APCA Meeting Minutes

University of Montevallo

13 May 2016

Recorded by Patrick Thompson

Meeting opened by Dr. Bob Boyd, who introduced our host Dr. Mike Hardig, a biology professor and botanist at University of Montevallo.

 

Attendees:

Bob Boyd, Auburn University Dept. of Biological Sciences, and APCA Coordinator

Patrick Waldrop, retired Alabama Forestry Commision

Kate Fuller, AU Grad Student, Biological Sciences, Dr. Sharon Hermann’s Lab

Mike Hardig, University of Montevallo

Al Shotz, AL Natural Heritage Program, AU

Carrie Radcliffe, GPCA

Rachel Conley, Westervelt Ecological

Patrick Thompson, AU Davis Arboretum

Michelle Reynolds, Bog Hopper, B’ham Audubon Society

Ryan Shurette, US Forest Service

Steve Krotzer, Alabama Power

Chuck Byrd, The Nature Conservancy

Jan Midgley, Grower, author, native seed expert

Linda Sherk, Alabama Wildflower Society

Amy Wright, Auburn University, Dept of Horticulture

Kyle Paris, Nat’l Ecological Observatory Network

Bob Boyd informed us that the APCA website will be moving to a new location. In order to ensure accessibility, it will become a branch of the Davis Arboretum’s existing website. Committee Chairs will be encouraged to generate up to date content for their projects to be incorporated into this new format.

Carrie Radcliffe told us about the exciting upcoming Southern Plant Conservation Alliances Regional Workshop.  This event will occur November 1^st – 3rd at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens.  The invite list is still under development, and a sign up sheet was passed around at the meeting. Get in touch with Carrie (cradcliffe@atlantabg.org) if you’d like to find out more.  Over 3 days those that attend will work together to:

1. Compile info on rare native plants and figure out where the gaps are in that knowledge and experience base. 
2. Divide plants into different categories of needs for effective conservation
3. Get the most out of a Plant Conservation Alliance networking workshop

APCA Committee Reports

Tutwiller’s Spleenwort, Asplenium tutwilerae

Birmingham Magazine is doing an article on this species, and has been in touch with John Manion for information on conservation efforts at BBG.

 Access to the single site for this species is still limited by the current lease holder. Patrick Waldrop worked with foresters in Hale County for years and may have helpful contacts in the area.

 

Alabama Leather Flower, Clematis socialis

 

Dry Creek and airport sites are growing well.  Some tractor ruts were reported on the southern end of the powerline population.  Material from AU Horticulture is growing well for BBG and the Arboretum.

Rachel Conley reports a new population(!) has been discovered near Westervelt land along a wetland edge in between the Dry Creek and airport sites.

 

 Harper’s Ginger, Hexastylis speciosa

Ryan Shurette reports on 2 populations in Chilton County.

First is very healthy with several hundred individuals.

At the second, they occur in the drain and up on the slope. Loblolly pines are dying out and opening up the canopy.  It is getting shrubby and fire management is coming soon. This will increase light.  Not sure about the best management practices for this species.

 

Amy Wright reports on efforts to grow from seeds collected last year. 

Warm cold warm stratification, sowed on sand w/ vermiculite on top resulted in

25 seedlings from Oakmulgee at AU Hort.  Sowed June 2015, germinated after 11 months.

 

Jan Midgley reports that she kept a single genotype, but it never set seed.  Multiple individuals may be needed. Don’t divide too soon or it will rot. 

It was suggested that a collecting trip to Roberta Case Preserve should be planned, and monitoring continued.

 

 

Georgia Aster, Symphyotrichum georgianum

Ryan Shurette reports recent seed collections have been infertile, and the plan is to recollect again this fall.

Wild population still working on expanding: May be ready to call this project a success!

 

Pondberry, Lindera melissifolia

 Amy Wright reports not much success with research on propagation by cuttings at AU during last 2 years. May be an issue of caliper size (diameter) of cuttings.  Laurel Wilt continues to spread in the state.

 

Alabama Phlox, Phlox pulchra

 

Jan Midgley has 4 ecotypes now, and is hoping to produce some viable seeds this year.  Issues with the species include winter losses in containers, and difficulty establishing in habitats similar to natural sites, though it grows well in irrigated garden sites with some shade. Amy Wright reports success rooting this species at AU, with no rooting hormone needed.

 

Boynton Oak, Quercus boyntonii

Patrick Thompson reports on objectives:

1. Increase knowledge of the species current distribution
   1. Large population reported from EBSCO properties to be scouted over the summer

2. Increase awareness of the species to avoid unnecessary losses

3. Increase ex situ holdings

              a. Good germination reported from Morton and Davis Arboretum from 2015 acorn collections

4. Protect in situ populations

 

Whorled Sunflower, Helianthus verticillatus

We agreed once again that someone should really go check on those plants.

****AL site visited after meeting! Area is well marked to avoid inadvertent mowing or spraying, but that has led to a healthy crop of Johnson grass and other weeds that threaten to crowd the existing plants. 128 stems were counted.  Plants would likely benefit from removal of low woody branches extending from adjacent woods that are shading the plants.

 

AL Canebrake Pitcher Plant, Sarracenia alabamensis

Patrick Thompson reported that Debbie Folkerts and Allison Tjemeland have continued to survey the populations for pitcher plant insects and have found only the mites.  Notably, no Exyra semicrocea (pitcher plant moth) were found at any S. alabamensis sites, including those where we know it was found 20 years ago.

Wayne Barger collected vouchers for populations in safeguarding at ABG to be distributed to herbaria.

Chuck Byrd reported on a successful TNC burn season that included Camp Tuckabatchee

Green Pitcher Plant, Sarracenia oreophila

Patrick Thompson reports the Kral site in Little River Canyon National Preserve got a much needed burn.  Desoto State Park employees had much better success in year two of their outplanting site and continue to reduce competition at the outplanting and natural population with good results.  About 100 seedlings grown out at ABG will go to Desoto for planting this fall.  Only a single flower was observed at Serenity Campground this spring.

 

Turkeybeard, Xerophyllum asphodeloides

A plan to census new sites was reported.

Ketona Glades Yellow-eyed Grass, Xyris spathifolia

A detailed Alligator Glades Management Plan Proposal was presented by Mike Hardig.

Multiple landowners will need to agree to preserve Alligator Glade West and Alligator Glade East as well as the wetland that connects them.  Progress on this project is rapid, with Nature Conservancy and Westervelt Ecological cooperating well.

Plan:

1. Conserving Alligator GladesRestoring a wet/dry glade complex
   1. Developing Management Plan
   2. Get Approval
   3. Implement Plan
2. X. spathifolia propagation
   1. Develop RAPD protocol

 

Haine’s Island Park

 

A brief report was offered: Possibly another invasive control day will be scheduled for this fall.

 

Safeguarding Database

 

Patrick Thompson reported effort to get records aligned with biotics, and the ANHP.  A meeting this summer between Suzi, Patrick and Carrie should help keep progress moving forward.

 

New Projects

 

Kate Fuller finishing work with Schwalbea americana, reports high% of stems rooting without hormone yielding 216 stems. She is hoping to place some Russell County plant material at the Wehle Nature Center in Russell Co.

 

Field trip to Ebenezer Swamp guided by Mike Hardig was super fine, very educational, and enjoyed by all who attended.

 

Foray the following day to Goat Glade was excellent.  We had a chance to see a number of the Bibb Glade endemics in bloom, and enjoyed a fine late Spring day botanizing.  Please see our Facebook page for photos of people and plants!