Press The Minnesota Native Plant Society Newsletter

www.mnnps.org Volume 31 Number 1 Winter 2012 Monthly meetings Thompson Park Center/Dakota La Salle Lake SRA has a Lodge Thompson County Park landscape to experience 360 Butler Ave. E., by Erika Rowe, Minnesota County Biology Survey plant ecologist, DNR West St. Paul, MN 55118 and former MNNPS board member. Programs As a plant ecologist with the DNR’s Minnesota County Biological Survey, The Minnesota Native Plant I have hiked many miles and seen a variety of landscapes in northwestern Society meets the first Thursday Minnesota. Yet the landscape surrounding La Salle Lake and Creek, just in October, November, December, north of Itasca State Park in Hubbard County, immediately stood out as February, March, April, May, and unique. It felt remote and wild, with steep, rugged slopes with red pine and June. Check at www.mnnps.org balsam fir, rocky ravines with streams bordered by white pine and sugar for more program information. maple, and old-growth cedar seepage swamps. Above the valley, on the 6 p.m. — Social period flatter terrain, expansive oak, aspen and maple forests frame this stunning 7 – 9 p.m. — Program, Society lake and valley. business Fortunately, now others can explore this landscape as well. On Oct. Feb. 2: “Using to Assess 27, 2011, the State of Minnesota purchased approximately 1,000 acres Wetland Quality in Minnesota – surrounding La Salle Lake, establishing Minnesota’s newest state the Next Generation,” by Michael recreation area (SRA). The Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment Act Bourdaghs, research scientist for — specifically the Outdoor Heritage Fund — provided much of the funds the PCA. Plant-of-the-Month: to acquire this property. In addition, an area adjacent to the SRA, north of Tussock sedge (Carex stricta). Hubbard Co. Rd. 9, has been established as a Scientific and Natural Area March 1: “Natural History (SNA). of Maple Syrup Production,” by La Salle Lake, the highlight of this extraordinary landscape, is a large Dr. Stephen G. Saupe, professor, (224 acres) lake that is one of the deepest (213 feet) in Minnesota. It has Biology Department, College of St. 18,600 feet of shoreline, and much of its input is spring-fed. It is remarkably Benedict and St. John’s University. wild and scenic, having never been developed, aside from the very northern Plant-of-the-Month: Black maple edge where a resort caretaker’s home sits along with a few cabins and (Acer nigrum), also by Dr. Saupe. buildings — remnants of the previous owners. March 24: Symposium on Several different native plant communities exist in the La Salle Lake Plants of Minnesota. See page 2. area, and because of the significant April 5: Stalking rare native elevation change throughout the plants,” by Malcolm and Rosemary area and the myriad slope aspects, In this issue MacFarlane, volunteers, DNR the vegetation of the area is March 24 symposium...... 2 County Biological Survery. Plant- complex. These natural communities Society news ...... 2 of-the-Month: Least moonwort support a number of rare species La Salle Lake, photos ...... 3 (Botrychium tenebrosum). including ram’s-head lady Pagami Creek fire ...... 4 May 3: “Wild Orchids of slipper ( arietinum), New board member...... 5 Minnesota,” by Welby Smith, northern oak fern (Gymnocarpium Our 30th anniversary...... 5 botanist, Minnesota DNR. Plant-of- robertianum), hair-like sedge Do we love our lakes? ...... 6 the-Month: Case’s ladies’-tresses (Carex capillaris), trumpeter swans Donation to refuge, easements..6 (Spiranthes casei). Continued on page 3 Plant Lore: Anemone patens ...7 March 24 symposium MNNPS Board of Directors will feature plants President: Scott Milburn, scott. by Scott Milburn, MNNPS president. [email protected] Our approach to the MNNPS Symposium this year differs from that of recent years. We have been focused on regions and landforms, but this is Vice President: Shirley Mah a special year — the Society is marking 30 years as an organization. With Kooyman, shirley.mah.kooyman@ that in mind, the most suitable topic is plants. mnnps.org We have been lining up speakers, and things are moving forward. In Secretary, program coordinator: addition, we are the benefactors of an anonymous donation of $5,000. Andrés Morantes, andres. Rather than donating this money to other organizations, as we have been [email protected] doing over the past few years, we decided that the best use is for the Treasurers, membership data base: Society itself. I am pleased to say that this allows us to bring two prominent Ron and Cathy Huber, ron.huber@ botanists from outside of Minnesota to our symposium. mnnps.org The first is Dr. Don Farrar of Iowa State University, who is well Ken Arndt: board member, field known for his research of moonworts. The second is Dr. Tony Reznicek, trip chair, [email protected] of the University of . Dr. Reznicek may be best known for his authorship of the sedge component of the Flora of North America series. Michael Bourdaghs: board member, He has also been hard at work updating the Michigan Flora into a one- [email protected] volume publication. The symposium should be a very exciting day. Stay Otto Gockman: board member, tuned for further details. [email protected] The symposium will be held Treasurers’ report Elizabeth Heck: board member, March 24 and will be at the Bell Treasurers Ron and Cathy Huber webmaster, elizabeth.heck@mnnps. Museum of Natural History on the report that the Minnesota Native org University of Minnesota campus. Plant Society’s 2011 income totalled The cost will be $42 for members $17,796. This included $5,384 in Daniel Jones: board member, and $30 for full-time students. I am donations. Expenses totalled $9,515, [email protected] not sure about the times yet, but for a net income of $8,280. Assets of $25,388 include $8,939 Peter Jordan: board member, peter. they will be in the brochures. These [email protected] will be mailed in the beginning of in four CDs and $16,393 in the February. checking account. Mike Lynch: board member, mike. [email protected] Stephen G. Saupe: board member, Minnesota Native Plant Society’s purpose [email protected] (Abbreviated from the bylaws) Field Trips: fieldtrips.mnnps@ This organization is exclusively organized and operated for mnnps.org educational and scientific purposes, including the following. 1. Conservation of all native plants. Memberships: memberships. [email protected] 2. Continuing education of all members in the plant sciences. 3. Education of the public regarding environmental protection of plant Historian-Archives: Roy Robison, life. historian-archives.mnnps@mnnps. 4. Encouragement of research and publications on plants native to org Minnesota. Technical or membership 5. Study of legislation on Minnesota flora, vegetation, ecosytems. inquiries: contact.mnnps@mnnps. 6. Preservation of native plants, plant communities, and scientific and org natural areas. Minnesota Plant Press editor: 7. Cooperation in programs concerned with the ecology of natural Gerry Drewry, 651-463-8006; resources and scenic features. [email protected] 8. Fellowship with all persons interested in native plants through meetings, lectures, workshops, and field trips. Questions? Go to our website: www.mnnps.org 2 woodland warblers. near the east arm of Lake Itasca, La Salle Lake SRA meanders north 11 miles along a Continued from page 1 This extraordinary landscape doesn’t stop at the SRA’s southern narrow valley floor through wet (Cygnus buccinator) and two caddis boundary, however. The entire meadows, shrub swamps and fly species (Oxyethira itascae and O. landscape I outlined for the lowland seepage forests. ecornuta). The area’s abundant and biological survey, a mix of public Four lakes of varying size and diverse habitats are also rich with and private ownership, is a 3,200- depth occur along the creek’s common plants, including 12 species acre corridor stretching from the route. The creek eventually joins of orchids; animals including river confluence of the Mississippi River the Mississippi River just north of otter, gray wolf, fisher, bald eagle, and La Salle Creek to Itasca State La Salle Lake, within the newly osprey, loons; and many species of Park. La Salle Creek, originating acquired SNA. This narrow valley is noteworthy, as it has been identified as a tunnel valley formed during the Quaternary Period and is present at the juncture of two distinct areas of glacial deposits, the Itasca Moraine and the Guthrie Till Plain. Besides the extraordinary natural resources of the La Salle Lake area, named after the French explorer René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, it is rich in cultural resources as well. A Native American prehistoric site was discovered in the early 1990s adjacent to La Salle Creek in what is now the new SNA. Ceramic shards recovered from the site have been dated about 3,180 years old, one of the earliest known dates for an Elk Lake Culture occupation in Minnesota. The DNR has initiated the La Salle Creek winds south the new SRA. process to create a master plan to guide development, management of natural and cultural resources, tourism, and recreation for La Salle Lake SRA for the next 15 to 20 years. I encourage those who are interested in providing input on the project to go to: www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_ parks/la_salle_lake and click on the “Get Involved!” hotlink. La Salle Lake State Recreation Area is now open to the public, but recreational opportunities are limited to day use. Wild Ones conference Wild Ones 2012 “Design With Nature” conference will be Saturday, Feb. 25, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Plymouth Creek Center, 14800 34th Ave., Plymouth, MN, 55447. More La Salle Lake, is the highlight of the new State Recreation Area. Both information is available at www. photos by Erika Rowe. designwithnatureconference.org/ 3 a warming climate remains to be Pagami Creek fire shows seen. Fires kill trees by: (1) total crown scorch and char of the entire above how tree mortality from ground portion of the tree in crown fires (like most of the Pagami Creek fire varies with species fire); (2) by scorching the roots in by Lee Frelich, Ph.D., research associate and director, The University of places with very shallow or dried- Minnesota Center for Forest Ecology. This is a summary of his talk at the out organic soils; (3) by girdling Dec. 1, 2011 Minnesota Native Plant Society meeting. the base of the trunk by scorching cambium under the bark (Note that On Aug. 18, 2011, the Pagami forests were part of the controversial Creek fire was ignited by lightning scorch means exposure to heat that “Portal Zone” in the south central kills live tissue while char means in The Boundary Waters Canoe BWCAW, which had active logging Area Wilderness, about 14 miles death and blackening of tissue by within the wilderness during the direct contact with flames.); and (4) east of Ely. The fire was allowed middle of the 20th century. to burn because it met the Forest scorching the foliage of conifers Service criteria for WFU (Wildland Perhaps this fire will help push through convection and radiant Fire Use.) Under this policy, fires in this second-growth forest towards heat rising through the canopy from certain locations and under certain more natural conditions. It was a intense surface fires. (Deciduous conditions are not suppressed, to very severe fire during late summer trees can be crown-scorched but help restore the natural role of fire and early fall, a common pattern usually survive loss of foliage.) in wilderness areas. for historical fires in the BWCAW, is susceptible to intense so that it fits right in with the fire crown fires, sacrificing adults and As the fire smoldered and burned occurrences of the 18th and 19th surviving as seeds from serotinous little forest for more than three centuries. cones. weeks, a drought developed, and on Sept. 12, dry conditions combined The unusual time period in the In contrast, red and white pine with high winds caused the fire to history of the BWCAW was the do not have several years’ seed blow up. It grew rapidly to about 20th century, which had less fire due production stored up in the canopy 93,000 acres in size over the next two to climate change, fragmentation waiting for a fire. Instead, they grow days. The smoke was noticeable in of the landscape surrounding the in areas that are more likely to have Chicago, and the plume was traced wilderness, and fire suppression. surface fires, have well insulated through Poland and eventually to With the three large fires of the trunks with thick bark, and hold their China. last decade, the fire regime of the foliage high above scorching heat, BWCAW has reawakened. Whether thereby surviving fires as adults that At 145 square miles, this was this heralds a return to the old can live for centuries and continue larger than the 112-square-mile Ham regime, or a much more frequent to reseed the area. Lake Fire of 2007, and the largest fire regime that we expect with The duration of radiant heat fire in the BWCAW since 1875. However, it was small compared to the largest fires in the 400-year history of fire reconstruction in the BWCAW. Five fires were larger, including fires of 275, 257 and 434 square miles in 1875, 1755 and 1865, respectively, as documented by Bud Heinselman in his 1996 book, The Boundary Waters Wilderness Ecosystem. The fire burned some old, unlogged forests of red, white and jack pine, but mostly it burned second-growth birch and aspen forests with substantial amounts of Aerial view of Pagami Creek fire, showing smoke plume crossing spruce, fir and pine mixed in. These Lake Superior. Photo courtesy of NASA. 4 around the base of the trunk is key John’s University. I teach a variety for tree survival. Trees with bark of classes, including introductory MNNPS is 30 1, 2, and 3 cm thick can survive biology (for majors and non-majors), by Scott Milburn, president heat for three, 12 and 26 minutes, plant systematics, plants and human This year marks the 30th respectively. (Old red and white affairs, and plant physiology. I’ve anniversary of the Minnesota Native pines usually have bark 3 cm also taught plant systematics at Plant Society. The idea was first thick.) the University of Minnesota Lake formulated by Peg Kohring, Emily Nietering, Heidi Van’t Hof, Jan Heat can last much longer on the Itasca Biological Station. I’ve completed numerous floristic Grew, and Chris Soutter. That first leeward side of a tree trunk from board consisted of six members, an approaching fire, so that trees studies in Minnesota, including field work to help establish a local with Peg serving as the first president are often fire-scarred on that side. and Welby Smith as vice president. Under typical conditions, surface nature preserve, served as the chief botanist for a local BioBlitz, and In 1982, the individual membership fires with flame lengths of one, five, fee was $7. The current individual and 10 feet, can scorch foliage two, have even helped with a few DNR grassland surveys. My current fee, $15, is slightly cheaper, when 23 and 63 feet above the ground. inflation is considered. Red and white pines with less than research is focused on the airborne 50 percent of their foliage scorched pollen and mold spores that occur Much has changed during this usually survive, but mortality rates in Central Minnesota, as well as the time, yet much has remained the go up dramatically as the percent ecophysiology of plants and fungi. same. The mission of the Society is scorched rises above 50 percent. I am currently the curator of as important as ever, particularly for Like most fires over the last four the CSB/SJU Bailey Herbarium, the conservation of native plants. centuries, The Pagami Creek fire which just celebrated accessioning During these 30 years, we have killed or severely burned most of our 30,000th specimen. I also seen the formation of the Minnesota the landscape, killing the jack pine, serve as the director of our County Biological Survey, the spruce, and above-ground trunks of Melancon Greenhouse, the chair development and modifications birch and aspen, but also had small of the St. John’s Arboretum of the official state rare species inclusions of less intense fire along Council, and I recently completed list, and the passing of the Legacy lakeshores, cliffs and swamps, a term as a member of Minnesota Amendment. This amendment was where mature pines will survive. DNR Commissioner’s Advisory extremely important, given the Committee to the SNA program. As political opposition by various anti- Steve Saupe you will learn at the March meeting, tax groups. These three items will I have been involved with making have a lasting influence in the next is new MNNPS maple syrup at St. John’s for more 30-year period. than a decade. I even teach a course board member on maple syrup production at St. Of concern today is the Outdoor by Stephen G. Saupe John’s/St. Ben’s and serve as the Heritage Fund (OHF) portion of Ever since reading Euell newsletter editor for the Minnesota the Legacy Amendment. There is Gibbon’s books when I was in high Maple Syrup Producers. supposed to be a common vision school, I have been a self-professed shared by those on the OHF In my spare time, I am the clerk council, which is responsible for “plant wienie.” After learning that of Avon Township and have a so many wild plants were edible, I appropriating the funds generated by small hobby farm where my wife the new sales tax. Perhaps this initial became fascinated by what made Linda and I raise sheep, hazelnuts, other plants and fungi poisonous and vision is too grandiose, considering blueberries and other assorted fruits the anticipated revenue stream. decided to conduct graduate studies and veggies. Although I’ve been a in phytochemistry. I received my member of the MNPS for as long as It is time to reassess the goals Ph.D. in botany from the University I remember, I’m sorry to say that I and vision at this early stage and of Illinois (Urbana-Champaign), haven’t been able to attend too many determine what is realistic. We need where the main focus of my research meetings. I hope to change that and the best and brightest involved — was cyanogenesis, the production of look forward to meeting you in the individuals who think beyond their hydrogen cyanide, by fungi, bacteria coming months and years. own lifetimes, rather than those and plants. more concerned with pressure Following my graduate studies, Field trips planned mounted by special-interest groups. I accepted a faculty position in the For information on upcoming The question should be: Are we joint biology department of the field trips, go to the website: www. truly leaving a legacy for future College of St. Benedict and St. mnnps.org generations? 5 lakes face? And what can we do Do we love our lakes? about them? by Darby Nelson. He earned his Ph.D. in aquatic ecology from the The EPA National Lake University of Minnesota and taught biology and environmental science Assessment identifies major at Anoka-Ramsey Community College for 35 years. Dr. Nelson served stressors: lake shore habitat loss, three terms in the Minnesota Legislature, is the former board president of loss of physical habitat complexity, Conservation Minnesota, and also served two years on the Lessard-Sams excess nitrogen and especially Outdoor Heritage Council. This article is an excerpt from his talk at the phosphorus, lake shore disturbance Nov. 3, 2011 MNNPS meeting. including sedimentation, aquatic We say we love our lakes, and invasive species, non-point pollution of a group called ‘pondweeds.’ in general, among others. The Lake the crowded shores and the crush ‘Weed.’ What an unfortunate and to buy lakeshore at astronomical Volney story shows we can make a misleading name for these plants. difference for lakes. prices suggest we speak truth. Yet Language matters. Before being our lakes deteriorate, and much of seen, before revealing anything the deterioration results from our about their lives and relationships, Is a buckthorn own actions. What gives? they stand condemned. Useless. The Environmental Protection Nuisance. Undesirable. ‘Pondweed’ disease here? Agency’s National Lake Assessment is … the name of a large and grand During research to identify discovered that 45 percent of our family of aquatic plants known more biocontrol insects for buckthorn, a nation’s lakes and 80 percent of technically as the Potamogetons phytoplasma disease was detected urban lakes do not meet water (from Greek: Potamos, river and in potential biocontrol insects quality standards. geiton, neighbor). How different and Rhamnus species in Europe. Normally, we protect what we our perception of these plants might Reseachers need to know if this “love.” My puzzlement over this be had we retained the Greek root phytoplasma is already present in paradox finally bubbled over. I and called it ‘pond neighbor.’ What North America. undertook a journey of exploration power the namers-of-things can Roger Becker, Ph.D., Extension to investigate this, a journey that have over attitudes.” agronomist and weed scientist, led to the writing of my book, For Perceptions determine behavior. Department of Agronomy and Love of Lakes. The journey takes Do we perceive lakes differently Plant Genetics, University of us to large lakes and small, from than terrestrial systems? The Minnesota, is leading the search for Minnesota to Canada, Illinois, New contrast between the two is stark. the disease on common/European England, and ultimately, Walden Expose beginning ecology students buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica) in Pond. Thoreau’s ghost peaked over to a woods and, in a matter of a Minnesota. my shoulder throughout. few hours, they typically come to understand the basic ecological Symptoms of the disease include My bio as an academic, not witches’ brooms, red or yellow surprisingly, led me to expect that dynamics of the place — because they can see it. Take them to the leaves, and deformed or crinkled maybe people simply lack adequate leaves. If you spot a buckthorn with understanding of lake ecology. shore of a lake and they typically see shore vegetation, often shore these symptoms, contact Dr. Becker Maybe essayist Scott Russell at [email protected] Sanders, has it right: “We protect birds. They also see the lake’s what we love and we love what we surface. But they are unable to understand.” see the remaining 99 percent of the Gift expands refuge, lake. We are visual creatures. Our So, let’s take a highly selected perceptions of lakes are grossly will fund easements peek at lake natural history and at The Nature Conservancy has inadequate to produce accurate lake some of the less familiar aquatic life given 95 acres of land in Burnsville understandings. forms: plankton, micro-crustaceans, to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife aquatic insects, and freshwater Surely, lack of understanding Service. This land will be added sponges. It was during snorkeling of lake ecology contributes to the to the Minnesota Valley National experiences that I discovered Eden, paradox. But it soon became clear Wildlife Refuge. The gift is valued the aquatic plants. that to understand the lake-human at $515,000. An excerpt from the “Discovering paradox required a peek into A credit of that amount will be Eden” chapter addressing human nature. My discoveries are used by the USFWS to purchase pondweeds: “I now enter a gathering surprising. easements for prairie and wetlands of skinny stemmed aquatic plants So what are the problems our in South Dakota. 6 Plant Lore Prairie Enthusiasts by Thor Kommedahl plan conference What is pasque flower? The Prairie Enthusiasts’ annual Pasque flower isAnemone patens conference, “The Journey to Prairie in the buttercup family, native to Preservation,” will be Saturday, Feb. Minnesota. It is also called Pulsatilla 25, at UW-Stout in Menomonie, patens (USDA). Wis. It will combine technical and How did it get its names? basic prairie restoration information Pasque comes from the French and education. passé-fleur but was changed to Featured speakers will be pasque (from an Old French word Stephen Packard, conservationist for Easter) because of its early leader of the Chicago Wilderness, flowering. Anemone was a name and Dr. Doug Tallamy, author used by Theophrastus, possibly a and professor at the University corruption of Naaman, a Semitic Close-up of Anemone patens of Delaware. For additional name for Adonis, or a corruption shows stamens and pistils. Photo information and to register, go to of an invocation to the goddess by Elizabeth Heck. http://theprairieenthusiasts.org of retribution, Nemesis. Patens means spreading out from the stem (clumps). Pulsatilla (quiverer) describes the pulsating movement of plants in the wind, so it had an alternate name of windflower. What does the plant look like? Flowers appear before leaves and consist of five to seven white to blue or purple, petal-like sepals. Stems (hollow), leaves, and buds are covered with silky hairs. Leaves are deeply cut. Plants are six to 10 inches tall and bear fruits (achenes) with feathery plumes. As a perennial, the plant grows in clumps from a thick taproot. Where do these plants grow? They grow in dry prairies in southern and western counties of the state. Is the plant medicinal or poisonous? Once used in homeopathic preparations, it is no longer recommended for human use. Blackfoot Indians used plants to induce abortions and childbirth. The leaves cause skin to blister. Taken internally, cardiogenic toxins slow the heart rate. Has it any economic uses? It is grown in gardens in full sun as an early spring flower and thrives Anemone patens (pasque flower) loose and tight clumps of flowers. in rock gardens. Photos by Peter Dziuk. 7 Minnesota Native Plant Society P.O. Box 20401 Bloomington, MN 55420

Winter 2012

Thompson County Park 360 Butler Ave. East, West St. Paul, MN 55118

Directions: Take Highway 52 to the Butler Ave. E. exit in West St. Paul. Go west on Butler 0.2 mile to Stassen Lane. Go south on Stassen Lane to Thompson County Park.