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2008

Floristic Records in the Platte and Loup River Bottomlands of Platte County, Nebraska

Michael P. Gutzmer New Century Environmental LLC, [email protected]

Robert B. Kaul University of Nebraska - Lincoln, [email protected]

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Gutzmer, Michael P. and Kaul, Robert B., "Floristic Records in the Platte and Loup River Bottomlands of Platte County, Nebraska" (2008). Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences and Affiliated Societies. 33. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/tnas/33

This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Nebraska Academy of Sciences at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences and Affiliated Societiesy b an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. 2008. Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences 31: 15-29

FLORISTIC RECORDS IN THE PLATTE AND LOUP RIVER BOTTOMLANDS OF PLATTE COUNTY, NEBRASKA

Michael P. Gutzmer New Century Environmental LLC Columbus, Nebraska 68601-6335

and

Robert B. Kaul University of Nebraska State Museum Lincoln, Nebraska 68588-0514

ABSTRACT land-use disturbances continue at a rapid rate, bottomland floras are now more diverse, A recent inventory of vascular in the Loup heterogeneous mixes of plants than in presettlement and Platte riverbottoms in Platte County has greatly times. The absence of frequent prairie fires and the increased knowledge of the area's flora. Of the 542 mvaSIOn of many exotics threaten remammg species of vascular plants now known to grow in the fragments of native prairie and original bottomland county, 289 were discovered after 1977, with more forests. than 100 of those after 1990. 425 native and 117 naturalized species are known so far. Nearly 700 History of Plant Collecting in Nebraska and native and naturalized alien species are expected to Platte County occur in the county, based upon totals from nearby Published reports of Nebraska's flora begin with counties. Thus, almost 150 years after European explorers Lewis and Clark in 1803-6, Nuttall and settlement, more than 20% of the species remain Bradbury in 1808, James of the Long Expedition in unverified; of those, many are undoubtedly non­ 1820, the Fremont Expedition in the 1840s, and the native. The riverbottoms of the county have the best­ Warren Expedition of 1857. Among the early preserved native flora and are today much richer in attempts to list Nebraska's complete flora are two species than the uplands, which are more heavily catalogues, those of Samuel Aughey (1876) and H. J. impacted by agriculture. Webber (1890). Local studies in the state have produced numerous floristic lists for counties and t t t other areas. A detailed list of such publications from 1804 through 1985 is presented by Kantak and Ecology and Background Churchill (1986); others are cited by Kaul et al. The area of union of the Loup River system with (2006). The state's vegetation was mapped at the basin near Columbus, Nebraska, 1:1,000,000 by Kaul and Rolfsmeier (1993), and some provides a collective view of the plants found in both detail was shown for Platte County. Satellite imagery river systems. A comprehensive floristic deter­ is depicted at 30-meter resolution by the Nebraska mination for this area could be valuable for evaluation Gap-Analysis Project (1993). of future land-use impacts in those large watersheds. The earliest plant collections in Platte County Growing threats of climate changes could have were by Edwin James of the Long Expedition to the significant effects on local plant communities. Rocky Mountains in 1820, who traveled the Platte Establishing accurate lists of species is important for Valley across Nebraska and made many original detecting signs of change in our local flora. documentations of Nebraska plant life (Goodman and With ninety-nine percent of the original tall-grass, Lawson 1995). The plants James documented in what mixed-grass and wetland praIrIeS plowed for is now Platte County are Lithospermum incisum, agriculture or used for grazing, populations of many fringed puccoon; Cirsium sp., a thistle; Vicia once-common native species are now drastically americana, American purple vetch (not on our list); reduced. Agriculture and urbanization have signi­ Rhus glabra, smooth sumac; Asclepias speciosa, showy ficantly altered the landscape for many species. As milkweed; Toxicodendron radicans, pOlson IVy;

15 16 M.P. Gutzmer and R.B. Kaul

Apocynum cannabinum, hemp dogbane; Helianthus primitive plows. (The plant called blue-joint today is petiolaris, plains sunflower; Amorpha fruticosa, wild­ Calamagrostis canadensis, which never grows that indigo; Gaura coccinea, scarlet gaura; Monarda tall, and perhaps Curry was describing Phragmites pectinata, a mint not on our list; Potamogeton australis, common reed, which reaches such height in nodosus, floating-leaf pondweed; Rubus occidentalis, moist habitats. Calamagrostis canadensis is not on black raspberry; Sparganium eurycarpum, bur-reed; our list of vouchered species, but it is known from Callirhoe inuolucrata, purple poppy-mallow; Plantago several adjacent counties and is undoubtedly in Platte patagonica, woolly plantain; and Anemone County today.) canadensis, meadow anemone. The Loup River drains much of the , The junction of the Loup and Platte rivers at which are less disturbed than most areas of the state, Columbus was a landmark for Pawnee Indians in the but the substitution of cattle for bison has altered 1820s (Ducey 2000). Warren (1875) noted that the grazing patterns and affected native flora there. The valley of the Loup Fork was well wooded as far up as Platte River originates in Colorado and has numerous the Pawnee villages to the west of present-day Platte diversions, with significant irrigation usage and County. The Platte River at Columbus was described storage along the entire watercourse. Row-crop as having a sand bottom and many sandbars, and the agriculture dominates its borderlands. floodplain was said to be from two to ten miles wide, as it is today. In 1844, Carleton reached the fork of METHODS the Loup and Platte Rivers and remarked: Our 12-year sampling period, 1996-2007, The bed of the river is but one wide expanse of documents species within the Platte and Loup River quicksand, which is formed in bars and these are bottoms after 150 years of settlement by Euro­ continually changing and driving about. The Americans in these watersheds. For completeness channels are innumerable, but are usually only a foot and comparison, we list all species ever collected in or so deeper than the surrounding water. The river is Platte County, as documented by specimens deposited filled with beautiful islands. They are all well in various university herbaria, especially that of the wooded, but only here and there is there any timber University of Nebraska-Lincoln, which houses many growing upon the main banks. Sometimes we found specimens we collected. The list was assembled from the channels between the islands and the shore, Atlas of the Flora of the (Great Plains entirely dry, presenting to the eye a wide extent of Flora Association 1977), The Flora of Nebraska (Kaul sand, which as the wind swept over it, was blown et al. 2006), and our own observations and collecting. about in clouds, as one would notice on a barren coast It consists almost entirely of plants collected in the of the ocean. The bottomlands are what would be bottomlands of Platte County, because very little called high river prairie (Carleton 1844-1846 (1983». collecting has been done in the much-disturbed, heavily agricultural uplands north of those Curry (1950) wrote that when the city of bottomlands, most of whose species also occur in the Columbus was founded, prior to 1870, the grass "blue bottomlands. This congregation of plants of river joint" grew thick and matted, was taller than a man's bottoms appears to be common in the lower reaches of head and common in the area. It was reported to the Platte River. grow between twelve and fifteen feet tall along the sloughs in the area and defied any attempts by 16 M.P. Gutzmer and R.B. Kaul

Apocynum cannabinum, hemp dogbane; Helianthus primitive plows. (The plant called blue-joint today is petiolaris, plains sunflower; Amorpha fruticosa, wild­ Calamagrostis canadensis, which never grows that indigo; Gaura coccinea, scarlet gaura; Monarda tall, and perhaps Curry was describing Phragmites pectinata, a mint not on our list; Potamogeton australis, common reed, which reaches such height in nodosus, floating-leaf pondweed; Rubus occidentalis, moist habitats. Calamagrostis canadensis is not on black raspberry; Sparganium eurycarpum, bur-reed; our list of vouchered species, but it is known from Callirhoe inuolucrata, purple poppy-mallow; Plantago several adjacent counties and is undoubtedly in Platte patagonica, woolly plantain; and Anemone County today.) canadensis, meadow anemone. The Loup River drains much of the Sandhills, The junction of the Loup and Platte rivers at which are less disturbed than most areas of the state, Columbus was a landmark for Pawnee Indians in the but the substitution of cattle for bison has altered 1820s (Ducey 2000). Warren (1875) noted that the grazing patterns and affected native flora there. The valley of the Loup Fork was well wooded as far up as Platte River originates in Colorado and has numerous the Pawnee villages to the west of present-day Platte diversions, with significant irrigation usage and County. The Platte River at Columbus was described storage along the entire watercourse. Row-crop as having a sand bottom and many sandbars, and the agriculture dominates its borderlands. floodplain was said to be from two to ten miles wide, as it is today. In 1844, Carleton reached the fork of METHODS the Loup and Platte Rivers and remarked: Our 12-year sampling period, 1996-2007, The bed of the river is but one wide expanse of documents species within the Platte and Loup River quicksand, which is formed in bars and these are bottoms after 150 years of settlement by Euro­ continually changing and driving about. The Americans in these watersheds. For completeness channels are innumerable, but are usually only a foot and comparison, we list all species ever collected in or so deeper than the surrounding water. The river is Platte County, as documented by specimens deposited filled with beautiful islands. They are all well in various university herbaria, especially that of the wooded, but only here and there is there any timber University of Nebraska-Lincoln, which houses many growing upon the main banks. Sometimes we found specimens we collected. The list was assembled from the channels between the islands and the shore, Atlas of the Flora of the Great Plains (Great Plains entirely dry, presenting to the eye a wide extent of Flora Association 1977), The Flora of Nebraska (Kaul sand, which as the wind swept over it, was blown et al. 2006), and our own observations and collecting. about in clouds, as one would notice on a barren coast It consists almost entirely of plants collected in the of the ocean. The bottomlands are what would be bottomlands of Platte County, because very little called high river prairie (Carleton 1844-1846 (1983». collecting has been done in the much-disturbed, heavily agricultural uplands north of those Curry (1950) wrote that when the city of bottomlands, most of whose species also occur in the Columbus was founded, prior to 1870, the grass "blue bottomlands. This congregation of plants of river joint" grew thick and matted, was taller than a man's bottoms appears to be common in the lower reaches of head and common in the area. It was reported to the Platte River. grow between twelve and fifteen feet tall along the sloughs in the area and defied any attempts by 18 M.P. Gutzmer and R.B. Kaul

Figure 2. Aerial view of sites. Top: Witchey's Island Site, by the Platte River. North is at the top. The river was dry when the photograph was taken, and its braided bed is evident in the lower half of the picture. Bottom: Loup River Site. North is at the top, and Columbus is just out of range to the north. I inch = .17 mile Floristic records in Platte and Loup River bottomlands 19

The focus for observations and collection were two years, and has never been cultivated or farmed. It primary sites on the Platte and Loup Rivers, where was homesteaded in 1864 by John Witchey, and two of the largest watersheds in Nebraska unite (Fig. according to historical record he maintained only a 1). The Platte River site is Witchey's Islan~ (Fig. 2), small garden and orchard. The Loup River site (Fig. 2) a heavily wooded area (but not now a true island) on is on the south bank of the river and includes dense the north bank of the Platte River, equidistant bottomland forest with open prairies, all on sandy between Duncan and Columbus on a parcel of soil. property almost a mile in length. Witchey's Island The coordinates for most plants collected are as has been grazed only minimally by livestock and follows: natural deer populations, has not had fire for over 100

Witchey's Island-Platte River Site (Fig. 2 Top) NW corner of site NE corner of site Latitude 41.3809542 Latitude 41.3834823 Longitude -97.445221 Longitude -97.430938

SW corner of site SE corner of site Latitude 41.37656772 Latitude 41.3779800 Longitude -97.444935 Longitude -97.430747

Loup River Site (Fig. 2 Bottom) NW corner of the site NE corner of site Latitude 41.4162131 Latitude 41.4139801 Longitude -97.367379 Longitude -97.354334

SW corner of the site SE corner of site Latitude 41.4079510 Latitude 41.4083231 Longitude -97.366522 Longitude -97.354334

Lake Babcock, three miles northwest of and the intact nature of their flora. The sampling Columbus, was another sampling location, as was locations were walked during the spring, summer and Buck Island on the Loup River southeast of the city. fall growing seasons, typically on a weekly basis, to But most collecting was at the established Loup and identify species not previously vouchered. Platte River study sites because of their ease of access

Table 1. Species of native and naturalized trees, shrubs, woody vines, and herbs

Trees Shrubs Lianas Herbs totals

Native 13 20 7 385 425 Introduced 8 10 1 98 117 totals 21 30 8 483 542 20 M.P. Gutzmer and R.B. Kaul

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION cutleaf coneflower; and Viola sororia, sister violet-all common to abundant. The native and naturalized species known so far Recent intrusions of exotic, invasive speCIes are are summarized in Table 1 above, and the full list of evident: Lythrum salicaria, purple loosestrife; those species follows the text, as Table 2. Euphorbia esula, leafy spurge; and introduced The Witchey's Island site is representative of an genotypes of Phragmites australis, common reed. We eastern Nebraska riparian forest with a mixed­ witnessed their rapid proliferation, but Tamarix hardwood community, where the tree canopy is Celtis ramosissima (salt-cedar) is not yet known in the study occidentalis, hackberry; Fraxinus pennslyvanica, area, although it is rampant to the west, along the green ash; Morus alba, white mulberry; Quercus Platte. Some species apparently are moving upriver, macrocarpa, bur oak; and Ulmus americana, east to west, such as Robinia pseudoacacia, black American elm. Cottonwoods, Populus deltoides, are locust; Catalpa speciosa, northern catalpa; and present, but not to the large size of those in the Loup Lonicera tatarica, Tatarian honeysuckle. The River site. The representative shrubs for this invasive exotics Amur honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii) community are Comus drummondii, rough-leaf and autumn-olive (Elaeagnus umbellata) were not dogwood; Ribes missouriense, Missouri gooseberry; present in or near our study sites, but their currently Symphoricarpos occidentalis and S. orbiculatus, aggressive westward spread across Nebraska assures wolfberry and coralberry; and Zanthoxylum eventual arrival in Platte County. americanum, prickly-ash. Abundant woody vines The Loup River site has naturalized species such (lianas) form jungle-like tangles: Parthenocissus as Rhamnus cathartica, buckthorn; Convallaria quinquefolia, Virginia creeper, and P. vitacea, majalis, lily-of-the-valley; and Lonicera tatarica, woodbine; Smilax hispida, green briar; Toxicodendron which are common there but not at the Witchey's radicans, poison ivy; Menispermum canadense, Island site. The latter site harbors such natives as moonseed; and Vitis riparia, riverbank grape. The Hibiscus laevis, halberd-leaf rose mallow; Mimulus herbaceous plants in this community include Carex glabratus, roundleaf monkey flower; Quercus spp., sedges; Elymus canadensis, Canada wild rye; macrocarpa, bur oak, and the introduced Lysimachia Ageratina altissima, white snakeroot; Muhlenbergia nummularia, moneywort - all rare or absent at the spp., muhly grasses; Sanicula canadensis, Canada Loup River site. Prickly-ash, Zanthoxylum sanicle; and Viola sororia, sister violet. This americanum, and rough-leaf dogwood, Cornus community occurs in the floodplains of rivers and drummondii, both native to the area, are increasingly streams in the eastern fourth of the state and extends abundant in the understory at Witchey's Island, only slightly westward into central Nebraska, along especially in heavily grazed places because livestock the Loup and Platte River systems. Western wild do not eat them. Black locust, Robinia pseudoacacia, rose, Rosa woodsii, is more typical of central and and northern catalpa, Catalpa speciosa, both native to western Nebraska, but it is abundant and robust southeastern North America, are invading the forests here. near the confluence of the rivers. Siberian elm, The Loup River site is also representative of Ulmus pumila, and white mulberry, Morus alba, both eastern-Nebraska riparian woodland, where the tree introduced to North America from Asia long ago, are canopy is represented by cottonwood, many of them established and abundant. A native invasive tree, 10-30 m in height. The subcanopy contains Acer red-cedar (Juniperus virginiana), is abundant in fields negundo, boxelder; Gleditsia triacanthos, honey and even in deep forests, and here as almost locust; Fraxinus pennslyvanica, green ash; Ulmus everywhere across the state, it overwhelms native americana, American elm; and Morus alba, white ecosystems. mulberry - all common at this site. Shrubs include Some species reach their western limits in or near Comus drummondii, Ribes missouriense, Sambucus these sites, e.g., Arisaema triphyllum Gack-in-the­ canadensis (elderberry), and Symphoricarpos pulpit), Zanthoxylum americanum (prickly-ash), orbiculatus. Parthenocissus quinquefolia, Erythronium albidum (prairie fawnlily), Viola Toxicodendron radicans and Vitis riparia are also pubescens (smooth yellow violet), and Parthenocissus common. Representative herbaceous plants include quinquefolia (Virginia creeper). Others reach their Ageratina altissima, white snakeroot; Galium eastern limits in the same area, e.g., Opuntia fragilis, aparine, bedstraw; Geum canadense, white avens; Poa little prickly-pear. pratensis, Kentucky bluegrass; Rudbeckia laciniata, Floristic records in Platte and Loup River bottomlands 21

Table 2. Platte County families and species of vascular plants documented. New records (boldface) are as compared to mapped records in Atlas of the Flora of the Great Plains (Great Plains Flora Assn. 1977). Some of these new records are mapped in The Flora of Nebraska (Kaul et al. 2006), whose nomenclature is used below. Introduced, naturalized species are indicated by an asterisk (*). Most of the vouchering specimens are in the Bessey Herbarium of the University of Nebraska State Museum, Lincoln.

ACERACEAE Asclepias engelmanniana, slender-leaf Acer ginnala, Amur maple* milkweed Acer negundo, boxelder Asclepias incarnata, swamp milkweed Acer saccharinum, silver maple, soft Asclepias speciosa, showy milkweed maple Asclepias speciosa x syriaca, hybrid milkweed AD OXACEAE Asclepias syriaca, common milkweed Viburnum opulus, highbush-cranberry* Asclepias verticillata, whorled milkweed Asclepias viridiflora, green milkweed AGAVACEAE Yucca glauca, yucca ARACEAE Arisamea triphyllum, jack-in-the-pulpit ALISMATACEAE Sagittaria cuneata, arrowhead, duck­ ASTERACEAE potato Achillea millefolium, yarrow Sagittaria lati/olia, arrowhead Ageratina altissima, white snakeroot Ambrosia artemisii/olia, common AMARANTHACEAE ragweed Amaranthus albus, pale amaranth Ambrosia psilostachya, western ragweed Amaranthus retroflexus, redroot pigweed Ambrosia trifida, giant ragweed Amaranthus tuberculatus, water-hemp Antennaria neglecta, pussytoes Froelichia floridana, snake-cotton Antennaria parvi/olia, pussytoes Froelichia gracilis, slender snake-cotton Arctium minus, burdock* Artemisia dracunculus, silky wormwood ANACARDIACEAE Artemisia ludoviciana, sage Rhus aromatica, fragrant sumac* Aster novae-angliae, New England aster Rhus glabra, smooth sumac Aster oblongifolius, aromatic aster Rhus typhina "Laciniata", staghorn Aster praealtus nebraskensis, willowleaf sumac* aster Toxicodendron radicans negundo, poison Bidens bipinnatus, Spanish needles IVy Bidens cemuus, bur-marigold Toxicodendron radicans rydbergii, Bidens comosus, beggarticks poison ivy Bidens connatus (both varieties), beggarticks APIACEAE Bidens frondosus, beggarticks Berula erecta, water-parsnip Bidens trichosperma, tickseed sunflower Cicuta maculata, common water-hemlock Bidens vulgatus, beggarticks Conium maculatum, poison-hemlock* Brickellia eupatorioides corymbulosa, false Osmorhiza longistylis, long-styled sweet bone set cicely Carduus nutans, musk thistle* Poly taenia nuttallii, prairie-parsley Cirsium altissimum, tall thistle Sanicula canadensis, Canada sanicle Cirsium canescens, Platte thistle Sanicula odorata, cluster sanicle Conyza canadensis, horseweed, marestail Spermolepis inermis, scaleseed Coreopsis lanceolata, lanceleaf tickseed* Coreopsis tinctoria, plains coreopsis APOCYNACEAE Dyssodia papposa, fetid marigold Apocynum cannabinum, hemp dogbane Echinacea angustifolia, narrow-leaf purple Asclepias arenaria, sand milkweed coneflower 22 M.P. Gutzmer and R.B. Kaul

Eclipta prostrata, yerba de tajo BERBERIDACEAE Erechtites hieraciifolia, fireweed Berberis vulgaris, European barberry* Erigeron annuus, annual fleabane Erigeron philadelphicus, marsh fleabane BIGNONIACEAE Erigeron strigosus, daisy fleabane Catalpa speciosa, northern catalpa* Eupatorium altissimum, tall bone set Eupatorium maculatum v. bruneri, BORAGINACEAE spotted Joe Pye weed Hackelia virginiana, stickseed Eupatorium perfoliatum, boneset Lithospermum caroliniense, plains puccoon Euthamia gymnospermoides, goldentop Lithospermum incisum, fringed puccoon Gnaphalium obtusifolium, fragrant Onosmodium moUe occidentale, false cudweed gromwell Grindelia squarrosa, curly-cup gumweed Helenium autumnale, sneezeweed BRASSICACEAE Helianthus annuus, common sunflower Arabis hirsuta pycnocarpa, rock cress Helianthus grosseserratus, sawtooth Barbarea vulgaris, winter cress* sunflower Capsella bursa-pastoris, shepherd's-purse* Helianthus petiolaris, plains sunflower Cardamine pensylvanica, bitter cress Helianthus tuberosus, Jerusalem artichoke Chorispora teneUa, blue mustard* Heliopsis helianthoides, false sunflower Descurainia pinnata, tansy mustard Heterotheca latifolia, camphor-weed Descurainia sophia, tansy mustard* Heterotheca villosa, golden-aster Erysimum repandum, bushy wallflower* Hymenopappus tenuifolius Hesperis matronalis, danie's rocket* Iva annua, marsh-elder Lepidium densiflorum, pepper-grass Lactuca serriola, prickly lettuce* Physaria ludoviciana, bladderpod Leucanthemum vulgare, oxeye daisy* Rorippa palustris glabra, bog yellow-cress Liatris punctata, gayfeather Rorippa sessiliflora, yellow-cress Liatris squarrosa glabrata, gayfeather Sisymbrium loeselii, tall hedge-mustard* Matricaria matricarioides, pineapple weed* Thlaspi arvense, field penny-cress* Nothocalais cuspidata, false dandelion Ratibida columnifera, prairie coneflower CACTACEAE Ratibida pinnata, grayhead coneflower Opuntia fragilis, little prickly-pear Rudbeckia hirta, black-eyed Susan , eastern prickly-pear Rudbeckia laciniata, cutleaf coneflower Senecio plattensis, prairie ragwort CAESALPINIACEAE Silphium integrifolium v. laeve, Chamaecrista fasciculata, showy partidge­ rosinweed pea Silphium laciniatum, compass plant Gleditsia triacanthos, honey-locust Silphium perfoliatum, cup plant Gymnocladus dioica, Kentucky coffee Solidago canadensis, Canada goldenrod tree Solidago gigantea, tall goldenrod Solidago mollis, soft goldenrod CAMPANULACEAE Solidago nemoralis, gray goldenrod Lobelia siphilitica,great blue lobelia Taraxacum officinale, dandelion* Lobelia spicata, palespike lobelia Thelesperma megapotamicum, greenthread Triodanis perfoliata, Venus's looking-glass Tragopogon dubius, goat's-beard* Vernonia baldwinii, interior, western CANNABACEAE ironweed Cannabis sativa, marijuana* Xanthium strumarium, spiny cocklebur Humulus lupulus, hop

BALSAMINACEAE CAPRIFOLIACEAE Impatiens capensis, touch-me-not Lonicera japonica, Japanese honeysuckle* Floristic records in Platte and Loup River bottomlands 23

Lonicera morrowii, Morrow's CLUSIACEAE honeysuckle* Hypericum perforatum, common Lonicera tatarica, Tatarian honeysuckle* St.John's-wort* Sambucus canadensis, elderberry Symphoricarpos occidentalis, wolfberry COMMELINACEAE Symphoricarpos orbiculatus, coralberry Commelina communis, dayflower* Tradescantia occidentalis, spiderwort CARYOPHYLLACEAE Agrostemma githago, corn-cockle* CONVOVLVULACEAE Arenaria serpyllifolia, thyme-leaf Calystegia macounii, Macoun's bindweed sandwort* Calystegia sepium angulata, hedge Cerastium brachypodum, chickweed bindweed Cerastium fontanum vulgare, Convolvulus arvensis, field bindweed* chickweed* Ipomoea hederacea, ivyleaf morning­ Dianthus armeria, Deptford pink* glory* Holosteum umbellatum, jagged Ipomoea purpurea, common morning­ chickweed* glory* Saponaria officinalis, soapweed, bouncing Bet* CORNACEAE Stellaria media, common chickweed* Comus drummondii, rough-leaf dogwood Comus sericea, red-osier dogwood CELASTRACEAE Celastrus scandens, American CRASSULACEAE bittersweet Penthorum sedoides, ditch stonecrop Euonymus atropurpureus, wahoo CUCURBITACEAE CELTIDACEAE Echinocystis lobata, wild-cucumber Celtis occidentalis, hackberry Sicyos angulatus, bur-cucumber

CERATOPHYLLACEAE CUPRESSACEAE Ceratophyllum demersum, coontail Juniperus virginiana, eastern red-cedar

CHENOPODIACEAE CYPERACEAE Chenopodium glaucum, oakleaf Bolboschoenus fiuviatilis, river bulrush goosefoot* Carex bebbii, sedge Chenopodium simplex, maple-leaf Carex blanda, sedge goosefoot Carex brevior, sedge Chenopodium standleyanum, Standley's Carex comosa, sedge goosefoot Carex crawei, sedge Chenopodium strictum, goosefoot Carex davisii, sedge Corispermum americanum, American Carex eleocharis, sedge bugseed Carex emoryi, sedge Cycloloma atriplicifolium, winged pigweed Carex granularis haleana, sedge Kochia scoparia kochia, summer cypress* Carex gravida, sedge Salsola tragus =S. iberica, Russian thistle* Carex heliophila, sunsedge Carex hystericina, sedge CISTACEAE Carex laeviconica, sedge Lechea mucronata, pin weed Carex meadii, sedge Carex molesta, sedge CLEOMACEAE Carex pellita, sedge Polanisiajamesii, James's clammyweed Carex praegracilis, sedge Carex sartweliii, sedge Carex scoparia, sedge Carex stipata, sedge 24 M.P. Gutzmer and R.B. Kaul

Carex tetanica, sedge Astragalus canadensis, Canadian Carex vulpinoidea, sedge milkvetch Cyperus acuminatus, flatsedge Astragalus crassicarpus, ground-plum Cyperus bipartitus, brook flatsedge Crotalaria sagittalis, rattlebox Cyperus erythrorhizos, redroot flatsedge Dalea leporina, hare's-foot dalea Cyperus lupulinus lupulinus, flatsedge Dalea purpurea purpurea, purple prairie­ Cyperus lupulinus x schweinitzii, clover flatsedge Dalea villosa, silky prairie-clover Cyperus odoratus, rusty flatsedge Desmodium glutinosum, large-flowered Cyperus schweinitzii, Schweinitz's tick-clover flatsedge Glycyrrhiza lepidota, wild licorice Cyperus squarrosus, flatsedge Lathyrus polymorphus, hoary vetch Cyperus strigosus, false nutsedge, umbrella Lespedeza capitata, round-head sedge lespedeza Eleocharis compressa, spikerush Lotus corniculatus, bird's-foot trefoil* Eleocharis erythropoda, redstem spikerush Lotus purshianus, prairie trefoil Schoenoplectus pungens, common Medicago lupulina, black medick* threesquare Medicago sativa sativa, alfalfa* Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani, Melilotus albus, white sweet-clover* softstem bulrush Melilotus officinalis, yellow sweet-clover* Scirpus pallidus, bulrush Oxytropis lambertii, purple locoweed Scirpus pendulus, bulrush Pediomelum argophyllum, silver-leaf scurfpea DRYOPTERIDACEAE Pediomelum digitatum, palmleaf scurfpea Onoclea sensibilis, sensitive fern Psoralidium lanceolatum, lemon scurfpea Robinia pseudoacacia, black-Iocust* ELAEAGNACEAE Strophostyles helvula, wild bean Elaeagnus angustifolia, Russian olive* Strophostyles leiosperma, slickseed wild bean EQUISETACEAE Trifolium hybridum, Alsike clover* Equisetum arvense, field horsetail Trifolium pratense, red clover* Equisetum hyemale v. affine, scouring-rush Trifolium repens, white clover* Equisetum laevigatum, scouring-rush Vicia villosa, hairy vetch*

EUPHORBIACEAE FAGACEAE Acalypha rhomboidea, three-seeded Quercus macrocarpa, bur oak mercury Croton texensis, croton GENTIANACEAE Euphorbia davidii, western toothed spurge Gentiana andrewsii dakotica, bottle Euphorbia esula esula, leafy spurge* gentian Euphorbia geyeri, Geyer's spurge Gentiana puberulenta, downy gentian Euphorbia glyptosperma, spurge Euphorbia hexagona, six-angle spurge G ROSSULARIACEAE Euphorbia marginata, snow-on-the- Ribes missouriense, Missouri gooseberry mountain Euphorbia missurica intermedia, Missouri HYDROCHARITACEAE spurge Elodea nuttallii, elodea Euphorbia nutans, eyebane Naias guadalupensis, naiad Euphorbia stictospora, spurge HYDROPHYLLACEAE FABACEAE Ellisia nyctelea, waterpod Amorpha canescens, leadplant Amorpha fruticosa, wild-indigo IRIDACEAE Apios americana, ground-nut Belamcanda chinensis, blackberry lily* Floristic records in Platte and Loup Riuer bottomlands 25

Iris germanica, bearded iris* Asparagus officinalis, asparagus* Iris pseudacorus, yellow iris, yellow flag* Convallaria majalis, lily-of-the-valley* Sisyrinchium campestre, blue-eyed grass Erythronium albidum, prairie fawnlily Sisyrinchium montanum, blue-eyed Hemerocallis fulva, daylily* grass Hypoxis hirsuta, yellow star-grass Polygonatum biflorum, Solomon's seal JUGLANDACEAE Smilacina steliata, starry false Solomon's Juglans nigra, black walnut seal

JUNCACEAE LINACEAE Juncus arcticus balticus, Baltic rush Linum rigidum simulans, stiff flax Juncus brachyphyllus, shortleaf rush Linum sulcatum, grooved flax Juncus dudleyi, Dudley's rush Juncus interior, inland rush LYTHRACEAE Juncus torreyi, Torrey's rush Ammannia robusta, toothcup Lythrum alatum, winged loosestrife LAMIACEAE Lythrum salicaria, purple loosestrife* Hedeoma hispida, rough false pennyroyal Leonurus cardiaca, motherwort* MALVACEAE Lycopus americanus, American water- Abutilon theophrasti, velvet leaf* horehound Callirhoe alcaeoides, pink poppy-mallow Lycopus asper, western water-horehound Callirhoe inuolucrata, purple poppy-mallow Mentha aruensis, field mint Hibiscus laevis, halberd-leaf rose-mallow Monarda fistulosa, wild-bergamot Monarda punctata occidentalis, MARSILEACEAE horsemint* Marsilea vest ita, pepperwort, water-clover Nepeta cataria, catnip* Prunella vulgaris lanceolata, American MENISPERMACEAE heal-all Menispermum canadense, moonseed Prunella vulgaris vulgaris, European heal-all MIMOSACEAE Pycnanthemum uirginianum, Virginia Desmanthus illinoensis, Illinois tick­ mountain-mint clover Salvia reflexa, Rocky Mountain salvia Scutellaria galericulata, marsh skullcap MOLLUGINACEAE Scutellaria lateriflora, mad-dog skullcap Mollugo verticillata, carpet-weed Scutellaria paruula missouriensis, little skullcap MORACEAE Teucrium canadense canadense, American Morus alba, white mulberry* germander Teucrium canadense occidentale, NELUMBONACEAE American germander Nelumbo lutea, American lotus, chinkapin

LEMNACEAE NYCTAGINACEAE Lemna spp., duckweed Mirabilis hirsuta, hairy four-o'clock Spirodela polyrrhiza, greater duckweed Mirabilis nyctaginea, wild four-o'clock Wolffia columbiana, Columbian watermeal NYMPHAEACEAE Nymphaea odorata s.l., white waterlily LILIACEAE Allium canadense canadense, wild OLEACEAE Allium canadense fraseri, wild onion Fraxinus pennsylvanica, green ash Allium canadense lauendulare, wild onion Allium perdulce, fragrant onion 26 M.P. Gutzmer and R.B. Kaul

ONAGRACEAE Echinochloa muricata microstachya, Calylophus serrulatus, plains evening­ barnyard grass primrose Eleusine indica, goosegrass* Gaura coccinea, scarlet gaura Elymus canadensis, Canada wild rye Oenothera biennis, common evening­ Elymus elongatus, tall wheatgrass* primrose Elymus hispidus, intermdiate wheatgrass Oenothera rhombipetala, fourpoint Elymus repens, quackgrass* evemng-pnmrose Elymus smithii, western wheatgrass Elymus trachycaulus trachycaulus, ORCHIDACEAE slendeer wheatgrass Cypripedium candidum, white lady's­ Elymus villosus, hairy wild-rye slipper Elymus virginicus, Virginia wild-rye Eragrostis cilianensis, stinkgrass* OXALIDACEAE Eragrostis pectinacea, Carolina Oxalis dillenii, gray oxalis lovegrass Eragrostis spectabilis, purple lovegrass PAPAVERACEAE Eragrostis trichodes, sand love grass Argemone polyanthemos, prickly poppy Eriochloa contracta, prairie cupgrass Glyceria grandis, tall manna-grass PH RYMACEAE Glyceria striata, fowl manna-grass Phryma leptostachya, lopseed Hordeum jubatum, foxtail barley Hordeum pusillum, little barley PLANTAGINACEAE Koeleria macrantha, J unegrass Plantago lanceolata, English plantain* Leersia virginica, Virginian cut grass Plantago patagonica patagonica, woolly Lolium arundinaceum, tall-fescue plantain Lolium perenne, perennial ryegrass* Plantago rugelii, American plantain Miscanthus saccharifolius, silver grass, Plantago virginica, plantain miscanthus* Muhlenbergia frondosa, wirestem muhly POACEAE Muhlenbergia glomerata, muhly Agropyron cristatum, crested wheatgrass* Muhlenbergia mexicana, wirestem Agrostis hyemalis, tickle-grass muhly Agrostis stolonifera, redtop* Muhlenbergia pungens, blowout Andropogon gerardii gerardii, big bluestem Muhlenbergia racemosa, marsh muhly Andropogon gerardii hallii, sand bluestem Panicum acuminatum, panic grass Aristida basiramea, forktip three-awn Panicum capillare, common witchgrass Aristida oligantha, oldfield three-awn Panicum dichotomiflorum, fall panicum Bouteloua curtipendula, sideoats grama Panicum leibergii, Leiberg panicum Bouteloua gracilis, blue grama Panicum oligosanthes scribnerianum, Bouteloua hirsuta, hairy grama Scribner's panicum Bromus inermis, smooth brome* , switchgrass Bromus japonicus, hairy chess, Japanese Paspalum setaceum stramineum, paspalum brome* Phalaris arundinacea, reed canary-grass* Bromus pubescens, Canada brome Phleum pratense, timothy* Bromus tectorum, cheatgrass* Phragmites australis, common reed Buchloe dactyloides, buffalo grass Poa annua, annual bluegrass* Calamovilfa longifolia, prairie sandreed Poa compressa, Canada bluegrass Cenchrus longispinus, sandbur Poa pratensis, Kentucky bluegrass (*?) Chloris verticillata, windmill grass Polypogon monspeliensis, rabbitfoot Dactylis glomerata, orchard grass* grass* Digitaria cognata, fall witchgrass Redfieldia flexuosa, blowout grass Digitaria ischaemum, smooth crahgrass* Schedonnardus paniculatus, tumble grass Digitaria sanguinalis, hairy crabrass* , little bluestem Echinochloa crusgalli, barnyard grass* Secale cereale, rye* Floristic records in Platte and Loup River bottomlands 27

Setaria italica, foxtail millet* PONTEDERIACEAE Setaria pumila, yellow foxtail* Heteranthera limosa, mud-plantain Setaria verticillata, bristly foxtail* Setaria viridis, green foxtail* PORTULACEAE Sorghastrum nutans, switchgrass parviflorus, prairie fame­ Sorghum bicolor, sorghum, milo* flower Spar tina pectinata, prairie cordgrass Phemeranthus rugospermus, sand fame­ Sphenopholis obtusata major, wedgegrass flower Sphenopholis obtusata obtusata, wedge grass POTAMOGETONACEAE Sporobolus cryptandrus, sand dropseed Potamogeton foliosus, leafy pondweed Sporobolus vaginiflorus, poverty grass Potamogeton illinoensis, Illinois Stipa spartea, porcupine grass pondweed Tridens flavus, purpletop grass Potamogeton nodosus, floating-leaf Triplasis purpurea, purple sandgrass pondweed Tripsacum dactyloides, eastern Potamogeton pectinatus, sago pondweed gamagrass Potamogeton pusillus, small pondweed Triticum aestivum, wheat* Vulpia octoflora, six-weeks fescue PRIMULACEAE Zizania palustris interior, interior wild­ Androsace occidentalis, western rock­ nce Jasmme Lysimachia nummularia, moneywort* POLEMONIACEAE Phlox paniculata, summer phlox* RANUNCULACEAE Anemone canadensis, meadow anemone POLYGONACEAE Anemone caroliniana, Carolina anemone Eriogonum annuum, annual wild­ Aquilegia canadensis, columbine buckwheat Delphinium virescens, prairie larkspur Polygonum achoreum, knotweed Ranunculus abortivus, kidney-leaf Polygonum aviculare, knotweed, buttercup wireweed* Ranunculus flabellaris, yellow water­ Polygonum bicorne, pink smartweed crowfoot Polygonum coccineum, scarlet Ranunculus longirostris, white water­ smartweed crowfoot Polygonum convolvulus, black-bindweed* Ranunculus sceleratus, cursed crowfoot Polygonum lapathifolium, nodding Thalictrum dasycarpum, purple smartweed meadow-rue Polygonum pensylvanicum, Pennsylvania smartweed RHAMNACEAE Polygonum persicaria, smartweed* Rhamnus cathartica, buckthorn* Polygonum punctatum, water smartweed ROSACEAE Polygonum ramosissimum (all vars.), bushy Agrimonia gryposepala, agrimony knotweed Geum canadense, white avens Polygonum scandens, climbing false- Potentilla recta, sulfur cinquefoil buckwheat Prunus americana, American plum Polygonum tenue, slender knotweed Prunus pumila besseyi, sand cherry Rumex acetosella, sheep sorrel* Prunus tomentosa, Nanking cherry, bush Rumex altissimus, pale dock, tall dock cherry* Rumex patientia orientalis, patience Prunus virginiana, chokecherry dock* Rosa arkansana, dwarf prairie-rose Rumex stenophyllus, narrow leaf dock* Rosa multiflora, multiflora rose* Rosa woodsii, western wild rose Rubus occidentalis, black raspberry 28 M.P. Gutzmer and R.B. Kaul

RUBIACEAE SMILACACEAE Galium aparine, cleavers Smilax hispida, greenbriar, prickly Galium circaezans, woods bedstraw catbriar Galium obtusum, bluntleaf bedstraw SOLANACEAE RUTACEAE Datura wrightii, angel's trumpet* Zanthoxylum americanum, prickly -ash Physalis heterophylla, ivyleaf ground- cherry SALICACEAE Physalis longifolia, common ground-cherry Populus alba, silver poplar* Solanum carolinense, horse-nettle Populus deltoides occidentalis, Plains Solanum interius, Plains black nightshade cottonwood Solanum ptycanthum, black nightshade Saiix amygdaloides, peach-leaf willow Solanum rostratum, buffalo bur Salix eriocephala famelica, diamond willow SPARGANIACEAE Salix exigua interior, sandbar willow Sparganium eurycarpum, bur-reed

SANTALACEAE TYPHACEAE Comandra umbellata umbellata, comandra, Typha angustifolia, narrowleaf cattail bastard toadflax Typha latifolia, broadleaf cattail

SCROPHULARIACEAE ULMACEAE Agalinis ten uifo lia parvifolia, gerardia Ulmus americana, American elm Bacopa rotundifolia, water-hyssop Ulmus pumila, Siberian elm* Gratiola neglecta, hedge-hyssop Ulmus rubra, red elm, slippery elm Leucospora multifida, leucospora Lindernia dubia, false pimpernel URTICACEAE Mimulus glabratus, roundleaf monkey- Boehmeria cylindrica, false nettle flower Parietaria pensylvanica, pellitory Mimulus ringens, Allegheny monkey­ Urtica dioica, stinging nettle flower Penstemon albidus, white beardtongue VERBENACEAE Penstemon angustifolius angustifolius, Lippia lanceolata, northern fogfruit narrowleaf beardtongue Verbena bracteata, prostrate vervain Penstemon buckleyi, Buckley'S Verbena hastata, common vervain penstemon Verbena stricta, hoary vervain Penstemon grandiflorus, large beardtongue Verbena urticifolia, white vervain Scrophularia marilandica, eastern figwort VIOLACEAE Verbascum blattaria, moth mullein* Viola pubescens eriocarpa, smooth Verbascum thapsus, common mullein* yellow violet Veronica anagallis-aquatica, water Viola sororia, sister violet speedwell* Veronica catenata, water speedwell* VITACEAE Veronica peregrina peregrina, purslane Parthenocissus quinquefolia, Virginia speedwell* creeper Veronica peregrina xalapensis, purslane Parthenocissus vitacea, woodbine speedwell* Vitis rip aria, riverbank grape Veronica polita, veronica* ZANNICHELLIACEAE SIMAROUBACEAE Zannichellia palustris, horned pondweed Ailanthus altissima, tree-of-heaven* ZYGOPHYLLACEAE Tribulus terrestris, puncture vine* Floristic records in Platte and Loup River bottomlands 29

LITERATURE CITED Kaul, R.B., and S.B. Rolfsmeier. 1993. Native Vegetation of Nebraska. Map, Aughey, Samuel. 1875. Catalogue of the 1:1000,000. University of Nebraska­ Flora of Nebraska. University of Lincoln, Conservation and Survey Division. Nebraska-Lincoln: 37 pp. Kaul, R. B., D. M. Sutherland, and S. B. Carleton, James H. 1844-1846 (1983). The Rolfsmeier. 2006. The Flora of Nebraska. Prairie Logbooks: Dragoon Campaigns University of Nebraska-Lincoln, to the Pawnee Villages in 1844, and to Conservation and Survey Division: 968 pp. the Rocky Mountains in 1845. Lincoln, Nebraska Gap-Analysis Project. 1993. Land Nebraska: University of Nebraska Press: Cover Classification of Nebraska. Map 295 pp. 1:1,500,000. Center for Advanced Land Curry M. 1950. The History of Platte County, Management Information Technologies, Nebraska. Murray and Gee, Inc. Culver University of Nebraska-Lincoln. City, CA: 1011p. Warren, Gouveneur Kemble. 1875. Ducey, J. E. 2000. Birds of the Untamed West. Preliminary Report of Explorations in Making History, Omaha, Nebraska: 299 Nebraska and Dakota, in the Years pp. 1855-'56-'57. Washington D.C.: U.S. Goodman G.J., and C.E. Lawson. 1995. Army Corps of Topographical Engineers. Retracing Major Stephen H. Long's 1820 Webber, Herbert J. 1890. Catalogue of the Expedition- The Itinerary and Botany. Flora of Nebraska. Nebraska State University of Press, Norman: Board of Agriculture, Report for 366pp. 1889: 36-163. Great Plains Flora Association. 1977. Atlas of the Flora of the Great Plains. State University Press, Ames: 777 pp. Kantak, G.E., and S.P. Churchill. 1986. A bibliography of the ecological and taxonomic literature of the Nebraska vascular plants. Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences 14: 61-78.