The features in this document orignally appeared in Outdoor magazine in 2016

Enjoy these archived articles from Outdoor Indiana magazine? Subscribe at OutdoorIndiana.org PLANT FEATURE HOARY VERVAIN (Verbena stricta)

State Range: Mostly western counties Appearance: 1-2 feet tall with grayish-white (hoary) hairs; terminal spikes with quarter-inch blue flowers Habitat: Sunny, usually in sandy soil Flowering: July

Frank Oliver photo Michael Homoya photo France’s royal botanist found this wildflower species while exploring Indiana in 1795. The species was more common back then. Today, though it’s not as preva- lent, hoary vervain still grows in the Vincennes region.

By Michael Homoya

n recognition of Indiana’s statehood In the list was a wildflower known We know it’s the same one that Michaux bicentennial, an attempt was made as vervain. Michaux thought the plant collected because he penned both Vin- to identify our state’s earliest scientific he found was new to science, and his cennes (as “St. Vincent/Post Vincennes”) Icontributions. Several examples were dis- description of it was published posthu- and the plant name on the specimen covered, but the early offering described mously in 1803 under the Latin name label to match the notes in his journal. below is particularly noteworthy. rigens. Through modern-day inspection it In the summer of 1795, a full 21 years No such name is found in modern is clear the specimen is hoary ver- before Indiana’s entry into statehood, botanical literature, but there is a plant vain (Verbena stricta), the same plant French botanist André Michaux had re- named hoary vervain (Verbena stricta). described by Michaux but now with cently arrived in Vincennes after traveling That plant closely matches what he a different name. Another botanist from Louisville on an ancient buffalo path described. published Verbena stricta as the name turned pioneer highway. He was hurt, So what was the plant that Michaux for the plant before Michaux’s Verbena having fallen when his horse stumbled collected? How can we find out? rigens came into print, so it has priority. jumping over a downed tree. His injury Obviously, no photos of it from The specimen is nonetheless significant was a testament to the rough terrain he then exist, and while technology has and likely represents the oldest scientific described as one of the most treacherous advanced considerably since then, the collection ever made in Indiana. in all his wanderings on the continent. time machine is still just the title of an Hoary vervain still grows in the Vin- After his recovery, Michaux, as the H.G. Wells novel. cennes region, but it’s certainly not as com- royal botanist for King Louis XVI, was But that’s no problem—amazingly, mon now as it was on that summer day able to continue his assignment to ex- we can look at the very plant that Mi- in 1795. Indeed, much has changed since plore North America for of poten- chaux collected. the royal botanist crossed the unbroken tial agricultural use. He collected many It is more than 220 years old and wilderness that would become Indiana. U during his 10-year tour, including some housed in a special collection at the along the Wabash River that he recorded Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle Michael Homoya is a botanist/plant ecologist in his journal entry of Aug. 18, 1795. in Paris (see photo of specimen above). for the DNR Division of Nature Preserves.

OutdoorIndiana.org 11 PLANT FEATURE BUTTERNUT (Juglans cinerea)

Height: 40–60 ft., may reach 100 ft. Habitat: Rich, well-drained soils Flower: Yellow-green, has separate male and female flowers on the same plant—male is 2.5–5.5 in. drooping catkins; female is short terminal spikes Fruit: Oblong-ovate nut with sticky green husk

Frank Oliver photo The butternut tree’s bark gives the appearance of splitting around its trunk. Dye was once made from its nut husks.

By Andrew Reuter

utternut, aka white walnut, is state, the butternut is now rare. Pop- ed. As noted by Daniel Edwin Wheeler named for the smooth, rich ulations are declining across its range in his 1921 book “Abraham Lincoln,” meat of the tree’s nut. mostly due to disease and forest succes- butternut-dyed clothing was so popular BBut its bark is arguably its most sion. The primary culprit is a canker dis- that, shortly after departing from his distinguishing feature. ease that girdles the tree. The suspected boyhood home in Indiana, the future The term cinerea, in the tree’s scientif- cause is an exotic fungus introduced president agreed to do a strenuous job ic name, refers to the bark’s ashen-gray from Japanese walnuts. Butternut is a in exchange for enough payment to color. The bark looks as though it’s split- watch-list species in Indiana, and has make a suit of butternut-dyed jeans. ting around the trunk. In contrast, the received federal listing attention. The dye’s popularity increased during bark of black walnut (Juglans nigra) is Butternut was important for wildlife, the Civil War. It was the primary dye used much darker. But butternut shares a few indigenous cultures and early settlers to color Confederate uniforms, aiding in common characteristics with black wal- in the Midwest. Trees were tapped for the common reference to the Southern nut: chamber-pithed twigs; compound sap. The wood was used for furniture troops as “butternuts.” Lincoln once leaves; and conspicuous, drooping building and carving. American Indians said, “The battlefields of Petersburg were catkins adorning the tree in spring. used the bark to purge their digestive strewn with blue and gray and butternut.” Butternut is one of the hardiest winter system. With one of the highest amounts With the state bicentennial upon us, species in its family, which also includes of protein by weight, the nuts are also a despite butternut’s current scarcity, this hickory and pecan. The tree can be found valuable food source for mast-dependent native species and its history continue across Indiana, extending well into the species. Butternut is also a host species to to be worth barking about. U Great Lakes and upper Northeast. It is rela- the luna moth, one of the most beloved Note: See the March-April 2010 issue for tively short-lived, medium-sized and often and easily recognized moths in the state. an article on research to restore the species. associated with the rich, deep, moist, loamy At Indiana’s statehood birth in 1816, soils of riverbank sites. Sometimes it’s the tree was highly valued for its nut Andrew Reuter is the central regional found in the richer soils of upland forests. husks, from which an orange or soft yel- ecologist for the Division of Nature Preserves. Once widespread throughout the low-brown dye for clothing was extract- Email at [email protected].

OutdoorIndiana.org 11 PLANT FEATURE YELLOW LADY’S SLIPPER (Cypripedium Parviflorum)

State Range: Statewide Size: 12–20 inches tall Habitat Requirement: Woods or wetlands, depending on variety Blooms: Early May to mid-June

Frank Oliver photo Even though yellow lady’s slipper is one of the most widespread orchid species in the country, finding it is relatively difficult.

By Jason Larson

ou might not think being small bees are attracted to the flower’s lesser lady’s slipper (variety parviflo- compared to ladies’ footwear is color and scent. Upon arriving at the rum) is shorter, at 14–16 inches, with a compliment. flower, they crawl into the large open- flowers averaging a bit smaller. The YBut this “lady” is Aphrodite, Greek ing of the slipper. Once inside, they petals and sepals, aside from the yellow goddess of love and beauty. find they have been duped—the plant slipper, are deep purple. In Indiana, Cypripedium, the genus of the lady’s does not make sweet nectar. parviflorum only grows in wetlands in slipper orchids, means “Aphrodite’s As the sides of the slipper curl the northern half of the state, such as sandal.” This refers to its flowers’ most inward and make exiting difficult, the dune and swale, and fen communities. prominent feature, the petal pouch that insects find the easiest outlet is through Yellow lady’s slipper is one of the resembles a yellow ballet slipper. the “back door.” While exiting, they are most widespread orchid species in the The remaining two petals look much funneled under the staminode. Any country. It occurs throughout most different. Often twisted into perfect pollen already on their backs brushes states, including Alaska; however, pop- slender spirals, they are green speck- the stigma, where it fertilizes the plant’s ulations are usually small and scattered, led with purple. One is on each side future seeds. As insects emerge, they which makes finding them difficult. of the slipper, pointing downward. pass under one of two anthers, and a While it is illegal to dig the plant Three sepals frame the flower. All three mass of pollen is deposited on their from state or federally owned lands, are green with purple marks. One is backs. you can take a quest to find this on top, pointing up. Two are fused There are two varieties of yellow striking bloom in its natural habitat. If together under the flower. A large, lady’s slipper in Indiana. Both bloom successful, you can take photographs of yellow staminode, or modified stamen, from early May to mid-June. The the slipper that are fit to enjoy in every is found at the lip of the slipper, and is more-common large lady’s slipper season. U usually flecked with red. (variety pubescens) is 16–24 inches tall For insects, this plant is as tricky as and covered in fine hairs. This vari- Jason Larson is the southeast regional it is beautiful because it uses a trap- ety occurs in mesic to somewhat dry ecologist for the DNR Division of Nature and-funnel strategy to pollinate. Many woodlands throughout the state. The Preserves. Email at [email protected].

OutdoorIndiana.org 11 PLANT FEATURE WILD BEAN (Phaseolus polystachios)

Known From: Archaeology sites Pollinators: Bees State Location: South-central Indiana Habitat: Dry open sites Blooms: Mid-summer

Tom Swinford photo A wild bean plant in Brown County displays its pea-like flowers, a characteristic it shares with other members of the legume family.

By Tom Swinford

ild bean is a plant that has In Indiana, wild bean is found only Several of the beans of the New World stepped out of the natural in the unglaciated south-central region, were cultivated by civilizations from world to intersect with from the Brown County hills to the Peru to the American Midwest. Of the Whuman goings on. River. Wild bean prefers relatively group of bean plants, modern agricul- That is, of course, if you choose to open, sunny habitats such as woods, ture has settled on the common bean— separate humans from the natural forest edges, dry ridgetops and thickets. Phaseolus vulgaris—which includes world at all. Its broader range includes much of the the green bean, baked bean and kidney First, the answer to the obvious ques- eastern United States. bean that we know and love. But wild tion: Yes, the wild bean is good to eat. Wild bean, like its fellow members bean apparently had its day among the Archaeological records show it found its of the legume family, has characteristic, squash and maize (i.e., corn) of the early way onto early Americans’ dinner plates. beautiful, pea-like flowers. The petals New World farmers. It is also one of the It shares a close lineage with its Central form the three parts of the legume celebrated “three sisters” of farming of American sister species, the common flower—the keel, the banner, and the the American Indian. bean, Phaseolus vulgaris, which provides two wings. Some botanists believe that wild protein to billions of hungry humans. The keel is the high and wide back bean may be in decline. The reason Wild bean is a climbing, twining or “bonnet” of the bean flower. The two is the lack of its preferred habitat of trailing long-lived perennial. It has large, wings are held out and below. The open forests and edge habitat. That three-parted leaves. Wild bean flowers middle keel has a curious counter- habitat was possibly created, in part, by and sets its seeds during the long, hot clockwise curl. Charles Darwin wrote primitive agriculture and other human days of summer, taking full advantage that it “curls like a French Horn to the activities with which the plant’s story of the season’s growth potential to make left side.” This feature likely influences is connected, and that activity is less its yield rich in nutrients. Its seeds are pollination. Wild bean is predominant- common than in New World days. U the specific parts of the plant that we call ly pollinated by various bees. These “beans.” The seeds occur in familiar pods include the native bumblebees, mining Tom Swinford is assistant director of Nature that mature in late summer or early fall. bees, mason bees and carpenter bees. Preserves, [email protected].

OutdoorIndiana.org 11 PLANT FEATURE MARRAM GRASS (Ammophila breviligulata)

State Range: Lake, Porter and LaPorte counties Habitat: Beach and dune natural communities Size: 3 foot tall grass Status: Watch list

Frank Oliver photo A state watch list species, marram grass occurs in Indiana only along the Lake coastline.

By Derek Nimetz

arram grass is a survivor And yet, despite having no shade or Marram grass is a perennial that of the harsh elements in shelter from the hot sun or the cold grows up to 3 feet tall. It flowers from northwest Indiana. It is one north wind, marram grass is clearly the July through September. The blossom- ofM the few plant species that can survive most dominant plant along Indiana’s ing is a stiff, spike-like cluster of flowers. the conditions of the beach and dune Lake Michigan coast. In eastern North America, its natural communities in that area and Marram grass plays a critical role in natural distribution extends along the provide stability. dune development and stabilization. It Atlantic coast, from North Carolina It can be buried deep in the ground, has an extensive system of roots, known to Canada. It is also found on other it can be washed out by strong storms, as rhizomes. The roots grow fast and Midwest shores of the Great Lakes. In and it can be mowed down and tram- spread out and down into the soil. The Indiana, marram grass is considered pled, yet it still persists and stands tall, roots also help anchor the plant against a watch list species (dnr.IN.gov/ year after year. It is not affected by cold the constantly shifting sand. As this plant’s naturepreserve/4725.htm). temperatures, deep snow or fields of numbers continue to increase, its roots Even though, in Indiana, it can be ice. Furthermore, it becomes more vig- bind the sand together and form dunes. found only in suitable habitat along orous and even increases its dominance These are the dunes closest to Lake Mich- Lake Michigan, it is easy to see in during the heat of summer. Although it igan and are known as foredunes. portions of protected areas such as at will burn with great intensity, marram The plant’s scientific name helps Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore grass continues to thrive in urban, describe some of its features. Ammoph- and Indiana Dunes State Park. Trail 3, residential and recreational areas. ila is derived from the Greek words through Dunes Prairie Nature Preserve In Indiana, this perennial grass, also ammos for “sand” and phila for “love.” within the state park, bisects a large known as American beachgrass, is reg- Breviligulata originates from the Latin population of marram grass. U ularly exposed to elements such as sand words for short (brevis), and tongue deposition from wind, erosion from (ligula). This is in reference to the short Derek Nimetz is an ecologist with the DNR Lake Michigan waves, and scouring ligules, which are sheath-like structures Division of Nature Preserves in the Coastal from shelf ice during winter. on the plant’s stem. Region, [email protected].

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