SUMMER 2017, VOLUME 18, ISSUE 3

A PUBLICATION OF THE NORTH AMERICAN NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY

Native Plant to Know Indian Tobacco Lobelia inflata by Madison Woods loamy soils of the deep-shaded forests. The plant consists of a single, Lobelia inflata is one of those coarse-haired main stem, which wildflowers that only a dedicated plant becomes branched. Sometimes more enthusiast could love. than one plant grows in the same She has no outstanding attributes to space, making her appear to be a draw the average eye. Her flowers are multi-branched plant. Total height tiny and insignificant. At the peak of averages about one to three fecundity, with swollen seed-bellies, feet (one-third to one scraggly growth and browning leaf metre) at peak growth. tips, she still isn’t a pretty sight. She dies back in winter. With a common name like puke This plant is listed as weed, it’s hard to muster appreciation. biennial or annual. I’ve But the name is apt, since one of her seen her referenced across actions is the ability to invoke sources as both, as if no one powerful vomiting. Indian tobacco is really knows for sure. She is the common name generally used, but self-fertile, with male and there’s nothing in the historical female flowers on the same archives to suggest that Native plant. Americans ever smoked this herb. Rough, oblong-shaped, Most people don’t even notice her serrated leaves grow in enough to shrug or frown when they alternate positions. The pass. But to an herbalist, she is leaves near the lower end treasured for the beauty she is. are irregularly toothy and Native to eastern North America, she attached with short petioles, ranges from southeastern Canada but the leaves near the top and through the eastern United States as on the flowering branches appear far west as Kansas. You’ll find Lobelia almost clasping. They have very inflata growing in dry waste ground in short petioles, if any, and smaller, more BRIGITTE GRANTON full sun or anywhere the ground has uniform serrations or even been disturbed. I seek her out each undetectable serrations on the smallest year alongside our shaded driveway leaves. ILLUSTRATION BY and in the middle of old, overgrown Indian tobacco produces tiny, light logging roads in the dappled shade of purple to whitish flowers in late our Ozark woodlands in Arkansas. I summer. Two petals point up like long have never found her in the moist, ears and three curve away below, with Continued on page 15 The Blazing Star is... NANPS Leads Rouge River Walk

The Blazing Star is published quarterly for CWF and HSBC (April, August, November, February) by the North American Native Plant Society The North American Native Plant Society (NANPS) was asked by David DeRocco (NANPS). Contact [email protected] of the Canadian Wildlife Federation (CWF) to lead a walk in Rouge National for editorial deadlines and for advertising Urban Park for National Wildlife Week (April 8 – 15). Employees of the Hong Kong rates. The views expressed herein are and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) and their families would be joining the those of the authors and not necessarily walk. NANPS agreed to the request and former NANPS president Tom Atkinson those of NANPS. and I agreed to act as tour leaders. The North American Native Plant Society is dedicated to the study, conservation, Phase 1: The Reconnaissance cultivation and restoration of North Tom and I did a reconnaissance tour of the Rouge River on April 1 to refresh our America’s native flora. knowledge of the area’s botany. There was not much greenery showing at that time Summer 2017 Volume 18, Issue 3 ISSN 2291-8280 NANPS Hires Communications Coordinator Editor: Irene Fedun Production: Bea Paterson The North American Native Plant Society is pleased to announce that for the Proofreader: Eileen Atkinson next few months we have a communications coordinator on staff – Danielle Printed by: Guild Printing, Tassie. Danielle lives in Peterborough, Ontario and joined the NANPS team in Markham, Ontario the spring. She grew up in east-end Toronto, surrounded by ravines, the beach © North American Native Plant Society and Lake Ontario and, contrary to the popular view of the city, she credits her Images © the photographers and hometown with instilling in her an appreciation for the natural world. illustrators, text © the authors. Peterborough’s Ecology Park inspired her love of native plants. Danielle is a All rights reserved. graduate of Trent University’s Environmental Studies Program and Fleming North American Native Plant Society, College’s Ecosystem Management Program. Over the past 15 years she has formerly Canadian Wildflower Society, volunteered and worked for environmental non-profit organizations and for is a registered charitable society, no. the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. She was the coordinator of the 130720824 RR0001. Biodiversity Education and Awareness Network (BEAN) and project liaison Donations to the society are tax- with the Ontario Invasive Plant Council (OIPC), where she was responsible for creditable in Canada. communications planning, program delivery, funding proposals and day-to-day

NANPS Membership: operations. CAN$25/YEAR WITHIN CANADA, At NANPS, Danielle will be helping with communications planning, US$25/YEAR OUTSIDE CANADA membership, the website, social media and monthly newsletters. You can reach Join online or send cheque or money her at [email protected]. order to North American Native Plant Society, Box 69070, St. Clair P.O., Toronto, Ontario, Canada M4T 3A1. NANPS ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING Telephone: (416) 631-4438. Saturday, November 4, 2017 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.nanps.org. Noon – 4 p.m. Facebook: www.facebook.com/nativeplant Toronto Botanical Twitter: @tnanps Gardens, Garden Hall 777 Lawrence Avenue Board of Directors: East at Leslie Street, Toronto Vice-President: Adam Mohamed Secretary: Miriam Henriques Dr. Jon Johnson, Department of Treasurer: Janice Keil Social Science, York University, Colleen Cirillo Toronto and an organizing member Arielle Kieran Myles Mackenzie of First Story Toronto, will be the Howard Meadd keynote speaker. He is an Harold Smith interdisciplinary community-based scholar whose research has focused HAROLD SMITH on Indigenous knowledge and the stories of Indigenous presence in HOTOGRAPH BY the Toronto region since the last ice P age to the present. Jack in the pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum) in seed.

2 NEWSLETTER OF THE NORTH AMERICAN NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY SUMMER 2017 of year in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), with the birch (Betula papyrifera), aspen (Populus spp.), sumac (Rhys exception of conifers. Mercifully, there were no remnant typhina) as well as invasive species such as purging patches of snow, but the ground was extremely wet from buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica), corkscrew willow (Salix recent rains. We saw a few Christmas ferns (Polystichum matsudana), black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) and the acrostichoides) and one very small specimen of early infamous non-native phragmites (Phragmites australis) were meadow rue (Thalictrum dioicum). also present. The trail was very wet, such that some had to Rouge Park is enormous – more than 50 square move off-trail to keep shoes relatively dry. kilometres (19 square miles) – and our tour would be We were especially pleased with the enthusiasm shown by limited to two hours so we had to keep this in mind. The the young people on the tour. One mother had her daughter starting point would be the Rouge Valley Conservation and young son with her. The latter asked what some green Centre just east of the Toronto Zoo. As we started out on thing was and Tom identified it as moss. Well, moss was a our reconnaissance, we quickly made two observations: (1) hit with him! As we walked on, he was keen to point out just the trail was inundated with water and (2) for about 500 about every patch of moss he saw. Such enthusiasm is to be metres (550 yards), our guests would see flat land, formerly farmed, with little of real botanic interest (unless you wanted to see invasive plant species). When we came to the naturally occurring forest, items of botanical interest picked up significantly. As a bonus, the trail was much drier.

Phase 2: The Tour April 8 dawned sunny and cool with a delightful wind. We

met David at the entrance to the park and found him to be DEROCCO DAVID open, welcoming, and a wonderful salesman for the CWF and nature in general. CWF Senior Development Officer

Emily Stypulkowska also participated in the hike, assisting HOTOGRAPH BY P with coordination and directing volunteers along the trail. Participants soon began arriving. With everyone applauded! Tom noticed wasp galls on goldenrod stalks, so assembled, David kicked the day off by explaining the goals he broke a piece off with the gall, handed it to another of National Wildlife Week and CWF and describing the young boy and explained what it was. The boy carried that nature of the walk. I gave a summary of NANPS, who we stalk everywhere. A girl was fascinated with white pine are and what we do. Tom added a few comments about needles. Her father had picked up a small pine branch and Rouge Park, keeping them brief so we could get walking. we explained that white pines have five needles to a bunch We had a group of about 40 people, including four and red pines have three and you remember that by the youngsters and what we saw initially was far from inspiring. number of letters in “white” and “red”. Our experience of The area’s natural woods had been cut for farming and the day brings to mind the Jesuit motto of forming young remnant stalks of native and non-native wildflowers were minds. If I may be permitted artistic licence, I’d like you to visible including goldenrods (Solidago spp.), asters contemplate this phrase: Give me a child until he is seven (Symphiotrichum and other species), grasses, Queen Anne’s and I will give you a botanist. lace (Daucus carota), and even the highly problematic In the forested area, the trail is on a ridge, with the purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria). White pines (Pinus ground falling steeply away on either side. Here we saw strobus), Ontario’s provincial tree, were seeding nicely. Paper mostly conifers, specifically white pines, white cedar (Thuja occidentalis) and eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis), on the north slope and deciduous trees on the south. In one spot a Continued on page 4

NANPS Seed Exchange

Time to collect seeds for NANPS annual exchange. For collection tips, visit www.nanps.org/index.php/plant- sources/159-seedcollection-reaping-what-you-sow. Send GIVING NATIVE PLANTS your seeds, separated by species and identified with the A PLACE TO GROW source/parentage, to NANPS Seed Exchange, Box 69070, St. Clair P.O., Toronto, Ontario M4T 3A1. Email www.LongPointLandTrust.ca [email protected] if you have questions. Thank you!

NEWSLETTER OF THE NORTH AMERICAN NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY SUMMER 2017 3 Exploring and Mapping

Continued from page 3 our Landscape

white pine, a sugar maple (Acer by David d’Entremont a handful of common native saccharum) and a hemlock were all goldenrods (Solidago spp.), asters growing together in a circle of less The sun still hides behind a high (Symphyotrichum and other spp.) and than a metre (three feet) in diameter. forested ridge in the verdant Caledon common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) All were mature trees and seemed countryside as my survey partner and to line the road edges with modest quite healthy. I head out far from the Credit Valley meadow strips, progressing into Deciduous trees included red maple Conservation Authority head office disturbed forest edge, scrubby field or (Acer rubrum), sugar maple, red and and press into the thick, shrubby edge a small marsh. The plant communities white oak (Quercus rubra and alba), of a roadside forest. Wearing tall of this historically heavily farmed bitternut hickory (Carya cordiformis), rubber boots and armed with region have been strongly disturbed black cherry (Prunus serotina), ash datasheets, field guides, binoculars, by human presence; from a natural (Fraxinus spp.), alternate-leaf collection bags, a compact insect net, a heritage perspective, it would be easy dogwood (Cornus alternifolia) and soil auger and a seemingly random to write many of them off as average. blue beech (Carpinus caroliniana). assortment of tools, we press through The edges of these blocks – while not Surprisingly, there was no bur oak the dew-laden thicket edge and into without beauty – seem predictable. (Quercus macrocarpa); this is a tree the forest. We are greeted by a dawn Another forest, another field, another species you would typically see in a chorus of birds; robins, chickadees, stream. river valley or moist bottomland such vireos and sparrows make good use of The edges, however, often hide huge as Rouge River Valley. The loathsome the morning hours before it gets hot surprises and hidden gems. Unique purging buckthorn made its and humid. The day is perfect for new plant communities, unusual habitats, appearance at this stage, especially discoveries. rare and endangered species, after the trail descended to the From the road, you wouldn’t think uncommon geological features, clean floodplain of the Rouge River. Aspens much of a concession block like this springs and seeps – you never know appeared again, along with some one in southern Ontario. Jumbles of what to expect! These blocks may have willows (Salix spp). non-native plants like mullein been “mapped” in the grand regional As warmer weather prevails, we’ll be (Verbascum thapsus), knapweed sense of the word, but, more often able to see spring ephemerals such as (Centaurea stoebe ssp. micranthos), than not, their contents are not fully trout lily (Erythronium americanum), smooth brome (Bromus inermis), known, even to those who own the trilliums (Trillium spp.), Canada common buckthorn (Rhamnus property. And yet these are the crucial mayflower (Maianthemum canadense), cathartica) and many others mix with pieces of our natural heritage worth spring beauty (Claytonia caroliniana) and others where the trail moves from a ridgeline to a gentle slope. Ferns are abundant in this location as well. We were very pleased with the interest that the HSBC employees and their families showed in nature. One never knows quite what to expect when meeting people new to nature, but they showed rapt attention and asked excellent questions. One lady was able to identify white oaks simply by their bark after a quick tutorial. Would we participate in a walk of this kind in future? You bet!

Adam Mohamed Adam is the vice-president of NANPS D’ENTREMONT DAVID and their social media coordinator. He has worked for the Toronto and Region HOTOGRAPH BY Conservation Authority, Credit Valley P Conservation and the City of Toronto. Rich mossy banks border a small, cold-water creek as it snakes out of the swamp He is currently working at Humber through nearby forested land. Creeks like this are not only ideal moss and fern habitat, Nurseries. but deliver the wetland-filtered water downstream without heating it up, a crucial function for downstream wildlife like fish and insects.

4 NEWSLETTER OF THE NORTH AMERICAN NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY SUMMER 2017 admiring, protecting and building community class and community Swamp (SWC4-1) or a Dry-Fresh upon. Some of our most spectacular series based on shared commonalities. Carbonate Open Talus (TAO1-1). habitats are hidden in the middle of It sounds complicated, but many After a great deal of study, MNRF privately owned concession blocks tiers of the system have recognizable scientists created a detailed list of surrounded by country houses. elements. Community class examples these vegetation types from regions How do you go about quantifying, analyzing, mapping and comparing these amorphous, complex, connected natural systems? How do you express to the world the uniqueness and importance of the communities you are seeing, plan localized conservation strategies or assess land ecological value in a development zone? The answer for such a complex question, unsurprisingly, varies from place to place. In Ontario, the standard developed for mapping these natural landscapes is ELC. ELC stands for Ecological Land Classification, developed by Ontario’s Ministry of

Natural Resources and Forestry D’ENTREMONT DAVID (MNRF) as a way of categorizing ecological communities. ELC outlines HOTOGRAPH BY P these categories into a A lush layer of ostrich fern (Matteuccia struthiopteris) sways quietly in the dappled sunlight of a hillside structured hierarchy based on sugar maple (Acer saccharum) deciduous forest. The trees in most of the surrounding concession block were features such as soil type, removed, leaving remnant patches of original sugar maple-dominated forest. hydrology and plant communities – the backbones of what include forest, swamp, talus, etc. At the across Ontario, comparing data and makes a habitat distinct. Just as plants community series level we get more noting commonalities and correlations are categorized into families, genera specific: deciduous forest, coniferous between vegetation communities that and species based on how many swamp, open talus. The ultimate share features and species. The term features they have in common, ELC classification end-point, the vegetation “commonalities” may seem like a categorizes Ontario ecosystems into type, represents a known kind of stretch when discussing variable and functional, nested groups like system, community that appears again and complex natural systems, but in broad again on our strokes there is a demonstrable level of landscape when consistency to plant communities the right within a region. Landform, soil type, conditions water persistence, slope aspect and GrowGrow Wild!Wild! occur: perhaps a cultural history conspire to make Native plant nursery, Dry-Fresh Sugar conditions at one site ideal for one landscaping and Maple-Beech community of plants (which ecological services Deciduous proliferate), while an adjacent site www.grow-wild.com Forest (FOD5- with slightly different variables tends 2), a Tamarack- towards another community. Change Home: 705.799.2619 Black Spruce the water level and a forest grades into 3784 Hwy 7, (Paul Heydon) Organic a swamp. When changes occur to slope Omemee, Ontario Cell: 416.735.7490 Coniferous (by appointment only) [email protected] Continued on page 6

NEWSLETTER OF THE NORTH AMERICAN NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY SUMMER 2017 5 Continued from page 5

pockets of significantly different vegetation communities < 0.5 ha in size) and list habitat features, disturbances and the presence or evidence of animals. • Describe the “layers” of vegetation. How much cover does the canopy provide and what are the top four species in it? If you had to order them from most abundant to least, which order would you use? Repeat for the sub-canopy, understorey, ground layer, etc. • Categorize following the ELC hierarchy criteria: Is this a wetland, shallow aquatic or terrestrial site? Is it on bedrock or deep soils? Organic or mineral soil? Is there significant coverage of trees or shrubs? Are they coniferous or deciduous? Etc. • Complete by choosing the most appropriate vegetation type code for the community. • Finalize mapping and digitize maps and data. ELC breaks hazy natural variation

DAVID D’ENTREMONT DAVID into manageable chunks and helps to characterize the landscape in meaningful ways while also collecting HOTOGRAPH BY

P very useful site-specific data. A Often under-appreciated, meadow marsh communities can put on quite a show. Many landscape that has been mapped and are lush with pollinator-friendly flowers such as swamp aster (Symphyotrichum surveyed properly can be quantified puniceum), spotted Joe-Pye-weed (Eutrochium maculatum ssp. maculatum) and and analyzed. Rare communities and panicled aster (Symphyotrichum lanceolatum) that are positively buzzing with bees by unusual species inform conservation late summer. management practices and the landscape breakdown allows us to and aspect, a forest filled with map of the area and draw lines assess the rarity of whole communities deciduous trees like sugar maples around what appear to be at any scale. When land must be (Acer saccharum) may become consistent communities over 0.5 developed, what is lost is known in interspersed with shade-loving eastern hectares (~1.24 acres) in size. detail and reparations like offsets and hemlocks (Tsuga canadensis) to form a Estimate where one community habitat restoration can be more mixed forest, with both coniferous and ends and a new pattern begins. specific. deciduous elements. With a careful This takes practice. From a conservation perspective, eye, the intrepid surveyor learns to • Explore the area on foot. Within sometimes the most valuable categorize, map and describe the plant each vegetation community, information you get during ELC communities in an area, while always determine the true boundaries on surveys isn’t the classification, but on the lookout for unique sightings your map. what you find simply by walking in and rare features to record. • Collect on-the-ground data for with your eyes wide open. The The essentials of the process include each community: Record discovery of a forgotten patch of the following: vegetation lists, perform tree swamp with deep, old organic soils, tallies, analyze soil cores, map big trees, vernal pools and a lush • Take a high-quality aerial image “inclusions” (small distinct ground layer packed with unusual

6 NEWSLETTER OF THE NORTH AMERICAN NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY SUMMER 2017 native species but lacking invasive clamp-tipped emerald – the Credit’s fractured and vastly different plants may mark a piece of land that rarest extant dragonfly, known only Carolinian Forest Zone. Especially in a was largely spared from human use, from one other locality. Given half a spacious province like Ontario, it is all with incredible habitat values and rare chance, nature will surprise you. too easy to expand human interests species. The spectacular appearance of ELC helps to build a meaningful rapidly while vaguely assuming that endangered plants and animals like picture of our natural landscape. “there’s adequate land left.” Surveys to wild ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) or the Blanding’s turtle flag crucial site- specific opportunities to support these species. Conversely, bland habitats full of common and invasive species indicate opportunities for improvement, but allow us to prioritize other, more sensitive areas in a world of limited manpower and funding. On that early morning in the Caledon countryside, our team explored a beautiful block of property, split on one side by a power transmission corridor. Based on our top-down aerial imagery assessment, we went in expecting to find a coniferous swamp beside a bland predictable meadow strip under the power lines, maybe progressing into a basic meadow marsh where the power lines crossed lowland wet areas. What we found was so much more – a rich, old, mossy swamp of balsam fir (Abies balsamifera), white cedar (Thuja occidentalis), tamarack (Larix laricina) and scattered deciduous trees, with deep organic soils and an abundance DAVID D’ENTREMONT DAVID of mosses, ferns, forbs and sedges (Carex spp.). It’s true that the swath of

open space created by the power HOTOGRAPH BY P corridor had basic meadow components. However, where it Compared to its yellow-flowered cousin, common wood-sorrell (Oxalis montana) is (ironically) reclusive, preferring sheltered, shady, moss-laden hummocks and logs in rich passed through the swamp, it opened forests and swamps. The clover-shaped leaves grow close to the surface, appearing to up into a rich organic marsh with a pop individually out of the mosses. profusion of Sphagnum mosses (4+ species), bog goldenrods (Solidago Projects like the natural areas map and classify our landscape are uliginosa), scattered willows (Salix inventories (undertaken at several essential, helping us to focus on our spp.), marsh ferns (Thelypteris Ontario conservation authorities) and remaining natural gems and to look palustris var. pubescens) and, to our the general classification of ahead for future generations. delight, one of the most robust (and conservation lands by various one of the few) populations of round- conservation agencies help to inform David d’Entremont is currently working leaved sundew (Drosera rotundifolia) us about what makes up our landscape as a terrestrial biologist with Azimuth in the Credit River watershed. The and – crucially – what we have left. We Environmental Consulting Inc. He same power corridor would lead us to are quick to forget that most of that specializes in bird, plant and insect other unusual sightings – from orchids extra land is northern and boreal surveys, and has a particular fondness such as Loesel’s twayblade (Liparis forest, whose size does not justify for the Odonata (dragonflies and loeselii) to the discovery of a female eliminating what remains of our damselflies).

NEWSLETTER OF THE NORTH AMERICAN NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY SUMMER 2017 7 Plant Defences

by Stephen Johnson protected by short sharp prickles. Its congener, the From spear tips to lethal chemical southern prickly ash, sea cocktails, the plants of the world ash or Hercules’ club (Z. possess an array of defence clava–herculis), native to mechanisms and strategies as part of coastal dunes and barren the dynamic co-evolutionary battle sandhills, has equally between ecological producer and sharp prickles mounted consumer. Almost every plant employs on larger pyramidal cork a defensive strategy to prevent it from bases densely studding the being eaten. Insects and mammals in tree’s trunk. The the modern world are the chief cultivated oranges (Citrus perpetrators of this herbivory and spp.) increase their some plants have mechanisms to deal defences by incorporating with both. The defences fall into two stout and sometimes long broad categories: structural and spines. But the chemical. Structural defences are often midwestern United States easy to observe while chemical has a species with the defences are likely hidden. most menacing thorns – In North America, plants using the honey locust (Gleditsia thorns have such evocative names as tricanthos). This locust is hawthorn (Crataegus sp.) and devil’s studded with clusters of

walking stick (Arelia spinosa). The three to seven-inch thorns STEPHEN JOHNSON citrus family (Rutaceae) is also (7-18 centimetres) that proficient with armaments. The North can cause injuries ranging American prickly ash or cavalier from topical infection to ILLUSTRATION BY (Zanthoxylum americanum) is sepsis. Whimsical view of how a flower fairy may cope with the More mechanical defences of a cactus. familiar to naturalists and gardeners var. horridulum. may be the prickles of Eastern and western North blackberries (Rubus sp.) Americans alike may be familiar with and roses (Rosa spp.). iconic cactuses such as eastern prickly Easterners who hike nature pear (Opuntia humifusa) with its trails and home landscapers clusters of short, detachable, urticating may be familiar with the bristles. The fragile prickly pear (O. leaf margin spines of fragilis) has more conventional spines. American holly (Ilex opaca This cactus grows further north than var. opaca). The leaf margin any other in the U.S. northern spine is taken to splintered midwest and Canada. In the western glass extremes by the thistle United States there is a plethora of tribe of the Aster family. spiny cacti. I have experienced the Thistle spines may be short, viciously armed Thornber or thin and irritating or stout, Colorado desert cholla long and puncturing. The (Cylindropuntia acanthocarpa). The most notable in my southwestern U.S. and northern experience has the Mexico boast the flamboyantly deceptively innocent armoured golden-spined jumping common name of yellow cholla (Cylindropuntia bigelovii) with STEPHEN JOHNSON thistle. But this inhabitant spines that catch clothing. In fact, a of coastal sand dunes has a pad detaches and grabs at you with scientific name appropriate such alacrity that it seems to jump ILLUSTRATION BY to its ostentatiously wicked from the plant onto your clothes. A cartoon view of how a caterpillar might react to digestion- spines: Cirsium horridulum These defences evolved to prick the blocking tannins.

8 NEWSLETTER OF THE NORTH AMERICAN NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY SUMMER 2017 soft noses and tongues of browsing the infamous mammals and deter them from eating stinging nettle the soft fruit. These prickles and (Urtica dioica). The thorns, particularly the sharp and sharply pointed hairs stout thorns of honey locust, may be in Urtica are ghosts of evolution; the animals for breakable-tip vials of which these impressive armaments irritating chemicals were adapted, such as giant ground injected directly into sloths and mastodons, are no longer the skin. here. A variation on the Smaller structural defences in plants structural defence is include myriad forms of plant hairs or the employment of trichomes. Dense formations of long, ants for defence. thin and stiff hairs can impede an Gardeners may be insect’s progress along a plant stem or familiar with the even impair the insect’s ability to get sight of ants gathered its mouth parts close enough to take a on the buds of bite or a drink. There are curling hairs garden peony that can trap an insect’s legs leaving (Paeonia spp.). The the insect to die of starvation. There peony bud exudes are many varieties of glandular hairs sugary compounds such as those on the unicorn plant that attract ants. Ants (Proboscidea sp.) whose leaves trap in turn protect the insects in a slightly sticky leaf covering source of sugars and

that is much like flypaper. Perhaps the depart once the STEPHEN JOHNSON worst type of hair from the human flower opens. The standpoint is the mechanically native North HOTOGRAPH BY

irritating or urticating hair. Some American prairie P people have reported skin irritation annual known as Catesby's gentian is one of many gentian species containing iridoid after handling the leaves and stems of partridge pea glycosides and experiencing minimal insect damage. North American lady slipper orchids (Chamaecrista (Cypripedium spp.) but the most fasciculata) has tiny nectar-filled cups called extrafloral nectaries, attract notorious of the urticating hair suite is at the base of its leaves. The cups, ants. In southern Louisiana, I observed many native Crematogaster ants drinking from the urn-shaped nectaries of partridge pea. Other plants produce external protein packets called beltian bodies which ants pluck from plant stems. One of the most interesting symbioses between ant and plant occurs in the South American tree Cecropia and the ant genus Azteca. Cecropia does not produce many secondary chemicals designed for defence and as such has a faster growth rate than surrounding chemically defended trees do. Instead Cecropia produces copious beltian bodies and has hollow stems where

STEPHEN JOHNSON ants can nest. Any herbivorous assault is faced with a platoon of angry Azteca ants. The ants also chew off any HOTOGRAPH BY

P epiphytic plants that attempt to Echinocystis lobata may release an aerosol "cry for help" that attracts predatory mites. colonize. Continued on page 10

NEWSLETTER OF THE NORTH AMERICAN NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY SUMMER 2017 9 Continued from page 9

Many plant families invest in and prickles – also mount a chemical family (Cucurbitaceae) while under chemical rather than structural defence against insects. Their acrid attack by spider mites release volatile defences. I once saw a hairless and aromatic volatile oils are familiar to us chemicals that attract predatory mites apparently defenceless meadow as the aromas of oranges, limes and in what has been termed “a cry for gentian (Gentiana clausa) growing lemons. help.” This may also be the case for next to a telephone pole in a utility Plants may use secondary chemicals native cucurbits such as the wild line cut through a forest. It was perfect in other ways to thwart insects. Some cucumber (Echinocystis lobata) and fodder for deer but it had not so much studies have indicated that some the bur cucumber (Sicyos angulatus). as an insect bite mark. Gentians of aerosolized chemicals may cue Still other chemicals in plants mimic North America may sequester a predators of the herbivores to attack. insect growth hormones and can delay cocktail of iridoid glycosides, the growth of an herbivorous which are toxic to insects, caterpillar. Such a delay in and pyrrolizidine alkaloids, development leaves the which are toxic to mammals. herbivore in a caterpillar Perhaps the most famous stage longer leaving it more of all plant chemicals are the susceptible to attack by alkaloids. These nitrogen- parasitoids or birds. It has containing toxins can be been found in Gymnosperms lethal to insects and and ferns. vertebrates alike. One Plants also have some particularly famous alkaloid defence against attack from is caffeine. While it stimulates microorganisms. Often in mental acuity in humans, it is nature, as in the garden, we destructive to the nervous may see a plant that has small systems of insects. Another brown spots on the leaves. alkaloid popular at some These necrotic patches, social gatherings is cocaine usually observed as circular (derived from Erythroxylum spots, are the localized cell coca for anyone who’s death response of leaf cells to curious.) the introduction of a Cardenolides, better known pathogen, most likely a virus. as cardiac glycosides, are The virus needs living cells to collected by monarch proliferate. By killing the cells butterfly caterpillars from in the neighbourhood around milkweeds to make them the point of infection, the STEPHEN JOHNSON unpalatable to birds. These plant deprives the virus of chemicals may cause heart living tissue and the isolated HOTOGRAPH BY arrhythmias and cardiac virus dies. P arrest in vertebrates who Since they are stationary, attempt to eat the plants have had to evolve a caterpillars. Asclepias viridiflora (green comet milkweed) has cardiac glycosides. It is variety of mechanisms to Found throughout the palatable to a bug, a beetle and a butterfly. defend themselves against higher plants are the mobile herbivores. But the chemicals called tannins. Tannins are Attracted enemies are typically battle is never over. As insects develop dilute in young tree leaf tissue when parasitoids that live their larval lives ways to detoxify plant chemistry, many insect caterpillars come to inside a host but are free living as plants evolutionarily respond by defoliate but increase significantly as adults. Such aerosolized chemicals altering toxic chemistry. The plant vs. the leaf ages. The ubiquitous tannins have been isolated from cultivated herbivore contest continues. As for the cause lesions in caterpillars’ digestive members of the mustard family thorns, they await the return of a tracts and generally inhibit digestion, (Brassicaceae). This ability may also hungry mastodon. causing caterpillars to starve. someday be found in native mustards The Rutaceae – in addition to such as toothwort (Dentaria laciniata). Stephen Johnson is a botanist and plant mounting a proficient defence against Other studies have shown that ecologist always searching for and mammal browsing by the use of spines cultivated members of the gourd observing plant interactions.

10 NEWSLETTER OF THE NORTH AMERICAN NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY SUMMER 2017 New & Noted

Common Lichens of Eastern North that it is often necessary to check small America: A Field Guide other characteristics in order to be sure of By Troy McMullin and Frances organisms your identification. Anderson can move When I became curator of the 2015, New York Botanic Garden Press in and Lakehead University herbarium in 192 pp, 138 colour photographs, 138 establish Thunder Bay, Ontario and started black and white illustrations themselves. ISBN 978-0-89327-511-2 If you do $38.39 US not know lichen species, Lichens are ignored by most Common people, even botanists. Yet, they Lichens of are an important part of the Northeastern natural environment. The solid North America is partnerships between fungi and algae a good start. The result in organisms that are able to first section survive on substrates where even describes species on trees, most of PROSS CATHERINE bryophytes have a hard time them found only in regions with establishing themselves and rooted deciduous trees. Lichens do not do HOTOGRAPH BY plants cannot exist at all. Being able to well in farming and urban areas. The P absorb moisture over their surface soil lichens of the second section are Xanthoria parietina when it is available – and surviving for much more widespread, as are many months when it is not – enables of the rock lichens in the third section. teaching a course on bryophytes and lichens to modify environments so This is a very good book to take out lichens, I decided to make a checklist into the field to of lichens for the Thunder Bay see how many District, which extends from the of these lichens deciduous forest north of Lake you can find. Superior into the boreal forest. I Specializing in container grown The illustrations thought that, like mosses, there would Trees & ShrubsSh native to Ontario and concise be about 200 species of lichens. I descriptions are actually listed 450 and that did not excellent. The cover the whole district since most book has a collectors were not far from the few waterproof highways in the area. That said, the cover and a coil 138 species covered in Common binding which Lichens of Northeastern North America makes it easy to are just a drop in the bucket, but a keep open. You great way to start to familiarize will need a hand yourself with lichens. lens of course, at least x5, since Review by Joan Crowe

Original Art by Brigitte Granton (705) 466-6290 [email protected] Acrylic, Oil and Ink. wwww.notsohollowfarm.ca Commission work by request.

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NEWSLETTER OF THE NORTH AMERICAN NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY SUMMER 2017 11 New & Noted

Midwestern Native Shrubs and Trees: Plus the by exotics and yet I saw the same Gardening Alternatives to Nonnative berries butterflies, bees and birds as we see on Species have a our property in Manitoba where my By Charlotte Adelman and high fat wife and I have altered the numbers Bernard L. Schwartz content game in favour of native flora. 2016, Ohio University Press which Obviously, most exotic (naturalized or 396 pages, with colour photos provides invasive) plants are being pollinated. and drawings much-needed Here are two of only eight occasions ISBN 9780821421666 energy for which spell out inadequacies of exotic migrating and plants: Midwestern Native Shrubs and overwintering • “[Poisonous] nectar produced by Trees points out that there is birds and large some [exotic rhododendron] more to gardening than meets the eye. and small species kills some species of bees.” The authors observe that planting mammals. • “Not one species of butterfly in shrubs and trees to do double duty is I was informed by the noteworthy North America can use buddleias the way of the future in North information the book provides. For [butterfly bush] as larval host America. I concur with: “Recognition example, it discloses that some plants.” of the fundamental connection nurseries sell only male variants of Meanwhile, the book says that one between native plant species and some (exotic) woody plants so that native variant “hosts 32 species of wildlife is essential. This insight leads fruits and berries do not litter butterflies and moths.” The exotic to pitching in and planting native manicured lawns – with a subsequent might be better called half butterfly species in areas over which we have loss of food for wildlife. It’s bush. unique control (yards, gardens, astonishing that this long-standing I also found the tiny font size condominium balconies). Choosing practice is still happening. difficult to read and the magazine natives is a practical, direct, and Also of interest is the discussion style layout unappealing. Stringing enjoyable way to help wildlife and regarding native cultivars which the information about each plant together achieve immense good. To our readers authors label “nativars”. When writing in one, often lengthy, paragraph makes we say, before planting a shrub or tree, about ninebarks (Physocarpus spp.), it difficult to find specific information. think about the beauty and the they observe that leaf chemistry of the To me, it would be better if each topic environmental benefits provided by dark (purple) foliage of nativar had its own paragraph with butterfly our true native midwestern woody ninebarks has been altered to the or bird species presented in lists rather species.” extent that specialist ninebark than long (sometimes 30 or 40 species This book is replete with photos and calligraphy beetles cannot eat the long) sentences. Doing this might drawings of butterflies, moths, bees, leaves. require more space. Graphic design is birds and other animals that rely on This book has a few shortcomings, influenced by the number of pages in native plants for food and shelter, but however. Native fauna, according to the budget. Still, there are ways to it is not a field guide. It’s more of a the authors, is in decline partly accomplish what I suggest. They cross-reference companion to such. It because exotic woody plants are could, for example, use a sans-serif presents shrubs and trees by season displacing natives, causing food and font, which takes up less space. I hope allowing the reader to focus on their habitat loss for many insects and the publisher rethinks the design of primary landscaping interest. For birds. They state, “On average, native the book if they go for a third take on example, if you're accustomed to plants support 13 times more the subject. planting exotic Siberian (red twig) caterpillars ... than nonnative plants.” All that said, I learned a lot and dogwood (Cornus alba ‘elegantissima’) Although I agree that native plants are compliment the authors for their because you like the red stems in better, anyone could challenge this research and presentation of valuable winter, this book offers you a better statement since the book provides information pertaining to a difficult choice in native red osier dogwood little in the way of statistical subject. (Cornus sericea). Not only are red comparisons. Nowhere are there side- osiers less susceptible to disease and by-side numbers of the attractiveness Review by Robert G. Mears climatic variations, native dogwoods to pollinators of native plants versus Robert recently launched are host to 118 species of butterflies exotics. On a recent walk in my rural the Native Biota Forum and moths, birds feed the caterpillars community, I noted a handful of (https://nativebiota.studiofive.ca/) to their nestlings and the dogwoods native plants along roadsides and which is devoted to discussing all are of “special value to native bees.” trails. They were vastly outnumbered native lifeforms.

12 NEWSLETTER OF THE NORTH AMERICAN NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY SUMMER 2017 Pollinator Plants for Hot, Sunny, Dry Areas

by Jane Zednik In Canadian hardiness zone 5a, Native plants were severely tested for they do well in my their drought tolerance in the summer hilly, rocky, wind- of 2016 – the driest summer in over swept landscape. 100 years in parts of southern (Zone 3 to 7 Ontario. Even mature trees wilted. USDA; Zone 2 to 7 The years 1998-2002 were also Canada NRC) severe drought years for this region; Note: the hardiness 2007 and 2008 saw an extended zones given for drought period and the year 2012 was prairie smoke vary deemed the worst for drought in a on the internet. decade. The plants might The future promises unpredictable survive and even weather patterns, but I imagine we’ll thrive in be seeing many more hot, dry lower/higher zones. summers, especially in the heavily populated Greater Toronto Area. I’ve Spotted

chosen five showy native perennials Horsemint ZEDNIK JANE that grow in my garden on the Oak (Monarda

Ridges Moraine north of Toronto to punctata) HOTOGRAPH BY profile below. Not all are regionally A native of P native, but they are indigenous to eastern Canada, Prairie smoke in seed. North America. Their advantages: they this is a fantastic ignored the horrible drought of 2016 plant for hot, dry, and will brighten up dry, sunny sunny areas landscapes in rural areas or even small flowering in late urban backyards. Look for them at June and July. It’s native plant nurseries (visit nanps.org also an amazing for a list.) It’s well worth the effort. pollinator magnet, especially for Prairie Smoke beneficial wasps. (Geum triflorum) When I first This spring wildflower is not managed to restricted to the prairies as its germinate seeds of common name suggests. It can be this plant I babied found growing on alvars in parts of the seedlings, but Ontario. A charming low-growing they hated the rich ground cover, prairie smoke’s fern- soil they were like, gray-green foliage turns red, planted in and orange or purple in late fall and quickly moved to a persists throughout the winter. Its nearby parched

distinguishing feature is the reddish limestone JANE ZEDNIK pink to purplish, nodding, globular screening pathway flowers that attract many species of where they HOTOGRAPH BY

bees. The bloom period lasts from continue to P mid-spring to early summer. Long, proliferate. Spotted horsemint. plumed seed heads follow the long- Spotted horsemint blooming flowers, creating a gauzy grows half a metre visual impact. The leaves of these effect that resembles smoke hovering tall (1.5 to 2 feet) and looks nothing tough eccentric beauties are highly close to the ground. This plant like other Monarda species. It’s not the fragrant. The bonus is that deer will remained perky in my garden while small, purple-spotted, tubular yellow not even consider munching. (Zone 3 surrounding plants languished or flowers, but the rosettes of large white to 8 USDA; Zone 4 to 8 Canada NRC) vanished during the summer drought. or pink-tipped bracts extending up the square stem that create a long-lasting Continued on page 14

NEWSLETTER OF THE NORTH AMERICAN NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY SUMMER 2017 13 Continued from page 13

Rattlesnake Master United States. Given its preferred globular heads of tightly packed, (Eryngium yuccifolium) habitat, this plant will sprawl and look greenish-white flowers subtended by A showy, highly drought-tolerant awful if grown in overly fertile soils or whitish, pointed bracts. The stems can flowering native that makes a less-than-full sun. Above the sharp- extend one metre (three to four feet). statement in a sunny, well-drained edged basal leaves that resemble those The flowers have a mild sweet garden. It hails from the prairie of a yucca, branched clusters produce fragrance and are pollinated by many landscapes of eastern and southern 2.5-centimetre (one-inch) diameter types of insects, especially wasps. Rattlesnake master, which blooms from June right through to September, will self-sow if happy. A real conversation piece. Note: thanks to its long taproot, it does not transplant well. (Zone 3 to 8 USDA; Zone 3 to 8 Canada NRC)

Rocky Mountain Blazing Star (Liatris ligulistylis) Nobody should be without this spectacular flowering plant native to the prairies. In its native habitat, Liatris ligulistylis is found from Alberta south to New Mexico and east to Wisconsin and Missouri. Not only is it drought tolerant, growing happily in dry, gravelly soils, but it is also the quintessential monarch butterfly magnet. It is not unusual to see several species-at-risk monarchs dining at this favourite nectar source. The fluffy, thistle-like, deep rose-purple flower heads appear on terminal columnar inflorescences atop erect, leafy flower stems. This lovely plant, that can grow up to 1.8 metres (six feet) in cultivation, blooms in late summer to early fall. (Zone 3 to 8 USDA; Zone 4 to 8 Canada NRC)

Blue Sage (Salvia azurea and Salvia azurea var. grandiflora) These two salvias are some of my favourite plants. They are perfect candidates for sunny areas. They tolerate drought and rocky dry soils. They’re also deer-proof. Salvia azurea is native to southeastern United States, while Salvia azurea var. grandiflora is found further west from New Mexico JANE ZEDNIK north to Minnesota. Salvia azurea forms a low mound of grayish-green, lanceolate leaves and sends up tall HOTOGRAPH BY P stems in late summer that are topped Blazing star with monarch butterflies dining on it and blue sage in the background. with spikes of bright, two-lipped, sky blue flowers. Salvia azurea var.

14 NEWSLETTER OF THE NORTH AMERICAN NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY SUMMER 2017 grandiflora produces larger, darker blue flowers and narrower, dark green, lanceolate leaves. Both are stunners that bloom prolifically from August to late October and can grow to 1.5 metres (five feet), but in my northern garden they reach three-quarters of a metre at best (2.5 feet). Because they bloom so late in the season, they not only attract many varieties of late season butterflies, they are a wonderful farewell to summer. (Zone 4 to 9 USDA; Zone 5 to 8 Canada NRC)

Jane Zednik’s enthusiasm for native plants sometimes causes her friends’ JANE ZEDNIK eyes to glaze over. Undeterred, she continues her campaign to induce others HOTOGRAPH BY to fall in love with these often- P overlooked but important beauties. Rattlesnake master

Continued from page 1 – Indian Tobacco a stout stamen in the middle. Seed Dr. Christopher. This formula has pods ripen a month to six weeks after been used in one variation or another flowers appear. by many herbalists through the years If you intend to harness her powers to prevent muscle cramps and it’s hard for herbal remedies or just want to to determine who to credit with the grow specimens in your wild garden of original recipe. useful plants, I would suggest a bit of The time to harvest is after the study before making that important seedpods have matured and begun decision. While I love this plant and to turn brown. Gather the plant by use her often, Lobelia inflata is listed pulling the whole thing, roots and MADISON WOODS as toxic. The entire plant contains all. Put the tops down into a paper active constituents that could be bag. Many of the tiny seeds will harmful if misused or accidentally drop from the already ripened pods. ILLUSTRATION BY ingested by animals or children. That When they’re good and dry, you can said, I’ve never had any of our animals shake the stems to collect the rest of eat this plant and she’s not interesting the seeds at the bottom of the bag. plants in limited enough to attract children. Paul I’ll cut the roots off while still fresh, supply, I take fewer and leave Bergner published an article at wash them quickly, then chop and put more overall, but I also pay more HerbMed.com that disputes the them to tincture. I don’t use the stems attention to the ones I don’t touch. I toxicity label. or leaves, but do include all the leave behind the best, most robust Though this herb has many other seedpod dry matter in my extractions. plants so they can pass on genetics that actions, including emetic and nervine, Since Indian tobacco is a short-lived will improve the generations to come. it is the antispasmodic action I plant, how you handle the seeds is key employ. I make a cold oil extraction or to sustainable populations. I take a Madison Woods wanders the remote acidified tincture of the seeds, handful and scatter them in areas that and tick-infested hills of the Ozarks in seedpods and roots. Heat will render should support their growth. Another northwest Arkansas with a notebook in the remedy impotent. Lobelia inflata is practice I follow is what I call one hand and her camera in the other. one of the ingredients of a tincture I proportional harvest. If a plant is You can find her online at like to keep on hand. It’s my variation plentiful, as Lobelia is around here, I’ll WildOzark.com. of the Anti-Spasmodic Formula from take one for every three I find. For

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