Summer 2004 Kelseya Volume 17 No. 4 e i n Kelseya n o B : n Newsletter of the Montana Native Plant Society o i t a r t s www.umt.edu/mnps/ u l l I Montana Native Plant Society 2002 and 2003 Small Grants Program Trillium ovatum in western Montana—implications for conservation by Tarn Ream sects, such as beetles and bees, for- jackets. The insects transport seeds ose of you who walk age for their pollen. Seed dispersal to their nests where they eat the oily along the forested is also dependent on insects—each food-body and discard the seeds. streamsTh and seeps of western Mon- seed bears a conspicuous, yellow Western Trillium is sensitive to dis- tana in the spring are likely to en- food-body, called an elaiosome, turbance, particularly in the harsh, counter the white-flowering herba- which is attractive to ants and yellow dry conditions of Montana, where it ceous perennial Trillium ovatum. grows at the eastern edge of its Trillium, a name that refers to three range. Removal of rhizomes, the leaves and three petals, has many medicinal portion of the plant, for common names including Wake- commercial use is often skewed to- robin, because it blooms early in the ward the less common large, repro- spring, and Bethroot (Birthroot), in ductive-age plants. There is concern reference to traditional medicinal that market-driven, unsustainable use of the rhizome by Native Ameri- harvest of native medicinal plant cans for childbirth. There are many species, such as Trillium ovatum, species of Trillium in North America, could decimate populations in a very but only Western Trillium, Trillium short time. I began a research pro- ovatum (ovatum describes its egg- ject in the spring of 2001 to provide shaped leaves), occurs in Montana. documentation in order to help in Trilliums mature slowly and live a conservation of what Klaus Lack- long time. One plant was aged at schewitz referred to as “perhaps the more than 72 years! Their life starts most elegant spring wildflower in our with a two-year germination cycle— area.” the first year a root grows, the sec- Conservation of populations re- ond year a cotyledon sprouts. For quires an understanding of the dy- several years the plant has only one namic aspects of the population in its leaf, then graduates to a three-leaf environment. Demographic monitor- nonreproductive stage. It takes at ing can be used to assess if popula- least 19 years before Trillium tions are maintaining themselves un- reaches its three-leaf reproductive der current conditions. The demo- (flowering) stage in Montana! Plants graphic structure of a population— do not reproduce clonally— The life cycle of Trillium ovatum (Continued on page 7) recruitment of offspring is exclu- sively dependent upon sexual repro- duction. Above the Trees—MNPS 2004 Insects play important roles in the life of Trillium. Plants are self- Annual Meeting on the Beartooth incompatible, and cross-pollination by insects is necessary for seed pro- Plateau, July 9-11 duction. Trillium flowers do not pro- You still have time to register. See page 7 for de- duce nectar, although several in- tails and send your registration in today. Kelseya President’s Platform Betty Kuropat Montana is a big place with rela- them are on the state noxious weed nate the areas where they thrive and tively few people and a relatively list. Threats at both ends of the eliminate native plants there. So, as large flora. It’s summer and time for spectrum beg for our attention. you enjoy Montana’s flora this sum- Montanans and their guests to get Many of the “rare” species are simply mer, remember to do a little bit to out and enjoy, learn about, and pre- rare and won’t persist with threats preserve habitat for rare or sensitive serve our wealth of native plants. from loss of habitat, weed invasion, plants. Enjoy them in the field and Many of us in MNPS will be doing just harvesting, or damage. Others forego collecting. And, do something that at the Annual Meeting near Red aren’t so rare, but are very sensitive to reduce the spread of noxious Lodge about the time this letter is to disturbance (either they need it or weeds. published. Montana has over 2400 they can’t tolerate it). Weeds are a I’m looking forward to seeing you plant species. About 350 are consid- threat to both rare and common na- Above the Trees near Red Lodge on ered “rare” or “sensitive”; 31 of tive species because they can domi- July 9—11. Betty can be reached at 2688 Witty Ln. Columbia Falls, MT 59912 406-892-0129 e-mail: [email protected] Lewis’s Plant Collections the specimens first hand and trace ing and understanding of the species our understanding of them through today. The Lewis’s mockorange, bit- I knew that the four plant speci- the annotations on the sheets. Be- terroot and beargrass specimens are mens collected by Meriwether Lewis ginning with notes by Frederick Pursh well preserved. The blanket flower that were on display at the Montana and continuing through the latest specimen is in worse shape. It’s sur- Historical Society would be a very determinations by Reveal and prising that the four specimens are cool thing; what I didn’t expect was Schuyler, the journey made by the extant at all, given their history. the strong emotional reaction that plants themselves is fascinating. They traveled with Lewis all the way accompanied my first viewing of the That we still have them as a touch- from Idaho and Montana, down the specimens. The plants on display stone to American history and botani- Missouri River to St. Louis. They include three that were collected in cal science is inspiring. The Lewisia then made their way to Philadelphia Montana in 1806: bitterroot (Lewisia rediviva specimen is the lectotype where they passed through several rediviva), blanket flower (Gaillardia for the species and the type for the hands. They are among a group of aristata) and Lewis’s mockorange genus. It was named by Frederick specimens that were believed lost (Philadelphus lewisii). Beargrass Pursh to honor Meriwether Lewis. until they were uncovered, damaged (Xerophyllum tenax), collected in by beetles, at the American Philoso- Idaho, is also displayed. phical Society in 1896—90 years after The plant specimens are on loan collection. from the Lewis and Clark Herbarium If you are in Helena this summer, at the Academy of Natural Sciences don’t miss the exhibit called Mon- in Philadelphia. The Lewis speci- tana Botanical. The exhibit will be mens are temporarily housed in a in place through August and also fea- fiber optically lit, closed-circulation tures a variety of artworks about or case specifically built to protect the from plants. On display is an original specimens while they are in Montana. copy of Pursh’s 1814 Flora Americae I was told that packing and shipping Septentrionalis or Flora of North arrangements for the specimens were America. The book belongs to Wayne tightly controlled and the plants ar- Phillips who generously allowed the rived safely in Helena, with every Historical Society to feature it as security measure except armed part of the exhibit. Pursh was the guards employed to guarantee their first to publish information about the safety. It is amazing to think that expedition’s plant discoveries and nearly 200 years after their collec- the book contains original hand- tion, they are coming home for a colored drawings of some Montana short while. plant species. The grand opening on For those of us who have an inter- Lewis’s collection of Philadelphus lewisii June 10 included a presentation by est in the plant collections of the The other three specimens are also Dr. John Taylor about the plants of Lewis and Clark expedition and have type specimens and it is remarkable Lewis and Clark, and Wayne Phillips, studied Volume 12 of Gary Moulton’s to look at the plants that Lewis held in costume, signed copies of his lat- The Journals of the Lewis & Clark in his hands and know those very in- est book, Plants of the Lewis & Clark Expedition, it was wonderful to see dividuals were the basis for our nam- Expedition. Kathy Lloyd 2 Kelseya Summer 2004 Conservation Bridger Plant Materials Center Announces Stillwater Germplasm prairie coneflower— Ratibida columnifera New Conservation Plant Releases The PMC has added three more species to its list of re- This is a Selected Class release of prairie coneflower. It leased germplasm and cultivars, bringing the conserva- is the first release of this species to the commercial seed tion plant arsenal to 26. In the third quarter of 2004, industry. Stillwater Germplasm is a native, perennial, two forbs and a grass became officially available to the forb of the Aster Family adapted to dry, open spaces commercial seed industry via the Foundation Seed Pro- with loam, sandy loam, or clayey loam soils. This release grams at Montana State University in Bozeman and the is comprised of five superior performing accessions University of Wyoming in Powell. bulked from seed originally collected in Stillwater and Carbon counties, Montana. This drought-tolerant native Great Northern Germplasm western yarrow— wildflower selection will be utilized primarily in seed Achillea millefolium var. occidentalis mixtures to add species’ diversity on a multitude of revegetation projects and for enhancing wildlife habitat. This is a Selected Class release of western yarrow. It is the first release of this species to the commercial seed Spirit Germplasm sweetgrass—Hierochloe odorata industry. Great Northern Germplasm is a native, peren- This is a Selected Class release of sweetgrass.