LONG ISLAND BOTANICAL SOCIETY NEWSLETTER Vol. 9, No. 5 Nov. - Dec. 1999 Preliminary Atlas of the Platanaceae through Myricaceae of Long Island, New York The Flora Committee Long Island Botanical Society This sixth contribution to an atlas of Long Island plants treats 37 species included in eight families: 1) Platanaceae, the Plane-tree Family, 2) Hamamelidaceae, the Witch Hazel Family, 3) Ulmaceae, the Elm Family, 4) Cannabaceae, the Indian Hemp Family, 5) Moraceae, the Mulberry Family, 6) Urticaceae, the Nettle Family, 7) Juglandaceae, the Walnut Family, and 8) Myricaceae, the Bayberry Family. Fourteen of the 37 species included in this treatment are non-native species (= alien). Platanus x hybrida is refered to as Plananus x acerifolia in Flora of North America (FNA); it is a common street tree in NYC but rarely, if ever, escapes. Celtis occidentals and other members of the genus recently have been placed in a proposed new family Celtidaceae, the Hackberry Family. Ulmus minor is reported as U . procera in FNA, whereas U. minor is not reported as verified in North America. Urtica dioica subsp. gracilis is known as U. dioica var. procera at the varietal level. Parietaria judaica has long been known as P. officinalis, a name that was misapplied. Carya ovalis was not recognized as being distinct from C. glabra in FNA. Juglans cinerea is being attacked by the butternut canker which is killing trees throughout its range. Myrica cerifera has been reported from Queens but we have no verified voucher specimens. Highlights Atlas of Long Island Plants: Part 6 23 Distribution Maps 24 Plant Sightings 29 Society News 29 Programs 30 Key to Map Symbols Closed circle [•] = there is a specimen for this area collected after 1980. Open circle [o] = there is a specimen for this area collected before 1980. Closed square [■] = there is a specimen from this area collected before 1980 and a report (based upon a visual sighting or published literature report) from this area after 1980. Closed triangle [a] = there is a report (based upon a visual sighting or published literature report) from this area after 1980. Open triangle [a] = there is a report (based upon a visual sighting or published literature report) An important economic plant grown widely for fiber, oil and drug content. Occurs on L.I. as an escape from cultivation. Illustration from Mitchell, 1988. LA. Botanical Society Nov. - Dec. 1998 Page 23 PLATANACEAE Maps HAMAMELIDACEAE ULMACEAE L.I. Botanical Society Nov. - Dec. 1999 Page 24 Maps MORACEAE URTICACEAE LI. Botanical Society Nov . - Dec. 1 999 Page 25 Maps JUGLANDACEAE L.I. Botanical Society Nov. - Dec. 1999 Page 26 Maps MYRICACEAE LI. Botanical Society Nov. - Dec. 1 999 Page 27 The Coalition to Save the Grandifolia Sandhills ACT Now East End Forever Environmental Justice Committee of St. John the Baptist Group for the South Fork League of Women Voters of Suff. Co. Long Island Botanical Society Long Island Chapter of Sierra LI Greenbelt Trail Conference Long Island Pine Barrens Society Long Island Hummingbird Society Marlwood of Baiting Hollow Moriches Bay Audubon Society Native America NY League of Conservation Voters North Fork Audubon Society North Fork Environmental Council Open Space Council Save the Sandhills Save Open Space Now Soundkeeper Resolution Whereas, the Grandifolia Sandhills, located in the hamlet of Baiting Hollow in the Town of Riverhead, Suffolk County, New York, is comprised of at least four natural ecological communities that have been identified by New York Natural Heritage Program (NYNHP); and Whereas, the maritime beech forest and the pitch pine dune woodland have been designated as globally rare by NYNHP; and Whereas, the coastal oak-beech forest and maritime dune- land have designated as rare in New York by NYNHP; and Whereas, the Defriest Blowout supports all four of the rare Heritage -ranked natural ecological communities; and Whereas, the Grandifolia Sandhills supports a number of plant and animal species that occur nowhere else or in as great abundance on Long Island; and Whereas, the Grandifolia Sandhills possesses unique geological features that are exemplary of a migrating dune system perched upon a coastal bluff; and Whereas, active and dynamic geologic processes at the Grandifolia Sandhills occur at the Defriest Blowout; and Whereas, in recognition of the remarkable assemblage of natural ecological communities, rare and endangered plants and animals, and the unique geological features; and Whereas, both the State of New York and Suffolk County have been actively pursuing acquisition of the entire Grandifolia Sandhills . Therefore, be it resolved that for the above referenced reasons the Coalition to Save the Grandifolia Sandhills strongly endorses the preservation of the entire 250 acre Grandifolia Sandhills site. South Shore Audubon Society Unanimously Passed July 15, 1999 L.I. Botanical Society Nov. - Dec. 1999 Page 28 Plant Sightings Seabeach Amaranth on L.I. 1999 was a Banner Year Stephen Young (N.Y. Natural Heritage Program) A total of just under 19,500 plants of the federally threatened Seabeach Amaranth (Amaranthus pumilus) were counted on Long Island beaches this year. Annual counts have taken place on Long Island since 1990 when the plant was rediscovered and this year's count is the highest ever, far surpassing the 8600 plants in 1998. Most plants are concentrated at three sites in central Suffolk, western Nassau and eastern Queens counties but plants are found east to Westhampton Island. Because North and South Carolina plants have suffered from numerous recent hurricanes, Long Island is the current stronghold for this plant at the moment. North Carolina botanists had counted only 19 plants this year before they were washed away by Hurricane Dennis. All of the Long Island counts in 1999 were conducted before tropical storm Floyd impacted most of our Seabeach Amaranth habitat. Society News Save The Sandhills - Update No action has been taken by the Town of Riverhead or by the Suffolk County Planning Department in determining whether to grant a change of zone to the Talmage property wherein lies the Grandifolia Sandhills. Although funds to purchase the Sandhills have been allocated by New York State and Suffolk County, the Talmage family and partners refuse to work with the environmental community in an effort to preserve this globally rare ecosystem. Executive Board Meeting A meeting of the Executive Board will be held on 9 November 1999 at 6:15 pm (before the monthly meeting and program) at the Museum of Long Island Natural Sciences, Room 137, SUNY at Stony Brook. All members are welcome. LIBS Elections 1999 The Nominating Committee has submitted the following slate of candidates to serve as officers during 2000 and 2001: President Eric Lamont Vice President Skip Blanchard Treasurer Carol Johnston Recording Secretary Barbara Conolly Corresponding Sec'y John Potente Elections will take place during the monthly meeting of 9 November 1999. As stated in the by-laws, chairpersons of each committee are not voted into office, but appointments are confirmed by the Executive Board. Vincent Pugiisi, Chairperson Nominating Committee New Members The Long Island Botanical Society is pleased to welcome the following 29 new members during 1999: Sophia Adler, Southold; Ann & Bill Ash, Brooklyn; Elizabeth & Thomas Backel, Baiting Hollow; William P. Bowman, Rocky Point; Nancy Colburn, Westbury; Mr. & Mrs. Frank Cottone, Jr., Baiting Hollow; Catherine Di Paola, Miller Place; Wei Fang, Stony Brook University; Eileen Gerle, Riverhead; Suzanne Gilbert, Riverhead; Jack Haley, Farmingdale; John Haley, Farmingdale; Otto Heck, Stockton, NJ; Judith Hoyer, Franklin Square; Valerie Imbruce, East Patchogue; Anthony J. Lauro, Cutchogue; Mr. & Mrs. Bohdan Lazoryk, Baiting Hollow; Frederick Meier, Little Neck; Wayne Morris, Long Island City; Helen & Joseph Orenstein, Coram; Lyle Peters, Muttontown; Laurel Sisson, Riverhead; David Taft, Glendale. LI. Botanical Society Nov. - Dec. 1999 Page 29 LONG ISLAND BOTANICAL SOCIETY Founded: 1986; Incorporated: 1989. PR.OGrRA.lVIS 9 November 1999 - 7:30 pm* Dr. Stuart Lowrie (The Nature Conservancy) "Botanical Travelogue of Three Continents" Location: Museum of L.I. Natural Sciences, Room 137, SUNY at Stony Brook 14 December 1999 - 7:30 pm* Prof. Steven Englebright (SUNY at Stony Brook) "Geology of the Grandifolia Sandhills, Long Island, New York" Location: Museum of L.I. Natural Sciences, Room 137, SUNY at Stony Brook Membership Membership is open to all, and we welcome new members. Annual dues are $10. For membership, make your check payable to LONG ISLAND BOTANICAL SOCIETY and mail to: Lois Lindberg, Membership Chairperson, 45 Sandy Hill Road, Oyster Bay, NY 11771-3111 * Refreshments & informal talk begin at 7:30pm, the meeting starts at 8pm. For directions to MOLINS, please call 516-632-8230. The Long Island Botanical Society is dedicated to the promotion of field botany and a greater understanding of the plants that grow wild on Long Island, New York. President Vice President Treasurer Rec'rd Sec'y Cor'sp Sec'y Local Flora Field Trip Program Membership Conservation Education Hospitality Editor Eric Lamont Skip Blanchard Carol Johnston Barbara Conolly John Potente Steven Clemants Allan Lindberg Tom Meoli John Potente Lois Lindberg John Turner Karen Blumer Mary Laura Lamont Thomas Allen Stock Betty Lotowycz Jane Blanchard Eric Lamont LONG ISLAND BOTANICAL SOCIETY c/o Muttontown Preserve Mutton town Lane East Norwich, New York 1 1732 L.I. Botanical Society Nov. - Dec. 1999 Page 30