Journal of the Torrey Botanical Society 133(4), 2006, pp. 648–659 Noteworthy plants reported from the Torrey Range— 2004 and 2005 Eric E. Lamont1 Local Flora Committee, Torrey Botanical Society, The New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, New York 10458 Stephen M. Young2 New York Natural Heritage Program, 625 Broadway, Albany, New York 12233 LAMONT, E. E. (Local Flora Committee, Torrey Botanical Society, The New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, New York 10458) AND S. M. YOUNG (New York Natural Heritage Program, 625 Broadway, Albany, New York 12233). Noteworthy plants reported from the Torrey Range—2004 and 2005. J. Torrey Bot. Soc. 133: 648–659. 2006.—Twenty five noteworthy species of vascular plants are reported from the Torrey Range, encompassing southeastern New York, northern New Jersey, and southwestern Connecticut: Anagallis minima, Asclepias purpurascens, Diospyros virginiana, Eupatorium album var. subvenosum, Euphorbia lathyris, Fatoua villosa, Froelichia gracilis, Juncus debilis, Lemna valdiviana, Ludwigia peploides subsp. glabrescens, Lygodium palmatum, Myriophyllum spicatum, Oxalis violacea, Polygonum perfoliatum, Pycnanthemum torrei, Pyrus calleryana, Pyxidanthera barbulata, Rumex hastatulus, Spiranthes vernalis, Thlaspi alliaceum, Trapa natans, Trichostema setaceum, Utricularia juncea, Utricularia radiata, and Vicia lathyroides. Key words: biodiversity, distribution, floristics, invasive plants, rare plants, Torrey Range. This report is the fifth in a continuing series species are at (or near) their northern range of floristic studies produced by the Local limit in the Torrey Range, including Diospyros Flora Committee of the Torrey Botanical virginiana, Juncus debilis, Rumex hastatulus, Society. For historical and background in- Spiranthes vernalis, Trichostema setaceum, and formation contained in earlier reports, see Utricularia juncea. Three of the native species Lamont and Fitzgerald (2001) and Lamont have restricted global ranges, including Eu- and Young (2002, 2004, 2005). The Torrey patorium album var. subvenosum, Pycnanthe- Range includes southeastern New York mum torrei, and Pyxidanthera barbulata. (Bronx, Kings, Nassau, New York, Orange, New populations of five rare plant species Putnam, Queens, Richmond, Rockland, Suf- are reported for the first time from the Torrey folk, and Westchester counties), northern New Range, including Diospyros virginiana, Juncus Jersey (Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Hunterdon, debilis, Lemna valdiviana, Lygodium palmatum, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Pas- and Utricularia radiata. Clarification on the saic, Somerset, Sussex, Union, and Warren northern range limit of Utricularia juncea is counties), and southwestern Connecticut presented, as is an update on the status of (Fairfield County). Nomenclature mostly fol- Pycnanthemum torrei on Staten Island, New lows Mitchell and Tucker (1997), ranges of York. Noteworthy increases in population size distribution and nativity status follows Glea- are reported for Asclepias purpurascens, Oxalis son and Cronquist (1991) unless otherwise violacea, Pyxidanthera barbulata, and Spir- stated, and herbarium abbreviations follow anthes vernalis. Conversely, populations of the Holmgren et al. (1990). globally rare Eupatorium album var. subveno- Of the 25 vascular plant species included in sum have severely declined on Long Island, this report, 14 are native to the Torrey Range New York during the past 20 years. The last and 11 are non-native; all 14 of the native known population of Rumex hastatulus in the species are listed as rare in either New York, Torrey Range has not been observed during New Jersey, or Connecticut. Six of the native the past 15 years and Trichostema setaceum has not been observed in the Torrey Range for 1 Corresponding author: 717 Sound Shore Road, more than 60 years. Riverhead, NY 11901; E-mail: elamont@optonline. Of the non-native species included in this net report, Ludwigia peploides subsp. glabrescens, 2 E-mail: [email protected] Received for publication September 10, 2006, and Myriophyllum spicatum, and Trapa natans in revised form November 15, 2006. have the potential to become the most invasive 648 2006] LAMONT AND YOUNG: NOTEWORTHY PLANTS 649 submergent aquatic pests in the Torrey Range. palustris, Eclipta prostrata and Lindernia Froelichia gracilis, Polygonum perfoliatum, and dubia. Pyrus calleryana have become, or have the Anagallis minima occurs only as scattered potential to become, serious invasive terrestri- records in the Northeast; it remains unreport- al weeds. Anagallis minima, Euphorbia lathyris, ed from Pennsylvania, New Jersey and all of Fatoua villosa, Thlaspi alliaceum, and Vicia New England. Various northeastern floras lathyroides are newly established non-natives describe the overall distribution of A. minima in the Torrey Range. as irregularly cosmopolitan, or semicosmopo- Throughout this report, we have endeav- litan, or native outside of the Northeast. The ored to give credit to individuals who reported NatureServe database indicates that states their findings to us. We are especially grateful close to or bordering New Jersey and Penn- to Karl Anderson (Philadelphia Botanical sylvania to the south (Delaware, Maryland, Club), Marielle´ Anzelone (City of New York Virginia, West Virginia) rank it as SU (‘‘status Parks and Recreation), Spider Barbour (in- uncertain because of the cryptic nature of the dependent field botanist), Orland ‘‘Skip’’ plant’’) or SH (‘‘historical, no existing sites Blanchard (Long Island University & Long known in the state in the last 20–30 years but Island Botanical Society), Stephen Broyles it may be rediscovered’’); many other states to (SUNY Cortland), Steve Glenn (Brooklyn the south and west do not rank A. minima at Botanic Garden), Andrew Greller (Queens all (NatureServe, 2006), but it is uncertain College of CUNY), Chart Guthrie (NYS whether they do not know the status of the Department of Environmental Conservation), species or it is so common it is not ranked. Bill Jacobs (The Nature Conservancy), Jesse Illinois ranks A. minima as a non-native Jaycox (New York Natural Heritage Pro- species, whereas three of its border states gram), Marilyn Jordan (The Nature Conser- (Kentucky, Missouri, Indiana) consider it vancy), Rich Kelly (Long Island Botanical native (NatureServe 2006). Society), Scott Kishbaugh (NYS Department Asclepias purpurascens L. of Environmental Conservation), Gregory Purple Milkweed Kramer (New York Restoration Project), Richard Lynch (Sweetbay Magnolia Conser- Asclepiadaceae, the Milkweed Family vancy), Ray Matarazzo (Staten Island Muse- Purple milkweed is currently known in New um), Ed McGowan (NYS Parks and Histor- York at 10 confirmed localities from Greene ical Preservation), Kathy Schwager (The County south along the Hudson River coun- Nature Conservancy), Richard Stalter (St. ties through Staten Island and Long Island. John’s University), and John Yrizarry (in- There are also about 25 historical and un- dependent field botanist). confirmed records from the same region. Until Annotated List of Noteworthy Plants Re- recently all of these populations had less than ported from the Torrey Range—2004 and 2005 50 individuals each which seems to be a common phenomenon throughout the entire Anagallis minima (L.) Krause ex Sturm range of the species. The Natural Heritage (Centunculus minimus L.) Program botanists in the nine states of Chaffweed Minnesota, Michigan, Wisconsin, New Jersey, Primulaceae, the Primrose Family Delaware, Illinois, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and There is a single New York record from Tennessee were contacted for information on Albany County for this diminutive, non-native population sizes of this species in their states. relative of scarlet pimpernel (Weldy and Only two of the states reported populations of Werier, 2005); there are no records at all from more than 100 individuals and the largest New Jersey according to the USDA Plants population was estimated to be 400 individuals database (USDA, NRCS 2006). In July 2004, in Illinois; almost all of the populations were Orland ‘‘Skip’’ Blanchard found this species reported to be 50 individuals or less. In all of growing on the edge of a coastal fresh pond New England there are only 4 extant popula- while he was flagging a wetland in Huntington tions in Massachusetts and Connecticut with Bay in northwestern Suffolk County, Long a total of 23 stems (Farnsworth and DiGre- Island, New York. It grew in a wet residential gorio 2001). lawn that was mowed to the water’s edge. On 5 July 2004, a vegetation survey was Near it and also mowed were Ludwigia conducted by Spider Barbour and John 650 JOURNAL OF THE TORREY BOTANICAL SOCIETY [VOL. 133 Yrizarry on a future mitigation wetland in the Bronx. In 1984 and 1985, Bob Zaremba Stewart State Forest, Town of Montgomery, located eleven populations of E. album var. Orange County, New York. During the survey subvenosum on Long Island and one on Staten they found hundreds of plants of Asclepias Island. The Long Island populations primarily purpurascens in a large wet meadow that was occurred in disturbed sandy openings of pine occasionally mowed for hay. The plants barrens including roadside borders, powerline occurred with Asclepias incarnata and Ascle- right-of-ways, and fields. The Staten Island pias syriaca. On 28 June 2005, a formal count population occurred in disturbed interdunal revealed a population size of 1725 plants, far swales. larger than any population ever reported in In August 2004, Steve Young resurveyed the Northeast and