ProjectProject BotanyBotany ExploringExploringExploring Native NativeNative Plants PlantsPlants of theofof the UnitedUnitedUnited States States An EcoregionalAnAn Ecoregional Curriculum Curriculum Curriculumby the by the by the Project Botany: Exploring the Native Plants of the United States An Ecoregional Curriculum Contributors: Jennie Cramer, Jody Einerson, Larkin Guenther, Carolyn Menke, Ian Silvernail, and Sarah Stevens Illustrations: Amanda Devine Barbara Gleason Ella Samuel Jody Einerson Larkin Guenther Front Cover Illustration: Ella Samuel Back Cover Illustration: Larkin Guenther Content Editor: Jill Bushakra Graphic Design: Adam Payson Jessica Brothers Institute for Applied Ecology 563 SW Jefferson Ave. Corvallis, OR 541-753-3099 [email protected] Acknowledgements We would like to thank the following people for their contribution in producing Project Botany: Special thanks to the following for their vision and continued support in producing and expanding this curriculum: Peggy Olwell—Bureau of Land Management, Plant Conservation Lead, BLM National Program Joan Seevers—Bureau of Land Management, Plant Conservation Lead, Oregon/Washington Nancy Sawtelle—Bureau of Land Management, Plant Ecologist, Eugene District, Oregon Thank you to the USDA Bureau of Land Management for providing funding and support for the creation of this curriculum. Special thanks to the Earth Partnership for Schools Program for acting as a model in developing place-based curriculum. University of Wisconsin-Madison Arboretum, 1207 Seminole Highway, Madison, WI 53711. https://arboretum.wisc.edu/ Advisors Teresa Matteson, Benton Soil and Water Dio Morales, Curriculum Design Consultant Conservation District Andy Moldenke, OSU Botany and Plant Pathology Heath Keirstead, Benton Soil and Water Melissa Kirkland, USFS Botanist Conservation District Jenny Lippert, US Foresty Service Botanist Maggie Livesay, OSU Extension Faculty; 4-H Youth Development Holly LeMasurier, Middle Fork Willamette Watershed Council Jeff Mitchell, Philomath High School Tim Whitley, Rachel Carson High School Paul Bradley, Wilson Elementary School Loren Gerig, Woodburn High School Dan Bregar, Crescent Valley High School Elly Veyera, Wy’east Middle School Holly McRae, Willamette Resources and Education Network Mary Ann Schmidt, Oregon Trout Healthy Waters Institute Sujaya Rao, Oregon State University Faculty Rural Science Education Jennifer Martin, Owyhee Watershed Council Kendra Mingo, Willamette University Botanist Jon Souder, Coos Watershed Association Brad Withrow-Bobinson, OSU Extension Faculty Forestry Piloting Teachers April Fong, Linda Wolf, Sean Kenna, Loren Gerig, Edith Moore, Kevin Celtura, Tim Whitley, Jonathan Pope, Michelle Barray, Lacy Meahm, Brian Wach, Jeff Mitchell ii Content Reviewers and Content Experts Tom Kaye, Institute of Applied Ecology Director, Marty Stein, Siuslaw National Forest Botanist OSU Botany and Plant Pathology Susan Fritts, BLM Medford District Botanist Carolyn Menke, IAE, Plant Conservation Biologist Douglas Kendig, BLM Medford District Botanist Rob Fiegener, IAE, Native Seed Network Teresa Matteson, Benton Soil & Water Conservation Melanie Gisler, IAE, Restoration Ecologist District Matt Blakely-Smith, IAE, Restoration Biologist Kathy Pendergrass, Natural Resources Conservation Service Plant Material Specialist Amanda Stanley, IAE, Ecology Marcia Wineteer, BLM Medford District Botanist Stacy Moore, IAE, Ecological Education Director Robert Kentta, Cultural Resources Director, Berta Youtie, Eastern Oregon Stewardship Services Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians Tim Rodenkirk, BLM Coos Bay Botanist Wenix Red Elk, Public Outreach and Education Coordinator, Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Laura Potash Marin, Mt. Baker Snoqualmie National Indian Reservation Forest Botanist Misty Thorsgard, Cultural Resources, Confederated Kristi Mergenthaler, Siskiyou Field Institute, Botanist Tribes of the Grand Ronde Gene Yates, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest Mary Van Brocklin, Falconproof Botanist Reid Schuller, Botanist Katie Grenier, Deschutes/Ochoco National Forest Botanist We would also like to thank: Project Budburst for partnering on the lesson, “Phenology: Tracking the Seasons in Your World.” The Commission for Environmental Cooperation, for the use of maps and resources relating to and defining the ecoregions of North America. About the Institute for Applied Ecology Founded in 1999, the Institute for Applied Ecology (IAE) is a non-profit organization established to provide a service to public and private agencies and individuals by developing and communicating information on ecosystems and effective management strategies. IAE offers habitat restoration services complete with management plans, site preparation, maintenance, and monitoring. Our Native Seed Network connects buyers and sellers of native seed while our Conservation Research program conducts native ecosystem research and monitoring and provides surveys for rare plants. The Ecological Education Program provides learning opportunities for all ages through place-based education and service-learning projects. For additional copies of the curriculum contact: Institute for Applied Ecology 563 SW Jefferson Ave. Corvallis, OR 97330 www.appliedeco.org [email protected] iii Project Botany: Exploring the Native Plants of the United States Table of Contents Introduction 1 Making it Place-Based ................................................................................viii 1. For Teachers ...............................................................................ix 2. Writing a Curriculum for Your Region ........................................................xi Introduction 2 1. What Is a Plant? ............................................................................... 2 2. Explore the Ecoregions of the United States ....................................................12 3. Field Journaling: Observations From a Special Spot .............................................23 Section 1: Plant Identification 4. What’s in a Name? ...........................................................................27 5. Botanical Terms Challenge . .33 6. The Secret Life of Flowers ....................................................................43 7. Plants Have Families, Too .....................................................................52 8. Botany Bouquet .............................................................................58 9. Drupes, Pomes, and Loculicidal Capsules: A Botanist’s Lingo for Describing Native Fruits ...........62 10. Make Your Own Plant Collection . .67 11. Plant Adaptations: Create-A-Plant .............................................................73 12. Mechanics of a Key ...........................................................................83 13. Make a Field Guide for Your School ...........................................................89 Section 2: The Ecoregions of the United States 14. The Place I Call Home .........................................................................94 Section 3: The Ecology of Native Plants 15. Ecosystem Comparisons .....................................................................100 16. Leaf to Landscape: Ecological Scale . 109 17. Survival Quest: A Pollination Game . 113 18. What’s Going Down Underground? ..........................................................122 19. Plant Wars: A Tale of Offense and Defense ....................................................130 Section 4: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: Native and Non-native Plants 20. Nurture a Native Garden Project part A ......................................................137 Nurture a Native Garden Project part B . 142 Nurture a Native Garden Project part C ......................................................149 iv 21. Weed Explosion ............................................................................156 22 Measuring and Monitoring Plant Populations ..................................................164 Section 5: Ethnobotany 23. Who Walked Here Before You ...............................................................172 24. Burden Basket: Plants as Fiber ................................................................180 25. Plants As Medicine ..........................................................................189 Section 6: Climate Change and Phenology 26. Phenology: Tracking the Seasons in Your World ................................................197 27. Plant Migration Game: A Race Between Plants and Climate Change .............................204 Section 7: The Future of Native Plants 28. Nobody Right, Nobody Wrong: A Role-Playing Game. .214 29. Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services ..........................................................226 30. Saving Botanical Treasures: Threatened and Endangered Plants .................................233 31. Design a Habitat Restoration Plan. 244 References .........................................................................................255 Glossary ..........................................................................................258 Appendices A ppendix I:Field Guide Recommendations for Your Ecoregion .................................269 Appendix II: Ethnobotany Resources .........................................................273 Appendix III: Ecoregions of the United States .................................................274 Appendix VI: Make Your Own Quadrat Frame ................................................281 v Introduction Getting Started