“Conservation in Progress” is a biannual summary posted on the Bok Tower Gardens website as a rare informational tool for website visitors.

Highlights of the Conservation Program achievements from January – June 2014:

Etoniah Rosemary (Conradina etonia) This aromatic evergreen shrub, which smells of lemon, pine, and mint, is federally endangered and has been in curation at Bok Tower Gardens since 1993. With the only known population in Etoniah Creek State Forest, Etoniah rosemary is endemic to Putnam County, . Recent surveys indicate that the entire species is comprised of only about 1000 . In 2014, aging individuals in the National Collection were propagated, adding vigor to the old accessions. Additionally, 100 new individuals, taken as cuttings from the natural population, were added to the collection. The newest accessions were collected with the goal of representing a large portion of the genetic variation remaining in the species. Each new plant was tagged with an individual identification number and will be monitored as long as they remain at Bok Tower Gardens. Their addition into the National Collection will ensure that the species has continued protection from into the future.

Conservation through education of Garden visitors With large numbers of the public visiting Bok Tower Gardens each year, the Rare Plant Conservation Program has a unique opportunity to educate a diverse audience on issues and techniques surrounding conservation of endangered Florida plants. Having over 2000 individual plants from 34 of the rarest species across the state in one location has been an effective tool for linking concepts including differences in plant morphology, symbiotic relationships, environmental interactions, and ecosystem niches to people of all ages. Because visitors have the opportunity to get close to the plants, photographing, drawing, and even smelling them, emotional connections are formed that can inspire learning and involvement in conservationism. Opportunities to learn about the collection are given on select days throughout the year and by appointment with the Rare Plant Conservation Program. Check the calendar of events at www.boktower.org or schedule a personal/group tour with the Rare Plant Curator at [email protected].

Spring surveys of all remaining individuals of Brooksville Bellflower ( robinsiae) There were only three populations in the world where this species was historically known, all within a three mile stretch just north of Brooksville. One population was extirpated many years ago, and another – once the largest population by far – has recently been eliminated in favor of a housing development. That left one population in Hernando County. Although it is no danger of being developed, that final population is now declining due to the land being abandoned, allowing extensive overgrowth of grasses and invasive plant species. In 2007, a small population was discovered two counties away in Hillsborough County. It is not yet confirmed whether this is a natural population or one that was accidently introduced, but its presence is extremely important because it is now one of only two places in the world where this species exists. To monitor the status of the species, the Rare Plant Conservation Program performs plant counts at every site each March, when this small, short-lived annual is flowering. In 2014, just over 3,000 plants were present in the two populations (2,000 in Brooksville and 1,000 in Hillsborough County). Although this number is down from the over half a million plants observed in 2008 prior to the elimination of the largest known population, the species will persist as long as suitable habitat remains. Plant counts are again planned for spring 2015.

New populations of Clasping Warea (Warea amplexifolia) Clasping Warea is an annual herbaceous plant in the Mustard family (Brassicaceae) and endemic to the upland pine or “sandhill” habitat in central Florida. As more of the sandhill community is lost to development, the Rare Plant Conservation Program has been working to preserve seeds from the last handful of remaining populations and perform the research needed to successfully propagate the species and reintroduce it onto protected sites. Since 2011, five new populations have been created and one natural population, which had not been seen since 1997, has been brought back to life using seeds collected from the site. Additional research into the preferred habitat of Clasping Warea has helped in the identification of suitable locations for population introductions and also with land management of those sites. The success of this work relies on the availability of protected properties with appropriate habitat and strong partnerships with land managers and property owners. We wish to thank: Lake County Water Authority, Lake County Parks and Trails, Florida Forest Service, Florida Park Service, Mountain Lake Estates, Inc., Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Florida Native Plant Society, and numerous volunteers who continue to donate their time to work on this conservation project.

ii Conservation success for Florida Goldenaster (Chrysopsis floridana) Florida Goldenaster is a short-lived perennial which is endemic to west-central peninsular Florida. Most populations occur in open areas, often on the ecotone between mesic flatwoods and scrub, scrubby flatwoods and xeric hammock. Since 2008, the Rare Plant Conservation Program has established six new populations of this species on protected properties. Once every year, the new populations are monitored and data is collected on the reproductive status of plants, new seedlings are tagged and counted and data is then analyzed. To date, the populations have been very successful, with plant numbers increasing every year since being introduced.

Rhizobia study of Scrub Lupine (Lupinus aridorum):

Why does one species have the ability to live in many different areas, while a related species may be capable of surviving only on a particular soil type in a particular habitat? Current research at Bok Tower Gardens on the endangered Scrub lupine, which has a very limited range, and on the closely-related Sky Blue lupine, which can commonly be seen throughout central Florida in various habitats, may help to answer this question. A study to identify the bacterial species which form root nodules in each species is beginning to reveal that Scrub lupine may have very different bacterial associates than Sky Blue lupine. Genes isolated from nodule bacteria are being now sequenced and analyzed to provide a clearer picture of the relationship between each lupine species and soil bacterial species.

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