PLANTS NOTES ON BIOLOGY AND ECOLOGY OF THE PRAIRIE CROCUS ( PATENS L.) AND ITS CURRENT STATUS IN VLADIMIR V. KRICSFALUSY1, YAKIV P. PONOMARENKO2

1School of Environment and Sustainability, University of Saskatchewan, 117 Science Place, Saskatoon SK S7N 5C8, email: [email protected] 2Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, 112 Science Place, Saskatoon SK S7N 5E2, Canada email: [email protected]

INTRODUCTION tolerate human influence to some The prairie crocus (Anemone extent. However, its conservation patens L. sensu lato) is a perennial is of growing concern in some parts herb widespread through the of the world, especially in Europe temperate regions of the Northern where the general population Hemisphere, comprising a few is dramatically declining and different subspecies.1 It ranges hence this is included from Europe to , in the European Red List of passing through Central, North vascular ,2 as well as in and Eastern Europe as well as national Red Data Books of most Central and North Asia, and European countries where this reaching the central part of North is present. In North America, America covering a wide range of A. patens is relatively well climatic and habitat conditions. It represented in the should be noted that A. patens and Canada and has limited legal var. multifida Pritz. is confined protection in some of the states to the eastern section of the and provinces of these countries. species’ distribution range (Asia– This plant is strongly associated North America), while the western with native prairies,3 which are section (Europe) is dominated by some of the most endangered A. patens var. patens. Overlapping ecosystems of North America. of these taxa occurs in Central For the whole continent, native Asia. mixed and short-grass prairies have declined to less than 20% of A. patens is considered to be their original extent.4 In the prairie resistant to disturbances and can provinces of Canada, although it

71 (3) September 2013 135 is a widespread and familiar plant, In North America A. patens is much is still unknown about the considered to be the provincial species’ biology and ecology as flower of Manitoba and the state well as the processes that may flower of South Dakota. It also threaten its local survival, for appears on the Coat of Arms example in Saskatchewan, where of Manitoba and of the City of the range of A. patens has been Winnipeg. Recently, a special contracting over the past few monument was erected in Arden, decades, particularly in the vicinity Manitoba to celebrate A. patens of major urban centres like Regina as a heritage plant.12 The image of and Saskatoon.5,6,7 A. patens has also been profusely used in collectable items, including A. patens is an important postage stamps in many countries species not only from a biological and the world’s purest gold coin in and ecological perspective but Canada.13 also from a cultural point of view, being present in horticulture, The goals of this study of traditional medicine, folklore A. patens are to (i) clarify its and symbols. As a widespread taxonomic status, (ii) expand plant across North America, A. the current knowledge of biology patens has been used by many and ecology of the species, and native tribes as a treatment for (iii) contribute to biodiversity several illnesses. For example, conservation in Saskatchewan. in Saskatchewan the Blackfoot applied a poultice of crushed METHODS leaves topically as a counterirritant. Study Site They also used this plant to speed During May–July of 2011 and birth delivery by taking a decoction 2012, we conducted studies of the of the plant.8,9 A. patens has an biology and ecology of A. patens important symbolic value among and surveyed its distribution North American native peoples, in Saskatchewan, placing a as well as some Scandinavian particular emphasis on provincially and Slavic nations in Europe. As protected areas. Surveyed sites in ancient Greece, this plant is a included Prince Albert National herald of the arriving spring.10,11 Park, The Battlefords Provincial A. patens is also present in more Park, Cypress Hills Interprovincial “formal” symbolism. In Europe this Park, Redberry Lake Biosphere species is adopted as the official Reserve, and several conservation floral emblem of two provinces – areas in the city of Saskatoon Häme and South Karelia, . and its vicinity: Beaver Creek,

136 Blue Jay Cranberry Flats, Crocus Prairie, of A. patens in the study site within Kernen Prairie, McKercher, a 10 m × 10 m plot that was staked Northeast Swale, Peturrson’s out over a representative part of Ravine, Saskatoon Natural the population. The site location Grassland, and Wanuskewin and the following conditions of Heritage Park. For more details the population were recorded: on the distribution of A. patens in elevation (obtained using a Saskatchewan refer to the study Garmin eTrex handheld GPS by Kricsfalusy et al.7 unit), aspect, slope position, percent vegetation cover, litter, On 19 July 2011, we sampled a bare soil, and type and degree of patch of fescue prairie on private disturbance (grazing, trampling, land about 25 km northwest of burning, burrowing, and invasive Hafford which is located within species). All higher vascular the Redberry Lake Biosphere plant species within the plot were Reserve area (Figure 1). In the recorded, along with their percent process, we found a flowering cover. population of A. patens growing Soil samples were taken so that on a heavily grazed pasture that they contained a mix of the upper was separated from the fescue 30 cm horizon where the roots of prairie by a fence. Some of the A. patens are mainly distributed. plants were evidently flowering Rangeland type was estimated repeatedly, because they bore based on land surface and soil well-formed seed heads from profile examination according to spring flowering as well as newly Thorpe.14 opened flowers. The new flowers were smaller and paler in colour RESULTS & DISCUSSION than those we had observed Taxonomic Considerations in other populations during the A. patens is commonly regular April-May flowering known under several names season. Because of this unusual in different parts of the world, mid-summer flowering event, we such as prairie crocus, prairie re-visited this site next year, on 7 smoke, prairie pasqueflower, July 2012. This time there was no eastern pasqueflower, observed mid-summer flowering, American pasqueflower, and only a few plants had flowered European pasqueflower, sticky and fruited earlier in the spring. pasqueflower, pulsatille, pulsatille multifide, crocus anemone, Sampling Approach cutleaf anemone, gosling plant, We performed a detailed survey lionsbeard, wild crocus, windflower

71 (3) September 2013 137 Figure 1. Location of the study population of Anemone patens near Hafford, Saskatchewan (N 52°50’32” W 107°39’39”). and others. A. patens belongs to crocus of Europe, which in fact the buttercup or crowfoot family belongs to the genus Crocus in (). It is interesting the iris family (Iridaceae). that the major common name, prairie crocus, is incorrect and While the vast majority of misleading from a scientific point taxonomic treatments of the flora of view. It was given to this plant of Europe and Asia include this by the European settlers that taxon under the genus colonized the American prairies, Miller, most American authors as it reminded them of the true prefer to place it in the genus 138 Blue Jay Anemone L. According to Dutton by G.A. Stevenson, hence the et al.,15 A. patens is represented name. Later, this form was found by the var. multifida in North in two different locations near America. However, there still Carlyle, Saskatchewan by Silcox remains some controversy over in 1995 (#142755 SASK)19 and in the taxonomic status of A. patens. 1998 (#145264 SASK).19 We also Review of the major treatments observed a few plants identified and existing databases of the flora as f. stevensonis during our field of Canada shows that the primary surveys in the city of Saskatoon name for this taxon until the (Northeast Swale) in 2012. late–20th century was A. patens var. wolfgangiana, after which the Features of Life Cycle majority of sources have used A. The mid-summer flowering patens var. multifida. Although individuals in the population of A. patens var. wolfgangiana is A. patens located northwest of still being used by some authors Hafford (see Figure 1) were found (Table 1), A. patens var. multifida to have abnormally light-coloured has priority and it should be (almost white) tepals, in contrast applied as the legitimate name in to the normal pale lilac flowers. modern floristic treatments. Although looking very similar to the plants with white flowers identified There are two “atypical” colour as A. patens f. stevensonis, the forms of A. patens, with rose individuals in the study population and white flowers respectively cannot be classified as belonging (Figure 2). A. patens var. rosea, to this form. They are most likely characterized by pink flowers, has individuals with bleached flowers. been described by Cockerell16 in Because of the late flowering these North America. We found some plants were exposed to higher plants belonging to the var. rosea solar radiation and temperature during our field surveys in the city regimes than in the spring which of Saskatoon (Crocus Prairie) caused flower bleaching. in 2011. Albino individuals of A. patens have been described as The mid-summer time of var. albo–lutea in Europe17 and f. flowering (July) was also highly stevensonis in North America.18 unusual, given that the normal The holotype of the latter form is flowering ofA. patens in the region deposited in the AAFC National occurs from April to early May.7 Collection of Vascular Plants and To the best of our knowledge, the specimen was collected in no records exist of en masse 1960 near Brandon, Manitoba flowering of A. patens in mid-

71 (3) September 2013 139 Figure 2. Prairie crocus (Anemone patens): top – typical flower form; mid – rose flower form; bottom – white flower form. (see inside front cover for colour images) – Vladimir Kricsfalusy

140 Blue Jay Table 1. Primary scientific names ofAnemone patens in the Canadian floras and floristic databases 28 35 30 31 36 32 34 33 Taxon 18 29 Looman and Best 1979 Moss 1983 Scoggan 1957 Scoggan 1978 Boivin 1968 Burchill 2002 Harms 2006 FOIBIS 2005 Aiken et al. 2007 2012 VASCAN

Anemone patens L. + + +

A. patens L. var. multifida + + Pritz. A. patens L. var. + + + + wolfgangiana (Besser) Koch Pulsatilla patens (L.) Miller + ssp. multifida(Pritz.) Zämelis

summer. There are only some explanation for the mid-summer indications that extent of the repeated flowering we observed formation of leaf rosettes and of in the study population. Given flowering and fruit-bearing shoots that the population is located depends on weather conditions on intensive pasture, it is quite such as winter temperatures, likely that the flowers produced snow cover, autumn precipitation, in the spring failed to set seed temperature, and sunshine due to grazing and trampling duration in spring.20 by cattle, which stimulated the development of the new fully According to Borisova,21 formed flowering buds. This is floral buds contain fully mature supported by the fact that in floral organs by June, allowing 2011, new flowers significantly some individuals to flower for a outnumbered old (dried) flower second time in the early autumn stalks from spring flowering, with (September) in Kazakhstan. In most of the observed generative our opinion, this is the most likely plants showing new flowers only.

71 (3) September 2013 141 Secondly, the summer of 2011 (Poa pratensis), smooth brome was relatively wet for this climatic (Bromus inermis), white sweet region, and the input of moisture clover (Melilotus albus), yellow may also have been a flowering sweet clover (M. officinalis), and stimulus. The consumption of the dandelion (Taraxacum officinale). newly formed floral buds in the Overall, this grassland community mid-summer repeated flowering experiences moderate to severe would also explain the relative health alteration caused mainly lack of flowering plants in the by overgrazing and establishment following season (2012). of invasive plant species. Based on the vegetation structure Community Ecology and and species composition this Management community is identified as only 52% The A. patens population similar to reference community near Hafford was situated on a Plain’s Rough Fescue – Northern pasture located on a gentle south- Wheat Grass – Western Porcupine facing slope (3°). It was evidently Grass (Festuca hallii – Elymus strongly grazed and trampled by lanceolatus – Hesperostipa cattle, with a significant amount of curtiseta), which occurs in optimal bare soil (30%), and showed no growth conditions with reduced evidence of any recent burning. grazing impact. The vegetation community can be interpreted, according to the In North America A. patens is classification by Thorpe14, as strongly associated with native Western Porcupine Grass – grasslands,3 particularly the Northern Wheat Grass – Sedge endangered fescue prairie.22 – Pasture Sage (Hesperostipa Fescue prairie, which has declined curtiseta – Elymus lanceolatus to less than 1% of its original range – Carex sp. – Artemisia frigida) in Saskatchewan, is an important type on the Loam Ecosite in the grassland type for A. patens. In the Aspen Parkland ecoregion. The study vegetation community, the vegetation cover was dominated cover of rough fescue (Festuca by several graminoid species hallii) was estimated as being only and a variety of forbs. In total, 3%, compared to 7% (of biomass) 33 species were in the reference community.14 recorded within the 100 m2 plot This indicates a decline of rough (Table 2). Most species were fescue and its potential loss in native, but there was a significant overgrazed grassland habitats. presence of invasive plants such as Kentucky blue grass A. patens has been reported to

142 Blue Jay Table 2. List of vascular plant species recorded in the study population of Anemone patens near Hafford, Saskatchewan; vegetation community: Western Porcupine Grass – Northern Wheat Grass – Sedge – Pasture Sage (Hesperostipa curtiseta – Elymus lanceolatus – Carex sp. – Artemisia frigida); sampling plot: 10 m x 10 m Plant Species Cover, % Forbs Androsace septentrionalis L. <1 Anemone patens L. 12 Antennaria aprica Greene 15 Boechera grahamii (Lehmann) Windham & Al-Shehbaz <1 Artemisia campestris L. <1 Artemisia frigida Willd. 15 Astragalus agrestis Douglas ex G. Don <1 Erigeron caespitosus Nutt. 1 Geum triflorum Pursh 3 Heterotheca villosa (Pursh) Shinners <1 Melilotus albus Medik.* 1 Melilotus officinalis (L.) Lam.* 2 Oxytropis sericea Nutt. 1 Packera cana (Hook.) W.A. Weber & Á. Löve <1 Potentilla concinna Richardson 1 Potentilla pensylvanica L. 1 missouriensis Nutt. 1 Solidago spathulata DC. 1 ericoides (L.) G.L. Nesom <1 Symphyotrichum laeve (L.) Á. Löve & D. Löve 1 Taraxacum officinale F.H. Wigg.* <1 Thermopsis rhombifolia (Nutt. ex Pursh) Nutt. ex Richardson 1 Vicia americana Muhl. ex Willd. 5 Graminoids Elymus lanceolatus (Scribner & J.G. Smith) Gould ssp. lanceolatus 10 Elymus trachycaulus ssp. subsecundus (Link) Á. Löve & D. Löve <1 Bouteloa gracilis (Willd. ex Kunth) Lag. ex Griffiths 1 Bromus inermis Leyss.* 3 Carex duriuscula C.A. Meyer 20 Festuca hallii (Vasey) Piper 3 Avenula hookeri (Scribner) Holub 1 Koeleria macrantha (Ledeb.) Schult. 5 Poa pratensis L.* 10 Hesperostipa curtiseta (Hitchcock) Barkworth 20 Clubmosses Selaginella densa Rydb. 20 * Invasive plant species. 71 (3) September 2013 143 flourish in the moderately grazed urbanization and agricultural areas on prairies as it is not heavily development,6 as well as a decline relished by livestock.3,23 Our in populations because of a lack observations confirm these results of natural ecological processes and show that both an excess of or disturbances, such as grazing disturbance and the absence of it and fire,24 and impact of invasive are critical threats to the survival of plant species.25 Overall, A. patens A. patens. Adaptations for variable is considered to be apparently environmental conditions and secure (N4) at a national level for management practices (different the whole United States.26 This types of ontogenetic development, species is not protected under capacity for regeneration, etc.) the US Endangered Species Act, provide this species with a series however its conservation status of mechanisms for coping with has been reviewed and ranked mild disturbances.7 On the other in six states: Wyoming (S4 – hand, the life history strategy of apparently secure), (S4), A. patens is based on individual Utah (S1 – critically imperilled), survival rather than long range Illinois (S1), Iowa (S4), and Kansas dispersion and colonization of new (SH – possibly extirpated). areas.7 This makes A. patens a weak competitor, unable to thrive In Canada A. patens is not in ungrazed, overgrown areas. A protected under the Species at high density of tall grasses, forbs Risk Act. The species is classified or shrubs and large amounts of as apparently secure (N4) at a litter will inhibit regeneration of A. national level by NatureServe.26 patens due to heavy competition. Nonetheless, the conservation Therefore, light to moderate status of A. patens varies between grazing and management provinces. It is considered to be practices that reduce litter, control secure in , , coarse grasses and open small Manitoba and Saskatchewan, and patches of bare soil for seed as “may be at risk” in Nunavut and germination favour populations Ontario. Moreover, A. patens is of A. patens. included in a list of Rare Vascular Plants of Ontario.28 Conservation Concerns The current status of A. Ironically, in order to be patens in North America does protected, A. patens must be under not cause particular concern; some imminent (rather than long- however there has been reduction term) threat of extinction. However, of the species range due to because habitat fragmentation is

144 Blue Jay already threatening this species in 1. Hultén E, Fries M (1986) Saskatchewan, studying its effects Atlas of North European vascular and long-term monitoring to get a plants north of the Tropic of better idea of how individuals Cancer, Vol. 1. Koeltz Scientific and populations of A. patens Books, Königstein. cope with anthropogenic impact is of important scientific and 2. Bilz M, Kell SP, Maxted N, conservation interest. Although Lansdown RV (2011) European species that are still relatively Red List of vascular plants. common, such as A. patens, can Publications Office of the hardly be expected to be given European Union, Luxembourg. legal protection, their association with threatened species may help 3. Wildeman AG, Steeves TA them in many cases. At the same (1982) The morphology and time, threatened plant species of growth cycle of Anemone patens. native prairie may benefit from Canadian Journal of Botany the results obtained during the 60:1126–1137. study of A. patens, which can reveal useful information about 4. Gauthier D, Wiken EB (2003) vegetation community dynamics Monitoring the conservation and trends. of grassland habitats, Prairie ecozone, Canada. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 88: ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 343–364. We would like to thank John Kindrachuk for help with access 5. Esparrago J, Kricsfalusy V to the study site in Hafford, (2014) Urban conservation and SK (Redberry Lake Biosphere habitat preferences of Anemone Reserve). We also thank V. Harms patens L. in North America. for reviewing the manuscript Landscape and Urban Planning, and his constructive and helpful (in press). comments. This research was partly supported by a President’s 6. Kricsfalusy V, Gupta C, NSERC grant from the University Li M (2014) Distribution and of Saskatchewan to the first author, habitat affinities of Anemone and University of Saskatchewan patens L. (Ranunculaceae) Summer Student Employment in Saskatchewan, Canada. Program (USTEP) funding to the Canadian Field Naturalist (in second author. press).

71 (3) September 2013 145 7. Kricsfalusy V, Ponomarenko 14. Thorpe J (2007) Y (2014) Life cycle of the prairie Saskatchewan Rangeland crocus (Anemone patens L.) Ecosystems, Publication 4: in natural populations of North Communities on the LoamEcosite. America. Natural Areas Journal Saskatchewan Research Council, (in press). Regina, SK.

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146 Blue Jay możliwości uprawy zachowawczej 26. NatureServe (2012) Pulsatilla patens (L.) Mill. Biuletyn NatureServe Explorer: An online Ogrodów Botanicznych 9: 45–54. encyclopedia of life. Version 7.0. Available from http:// 21. Borisova IV (1961) Pulsatilla www.natureserve.org/explorer patens s.l. In: Lavrenko EM (ed) (accessed 23 May 2012). Steppe vegetation of Northern Kazakhstan. Academy of 27. Oldham MJ, Brinker SR Sciences of the USSR Press, (2009) Rare Vascular Plants of Moscow-Leningrad, p 84–87. Ontario. (4th ed). Natural Heritage Information Centre, Ministry of 22. Vujnovic K, Wein RW and Natural Resources of Ontario. Dale MRT (2000). Factors Peterborough, ON. determining the centrifugal organization of remnant Festuca 28. Looman J, Best KF (1979) grassland communities in Alberta. Budd's Flora of the Canadian Journal of Vegetation Science, 11: Prairie Provinces. Research 127-134. Branch, Agriculture Canada. Publication 1662. Canadian 23. Bruynooghe J, McDonald Government Publishing Centre, R (eds) (2008) Managing Hull, QC. Saskatchewan Rangeland. Available from http://www. 29. Moss EH (1983) Flora of saskforage.ca/publications/ Alberta. (2nd ed). Revised by ManagingRangeland.pdf Packer JG. University of Toronto (accessed on 30 June 2011). Press, Toronto, ON.

24. Godwin B, Thorpe J (2004) 30. Scoggan HJ (1957) Flora of Ten-year vegetation changes at Manitoba. Available from http:// Saskatoon Natural Grassland. home.cc.umanitoba.ca/~burchil/ Saskatchewan Research Council plants/ (accessed on 1 July 2011). Publication 11658-1E04, Regina, SK. 31. Scoggan HJ (1978) Flora of Canada, Vol. 3. National Museum 25. Williams JL, Crone EE (2006) of Canada, Ottawa, ON. The impact of invasive grasses on the population growth of Anemone 32. Burchill C (2002) List of plant patens, a long-lived native forb. families and genera in Manitoba. Ecology, 87/12: 3200-3208. Available from http://home. cc.umanitoba.ca/~burchil/plants/ (accessed on 30 June 2011). 71 (3) September 2013 147 33. Harms VL (2006) Annotated 35. Aiken SG, Dallwitz MJ, catalogue of Saskatchewan Consaul LL et al. (eds) (2007) vascular plants. Available from Flora of the Canadian Arctic http://www.parc.ca/saskflora/info Archipelago: descriptions, (accessed on 30 June 2011). illustrations, identification, and information retrieval. [CD–ROM]. 34. FOIBIS (2005) Flora Ontario National Research Council of – Integrated Botanical Information Canada, Ottawa, ON. System Phase I. Newmaster SG, Ragupathy S. University of 36. VASCAN (2012) Database Guelph, Guelph, ON. Available of vascular plants of Canada. from http://www.uoguelph.ca/ Available from http://www. foibis/ (accessed on 30 June canadensys.net/activities/ 2011). development/vascan (accessed on 21 April 2012).

Prairie Crocus - Lowell Strauss

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