mulched with two to fourinches of leaves or grass clippingsThis should continue until the seedbank is exhausted in five to sevenyears.

Garlic mustard needs to becontrolled before buckthorn isremoved in proximity to it. This wilprevent a burst of garlic mustardgermination upon opening the forestfloor to light, after removal of thebuckthorn canopy.

Winter is easiest time tofind and kill garlic mustard

What is effectof habitat onbird numbers?by Tom Cooper, wildlife biologist,Minnesota waterfowl Association.

This abstract of his talk at the Dec.2, 2004 meeting is based on researchfor his South Dakota State UniversityPh.D. thesis, Forest and grasslandbird occurrence and habitat selectionin the prairie-forest transition zoneof Minnesota.

Some forest and grassland birdshave experienced populationdeclines in the midwestern UnitedStates due to habitat loss andfragmentation. Wildlife managersneed to understand habitatrequirements at multiple spatialscales for these birds when planninghabitat protection and restorationefforts.

Our objectives were to assess birduse of grassland/forest patches in theprairie-forest transi tion zone ofMinnesota and to model speciesoccurrence at multiple spatial scales.We conducted more than 180 point

counts in 2003 and 2004 to determinebird species presence in each covertype. Local vegetation variableswere measured on site, and landscapevariables were determined with ageographic information system.

Models incorporating landscapeand local variables were developedto predict the probability ofoccurrence for bird species ofmanagement concern. AkaikesInformation Criterion was used torank candidate models. We counted53 different bird species in grasslandsand 71 species in forests. Thirteenbird species were U.S. Fish andWildlife Service resourceconservation priority species.

Common yellowthroats(Geothlypis trichas), bobolinks(Dolichonyx oryzivorus), and sedgewrens (Cistothorus platensis) werethe most common birds in

grasslands. Eastern wood-pewees

(Contopus virens), red-eyed vireos(Vireo olivaceus), and great crestedflycatchers (Myiarchus crinitus)were the most common birds inforests. Modeling indicated thatdifferent species responded to habitatconditions on various spatial scales.Thus, scale needs to be consideredwhen planning habitat protection,management, and restorationprojects to benefit grassland andforest birds.


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by Dianne Plunkett Latham. This isan abstract of her Oct. 7, 2004 Plant-of-the-Month talk.

There are only two species in thelotus genus Ne lumbonaceae Ne lumbo lu tea (zone 4a) andNelumbo nucifera (zone 5). TheAmerican lotus, N. lutea, occurs inMinnesota along the MississippiRiver between St. Paul and Iowa. Itis also found in a few lakes in thevicinity of the Twin Cities, whereNative Americans may have plantedit for food. It grows in quiet waters,

including ponds, lakes, and on theedges of slow moving streams andrivers.

It ranges from Iowa and Minnesotato Ontario and New York, and southto Oklahoma, eastern Texas andFlorida. It also occurs in the WestIndies and Central America, andsouth to Columbia.

The American lotus produces the

largest flower of any plant in NorthAmerica, just edging out Magnoliagrandif lora and Hi bi scusgrandiflora. N. luteas stately paleyellow flowers measure 6-10 inchesin diameter. Leaf platters grow upto 20 inches in diameter, on stalks ofup to six feet in height.

Lotus was an important foodsource for Native Americans. Therhizomes produce starchy tubers that

can be baked like sweet potatoes andare said to be delicious. The youngleaves, before they unroll, can besteamed or boiled like spinach.Immature seeds can be eaten raw.

Mature seeds can be shelled and thekernels roasted and eaten like nutsor ground into flour. Today, theinteresting seedpods are often usedin dried flower arrangements. Lotusspp. are protected in Minnesota,

however. Under the Conservation ofCertain Wildflowers (Minn. Statutes18H.18), No person shall distribute... lotus (Nelumbo lutea), which havebeen collected in any manner fromany public or private propertywithout the written permission of theproperty owner and wr it tenauthorization from thecommissioner.

Lotus plants require several weeksof sunny weather with temperaturesabove 80 degrees F in order tobloom.N. lutea is suitable for zone4a and is not as sensitive to coolsummer temperatures as is its zone5cousin,N. nucifera.

Lotus can only be cultivated incircular containers.If the growing tipgets caught in a square corner, it willdie.Great care must be exercised intransplanting so as not injure thegrowing tip, or it will die. Lotusesgrow rapidly and typically have to

be subdivided at least every otheryear in containers. BecauseN. luteais a large lotus, it requires a largecontainer if you want to cultivate it.

In August 2004, I visited theMissouri Botanical GardensLinnean House reflecting pools,where theirN. lutea is grown in 15-gallon concrete containers. With sucha large container, the Linnean HouseN. lutea had not been subdivided for

four years. There it overwintersoutdoors in the Linnean House pool.St. Louis is in zone 5b, and theirpools do not freeze solid during thewinter as do ours in zone 4. Lotuscannot be grown in containers inzone 4 without winter protection.

On our mid-August 2004 trip I alsoobserved N. lutea pro fuse lyflowering at peak bloom along theMississippi River outside of Nauvoo,

Would you like to helpthe MNPS as a boardmember or officer?

The MNPS is actively looking for

officers and board members to serve

terms beginning July 1, 2005. If you

are willing to serve on the board of

directors (three-year term), or as

treasurer, secretary, vice presidentor president, contact Dianne Plunkett

Latham, nominating committee

chair, at 952-941-3542 before Feb

15.

We are in particular need of a

treasurer. To find out more about

those duties, contact our current

treasurer, David Johnson, at 763-

571-6278.

American lotus is stateslargest wildflower

Illinois, as well as entirely filling anearthen pond on the grounds of theSt. Louis Jewel Box ConservatoryProfuse is an understatement, asNlutea was moving into the lawn alongthe earthen pond embankmentswhere mowing appeared to be theJewel Box ground keepers only

defense!If planted in a favorable location

lotuses will quickly take over. Watergardeners should not plant lotuses inprivate earthen ponds or in privatenatural areas they dont want themto take over. Most lotus varieties areat least marginally hardy in zone 4and would rapidly take over if notkilled by the pond going dry and thenthe dry ground freezing solid during

a winter without snow cover.Lotus seeds excavated from

Chinese tombs have been foundviable after 2,000 years! Lotus seedswould not remain viable that longwhen exposed to natures forceshowever.

Pests and diseases that sometimestrouble lotuses include leaf spotscaterpillars, spider mites and white

flies.


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Plant Loreby Thor KommedahlWhat is New Jersey tea?New Jersey tea is a shrub in the

buckthorn family. It s name isCeanothus americanus.

How did it get these names?

Although native to Minnesota andmany other states, Ceanothus speciesare distributed worldwideTheophrastus used this name, whichmeans thistle in Greek, probablybecause ofC. spinosus, which hasspiny stems. It was called NewJersey tea because of its use duringthe American Revolution as asubstitute for tea after the Boston TeaParty.

What does the plant look like?It is a shrub up to three feet tall; it

has white five-petaled flowers incluster, and its fruit is a three-lobedcapsule-like drupe. It grows in dryopen areas, dry gravelly banks, andin open woods in the state.

Does it have any medicinal uses?Tea made from its leaves is an

excellent beverage, and AmericanIndians made tea from leaves. TheIndians also made tea from roots as

a treatment for colds, stomachachesand lung ailments. An alkaloid in itsroots has been used for loweringblood pressure.

Are there other economic uses?The roots harbor nitrogen-fixing

actinomycetes, which are useful insoil improvement. Horticulturallyother species have been grafted toroots ofC. americanus to producegarden hybrids.

Lance-leaved violetis rare in Minnesotaby Scott A. Milburn, M.S., P.W.S,wetland ecologist/botanist, CriticalConnections Ecological Services,Inc. This is an abstract of his Plant-of-the-Month talk at the Dec. 2, 2004

meeting.Viola lanceolata,the lance-leavedviolet, is a member of the violetfamily, having the characteristiczygomorphic flowers, a five-partedcorolla, and a spurred anterior petal.The genus is represented by 17 nativespecies and two introduced speciesin this state. The species is one ofseveral in the group of stemless oracaulescent white flowered violetspresent in Minnesota. The stemappearance can be somewhatdeceiving, with the stem actuallybelow ground. Keys to aid in theidentification of the species are thenarrow, strap-like leaves, which areoften three to six times longer thanwide. The species is known to flowerin May and June, but it can continueflowering late into the year.

This violet is a state threatenedspecies that tends to inhabit saturatedto wet habitats with sandy or organic

substrates, including lakeshores,sedge meadows, and open bogs.These habitats typically experiencesome sort of disturbance event,which benefits this species due to itsinability to compete with largerspecies.

Lance-leaved violet is a pioneeringspecies with a reproductive strategythat incorporates self-fertilization,cross-fertilization, and vegetativereproduction. As competition for

light and nutrients increases withinthe community, the size of thepopula tion decreases, and thepopula tion wa it s fo r the nextdisturbance event. The species isadapted to follow a disturbanceevent by quickly germinating fromthe seed bank or by colonizing anopen area vegetatively.

In Minnesota, this violet iscommonly found in the AnokaSandplain, with the greatest threat to

this species statewide being loss ofhabitat via development. Thespecies is further negatively affectedby fi re suppress ion, alt eredhydrology, and competition frominvasive species. Until recentlythere was great concern regarding thedwindling number of populations ofthis species. However, due to recenintensive botanical work in theAnoka Sandplain, numerouspopulations have been located.

Winter botany fieldtrip was devoted toplant identificationby Doug Mensing

On Nov. 13, the Minnesota NativePlant Society sponsored a winterbotany field trip at Tamarack Nature

Center in White Bear Township.About 15 native plant enthusiasts metin one of the nature centersclassrooms, where the societyspresident, Jason Husveth, began byreviewing a variety of field guidesand other resources useful for winterplant identification.

We then proceeded to walk outsideinto the chilly air and applied whatwe had learned in a variety of natural

and restored ecosystems, includingprairies, wetlands, and forests. Jasonshowed the group persistent late falland winter characteristics, andexplained how habitats andassociated plant species can assistwith plant identification. Ken Arndt,a MNPS board member, led theforest portion of the walk, where wefocused on woody species.Numerous wildflowers, grasses,sedges, shrubs, and trees were

identified by the group.Following the walk, participants

met back inside the classroom towarm up with tea, coffee, andconversation. The MNPS would liketo thank Tamarack Nature Center fortheir hospitality at the event, whichwas thoroughly enjoyed by all.

In early March the society willsponsor another winter field trip, atFalls Creek SNA. An article about

that trip is on page 3.

Prairie restoration handbookis available online from DNR

Going Native: A PrairieRestoration Handbook fo rMinnesota Landowners is availableonline at www.dnr.state.mn.us andat DNR offices. Ellen Fuge editedthe 63-page book, which wasillustrated by Rebecca Kilde.


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Winter 2005

Minnesota Native Plant Society

University of Minnesota

250 Biological Sciences Center

1445 Gortner Ave.

St. Paul, MN 55108

Documents

Winter 2005 Minnesota Plant Press ~ Minnesota Native Plant Society Newsletter