NEWSLETTER 0? THE ARKANSAS NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY March, 1987 ’’To promote the preservation, President Dr. Jim Guldin conservation, and study of the Vice President .. .Pobert Wright wild plants and vegetation of Secretary Sue Clark Arkansas, the education of the Treasurer Fred Greenwood public to the value of the Historian Lana Cook native flora and its habitat, Editor Fon Doran and the publication of related information. " PRESIDENT ' S MESSAGE Greetings and salutations from the executive "branch!" Since you've railroaded a forester into this administrative aerie, you'll have to put up with puns like that. And even though my profession prides itself on distinguishing the forest from the trees, I personally have difficulty with the non-tree plant kingdom. This year, the Society has been dubiously blessed with an executive about whom it can be said that in terms of plant identification ability, he’s enthusiastic and kind to his mother. But even I can see the redbud exploding in glorious purple persuasions, the red maples arching in a rich scarlet spray, and the wild fruit trees clothed in a evanescent gown of white blossoms. It's sobering to be in the middle of the woods of south Arkansas, and to see a line of yellow daffodils reaching toward a long-decayed homestead, as if in commemoration of the family that invested so much love and toil on such poor farmland. And it warms my soul to stumble upon birds-foot violet, so stubborn on its rocky patch of hardscrabble in the Ouachitas, scraping forth its brilliant purpiish-blue flowers in anticipation of the coming season. Yes, Spring has Sprung! The grass is riz! And Carl assures me that he knows where the flowers is! So, armed with faith in the new year, the Arkansas Native Plant Society embarks upon the seventh season of its existence. We welcome all old and new members to join us in a celebration of 1987. SPECIAL THANKS TO MBS. CLEMINTINE MOORE AND COMPANY FOP A WONDERFUL FALL MEETING IN ALMA AND AT DEVIL'S DEN. - 1 - FFWS FOTFS: Books : AFPS member Carl Hunter's book Wildflowers of Arkansas has been so successful that an updated improved second edition is in the works. Carl has asked that anyone who has better photographs or has suggestions for improvement to please let him know. Belated good news from Carl is that a new book with the same format has been approved with the trees, shrubs and vines of Arkansas to be the subject. He hopes to include about ^50 species and the target date for publication is 1989. James Peck has agreed to be an advisor and some funding is going to come from the Arkansas State 'Pax Fon-Game Wildlife Checkoff. He has asked AFPS members for help in getting good bright slides. Staff Changes : Pr. Albert (Bert) Pittman is the new staff botanist for the Arkansas Fatural Heritage Commission. He assumed his duties Fovember 4, succeeding Steve Orzell. As staff botanist, Pittman has the most direct responsibility for the survival of Arkansas’ rarest native plant species. He will locate and monitor their populations and participate in development of measures designed to protect them. He has conducted field research in Arkansas on various occasions since 1982 and thus brings to his new job what he terms "a general familiarity" with Arkansas’ flora. Bill Shephard Beports An Unexpected Bind . An interagency field trip to Jackson County January 26, yielded more than had been expected. Bert Pittman and Tom Poti of the state Fatural Heritage Commission accompanied Bill Henson and Glen Justis from the Little Bock Pistrict of the TT.S. Corps of Fngineers to visit a known population of pondberry (Lindera melissifolia )s and to look for pondberry in a slough where a landowner had applied for a Section 404 permit from the Corps. Because the IJ.S. Pish and Wildlife Service lists pondberry as an endangered species and populations of it were known to exist in the vicinity, the Corps officials wanted to make sure that the wetland shrub would not be affected should the permit be granted. With some relief, the investigators noted that they were unable to find any evidence of pondberry in the project area. They did, however, locate an extensive and previously undiscovered population of it in a sand dune depression located a mile or two from the one visited earlier and well away from the impacted slough. Known populations of pondberrv in Arkansas currently number 10. All are on privately owned land. So far, none is receiving permanant protection. - 2 - SPECIAL REQUEST VTA OAPL ANAS OF Anyone having any CLAYTON I A publications, or wanting to dispose of any Arkansas Native Plant Society letters, materials, or membership lists and want to place them in a permanent location, please send that material to: Jo Grippe, Serials Section University Library University of Arkansas Pavetteville, AP 72701 AP KANSAS NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY. OCCASIONAL PAPPPS At the fall meeting of ANPS at Alma, Arkansas, society approval was given to make available at cost various works which supplement the ATLAS ANI) ANNOTATED LIST OP TFP ARKANSAS PLOPA produced by Dr. Pd Smith of the University of Arkansas at Pavetteville. These supplements were out-of-print. Py providing a mechanism to make available these old works and by encouraging the preparation of new works, the ANPS has taken a significant role in facilitating efforts to improve our knowledge about the Arkansas flora. Requests for copies should be addressed to Dr. James Peck, Piology, University of Arkansas-Little Rock, 2801 S. University Ave., Little Pock, AR 72204. Please include payment, along with SO. 50 for mailer and postage. No. 1. Smith, P.B. 1986. Additions, deletions, and corrections for the atlas and annotated list of the vascular plants of Arkansas. (Reprinted from 1979). 22 pp. $1.10 No. 2. Smith, P.B. 1986. Supplement II. (Reprinted from 1980). 12 pp. $0.60 No. 5. Smith, P.B. 1986. Supplement III. (Reprinted from 1981). 10 pp. $0.50 No. 4. Smith, P.B. 1986. Supplement IV. (Reprinted from 1982). 18 pp. $0.90 No. 5. Smith, P.B. 1986. Supplement V. 22 pp. $1.10 No. 6. Peck, J.F. 1 986. Additions to the Arkansas pteridophyte flora. 6 pp. $0.50. As new works are submitted, ANPS members will be notified in CLAYTQNIA and at annual meetings. A NOTE PPON TFP EDITOR Thanks to all of you who have sent information to be included in this issue. If any of you have suggestions as to how we can improve this newsletter and/or the ANPS itself, please let us know. If you are not a member of the society and would like to join, please send the appropriate dues to: Pred Greenwood, Treasurer, Rt. 5, Box 333-A, Little Rock, AP 72211. There are four membership categories: Regular Membership-$5.00, Supporting Nerobership-$1 0.00, Contributing Nembership-$20.00, Life Nembership- $100.00. All memberships are individual memberships. Pive dollars of each type of membership is used for operating expenses of the Society. Additional funds help support the Society’s scholarships and awards. - 3 - A N ACCOUNT OF A FIFLD TP IP WITH CAFL AMASON IN UNION COUNTY "On the fifteenth of November, 1086, three hardy souls appeared at my place for the scheduled field trip. And those hardy souls were Thera Lou Adams and Jason Anders of Camden and Albert Uigginbottom of Kirby. It has rained for some days previously and it was quite wet junderfoot, the low was about 65 F and the day remained cloudy and gray with a few moments of sunshine, and the temperature climbed into the 60's. Really not a bad day for a field trip. We loaded up into my car, and away we went. During the morning drive, we found Virginia witch hazel ( Uamamelis Virginiana ) and some few lingering pure blue soapwort gentians ( Gentians saponaria ). We found the first showing of the very diminutive fern, Ophioglossum crotalophoroides , its name larger than itself. The recent rains had caused it to venture out of dormacy for its winter growing season. This fern is always on my field trips when it is above ground. It is very unfern-like, and is green from the fall rains until the greening of spring, never getting much more than one inch long or tall on its single entire leaf. At this season, berries are quite common and quite conspicuous. There were lots of flowering dogwood berries, which were eagerly consumed by the wintering birds. The last of the commom purple berries and its uncommon white-berried form of Callicorpa americana were found. Several fruiting clumbs of Fuonymus americana were found. One small "bay bog" of Wagnolia Virginiana var. australis was noted, and with them were several ferns including the popular Christmas fern. Nearby were fruiting sprays of the red-berried Smilax pumila , which is thornless and garden worthy. In fact, Smilax pumila had small green immature berries with mature red berries on the small plant. Albert Uigginbottom found a seed spray of the delightfully red Cherokee bean (Frythrina herbacea). This is also locally known as mamou and is quite abundant in deep sandy areas. Some small fruiting root sprouts of Ilex ambigua or Carolina holly. Other hollies found in berry were Ilex opaca (American holly), 1L_ vomitoria (voupon), and I. decidua (deciduous holly). All are delightful additions to the fall and winter* woodland scene. And there were the black berries of Sabal minor , really pretty, especially when arranged with red berries in a bouquet. Sabal minor is Arkansas' only native palm. And when the field trip was over, all expressed pleasure at seeing some of the native treasures of the locality. And every location in the state is unique with its own charm and color. I asked veteran field tripper Albert Uigginbottom what was the outstanding feature of the field trip. Without much hesitation he replied finding the sprays of Cherokee bean. And just as quickly to respond I replied that the highlight of the day’s outing was his finding those brilliant red beans. I'm pleased that he did find them indeed because I had overlooked them the days before in scouting out my field trip route!" FIFLD TRIPS AND WORKSHOPS — NARK YOUR CALENDARS On Saturday, April 26, a field trip will be conducted on the newly preserved railroad prairie in Lonoke and Prairie counties. Spring wildflowers should be at their peak of beauty on this date. This field trip will be co- sponsored by the Arkansas Nature Conservancy and the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission; and Lance Peacock of the Conservancy will co-lead with Pert Pittman and Bill Shepherd. Call Bill’s office (671-1706) a few days ahead of time to reserve a place and to get instructions for meeting your trip leaders. -4- FIFLD TFIPS (cont) Under the same joint sponsorship, the same three leaders will conduct a field trip on Saturday, May 16, to observe two rare wetland shrubs in northeastern Arkansas — corkwood ( Leitneria ^loridana ) and pondberry ( Lindera melissifolia ). Pondberry is the only Arkansas plant on the IJ.S. Department of the Interior's list of Fndangered species. Again, call Pill's office ("571-1706) a few days ahead of time to reserve a place and to get instructions for meeting your trip leaders. Mt. April 26. You are welcome to join Pruce and Lana Fwing and the Oklahoma Native Plant Society as they botanize Pich Mt. Meet at 9:00 at the Wal Mart parking lot in Mena. Pring sack lunch. Pinnacle Mt. State Park (PMSP)* - Wild Foods Workshop . May 9, 9am - ^pm. Join Freeman Thomas, biologist and past president of the Arkansas Native Plant Society for a slide lecture on medicinal and edible plants. Plant identification fieldtrips will be conducted during this workshop. Learn how to make wild yeast bread and which plants may be used for spices and seasonings in cooking. Many wild herbs and spices will be on display. Lunch and handouts will be provided. Pee $5. Union County - June 6, Meet at Carl Amason's house about 2 miles south of Calion on IJ.S. 167. Things that will be in bloom will be the quite rare Alophia drummundii and flowering Cherokee bean. PMSP* - Fabulous Pungi of Arkansas (Mushroom Workshop) June 20, 10am - 6pm. Porav on Pocky Valley Trail to observe park fungi. Lecture "How to Identify the Mushrooms of Arkansas," slide presentations on "Mushroom Families, " practice in keying (identifying) real mushrooms, and a question and answer session. Participants may bring mushrooms from their area for identification and study. Free admission. Participants should wear outdoor clothing and bring lunch. Jay Justice, President of the Arkansas Mycological Society, will conduct the workshop. PMSP* - Fungus Pair Oct. 31, 10am - 6pm. Jay Justice, President of the Arkansas Mycological Society, will conduct a fungus workshop. There is to be a foray on Pocky Valley Trail to see wild mushrooms, lecture and slide programs on mushroom identification, and practice using keys to identify real mushrooms. Participant will have a chance to taste samples of edible mushrooms and learn ways of cooking and preserving them. Pees $3.00, no charge for participant under 18. Participants should wear outdoor clothing and bring their lunch on Saturday. *To make reservations, or if further information is desired about any PMSP listed activity, please call the Park’s office at (601 ) 868-3806. Other trips will be most likely announced at the Spring Meeting. - 5 - ARKANSAS NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY 1987 SPRING MEETING VILLAGE CREEK STATE PARK FORREST CITY, AR The Spring Meeting of the Arkansas Native Plant Society will convene on the weekend of April 10-12, 1987 in Forrest City, AR. We've reserved a block of rooms at the Holiday Inn, located on Highway 1 North by the Interstate; if you make reservations there, tell them that you're with the Native Plant Society, and they'll place you in the reserved block. Several other motels, with varying rates, are noted below. The weekend trips will be held in and around the vicinity of Village Creek State Park, on the geological formation known as Crowley's Ridge. This region is the westernmost extension of the mixed mesophytic forest of eastern North America, and is the only location in Arkansas for a variety of plants more commonly found in Tennessee and points nor t heast er 1 y . This is the usual weekend of the Wildflower Walks at Village Creek, and I think that we'll see both the tail end of the early spring flowers as well as the beginnings of the mid-spring flora. It ought to be a spectacular weekend of botanizing and fellowship 1 We look forward to seeing you in Forrest City. A new activity has been added to the weekend -- the Plant Rummage Sale! If you have a plant that wants a new home, if you've thinned out those daffodils and have some extra bulbs, if you have some wild violets to share, if you have some extra garden herbs for another Native Planter, or if you want to get rid of some unique planting pots, here's your chance! Just stick a price on your flora or floral appurtenance and bring the whole lot to the Plant Rummage Sale on Saturday night. And don't forget to buy something to take home! Proceeds from the sale will go to the Aileen McWilliam Scholarship Fund. Motels in Forrest City Holiday Inn Hwy 1 North, near 1-40 Single Double (2 beds) Extra people 633-6300 $ 36.00 $ 42.00 I 5.00 D & M Motel Hwy 70 W Downtown Single Double (2 beds) Extra people 633-3214 $ 25.00 $ 29.00 $ 2.00 Best Western (Car 1's) 907 E. Broadway Downtown Single Double (2 beds) Extra people 633-4433 $ 21.00 $ 28.00 $ 3.00 - 6 - f SPRING MEETING, ANPS FORREST CITY, AR SCHEDULE Friday. 10 Aon 1 3:00 PM Registration Table opens, and Registration begins. Registration fee, $2.00. Pay your dues, too! 6:00 PM Dinner, on your own The buffet at the Holiday Inn on Friday evenings is an a 1 1 - you-can-eat seafood buffet for $9.50 plus tax. Seating will be general seating in the dining room. Even though this is an on-your-own deal, if you see another Native Planter, plant yourself next to 'em and enjoy the seafood! 8:00 PM Mr. Larry Loman, 'The Flora of Crowley's Ri,dge'. Banquet Room, Holiday Inn Mr. Loman is renowned as the local expert on the Crowley's Ridge flora. I'm sure you'll enjoy his colorful presentation 9:00 PM General Business Meeting Saturday. 11 April 7:30 AM Breakfast, on your own 3:30 AM MORNING FIELD TRIPS We'll convene for the morning field trips in the Parking Lot of the Holiday Inn. Reputable botanists (no, this is not an oxymoron) will conduct tours of varying physical and botanical difficulty! 12 Noon Lunch, to be announced We're trying to set up a box lunch deal; if this falls through, we'll return to Forrest City for lunch. 1:00 PM AFTERNOON FIELD TRIPS These will be the reverse of the morning trips, departing from either the Holoday Inn or from our box-lunch location. If we eat box lunches at the State Park, we'll send a car or two back to the motel after lunch, for those who so desire. - 7 - ANPS SPRING MEETING, cont 'd. 4:30 PM Meeting of the Executive Board, Holiday Inn 5:30 PM A new event -- the ANPS Plant Rummage Sale! Bring your botanical donations to the Plant Rummage Sale! The rummage sale will be set up on the back tables in the Banquet Room of the Holiday Inn. Have a price clearly marked on each item for sale. 6:00 PM Plant Rummage Sale begins Get ready for an hour of bargain hunting action! Give some poor unused or unappreciated plant a new home. Try to convince some desperate plant owner to part with a worthless scrap of leaves. Haggle over an original Asa Gray vasculum! Proceeds will go to one of the deserving ANPS scholarship funds. 7:00 PM Dinner, Buffet-style We'll all go through the buffet line at the Holiday Inn, and sit at tables in the Banquet Room. Buffet will cost between $6.50 and $8.00, depending on the available entrees. 8:00 PM "Overton Park of Memphis -- a Natural Area in an Urban Setting" Ms. Lissa Thompson, Ritchie Smith Associates, Memphis, TN The Ritchie Smith firm is drafting an environmental plan for the famous inner-city park in Memphis, known not only for the Brooks Museum of Art and the Memphis Zoo, but also for its remarkable virgin stand of yellow poplar, oak, and hickory. Join Lissa for an informal discussion on the merits of green open space in the urban landscape. 9:00 PM Member ' s Slide Show Bring your favorite Spring Bloomers! Sunday. 12 Aoril 7:30 AM Breakfast in Forrest City, on your own 8:30 AM Tour, Larry Loman's Native Plant Nursery For those of you who want to take some of the beautiful Crowley's Ridge flora home with you, Larry will provide you with the opportunity to do so! This also will be our ace-in- the hole to see and enjoy these plants in the event of a torrential downpour on Saturday. 11:30 AM Meeting adjournment! - 8 -