COSAM » Donald E. Davis Arboretum » Alabama Plant Conservation Alliance » Minutes of APCA Meetings » May 7, 2010
Minutes from May 7, 2010
Minutes from the APCA meeting May 7, 2010
US Forest Service HQ, Montgomery, AL
Minutes taken by Patrick Thompson
Attendees: Robert Boyd, Patrick Thompson, Ron Determann, Brian Holt, Nancy Loewenstein, Curtis Hansen, Al Schotz, Dee Smith, Rebecca Godwin, Kaye Jernigan, Jan Midgley, Ryan Shurette, Wayne Barger, Linda Derry.
Welcomes and introductions: Ryan Shurette, Meira Crawford (Forest Supervisor), Bob Boyd
Some discussion regarding relatively low attendance at today’s meeting.
Project discussions
1) Sarracenia alabamensis – seeds collected in 2003, propagated by Ron Determann and available for outplanting. Were put out last fall and according to Keith Tassin Camp Tuckabatchee was burned in February 2010 and the plants are looking good and two have even bloomed. Discussed going to revisit the site.
We have plants from microsites that have petered out near the TNC’s Roberta Case Preserve: an outplanting there would be possible if Keith approves. Ron probably has 100 plants held at ABG’s Smith – Hall preservation site. A potential extension of this project?
2) Xerophyllum asphodeloides – 2 batches of seeds were collected in 2009 and sown, but so far there has been no germination although the seeds look viable. Ryan will check bloom to consider more seed collection in August 2010. Discussed other potential methods of propagation might be tried: GA Tech and ABG (Atlanta Bot Garden) tissue culturing could be tried. Smoke treatment and addition of native soil may help germination.
3) Asplenium tutwilerae – A species of hybrid origin according to Brian Keener. The site is on private land in Hale Co., called Havana Glen (a N/S ravine). Endemic to Alabama and only grows on this site. Jan’s opinion is that invasive species need to be removed. Nancy and Richard Cobb took 8 of Mike Hardig’s students who spent a day removing honeysuckle by digging.
Suggested we perhaps should propagate some to hold as safeguarding. An effort to augment the existing population using transplants was not successful, perhaps we should try with smaller plants?
4) Xyris tennesseensis - Populations in GA surveyed by Mincy Moffett in 1998 and 1999 were re-surveyed in 2008 and the news wasn’t good, probably due to drought. All accessible known sites were surveyed again in 2009 and the news was mixed. Most sites need active management to remove competing species and probably 4 sites are extirpated. The good news is that there are some new sites and some sites thought lost to the drought are recovering. Xyris is in decent shape now but the sites need active management and most sites are private landowners. Would be a good species for use of Botanical Guardians.
Xyris spathifolia – The one existing population was all gone in 2009, so the only existing plants of this species live in pots, held by: Mincy Moffet, ABG, AU Arboretum, and The Chatahoochee Nature Center.
A potential project would be to clear the land and see if the plants come back. A proposal to do this has been sent to the timber management company that owns the site, but there is no response yet.
5) Matalea alabamensis - As far as we know, there is only one site that produces flowers (in Henry Co.). Wayne Barger will check again for fruit this year to see if we can get seeds for propagation. SE Alabama needs more exploration during 2 week bloom period (flower is critical to definitive ID) to find more populations.
6) Sarracenia oreophila – Proposal for our plan on this species was passed out by Wayne Barger. Plan is similar in scope to S. alabamensis project. Need for exploration of lands adjacent to Desoto State Park for possible outplanting sites. Seeds collected from Serenity Campground population in 2009 have sprouted well for Ron Determann at ABG. He has about 75 seedlings and is planning to share with the Arboretum and BBG.
There was discussion about the species needing an updated Status Survey. Especially needed is a check of Coosa and Russell Counties to see if mapped populations are extirpated and get a new base line on condition of all populations.
7) Symphiotrichum georgianum - Plants found on Talladega Ranger District under a power line. Seeds collected were grown to gallon size by AU Horticulture (Amy Wright), and all planted specimens did well last year.
8) Haines Island Park invasive plant removal. Joint activity of APCA and ALIPC (Alabama Invasive Plant Council). Small but dedicated group (Boyd, Loewenstein, Jim Miller, Gena Todia, Fred Nation, Curtis Hansen, Leafy Larsen, Michael Jordan) spent some hours doing “hack and squirt” on woody invasives and had some time for botanical exploration of this very nice Red Hills park. This may become an annual event!
New Projects and other discussions. Below are some questions that arose in a wide-ranging brainstorming session:
Q: Should we focus on G1/G2 species for seed collection for long term storage?
A: A good idea. Adding more project committees targeting these species is a good idea.
Q. When we run into plants that are likely underdocumented range extensions for a given species what should we do to be sure the things we see are being documented?
A. Pressed plant specimens can be brought to meetings where they will be accepted into Freeman Herbarium (Curtis Hansen) or should be sent to nearest Herbarium for documentation.
Q. Is Delphinium alabamicum worthy of seed collection for storage?
A. Jan said glass storage is best….it can’t dry out. May be a difficult one to preserve, but is a special AL plant.
Q. Should we adopt Haines Island Park? They’d be happy to have us continue to work on their site. No-one present at the meeting volunteered to be in charge of such an operation.
Q. Should we collect the heat adapted Doll’s Eyes from the Red Hills and Haines Island?
A. Yes, plants could be grown out and safeguarded at AU Arboretum, but this species is not rare enough to form a committee
Q. Could a Botanical BioBlitz for some Forever Wild tract be part of a future APCA meeting or field day?
A. Maybe. That would be an interesting addition but would people come?
Helianthus verticillatus: G1/S1 with one site in AL and a few others in GA. Last year Wayne kept the mowers off of Cherokee the AL population last year and it resulted in roughly 3 times the # of flowering stems. Wayne believes rhizomes can be collected and distributed to the Arboretum, Birmingham Bot Gard (BBG), and perhaps ABG. Committee formed: Ron, Wayne, and Patrick. John Manion nominated also.
Q: What is status of Lindera melissifolia project?
A: That’s Dan Everson’s project, but he and others are busy with oil spill. It was decided that terminal cuttings of L. melissifolia will be collected by Patrick first week of June 2010 and taken to Ron at ABG to be rooted. Population is on Ranier Timber site. Check in at Andalusia Ranger station near site before visiting.
Additional Q: Does Dan endorse this line of action?
Q: What about Chamaecrista deeringiana seeds collected by Wayne B at FW’s Perdido tract?
A: They sprouted well for Patrick and Jan. Some seedlings staying at the Arboretum and others going to Week’s Bay (if they’ll have them) and back to the FW Perdido tract
Q: Is there a GPCA update?
A: Jennifer Ceska was ill and could not attend today’s APCA meeting.
But Boyd read a written report from her…….Highlights include: now safeguarding 25 sp., GPCA doing workshop at APGA’s National Meeting in June at the ABG, GPCA is now inputting location data directly into DNR database, also Rhus michauxii male and female plants brought together in Valentine’s Day public relations operation.
Q: Next meeting?
A: Next meeting maybe in Tuscaloosa at the Arboretum there in early November?
Last Updated: 05/03/2016