http:/ / www. vnps.org

A publication of the VIRGINIA NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY
Conserving wild flowers and wild places

Shenandoah Mountain Proposal

A study in environmental collaboration

A banana plant in Richmond? Come
to the Annual Meeting to see it.

Annual Meeting will
center on the James River

River, wildlife, history, recre-
ation — all in the middle of Richmond
on the lames. These features have
Richmond on the top 10 list of cities
in the nation, according to some sur-
veys. Visit lames River Park with natu-
ralist Ralph White as he tells stories
and leads you along its nature trails,
pointing out native plants, invasives
we all want to help remove, plus un-
usual "adventives" like pumpkins
and watermelons brought in by the
river. Maymont, with its history, 19th-
century gardens, a nature center
(See Then and Now , page 4)

Stretching across the western edge
of the Shenandoah Valley, Shenandoah
Mountain is one of the largest remain-
ing expanses of undisturbed forestland
in the Southern Appalachians. Located
in the George Washington National For-
est, it has five roadless areas, including
the 29,000-acre Little River, the largest
in the East. Reddish Knob, with a park-
ing lot on its summit, provides the best
vantage point for the wild central por-
tion of the 70-mile-long mountain. In fact.
President Bill Clinton chose this scenic
spot on Reddish Knob to announce his
Roadless Area Rule on October 13, 1999,
a rule that offers administrative protec-
tion of roadless areas in our national
forests. This rule has been challenged
repeatedly over the past 13 years.

The central portion of Shenandoah
Mountain between Route 33 and Route
250 just west of Harrisonburg and
Staunton boasts 10 peaks above 4,000
feet, 10 lakes and reservoirs, and some
of the best mountain scenery in the
commonwealth. It has headwaters of
both the Potomac and lames Rivers and
coldwater native trout streams, and it
supplies pure drinking water to
Staunton, Harrisonburg and other
towns and cities downstream.

Generations of Virginia families

have enjoyed hunting, fishing, camp-
ing, hiking, horseback riding, scenic
driving, birding and studying nature
on Shenandoah Mountain. Its 150
miles of trails offer both challenge and
terrific opportunities for solitude. A
new generation of mountain bikers
claims it offers some of the best moun-
tain biking in the East.

In addition to scenic beauty, out-
standing recreation, and clean water,
Shenandoah Mountain supports a great
variety of plant and animal life. In fact, it
sits on the northern edge of a biodiversity
hotspot identified by The Nature Con-
servancy. The Southern Appalachians
have the greatest diversity of sala-
manders of any place on earth, and
Shenandoah Mountain is home to two
species found nowhere else: Cow Knob
salamander and Shenandoah Mountain
salamander. It is a haven for black bear
who need refuge and freedom from too
much human access for sustainable
breeding populations. In addition to
serving as a migratory corridor, Shenan-
doah Mountain is home to 250 species
of birds, many of which need a mature
forest habitat.

With so many special qualities, it's
easy to see why groups have been trying

(See Shenandoah Mountain , page 6)

Inside: Register for the VNPS Annual Meeting

Bulletin of the Virginia Native Plant Society

From the president

Topsy-turvy thoughts involving nature

It's 2012, the year of the topsy-
turvyspring. We enjoyed most of
our wildflowers three weeks
ahead of time. It was nearly June
before we could turn the heat off, and now we have had
unseasonable heat in the middle of June. Do you won-
der if the insects and birds are confused? Still, the
wildflowers have been wonderful, from the trilliums on
the mountain to the "weeds" in the yard.

I'd like to send special thanks to Beth Umber ger
(New River Chapter) for arranging our trip to the
Florida Panhandle. We had good weather and great
botanical guides. We came home having seen memo-
rable sights, such as a forest of dwarf cypress, the
interesting limestone landscape surrounding Florida
Caverns, and the Apalachicola River from its bluffs,
from a boat and finally where it meets the Gulf of
Mexico. The plants were a mixture of some familiar
friends, some plants from our southeastern coastal
plain, and some species like palms that we don't see.

We had some interesting speakers in Winchester this
spring at a conference called Tomorrow's Landscapes.

The one who stands out for me was organic gardener Jeff
Lowenfels, from Alaska, who spoke about the soil food
web. Too bad he's so faraway, but luckily he is coauthor of
Teaming with Microbes: The Organic Gardener's Guide to
the Soil Food Web (available at my library!) that has the
information. While written for home gardeners, the
information about the soil and its inhabitants and pro-
cesses applies to all soil. Previously I thought of the soil as
a fairly uniform and random place. According to
Lowenfels and friends, that's not so. In fact, he says that
plants are at the center of the soil food web. They use a fair
amount of the energy they make by photosynthesis to
exude substances into the soils. These exudates attract soil
organisms to the root zone. Fascinating interactions ensue,
and the photos are amazing. Other authors on soil organ-
isms that I found through Lowenfels include James B.
Nardi, an entomologist and artist, and Elaine Ingham, a
microbiologist specializing in soil organisms. I have
something new to ponder in the garden or on botanical
walks this summer.

Hope to see you on the trail.

Your President, Sally Anderson

Wavyleaf basketgrass: Stay alert for this invasive plant

There's a new invasive plant threat to our native
plants for which VNPS members should be on the look-
out. Wavyleaf basketgrass ( Oplismenus hirtellus ssp.
undulatifolius) is an exotic grass taxon native to South-
east Asia. Two small populations of the perennial grass
were discovered in 1996 in Patapsco Valley State Park in
Maryland. Its identity was confirmed by botanists from
the Smithsonian Institution.

Resources quickly learned how invasive the Asian plant
was when it rapidly covered acres of wooded ground. In
the summer of 2008 four populations were discovered in
Virginia, including Shenandoah National Park.

The plant is similar in many ways to another inva-
sive, Japanese stiltgrass, that has been the target of inva-
sive plant removal efforts for the last 25 years. However,
wavyleaf basketgrass stems are fuzzy and hairy, while
Japanese stiltgrass stems are smooth. Wavyleaf
basketgrass leaves do not have a silvery stripe while Japa-
nese stiltgrass leaves have a reflecting silver stripe down
the middle of the leaf, or slightly to one side. Wavyleaf
basketgrass leaves have ripples across their width and
taper quickly to an elongated sharp point. Japanese
stiltgrass leaves end in a blunt point.

Wavyleaf basketgrass is spread by its very sticky, tiny
seeds, which sticks to mammals — people, horses, dogs
and wildlife. The most important time to avoid entering a
wavyleaf basketgrass patch is typically late July through
September, when the plant is blooming and producing its
sticky seeds.

In Virginia, the Piedmont Environment Council is
leading a task force to stop the spread of wavyleaf
basketgrass. Go to the PEC website (www.pecva.org) for
information on how to identify and eradicate this inva-
sive plant as well as how to report a location.

Summer 2012

Page 2

Bulletin of the Virginia Native Plant Society

. %

You have waited years for this opportunity!

Pre-order your Flora of Virginia now!

About the Book:

The Foundation of the Flora of Virginia Project Inc. and Botanical Research Institute of
Texas Press are collaborating to publish the Flora of Virginia. The Flora of Virginia , with
publication targeted for fall 2012, will describe approximately 3,200 taxa in 200 families
and feature 1,400 captioned, scaled, and botanically accurate illustrations. Introductory
material will include chapters on the natural history and vegetation of Virginia and a
historical account of botanical exploration in the state, as well as a key to the vascular
plant families represented in the Flora. A glossary, bibliography, and comprehensive in-
dex will also be provided. The authors are Alan S. Weakley, curator of the herbarium at the
University of North Carolina, J. Christopher Ludwig, chief biologist with the Virginia
Natural Heritage Program of the Department of Conservation and Recreation, and John F.
Townsend, staff botanist with the Virginia Natural Heritage Program.

ISBN-13: 978-1-889878-38-6
Expected Publication Date: Fall 2012

Copyright © Foundation of the Flora of Virginia Project Inc.

Specifications: 7.5"xl0.5" (hbk), approx. 1500 pp., 1400 b/w figs.

^Pre-orders can be made through e-mail, phone, fax, or mail. For more information or
to order, please contact Botanical Research Institute of Texas Press Assistant at 817-332-
4441 Ext. 232; FAX 817-332-4112; E-mail: orders@brit.org; or online www: http://
www.britpress.org.

Payment Information

PO #:

Check or money order payable to BRIT Press
Visa MC DISC AMEX

Card #

Expire Date

Name on Card

Signature

Tel. No.

Email

Shipping Address

Name

Addressl

Address2

City State ZIP

Country

Mail Order Form

Flora of Virginia

Please send payment to:

BRIT Press

1700 University Drive
Fort Worth, TX 76107-3400

$79.99 each

$6.50 shipping

(add $3 each additional copy)

$ Outside the U.S.A

contact orders@brit.org

$ SUBTOTAL

Texas residents add

8.25% tax to subtotal
$ TOTAL

Summer 2012 - Page 3

Then and Now Along the James

VNPS Annual Meeting, Sept. 14-16

(Continued from page 1)

landscaped with native plants and its view of the James River is a delight.
Contrast that with the Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens and learn its history as a
farm, 19th-century club, private home — see it then and now.

Residents who are trying to convert their own gardens to native plants,
either for butterflies, or just on general principles, have opened their yards to us
to showcase what can be done in urban and suburban areas. Another adventure
with "then and now."

If wilder areas suit you better, explore trails at the Rice Center with Virginia
Commonwealth University staff. This property has been converted from farming
to a Boy Scout Camp with a lake for swimming, and now to a research center
where the natural vegetation changes are encouraged. The dam has been re-
moved to restore the wetland in place of the lake.

Walking the Dutch Gap Conservation Area trails with leader John Hayden,
professor of biology at University of Richmond and VNPS Botany Chair, will
present a completely different view of the river. An oxbow lake cut off by the
Dutch Gap canal — another source of historical stories — is closing in with veg-
etation that changes year to year, season to season. Have you seen stands of wild
rice in shimmering golden bloom? Follow VNPS member Richard Moss around
the trails at Point of Rocks to look for rattlesnake master, ladies tresses, partridge
pea, gerardia, and — who knows what else?

Come join members of the Pocahontas Chapter to hear Leonard Adkins tell
stories about his hikes along the Blue Ridge photographing the wildflowers as he
traveled. His pictures are accompanied by the most entertaining stories reflecting
his wonderful sense of humor. Then stay for Saturday night's celebration of the
society's 30th birthday and recognition of VNPS Charter Members. Ecologist Rob-
ert Wright, our keynote speaker, will tie the flora of the Blue Ridge to that of the
areas along the James and describe his project to restore Forest Hi ll Park. He will
regale us with tales of his extensive explorations along the banks of the James.

Finally, we've planned easy but interesting Sunday trips so that you will
leave with great memories and a new appreciation of the landscape history
around our state capital, but won't be too tired to travel home!

Catharine White Tucker • Pocahontas Chapter President

Page 4

These photos provide a small
sneak preview of what is in
store for those who sign up for
the Virginia Native Plant Soci-
ety Annual Meeting in Septem-
ber. At the top left , river birch
frame the James River and
shade its banks; the top right
photograph provides a winter
view of Dutch Gap Conserva-
tion Area. Fall displays at the
conservation area will feature
white , yellow and pink flowers
against the lush greenery. The
photograph above shows a
flower border at Maymont.

- Summer 2012

Bulletin of the Virginia Native Plant Society

Partridge berry

Closely paired Rowers produce single fruit

Perhaps one of the most striking
features of partridge berry ( Mitchella
repens), the 2012 VNPS Wildflower of
the Year, is its closely paired flowers
that yield a single berry fruit (figure
1). That these fruits are double struc-
tures, formed by pairs of flowers, is

revealed in the presence of two dis-
crete rings of five sepals each on the
fruit apex, or in some cases, by a single
ring of 10 sepals. Viewed in isolation,
without context, the nature of these
double fruits may seem perplexing,
but as in so many things, a compara-
tive perspective helps to make sense
of conundrums such as this one.

First, let's consider the paired oc-
currence of flowers. While two-by-two
is the usual configuration, examina-
tion of many partridge berry plants in
flower will reveal occasional excep-
tions. As pointed out by Blaser (1954),
instances in which three flowers are
produced (figure 2) are significant, as
u are instances in which
| anatomical /micro-

scopic remnants
of a third flower
can be found be-
tween the two
well-developed
flowers. These ob-
servations sug-
gest that, funda-
mentally, par-
tridge berry
2 produces flowers
in a pattern known as a cyme, or di-
chasium. Cymes constitute one of the
fundamental inflorescence patterns
found in flowering plants; a cyme is
characterized by one flower that ter-
minates a stem and a pair of flowers
that diverge from opposite sides of the
stem at the node directly below the ter-
minal flower; typically, the terminal
flower opens first, followed by the two
lateral flowers. Potentially, flower
Summer 2012

production in cymes can continue by
successive repetition of pairs of later
flowers forming below earlier flowers.
Cymes are widespread in Rubiaceae,
the family in which partridge berry is
classified. It should be easy, therefore,
to interpret the paired flowers of par-
tridge berry (figure 3) as a simple cyme
in which the terminal flower is absent
and the rare instances of three-flowered
clusters (figure 2) as a typical, simple,
cyme. Further, the flowers are tightly
paired simply because their individual
pedicels (flower stalks) are very short.

A parallel situation exists in the hon-
eysuckle family,,

Caprifoliaceae. 1
Like Rubiaceae,
this family has
cyme-based inflo-
rescences, and two-
flowered cymes with
terminal flowers absent
are common. Examples
include the
twin-flower
( Linnaea bo-
realis, SO beloved Figure 3

by Linnaeus that he named the plant for
himself), beauty bush ( Kolkwitzia
amabilis), and honeysuckles ( Lonicera
species). The paired flowers of honey-
suckles are particularly interesting in
that a series of species show progres-
sive degrees of fusion between the ova-
ries of paired flowers (Wilkinson 1948):
the American fly-honeysuckle (L.
canadensis ) has essentially no fusion of
paired ovaries, various species shows
intermediate degrees of fusion, while the
paired ovaries of sweet-breath-of-spring
(L. fragran tissima) can be fused for
nearly their entire length but still re-
tain, as in partridge berry, two distinct
remnants of calyx (sepals) at the apex
(figure 4). The double fruits of
partridge berry
and sweet-
breath-of-
spring appear
tobemorpho-
logically
equivalent
Figure 4 structures.

This illustrates, I hope, the power
of a comparative perspective to make
sense of plant form. All the intermedi-
ate stages may not be known in
Rubiaceae, but given a simple three-
flowered cyme as a hypothetical start-
ing point and tightly paired flowers
with fused ovaries and fruits as an end-
point, similar intermediate stages to
those seen in Caprifoliaceae may be in-
ferred to have occurred in the ancestry
of Mitchella.

Viewed from another perspective,
partridge berry represents the small
end of the scale in terms of floral aggre-
gation in Rubiaceae. Consider, for ex-
ample, buttonbush ( Cephalanthus
occidentalis ), in which hundreds of
flowers are tightly gathered into a glo-
bose head-like inflorescence, which can
be interpreted as the condensation prod-
uct of an extremely large compound
cyme consisting of many flowers. In
buttonbush, unlike partridge berry, the
flowers are merely close, not really
fused together; in fact, each floret is
separated from its neighbors by several
minute bracts. Other globe-headed
Rubiaceae with crowded but separate
flowers are known, for example the
Asian genus Adina, sometimes culti-
vated as an ornamental.

Finally, we should consider
Moiinda, another globe-headed genus of
Rubiaceae, but one in which the densely
crowded ovaries do fuse together, a la
those of Mitchella. There are about 80
species of Morinda found throughout the
tropics including M. royoc , a vine-like
shrub or small tree that extends from the
Caribbean into southern Florida and M.
citrifolia, the noni fruit, originally native
to tropical Asia but now cultivated
throughout warm regions. M.
yucatanensis (figure 5) — a plant that I
know from the forests of Yucatan,
Mexico — and for which the general re-
semblance to partridge berry should be
obvious is illustrated on page 8. In the
much larger flower clusters of Morinda,
however, flowering is sequential, rather
than simultaneous as in partridge berry.
Nevertheless, each component ovary of
(See Similar behavior, page 8)

Page 5

Bulletin of the Virginia Native Plant Society

P art of what makes Shenandoah Mountain special
is the diversity of flora and fauna found there. Shenan-
doah Mountain is a stronghold for mountain fetterbush
(below) ( Pieris floribunda) and eastern turkeybeard
(Xerophyllum asphodeloides). Both plants, which are lim-
ited in range, are found in abundance in the higher el-
evations of Shenandoah Mountain. Popular sites for en-
joying wildflowers are Reddish Knob, which has easy
paved access by car, and Ramseys Draft Wilderness.

•Shenandoah Mountain: A Special Place

(Continued from page 1)

for decades to gain permanent protec-
tion for Shenandoah Mountain. So far,
only the 6,800-acre Ramseys Draft Wil-
derness, designated in 1984, has per-
manent protection.

A new threat is adding urgency to
efforts to protect Shenandoah Moun-
tain: industrial energy development.
The entire Shenandoah Mountain is
underlain by marcellus shale, a source
of natural gas. Although traditional
gas wells in marcellus shale were un-
productive, a method called
"hydrofracking" now makes it pos-
sible to extract gas from marcellus
shale. This method is being used ex-
tensively in West Virginia and Penn-
sylvania. Contrary to popular belief.
National Forest land can be leased for
gas development. In fact, the 5,500-
acre Shaws Ridge in the GWNF just
west of Shenandoah Mountain was
leased by a Texas company in Decem-
ber of 2007, although no drilling per-
mit requests have yet been filed. The
new forest plan will likely make 1 mil-
lion acres available for lease.

Page 6

Shenandoah Mountain is also a
potential site for industrial wind tur-
bines. West Virginia now has hun-
dreds of 400-foot turbines on its moun-
tain ridges. High bird and bat kills
have been recorded around some of
these giant turbines. Private landhold-
ers are in the process of developing
wind on Cow Knob along the north-
ern part of Shenandoah Mountain. We
expect pressure to develop domestic
energy to continue increasing.

The Shenandoah Mountain that
Virginians have enjoyed for genera-
tions is now at a crossroads. Its fu-
ture depends on how much the pub-
lic and our policymakers value the
benefits we now enjoy from a natural
Shenandoah Mountain.

In 2002, the Virginia Wilderness
Committee reached out to mountain
bike leaders from Harrisonburg to see
if we could find common ground and
join forces to protect the area. Wilder-
ness advocates and mountain bikers do
not always see eye-to-eye since mecha-
nized transport (i.e. mountain bikes) is
not allowed in wilderness areas. Yet,

mountain bikers appreciate the natu-
ral beauty of Shenandoah Mountain,
one of their favorite places to ride, and
wanted to see it protected.

After three years of negotiations,
wilderness advocates and mountain
bikers were able to hammer out an
agreement called the Shenandoah
Mountain Proposal. The proposal
calls for congressional designation of
115,000 acres of central Shenandoah
Mountain between Route 33 and
Route 250 as a combination of Wilder-
ness and National Scenic Area. Bound-
aries were carefully drawn to maximize
trail access by mountain bikers and
keep all roads open. The agreement also
supports National Scenic Area desig-
nation for Kelley Mountain-Big Levels
near Sherando Lake and Wilderness
designation for Laurel Fork in the far
corner of Highland County.

Friends of Shenandoah Mountain
grew out of this collaborative effort. It
is a group with the sole purpose of gain-
ing congressional protection of these
three areas. Thomas Jenkins, owner of
(See Agreement page 7)

Summer 2011

Bulletin of the Virginia Native Plant Society

•Agreement

(Continued from page 6)

the Shenandoah Bicycle Company in
Harrisonburg, and I, a past president
of Virginia Wilderness Committee,
were asked to serve as co-chairs to
strengthen our continuing collabora-
tion. Friends of Shenandoah Mountain
has been actively seeking endorse-
ments by organizations, businesses,
and faith groups. VNPS was an early
endorser of the proposal. The list of
endorsers has grown to 55 organiza-
tions, 13 faith groups, and 95 busi-
nesses. Tourism-related businesses see
National Scenic and Wilderness Areas
as being good for our local economy
by drawing visitors to our area.

During the past five years, the
GWNF has been developing a new for-
est plan, which it is required to do ev-
ery 15 years or so. In an effort to satisfy
its many stakeholders, the GWNF plan-
ners proposed several alternatives, but
none of these satisfied all the interest
groups. Each alternative seemed to have
a "poison pill." Mark Mil ler of the Vir-
ginia Wilderness Committee and John
Hancock of the Virginia Forestry Asso-
ciation stated in a forest planning meet-
ing that they thought stakeholders
could work together and come up with
a better alternative on their own. In Sep-

tember 2010, representatives from tim-
ber, wildlife management, wilderness,
mountain biking, off-road driving,
hunting, and fishing came together to
see if they could find common ground.
Friends of Shenandoah Mountain was
among these groups. The University of
Virginia Center for Environmental Ne-
gotiation led several of the meetings that
took place over the course of a year. In
addition to these meetings, selected rep-
resentatives went on field trips to areas
of contention. This whole effort of stake-
holders, who are ordinarily in opposi-
tion to each other, trying to work to-
gether involved a great deal of listening
and learning, not just explaining one's
own point of view. I believe it is fair to
say that we all learned to respect each
other's perspective. We agreed where
we could and agreed to disagree where
we could not. The result of the stake-
holders' meetings was a joint set of
comments that was submitted to the
GWNF in October 2011. The stakehold-
ers' agreement was signed by 14 orga-
nizations, including groups as di-
verse as Virginia Wilderness Commit-
tee, Virginia Forestry Association, In-
ternational Mountain Biking Asso-
ciation, and Virginia Wild Turkey
Federation. Who would have thought
this possible?

The stakeholders' agreement sup-
ports a modified Shenandoah Moun-
tain National Scenic Area and the cre-
ation of other wilderness areas (now
totaling 86,000 acres). It also supports
a Beech Lick Knob Wilderness and sev-
eral Wilderness additions unrelated to
the Shenandoah Mountain Proposal.
Along with these recommendations,
the agreement calls for an increase in
early successional habitat by timber
management and more trails. In the case
of Shenandoah Mountain, core natural
areas could be designated as National
Scenic or Wilderness areas, and areas
around the periphery could be managed
for deer, turkey and grouse. When these
goals are worked on side by side in just
the right balance, the result could be
win-win. From our perspective, these
compromises have strengthened the
Shenandoah Mountain Proposal, en-
abling broader acceptance and support.

Most importantly, the stakeholders'
agreement calls for the Forest Service
to institute a process that involves
stakeholders in the planning stages of
large projects in the GWNF. Each
project would include wildlife manage-
ment by timber and / or prescribed burn-
ing, an improvement in the recreation
resource, and a recommendation for

(See GWNF plan , page 8)

See the address label for your membership expiration date

VNPS Membership /Renewal Form

Name(s)

Address

City State Zip

Individual $30 Student $15

Family $40 Associate (groups) $40*

Patron $50 Sustaining $100

Life $500

*Please designate one person as delegate for Associate membership
To give a gift membership or join additional chapters: Enclose dues, name, address, and
chapter (non-voting memberships in any other than your primary chapter are $5)

I wish to make an additional contribution to VNPS or Chapter in the

amount of $10 $25 $50 $100 $(Other)

Check if you do not wish your name to be exchanged with similar organizations

Check if you do not wish your name to be listed in a chapter directory

Which chapter do you wish to join? (See www.vnps.org)

Paying by credit card? MC Visa Discover Exp. date

Card # Security code Signature

Make check payable to VNPS and mail to:

VNPS Membership Chair, Blandy Experimental Farm, 400 Blandy Farm Lane, Unit 2,
Boyce, VA 22620

Membership dues are tax deductible in the amount they exceed $5. Contributions are tax deductible in accordance with IRS regulations.

The Bulletin

ISSN 1085-9632
is published five times a year
(Feb., April, June, August, Nov.)
by the

Virginia Native Plant Society

Blandy Experimental Farm
400 Blandy Farm Lane, Unit 2
Boyce, VA 22620

(540) 837-1600

vnpsofc@shentel.net

www.vnps.org

Sally Anderson, President
Nancy Sorrells, Editor

Original material contained in the Bulletin may be
reprinted, provided credit is given to VNPS and the
author, if named. Readers are invited to send letters,
news items, or original articles for the editor's con-
sideration. Items should be typed, on disk in Microsoft
Word or e-mailed to: Editor, 3419 Cold Springs Rd.,
Greenville, VA24440, or lotswife@comcast.net
The deadline for the next issue is July 20, 2012.

Summer 2012

Page 7

Bulletin of the Virginia Native Plant Society

•GWNFplan

(Continued from page 7)
permanent protection of a core area. At
1.1 million acres the GWNF is large
enough to meet all these goals.

The GWNF plan will come out in
July 2012. It remains to be seen whether
the plan will incorporate the recom-
mendations of the stakeholders' agree-
ment. I hope so, because the collabora-
tive effort of this group embodies the
power of cooperation. At a time when
polarization seems to be the norm, it is
inspiring to see such diverse groups
able to work together successfully to
achieve their goals for our public lands.
Purists might find this type of coopera-
tion to be too painful. But for those who
want to protect special places, what is
the alternative? It takes broad public
support for congressional designa-
tions, and the Sixth Congressional Dis-
trict is a tough one. But if congressional
designations go hand-in-hand with an
increase in management for wildlife
species and more emphasis on recre-
ation, then it really does seem possible
to gain permanent protection for
Shenandoah Mountain.

By Lynn Cameron , Co-Chair
Friends of Shenandoah Mountain

• Similar behavior

(Continued from page 5)

Morinda retains its individual calyx
and all the fruits are thoroughly fused
together, just like partridge berry, but
in Morinda, a dozen or more flowers,
rather than just two, are fused together.

In fact, the fruit of Morinda , like mul-
berries and pineapples, is a good ex-
ample of what is known botanically as
a multiple fruit.

And here is another example of the
benefits of a comparative perspective.

The double berries of Mitchella are sel-
dom described as multiple fruits, but
clearly, that is what they are. Funda-
mentally, it matters not that only two
fruits derived from two flowers are
fused together; fused fruits from closely
spaced flowers define the term. Never-
theless, it may seem a stretch to assert
that little partridge berries are in some
fashion morphologically equivalent to
much larger examples of multiple fruits
like mulberries and pineapples. Com-
paring partridge berry with Morinda,
however, should remove any doubt; the
only real difference between the two is
the number of flowers/ fruits that are
ultimately fused together. So, partridge

All illustrations by
Nicky Sta un ton

berries and their paired double fruits
are not so odd, not so idiosyncratic,
after all — at least they are no stranger
than pineapples. The two fused ova-
ries of partridge berry that form a single
common fruit is merely the simplest
possible example (n=2) of a multiple
fruit. A comparative perspective per-
mits one to see perplexing structures
for what they really are.

References

•Blaser, J. L. 1954. The morphology of the
flower and inflorescence of Mitchella
repens. American Journal of Botany 41:
533-539.

•Wilkinson, A. M. 1948. Floral anatomy
and morphology of some species of the
tribe Lonicereae of Carpifoliaceae. Ameri-
can Journal of Botany 35: 261-271.

John Hayden, VNPS Botany Chair