Volume 22
#1

Spring/Summer

2001

Qlaytonia

In

This

Issue

Spring Meeting
Minutes
Page 2 1

Ouachita
Chapter News
Page 3

» 1

Field Trip

Report

Page 5

Amason
Plant Notes

Page 5-8

Events
Page 8 j

On the Web

Page 9

" |

In Memorial-

Page 9

Newsletter of the Arkansas Native Plant Society

ANNUAL FALL MEETING

&

PLANT AUCTION
OCTOBER 19, 20, 21

ARKANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY
LAB SCIENCE BUILDING
JONESBORO, AR

ACCOMMODATIONS

Ramada Limited
$54 for a double room
3000 Apache Drive
(870) 932-5757

***BEST WESTERN
$49.50 DOUBLE ROOM
2901 PHILLIPS DRIVE
(870)932-6600

Comfort Inn — No price given
2904 Phillips Drive
(870)-972-8686

Days Inn No price given

2406 Phillips Drive
(870)932-9339

CampSnq

Crowley’s Ridge State Park (870)573-6751
Craighead Forrest City Park (870)933-4604
$ 1 5/night No reservations

Restaurants

Colton’s Steak House

Ryan’s Steak House

Western Sizzlin Steak House

Cracker Barrel

Couch’s BarBque

Corky’s BarBque

Ta Molly s, El Chico’s — Mexican

McDonald’s, Burger King, Pizza Inn

Holiday Inn — $62 double room
3006 Caraway Road
(870)935-2030

Holiday Inn Express $50 double

room

2407 Phillips Drive
(870)932-5554

*** WE HAVE RESERVED A BLOCK OF
20 ROOMS THAT WILL BE HELD UNTIL
OCTOBER 12, 2001.

MENTION ANPS TO GET THIS RATE.

I O <l 9 ron ^ fl Newsletter of the Arkansas Native Plant Society Spring/Summer 2001

ARKANSAS NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY
SPRING GENERAL MEETING MINUTES

March 17, 2001

Rich Mountain Community College
Mena, Arkansas

The meeting was called to order at 7:30 p.m.,
Vice-President Lana Ewing presiding. Lana
thanked James Lynn for taking care of the
meeting place, setting up projectors and helping
in many ways.

SECRETARY'S REPORT: The minutes of the
September 29, 2000, meeting were printed in the
Claytonia. Carl Amason moved that they be
approved as printed; Linda Gatti Clark seconded,
the minutes were approved.

TREASURER'S REPORT: A1 Hecht presented
the treasurer’s report showing a total balance of
$26,64 1.5 L Carl Amason moved that it be
accepted. Mary Ann King seconded, the report
was approved.

OLD BUSINESS: There was a report on today's
field trips. A. J. Higginbottom thanked Steve
Walker, Park Interpreter at Cossatot State Park,
for his help on the morning field trip.

The Sunday morning field trips were
announced. A. J. will leave at 8:30 from the
parking lot for Crooked Creek. Bruce Ewing
will lead a field trip at the Ewing’s newly-
acquired land, leaving at 8:30 from the parking
lot.

NEW BUSINESS: Johnny Gentry reported on
the progress of the ArkansasVascular Flora
Committee. The Committee is sponsoring
several beginning plant identification workshops
on September 29, 2001, in a number of colleges
over the state to stress plant education and
publicize the Flora Project. The only
prerequisite is an interest in plants. There will be

a $5.00 registration fee, brochures will be
provided to attendees, there is a limit of 16

people and will last five to six hours.

A Rare and Endangered Plant Conference and
Invasive Species will be held at the earliest in
February of 2002, and at the latest in the fall of
2003. Theo Witsell asked for ideas for a two to
three day workshop. Vice-President Ewing
announced the Board decision to obtain
501(c)(3) standing from the IRS, which will help
in obtaining further grants and funding.

The meeting was adjourned at 7:45 p.m. for the
program on staghorn ferns given by Roy Vail.

Gary Tucker then presented a program of slides
of the past in celebration of the 20th Anniversary
ofANPS.

Respectfully submitted.
Sue Clark, Secretary

2

i

Newsletter of the Arkansas Native Plant Society Spring/Sammer 2001

OUACHITA CHAPTER NEWS

Greetings to friends and members of Ouachita
Chapter ANPS.

I suppose many of you are having plenty
to do and see in the wild. Some are working
with Carl Hunter at Pinnacle Mtn. State Park
gardens, also the Hunter Wildflower Glen at
Wildwood Music Center. I'm sure some are also
working with Bob Byers at Galvan Gardens. I’m
thrilled to learn Paula Wallace is now employed
there.

Saturday, April 28, we celebrated the
dedication of the John and Donna Simpson
Natural area on Trap Mtn. between Hot springs
and Bismark. WOW! I’m impressed, the
Nature Conservancy is at work in Ark. Dr.
Simpson has been active in a leadership role for
many years (151 think) and now he has
committed 500+ acres to their stewardship. We
are talking about real commitment from John and
Donna and the Nature Conservancy. We can all
join this team with pride and enthusiasm.

Things are also going well with the
Ouachita Chapter. We've turned up two sites in
Saline Co. for Dwarf Iris Verna, one site for
Hottonia inflata (water violet).

Theo Whitsell, the botanist for Arkansas.
Heritage Commission, and I have been two days
in the field checking out natural areas such as
Shaw Bridge Road, the Narrows, the west Saline
County lady’s slipper site (1 13 plants and 41
flowers this year), Burk Road Glade - all in one
day. I thought Theo would need to help me to
the door when this day was done, but I made it
OK. The next trip was an auto tour across the
mountains, from Hwy 9 north of Paron to Hwy
7, then on across 7 to Hwy 27 north of Storey,
then back to Hwy 7, via Hwy 298. We located
another Tradescantia longipes site with 1000+
plants, four sites for the rare Nuttal’s com salad,
one site for the rare Ouachita Biuestar, and one
site for Solomon's Seal.

June 13, 2001

Dr. Simpson, Susan Hooks and I had a day in
the Ouachitas, May 5th, which was refreshing,
edifying, and beautiful. We stopped at Bear
Creek to photo the greatest patch of Solomon's
Seal I've seen in Ark. We caught them in bloom,
so the slides were good. We also located another
dwarf spiderwort site on Forest Rd. 1 1 .

Frances and I visited the Rose pogonia
site on Bruce Trail (approx. 30 plants and several
flowers but past prime bloom). We cleaned up
the site of fallen limbs, etc. Our next trip was to
Grandview Prairie. The flowers were fantastic.
We took several photos, had an unusual photo
op of a Great Egret feeding along the bank of a
pond on the Prairie. We drove north and
checked the lady slippers in Montgomery Co.
They were bloomed out and had withered. We
did have a normal bloom this year. The ice
storm left the sites in awful shape. We spent the
night at Mt. Ida. Following day was really nice;
woodland flowers blooming, camera clicking,
found another new site for dwarf spiderwort
(1000 + plants), butterflies along Forest Rd. 1 1,
a shower or two -how refreshing! We had a
grand trip. The following week Theo Witsell
and I visited a site between New Hope and
Nashville called Stone Road Glade. A remnant
of Blackland the Nature Conservancy and
Natural Heritage had acquired from
Weyerhouser Corp., a very interesting site in a
pine woods area. Theo collected several plants,
including AUium drumondii , a rare onion, and
added approximately 40 plants to the plant list
for Stone Road Glade. We also visited Grand
View Prairie. Tremendous flora, a fine place to
visit.

Recently we visited the Traskwood orchid
site. The Grass pink was blooming. We then
visited the Haskell Trail site to check on Purple
fringeless orchid. We counted 68 plants in
flower, which led to our report to Morgan
Richardson and Dr. Slaughter and also Douglas
Zollner of the Nature Conservancy. I'll report
later on our second inventory results. I will say
now that I got to hold the umbrella and clean up

3

| Newsletter of the Arkansas Native Plant Society

Spring/Summer 2001

a site or two for the most experienced Orchid
photographer in our Society. The whole world is
his Orchid Patch. We are blessed to have Dr.
Slaughter in our Chapter.

I have a proposition for our friends and
chapter members. Theo Witsell, is 26 years old
and ready to become our next D. Moore (botanist
and photographer). I asked him to bring the
photo gear Natural Heritage had on hand; a fair
list, but inadequate for Theo's needs. So I
propose we come together and help our newest
Chapter member buy a camera like Dr.
Slaughter's and mine and a macro lens we can be
proud of. So far Theo has collected and

we purchased for Theo will add to what the
Heritage Commission has on hand, and will give
Theo a basic Professional Photo Outfit. I'm
confident Theo will become a great nature
photographer. I want to congratulate our
Chapter members and friends for a successful
project.

Theo will need a 200F4 macro and a 300
F4.5 EDIF, so I'll leave the fund open. We can
use approx. $1000 more for these lenses.

Fm including an e-mail I received from Theo
06/18/01 :Subj: NEW RARE PLANT FOR
ARKANSAS AT POISON SPRINGS NATURAL
AREA!

identified over 450 plants this year. Now this is
serious work; several county records, etc. We
want Theo to work with the photographers in our
Chapter until he can stand alone as a great
botanist-photographer. We need approx. $1500.
We already have 50%+ pledged, and I have
ordered the camera so he can begin this month.

Think of this project like I'm paying
dividends on all the slide shows I've seen by Carl
Hunter, Dr. Slaughter, Bob Clearwater, Ed Hall,
Don Crank, Jay Justice & John Peiton. Make
your check out to the Ouachita Chapter and send
it to John Peiton. I'll see that Bob Byers gets it
which will verify our records - what we collect
and how the money is spent.

July 16, 2001

Good things are happening this summer, I'm
glad to say. I received word from Penny
Robbins that she is in much better health, and
ready to field trip again. Others have illnesses
that may limit their activity to some extent,

I want to report that the Photo outfit for Theo
Witsell is a success. In checking my records, I
find that $1750 is already contributed to the
project. We bought a used Nikon F4s camera, a

Hi Everyone,

I had a fantastic visit to the Poison Springs Barrens
Unit Friday evening. The purpose of the trip was to
took for (and voucher) Talinum rugospermum (prairie
fame flower), a new species for the state. The plants
were first spotted several weeks ago by Jason
Singhurst (botanist with the Texas Heritage Program)
who suspected that they were T. rugospermum (no
flowers or fruits yet when he was there). I found
them to have both flowers and nearly mature
seedpods on Friday and was able to confirm his ID.
The plants are large (up to 40 cm!) and they have a
very robust stem which branches once in the mature
plants. There are 1 0-25 stamens and the flowers are
only open between about 5 and 7 in the evening.

The seeds (as the name implies) are wrinkled. I
counted about 50 plants and took a voucher. They
are growing in the largest (I think) barrens opening
with Polygonella americana. I'm going back this
evening with talented wildflower photographer John
Peiton to get some good pictures and survey
additional habitat (Arkansas Oak?, Bluff City
Sandhills?).

I also found some other new EOs while I was there.
There are 25+ individuals of Streptanthus
hyacinthoides scattered in the openings and I found
about 1 0 plants of Cypents grayoides in the eastern-
most opening (but within the boundaries of the NA
proper). And on the way out I found Carex atlantica
subsp. capillacea in the seep area. What a trip!

Kiron 105 F2.8 macro lens that will focus 1-1, a
new Bogen 3221 W tripod, a new Bogen 3275
mini gearhead for the tripod, and a tripod-
carrying strap. I ordered a Pelican 1600 case to
carry and store the camera and lens, film, etc.
The case will keep equipment out of dust and
moisture, and be excellent when transporting the
outfit. The case is also lockable. The equipment

Anyway, everyone be on the lookout for this giant
fame flower when in the sandhills.

Theo Witsell
Thanks.

Sincerely, John Peiton,

Pres., Ouachita Chapter, ANPS

4

| O fl 0 rol, f * Newsletter of the Arkansas Native Plant Society Spring/Summer 2001

Botrychium bitematum was up and doing quite
well. Among the native orchids only the winter
foliage of Tipularia discolor was common but
none of the precocious early Listera australis

CALION FIELD TRIP REPORT

By Carl Amason

March 10, 2001

After a week of heavy rains and sodden grounds,
Saturday morning broke sunny but cool with a
slight frost in the early morning. It was a
wonderful spring day and visitors had to park
inside the grounds because the usual outside the
fence parking spots were wet with the possibility
of getting stuck a real possibility. Of the native
wildflowers blooming were Claytonia virginiana
(spring beauty) Cercis canadensis (redbud) and
Cardamine concatenata (better known as
Denataria laciniata or footwork). Perhaps the
thing that struck the eyes, noses and fancies of
the visitors were the masses of daffodils in
shades of yellow and white, the many camellias
in shades of white, pink, and red and oriental
magnolias in shades of white, pinkish and
purplish as they do not have true spectrum
colors. The first to arrive were Winnie Dawson
from Canada and Malvern with her friend
Francis Smith, followed soon by the veteran field
trippers of Sandra and Bob Gamble of Stephens.
Other field trippers included Betty Swindler,
Kathy Daniel and Caroline Daniel, all from
Camden with Ann Beale of Chidester. Soon
after George and Lilly Sinclair of Marshall,
Arkansas brought their granddaughter Rachael
and Kathleen Cook of Camden.

There was a sprinkling of the small annuals of
Hedyotis australis and purple Hedyotis
crassifolia (Houstonia / bluets). There was also a
scattering of Prunus mexicana (Mexican plum)
among the pear and non-native plums. The tiny
Ophioglossum crotaloporiodes (bulbous adder’s
tongue fern) was up and with good eyesight
could be seen in all of its glory. This is one of
several small adder’s tongues ferns which
usually push out of the ground with the coming
of the fall rains but this year there were no fall
rains but plenty of January and February
thunderstorms and that is when they came up.

The Botryichium lunariodes (winter grape fern)
dared not to show up this winter however

and Malaxis unifolia had come up at their regular
times. It was too early this year for the big flush
of early spring wildflowers.

The day was pleasant and the fellowship was
typical of happiness and great interest in the
wonders of the flowering world.

SOME NOTES ON
ARISAEMA ATRORUBENS
JACK-IN-THE-PULPIT

By Carl Amason

Perhaps the Jack-in-the-Pulpit is one of the best
known of all the wildflowers of Arkansas and
probably occurs in every county and in all of the

5

IS tonift Newsletter of the Arkansas

surrounding states. For some reasons it is
considered to be rare but on the Coastal Plain it
is fairly common where the spathe (pulpit) that
surrounds the pastor (Jack) is stripped with
purple and yellowish green, those from the
Ozarks have stripes of yellow and green. In any
color they are always admired. The arise
quickly, almost suddenly in mid to late spring
from the soil frequently in wet or damp areas
close to springs, creeks or lakes. They are found
in small to medium sized colonies or as
individual plants, alone or with one or two
others. The sex of the flowers can be female or
male or both according to the literature. The
flowers are tiny on the Jack (or Jill) and are
obscure or hidden from the view of most people
but the species continues to please people and
perhaps confuse the botanists. The name of the
species is also another cause for discussion but
the ordinary people really care little about that
but enjoy the plant. The flowers develop into a
cluster of red berries in the late summer and the
foliage has usually dried and withered away. I
do not know if any wildlife eats the fruit but it
can be another feature to enjoy about the plant.

The berries can be planted and they easily
develop into seedlings that usually take two to
three years to make flowering plants. It is worth
the trouble!

Native Plant Society Spring/Summer 2001

intregal part of a wildflower garden which is
looked upon as something beautiful, unique and
interesting with no thought as a food item.

SOME NOTES ON
PASSIFLORA INCARNATA

By Carl Amason

In the fall and the winter young people,
especially boys, like to talk an unsuspecting
person into “eating” an Indian turnip. The turnip
part seems harmless but eating is hardly the
word. For that matter tasting is really not the
word as the oxalic acid content of the corm is so
concentrated that the mouth is literally felt to be
afire, and the “flavor” lasts for some time — the
unsuspected person has been initiated into the
knowledgeable about the Indian turnip.

Actually, the corms were an important item in
the food of the American Indians. They smashed
the corm in cold water which removed the oxalic
acid after several washings, leaving a flour like
substance which was used in several ways. Later
when the Europeans introduced turnips (the real
ones) the Jack- in- the- pulpit was no longer used
as a food source. Today the plant can be an

Passiflora incarnata , better known as Maypop or
Passion Flower, is probably found in every count
in Arkansas. I have been told that it was the
Arkansas state flower before the apple blossom
was so declared in the late 1800 ’s when
Washington and Benton Counties were the
principle apple producing regions in the United
States and before “Delicious” apple production
went into high gear in Washington state.

How the common name Maypop was derived is
lost in the tales of times but the name Passion
flower or its Spanish name is well recorded in
history because the Catholic missionaries to the
tropics, where there are many native species of
Passiflora, say the story of Christ’s passion is
expressed in the complicated floral parts. Most
of the flowers are beautiful, if not interesting.

6

| ^Ifl^onid Newsletter of the Arkansas Native Plant Society Spring/Su miner 2001

Perhaps the only fault that can be given it would limited degree, horticulturalists have hybridized

be the somewhat unpleasant odor of the plant
when it is crushed.

More about the plant! First, it is a vine,
complete with tendrils, but no thorns, that can
climb into bushes up to 5 or 6 feet. It has
alternate leaves that have three distinct lobes.

The leaves can be up to 5 inches long and across.
It is also a perennial that freezes or dies back to
the ground and new vine stems develop each
year. The flower buds develop from the axils
and further developments form 5 pointed sepals,
covering 5 petals, all of which are covered by
purplish, almost purple, or rarely white, crown of
filament-like segments which are attached to a
floral cup inside the petals, forming part of the
petals by some authors. Generally these parts are
covered and the flower has to be closely
examined, and this colored filament- like parts is
the “ crown of thorns” as described by the early
Spanish missionaries. The floral parts above the
showy crown are obvious as the five stamens are
conspicuous with yellow pollen above the pistil
with its three spreading styles, all above a
superior ovary. The ovary develops into an
ellipsoid green berry, about 1 x 2 inches,
containing many seeds. When the fruit is ripe
the color becomes a dirty wrinkled yellow and
the seeds are covered with a pleasant sweet-sour
gelatinous substance that is edible. Many people
taste or eat a little but they prefer other fruits to
eat, but the American Indians ate the fruits as a
food source and there are several from the
tropics that are grown for their fruits.

Today, the plants or vines are cultivated for the
unique and beautiful flowers with its religious
stories. Also, to a lesser degree, the vines are
cultivated in butterfly gardens as a food source
for the Gulf Fritillary and others in the
Heliconiide all of which eat the passionflower
vine leaves. Maypops, the showiest native
species, is easily grown from seeds and from
cuttings. As the vines occur all over the state
and the southeast and beyond, soil is not
particular but they do better in sun or light shade,
a bit of moisture and good disturbed soil. To a

this native with the tropical species.

There is another native species of Passiflora .
This vine is Passiflora lutea. It is a vine with
light yellowish flowers that are small and a
disappointment after seeing the Maypop in
bloom. It is more common than people realize
but it is not showy in flower, and even its black
Vi inch fruits are just not seen by most people.

SOME NOTES ON
RUDBECKIA HIRTA

By Carl Amason

One of the most common wildflowers, which is
also found in every county of Arkansas is
Rudbeckia hirta, better known as Black-eyed-
Susan. With such a wide distribution throughout
the South and beyond it also has a number of
other common names. The name Rudbeckia
commemorates the Swedish professors, father
and son, both named Olaf who taught at Uppsala
before Linnaeus, and hirta, which means short
bristly hairs, much like those on a man’s face
that shaves daily but before he shaves in the
morning. The simple beauty and elegance of the

£fagfoftia

Newsletter of the Arkansas Native Plant Society Spring/Summer 2001

plant was observed early in the botanical
literature.

reddish color on the ray petals and for some
years now, plant breeders have increased the

It is one of those “confusing yellow composites”
but most people can easily distinguish these from
many others. Rudbeckia hirta blooms in late
spring and into summer here in south Arkansas
and later further north. The plant grows from
one to 2 Vi feet tall in good growing conditions,
emerging from winter rosettes of hairy simple
lance shaped leaves. The haiiy stems have
alternate hairy simple lance shaped leaves. The
stems often fork with each stem bearing a single
head of two-toned yellow ray flowers with a
rounded central dense mass of fertile dark
purplish-brown disc flowers which develop into
the seeds The seeds are simple and slender in the
persistent cone-head after the ray flowers have
died.

Rudbeckia hirta grows into a short-lived
perennial but is often only a biannual, depending
on the summer growing conditions. It is most
often found growing along sumiy dry roadsides
banks where at times the whole mass is yellow.
The eyes of the casual observer don’t always see
the two-toned yellow flowers but a good
photograph or slide will show the bi-colored
effects.

The plants are reported to be somewhat
poisonous to domestic livestock but they are
important deer browse. In the wild they are
showy but when grown as a flowerbed
ornamental they become elegant. They are
considered to be easily cultivated and make a
grand show for several weeks. The flowers can
be utilized for arrangements in which they are
useful and long lasting. A bit of household
bleach can keep the water from developing
stinking bacterial slime and only about one
tablespoon per gallon is effective.

Not only are the plants easily grown form
seeds — they will bloom somewhat the first year
but blooms better the second year. They are
easily transplanted into the garden. At times the
3 inch flower head will develop a maroon or

flower size to a full four inch across with many
having the bi-colored flowers of yellow and
reddish and such flowers are sold as plant s and
seed as “Gloriosa Daisy”. Such flowers are
grown en masse or in groups of many plants
alternating with some other plants blooming with
red or maybe white flowers as contrast. The
wild Rudbeckia hirta is still an elegant plant of
the countryside and has become a symbol of
country living as well as city culture. This is
truly a plant to enjoy.

EVENTS OF INTEREST

Haynesville Celebration of
Butterflies

The third annual Haynesville Celebration of
Butterflies will be held September 15-16, 2001 at
the Claiborne Parish Fairgrounds in Haynesville,
“ Butterfly Capital of Louisiana”. The festival is
known as “ a classroom for learning about
nature”.

Special consultant for the festival is Dr.
Gary Noel Ross of Baton Rouge, a professional
lepidopterist.

Featured speaker is Barbara Damrosch of
Harborside, Maine author of several books
including The Garden Primer and Theme
Gardens , and was a correspondent on the PBS
series The Victory Garden. Other speakers will
give programs on butterfly gardening, water
gardening, herbs, water conservation,
greenhouses, forestry, and composting.

A highlight of the festival is a 25-foot by
40-foot conservatory complete with butterflies,
larvae and chrysalides as well as their host and
nectar plants. Additional attractions are field
trips for butterflies, wildflowers and birds; nature
craft booths; food; music; nature photography
contest and display: and children’s activities.

Contact: Loice Kendrick, Director,

1937 Baily Ave., Haynesville, LA 71038;

Phone (318) 624-1929

e-mail loicekendrick@excite.com.

8

1 0*9*®®** Newsletter of the Arkansas Native Plant Society Spring/Summer 2001

||WEB PAGESjl

The following is information about a site that
might be of interest to our members. Thanks to
Don Crank for sending this URL of a site
developed by Don Lubin .

( http://world.std.com/~donlubin )

Don invites you “to visit it, and send me [Don]
comments, and any corrections or even
additions. The 257-page site now includes 114
images of ferns and other pteridophytes found in
New England, or Bermuda, or my garden. There
are also some fern identification data, discussion,
lists of pteridophytes at various sites, and
photographs of garden flowers.”

Be sure to also check out www.anps.org our
official web site. I should be updated by the time
you receive this newsletter.

IN MEMORIUM

Our sympathy goes out to the family and friends
of Robert Boggan of Jacksonville, AR who
passed away on May 10 th , 2001. Robert was a
charter member of ANPS and attended meetings
regularly when his health allowed. He will be
missed! Thanks to all of those who sent
memorials to the society in his name.

x

ARKANSAS NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY MEMBERSHIP

APPLICATION

Please check appropriate box below.

Membership Categories:

□ $10 Student

□ $15 Regular

□ $20 Supporting

□.$25 Family Membership

□ $30 Contributing

□ $150.... Lifetime Membership

(55 and over)

□$300... .Lifetime Membership
(under 55)

□ New Member

□ Renewal

□ Address Change

Name

Address:

Street or Box

City

State Zip

Telephone:
E-Mail address

Please cut and send this form along with any dues to:

Eric Sundell, Membership ANPS
Division of Mathematics and Science
University of Arkansas
Monticello, AR 71655

9

Please check your mailing iabeil

if your mailing label has a 00 or earlier it is time

to renew!

Life members will have an LF

Please fill in the information form on the opposite
side of this page and send it with your renewals,
applications for membership, changes of name,
address, e-maii address or telephone numbers to
the address given on the form: [Not to the editor,]

g0^001_^PSOTKCffiR^

President: Robert Wright (501)771-0717

compubar@aristotle.net
Pres. Elect..: Lana Ewing....... (50 1)394-4666

Vice-pres.:Mary Ann King (501)293-4359

Editor: Ron Doran (501)268-2503

doran@harding.edu

Historian: Carl Amason (870)748-2362

Secretary: Sue Clark ....(501)666-5149

Membership: Eric Sundell (870)367-2652

Treasurer: Al Hecht ....(870)836-7759

Ark. Coalition: Carl Hunter (501)455-1538

Awards/Scholarship: Annette Holder

aholder@nettletonxrsc.K12.ar,us
Communications/Publicity:. Gary Tucker

(501)968-7061

The purpose of the

Arkansas Native Plant Society

is to promote the preservation, conservation, and study of the wild plants and vegetation of
Arkansas, the education of the public to the value of the native flora and its habitat, and the
publication of related information.

£lngtoiri<i

Ron Doran, Editor
900 E. Center

Harding University Box 10846
Searcy. AR 72149-0001

ROBBINS, Penny LF

43 Valencia Way

Hot Springs Village, AR 71909

Newsletter of the Arkansas Native Plant Society

Spring /Summer2001

Volume 22
#2

In

This

Issue

Fall Meeting
Details
Page 2

Field Trips
Page 3

Ouachita

Chapter News
Page 4

Ozark Chapter S
News
Page 5

Amason Plant
Notes
Page 6

Events
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£laytonia

Newsletter of the Arkansas Native Plant Society

ANNUAL FALL MEETING

PLANT AUCTION
OCTOBER 19, 20, 21
ARKANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY
JONESBORO, AR

PLEASE BRING YOUR PLANTS, SEEDS, BULBS
BOOKS, HOMEMADE GOODIES AND $ TO HELP
SUPPORT OUR SCHOLARSHIP AND RESEARCH FUNDS

ACCOMMODATIONS

***BEST WESTERN
$49.50 DOUBLE ROOM
2901 PHILLIPS DRIVE
(870)932-6600

Comfort Inn — No price given
2904 Phillips Drive
(870)-972-8686

Days Inn No price given

2406 Phillips Drive
(870)932-9339

Holiday Inn — $62 double room
3006 Caraway Road
(870)935-2030

Camping

Crowley’s Ridge State Park (870)573-6751
Craighead Forrest City Park (870)933-4604
$ 15/night No reservations

Restaurants

Colton’s Steak House

Ryan’s Steak House

Western Sizzlin Steak House

Cracker Barrel

Couch’s BarBque

Corky’s BarBque

TaMollys, El Chico’s — Mexican

McDonald’s, Burger King, Pizza Inn

Holiday Inn Express $50 double

room

2407 Phillips Drive
(870)932-5554

Ramada Limited
$54 for a double room
3000 Apache Drive
(870) 932-5757

*** WE HAVE RESERVED A BLOCK OF
20 ROOMS THAT WILL BE HELD
UNTIL

OCTOBER 12. 2001.

£fagtonifi Newsletter of the Arkansas Native Plant Society

Fall 2001

ARKANSAS NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY
FALL MEETING
OCTOBER 19-21, 2001

Schedule

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2001

3 p.m. - 5 p.m. Registration: (LSE) Lab
Science East Lobby, Campus of Arkansas State
University

4:30 Board Meeting

6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Plant Auction and

Silent Auction:

(LSW) Lab Science West Room 421

Check at the registration table for directions or

changes

8:30 p.m. Business Meeting .

Settle up with A1 Hecht on the silent auction
materials

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2001

8:00 a.m. Field Trips:

Larry Lowman will lead an all day outing in the
Wynne area. You will need to bring your lunch
and something to drink.

Annette Holder will lead anyone interested on a
scenic tour of Crowley f s Ridge— (will flip-flop
with the Bono site).

Justin Holder will lead people to the
proposed Bono Lake site.

This site has been purchased by the Game &

Fish Commission. They will be constructing a
100+ acre lake.

The NEA Chapter and Dr. Staria Vanderpool
have been working the site and would like some
help surveying it.

7 p.m. - 8 p.m. Program: Endangered
Plants slides by Theo Witsell and a brief
presentation by Phillip Moore of the Arkansas
State Highway Department.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2001

8 a.m. Field trip: Prairie remnant near
Otwell, AR.

Directions to Hotels:

If you are traveling south on US Hwy 63 : exit at
Caraway Rd. crossover the overpass to Phillips
Drive. Turn right. All of the previously
mentioned hotels are on this street.

If you are traveling north on US Hwy 63: exit on
Stadium Blvd. Turn left at the light.

All of the previously mentioned hotels are on
this street.

If you are traveling south on State Hwys. 35 1 or
49: the two intersect and become Stadium Blvd.
Just continue past the ASU campus, Big Star,
Fairgrounds to Phillips Drive. Turn right.

2

I Cfal Newsletter of the Arkansas Native Plant Society

Fall 2001

The Ouachita Chapter of ANPS is the workforce
for the wildflower areas. The area has about 120
species of native plants.

Directions to ASU:

From the hotels: Go east on Phillips Drive to
Caraway Road. Turn right (North) on Caraway
Road Travel due north 2.3 miles. You will go
through six stoplights. Once on campus park in
the large parking lot on the east side of Caraway.
The registration table will be in the lobby of Lab
Science East (LSE), which is the second building
on the left. If you wish you may parallel park in
front of LSE. If you have lots of things for the
auction/sale please park in the small parking lot
north of the LSE.

FALL FIELD TRIPS

OCTOBER 6 -PULASKI COUNTY

Pinnacle Mountain State Park

Meet at the visitor’s center at 10:00 AM. There
are six gardens here including a butterfly garden.
These were built on virtual rock piles where
riprap had to be removed. Late species will be in
bloom. About 30 Master Gardeners are
developing these and there are now over 70
species of wild flowers.

Wildwood Park

This is the opera center. There are about four
acres of wildflowers and a fully irrigated
arboretum that will be the show place in America
for azalea species. The opera theater is fully
landscaped with both cultivars and native
species. Walks are being paved and gazebos are
under construction. Over 12,000 daffodil bulbs
have been planted in the woodlands near the
theater. Allen Smith is the landscape architect.

Call if you are coming so Carl can make
arrangements for lunch at IZZY’s perhaps the
best restaurant in Arkansas (reasonable prices)

Leader: Carl Hunter 501-455-1538.

OCTOBER 13 - AUNT’S CREEK

Stone County, Missouri

This is an Ozark Chapter sponsored trip.

Linda Ellis will host us again at Aunt’s Creek to
view some of the late summer/fall blooming
species. This is a beautiful time to be driving in
the Ozarks and should offer some breath taking
scenery as well as an introduction to late-
bloomers which we often miss. The biodiversity
of the area is high and Linda is always an
accomplished tour leader. As an artist, currently
working as an illustrator on the revision of Flora
of Missouri, she is able to share details of the
flora and fauna that often go overlooked.

To get to Aunt’s Creek, travel north on HWY. 65
from Harrison, AR to “P” or Hwy. 165. Follow
that to 265 which takes you to Hwy. 76. Follow
76 to Branson West. Continue on 76 for 4 miles
to Reeds Spring. Turn left at the new
intersection, following 76 towards Cape Fair
Go about a4 miles west to “Y” Highway. Turn
left on y highway and go 3 miles to Y-l 1 , named
Meadowview. Turn left and go 2/10ths mile to
Weslee Lane. Turn left. Go another 2/10ths
mile. Cross the small Aunt’s Creek Bridge and
turn right. Follow the driveway until it forks and
go left. Pull up into the yard to park.

If you should be late or get conftised, you mall
call for instructions at Linda’s phone number
417 - 272 * 3890 . She lives at 248 Weslee Lane.

We will meet there at 10:30 AM. Bring a sack
lunch and we will share lunch together at Aunt’s
Creek.

NOVEMBER 10- CARL
AMASON’S -NEAR CALION

Meet at Carl’s about 10 AM bring lunch and a
drink as usual. Directions: Turn off US 167 on

3

I Newsletter of the Arkansas Native Plant Society

Fall 2001

Cal ion’s Main Street, go 1/2 mile, go over a rise
-old railroad bump — turn right onto S. Hoover,
go 1 block to stop sign, turn right, cross over the
upper end of Calion Lake, which is Ward Street.
Shortly it becomes Country Road, about 1 mile.
A new transmission tower is by the road. Then
the 3 rd house on the right is Carl's. No house on
the left.

Contact Carl at (870)748-2362

OUACHITA CHAPTER NEWS

Theo Whitsell and 1 were on a photo field
trip Friday, Sept. 21 to see and photograph, if
possible, the Grass of Parnassus on Twin
Creek along Forest Road 177; also Arkansas
Alumroot on lower Collier Creek. We found
both plants. We were a week early for the
Parnassus but right on time for the Alumroot.

Forest Road 177 is an AutoTour road for
those who want to see this area this fall. We
saw several different yellow sunflowers and
goidenrods blending with the blues and pinks

of liatris and mints, etc. The road has been
cleared of ice storm debris and is in good
shape for fall tour. Take a sack lunch and
stop at the campground for lunch and
restrooms.

I would suggest to those who want to
make an all day trip to go on to Norman and
take Highway 8 to Big Fork, then Forest Rd.
38 to Forest road that turns left toward Little
Missouri River Falls, then east to Forest Rd.
43, turn left on 43 up Crooked Creek, then
over the Pass and on back to Highway 8 back
to Norman.

I have never seen fall flora any better
than this year. The blackgum and dogwoods
are beginning to show some fall color and
many sumacs have already turned; also recent
rains have settled the dust from the roads. So
take a scenic drive with friends and enjoy!

Sincerely,

John Pelton, Pres.

P.S. The yellow false foxglove is very
abundant and was at peak flower Friday,

Sept. 21.

4

| Newsletter of the Arkansas Native Plant Society Fall 2001 1

^ J

on the evening of the 10 . The cost for staying
overnight will be between $15 and $20 a
person, depending on the number of us who
do spend the night. Bring plants, seeds,
homemade jellies, jams, and/or crafts for the
auction. We always have a lot of fun and
raise a lot of money at the auctions. Those
who want to go to the coffee shop and listen to
music may do so after the auction. It is
always an interesting performance by local
musicians who take donations for causes in
the community. On Sunday, those who wish
can drive to Steel Creek and hike the Buffalo
River Trail downriver to the overlook. There
are great vistas of the Buffalo River and
Roark Bluff. Hope you can make it! Please
call Burnetta 501-582-0467 before Oct 30 if
you plan to stay at the cabin. We may need to
book another one.

1 OZARK CHAPTER NEWS 1

[Excerpts from OZARK NATIVE NOTES]

We hope that everyone has enjoyed the
summer! In some ways, it went quickly. In
other ways it seemed to last a long time. Now
it is time to plant for fall activities. We have
planned two hikes for the fall [see field trip
section for the October trip they also had one
scheduled for Sept. 15. Ed.] and our annual
meeting. Hope to see you there!

It is time to pay your chapter membership fee,
please send $5 to Mary Reuter, 121 CR 432,
Berryville AR 72616

Annual Fall Meeting
November 10

We have rented a cabin from Gordon’s Motel
in Jasper, AR, for Saturday night. The cabin
is located one mile east of Jasper on Highway
74. Check at the motel to find which cabin we
are in. We will plan on meeting there at noon
on the 10*. After lunch (in town or brown
bag) we will hike Round Mountain Trail,
located south of Jasper —weather permitting.
We will have our annual potluck and auction

5

Newsletter of the Arkansas Native Plant Society

Some Notes on

Maianthemum paniculatum
by Call Amason

First there has been a scientific name change and
that name change is not universal among the
botanists of today. Only some of the new books
has that change and even Carl Hunter’s fourth
edition of Wildflowers of Arkansas lists the
change in an addendum of the new names on
page 266, where one can find that Smilacina
racemosa has been renamed Maianthemum
paniculatum. Under any name the wildflower is
one of the favorites of the people who look,
study, or grow -or try to grow — or photograph
wildflowers because it is such a beautiful plant,
in or out of bloom. It is well known as False
Solomon’s Seal among the people who use folk
or common names as most of them think it is a
much lovelier plant than the true Solomon’s
Seal Both belong to the Liliaceae or Lily Family

Fall 2001

but there is no mistaking the differences between
the two. So just mentally think that this essay is
about what you learned as Smilacina racemosa
or False Solomon’s Seal and mutter something to
the effect “the have done it again!” as this will
not be the last change done in botanical circles
on nomenclature or name changes.

False Solomon’s Seals are denizens of spring
deciduous woodlands almost always along moist
creek sides or woodland sunny spots that stay
moist, almost wet in the growing and blooming
times. Most of the flowering takes place in
Arkansas in April and May. The plant itself
grows from a perennial root which pushes up a
stem that grows somewhat of a zigzag fashion
with bright green slightly fuzzy leaves that are
about % to 1 inch broad and 2 to 3 inches long
with a tapered tip. There are 6 to 10 leaves with
usually 3 to 5 prominent veins. The leaves are
found at the “elbows” of the zigzag stems.
Growth varies from one to two feet tall with the

top of the stems above the uppermost leaf in
panicles of 50 to 200 flowers that are white or
yellowish with 6 tepals - 3 sepals and three
petals, which make a beautiful flowering plant.
After flowering, some of the blossoms develop
into green berries that later turn reddish. As with
most wildflowers, it is the blossoms that make
the show. Each flower is small, perhaps l /% inch
across, but the multitude of them make a showy
mass. Such flower clusters stand out in the
crowd of woodland plants when they are
blooming and that is also when they can be
browsed by deer.

The range of Maianthemum paniculatum is
generally in the hills- or mountains — where
there are rocks. It makes one wonder if even
those rocks have some small amounts of calcium
or lime, that the plants need to maintain there
populations. It is very uncommon on most of the
western coastal plain (South Arkansas); is found
on most of Crowley’s Ridge which has some
loess clay which has some calcium but is absent
from the Delta, which has some calcium but

6

||Cfo;f*<»»fa Ne^^^^^eA^^asNative Plant Society

Fall 200l||

perhaps drainage comes into the scene of its
natural range.

EVENTS OF INTEREST

False Solomon's Seal is fairly easy grown from
seed but the developing seedlings must have
drainage and also must never be really wet or in
standing water. As a garden subject, it is not one
of the most difficult plants to grow but neither is
it one of the easiest. The natural combination of
drainage and moisture must be met as it is quite
demanding of its needs.

Research into any medicinal or herbal uses
reveals no use of any part of the plant. Beauty is
the main purpose in growing the plant. Just
admire its beauty in the natural scene where the
demanding care is given by the forces of nature.

The Lichterman Nature Center, 5992 Quince Rd.
Memphis, TN is having its annual fall plant sale
Friday, October 12, 9:00 — 6:30 and Saturday,
October 13,9:00-4:30. There is a special
Thursday night preview party beginning at 5:00
with first pickings and lecture for a fee.

Contact the center at 901-682-7322 ext. 121 for
more details and to make plant preview party
reservation.

ARKANSAS NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY MEMBERSHIP

APPLICATION

Please check appropriate box below.

Membership Categories:

□ $10 Student

□ $15 Regular

□ $20 Supporting

□.$25 Family Membership

□ $30 Contributing

□ $150..., Lifetime Membership

(55 and over)

□$300 ....Lifetime Membership
(under 55)

□ New Member

□ Renewal

□ Address Change

Name

Address:

Street or Box

City

State Zip

Telephone:
E-Mail address

Please cut and send this form along with any dues to:

Eric Sundelf, Membership ANPS
Division of Mathematics and Science
University of Arkansas
Monticello, AR 71655

7

Please check your mailing label!

If your mailing label has a 00 or earlier it is time
to renew!

Life members will have an LF
Please fill in the information form on the opposite
side of this page and send it with your renewals,
applications for membership, changes of name,
address, e-mail address or telephone numbers to
the address given on the form: [Not to the editor]
You can also renew at the fall meeting.

j^000^200^^NPSOFFICffiR^|

President: Robert Wright (501)771-0717

rjwright@aristotle. net

Pres. Elect..: Lana Ewing (501)394-4666

Vice-pres.:Mary Ann King (501 )293-4359

Editor: Ron Doran.......... (501)268-2503

doran@harding.edu

Historian: Carl Amason (870)748-2362

Secretary: Sue Clark (501)666-5149

Membership: Eric Sundell (870)367-2652

Treasurer: Al Hecht (870)836-7759

Ark. Coalition: Carl Hunter (501)455-1538

Awards/Scholarship: Annette Holder

aholder@nettleton.crsc.K12.ar,us
Check out our web-site at www.anps.org

The purpose of the

Arkansas Native Plant Society

is to promote the preservation, conservation, and study of the wild plants and vegetation of Arkansas,
the education of the public to the value of the native flora and its habitat, and the publication of related

information.

QlaiftoiiiA

Ron Doran, Editor
900 E. Center

Harding University Box 10846
Searcy. AR 72149-0001

[Newsletter of the Arkansas Native Plant Society

Fall 2001

^uilnlililmnijiilnliliiili I ill Hn ml! nl nil

Volume 21

#3

Winter

2001

In

This

Issue

>?

Spring Meeting
Information

Page 2

Fall Meeting
Reports
Page 3

i

Big Creek

Page 5

WEEDS!
Page 6

Spring Field
Trips

Page 7

Ozark Trips

Page 8

Pondberry
Report
Page 9

f

^laytonia

Newsletter of the Arkansas Native Plant Society

^President’s Message

Having waited until early November, it is now my delightful task to write
this on a genuinely RAINY day, the third in what promises to be a string
of rainy days (not 40 days and nights, but a goodly string anyway). Al-
though a few pines and hardwoods have quite literally bitten the dust in
this past summer’s scorching dryness, most of the native vegetation
seems to have survived. What a life-saving adaptation it is, the ability of
hardwoods under summer drought stress to simply reduce their water
loss by shedding some of their leaves. The spring wildflowers probably
endured with little stress, being quite dormant, and next March when we
gather near Mena they should present their usual glorious show. Lana
and Bruce Ewing definitely do know where to find them, and we’ll have a
great time following where they lead. By then there’ll be more news on
how the Society can be involved in the Arkansas Vascular Flora Project,
including a definitive lecture (limit 5 minutes) from our latest recipient of
the Carl Amason Conservation Award, Don Culwell, on the full meaning
of the expression “vascular flora.” In the meantime, enjoy all the winter
rains. Even enjoy any snow, secure in the knowledge that it all goes to
replenish the groundwater. In March it will be spring (meaning tempera-
tures between 30 and 80 degrees, plus, we trust, more rain. Yay!

Robert (I am not navigationally challenged) Wright.

r— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — .

! Spring Meeting

BOOK YOVR ROOM SOON

MARCH 16-18

SEE YA’LL THERE

£Ift 0 toirif» Newsletter of the Arkansas Native Plant Society Winter 200 1|

t

| AN PS SPRING MEETING 2001 |

Location: Mena, Arkansas

Rich Mt. Community College (RMCC)

Spencer Building

Date: March 16-17-18

Friday, March 16

4:30-7:30 Registration -- Spencer
Building — Plenty of parking,

7:30 Program - “ Wild Orchids of Texas”
by Joe Liggio

The program will be a slide show and
talk by Joe Liggio, author and photographer
of Wild Orchids of Texas (University of
Texas Press, ©1999)

From the East Texas swamps and
forests to the Edwards Plateau canyons and
the Trans-Pecos Mountains, Texas hosts a
surprising number of native orchids, 54 in
ail. They range from the bog-loving grass
pink orchid of East Texas to the saprophytic
non-chlorophyilous species commonly
known as coral root. Joe will describe some
unusual facts about the natural history of
orchids and some of his experiences in
“orchid hunting”. He will also discuss
conservation issues such as preserving the
habitats of these irreplaceable native
orchids.

Joe is an environmental consultant
and freelance writer and photographer. His
photographs and articles about Texas
orchids and wildflowers have appeared in
books, magazines, and calendars. He has a
B.S. degree in Biology from Sam Houston
State University and is currently completing
an M.S. degree in environmental science
from the University of Houston at Clear
Lake. Wild Orchids of Texas was co-
authored by his wife, Ann, who is a
freelance writer and editor. The Liggios live
in Houston, There will be books for sale.

Saturday, March 17

8:00 A.M. Field Trips

Meet at RMCC - A list of trips will be
available at the Friday evening meeting.

7:00 P.M. Program: Spencer Building.
Special program by Roy Vail on the stag
horn fern. We would also like to have a
slide show in honor of our 20-year history.

If you have some slides/photos or news
articles from past meetings or field trips that
you could share with the membership please
get them to Gary Tucker who has volun-
teered to but them together in a Power Point
presentation. Please look through those old
photo albums or boxes or were ever you
keep such artifacts and send them to Gary
at 2606 West D St., Russelville, AR 72703.
They will be taken good care of and we
promise to get them back to you.

Sunday, March 18

To be determined by interest.

Accommodations

Motels:

Lime Tree (Best Western) 501-394-6350
Four blocks from RMCC.

Sun Country Inn 501-394-7477
Four blocks from RMCC.

Ozark Inn 501-394-1100
Other end of town.

Queen Wilhelmena State Park 501-394-
2863 -14 miles.

Camping:

Acorn, 6 miles North on 78.

2

£l«gtomn

Newsletter of the Arkansas Native Plant Society

Winter 2001

Fall 2000 Meeting Report

by Robert Wright

About 50 members and friends gathered
Friday evening, September 29 in the Holiday
Inn Express Convention Center for the
annual fall auction. Auctioneer Carl Amason
coaxed over $1100 from bidders on an
amazing variety and quantity of mostly
native plants plus preserved fruit extracts
(both non-alcoholic and the other kind) and
a small library of donated books.

Saturday morning saw all hands trooping
out to Big Creek Natural Area, an Arkansas
Natural Heritage property, for a day on the
bluffs, in the woods, and along the creek.

As dry as the weather had been, there were
a satisfying variety of flowering plants to
discover and monitor, including several new
to the plant list of the area. Eric Sundell
found a coupie of suitably intriguing
milkweed species. The creek bed revealed
interesting animal life as well, including a
rough green snake twined among the
shrubbery. Oralee Price had prepared maps
and plant lists, and guided everyone out
there. So far as is known, all found their
way back, even Robert Wright. (Ron Doran
wasn’t able to attend, which broke up the
Society’s premier duo in the art of getting
lost!)

Saturday evening the group gathered in the
Carl Garner Visitor Center for the business
meeting and to hear remarks from Carl
Garner himself. Long time Administrator of
Greer’s Ferry Dam, Mr. Garner shared some
excellent lore on the dam’s history, as well
pungent remarks on the importance of
environmental stewardship.

Fall General Meeting
Minutes

September 29, 2000

The fall, 2000, meeting of the Arkansas
Native Plant Society was called to order at
8:15 o'clock, p.m., by President John
Simpson at the Carl Garner Visitor Center
for Greer's Ferry Lake, following a talk by
Mr. Garner.

SECRETARY'S REPORT: Carl Amason
moved that the minutes be approved as

pAgroirifi

published, Eric Sundell seconded, the
minutes were approved.

TREASURER'S REPORT; A copy of
the Treasurer's Report was distributed to the
members showing a balance of $4,883,24 in
the operating fund, and $19,084.41 in the
total flora, scholarship and award funds.
Jason explained the balance of color
brochure costs under expenses as the
printing costs. There was a previous
expenditure for the layout of the brochures.
The purpose of the Dwight Moore Award
Fund was explained by Jason, and the fact
that it has no source of replenishment. He
asked the membership to consider
combining the Delzie Demaree and the
Moore fund: it would keep both names
before the membership and allow more
equity between the funds. Gary Tucker
moved to approve the Treasurer's Report,
Carl Amason seconded, the Treasurer’s
Report was approved.

Jason announced that the fall auction had
brought in an excess of $1 100.00.

Winter 2001

Eric Sundell moved that the slate be
accepted by acclamation; Bill Shepherd
seconded the motion passed. Robert Wright
announced the recommendation by the
Scholarship Award Committee of Don
Culwell for the Carl Amason Conservation
Award. The award will be presented to Don
at the spring meeting.

President Simpson announced that
the spring meeting will be March 16 and 17
at Mena, Arkansas.

Bill Shepherd discussed briefly how
the Big Creek Natural Area, where our field
trips were today, became preserved. There
was an announcement that the Sunday trip
would be on your own, and was the trail
behind the Visitor Center. There being no
further business, the meeting was adjourned
at 8:40 p.m.

Respectfully submitted, Sue Clark,

Secretary

Newsletter of the Arkansas Native Plant Society

OLD BUSINESS : Johnny Gentry
presented a progress report of the Arkansas
Flora Project and discussed the Arkansas
Vascular Flora Conference that was held
recently. Dr. Gentry than thanked ANPS for
its support and sponsorship of the
Conference. Suggestions on raising money
for the Project were asked for. For a
$200.00 donation, a person may spend two
days in the field with Dr. Gentry. If you would
like to do this, call870-575-HERB.

NEW BUSINESS : The Nominating
Committee report was given by President
Simpson in the absence of Linda Gatti Clark,
Chairman of the Committee, as follows:

Vice-President: MaryAnn King;

Treasurer: Al Hecht;

Editor: Ron Doran.

4

£lngtoirin

Newsletter of the Arkansas Native Plant Society

Winter 2001

Big Creek Plant List

By Theo Witsell

Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission
Staff Botanist

Thanks to members of the Arkansas Native
Plant Society, the plant list for Big Creek
Natural Area in Cleburne County now has
381 species. On behalf of the Arkansas
Natural Heritage Commission I would like to
thank all the ANPS members that went on
the field trips to Big Creek Natural Area at
the fall 2000 meeting and helped us expand
our plant list for that area. The Natural Area
is split into two tracts: the main tract and the
disjunct (and smaller) Hiram Bluff tract. This
was the first real trip to gather plant data for
the Hiram Bluff tract and we came away with
152 species (not bad for a fall trip). The list
for the main tract is a compilation of four
older lists and a fifth list which was
generated at the fall meeting and recorded
by ANPS member Oralee Price. There are
now 343 species listed for the main tract
Plant lists have been compiled for each area
separately but, as you would expect, there
are some species (38 to be exact) that occur
on the Hiram Bluff tract but have not been
recorded on the main tract. This brings the
total for the entire Natural Area to 381
species.

Of particular interest to the Natural Heritage
Commission are the five special plant
species recorded on the natural area.

These are species that are considered rare
or sensitive in Arkansas and that we track.
They are as follows:

Castanea pumila var. ozarkensis
(Ozark chinkapin)

Sedum iernatum (wood stonecrop)
Philadefphus hirsutus (mock orange)
Podostemum ceratophyllum (threadfoot)
Silene ovata (ovate-leaf catchfly)

The plant lists include scientific and common
names of the plants as well as data on their
habitat and abundance. Copies of the plant
lists for Big Creek Natural Area are available
free of charge from

Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission
1500 Tower Building
323 Center St.

Little Rock, AR 72201

Or email theo@arkansasheritaqe.orQ and
specify whether you would like a paper copy
or an electronic copy.

Special thanks to Oralee Price for providing
copies of plant lists she made both on and
before the field trips and for finding the
ovate-leaf catchfly on the natural area.

\ ANPS

Members Bring
I Big Creek Natural Area
| Plant List Up to 381
I Species

5

£lagtoirifl

Newsletter of the Arkansas Native Plant Society

Winter 2001

European Chickweed
Invades Arkansas

by Philip Hyatt

You won't find Stellaria pallida in Smith's
atlas, it wasn't known in Arkansas in 1 988.

In fact, when it did turn up, the first Arkansas
location was the fifth report of this little weed
in North America. Common Chickweed
(Stellaria media) grows statewide. As an
earfy weedy species, it’s commonly
collected by students who are required to
collect a few plants when taking plant
taxonomy classes in college.

Common plants sometimes allow similar
less common plants to hide unnoticed. In
the case of Stellaria pallida , the plants had
spread across north Arkansas without being

noticed, much like a bedstraw did.

The bedstraw ( Cruciata pedemontanum ,
previously listed as Galium pedemontanum)
was found in Arkansas years ago, but in the
late 198Q’s was discovered to have spread
over much of Arkansas. That bedstraw is a
well-known weed to people now, even if they
don't know its name. Stellaria pallida
turned up in collections around Mountain
Home back in 1988-1989. A specialist in the
pink family (Caryophyllaceae) happened to
receive a specimen from Arkansas; Richard
Rabeier of the University of Michigan
herbarium noted this plant among
several Arkansas specimens he received in
trade. Dr. Smith reviewed those in
his collection. Sure enough, a few plants of
this species were hiding in the Common
Chickweed pile! He went out the door of his
office and found it immediately as a weed by
the door of the Science-Engineering Building
on the University of Arkansas campus in
Fayetteville. A potential state record plant
was hiding just outside his door! Identifying
Stellaria pallida takes a bit of patience. On
the surface it looks like a frost bit, poorly
nourished, sometimes care worn specimen
of Common Chickweed. This may be why it
was overlooked. Within a few years of the
first collection, we found it in 14 Arkansas
counties, from Crawford and Washington,
across the north tier from Carroll to Baxter,
and down through Stone and Izard counties
into Independence. Cross, Poinsett,
Crittenden, and Ashley counties also have
it. It could be hiding nearly statewide in
Arkansas but is surely throughout the
Ozarks. I used to add new counties by
stopping and checking at gas stations when
I filled up with gas! A key character is the
absence of petals, but Common Chickweed
sometimes lacks petals. It also has only 2
anthers (vs. 3-7) that are gray-violet in color
(vs. red-violet). The seeds are also reported
to be smaller than those of Common
Chickweed, but I've found these technical
characters hard to see, even with a
microscope. If you want to record new sites
for Stellaria pallida , the best thing to do is

6

Newsletter of the Arkansas Native Plant Society

Winter 2001

this: in early spring, before the season hits

for most plants, look for it on the south sides

of buildings. It basks in the tiny pockets of

heat thrown off of buildings and protected on

the south sides. As spring progresses, other

species take hold and this plant begins to

disappear. Since its early, it often gets hit

by frost, making the collected plant look very

miserable. The color is paler than Common

Chickweed, so look for and collect a beaten

up chickweed and you may have this

formerly "rare" plant, ft’s hard to call a weed

rare! Does it grow in Missouri, Oklahoma,

and other states in the region? Almost

certainly. It apparently hasn't taken hold in

central Louisiana, as several years of

searching have failed to turn up specimens

there. But if you want to contribute to the

knowledge of the Arkansas flora, why not

pull up a few weeds?
***************************************

| Spring Field Trips

March 10 th - Carl Amason’s -Near Calion
June 9 th - Meet at Carl’s about 10 AM
bring lunch and a drink as usual at both
dates. Directions: Turn offUS 167 on
Calion’s Main Street, gol/2 mile, go over a
rise -old railroad bump — turn right onto S.
Hoover, go 1 block to stop sign, turn right,
cross over the upper end of Calion Lake,
which is Ward Street. Shortly it becomes
Country Road, about 1 mile. A new
transmission tower is by the road. Then the
3 rd house on the right is Carl’s. No house on
the left.

In March early spring flowers should be
blooming. Perhaps both regular pawpaw,
dwarf pawpaw and the intermediate hybrid
between the two (rare). Also a lot of non-
native plants that the deer have not
demolished.

In June Alophia drummondii , Erythrina
herbaceae (Cherokee bean or coral bean),
and some of the early summer wildflowers
that the deer haven’t eaten.

Contact Carl at (870)748-2362

April 7th - Big Creek 1 and 2.

Meet at Ron Doran’s place, at 9:30 AM.
Directions: From the south take exit 42 off of
67/167 to Searcy. This will be Main Street.
Follow Main through Searcy heading north.
After stopping at a 4 way stop go 1 .5 miles
where you will see the street sign Willow Crk
Ln on the right. Go to the end of that private
gravel driveway. If you see a dinosaur sign
that says dead end you are on the correct
driveway. Ron’s house is the cedar wood
house at the end circle. From the north
take exit 46 off of 67/1 67. T urn right off the
ramp and you will be on Race Street. Follow
Race toward the old part of town until you
meet Main St. (five traffic lights.). Turn right
on Main and follow the above directions.

There are two Big Creeks near Searcy.
One is in White County and other in

7

Newsletter of the Arkansas Native Plant Society

Cleburne County. They both join the Little
Red River but several miles apart. You
enjoyed the Big Creek Natural Area in the
fall, wait to you see it in the blush of spring.
We will stop at Bluff Hole on Big Creek on
the way to the Natural Area.

This will be a semi-strenuous trip. Bring
drinks and snacks. Contact Ron Doran at
(501)268-2503 or email doran@hardinq.edu
for further information.

Buffalo Lodge & Learning Center out from
Jasper. Take 74 West from Jasper & watch
for signs to Buffalo Lodge. Try to meet there
at noon on the 27 th but if you can't make it
early, get there when you can. Possible
Canoe trip in offing & work on wildflowers
beds at Buffalo Lodge. Please call
Burnetta or MaryAnn King to make
reservations.

May 19th -- Sylamore District.
Participants should be at the US Forest
Service Work Center located on the north
side of Arkansas 14 at the town of Fifty-Six,
Stone County, Arkansas no later than 10
AM. From the Work Center, the group will
promptly leave for a trip to a good location
for spring wildflowers and woody plants
within the Sylamore District. This trip will
involve rough terrain and should not be
chosen by anyone who might have
difficulties with a rigorous field experience.
Bring your own lunch. NOTE: The Work
Center is a different facility from the District
Office at Mountain View, which some may
be familiar with.

Led by Earl Hendrix.

May 12th -Lead Hill & Ninestone. Meet
at Baker Prairie at Harrison at 10 AM. Baker
Prairie is on Goblin Drive by High School
between Capps Road & Industrial Park
Road. Lead Hill, Baker Prairie & Ninestone
are in Boone County. Part of the purpose
of this field trip is to gather additional
information for the flora of Boone County,
which has been very undercollected. Bring
lunch & drinks.

May 26th - Glade and Butterfly Garden
in Branson

Meet at 10:30 - However traffic can
sometimes be intense around Branson due
to tourists - so wait to give others time to
show up. Meet at the state park by the
Shepherd of the Hills Play on the road that
goes to Silver Dollar City.

OZARK CHAPTER TRIPS

All are invited. See note at end of section.

March 31st - Lost Valley - Meet at the
parking lot at Lost Valley at 1 0:00AM . Lost
Valley is in Newton County. From
Clarksville take #21 to Boxfey & take 74 to
Lost Valley turnoff. If taking Highway 7, turn
west onto #74. Bring lunch & drinks.

Aprill 4th ~ Possum Trot- 10:00 A.M.
Meet at the store at Nail on Highway #16.
Bring lunch & drinks. Another trip into
Newton County.

For additional details on Ozark Chapter
trips as well as directions on where to
meet, contact either Burnetta
Hinterthuer at 501-582-0467 or email her
at steveholst@aoLcom
or (MaryAnn King) phone: 501-293-4359
Fax 501-293-4659 or email
pineridq@cswnet.com

T' A

Have you checked the ANPS web site
lately?

The web address is

I

I

www.anps.org

be sure you use the org

April 27, 28 & 29th

Ozark Chapter Spring Meeting.

8

^loytoiria

Newsletter of the Arkansas Native Plant Society

Winter 2001

Pondberry Field Trip Report

By Robert Wright

Ron Doran and Robert Wright constituted
the group visiting the sand ponds on the
Missouri border where endangered
Pondberries (Lindera melissifolia) are
conserved. Their bright yellow fall foliage
emphasized how numerous and extensive
are the clones, spread over about a mile of
forest floor, where shallow spring ponds
eliminate most other understory plants.
Although drought-stressed, the plants had
survived the summer well and were ready to
flower in early spring. Although never more
than 200 yards from roads on a sunny day,
Robert and Ron still were able to become
disoriented and, given more time, would
undoubtedly have gotten lost.

x

Arkansas Native Plant Society Membership Application

\

Please check below.
Membership Categories:

□ $10 Student

□ $15 Regular

□ $20 Supporting

□$25 Family Membership

□ $30 Contributing

□ $150.... Lifetime Membership

(55 and over)

□$300 ....Lifetime Membership
(under 55)

□ New Member

□ Renewal

□ Address Change

Name

Address:

Street or Box

City

State Zip

Telephone:
E-Mail address

Please cut and send this form along with any dues to:

Eric Sundell, Membership ANPS
Division of Mathematics and Science
University of Arkansas
Monticello, AR 71655

9

Please check your mailing label I

If your mailing label has a 00 or earlier it is time

to renew!

Life members will have an LF

Please fill in the information form on the opposite
side of this page and send it with your renewals,
applications for membership, changes of name,
address, e-mail address or telephone numbers to
the address given on the form: [Not to the editor.]

|^000^2M^^WS^FFICI^|

President: Robert Wright (501)771-0717

compubar@aristotle. net

Pres. Elect..: Lana Ewing (501)394-4666

Vice-pres.:Mary Ann King (501)293-4359

Editor: Ron Doran (501)268-2503

doran@harding. edu

Historian: Carl Amason (870)748-2362

Secretary: Sue Clark (501)666-5149

Membership: Eric Sundell (870)367-2652

Treasurer: Al Hecht (870)836-7759

Ark. Coalition: Carl Hunter (501)455-1538

Awards/Scholarship: Annette Holder

aholder@nettleton.crsc.K12.ar. us
Communications/Publicity:, Gary Tucker

(501)968-7061

The purpose of the

Arkansas Native Plant Society

is to promote the preservation, conservation, and study of the wild plants and vegetation of Arkansas,
the education of the public to the value of the native flora and its habitat, and the publication of related

information.

r

* ‘ tr '\

Ron Doran, Editor
900 E. Center

Harding University Box 10846
Searcy. AR 72149-0001

CULWELL, Dr. Donald E. LF

3 Magnolia Drive
Conway, AR 72032

| Newsletter of the Arkansas Native Plant Society

Winter 2001