Prairie Smoke—Maryann Collins 105 Eastern American Trilliums: Part II—Frederick W
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GeuMt triflorurn "PrairieSmoke" Bulletin of the mencan Rock Garden etu Vol. 39 Summer 1981 No. 3 The Bulletin Editor Emeritus DR. EDGART. WHERRY, Philadelphia, Pa. Editor LAURA LOUISE FOSTER, Falls Village, Conn. 06031 Assistant Editor HARRYDEWEY, 4605 Brandon Lane, Beltsville, Md. 20705 Contributing Editors: Roy Davidson Anita Kistler H. Lincoln Foster Owen Pearce H.N. Porter Layout Designer: BUFFY PARKER Business Manager ANITA KISTLER, 1421 Ship Rd., West Chester, Pa. 19380 Contents Vol. 39 No. 3 Summer 1981 Prairie Smoke—Maryann Collins 105 Eastern American Trilliums: Part II—Frederick W. Case, Jr 108 The Seed Collecting Chase—Marvin Black 123 Two Southwestern Primroses—Sally Walker 127 Lawrence Hochheimer 129 Crystal Gardening: Painless Propagation—Marie Tietjens 130 Award Winners 1981: Hans Asmus, Bozidar Berginc, Victor Reiter, Jr., Aline Strutz, Wayne Roderick 132 Pikes Peak and How The Tundra Got There—Lucian M. Long 136 The Lamiums: Their Usefulness and Limitations—Mrs. Ralph Cannon. 139 Olga Lewis 141 Thymus Lanuginosus as a Lawn—Daniel C. Weaver 142 Book Reviews: New York Botanical Garden Illustrated Encyclopedia of Horticulture by Thomas H. Everett 144 A Few Thoughts About the Rock Garden—R.D 145 It Ain't Necessarily So—Flossie O. Dawson 146 Of Cabbages and Kings 147 Front Cover Picture—Geum triflorum—Allan Stavos, Wayzata, Minn. Published quarterly by the AMERICAN ROCK GARDEN SOCIETY, incorporated under the laws of the State of New Jersey. You are invited to join. Annual dues (Bulletin included) are: Ordinary Membership, $9.00; Family Membership (two per family), $10.00; Overseas Membership, $8.00 each to be submitted in U.S. funds or In• ternational Postal Money Order; Patron's Membership, $25; Life Membership, $250. Optional 1st cl. delivery, U.S. and Canada, $3.00 additional annually. Optional air delivery overseas, $6.00 additional annual• ly. Membership inquiries and dues should be sent to Donald M. Peach, Secretary, Rte. 1 Box 282, Mena, Ark. 71953. The office of publication is located at Rte. 1 Box 282, Mena, Ark. 71953. Address editorial matters pertaining to the Bulletin to the Editor, Laura Louise Foster, Falls Village, Conn. 06031. Address advertising matters to the Business Manager at 1421 Ship Rd., West Chester, Pa. 19380. Second class postage paid in Mena, Ark. and additional offices. Bulletin of the American Rock Garden Society (ISSN 0003-0863). Vol.39 Summer 1981 No. 3 Bulletin of the merican Rock Garden etu PRAIRIE SMOKE MARYANN COLLINS Apple Valley, Minnesota Prairie Smoke, Grandfather's Beard, The plant consists of a basal clump of China Bells, Old Man's Whiskers, Pur• almost fern-like pinnately compound ple Avens, Long-Plumed Avens, and and toothed leaves arising from a thick Pink Plumes are all common names rhizome-like root. From April to July, generated by a single extraordinary depending upon the elevation, nearly North American native plant: Geum tri- leafless flowering stems arise from the florum. clump of foliage, each usually carrying Though the plant is most commonly three flowers as indicated by the species referred to as Prairie Smoke, its unique name, triflorum. However, two, four, character in flower and especially in fruit, or even five flowers per stem is not un• coupled with its extensive range, which common. runs from the Great Lakes west to Brit• The flowers are of curious form, al• ish Columbia, south through the Mid• most defying description. Each blossom west and Plains, and down the moun• consists of reddish sepals, perhaps more tains to New Mexico and California, has accurately described as russet or old produced these many provocative ver• rose in color, which are fused at the nacular names. base to form a cap-shaped structure. 105 From within this cap of sepals, and mass of dead leaves and brown soggy nearly hidden by it, protrude five red• mats, Prairie Smoke's clump of foliage, dish or straw-colored petals and numer• already verdant, is a welcome and en• ous stamens. The flowers are held mod• couraging sight. Close inspection will estly drooping on crooked stems, pro• reveal tiny buds, furry and tight against ducing an effect of hanging ruddy urns. the foliage, already formed as early as The name China Bells probably refers to March. During the entire growing sea• the shape and pose of the flowers as son the plant is not marred by insects, well as their unusual substance. Though drought, or other foul weather. In late delicate in appearance, each stem of summer and autumn the leaves will flowers remains unchanged and in per• often color red or mahogany, again fect condition for four to five weeks. adding color and interest to the garden. Those unfamiliar with the plant will wait In this description no mention has expectantly, and fruitlessly, for the been made as to plant size, since, as is "buds" to open, and only after consider• often the case with a plant that occurs able time will realize that these half-inch over a wide geographical area, variation "seeming-buds" are the flowers. exists. In Minnesota where I first be• After this long period of bloom the came familiar with it, Prairie Smoke is a flowers are transformed, as if by meta• common plant of tall-grass prairie rem• morphosis, into magnificent seed nants. Further west on the High Plains it plumes, the "smoke." The flower stalk, grows in the less arid areas, often inter• curved downward while in blossom, si• spersed with sagebrush. In the moun• multaneously elongates and straightens, tains of the west it is a plant of high while the styles lengthen and become alpine meadows. Obviously, Prairie featherlike. The plant thrusts aloft a Smoke occupies various habitats. More• lavish, silvery-pink cluster of seeds. This over, the plant grows at widely diver• plume is composed of a cluster of seeds, gent altitudes, ranging from near sea more properly called achenes (small, level to well over 8,000 feet. dry, hard fruits that do not split open For this reason, a general statement when ripe), each consisting of a beaked that the plant may vary in height from head and a feathery tail up to two inch• six to twenty inches or more and when es long. This showy seed-head is the left undisturbed, that the stout root- obvious instigator of such names as stock, increasing much like a clump of Grandfather's Beard, Old Man's Whisk• iris, will form a horseshoe-shaped mat ers, and Pink Plumes. Observed at a lit• two feet or more across, is true but mis• tle distance, an area thickly studded leading, tending to convince a rock gar• with Geum triflorum in fruit gives a dener that Prairie Smoke is too tall and pinkish, smoky appearance, thus the large for rock gardens. This conclusion name Prairie Smoke. is unwarranted. Prairie Smoke in bloom and fruit puts One form of Prairie Smoke that I on a continuous performance for two grow is that which occurs on the lime• months in spring and often produces a stone prairies of Minnesota that border stray flower or two during summer and the Minnesota River from Jordan to fall if stimulated by a generous rainfall. Chaska. Its leaf measures a very consis• Moreover, even when not in bloom or tent nine inches from the leaf tip to the fruit, the basal clump of leaves is attrac• end of the petiole. In bloom the plant tive and adds substance and stability to measures ten inches, and approaches the rock garden at all seasons. In spring, one foot when in fruit. The spread of when the snow first recedes revealing a the plant is slow but steady, not ram- 106 pant, and easily reduced by judicious temperatures probably will not harm this division every three years. This plant rugged plant. It seems to have no pests, grows comfortably for me in a rock gar• though goldfinches will filch the seed, a den that measures fifteen by twenty-five liability only if one wants it for other pur• feet. poses. Smaller forms also occur. On July 4, Germination of Prairie Smoke seed is 1978, we came upon a meadow at Rab• not difficult, but the resultant seedlings bit Ears Pass, Colorado, at an elevation may require three years to bloom. I had of 9600 feet, thickly covered with Prai• excellent germination of both Geum tri• rie Smoke just coming into bloom. The florum var. campanulatum and var. cili- entire plant was considerably com• atum received from the ARGS Seed Ex• pressed. Each leaf, more finely cut and change this spring using my usual tech• ferny than usual, measured only three nique for alpine seed germination, i.e. and a half inches from leaf tip to end placing the pot of planted seed in a cold of petiole. In bloom the plant barely frame, which I cover only with window reached six inches. This form has re• screens, exposing the seed to the tained its miniature stature under culti• weather from February or March on• vation, creating an altogether charming ward. In July, when each plant had two clump of much-dissected foliage. or three true leaves, I potted them sep• Other forms are also available. One arately in two and a half inch pots. nurseryman, George Schenk (The Wild Wintered in a cold frame, these plants Garden), lists three varieties: Geum tri- should be large enough for the garden florum 'Bighorn Mountains', ten inches; next spring and, I hope, will bloom the Geum triflorum var. campanulatum, a following year. dwarf pink form of the Olympic Moun• Division of the rootstock is another tains; and Geum triflorum 'Davidson method of propagation. Either early Ranch', which reaches a height of fif• spring or late summer division gives teen inches.