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HORTUS • A large but uncounted number of entries for sub-species, varieties, forms, and cultivars THIRD will be the keystone of your reference Ii brary, your basic information source on the cultivated • 187 general articles plants of North America. • 10,408 common plant names - NOTE: HORTUS THIRD points out which names have been used It is the product of one of the country's most respected for more than one plant; information not easy to institutions - Cornell University's Bailey Hortorium. find elsewhere. Horticulturists have been anxiously awaiting the arrival of HORTUS THIRD. The definitive reference, without which no dedicated hor­ HOKI'US ticul turist can be truly informed. Give yourself, or your dedicated plant­ lover a copy of HORTUS THIRD now. It's Tll\lID a gift that will thrive for years . .L\.. ConciseUi"!tiona':Y HORTUS THIRD has no peer for scope of Plants Cult1"Vated 1n or authoritativeness. 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(IC 093) L.,Q'leaseaddsalestaxwhereapplicable.)________ -.J American H@rticulturist Volume 55 Number 6 December, 1976 For United Horticulture .. the particu­ lar objects and business of The Ameri­ MURRAY KEENE, Editor can Hort icultural Society are to promote JANE STEFFE Y, Editorial Assistant and encourage national interes t in scien ­ DONALD WYMAN , Horticu ltural Consultant ti fic research and educa tion in horticul­ ALEX BERRY, Art Director ture in all of its branches. TOM STEVENSON, Book Department JOHN SIMMONS, Production Coordination AMERICAN HORTICULTURIST is the official publicatIOn of The American The American Horticu ltural Society, Publisher Horticultura l Society, 7931 East Mount.Vernon, Virginia 22 121 Boulevard Drive, Alexandria, Vi rginia 703/768-5700 22308, and is Issued in February, April. June, August, October and December. Membership in the Society automati­ call y includes a s ubscription toAmer/cnll HorticultUrISt and $1 .50 is designated for each issue of this publi catIO n . Member­ ship dues tart at $15 .00 a year. An Editorial Refer edltonal matters to: Murray Keene 2 Endangered Plants American Horticulturist Mount Vernon , Virginia 22 121 Refer advertising m a tters to : Education Publisher Services, In c. 62 1 Duke Street Alexand ria, Virginia 22314 10 Chestnuts-Dr. Richard A. Jaynes 12 Growing Wild Flowers From Seed-Margaret H. Smithberg and May L. Wright AMERlCAN HORTICULTURIST is de­ voted to the dissemination of knowl­ 18 The Bi gleaf Clan-Dr. Joseph C. McDaniel and Harold C. Hopkin s ed ge in the science and art of g rowing 26 A Simplified Method of Close-Up Photography-Christopher Kriss, 1. Davis ornamental plants, fruits, vegetables, Sydnor and Margaret Coon and related subjects. Original papers wh ich increase knowledge of plant ma­ 30 A DiHerent Light on Plant Ph otography-Donald R. Buma tenals of economic and aesthetic impor­ 38 Some of Nature's Gifts to Medicine-Joseph Jennings tance are invited . For m a nu scri pt specifications please address the ed itor, Mount Vernon, Virginia 22 121. Gardener's Notebook Replace ment iss ues of AMERICAN HO RTiCUL TU RIS Tare ava ilable at a cost of $2.50 per copy, but not beyond 16 Wh y Not Wildflowers?-Viki Ferreniea twelve months prior to date of current issue. 22 Some " Points" About Cacti and Succulents-S. Scott Roberts The opinions expressed in the articles wh ich appear in AMERICAN HOR­ TICULTURIST are th ose of th e au th ors Travelogue and are ,:,ot necessarily those of the Soci­ ety. They are presented as contributions 4 It's the Flowers that Make Arrangements in Colonial Williamsburg-Libbey to con temporary though t. Hodges 6 A Plantsman's Williamsburg-Pamela Harper and Robert B. McCartney 34 Gardens of Surrey, Sussex & Kent -Paul Malo OUR COVER: X Sophro/ae/ia 'Psyche'-an older hybrid Seco nd cl ass postage paid at Alexandria, orchid, still available from orchid specialists by Charles Virgini a and at additional mailing of­ Marden Fitch. fices. Copyright © 1976 b y The Ameri­ can Horticultural Society. Color separations by CHROMA-GRAPHICS INC. AN EDITORIAL ~""",red Phnts In June of 1976, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and succeed with them. Over the years, the reestab­ announced a list of 1,700 endangered plants found in lishment of these plants has not occurred. Many now the United States. Federal law prohibits their inter­ face extinction. state transportation for commercial purposes, and The proposed rules for endangered and threatened likewise limits their exportation. The prohibitions plants contain the following provisions (note the lan­ apply to seeds, roots, and other parts of such plants. guage of the law): , The list is a remarkable compilation of obscure • Lists-If a genus such as Lewisia is listed, all species and offers blanket protection of entire groups species, subspecies and varieties of that genus would of plants. Examples are: be considered to be listed. • Native Hawaiian Plants-Almost half the list re­ • Similarity of Appearance-When a species which lates to plants found only in Hawaii. Most of these are is not endangered or threatened closely resembles an unknown and unseen by the casual visitor to the Is­ endangered or threatened species, it shall be treated lands. Many of the species are found in only one as either endangered or threatened as well. location-their disappearance is often due to livestock over-grazing and the rapid "touristization" of the Is­ • Permits-similarity of appearance-Treatment as lands. endangered or threatened requires documentary evi­ • Nati·ve Cacti Found in the Southwest-About 72 dence or sworn affidavits to show species identifica­ species, or 26 percent, of the 268 taxa of native cacti in tion and the origin of the plants (or if cultivated, the the United States are vulnerable to extinction. Some place grown). are hardy and adaptable, such as the prickly pear. • Import or Export-it is unlawful to commercially Most require and thrive only in niches of carefully de­ deliver, receive, carry transport, or ship in interstate fined areas. The poaching of these plants in the or foreign commerce, by any means whatsoever, any Southwest for commercial use is a national disgrace. endangered plant. Indoor gardeners are finding that cacti are some of the • Permit for scientific purposes or for the enhancement easiest plants to grow in their dark and dry spaces. of propagation or survival: Applications for permits Unfortunately, many of these plants die after 6 to 12 must be submitted to the Director by the person who months in captivity. wishes to engage in the activity. However, the pa­ • Native Bog Plants-Wetlands are a continuing perwork involved is extremely complex and individu­ area of concern-they act as blotters of the drainage als must conform to 29 stringent conditions. patterns of the agriculturally productive land sur­ • Economic hardship permits: Provision is provided rounding them. They are also the depository of a to prevent undue economic hardship by issuing a unique flora. As with the cacti, poachers have found permit authorizing any activity otherwise prohibited. that some of these plants have a fascinating allure for A full statement, accompanied by copies of all relevant gardeners. Although gardeners repeatedly lose the contracts, etc., including that portion of applicant's plants, they will try to grow them again and again. income derived from activities involving such plants, 2 Few gardeners can provide the correct environment or the subsistence use of such plants is required. The major recommendation from an environmental viewpoint is to preserve the habitat of the plants. This will mean that the exact ranges of each endangered specie will need to be mapped. This information will help in locating reserves that should be established for habitat protection. We should expect to find that many of these endangered species already occur in public lands such as national and state parks, wildlife and game refuges. From an ecological view, research will establish the causes for rarity of certain species The Officers and Directors and develop techniques to increase the reprodHction of endangered plants. Ecological research will help to of increase the chances of successfully transplanting en­ dangered species to similar habitats if such measures The American Horticultural Society become necessary. Horticulturists can make the most progress to in­ Wish to sure the continued survival of the endangered species. What we already know about the seed propa­ Express gation of a particular orchid or cactus can similarly be Their Appreciation applied to the endangered plants, but this is prohib­ ited under current law.