November-December 2009 NEWSLETTER OF THE NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY Vol. 24, No. 6 A message from the president-in-exile By George Yatskievych in recent years) with newer and younger MONPS President members who embody the future of our group. Thirty years of existence is a won- Those who attended the Society’s 30th derful benchmark for any society, and the Anniversary celebration recently may have fact that MONPS continues to provide a thought that our past president, Rex Hill, vibrant, stimulating and fulfilling experience had staged a coup, and in a way he did. for its membership is something of which Your current president was living in exile. we can be proud. He was in the far flung land of Nepal at the Let’s not stop there, however. I would time, having experienced travel delays that like to invite everyone to attend the soci- prevented a return in time for the meeting. ety’s annual business meeting on (Note to self: Next Saturday, Dec. 5. (in Columbia at the time don’t try to fly University of Missouri’s Dunn-Palmer home internationally Herbarium), where, among other things, on the very day the board will be planning next year’s before an important events. event.) My return I encourage our membership to stay trip took a grueling Photo by Steve R. Turner active by suggesting places around the 37 hours, so even had I been in atten- Showing his typical pastoral concern for state to have meetings and field trips, as dance I likely would members of the Missouri Native Plant well as bringing ideas for future projects not have been fully Society, Immediate Past President Rex Hill that MONPS can work on. For example, in President-in-exile awake most of the fills in for the far-flung current president. recent years our group has completed time. valuable plant inventories for two national wildlife refuges (Mingo and Squaw Creek) Rex’s coup was not the “political nature study, as well as the roles that takeover” kind, but instead the “perform MONPS and each individual can play in and we may work on the Big Muddy amazing feats” type. Along with vice presi- making the world a better place. They also Refuge in the coming year. We should also dent Paul McKenzie, Rex stepped in on pointed to some of the good works of our be involved in organizing plant salvage short notice and made sure that everything group and exciting discoveries made dur- events at sites slated to be destroyed by ran smoothly. All of the events were a big ing its history. We will try to put together a highway improvements or other construc- success because of the efforts of Rex and summary of the symposium in the society’s tion projects, and could become more Paul, along with many others who volun- journal, Missouriensis. The evening ban- active in educating Missourians on the teered their time and talents. I was very quet was not just a good meal and good benefits of landscaping with native plants. sorry to have to missed the fun. companionship, but also a chance to listen There also is still room for more local Thanks are due to our generous hosts to some wonderful anecdotes and a sum- chapters — it would be great to have for the Saturday field trip, Henry and Lorna mary of milestones in the history of chapters in cities like Kirksville, Rolla and Domke. Even the early morning showers MONPS by Larry Morrison, who has taken Springfield. couldn’t dampen the spirits of the 80-some on the role of society historian. Thanks are As MONPS enters its fourth decade, the visitors at the Prairie Garden Trust. Also to due also to our archivist, Jack Harris, for membership can be proud of the group’s be thanked are the speakers at the after- putting together an interesting and informa- history and accomplishments, but let’s also noon symposium, Doug Ladd, Paul tive display. look to the future and ways that the Nelson, Bill Summers, and Jim Wilson, The 30th anniversary meeting was a Society can continue to expand its good who kept the large audience entertained chance to bring together founding and works. In most cases, all it takes is a few and informed, challenging everyone to early members of our group (some of dedicated organizers to run with an idea think about the future of conservation and whom have not been as active in MONPS that our group can support. November-December 2009 Petal Pusher Page 1 MONPS board schedules planning meeting All Missouri Native Plant Society mem- Columbia or contact an officer or board Museum Support Center (parking in front bers and friends are invited to attend the member before the meeting with your ideas. or along side driveway). winter MONPS state board meeting on From the west: Drive east on I-70 to Saturday, Dec. 5. Directions to Dunn-Palmer Herbarium Stadium Blvd. exit (Exit 124); turn right If you want to have a voice in MONPS, From the east: Drive west on I-70 to U.S. (south). now is your chance. This is a business Highway. 63 South (Exit 128); head south Stay on Stadium Blvd. as it goes south meeting, so plan to stay all day. towards Jefferson City to the Stadium and then turns east, past the MU football The meeting begins at 10 a.m. and will Blvd. exit. stadium and the Hearnes basketball end no later than 4 p.m. We will be meet- Turn right (west) and go to the fourth traf- arena. ing at the Dunn-Palmer Herbarium. We will be ordering lunch in, or you may fic light (the street at this intersection is Turn right (south) on Rock Quarry Road bring a lunch if desired. called College Avenue to the north and (stoplight here). The board will be planning the field trips Rock Quarry Road to the south). Drive south about 1/8 mile and turn right associated with the quarterly board meet- Turn left (south) and go about 1/8 mile on into the driveway of the Museum Support ings. If you have a favorite site you would Rock Quarry Road. Center (parking in front or along side like to visit with the society, join the board in Turn right into the driveway of the driveway). Calendar of Events Hawthorn Chapter Kansas City Chapter Nov. 19 — Chapter meeting at 7 p.m. in the Discovery November — Anyone who wants to go to wild places for seed Center, 4705 Troost. The program is to be determined. For collecting can contact Becky Erickson at (573) 657-2314 for a weekday midday collection walk at one of the public areas. additional information, contact David Winn at (913) 432-4220.

Nov. 9 — Regular meeting at 7 p.m. at the Unitarian Church, Osage Plains Chapter 2615 Shepard Blvd. Our speaker will be Dr. Adrian Andrei, pro- No dates submitted fessor of Wildlife Science in the Department of Agriculture and Environmental Science at Lincoln University. Dr. Andrei will dis- Ozarks Chapter cuss the economic and ecological importance of pollination. He Tuesday, Nov. 17 — Chapter meeting at 6:30 p.m. at the MDC will give examples of common pollinators in Missouri and Ozark Regional Office, 551 Joe Jones Blvd, West Plains. advice on planting and backyard management to help pollina- “Winter tree identification” presented by Susan Farrington. This tors. will be the last meeting for the season. We will resume our Nov. 14: Cookout and wreath making party at Laura Ellifrit’s meetings in February. For more information, contact Susan Dec. 13: Winter Holiday Party at 2 p.m. at Vanessa Melton’s in Farrington (contact info on back). Booneville, look for information in the November Hawthorn Chapter newsletter. Perennis Chapter See www.semonps.org. January: Seed stratification workshop and May Potting party. More information in coming newsletters. St. Louis Chapter For more information please contact Paula at (573) 474-4225 No meetings in November or December. New members Mailing address „ John Gwaltney, Crystal „ Anne Wamser, St. Louis Springs, Miss. Because our post office branch has moved to a new „ Josh Higgins, Pacific location, the MONPS post office box and ZIP plus four ZIP „ George Lippert, Chanute, code have been changed by the Postal Service. The new „ Staria and Richard Kan. P.O. Box number is 440353, and the zip plus four is now Vanderpool, Fulton 63144-0353. We will still receive mail addressed using the „ Lee Hughes, Rolla „ Brian Davidson, Rolla previous post office box number, but only until the end of 2009, so please update your records and begin using the „ Paul Cork, Columbia „ Danny McMurphy, Sullivan new mailing address. „ Edith Starbuck, Rolla „ Bob Grinstead, Edwardsville, Ill. „ Robert Kremer, Columbia

Page 2 Petal Pusher November-December 2009 2009 MONPS awards announced By Steve Buback At the 30th Anniversary celebration in September, the Missouri Native Plant Society announced five awards recipients for the previous year. MONPS has never before given five awards in a year, so it must have been a productive year for Missouri botanists. These awards have been presented since 1986 and provide a method for the Missouri Native Plant Society to recog- nize individuals or groups throughout the state for outstanding accomplishments in accordance with the society’s mission of promoting education, conservation, research and restoration of Missouri’s native plants.

Nadia Navarrete-Tindall — Erna Eisendrath Memorial Education Award Nadia was presented with the Photos by Steve R. Turner Nadia Navarrete-Tindall accepts the Erna Educational Award based upon her work Bill Summers accepts the John E. Wylie Eisendrath Memorial Education Award. with the cooperative research and exten- Award sion at Lincoln University. She promotes Bill received the John E. Wylie Award native plants in agricultural and residential based upon his outstanding service to the settings, and is conducting research on Missouri Native Plant Society. Bill authored expanding the use of native plants in these the book “Orchids of Missouri” and is areas. Nadia has also worked to expand renowned for his abilities to locate not only the availability of native plant information in rare orchids but rare plants of all types. He Spanish and has conducted bilingual work- has led numerous outings for the society, shops. was long-active in the state organization and St. Louis Chapter (a past president of both Gregg Galbraith — Plant Stewardship groups), and also helped to found the chap- Award ter in West Plains. Bill was the first recipient Gregg founded and ran the Ozark of the Art Christ Research Award in 1986. Regional Land Trust for 25 years. The Ozark Regional Land Trust has perma- Paul Nelson — Julian Steyermark nently protected nearly 19,000 acres of Award land throughout the Ozarks through the Paul was presented with the Steyermark use of conservation easements and land Award for his long career of research into purchases. These acquisitions include sev- the preservation and management of eral important properties such as Sarcoxie Missouri plants and landscapes. Cave, Woods Prairie, Alford Forest and the Paul authored the book “Terrestrial Fishtrap Preserve. Gregg’s award was Natural Communities of Missouri” and has presented to him at the Ozark Regional served as the scientific illustrator on 11 Land Trust’s 25th Anniversary celebration Paul Nelson offers thanks for receiving volumes of plant-related literature (so far). in October. the Julian Steyermark Award. Paul works for the Mark Twain National Forest and worked on the forest’s most James R. Whitley — Plant Stewardship recent management plan. He has been a involved in the propagation, conservation Award successful advocate for the use of fire in and restoration of water and terrestrial natural ecosystems for restoration and Jim was presented the Plant plants throughout the state. He has been management purposes. Stewardship Award for his superior an authoritative source of information on Paul previously received the Erna achievements in the preservation and con- aquatic plants for numerous land owners Eisendrath Education Award and the Art servation of Missouri native plants. Jim co- and public agencies. authored the book “Water Plants for Christ Research Award from the Missouri Missouri Ponds” and has been actively Bill Summers — John E. Wylie Award Native Plant Society.

November-December 2009 Petal Pusher Page 3 C HAPTER REPORTS

Forester from the Columbia Research Center gave a tree identifi- Hawthorn Chapter cation tour to 13 members of the Hawthorn Chapter that took Submitted by Nadia Navarrete-Tindall, chapter representative place at the Water’s House at the MDC Regional Office. Everyone enjoyed the perfect weather and learned from Ann’s Report for July and August expertise. Our group always has a variety of activities in spite of the On Sept. 17, MONPS members and friends enjoyed the tradi- time of the year. July was very mild this year and the group took tional lunch at the Uprise Bakery at 10 Hitt St., near Broadway, advantage of that. Our guest speaker during our regular meet- where members and friends are always welcome to attend to ing was Dr. John Dyer who shared his experience breeding her- bring ideas or simply to enjoy good company. itage apple trees on his farm in Rocheport. Later the group visit- The chapter participated with a booth during the In Touch with ed Paintbrush and Friendly prairies where several members Nature field day at Lincoln University Busby Farm in Jefferson enjoyed the beauty of both prairies and the mild weather (70’s in City. Native plants and nature books were sold at our booth while July!). (Article, page 6) members offer information about native plants growth and estab- In August, the group took a relaxing canoe trip. Four members lishment. The event was hosted by the Native Plants Program at of the chapter enjoyed a beautiful and peaceful day canoeing and Lincoln University Cooperative Extension and included wagon botanizing along the Gasconade River. Ann, Lea, Becky and tours and exhibits presented by other institutions such as the Vanessa described their glorious day to encourage others to join Missouri Prairie Foundation, Missouri Department of them for future trips like this one. Conservation, Missouri Extension and others. In addition to relaxing, the group managed to do some river A fall prairie walk on Oct. 10 was offered by Becky Erickson, as cleanup that included two tires, a blue barrel, a piece of culvert, a the first of three propagation workshops. The two additional work- plastic raft, and a whole bag of trash. They enjoyed seeing spot- shops will be offered in January and May of 2010, dates will be ted osprey with a sunfish, bald eagles, red shouldered hawk, announced later on. kingfisher, fox squirrel, pee-wee, cardinal flower, button bush, Jim Whitley was given the Plant Stewardship Award by the sunflowers, golden-glow, Dutchman’s pipe, three square, hibis- Missouri Native Plant Society during the banquet dinner to cele- brate the 30th anniversary of the society. Becky Erickson cus, Virginia smartweed and other water plants. received it for him because Jim was unable to attend. A lunch On Aug. 30, the group visited Stephanie Smith’s and Otto organized by Ann Wakeman and Becky Erickson was offered to Fagan’s wetlands, both in Boone County. Several members par- present him the award at Flat Branch Brewing in Columbia on ticipated and had the opportunity of observing cardinal flowers in Oct.4. Twenty members of the society attended the lunch to full bloom among other interesting wetland plant species. honor Jim. We are proud of him! Report for September and October. During the bimonthly meeting on Sept. 14, Ann Koenig, MDC Continued next page

Carol Davit of the Missouri Prairie Foundation talks about the prairies of Missouri during the In Touch with Nature field day at Lincoln University’s Busby Farm in Jefferson City. She also showed how rope can be made from native plant fibers of plants including swamp milkweek, yucca and rattesnake mas- ter.

Photo by Randy Tindall

Page 4 Petal Pusher November-December 2009 C HAPTER REPORTS

From the previous page bought for the pond. The fish cost him six bits. The third garden has a water wheel and fountain surrounded by numerous flow- In Memoriam ers and has a garden bench to sit and relax. The 12 that George Brackage, long time member of the Hawthorn chapter attended brought a sack lunch, and June Berry served drinks passed away Sept.11. He was the husband of Nancy Brackage, and dessert. also member of the society. Nancy and George had recently On Sept. 20, a field trip and a potluck were planned at received the Blazing Star Award for their contribution to the Marlene and Jack Miller’s home. A torrential rain cancelled the Society. George received degrees in wildlife conservation from field trip, but we enjoyed a wonderful potluck. Marlene Miller the University of Missouri and had a 40-year career as a waterfowl gave a talk on paint brush. biologist. He worked for the Missouri Department of Conservation, Ted Bolich, Marlene Miller and Sharon Warnaca attended U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Ducks Unlimited before retiring MONPS 30th Anniversary in Fulton. in 1992. He was an avid outdoorsman and conservationist. Those On October, our chapter planned a contest on wildflower interested in learning about his interesting and charismatic person- decorations and art at our meeting. ality can visit a Web-based memorial at www.georgebrakhage.com put together by two of his children. Ozarks Chapter Kansas City Chapter Submitted by Susan Farrington, chapter representative Submitted by Daniel Rice, chapter representative Our August meeting was a plant identification night; we The Kansas City Chapter had its first meeting of the fall on learned about the characteristics of the major plant families, 17 September at the All Souls Unitarian Church in Kansas City. and practiced keying out some plants brought in by members. We had a great meeting discussing our summer field trips, our The attendees expressed interest in having more plant ID prac- upcoming field trips, and the upcoming KCWildlands events. tice, so we will work on tree ID in November. One of the KCWildlands seed savers had sent me an e-mail At our September meeting, our own Adele Voss presented a on the 15th giving a brief accounting of what was blooming at talk about wild edibles, teaching us about a number of plants that Jerry Smith Park, the location of our next field trip. We also often occur in our backyards. It was a very informative presenta- discussed the KCWildlands honeysuckle cutting, all of which tion. are full for the fall! We do have a great group of volunteers in Our secretary is now working nights, and cannot make our the Kansas City area! meetings, so we are searching for a new secretary. Anyone inter- Our first fall field trip was on Sept. 19 to Jerry Smith Park. ested should contact Susan Farrington. Thanks! There is now a trail (of sorts) around the park, but being the intrepid botanists we are, we just had to leave the trail to see the neat stuff! Besides the usual suspects, i.e. rosinweed, vari- Perennis Chapter ous sunflowers, blue sage, and the various goldenrods, we Submitted by Allison Vaughn, chapter representative also saw auriculate false foxglove, downy blue gentian and two species of Spiranthes, lacera and cernua. Not too bad for a On Sunday, Sept. 27, Perennis members traveled to Mingo three-hour field trip in the city! for a brief meeting and wildflower hike. The next chapter meeting will be Thursday, Nov. 19, at the Many fall-blooming composites were out that day. Members Discovery Center in Kansas City. The meeting will start at 7 noted a wide variety of non-native plants and insects on their p.m. We also had a field trip on Oct. 17 to Maple Woods Park. hike, though they saw plenty of plants native to southeast The fall foliage was great, and there are some neat late fall fruit Missouri. (persimmons) to be found. That’s it for now! After the hike, members discussed plans for a fall color canoe trip as well as the recent decision to begin conducting outreach efforts in local schools. Several schools will be cho- Osage Plains Chapter sen to be the recipient of various species of milkweeds and Submitted by Sharon Warnaca, chapter president information on native plant gardening. The chapter hopes to On July 25, a rainy morning turned into a great field trip. Four bring native plant gardening to local schools in areas where no members met and drove down to Whitaker Lake in the other native plantings exist. Deepwater area. A pleasant two-hour jaunt yielded 51 plant Please consult the Perennis Chapter Web site for more pho- species in the area. tos from Mingo National Wildlife Refuge and upcoming events Aug. 22, our field trip was not on native wildflowers but on at www.semonps.org. water gardens at Elzie and June Berry’s home near Tightwad. The weather was pleasantly cool for August. Elzie has created three water gardens. The first one was made from a satellite St. Louis Chapter dish surrounded by rocks and water plants. Three species of Submitted by Pat Harris, chapter representative water lotus plants with three colors made this garden a pleas- Forty-five people attended our Aug. 26 meeting. Dennis Hogan, ure to observe. The second garden was named “Six Bit” after the first fish he Continued next page

November-December 2009 Petal Pusher Page 5 Seven presidents of MONPS

Photo by John Oliver Seven former presidents of the Missouri Native Plant Society attended the 30th anniversary celebration banquet in Fulton, Mo. From left: Doug Ladd , Paul Redfearn Jr., Bill Summers, Karen Haller, Jack Harris, Larry Morrison and Rex Hill.

C HAPTER REPORTS

From the previous page Creek watershed, an MDC-designated conservation opportunity area. environmental resource specialist for St. Louis County Parks, On Saturday, Aug. 29, Steve Buback led a field trip to Trail of gave us some highlights from his 35 years with the department. Tears State Park. Attending the walk were seven St. Louis mem- There are 13,000 acres divided up into 72 parks. At bers that were joined by several members from the Perennis , he manages 15 glades by annual Chapter. They explored the steep topography with a strong repre- burning and now performs plant surveys. This park has four sentation of Fagus gandifolia (American beech), Liriodendron known populations of Cypripedium calceolus var. pubescens tulipifera (tulip poplar) and Aralia spinosa (devil’s walking stick). (large yellow lady’s slipper) and is the only park in the system that Some of the plants they saw were: Carex albursina (carex) is known to have Dodecatheon meadia (shooting star). Arundinaria gigantea (giant cane), Phegopteris hexagonoptera From a site once known as a field full of the exotic invasive (broad beech fern), Solidago caesia (blue-stemmed goldenrod), Sorghum halepense (Johnson grass), and S. drummondii (Ozark goldenrod). They also discovered one now has 35 acres of diverse prairie. They plowed, used Round-up early flowering Epifagus virginiana (beech drop). and started annual burning as part of the re-construction. At our Sept. 23 meeting, Nicole Miller, a Washington University Creve Coeur Lake Memorial Park had 1,000 acres before the doctoral student, shared some of her research with us. She was Page Avenue Extension went through the park. Through wetland the 2008 recipient of MONPS Hudson Award. Her research was mitigation, they are trying to restore/reconstruct wetland areas. on pollination specialization and stress-adaptation in glade Rock Hollow, off Al Foster Trail in Wildwood, has 110 acres, endemic plants and the implications for species distributions. The forested with “cedar” groves they may be able to restore to glades following plant species were the main subject in her research: with burning. Echinacea paradoxa (yellow coneflower) and E. pallida (pale pur- The last areas in the county for open space are along the ple coneflower); Delphinium treleasei (Trelease’s larkspur) & D. . One open space they already have is the Lower carolinianum (Carolina larkspur); and Scutellaria bushii (Bush’s Meramec County Park that’s mostly bottomland forest. It is sub- skullcap) and S. ovata (heart-leaved skullcap). The first species in ject to seasonal flooding. Another is the undeveloped Hunter’s the sets were endemic to glades, and the second were more Ford County Park in Allenton. Sand deposited by the Meramec widespread. Many comments and questions after the presentation River makes a portion of it a small sand prairie. It contains indicated much interest in the subject. Opuntia humifusa (eastern prickly pear) and Heterotheca campo- (For more information on Nicole’s research see the “Missouri rum (golden aster). It’s across the Meramec River from LaBarque Prairie Journal,” 2009, Volume 30, No. 3.)

Page 6 Petal Pusher November-December 2009 Paintbrush and Friendly prairies abloom in Pettis County By Vanessa Melton President of the Hawthorn Chapter Several members of the Hawthorn Chapter visited Paintbrush and Friendly prairies on Aug.30. It was a perfect day with many prairie wildflowers in bloom and the temperature in the 70s. First we visited Paintbrush Prairie. We observed a diversity of wildflowers in the southern section, burned last winter, including two blazing stars (Liatris pycnos- tachya and L. aspera ), slender mountain mint, curlytop ironweed (Vernonia arkansana), purple-headed sneezeweed (Helenium flexuosum), hairy petunia, ladies tresses (two or more species of Spiranthes), milkwort/vetch, early golden- rod, tall green milkweed (Asclepias hirtel- la), short green milkweed (Asclepias viridi- flora), and trumpet creeper. Blue vervain (Verbena hastata), beebalm (Monarda fis- tulosa), hawkweed, rattlesnake master (Eryngium yuccafolium) and seed box (Ludwigia alternifolia) were all at the peak Photo by Becky Erickson of blooming. Regal fritillaries on blazing stars. Those that were faded and setting seed were pale purple coneflower (Echinacea pallida), goats rue (Tephrosia virginiana), blue hearts, black-eyed susan, cacalia, pale penstemon (Penstemon pallidus), Baptisia alba and B. bracteata, sensitive briar (Schrankia uncinata); pencil flower, lead plant (Amorpha canescens), golden alexander (Zizia aurea), spotted St. John’s wort (Hypericum punctatum) and swamp candle (Lysimachia terrestris). Photo courtesy If one were to return in the next few www.MissouriPlants.com weeks, he could see new flowers on grooved flax, flowering spurge, winged Lespedeza capitata sumac, roundheaded bushclover typically grows to 2-4 feet (Lespedeza capitata) and downy gentian tall on stiff upright stems. in October. Its tiny creamy white, We then went to Friendly Prairie just pea-like flowers have a west of Paintbrush Prairie and found many magenta spot at the base of the same species — in different quanti- of the standard bloom in ties, mind you — along with a few addi- dense, rounded heads . tional species. There was a discussion on Photo courtesy Ozarks Regional Herbarium how to differentiate purple and white prairie clover in the seed stage. We saw (Lythrum alatum). Ohio spiderwort, wild blue aster (Aster azureus) and significant good patches of rosinweed (Silphium inte- strawberry, pussy toes, butterfly weed numbers of Desmodium canadensis were grifolium) and ashy sunflower (Helianthus (Asclepias tuberosa), prairie coreopsis ready to bloom. We did some weeding of mollis) and learned to tell them apart. (Coreopsis palmata), betony (Pedicularis Lespedeza cuneata, the invasive non- A good find was our native loosestrife canadensis) were all setting seed. Sky native lespedeza, before it flowered.

November-December 2009 Petal Pusher Page 7 Wandering the wild lands By Kelly D. Norris Monarda fistulosa near an abandoned snowy day in early January to organize Iowa State University house, liking its flowers only some and an exploratory mission of sorts to despising its pungent odor more. I Shannon County, Missouri, in search of I’ve been fascinated with the Ozarks remember walking up the ditch bank from natives worthy of horticultural attention. since I was about 8 years old. My grand- picking raspberries and discovering my parents took my brother and me to clothes covered in dyes from the fading Vines While we only found it at one location, Branson. The stark, rigid and karstic blossoms of Tradescantia ohiensis. She Passiflora incarnata tops my list of choice topography intrigued me. I wondered taught me about seed collection and we vines that deserve greater attention. The what caused rocks to tumble from high even dug a plant or two from the road- plant has enjoyed attention in the collec- cliffs above the road and why some side when construction threatened to plants could seemingly survive tor circles, though surpassed in solid rock. While I easily had in floral excellence by an ever- the inclination to find out growing array of hybrids with myself, I never was successful it, P. coccinea and other sub- in persuading grandpa and tropical species. For those of grandma to stop the car. us in the blustery north, it’s With those puerile memories potentially hardy if mulched in mind for all these years, I well. A garden should never was thrilled to finally return to grow without vines, and the the Ozarks this June in an exotic nature of this species effort to answer those persist- surely opens the doors for ent questions, though with a interesting permutations in much different approach than I Zones 5b and up. I’ve unsuc- could’ve imagined 14 years cessfully overwintered plants ago. As a horticulturist, my fas- from southerly provinces but cination with the Ozarks is root- would like to obtain germplasm ed in the possibilities its native from the farther limits of its flora holds for landscapes range in central Missouri and across the Midwest. As a side Illinois. note, I take slight offense to the Another passionflower with characterization that all horti- some merit is Passiflora lutea, cultural plant explorers though perhaps not at face approach collecting with a plun- value. Unassuming, rambling and often unnoticed, the yellow der and pillage persona when Photo courtesy Missouri Botanical Garden roving about wild areas. While I passionflower undoubtedly can’t apologize for the mistakes Passiflora incarnata typically occurs in sandy soils, low moist possesses genes for hardi- and misguidance of historical woods and open areas. It has three-lobed, dark green leaves and ness, something potentially figures, I do hope that the tenor showy, 2.5-inch diameter, fringed flowers with white petals and combined in breeding with of my essay here sheds light sepals and a central crown of pinkish-purple filaments. hardier provenances of P. on the work that some of us incarnata. Hardy passionflower hope to pursue in concert with hybrids remain a possibility, clear a large section of fencerow. I took biodiversity. with a little ingenuity on the part of the these plants home to my garden, a little My appreciation with native plants iron- breeder. bed of flowers and odd things in front of ically began about the same time I My first encounter with Rhynchosia lati- our stately house. At 8 years old, I grew became fascinated with the Ozarks. My folia, the prairie snout bean, a wandering my first native plants, a seminal moment I family rented a farm across the road from perennial vine with yellow, pea-like blos- only would come to appreciate later in an elderly, amateur botanist. For three soms, left me wondering what I’d actually life. summers from the time I was 8, she led seen. Unfamiliar with this species until Fast forward 14 years. I’m a masters me along with a troupe of stray dogs she this trip, I noted it in my journal as “remi- looked after up and down a dusty, little- student in horticulture at Iowa State niscent of a Psoralea with yellow flow- traveled section of road north of our University, a seasoned writer and nursery ers,” an obvious oxymoron. Does this houses. In its ditches grew boundless owner and an undownable plantsman. rambler have any ornamental potential? I diversity, or what seemed so to me at the While I’ve done a good deal of plant don’t know. I’m drawn to it, but maybe time. I recall plainly the exact spot where exploring in the wild in the last 14 years, that’s just because it’s so weird and new to my palette. It would ideally need to be I first saw Campanulastrum americanum, I’d never made it back to the Ozarks. situated with small shrubs or taller herba- which I fell in love with immediately. I With a rare few days of time to spare learned of the herbal properties of forecasted in mid-June, I decided on a see WILD LANDS, next page

Page 8 Petal Pusher November-December 2009 WILD LANDS, from the previous page total thugs. But unlike Japanese ceous perennials with which it could honeysuckle intertwine and combine. But this probably (Lonicera japonica), stretches the imagination for even the golden honeysuckle keenest of gardeners. As a wise mentor hardly gets weedy. once said, “sometimes you just can’t fight Imagine it rambling the paradigm.” over a fence with a I’ve been enchanted with the milkvines clematis or crawling (Matelea spp.) since I first read about across the ground them in floras in my early years of col- in a meadow? I had lege. The bizarre flowers, fall colors and the pleasure of pho- even the smells enticed my senses. tographing the for- Underappreciated by the few familiar with mer vignette in a them and virtually unknown to the rest, garden a few sum- mers back, truly these sprawling vines beg for a home in inviting draped in modern gardens. We encountered dewdrops in early Matelea decipiens several times during morning light. our trip. Of all things it’s chocolate-col- Arguably the attrac- ored, satiny textured flowers warrant a tive fruit, wildlife closer look (imagine a trellis or arbor value and fragrance wrought with their silken blooms!), though outpace the flowers, admittedly with fingers placed over nose. presenting the gar- The smell emanating from these sumptu- dener with a truly ous blossoms reminds me of oil aging in admirable suite of a deep fat fryer. Hardiness has largely characteristics. been untested from what I can gather, Golden honeysuck- and the length of our northern autumns le represents the might determine the staying power of kind of good educa- their yellowish fall color. tional work that can We first observed Clematis pitcheri grow from earnest, entangled among Matelea decipiens in a well-intentioned dense thicket. Wouldn’t so many species promotion of native in the Viorna group look smashing min- plants. The native Photo by Jeff McMillan/USDA gling through roses or shrubs? Clematis alternative rivals the Rhynchosia latifolia, prairie snoutbean, can be found in south- pitcheri, the leatherflower, sports small- non-native. Isn’t ern Missouri as well as Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, ish but cute-as-a-button flowers in vari- that the message Tennessee and Texas, according to the U.S. Department of ous two-tone combos. We found at least we’re working for? Agriculture online plants profile database. three color variants throughout the week Into the woods all happily vining up viburnums, The skullcaps hydrangeas and hops trees (Ptelea trifoli- (Scutellaria) were another focus of the ata). I imagine the flowers would look trip. This wonderfully diverse genus of charming cut in a nosegay with antique plants potentially offers solutions to many roses, the perfect combination of texture, gardeners across the Great Plains in color and geometry. Clematis versicolor search of everything from mid-summer can’t go unmentioned either, but then color in shade to sub-shrubs capable of again neither can the rest of the sub- withstanding baking heat. In the case of genus in my opinion. Space limits me shade, Scutellaria incana is absolutely from extolling my excitement further! exquisite and needs to be the starlet of A final vine that made the list, on MDC woodland gardens everywhere. Blue botanist Susan Farrington’s advice, was flowers for shade in June and July? A Lonicera flava, a vine I regarded with considerable amount of selection work some familiarity but which all told and controlled breeding needs done to remains ignored. How so? Perhaps the select forms of compact habits and high stigma associated with its generic name. stem density, but even raw forms would Photo courtesy Missouri Botanical Garden Too many non-native Lonicera have sul- grow marvelously alongside sturdy Lonicera flava occurs in rocky soils in lied the market, and rightly so consider- woods, slopes, bluffs, ledges and stream ing their less-than-grand reputation as see WILD LANDS, next page margins in the Ozark region.

November-December 2009 Petal Pusher Page 9 WILD LANDS, from the previous page amazed at the variety of spotted and speckled forms that abound in the wild, since the few available from specialist shrubs, whose rigid strength supports the nurseries hover near “plain Jane.” former’s sprawling tendencies. Hardiness remains questionable for gar- Perhaps the highlight of the day was deners north of Zones 5b/6a, but worth a finding another Ozark endemic, Bush’s try considering false aloe’s unique textur- skullcap (Scutellaria bushii). I’ve pon- al feeling and “golly that’s different” look. dered the ornamental features of this Not far from a very photogenic out- plant from time to time since so many of cropping of false aloe, Rhamnus carolini- its cousins shape up into fine garden ana, a shrub with tremendous, unherald- plants. We tagged two occurrences, both ed value waited anxiously for its turn in with a limited number of individuals, for front of the lens. I was first introduced to future visits. Though small, they easily this plant in my woody plant identification attract attention from a distance. I don’t course in college, which when taken dur- think anyone should rush to the garden ing a long, protracted fall offered me the centers or feverishly flip through catalogs perfect opportunity to witness a truly looking for them, but they may catch noteworthy autumnal color display. Fall some attention in the future with serious color selections alone could make hay for collectors looking for subtle impact in the an enterprising propagator willing to seek rock garden or other settings. out choice forms in the peak of their Another rock garden starlet waiting in glory. The viburnum-like fruit, Technicolor the wings, false aloe (Manfreda virginica) and ever-changing, is an added bonus. first caught my attention on a visit to the Let not your opinions of buckthorns jade Missouri Botanical Garden years ago. I’m your hope for this native shrub! Good lookin’ glade flora But really, tramping about woods and crawling through vines come in second to the glades of the Ozarks. The glades offered us the chance to experience a truly unique, endemic and fragile ecosys- tem with enormous potential for keen plant lovers. The best glade we had the opportunity to scavenge was that owned by Susan Farrington and Dan Drees. Susan and Dan are some of the kindest people I’ve ever met, and my gratitude can hardly be expressed in words for their invaluable assistance during my adventure. We turned up lots of Echinacea simula- ta throughout the week (not surprising considering we hit it at peak bloom sea- son), the kissing cousin to the pale pur- ple coneflower (E. pallida) of prairies Photo courtesy Wikipedia here and farther north. Personally I think Nemastylis geminiflora in fruit. Also E. simulata has showier flowers with rich- called prairie celestial, it has one to four er coloration, but other than a minute dif- grass-like leaves that are linear to ference in pollen color (E. pallida is sword-shaped and 5-18 inches long by white, E. simulata is yellow) they look vir- 1/8 to 2/5 inch wide. They are folded tually identical. E. simulata probably has together lengthwise and have prominent Photo courtesy Arkansas Natural some breeding potential for variation in ribs. When it blooms in April and May, it Heritage Commission flower form and intense coloration. I don’t has five-petaled blue flowers. Each know of any major coneflower breeder Bush's skullcap,Scutellaria bushii has flower lasts a day. The flowers usually who currently uses this species, some- oblong rounded leaves and brilliant deep open in the morning and close before thing I’ve brought to the attention of at blue-purple flowers that bloom in May sunset. The perianth segments curl by least two that I know! Seeing thousands and June. It grows on limestone glades midafternoon.The plant can be found in of plants of a single species in the height and bald knobs. The leaves are opposite moist to dry prairies and open oak and typically erect. see WILD LANDS, next page woods in limestone or chalk soils.

Page 10 Petal Pusher November-December 2009 WILD LANDS, from the previous page The redring milkweed sings a siren song to me — reddish stems, red rings sub- of its bloom season gives any observer tending coronate petals, and a little white the chance to sift through Mother for contrast. Say no more! Nature’s treasure chest. The best form Conclusion I’ve witnessed to date grew on Susan As a plant explorer you can’t help but and Dan’s glade, a head-turning starlet feel caught in a tide of emotions that that caught my eye from 50 feet away. pulls you in multiple directions, but two As an unabashed lover and collector of important ones come to mind. One direc- Iridaceae, I jumped at the opportunity to tion tugs at the heartstrings inciting wist- witness prairie celestial (Nemastylis gem- fulness for the unfortunate, ephemeral iniflora), even if only in fruit. I suppose it basically looks like a blue-eyed grass on beauty of nature in this fast-developing steroids with giant, starry blue flowers world. Does a plant explorer simply chart the unknown for posterity to only shut held above grassy foliage. But it still has Photo courtesy Ozarks Regional an amazing quality unrivaled by other away his findings? What value comes Herbarium from hoarding knowledge and experience blue irids in the spring. Susan led us to Asclepias variegata, redring milkweed, one of several populations where we col- so central to my own passion for the out- grows in dry or rocky woods, sandy door world? lected seed, my first seed collection of open ground, ravine bottoms, low In this light another direction reveals the trip. woods, slopes, ridges and roadsides in an obligation as a witness to the raw Prairie celestial is another species I southeastern Missouri. There is a red potential of nature — to extol its virtues came to know thanks to Claude Barr’s ring at the base of each white flower in and vest them with relevance. Wandering out-of-print tome “Jewels of the Prairie,” the umbrel. which happily extolled its many ornamen- wild lands comes at the cost of sharing it tal virtues. Though the flowers last only our visit. Many gardeners already grow with all who will listen. How can we pos- one day (and the longest of any both of these striking beauties, but with a sibly promote interest in wild lands, wild Nemastylis, mind you), the two to three little selection work, these natives can places and wild plants when people lack weeks each clump remains in bloom sat- become even better. I think fire pink an appreciation for what they even are? isfies want and yearn for blue in the especially will prove promising for those Our work should foster interactions spring garden. Why not appreciate the seeking dianthus-like plants in better col- between plants and people. Why deprive emblems of the season and the joy of the ors with superior heat tolerance and gar- the ignorant of enlightenment simply moment instead of desiring everything in den carrying capacity. Why grow sad, because we lack the trust to try? the garden to bloom for months? While I meltable Dianthus when you could grow Gardening isn’t some idle abuse of love the idea of my favorite plants (iris- a rough, tough and red-flowered Silene? small spaces with vegetation foreign and es!) staying in bloom for longer than they One plant Susan and I both agree war- alien. It’s a royal opportunity to teach peo- do, it would be akin to Christmas every rants additional attention is the seductive- ple about ecology, environmental interac- day if they did. And mom always said that ly beautiful Asclepias variegata, the tions and sustainable thinking. Though I would never be much fun. redring milkweed. The native milkweeds confess that I’m not a purist, I’m an advo- Topping our list of must-finds were the (with the exception of A. syriaca) make cate for a sustainable practice of garden- two red catchflies, Silene virginica and S. such great garden plants! They thrive, if ing and landscaping, one rich with aware- regia. The latter, commonly dubbed royal sited well, without much care and contin- ness of the ambient and extensional land- catchfly, starts flowering in the Ozarks in ue to reward the gardener for a lifetime. scape. To promote such discourse and mid-June. The former, called fire pink, I’ve kept an eye out for four or five practice requires a voracious curiosity of blooms three to four weeks earlier and species this week, particularly A. variega- the wilderness and the plants that might had already set and dispersed seed by ta which typically is found farther south. teach us more about our world.

INFORMATION ON JOINING THE MISSOURI NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY SOCIETY DUES CHAPTER DUES Make checks payable to Missouri Native Plant Society (Chapter dues additional) Columbia ...... $6 Mail to: Missouri Native Plant Society Student dues ...... $5 Kansas City ...... $5 P.O. Box 440353 Regular ...... $10 Osage Plains ...... $5 St. Louis, MO 63144-0353 Contributing ...... $20 Ozarks Native Plant ...... $5 Name: ______Life ...... $200 Perennis ...... $5 St. Louis ...... $5 Street: ______City, state: ______(Circle all above that apply) 9-digit ZIP: ______Phone: ______$______Contribution for student research award (Hudson Fund) E-mail: ______Ï All contributions are tax deductible Ï

November-December 2009 Petal Pusher Page 11 Vol. 24, No. 6 November-December 2009 Non–Profit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Missouri Native Plant Society St. Louis, MO P.O. Box 440353 Permit No. 1720 St. Louis, MO 63144-0353

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED INSIDE THIS ISSUE: • Five MONPS awards • Wandering the Wildlands

Missouri Native Plant Society Officers and Board Members PRESIDENT BOARD MEMBERS MISSOURIENSIS MEMBERSHIP OSAGE PLAINS George Yatskievych Allison Vaughn ('08-'11) CO–EDITORS Ann Early Sharon Warnaca Missouri Botanical Garden 311 Ridgeway George Yatskievych 1425 Bobolink Pl. 1201 S. 7th St. PO Box 299 Columbia, MO 65203 St. Louis, MO 63144-1128 Clinton, MO 64735 St. Louis, MO 63166 (573) 703-6448) Doug Ladd (314) 963–0103 (660) 890-4983 (314) 577–9522 (w) [email protected] The Nature Conservancy [email protected] [email protected] 2800 S. Brentwood Blvd. OZARKS NATIVE PLANT Robin Kennedy ('08-'11) PUBLICITY St. Louis, MO 63144 Susan Farrington University of Missouri Herbarium Kevin Bley VICE PRESIDENT (314) 968–1105 (w) MDC Ozark Regional Office Columbia, MO 65211-3170 4 Zinzer Ct. Paul McKenzie PETAL PUSHER EDITOR 551 Joe Jones Blvd. 2311 Grandview Circle (573) 882–6519 Grantwood Village, MO 63123 Chuck Robinson West Plains, MO 65775 Columbia, MO 65203 [email protected] (314) 729-0335 6911 NW Blair Rd. (417) 255–9561 Ext. 307 (w) (573) 445–3019 [email protected] John Oliver (‘07–’10) Parkville, MO 64152 [email protected] [email protected] 4861 Gatesbury Dr. WEBMASTER (816) 507-8328 PERENNIS St. Louis, MO 63128 David Winn SECRETARY [email protected] Allison Vaughn (314) 487–5924 7302 Rosewood Dr. 311 Ridgeway Ann Schuette [email protected] DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Prairie Village, KS 66208 Columbia, MO 65203 303 Spring Church Rd. Bill Knight (913) 432-4220 Bruce Schuette (‘07–’10) (573) 703-6448 Troy, MO 63379 5101 Dresden Ave.. [email protected] (636) 528-6544 678 St. Rt. 147 St. Louis, MO 63116 [email protected] Troy, MO 63379 [email protected] (314) 832–7081 ST. LOUIS (636) 528–7247 (w) CHAPTER REPRESENTATIVES [email protected] Pat Harris TREASURER [email protected] HAWTHORN EDITORIAL COMMITTEE 9708 Green Park Rd. Bob Siemer Nadia Navarrete-Tindall Sherry Leis (‘09–’12) David Castaner St. Louis, MO 63123 74 Conway Cove Drive 2116 Grant Lance 533 S. Forest Ct. Paul Redfearn (314) 503-8558 Chesterfield, MO 63017 Columbia, MO 65203 (636) 537–2466 Springfield, MO 65806 Tim Smith [email protected] (417) 836-8919 [email protected] [email protected] Stephen L. Timme [email protected] IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT ARCHIVES KANSAS CITY Rex Hill Ted Bolich ('09 - '12) Jack Harris Daniel Rice 4 Grantwood Lane 1201 S. 7th St. [email protected] 815 W. 31st St. St. Louis, MO 63123 Clinton, MO 64735 9708 Green Park Rd. Independence, MO 64055 (314) 849–1464 (660) 890-4983 St. Louis, MO 63123 (816) 461-0206 [email protected] (314) 368-0655 [email protected] ENVIRONMENT AND EDUCATION John Oliver, board member www.MissouriNativePlantSociety.org

Page 12 The Petal Pusher is printed on recycled paper November-December 2009