The Journal of the South Carolina Native Plant Society Spring 2011 Declining Shoals Spider Lily In this issue Populations in the Savannah River Spider Lily...... 1 (You know, that boundary between Georgia Bradford Pears...... 2 Laurel Wilt...... 5 and South Carolina). Lespedeza in the Carolinas. 7 Drs. Judy Gordon and Donna Wear The Hickories...... 8 Augusta State University Frank Holleman Receives For several years, the authors have been examining the decline of popula- tions of state protected Shoals Spider Lily, Hymenocallis coronaria, in the Au- Governor’s Environmental gusta Shoals area of the Savannah River, where it was first discovered in 1773 by Awareness Award famous naturalist, William Bartram. We recently published our research in the In recognition of his outstanding January 2011 issue of Natural Areas Journal, and here we share our findings with contributions to the protection, conser- SCNPS members. vation and improvement of the state's Background: Populations of this aquatic lily are declining throughout its natural resources, Upstate Chapter southeastern range in Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina. Several inves- board member Frank Holleman recently tigators have suggested factors that could possibly contribute to the decline of received the 2010 South Carolina Envi- the Augusta Shoals populations, including river flow rates, sedimentation, water ronmental Awareness Award. Frank's quality, and herbivory by leadership was instrumental to the deer and aquatic ani- success of the Blue Wall Connection, mals such as beaver and which links lands in the Saluda water- muskrat. We knew that shed with conservation properties across a population on Stevens the state's Blue Ridge escarpment. Creek, a tributary of the Frank was also a driving force rallying Savannah River, was do- over 1000 private donors, state, city and other organizations to protect the ing well (See Fig. 1) so we environmentally sensitive and culturally decided to compare the significant Stumphouse Mountain from two habitats. We exam- development. He has worked closely ined many parameters, with the SC Department of Resources including a lot of animal and the US Fish and Wildlife Service scat, water quality, produc- to help protect the endangered bunched tion of flowers and seeds, arrowhead and Miccosukee gooseberry, clump size, and flow rate and to educate others to that need. The records (both actual and SC Native Plant Society is proud to US Geological Survey) claim Frank as our own, a true steward from 1892 to 2007. We with dedication, creativity and a talent also examined historic for bringing together citizens, conserva- maps from the US Army tion organizations and governmental Corps of Engineers (US- What the excitement’s all about! Photo courtesy of agencies to protect ecologically and Judy Gordon culturally sensitive lands. (See Spider Lily, page 4)

South Carolina Native Plant Society • Spring 2011 1 Bradford (Callery) Pear: An Invasive Plant Problem By Bill Stringer Like most of us, Bradford pears have a dark side...... 2) Bradfords are known to have few insect herbivores, so a dense thicket of them produces very little biomass of native cat- erpillar and other insect larvae. “Well, that’s wonderful”, you might say, but you’d be wrong. A strong connection has been established between the amount of insect biomass produced on a landscape and the breeding suc- cess of songbirds on the land- scape. Caterpillars and other insect larvae are the staple food needed to grow songbirds to maturity. Adult songbirds have to work really hard to find enough food for their babies in areas with low density of insect larvae. What kinds of plants Figure 1. A swarm of Bradford pear seedlings developing in a stand of native grasses. They arose from produce insect biomass? The the clump of landscape trees in the background. Photo courtesy of author. answer is: native trees, shrubs, vines and herbaceous plants. Bradford Pear (Pyrus calleryana) be dense populations of young pear Introduced species like Bradfords has endured a long history of am- seedlings (see Figs. 1 and 2) which have low numbers of insect species bivalence. Its huge show of white can quickly become a large thicket in that can reproduce on them. Thus flowers in early spring has made it a areas that are not mowed at least an- a dense planting of Bradford pears very popular landscape tree in home, nually. If not mowed, the fast grow- will be an empty plate for breeding urban and industrial site landscapes. ing seedlings will become a dense songbirds. The diverse native plant But then, its weak stem and branch “forest”. community that was displaced by structure create huge splitting prob- “Well, what’s wrong with that?” pears would be a much better habitat lems in our occasional winter ice you might ask. “Won’t that be a for breeding songbirds storms, when folks have to saw it up spectacular sight in early spring?” 3) Seeds from the thornless and haul it away. However, Pyrus Maybe, but there are actually several Bradford trees used in landscaping calleryana has a third side which severe problems that arise from such actually produce seedlings with long, makes it a very poor choice for our a development: sturdy, woody thorns (See figure 3). landscapes. It is proving to be highly 1) The dense cover of pear trees So the trees that develop from the invasive of surrounding open land. rapidly shades out native grasses, dense stand of seedlings in Figure 1 Why invasive? Most Bradfords forbs, shrubs and native tree seed- will grow into a hostile thicket that produce copious crops of small (1/2 lings. This will dramatically reduce will be dangerous place to walk your inch) hard pears. With the onset of the native plant diversity of the site. pet, or for your children to play in. cooler weather, these fruits soften up A site that might contain an attrac- So the invasive nature of Brad- a bit and become very popular with tive, interesting community of native ford pear has the potential to radi- birds. The seeds pass through the grasses, sunflowers, asters and native cally change the natural landscape in birds and get deposited on the sur- legumes is converted to an ecologi- your neighborhood. Diverse native rounding land. These seeds are very cally barren monoculture of Bradford plant communities will be converted viable, and germinate and establish pears. This loss of plant diversity has to a boring thicket of pear trees. The in large numbers. The result can impacts far beyond the plant world. 2 South Carolina Native Plant Society • Spring 2011 loss of native species com- munities, and their complex Name That web of insect herbivores, will create an ecologically Native Plant barren community of little I am a cool-season grass, so I value in the support of am flowering and making seed this breeding populations of spring. Here you can see my flower, songbirds and other wild- and you might say, “That’s not much life. And the pear forest of a flower.” Well, this flower serves me just fine! I am wind-pollinated, so will be a hostile, thorny, I don’t need to worry about attracting dangerous place, fit for insects to help me with passing my neither man nor beast. All pollen around. Both my male and this from a home landscape female flower parts are exposed in the tree that at best will last photo below. My flowers are typical 15-20 years? In my opinion, of the grasses. Notice that the leaf it doesn’t add up. and sheath on my shoot base are very But there are some hairy, almost silky, which may be the beautiful native tree spe- derivation of my Latin species name. cies alternatives that are Look for me on a roadside near you. not invasive, and that are compatible with songbirds Figure 2. Bradford seedlings at the base of a handy bird roosting site across the street from several landscape speci- and other wildlife. These mens. Photo courtesy of the author. include: Various hawthorns, Cra- taegus L. * Serviceberry, Amelanchier Medik. Redbud, Cercis L. Fringetree, Chionanthus L. Red maple, Acer rubrum L. Southern sugar maple, Acer barbatum Michx. *Latin names are hyperlinks to information pages on the Flowering (a spikelet with two open USDA Plants website) florets and two not yet open.) For more information on invasiveness of Brad- ford pears, go to: Plant Invaders of Mid-At- lantic Natural Areas at: http://www.invasive.org/ eastern/midatlantic/pyca. html For information on the links between native plants, native insects and songbirds read: Bringing Nature Home: How Native Plants Sustain Figure 3. Heavy thorns on Bradford pear seedlings. Wildlife in Our Gardens, by Ouch!! Photo courtesy of author. Douglas Tallamy. Basal stem and leaf (blade and sheath)

My name is embedded in text somewhere in this newsletter.

South Carolina Native Plant Society • Spring 2011 3 Spider Lily, from page 1 stream shoal. Now the only ACE) describing pre-dam shoals on two shoals the Savannah River from Augusta to remaining in the (Georgia) Broad River. (For those the Savannah not familiar with the Savannah River, River are where there are three USACE dams on the the Broad River Savannah River. Discharges from enters the top of Thurmond Dam, about 15 river miles Thurmond Lake above Augusta, heavily impact flow and the Augusta rates through the Augusta Shoals.) Shoals. Histori- What we found: The major dif- cal records indi- ferences between the thriving Stevens cate that there Creek population and populations were at least 15 Figure 2. Stevens Creek site after a rain event. Photo courtesy of in the Augusta Shoals were severe shoals between Judy Gordon. deer herbivory in one Augusta Shoals Augusta and the young seedlings of the lily, marked population, and, just as important, Broad River prior to dam construc- and placed in rock crevices. We tried too high, or sometimes, too low flow tion and at least one (if not more) had this in September of 2007, but were rates through the Augusta Shoals a population of Shoals Spider Lily as unable to find any bags or seedlings compared to pre-dam historical flows. evidenced by a specimen in the UGA the next spring (See Fig. 3). Work- herbarium from ing in the Augusta Shoals is not easy, shoals at Price given difficult access and the frequent Island, now un- high flow rates! derwater in Lake And finally consider these Thurmond. points: managing water flows for the What to do: lily in the Augusta Shoals would also Deer herbivory enhance fish spawning in the only in the Augusta shoals remaining below Lake Thur- Shoals needs to mond. And of course, it would be be addressed by a shame to lose the Augusta Shoals a cooperative Spider Lily populations where Wil- effort involving liam Bartram first saw and wrote both Georgia and about this beautiful plant. South Carolina Judy Gordon, Professor Emerita, Figure 1. Stevens Creek Shoals Spider Lily site. Photo courtesy of Departments of and Donna Wear, Professor, Augusta Judy Gordon Natural Resources State University. which, unfortu- The Stevens Creek population can nately, are underfunded and unable also be impacted by fluctuating flow to do anything at this rates, but such flows, by comparison to point in time. More the Savannah River, are less frequent regulation of discharges and of much shorter duration. This is from Thurmond Dam important because the individual lily would help, but the flowers last for only one-two days, and demands of supplying appear to be pollinated by evening electricity, recreation, hawk moths. Plants flattened by high and flood control make flow rates cannot be pollinated, and this a big challenge. in addition, seeds and seedlings are We (unpublished) have washed down stream by excessively tried to establish ad- high flow rates (See Fig. 2). When ditional populations in there were many shoals, pre-dam, on the Augusta Shoals by the Savannah River, seed and seed- using heavily weighted, Figure 3. Donna Wear and Bill Quinn looking for seedlings ling dislodging probably allowed for loose-weave burlap bags re-establishment in the next down- in the Savannah River, using a bucket with a plexiglass bottom containing seeds and which Donna designed. Photo courtesy of Judy Gordon.

4 South Carolina Native Plant Society • Spring 2011 Laurel Wilt, a Growing Disease Problem in Bays and Other Woody Species Joel Gramling, Department of Biology, The Citadel

South Carolina’s coastal plant communities have to one or more fungal symbionts. These fungi become been changing over the last eight years. Visitors to bar- established inside the beetles’ galleries and put up fruiting rier islands from Hilton Head to Dewees Island may have structures that the adults and larvae will feast upon like noticed redbay trees (Persea borbonia) with lots of brown “the food of the gods.” Ambrosia beetles have long been leaves hanging off of known to transport asso- their limbs (See Fig. ciated species of fungi, but 1). In the late fall or the laurel wilt pathogen winter one might as- is the first ambrosia beetle sume these understory symbiont to be associated trees are simply drop- with a lethal vascular wilt ping their leaves for disease. the season, but these What is particularly are evergreens. This disturbing about this bee- change has little to tle-fungus dynamic is that do with new residen- the aromatic properties tial developments or of bay trees, sassafras and management prac- other laurel family mem- tices. South Atlantic bers may actually attract maritime and swamp the beetles to a living forests have been host tree. Something as stricken with a new simple as a broken branch Figure 1. Understory redbay trees showing laurel wilt symptoms. plant disease called or deer rub can produce Photo courtesy of author. laurel wilt. What we a scented wound. The are witnessing is actually a complex biological cascade set female beetle may be drawn to the wounded tree (See Fig. in motion by something as small as the arrival of one or 3) and attempt to carve out a gallery. She may be unsuc- more ¼ inch-long beetles at Port Wentworth in Savannah, cessful at colonizing the living tissue and so fly to a rotten Georgia in 2002. individual nearby, but she has just exposed the woody Laurel wilt is caused by a fungal pathogen that invades tissues of the living tree to the laurel wilt pathogen. In the vascular structures of trees and shrubs in the laurel such a scenario the living tree will then exhibit localized family (Lauraceae). The fungus (Raffaelea lauricola) is or even complete die-back, providing lots of dead or dying not known to spread from tissue for redbay ambrosia plant to plant on its own beetles to colonize. via spores the way that The effects of laurel wilt many fungi do. Instead, an were first noted in 2003 as exotic insect that has be- redbay trees were dying on come known as the redbay Hilton Head Island. A year ambrosia beetle (Xyleborus later the beetle and fungus glabratus) (Fig. 2) inoculates were identified as the cul- trees with this pathogenic prits. By 2005 laurel wilt had fungus. Ambrosia beetles spread to a dozen counties are a diverse group of over primarily around the mouth 3,000 species related to bark of the Savannah River in beetles. Their name comes South Carolina and Geor- from the fact that the adult gia. One population had typically carves out galler- also popped up in northern ies in dead or dying wood Figure 2. Redbay ambrosia beetle. Photo courtesy of Michael C. Florida. This was the first of exposing the woody tissue Thomas, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Ser- many observed jumps in the vices, Bugwood.org

South Carolina Native Plant Society • Spring 2011 5 distribution of Laurel wilt, because it has Wilt. Today there are been shown to readily satellite populations infect commercial avo- as far west as Jackson cado plants in Florida County in coastal where it is a multi-mil- Mississippi, as far lion dollar enterprise. south as Miami-Dade An even greater fear is County in Florida and that laurel wilt might as far north as Horry get to California (the County. There are U.S. leader in avocado no recorded outbreaks production) and Mexi- yet in the adjacent co (the world leader in counties of these avocado production). three satellite popula- Another intro- tions, suggesting that duced Lauraceous plant the disease has been is camphortree (Cin- transported at least in namomum camphora), part by humans. To a common ornamental monitor the spread Figure 3. Wound in redbay tree and an ambrosia beetle who found it. Photo in the Southeast which of laurel wilt, go to courtesy of R. Scott Cameron, Advanced Forest Protection, Inc., Bugwood.org the South Carolina Ex- http://www.fs.fed.us/ otic Pest Plant Council r8/foresthealth/laurelwilt/maps/regional_infestation_map_ has identified as an invasive plant that is a “severe threat” march3_2011.jpg to plant communities in the coastal plain. Unfortunately The laurel family includes several notable trees and camphortree has shown resistance to laurel wilt and may shrubs in South Carolina (Table 1) and is most frequent in not be as susceptible as our native laurels. Camphor- coastal plant communities. Redbay and swampbay (Persea tree’s ability to survive or even avoid laurel wilt might be palustris) have been the hardest hit species in South Caro- associated with the fact that it is native to southeastern lina. Many dense stands of these understory trees have Asia where the redbay ambrosia beetle is thought to have been nearly wiped out in both maritime forests (primarily originated. Whether ornamental or agricultural, native or redbay) and swamp forests (primarily swampbay) from the introduced, the ultimate impact of Laurel Wilt on plants Savannah River to the Francis Marion National Forest. in the Lauraceae is unknown at this time, but continued The recent identification of laurel wilt in Lewis Ocean Bay vigilance is warranted. State Park suggests that this will continue into the near Plants may not be the only group of taxa to suffer future. from the spread of laurel wilt. Larvae of spicebush swal- Sassafras is a widespread tree in South Carolina that lowtail and palamedes swallowtail butterflies are known has been shown to die from laurel wilt, but its low density to feed upon Lauraceous plants in South Carolina. As populations and infrequent occurrence across the Low- the effects of laurel wilt become more widespread we may country have not resulted in large scale laurel wilt infesta- witness a domino effect: humans transport a minute exotic tions. (Silky oatgrass, Danthonia sericea) This is good news insect halfway around the world, which transmits a fungal for now; but given the broad distribution of sassafras across pathogen to native plants, thus reducing the food supply the eastern United States, we should be on the lookout of several native insects while threatening an agricultural for any instances of sassafras die-off in South Carolina. enterprise. In this age of global connectivity perhaps the While spicebush (Lindera spp.), pondberry (Lindera melis- cascading effects of laurel wilt will provide a lesson on how sifolia) and pondspice (Litsea aestivalis) are vulnerable to truly interconnected the natural world is and how vigilant Laurel Wilt, current research suggests that the redbay we must be to deal with current and future threatens to ambrosia beetle prefers large diameter stems that are less our natural systems. frequent in these species. Nonetheless, pondspice does What can you do? Here are several general guidelines grow large enough in some areas to warrant concern and that South Carolinians can adhere to in order to avoid pondberry is a federally endangered shrub that should be spreading Laurel Wilt: closely watched for any signs of laurel wilt. • Restrict the transport of firewood, logs, driftwood, A close relative of our native bay trees is an intro- mulch, and other unprocessed wood of redbay or duced crop species: avocado (Persea americana). Florida other known hosts, out of counties (or other desig- farmers and agricultural agents are concerned about laurel nated areas) in which laurel wilt is known to occur.

6 South Carolina Native Plant Society • Spring 2011 • When camping, use firewood from local sources only. Table 1: Plants in the Laurel Family (Lauraceae) Don’t take home leftover wood; burn it all before found in South Carolina leaving your campsite. Scientific Name Common Name • Dispose of wood from killed redbays and other laura- Cinnamomum camphora* camphortree ceous species as locally as possible. Lindera benzoin northern spicebush • Inspect Lauraceous plants in nurseries or contain- Lindera melissifolia pondberry ers for signs of Laurel Wilt and avoid transporting Lindera subcoriacea bog spicebush or importing such plants unless you are certain that Litsea aestivalis pondspice they have not been infected. Purchase only plants Persea borbonia redbay that have been inspected by Clemson’s Dept. of Plant Persea palustris swampbay Industry or other official agency. Sassafras albidum sassafras • Report signs of Laurel Wilt to the SC Forestry Com- mission: (Laurie Reid, (803) 896-8830, lreid@forestry. *Note: Camphortree was introduced from southeastern Asia state.sc.us ) and may occur as a planted ornamental or an invasive plant. Lespedeza Species in the Carolinas By Bill Stringer The Lespedezas are members of The native Lespedezas are an The genus and species names of the Fabaceae family (legumes). The interesting group. They range in plants sometimes have interesting most commonly seen Lespedeza spe- growth habit from sub-shrub to origins. Take the genus Lespedeza, cies in the Carolinas are introduced, trailing or twiny. Hairy lespedeza for instance. It is derived from a and are all more or less invasive spe- (L. hirta) is 2-4 ft tall, with multiple mistaken reading of the name of an cies. Sericea lespedeza (L. cuneata) stems, oval-shaped hairy leaflets, and early Spanish governor of Florida was widely planted in the past for white flowers with purple centers - Senor Cespedez. Erroneous deriva- soil conservation purposes, and is closely clustered near the tip of each tion notwithstanding, the honorable ubiquitous throughout the South. stem (see http://www.namethatplant. governor’s namesake genus contains Bicolor lespedeza (L. bicolor) is a net/plantdetail.shtml?plant=808 ) . some interesting species. The USDA shrubby species that has been widely Round-headed lespedeza (L. Plants Database ( http://plants.usda. planted for game bird habitat, and capitata) is similar in appearance, but gov ) lists 36 entries for the conti- often forms a continuous shrub layer, with longer, narrower, silver-green nental US, a third of which occur in to the exclusion of native species. leaves (see http://www.missouri- South Carolina. Most have lespede- Thunberg’s lespedeza (L. thunbergii) plants.com/Whitealt/Lespedeza_cap- za as a part of their common name, has been used to some degree for itata_page.html). and some sources refer to them as ornamental purposes, and does not Slender lespedeza (L. virginica) is bush clovers or prairie clovers. appear as invasive as sericea and 2 - 3 feet tall, with narrowly oblong bicolor. leaves and pink flower, usually found (See Lespedeza, page 12)

Figure 1. Lespedeza virginica, Lespedeza capitata, and Lespedeza hirta leaves

South Carolina Native Plant Society • Spring 2011 7 bark near the home where I grew growth range. It is primarily a Mid- The Hickories up did not produce many nuts. The western tree whose range extends by Ken Gohring, same was true of other hickories on from western New York to eastern Georgia Native Plant Society our farm, but there were numerous Kansas. Its southern range includes In the backyard of my home, hickory trees on neighboring farms Tennessee and some specimens have west of Marietta, GA, are two large that did produce large crops of nuts been found in northwest Georgia. trees whose presence dominates the with relatively thin shells. These Its bark is very similar to the shag- area. The trees are about 80 feet tall were eagerly sought for eating as a bark, and in some areas the species and are among oak and pine trees. tasty treat and used in pies similar is called shagbark. These trees are mockernut hickories to the way pecans are used today. Trees of the Carya genus are (Carya tomentosa). Mockernut hick- While the nut meats are not as easy found primarily in North America. ory is one of a dozen distinct species to extract as pecans, the taste in my While taxonomists differ regarding of hickories found in the United opinion is superior. Usually the de- classification of some, 12 distinct States. I was somewhat excited to sirable shagbark hickories would be species and many varieties are cur- have hickories in my backyard as I found in open, relative dry pasture rently recognized as being native have had an attraction to hickories areas. to the United States. Another is for some time. On the small farm As a youth I noticed hickory found in Mexico and two or more where I grew up in Missouri, a large nuts for sale in grocery stores. These are found in Southeast Asia. Carya hickory stood on a small hill top at nuts were quite a bit larger than is part of the Juglandaceae family, the rear of our home. It was quite a the ones that we gathered. These which includes the walnuts. The bit different from the hickories in nuts were the fruit of the shellbark Carya species found in the US are my Georgia back yard. It was a shag- hickory (Carya laciniosa). Shellbark divided into two sections, Carya and bark hickory (Carya ovata), charac- hickory is less common than shag- Apocarya. terized by bark that appears in long bark, but it does have a large natural The first section, Carya, in- plate-like strips, attached to the tree cludes what are called true hicko- trunk in the middle but loose else- ries. The second, Apocarya, includes where along its length. This attrac- the water hickory (Carya aquatica) tive shaggy appearance has resulted and the bitternut hickory (Carya in the tree's common name. cordiformis), which are both native The hickory trees growing on to Georgia. Both of these hickories my small farm in Polk County are have bitter fruit which is quite a shagbarks. However, they are a contrast to the other member of the special variety, sometimes called section, the pecan. southern or Carolina shagbark Hickory trees are characterized (Carya ovata var. australis or Carya as trees with deep taproots, hav- ovata var. carolinae septentrionalis). ing a compound leaf structure and The southern shagbark has slightly being monoeocious (having both smaller nuts and more narrow and male and female flowers on the less hairy leaves and the bark, while same tree). The male flowers are shaggy, is not as regular and tight as catkins up to several inches long the standard shagbark. The south- that produce pollen that fertilizes ern shagbark is usually found in the smaller female flowers which are neutral soils, whereas the standard spikes at the end of stalks. The pol- shagbark prefers acidic soils. len is wind borne and is one of the The reason for my attraction tree pollens that can cause spring to hickories is the fruit, which as allergies in those susceptible. children we called "hicker nuts." Hickory trees are one of the The fruit production of hickories most useful and commercially significant trees found in the forest. is quite variable and is one reason Mockernut hickory (Carya tomentosa). why hickories are not often grown Photos courtesy of Chris Evans, River to Native Americans used hickory nuts as a commercial crop. The shag- River CWMA, Bugwood.org as an important food, produced by

8 South Carolina Native Plant Society • Spring 2011 a syrup similar to that made from maple trees. Pecan (Carya illinoinensis) is considered one of the most valu- able cultivated plants originating in North America. Thomas Jefferson planted pecans at Monticello and gave some to George Washington. It is said that these pecans are the oldest trees at Mt. Vernon. A large number of pecan cultivars have been developed and named. They vary in nut size (from 1 to 3 inches), flavor quality, shell thickness, age at first bearing, disease resistance, bearing tendency and length of time for crop maturity. Some of these with thin shells are called “paper shells”. Even though pecans are most likely not native to Georgia, the state leads the nation in pecan pro- duction. One cannot drive through Shagbark hickory (Carya ovata). Photos middle to south Georgia without Pignut hickory (Carya glabra). Photos cour- courtesy of Keith Kanoti, Maine Forest seeing a large number of pecan Service, Bugwood.org; & Paul Wray, Iowa tesy of Rebekah D. Wallace, Bugwood.org; groves. The pecan is the largest of State University, Bugwood.org and Chris Evans, River to River CWMA, the hickories, growing to 130 feet Bugwood.org cracking the nuts, boiling them and in height. Its large major limbs grow skimming off the oily substance, and up and out in a distinctive spread- by early colonists and fed to swine, using it like butter. Early American ing manner. It is fairly easy to spot resulting in the common name. settlers also used this product, called these groves of pecans because of Pignut hickory (Carya glabra) is hickory milk, as well. Native Ameri- this growth feature. In addition to quite common in the southern Ap- cans also used the wood in making providing delicious nuts, the wood palachians. Other hickories found in bows. is used for flooring, cabinets and Georgia and South Carolina are the For years the American chestnut furniture. sand hickory (Carya pallida) and the was recognized as the most valuable While the pecan is the state mockernut (Carya tomentosa). tree found in the southeast because tree of Texas, it got its name because of its many uses. In many ways, the early settlers found it grow- hickory has filled this role. Hickory ing and being used by Native wood is strong and durable, and is Americans in Illinois. It is used in products needing to with- somewhat difficult to deter- stand strong vibrations. In pioneer mine its original range, but days, it was used to make wagon it is believed to be primarily wheels and textile looms. It is still along the Mississippi River used to make handles for tools. drainage extending as far The wood is used by the furniture west as Texas and as far north industry. The wood is also used for as southern Illinois. charcoal and for smoking meat. It is Many of the hickories an excellent firewood and is highly are native to Georgia. One desired for this purpose. Shagbark of these is the pignut hickory whose nuts were gathered South Carolina’s champion shagbark hickory, in the hickory bark is also used in making Sumter National Forest. Photo courtesy of Karen Burnett, SCNPS

South Carolina Native Plant Society • Spring 2011 9 The nutmeg hickory (Carya my- risticiformis) is rare and has a quite limited range. The only substantial population is near Selma, AL. It is sometimes called swamp hickory because of its growth habit. The red hickory (Carya ovalis) is much more common that the nutmeg hickory. At one time it was thought to be a hybrid of the shagbark and pignut hickories. The following tables detail some features of the hickories found in the US. They are not intended to be a definitive aid to species identifica- tion. Most of the references cited below have keys that can be used for this purpose.

Bitternut hickory (Carya cordiformis). Photos courtesy of Paul Wray, Iowa State University, Bugwood.org

Editor’s note: Hickory syrup is not analogous to maple syrup, in that it is not made by concentrating tree sap.

Sources: Brown, Claude and L. Katherine Kirkman 1990. Trees of Georgia and Adjacent States. Portland, OR. Timber Press. Harrar, Ellwoods and J. George Harrar, 1962. Guide to Southern Trees. New York, NY. Dover Publications. Lance, Ron 2004. Woody Plants of the Southeastern United States, A Winter Guide. Athens, GA. The University of Georgia Press. Little, Elbert L. 1998. National Audubon Society field Guide to North American Trees, Eastern Edition. New York, NY. Alfred A. Knopf, Inc.

Article reprinted from NativeSCAPE (Georgia Native Plant Society newsletter), July, 2009

10 South Carolina Native Plant Society • Spring 2011 American Hickory Species Common Name Species Height Nut Size Leaf Size # Leaflets

SECTION CARYA Pignut C. glabra 60 - 80 ft 1/2 to 1-1/2 in. 8 - 12 in. Usually 5 Shellbark C. laciniosa 70 - 100 ft. 2 to 2/12 in. 15 - 24 in. 5 - 9 Nutmeg C. myristiciformis To 80 ft. 1 to 1.2 in. 7 - 14 in. 5 - 9 Red C. ovalis 80 - 100 ft. 1 to 1-1/2 in. 8 - 12 in. 5 - 9 Shagbark C. ovata To 120 ft. 1-1/4 to 2-1/2 in. 8 - 14 in. 5 or 7 Southern Shagbark C. ovata var.australis 65 - 100 ft. 1 to 1-1/4 in. 5 - 12 in. 5 - 7 Sand C. pallida 30 - 80 ft. 3/4 to 1-1/2 in. 7 - 14 in. 5 - 9 Scrub C. floridana 10 - 20 ft. To 1-1/4 in. 8 - 12 in. 3 - 7 Black C. texana 20 - 30 ft. 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 in. 6 - 12 in. 5 - 7 Mockernut C. tomentosa 50 - 80 ft. 1-1/2 to 2 in. 9 - 14 in. 7 - 9 Water C. aquatica 70 - 100 ft. 1 to 1-1/2 in. 8 - 16 in. 7 - 15 Bitternut C. cordiformis 60 - 80 ft. To 1 in. 7 - 10 in. 7 - 11 Pecan C. illinoinensis To 130 ft. 1-1/2 to 2 in. 12 - 18 in. 9 - 15

Common Name Nut Taste Bark Husk Range

SECTION CARYA Pignut Bitter Scaly ridged Thin SE US, Mo east to NY, north to ME Shellbark Good Shaggy Thick MO east to PA, south through TN Nutmeg Edible Fissured Thick Rare, scattered SC to east TX, most in AL Red Sweet Shaggy & Ridges Thin SE US, MO east to NY, north to ME Shagbark Delicious Shaggy Thick Eastern US, excluding so. part of so. States Southern Shagbark Edible Shaggy Thick Heart of Dixie, NC through MS Sand Edible Deep furrows Thick Confederacy excluding TX, FL, so. GA & so. SC Scrub Edible Smooth, ridges Thick Central FL Black Edible Deep furrows Thin TX north to OK & MO Mockernut Edible Ridges, furrows Thick So. states north to IL & PA

SECTION APOCARYA Water Bitter Fissured, scales Thin MS River Valley & Coastal South to NC Bitternut Very Bitter Furrowed Thin Eastern States excluding Gulf coast Pecan Excellent Thin broken strips Thin MS River Valley west to central TX

South Carolina Native Plant Society • Spring 2011 11 Figure 2. Sericea lespedeza and slender lespedeza. Photos: James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service & Ted Bodner, Southern Weed Science Figure 4. Parts of a typical compound leaf. Society, Bugwood.org Some Lespedezas are commonly confused with similar-looking Desmodium species, as both have trifo- liate leaves. And, there are both prostrate and upright species in both genera. However, there a couple of dependable discriminating characters: Desmodiums have stipels at the bases of the individual leaflets of a leaf (see definitions below), whereas Lespedezas don’t. Also, the fruits of Lespedezas are borne singly, whereas Desmodium fruits are borne in long series of single fruits (loments) - see Figure 3. We all recognize these as the infamous “beggar ticks” that stick to our cloth- ing at maturity. Figure 3. Fruits of Lespedeza (legume) vs. Desmodium (loment). Definitions: on the upper one quarter of the stem. (see http://www. Stipule - A small leafy or spiny outgrowth at the base namethatplant.net/plantdetail.shtml?plant=1913 ). Com- of a leaf or its petiole; usually occurring in pairs. pare the leaves of these species in Figure 1. It can be Stipel - Similar to stipules, except that they are found hard to discriminate between the invasive sericea lespe- at the bases of the leaflets of a leaf. Found on com- deza and the native slender lespedeza. Sericea has white pound leaves. to pale violet flowers all along the stem (see Fig. 2), while slender has pink flowers on the upper part. (See Figure 4 There are two low-growing Lespedezas found in the for illustration The Journal of the Carolinas. Trailing lespedeza (Lespedeza procumbens) of definitions.) South Carolina has upright branches growing from prostrate stems. Pink Native Plant Society flowers are produced on the branch tips. A key identify- NOTE: Blue ing character is the hairy stems and branches. Creep- text represents Published quarterly ing lespedeza (L. repens) is similar in growth habit and active links Editor: Bill Stringer appearance, but with no hair on the stems and branches in .PDF file Design Editor: Charlene Mayfield (see http://www.southeasternflora.com/view_flora. format. Upstate Chapter - Greenville asp?plantid=55# ). Two introduced short-growing an- Lowcountry Chapter - nual species were once in the genus Lespedeza - Korean Charleston lespedeza (L. stipulacea) and striate lespedeza (L. striata). Midlands Chapter - Columbia Introduced as forage plants, they are no longer planted, Piedmont Chapter - Rock Hill but chances are very good that you can still find them in South Coast Chapter - Beaufort your lawn. These species have been moved to the genus Kummerowia. www.scnps.org

12 South Carolina Native Plant Society • Spring 2011