FALL 2014, VOLUME 15, ISSUE 4 A PUBLICATION OF THE NORTH AMERICAN NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY Native Plant to Know Hooded Ladies’ Tresses Spiranthes romanzoffiana by Stephen Johnson and Mary Stark Hooded ladies’ other typically western hemisphere tresses is the most species has led English botanists to call A casual glance at hooded ladies’ northern-reaching it a member of the “American tresses (Spiranthes romanzoffiana) will species of this genus Element.” In England, S. romanzoffiana reveal an apparently typical and the only Spiranthes shares the countryside with the spiranthoid orchid but, on closer to be found in both common European ladies’ tresses inspection, you’ll discover that its North America and the orchid, Spiranthes spiralis, but in hooded flowers are unique to the British Isles. In North Ireland, it is the only Spiranthes to genus. Nodding ladies’ tresses America, it grows all across occur. Hence it is known there as Irish (Spiranthes cernua) – its better- the eastern and central ladies’ tresses. known (due to its presence in the provinces and into northern Throughout its wide and STEPHEN JOHNSON horticultural trade) and equally Michigan, Wisconsin and transcontinental range, hooded ladies’ widespread congener – Minnesota. It is one of only a tresses typically occupies fen or swamp occupies much the same dozen species of orchids found habitats but occasionally can be found ILLUSTRATION BY wetland habitats; the two orchids inside the Arctic Circle. The in dry forest edges. It rarely forms have possible hybrids. But unlike all orchid also occurs in odd large colonies but is usually found the other North American ladies’ disjunct populations as far sporadically as individual plants. tresses orchids, the well-defined south as central Illinois and The species name has always hoods in S. romanzoffiana, occasionally, as we have seen, intrigued us. It was authored by the composed of closely spaced and in southern Iowa. In the early 19th century botanist Ludolf seemingly fused sepals and petals, are western United States there occurs Adalbert von Chamisso who named distinctive. Other distinctions: three a variety of hooded ladies’ tresses, the plant to honour his botanically distinct spiral ranks of flowers while S. romanzoffiana var. porrifolia, that enthusiastic patron, the Russian noble nodding ladies’ tresses has but two. some botanists suggest may be a Nikolai Rumiantzev, Count The flowers are dull creamy white distinct species. Romanzoff. The Anishinaabe Its presence in name for S. romanzoffiana is western Britain beemsquandawish which along with apparently means “spiral.” This and five name may have been applied to all although we detected Spiranthes species occurring in their no odour, hooded nation’s boundary. In the western ladies’ tresses tradition, the common epithet apparently can “tresses” derives from the Middle produce a scent English tresse which itself may come rather like from the Latin word trichia for hair coumarin. Continued on page 15 The Blazing Star is... Editorial The Blazing Star is published quarterly (April, August, November, February) by the North American Native Plant Society In the new year, the North American Native Plant Society will be celebrating 30 (NANPS). Contact [email protected] years of advocating for the study, conservation, cultivation and restoration of native for editorial deadlines and for advertising plants and native plant habitat. It’s hard to believe that a wine and cheese party for rates. The views expressed herein are native plant gardeners at Jim French’s house in Toronto become the galvanizing those of the authors and not necessarily event that led a diverse group of individuals to form our organization in 1985. those of NANPS. Along the way there have been plant sales, seed exchanges, speakers series, plant The North American Native Plant Society rescues, restoration projects, letters of indignation and battles with local is dedicated to the study, conservation, governments, outstanding publications (Wildflower magazine, The Blazing Star), cultivation and restoration of North information sheets, outings and field trips (including an art camp in Temagami) America’s native flora. and the purchase of two properties for native plant conservation (Shining Tree Fall 2014 Woods and Zinkan Island Cove). In 1985, NANPS founders could not have Volume 15, Issue 4 anticipated the arrival of the digital age which has spawned a comprehensive and ISSN 2291-8280 informative web-site, an e-newsletter (The Local Scoop), a rapidly expanding Facebook following and Twitter feed. It has been quite a journey! Editor: Irene Fedun For many of us, including myself, the journey has been much shorter but no less Production: Bea Paterson interesting and while anniversaries are great opportunities to look back and relive Proofreader: Eileen Atkinson memories, NANPS is busy looking forward. Projects on our wish list include Printed by: Guild Printing, Markham, Ontario expanding the number and scope of our native plant sales, an expanded speaker series including video productions of the talks (to be made available online) and © North American Native Plant Society sponsorship of native plant talks in cities across Canada and the U.S., a trailer to Images © the photographers and house our tools and plants for restorations, rescues and plantings (see page 3, illustrators, text © the authors. Future Projects for NANPS), and the ability to support permanent staff including a All rights reserved. plant sale coordinator and a full-time executive director. North American Native Plant Society, Of course, the ultimate goal for NANPS, and a dream held close by its founders, formerly Canadian Wildflower Society, is a permanent home – an office and property where we can showcase the best that is a registered charitable society, no. our native plants have to 130720824 RR0001. offer. Donations to the society are tax- Our current slate of creditable in Canada. projects and activities is NANPS Membership: sustainable given our CAN$25/YEAR WITHIN CANADA, membership numbers and US$25/YEAR OUTSIDE CANADA plant sale funds, but NANPS Join online or send cheque or money cannot move forward with MUKIB KHAN order to North American Native Plant additional projects such as Society, Box 84, Stn D, Toronto, ON the ones listed above without HOTOGRAPH BY M9A 4X1. additional funding. We are P Telephone: (416) 631-4438. busy applying to funding Staghorn sumac (Rhus typhina) E-mail: [email protected]. agencies to support our Web: www.nanps.org. initiatives but competition is stiff. Board of Directors: One source of funding which NANPS has rarely approached is our membership. Honorary President: James A. French Unlike many other charities, we have made few direct appeals for funding, but now Executive Director: Peter Kelly is the time and place. As NANPS heads into its 30th year, this is a great opportunity President: Cass Stabler to move forward with new initiatives that can only happen with additional funding. Vice-President: Adam Mohamed Please consider making a donation to NANPS or remembering NANPS as part of Secretary: Miriam Henriques your estate planning so we can forge ahead as advocates for native plant Treasurer: Janice Keil conservation. If you are able to make a gift to support our efforts, contact me at Alice Kong [email protected] or 519-824-4965 or speak with a NANPS board member. Gifts LeeAnne MacGregor can be made to support operating funds or they may be targeted for specific Howard Meadd initiatives. We are all looking forward to our next 30 years. As a registered charity, Harold Smith we provide tax receipts for donations. Thank you for being part of the NANPS community! Peter Kelly NANPS Executive Director 2 NEWSLETTER OF THE NORTH AMERICAN NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY FALL 2014 NANPS EVENTS NOVEMBER 15, 2014 NANPS AGM & Awards Ceremony across the continent. This PETER KELLY Markham Civic Centre will help NANPS fulfill its 101 Town Centre Blvd., North American mandate Markham, Ontario for education on issues HOTOGRAPH BY P related to native plants even though we are NANPS will have a table at the following events: geographically based in Brown-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia triloba) Toronto, Canada. We NOVEMBER 18-20, 2014 Latornell Conservation welcome suggestions for dynamic speakers with interesting Symposium topics. Nottawasaga Inn, Another exciting project that will come to fruition in Alliston, Ontario 2015 is the NANPS Community Native Plant Restoration Visit latornell.ca. and Rescue Trailer. The Helen McCrea Peacock Foundation NOVEMBER 23, 2014 Eco-Fair at Artscape at The Toronto Foundation granted NANPS $8,000 to Wychwood Barns, 601 Christie St., purchase a 1½ by 2½ metre (five foot by eight foot) utility Toronto, Ontario, 12pm – 4pm trailer. This trailer will be outfitted with shovels, buckets, Visit ecofairtoronto.org for more information. pots, gloves, a watering hose, wheelbarrows – everything needed for a group to conduct a native tree planting or JANUARY 31- complete a restoration project. While NANPS will certainly FEBRUARY 1, 2015 Guelph Organic make good use of the trailer for its own projects, it will also Conference & Expo be loaned to community groups whenever possible for their Wychwood Barns, 601 Christie St., native plant projects. The trailer will feature our name and Toronto, Ontario, 12pm – 4pm logo and will also help raise awareness about NANPS. Look Visit ecofairtoronto.org for more information. for it this spring! MARCH 13-22, 2015 Canada Blooms We express our sincere appreciation to The McLean Direct Energy Centre Foundation and Helen McCrea Peacock Foundation at The Toronto, Ontario Toronto Foundation for their generous support of these two For details: canadablooms.com. projects. Peter Kelly, NANPS executive director For more information about NANPS Speakers Series and other events please visit www.nanps.org. WANTED: More Seeds for NANPS Seedex FUTURE PROJECTS AT NANPS We urge you to collect seeds from native plants where We have been busy at the North American Native Plant possible and remember to send in the seeds you have Society exploring ways to move the organization forward in already collected for our annual seed exchange.