101 Van Brunt's Jacob's-ladder STATUS Threatened Not Listed Threatened Not Listed Not Listed Polemonium vanbruntiae Endemic to central and northern Appalachians; found in just a few sites in southwestern New Brunswick. Habitat Van Brunt's Jacobs-ladder lives in rich, seasonally-flooded moist areas such as riparian meadows, swamps, and other similar wet depressions. It requires open or semi-open conditions and is often found with cedar, alders, and grasses. VID MAZEROLLE © DA Species Description Van Brunt's Jacob’s-ladder is a tall (40-140 cm), upright perennial herb of the phlox family. Leaves are made up of 7-11 small (0.5-60 cm long) oval- ANEY shaped leaflets, and they range in size from large TZ (50 cm long) at the base to small (2 cm long) near © SEAN BL the flowers. Clustered, blue-violet flowers have Entire flowering plant © JIM GOL Open, riparian meadow five petals, and are about 1.5-2.5 cm wide. Sepals © RÉJEAN ROY are 8-17 mm long and stamens and style project far Look for tall plants in rich, wet, open areas; its loose clusters of blue-violet beyond the petals. flowers are present from about mid-June to early August. Interesting Points Threats to Survival ! Van Brunt's Jacobs-ladder was ! Residential or road first found in New Brunswick development at or near sites in 1880 but was thought to be where this species occurs. extirpated until it was ! Habitat-altering timber rediscovered in 2005. harvesting and use of all- ! The species' common name terrain vehicles can trample comes from the Old plants and affect site moisture Testament story of Jacob's and drainage. ! ladder to heaven (referring to Natural habitat change OBE the ladder-like leaves) and affecting the very limited areas from Cornelius Van Brunt, a occupied, including beaver CUBED, ARCGL 19th century naturalist. ANEY flooding and forest succession that increases habitat shading. © 2009 I- Similar Species Compound leaves with toothless, oval leaflets © SEAN BL Timber harvest in suitable wetland habitat How You Can Help Cultivated species of Jacob's- Shorter sepals If you own property in southwest ladder, including New Brunswick, keep a keen eye P. caeruleum and P. reptans: out for this plant and report any Generally found in urban settings; sightings to Atlantic Canada stamens and styles not projecting far , FLICKR Conservation Data Centre or the beyond petals; sepals shorter (5-9 mm). New Brunswick Department of Jacob’s-ladder also tends to be shorter Natural Resources. Follow (15-50 cm) and not growing upright. Shorter stamens guidelines on leaving riparian VID MAZEROLLE Jacob's-ladder © JASON STURNER buffers on streams. Avoid using Common Valerian: all-terrain vehicles in wet areas. © DA Monitoring efforts Leaflets with a toothed margin; flowers small, Contacts, Information, Sighting Reports & Stewardship Opportunities white or pinkish white, and Contact: AC CDC (506) 364-2658, or NB DNR (506) 453-3826 AIN BELLIVEAU in dense, rounded clusters; AIN BELLIVEAU Info: www.speciesatrisk.gc.ca, www.cosewic.gc.ca growing to 1.5 m high. © AL © AL Sighting Reports: 1-866-727-3447 or www.speciesatrisk.ca/sightings Toothed leaves White flowers 102.