Summer/Fall 2017 M The Quarterly of the Virginia Native Plant Society

Find Your ‘Natural Community’ in Virginia

Virginia Natural Heritage Chief Biologist Chris Ludwig, University of Wisconsin ecologist Ellen Damschen, Virginia Natural Heritage Staff
Botanist Johnny Townsend, and University of Wisconsin ecologist John Orrock explore a recently discovered shale barren in Douthat
State Park. At right is the sweeping expanse of an open shale barren atop South Sister Knob. (Photographs by Jason Bulluck)

From Your

Jp - Natural Heritage

b > Jason Bulluck

W e all want happy, healthy

communities. We hear about
the fortunes of finding one’s sense
of place. Such a phrase renders up
mental images of children playing,
community gardens, and wholesome
neighborhood gatherings. Indeed, we
all are better off when we find these
avenues to well-being.

What if there were the same recog¬
nition for natural communities? What
if the values of natural communities
were just as colloquial, commonly
sought and equally promoted? What if
everyone had a favorite that we wanted
to know better, that we daydreamed
about, visited, talked about, and even
waved our flags for on social media?

Well, your friends at the Virginia
Natural Heritage Program want that.
Our ecologists have just completed
Version 3.0 of The Natural Commu¬
nities of Virginia (http://www.dcr.
virginia.gov/ natural-heritage/natu-
ral-communities/ncintro). We are al¬
ways looking for ways to bring natural
communities into the spotlight. After
all, they—the species assemblages,
the landforms, the ecological pro¬
cesses—are the backdrop for the rare
species that we seek to understand and
protect. And when intact and protect¬
ed, they are windows into the past,
into the natural history that was the
foundation for our Virginia history.

Recently I spent a day visiting a
few Central Appalachian shale barrens
with staff botanist Johnny Townsend
and chief biologist Chris Ludwig. We
took with us two researchers from the
University of Wisconsin who are espe¬
cially intrigued by the natural history

and vegetation of these communities,
which can sometimes resemble grass¬
lands more than woodlands.

We started in northeastern Bath
County, George Washington Jeffer¬
son National Forest, hiking up the
Shenandoah Mountain Trail toward
the twin peaks known as Sister
Knobs. There were some treats on
the way up the trail: pockets of
full-bloom Aruncus dioicus (Goat’s-
beard) with longhorned beetles polli¬
nating them. We heard the singing of
Yellow-billed Cuckoos, Pine Warblers,
Ovenbirds, Red-eyed Vireos, Scarlet
Tanagers, and Worm-eating Warblers.
A surprise found blooming along the
trail was the globally rare Phlox buck-
leyi (Sword-leaf Phlox). Discovery of
this charismatic shale-country phlox,
never before documented in the area,
pointedly demonstrates the need for
continued inventory of even our most
well-known sites, (continued)

2

Sempervirens ; Summer/Fall 2017

Cray Beardtongue (Penstemon canescens) on the Shenandoah Mountain Trail near summit of South
Sister Knob in Bath County.

As we ascended, the increasingly
barren nature of the forest became
apparent. Even below a closed
canopy, the acidic, thin shale soils
made for a wide-open understory
with an evolving suite of plants that
tolerate such stressful conditions.

On the flank of South Sister Knob,
we reached our destination: a fully
exposed shale grassland with a mix
of prairie and shale-barren endem¬
ic species, thriving on the harsh,
southwest-facing slope. This odd
community type is known as a Cen¬
tral Appalachian Shale Ridge Prairie/
Bald, a rare habitat type known only
from west-central Virginia.

There we saw Virginia White-
haired Leatherflower ( Clematis
albicoma) , a shale-barren endemic
known only from Virginia and West
Virginia; Gray Beardtongue ( Pen¬
stemon canescens ); Kates Moun¬
tain Clover ( Trifolium virginicum ),
another characteristic shale species
that ranges north to Pennsylvania;
and Shale-barren Pussytoes ( An -
tennaria virginica) in bloom. Other

significant plants known from this
site include the rare grasses Arctic
Brome ( Bromus kalmii) and Slender
Wheatgrass ( Elymus trachycaulus ),
as well as the federally endangered
Shale Barren Rock Cress ( Boechera
serotina). And how confusing to
look down and also find Common
Ragweed ( Ambrosia artemisiifo-
lia) and Daisy Fleabane ( Erigeron
strigosus) in such a spectacular
community! But yes, these species
are right at home in these droughty
barrens and rock outcrops as well as
the poor, dry, hot, and abused soils
of roadsides all over Virginia.

In an area completely devoid of
trees, the slope of South Sister Knob
provides quite the vista to West
Virginia, where every parallel ridge
seemed to repeat the same vegetation
patterns. Looking southwest you see
more shale barrens on the dry slopes
of adjacent mountains. Looking
northeast, you see more of the same.
This expanse of shale woodlands
may be of little use for agriculture,
but it provides Virginia with a wealth

of unique communities
and plant species.

We also visited a couple
of recently discovered shale
barrens within the bound¬
aries of Douthat State
Park. There was full-bloom
Erysimum capitatum
var. capitatum (Western
Wallflower), found in only
a few locations in Bath and
Alleghany counties, and
new populations of the
to-be-described shale bar¬
ren violet ( Viola sp.); the
latter species’ global range
includes only Bath and
Alleghany counties. Again,
from the base of the slope,
these sites were nearly
indistinguishable from sur¬
rounding forest. But once
on the barren, looking along the slope
and across valleys, one sees that these
odd communities, though restricted
to Virginia’s Ridge and Valley, are
very much a part of that otherwise
forest-dominated landscape.

We stood there speculating about
the floristic likenesses and dispari¬
ties of each barren, pondering how
the flora colonized and assembled
there—seed by lucky seed—over
evolutionary time. As we looked at
the centuries-old, tortured red cedars
clinging to the ledges, I couldn’t help
but think of Charlie Brown’s Christ¬
mas tree, scant, scraggly, bedraggled,
apparently of little use, yet, like these
shale barrens, utterly charming and
like no other. How’s that for a sense
of place? ♦♦♦

Jason Bulluck is director of the
Virginia Natural Heritage Program,
a division of the Department of
Conservation and Recreation. Learn
more about Virginia’s Natural Area
Preserves at www.dcr.virginia.gov/
natural-heritage

Sempervirens, Summer/Fall 2017

3

Opportunities
Will Abound
at Tri-State
Conference

Fall colors, such as this sumac against a backdrop of golden trees are what conference-
goers can look forward to at the Tri-State Conference. (E.M. Truax photo)

E xcitement continues to build for
the Tri-State Native Plant Confer¬
ence this fall (Sept. 29-Oct. 1), spon¬
sored by the native plant societies of
Virginia, Maryland, and West Virgin¬
ia. By the last day of July it was sold
out, much to the relief of the Potow-
mack Chapter members, the VNPS
hosts for the meeting. The chapter
provided a strong commitment to the
conference in order to secure the site,
which is the National Conservation
Training Center in Shepherdstown,
W.Va., a beautiful 550-acre campus
nestled on the Potomac River. Attend¬
ees will enjoy exclusive use of the cam¬
pus throughout the conference.

Wesley Knapp, keynote speaker on
Friday night, recently commented that
“a multistate conference like this is
of exceptional importance. Rarely do
we look across our state lines to see,
learn, and explore, but that is arguably
the most effective way to broaden your
knowledge base regarding species
identification and habitat types.”

Knapp, mountains botanist and

Some participants can expect to see
Eurybia divaricata, the White Wood Aster.
(E.M. Truax photo)

ecologist for the North Carolina Nat¬
ural Heritage Program, spent many
years with Maryland’s Natural Her¬
itage Program and has both a broad
and intimate knowledge of Mid-At¬
lantic plant communities. He made
the observation that networking is not
something most scientists or nature
lovers do naturally. Typically these
types “prefer isolation and quiet,” said
Knapp, “but meeting and discussing
conservation goals with like-minded
people from other states allows us to
have more impact as a conservation
community by focusing our thoughts
and honing our message.”

The role of individuals and con¬
servation partners such as native plant
societies and conservation groups is
enormously important, Knapp said.
“The mid-Atlantic is a well-researched
and -inventoried region, but boots on
the ground are thin. We need more
people with eyes for detail combing
natural areas and ruderal habitats
alike to document the flora. Additions
to state floras are being made in great
numbers. You, too, can make discover¬
ies by exploring lands.” In his talk on
Friday, he will discuss methods for the
discovery and inventory of important,
rare, and new species.

Participants at this year’s meeting

will be able put their new skills to
use as they explore an abundance
of diverse habitats. Field trips will
range from the heights of Ferry Hill
and Ice Mountain to the wetlands
of Cranesville Swamp. Walks along
the C&O Canal, at the Blue Ridge
Center, Cool Springs Preserve, and
more will provide opportunities to
observe and learn more about the fall
wildflowers, shrubs, trees and ferns.

Saturday’s keynote speaker,
Rodney Bartgis, and Kevin Dodge,
who will be leading trips to both Ice
Mountain and Cranesville Swamp,
are old partners. They collaborated
to create a self-guided audio tour
of Cranesville Swamp, one of the
first sites to be designated as a
National Natural Landmark. This
special spot, home to many rare
species, is protected by The Nature
Conservancy. On Saturday night,
Dodge will be entertaining around
a real campfire with his standout
show, “Sounds of Nature,” some of
which were certainly inspired by his
time at Cranesville. Can’t make the
conference? Enjoy the audio tour at
home. You can link to the map and
audio tour at http://tinyurl.com/map-
audiotour.

—Suzanne Dingwell, Website Manager

Sempervirens ; Summer/Fall 2017

From the President

Huntley Meadows: My Sense of Place'

A s my Facebook friends know
all too well, Harry and I visit
Huntley Meadows Park in Fairfax
County every Monday morning.
Harry has been leading the park’s
official Monday Morning Bird Walk
for many years now, and I have been
assisting. While it’s difficult for this
night owl to get up so early in the
morning to drive nearly an hour
for this 7 a.m. walk, the ritual is
rewarding.

We arrive about a half hour
before the official start, and I begin
a solo sweep at a brisk pace. In the
summer, the forest is just awaken¬
ing. Robins and Cardinals are the
early risers and the most vocal. As
the summer progresses, the sounds
of insect life begin to crescendo. A
Barred Owl might startle at my pass¬
ing and reward me with a glimpse of
his silent and magnificent wing span.
He will follow me with his large eyes
once he settles on a branch. Early
morning light shimmers through the
forest canopy.

I alight from the woods and
enter the boardwalk in the central
wetland. While Huntley Meadows
does, indeed, have some meadows,
it is best known for its magnificent
wetlands smack in the middle of
some of the densest development
in Fairfax County, just blocks from
busy Route 1. Herons perch on logs
and stealthily and patiently seek fish
and frogs for breakfast. The inundat¬
ed trees have died but now provide
habitat for Bluebird and woodpecker
nests. Canada Geese honk and settle
in along the edges. An Osprey may
appear, circle the wetland, then skill¬

fully dive and make off with a reward,
maybe a nonnative snakehead this
time. Red-winged Blackbirds screech
“o-ka-leee” from the cattails, and
a beautiful Common Yellowthroat
sings “wichity-wichity-wich” from a
willow. Swallows and swifts buzz the
wetland, inhaling insects. Frogs croak,
and a muskrat swims by with some
vegetation in its mouth. An Indigo
Bunting sings in couplets from the
top of a Red Maple ( Acer rubrum)
at the edge of the wetland. The small
Gnatcatcher nest is camouflaged with
lichens visible in that same tree; a
large snapping turtle covered in mud
is barely visible in the shallow water.

I return to the woods and meet up
with the birding group as its mem¬
bers listen for flycatchers and vireos.

I share my preliminary report and we
re-enter the wetland, stroll at leisure,
and share our discoveries.

This place is alive! Each season
brings its rewards. In the winter,
snow or ice makes the tree outlines
a wonderland and numerous ducks
call the wetland home. In spring the
forest floor is carpeted with Spring
Beauties ( Claytonia virginica) and
edged with Sweet Cicely ( Osmorhiza
claytonii) . The bird migration
brings many fleeting visitors. As
spring turns to summer, breeding
season brings a flurry of animal
activity. Purple Milkweed ( Asclepias
purpuras cens), Larger Blue Flag ( Iris
versicolor ), Swamp Roses ( Rosa
palustris ), Lizard’s-tail ( Saururus
cernuus ), Buttonbush ( Cephalanthus
occidentalis) , Swamp Milkweed
(.Asclepias incarnata ), and Swamp
Rose-mallow ( Hibiscus moscheutos)

provide sweeps of color and nurture
many butterflies and pollinators. A
specimen Turk’s-cap Lily ( Lilium
superbum ), Square-stemmed
Monkeyflower ( Mimulus ringens ),
and White Turtlehead ( Chelone
glabra) engage the discerning eye.
Dragonflies and damselflies join the
insect cornucopia. Later ripening
Common Elderberries ( Sambucus
canadensis) , Viburnums, and
Winterberry Holly ( Ilex verticillata)
provide berries and fruits to feed the
wildlife. As fall comes, the wetland
vegetation takes on magnificent
shades that complement the colors
of the surrounding trees.

Huntley Meadows is a special
place and well loved by the public.
The Virginia Native Plant Society
designated it as a registry site many
years ago. As noted on our website,
“The registry is a voluntary program
designed by the VNPS to protect the
plant treasures residing in natural
communities throughout Virginia.
Landowners who agree to register
their properties as Virginia Native
Plant Sites take an important step to¬
ward preserving the natural features
of the land.”

I enjoy visiting this special place
regularly throughout the year.
Watching the seasonal progression
and the adaptations of the plant and
animal life is a rewarding experi¬
ence. Our wonderful native plants
support so much life. I hope that all
of our members have a natural area
near them where they can follow the
seasonal changes. Natural areas need
our protection and love.

Sempervirens, , Summer/Fall 2017

5

Huntley Meadows Park

H untley Meadows Park consists of
1,500 acres nestled within some
of the densest development in the
Alexandria area of Fairfax County
The main entrance is about a mile
from Richmond Highway (Route 1),
on Lockheed Boulevard. The park is
owned and operated by the Fairfax
County Park Authority The Friends
of Huntley Meadows Park is a non¬
profit community group dedicated to
preserving and protecting the park’s
natural resources.

WANT TO VISIT?

Using a GPS to find Huntley
Meadows Park by name is un¬
reliable. Instead, enter the street
address 3701 Lockheed Blvd,
Alexandria, VA 22306. The final
destination should show the corner
of Harrison Lane and Lockheed
Boulevard.

A WEALTH OF NATIVE PLANTS

Clockwise, from left: An expanse of Swamp
Rose-mallow ( Hibiscus moscheutos ); a
Swamp Rose-mallow in bud; a Great Span¬
gled Frittilary on Purple Milkweed (Asclepias
purpurascens ); Cardinal Flower ( Lobelia cardi-
nalis ); and Turk’s-cap Lily (L ilium superbum).
Top, view from the observation tower in the
early morning. (Nancy Vehrs photos)

6

Sempervirens ; Summer/Fall 2017

ON THE COMPLEXITY OF SIMPLES

Pharmacognosy and Actaea racemosa

Article and illustrations by W. John Hayden, Botany Chair.

Figures 1 and 2. Root and rhizome of Actaea racemosa as seen in cross section. Dark-
gray regions represent first-formed (primary) xylem, light gray represents later-formed
(secondary) xylem. Figure 1. Root; central diamond-shaped area of primary xylem; the
Maltese cross-like pattern develops as secondary xylem is added to the root. Figure 2.
Rhizome; xylem in the form of radially elongate patches of cells; primary xylem is inner¬
most. Figures 1 and 2 redrawn by W. John Hayden from Wintermute ( 1905).

P harmacognosy, a discipline at
the intersection of botany and
medicine, deals with knowledge
about medicines derived from plants
(Youngken 1950). A central goal of
pharmacognosy is the accurate and
consistent taxonomic identification
of medicinal plants and medicinal
plant products. Unlike drugstore
pill bottles, medicinal plants in
nature do not come with labels. One
aspect of pharmacognosy, then, is
the identification of whole plants
found in nature. Much as in field
botany and plant systematics, this
aspect of pharmacognosy involves
learning to recognize species by
overall appearance (gestalt), or by
dichotomous keys, or both.

Seldom, however, do entire plants
possess desirable medical properties.
Rather, depending on the species,
useful compounds tend to be con¬
centrated in just one or a few plant
organs. In the case of Actaea race¬
mosa (Black Cohosh), the Virginia
Native Plant Society’s 2017 Wildflow-
er of the Year, medicinal properties
are concentrated in the roots and
rhizomes (see sidebar). For other me¬
dicinal plants, leaves, flowers, fruits,
or seeds are prized.

Typically, once a medicinal
plant is found, only the organs with
medicinal properties are harvested,
and these crude bits of plant matter
are known as simples. Simples
are usually dried for storage and
subsequently may be shredded or
pulverized. Obviously, it is just as
important to be confident of the
identity of one’s stockpile of sim¬
ples as it is to know their sources in
the field. Consequently, pharmacog¬

nosy also strives to provide means
for identifying isolated and dried
plant organs, whether intact, sliced,
diced, or powdered. Identification
of simples is, thus, a particularly
challenging aspect of pharmacog¬
nosy, which by necessity adopts the
tools and techniques of comparative
microscopic plant anatomy. This ar¬
ticle explores anatomical aspects of
Black Cohosh used in pharmacog¬
nosy to aid in identification of this
significant medicinal plant. Much
of the information discussed here
was developed in the late 19th and
early 20th centuries, but remains
relevant today.

Before delving into the details
of Black Cohosh’s microscopic
structure, it is worth noting that the
diversity of plant form (sometimes
referred to as disparity) is pervasive
at all levels of biological organiza¬
tion. From whole plant architecture
to the microscopic bumps on pollen
grains, the plant kingdom encom¬

passes a staggering array of forms.
It is disparity of form that allows
allergists to identify pollen grains
caught floating in air or investiga¬
tors to identify fragments of leaves
or stems found at crime scenes.
Pharmacognosy similarly exploits
this fundamental disparity of plant
form. The whole point, of course,
is to guarantee correct identity of
natural medicine ingredients and to
guard against adulteration.

A noteworthy aspect of the roots
and rhizomes of Actaea racemosa is
that their internal tissues are yellow,
a somewhat unusual feature that
certainly helps in identification when
confronting an apothecary’s simple.
But other plants in the Buttercup
Family (Ranunculaceae) and the
closely related Barberry Family
(Berberidaceae) have similar yellow
pigments in their roots and rhizomes.
Consequently, additional anatomical
details of each organ are required to
assure correct identification.

Sempervirens ; Summer/Fall 2017

7

Black Cohosh
in the Wild:
Let It Be!

B lack Cohosh is in demand
as a medicinal plant be¬
cause it produces a number of
biologically active compounds.
In addition to antioxidant caf-
feic acids, multiple steroidlike
triterpenes, and a number of
different alkaloids and amines,
are present. In short, there are
many different molecules that
interact with the nervous sys¬
tem and hormonal regulation.
In fact, so many biologically
active compounds are present
that scientific deciphering of
their collective modes of action
is a complex and ongoing en¬
deavor. Nevertheless, Black Co¬
hosh remains a popular herbal
medicine, widely available in
health food stores as a dietary
supplement. While the Virgin¬
ia Native Plant Society takes
no position on the efficacy of
Black Cohosh in treating any
of the several conditions for
which it has been and contin¬
ues to be promoted, VNPS
is vigorously opposed to the
collection of Black Cohosh, or
any other wild plant, from the
wild for medicinal purposes.
Black Cohosh is amenable to
cultivation; therefore, demand
for herbal Black Cohosh should
be met without depletion of its
native populations. ❖

ROOTS

Roots of vascular plants always
have a central core of water-conduct¬
ing xylem tissue, flanked by patches
of sugar-transporting phloem. The
pattern of xylem and phloem, as
viewed in root cross sections, may
take the form of a simple narrow
ellipse, a triangle, a diamond, or a
polygon of five or more sides. Most
often, young roots of Black Cohosh
have a central diamond-shaped
patch of xylem cells, but many other
plants also have essentially the same
pattern. The pharmacognocist must
then turn to older roots. In Actaea ,
additional (secondary) xylem cells
form along the sides, but not the
tips, of the young root’s initial,
diamond-shaped, patch of xylem, re¬
sulting in a distinctive Maltese cross
pattern in older roots (Figure 1);
this is unique to Actaea. In contrast,
most dicot roots add secondary xy¬
lem in a pattern that quickly assumes
a circular outline. The distinction
between older roots of Actaea and
just about everything else is clear-cut.

STEMS.

Unlike roots, xylem and phloem
tissue in stems of flowering plants
form distinct clusters called vascular
bundles, usually with xylem cells
occupying the inner portion of the
bundle and phloem present in the
outer portion. In young stems of
eudicots these vascular bundles are
disposed in a ring near the stem
surface. Sections of young rhizomes
(horizontal basal stems) of Actaea
racemosa reveal a notably large
number of vascular bundles, a salient
detail, but not definitive for iden¬
tification. However, the pattern of
accumulating additional (secondary)
xylem cells marks Actaea rhizomes
as unique among medicinal plants.
Via secondary growth, over time,
new xylem cells are added to indi¬

vidual vascular bundles, resulting
in elongate radial strands of xylem
tissue (Figure 2). In contrast, most
dicots produce secondary xylem in
the form of concentric rings—the
same pattern seen in growth rings on
tree stumps.

In summary, yellow roots with a
Maltese cross pattern of xylem and
yellow rhizomes with multiple, radi¬
ally elongate, patches of xylem will
confirm unknown samples as Black
Cohosh. Now, imagine the documen¬
tation of anatomical details such as
these for all plants with important
medicinal properties, and you have a
glimpse of the discipline of pharma¬
cognosy. Knowing one’s simples is no
simple matter! ❖

WORKS CITED

Wintermute, R.C. 1905. A treatise
on Macrotys. Drug Treatise No.
XIII, issued by Lloyd Brothers,
Cincinnati.

Youngken, H.W. 1950. Textbook of
pharmacognosy. The Blakiston Co.,
Philadelphia.

VIRGINIA NATIVE
PLANT SOCIETY

Sempervirens (ISSN 1085-9632) is the
quarterly newsletter of the Virginia Native
Plant Society, Blandy Experimental Farm,

400 Blandy Farm Fane, Unit 2, Boyce, Va.
22620,540-837-1600, info@vnps.org. Nan¬
cy Vehrs, President; Nancy Sorrells, Editor;
Karen York, Office Manager. Original
material in Sempervirens may be reprinted
if credit is given to the Virginia Native
Plant Society, to Sempervirens, and to the
author of the material, if named. Readers
are invited to send letters, news items, and
queries for consideration. E-mail items to
Nancy Sorrells at lotswife@comcast.net.

Next submission deadline: Oct. 30,2017

V w

Sempervirens ; Summer/Fall 2017

A Black Bear snacks on bearcorn in Shenandoah National Park. (Denise Machado photo)

Conopholis americana

Bearcorn Launches a
Journey of Discovery

By Karen Fall, Piedmont Chapter

"T"he first thing to address is the com-
I mon name. Bearcorn (Conopholis
americana) has other common names,
but I prefer this one for several reasons:

1) The most common name,
Squawroot, can be offensive to some
Native Americans. The term squaw is
likely a phonetic rendering of the Al-
gonquian word squa , meaning young
female, but it can have a derogatory
meaning in Mohawk. I think it best
to err on the side of respect and avoid
using it. Additionally, Blue Cohosh
also goes by Squawroot. Because both
plants have been used in addressing fe¬
male issues they are easily confused, as
evidenced by some of the information I
found on the Internet. (Lesson learned.
Use the scientific name when searching
and stick to research studies.)

2 ) Another common name that
can cause confusion is Cancer Root. It
likely came about due to the tuberlike
haustorium that forms where this par¬

asitic plant attaches to the host root.
Some believe the name arose from the
plant’s use as a treatment for cancer,
but I found no evidence of that. I
prefer to avoid confusion and not use
this common name.

3) Bearcorn is the most descriptive
common name and what I’ve settled
on. Quite simply, when the plant is
fruiting it looks like an ear of corn
and it is an important food for bears.
There’s nothing controversial or con¬
fusing in that. Bingo.

I was introduced to Bearcorn by
a Shenandoah National Park ranger
while on an interpretive hike that
had become my weekly routine as a
volunteer there. The ranger pointed
out some Bearcorn and gave enough
information to get me curious.

(That’s an interpretive pro for you.)
He didn’t know what he’d started! I
learned Bearcorn had no chlorophyll.
What? There are plants without

Bearcorn (above) pushes up from the
forest floor. Top right, Bearcorn seed.
Below right, cutting a kernel in half reveals
its tiny black seeds. (Karen Fall photos)

chlorophyll? No photosynthesis? The
journey began. Each week after that
when we got to the Bearcorn along
the trail I’d burst out with what I’d
learned, but more on that later.

It’s true. Bearcorn does not have
chlorophyll and so is nonphotosyn¬
thetic. It is a holoparasite, meaning
it is completely dependent on its
oak tree host for survival. Bearcorn
attaches to the roots of oak trees,
mainly Red Oak, to get its nutrients.

There’s a very interesting thing
here. Oak trees have important sym¬
biotic relationships. Bearcorn is found
to attach only to the oak’s mycorrhi-
zal roots. Mycorrhizal associations
involve relatively young tree roots. It
is young roots not far from actively
growing root tips that are anatom¬
ically structured and physiological¬
ly inclined to be active in mineral
absorption. As tree roots age, the
surface tissues involved in mycorrhizal
activity are shed as the root undergoes
secondary growth (becomes thick¬
er). This means that the mycorrhizal
association needs to reform continu¬
ally as tree roots extend through the
soil. Not so for Conopholis ; once it
makes a connection with host xylem
(and phloem, presumably) it remains

Sempervirens ; Summer/Fall 2017

in place for a period of years. Conse¬
quently, there is not much opportunity
for direct interaction between Cono-
pholis and mycorrhizal fungi found
on the same host tree’s roots. Further,
Conopholis has no roots, so there is
no way for it to form mycorrhiza-like
interactions directly with a fungus;
however, mycorrhizal-derived miner¬
al nutrients may well enter host tree
xylem or phloem and from those host
tissues find their way to Conopholis.

Bearcorn lives up to 10 years and
doesn’t seem to harm the oak tree. In
its first four years it is below ground
developing its root relationships.

After that it emerges above ground
in early spring. Once it blooms, it

develops seed pods
(capsules) that give
it its corncob look.
They are said to have
a bitter taste, which I
confirmed, but, though
it isn’t mentioned in
any research I could
find, I discovered that
the capsules lose their
bitterness and have a
hint of a nutty flavor
when older and looking
overripe. The protein/
fat/carb content of
these capsules is like
that in blueberries and
blackberries. This is
where bears come in.

One study found
that “Northern red oak
produced 65.7% of an¬
nual bear food calories;
squawroot ranked sec¬
ond, producing 15.8%;
these two species
accounted for 81.5% of
the caloric production
during 1995.” This is
what puts the “bear” in
“Bearcorn.” And put¬
ting the Bearcorn in the
bear is what disperses the seeds.

It turns out the seeds are smart.
They germinate only if near their
vital host, making this determination
by detecting a chemical in the soil
exuded from the oak’s root system.
These same chemicals promote the
growth of mycorrhizae. To quote
Alice, “Curiouser and curiouser!”

Now what about the scientific
name, Conopholis americana ? Cono
means cone, and pholis means scale.
This again describes the look of the
plant, like a scaly pine cone. That got
me to wondering and wandering down
another path. The spiral pattern of
pine cones is often used as an example
of the Fibonacci sequence (a series of

numbers in which every number after
1 and 2 is formed by the sum of the
preceding numbers). In a pine cone,
contiguous cone scales define two
spiral patterns, both ascending from
the base, one in a right-handed spiral,
the other forming a left-handed spiral;
remarkably, the number of right- and
left-hand spirals on a given cone is
never the same, but the numbers ob¬
served are always part of the Fibonacci
sequence! I checked the spiral patterns
in Bearcorn and, yes, I found the Fibo¬
nacci numbers 5 and 8. I’ll leave it at
that, but hopefully it’s enough to rouse
yet more curiosity and research.

Now about where all this curiosity
led me. The Shenandoah National
Park ranger invited me to become a
volunteer. I’ve been soaking in nature
at Shenandoah for about 25 years (not
going to do that math), and often
remarked how great it would be to
live and work there. I now live about
five miles from a park entrance, and
work there. I might want to be more
specific about what I mean by “work,”
but just know that I’m loving being a
volunteer. So, for me the therapeutic
value of Bearcorn is that it can make
dreams come true. I hope curiosity
leads to the same for you.

All this research illuminated a
web of connections among Red Oaks,
Bearcorn, Black Bear, mycorrhizae,
root systems, parasites, hosts, Fibo¬
nacci numbers, park rangers, and
volunteers. Bearcorn clearly demon¬
strates: we are all in this together.

WORK CITED

Inman, R.M. 1997. Caloric produc¬
tion of black bear foods in Great
Smoky Mountains National Park.
Master’s thesis, University of Ten¬
nessee. http://trace.tennessee.edu/
utk_gradthes/7

Karen Fall is a Virginia Master
Naturalist and a volunteer at
Shenandoah National Park.

10

Sempervirens ; Summer/Fall 2017

Entertainment
by Northern Neck
Orchids

I n mid-May, 15 native-plant enthu¬
siasts spent three days exploring
Virginia’s Northern Neck, particularly
enjoying several species of orchids in
bloom.The group met at Westmore¬
land State Park. Although best known
for birding, fossil collecting, and its
magnificent view of the lower Poto¬
mac River, Westmoreland has a broad
range of coastal native plants. Retired
park manager Paul Billings led us on
a hike along Big Meadow Trail to
Fossil Beach, where we were rewarded
with a great view of the Potomac’s
white cliffs. Although we did see some
wonderful wetland plants, we also got
a good feeling for the plants that used
to be there. Big snags of hardwood
trees stand in the now brackish water
brought in by sea-level rise, and Phrag-
mites australis ssp. australis thrives.

It reminded us of how important it is
that we continue to preserve the wild
spaces that are left and try to fight the
invasions within them.

The second site we explored was
the Rappahannock River Valley
National Wildlife Refuge’s Wilna
Pond section. Lauren Cruz, the ref¬
uge’s wildlife biologist, gave a short
presentation about the refuge. Next,
Virginia master naturalists Earline
Walker and Nora Kroll showed us the
native plant garden that they and fel¬
low master naturalists established at
the education center. We then strolled
along the woodland trail around the
pond itself, which features a blanket
of Yellow Pond-lily ( Nuphar advena).

Probably the most precious site we
visited was Hickory Hollow Nature
Preserve. Hickory Hollow’s 254 acres
of mixed pineHiardwood forest,

ravines,
and Cabin
Swamp form
an important
habitat for
the crown
jewel of Vir¬
ginia’s native orchids, the Kentucky
Lady’s-slipper ( Cypripedium kentuck-
iense) , which was in bloom. Cabin
Swamp is a globally rare Coastal
Plain Basic Seepage Swamp natural
community and an exceptional-qual¬
ity wetland community that supports
a very high diversity—perhaps 500
plant species—including several
coastal plain-mountain disjuncts.
Other plants included Showy Orchis
(Galearis spectabilis) , Dwarf Ginseng
(.Panax trifolius) , Marsh Marigold
(Caltha palustris ), Primrose-leaved
Violet {Viola primulifolia) , and one of
the coastal plain’s few populations of
False-hellebore {Veratrum sp.), as well
as a variety of sedges and grasses.

Our visit to the preserve coincided
with the arrival of a team of botanists
from Virginia’s Department of Con¬
servation and Recreation, the Smith¬
sonian Institution, and Longwood
Gardens, there to hand-pollinate the
Kentucky Lady’s-slippers.

Another precious site we visited
was in Chilton Woods State Forest, a
Virginia state forest near Warsaw, in
the Rappahannock River watershed.
Most of the forest’s trees are Lob¬
lolly Pine {Pinus taeda), with areas
of mixed pine and hardwood. The
Showy Orchis, Pink Lady’s-slipper
('Cypripedium acaule ), Large Whorled
Pogonia ( Isotria verticillata) in fruit,
Puttyroot ( Aplectrum hyemale) in

Cathy Mayes and Sally Anderson rescue a Kentucky Lady’s-slipper from
the grip of a Hog-peanut vine. (Nancy Vehrs photo)

bloom, and Downy Rattlesnake-plan¬
tain ( Goodyera pubescens) were
seen here, along with Large Tway-
blade {Liparis liliifolia ), several
types of ferns, including Christmas
Fern ( Polystichum acrostichoides ),
Sensitive Fern {Onoclea sensibilis ),
and Cinnamon Fern {Osmundastrum
cinnamomeum) , Deerberries ( Vaccini -
um stamineum) , and huckleberries
(Gaylussacia spp., related species
found blooming side-by-side enabling
easy comparison), blooming Par¬
tridge Berry ( Mitchella repens) , Violet
{Viola sp.), Common Bluets ( Housto -
nia caerulea) , and white native Dwarf
Azalea {Rhododendron atlanticum ).

The last tour was held in a cold,
heavy rain at Hughlett Point and
Dameron Marsh natural area pre¬
serves. Hughlett Point offers several
excellent examples of tidal and non-
tidal wetlands, as well as exemplary
undeveloped beaches, dunes, and
upland forests. The adjacent 316-
acre Dameron Marsh contains one
of the most significant wetlands on
the Chesapeake Bay for marsh-bird
communities. The marsh supports
impressive salt marsh communities,
sand beach, and upland forest hab¬
itats. We were lucky enough to spot
Southern Twayblade {Listera austra¬
lis) and Small Green Wood Orchid
{Platanthera clavellata ).

—Cathy Mayes, Treasurer

Sempervirens, ; Summer/Fall 2017

11

Beauty and Potential Travesty

on Miracle Ridge

S pending time in a forest that’s
hundreds of years old recently
gave some Virginia residents and
community members the opportunity
not only to experience the majesty of
the Allegheny Mountains, but also to
visit areas that would be destroyed by
construction of Dominion Energy’s
proposed Atlantic Coast Pipeline.

This 600-mile pipeline would carry
natural gas from wells in West Vir¬
ginia, across Virginia, and deep into
North Carolina. The pipeline is 42
inches in diameter until it reaches the
North Carolina line where it contin¬
ues as a 36-inch pipe. There is also
a 20-inch-diameter spur to Hamp¬
ton Roads. Further south, a second
similar project, the Mountain Valley
Pipeline, is being proposed by another
company. The Virginia Native Plant
Society has gone on record as oppos¬
ing both pipeline projects.

Bill and Lynn Limpert are the
owners of the threatened land in Bath
County. Wishing to educate people
about the pipeline’s impacts and to
share the beauty of their forestlands,
they welcomed curious residents,
botanists, community organizers, and

Visitors to Miracle Ridge, left, make their
way up the steep slope in Bath County
(Meghan Williamson photo). Lynn and
Bill Limpert stand beside a massive
Sugar Maple on the Little Valley Slope
Conservation Site. (Courtesy Bill Limpert)

members of the press to explore their
ancient ridgetops in early May.

Since this group’s visit, the Limpert
property has been designated as part
of the newly developed 533-acre Little
Valley Slope Conservation Site created
by the Virginia Department of Con¬
servation and Recreation’s Division of
Natural Heritage (DCR/DNH).

Natural Heritage’s site report
describes the tract as “a rugged Ridge
and Valley site that includes an intact
NW slope and associated forest
ecosystem,” noting that large por¬
tions of the tract had probably never
been timbered. Numerous small karst
features, such as sinkholes, are found
nearby. Heritage ecologists gave the
site a biodiversity significance ranking
of B2—rank of very high significance.

Dominion’s proposed route for
the pipeline runs along 38 miles of
mountain ridgetops, which would
need to be flattened in a manner sim¬
ilar to mountaintop removal to create
a permanently cleared 75-foot-wide
right-of-way. That ridgetop leveling
would include the Limpert property,
which they call Miracle Ridge. Bill
explained that Dominion’s docu¬
mented plans for dealing with the
removed soil and rock are as simple
(and as destructive) as discarding it

along the steep slopes that lead to
pristine streams not far below.

Not only are the 300-plus-year-old
trees at stake, but so too is the unique
ecology of a rare eastern old-growth
forest. Attendees walked through
its open understory, sheltered by the
towering maples and oaks. Guests who
have bushwhacked their way through
Virginia forests were awed at the natu¬
ral lack of lower shrubs and briars, as
the mature canopy above shades the
forest floor. As we strolled through the
forest, herbalist Diana Sicilia noted
Cleavers ( Galium aparine) , Common
Yarrow ( Achillea millefolium ), plan¬
tain, Usneas (lichens), morels, wood-
ear mushroom, reishi mushroom, and
lion’s-mane fungi, all of which she
identified as either edible or medicinal.

Later, as hikers hugged one
another and expressed gratitude for
their time in the old-growth forest,

Bill and Lynn appeared thankful for
the opportunity to share the magnif¬
icence of their home. Bill recounted
the frustration they have felt over the
lack of response and respect from
institutions reviewing the pipeline
proposal, which threatens to take per¬
sonal property for the private gain of
Dominion’s shareholders. “But meet¬
ing folks like you all,” he said, “well,
that has been the one bright spot.”

The site was included in an Aug.

17 letter from DCR about the pipe¬
line to the Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission from Thomas Smith,
DCR deputy director of operations.
“DCR-DNH continues to recom¬
mend the avoidance of all conserva¬
tion sites intersected by the pipeline
footprint,” Smith wrote. The 16-page
document can be found at http://ti-
nyurl.com/dcr-letter.

Meghan Williamson, a native of west¬
ern Virginia, develops and helps protect
sustainable communities in rural areas.
(Nancy Sorrells assisted with the article.)

12

Sempervirens, , Summer/Fall 2017

Help Needed in Finding Rare Bumblebee on Pipeline Paths

T he federally endangered Rusty-
patched Bumblebee (Bombus
affinis) has been documented on the
Duncan Knob Access Road Conser¬
vation Site in Bath County, site of a
proposed access road for the Atlantic
Coast Pipeline. The occurrence of
this rare pollinator (Gl, SI) has led
to the request by the group Wild
Virginia for members of the public
to search for and help document this
species along the path of both the
Atlantic Coast and the Mountain
Valley pipelines.

The bumblebee once lived in the
grasslands, tallgrass prairies, and
other habitats of the upper Midwest
and the northeast, but the degra¬
dation of those habitats caused its
decline. Rusty-patched Bumblebees
live in underground colonies and
produce males and new queens in

The distinctive characteristic of this rare
bumblebee is the patch of rust-colored
fuzz on its back. (Photo by Dan Mullen,
from a USFWS bulletin)

late summer. All of the bees have en¬
tirely black heads, but only workers
and males have a rusty-reddish patch
centrally located on the back.

These insects need a variety of
native flowering plants until late

fall because they are one of the last
bumblebee species to go into hiberna¬
tion. Searchers should look in areas
filled with blooming pollinator plants.
If you see what you think is a Rusty-
patched Bumblebee, do not capture
it. Photograph it instead. For bees
photographed on national forest land,
e-mail photos and location informa¬
tion to Steve Tanguay (stanguay@
fs.fed.us). For help identifying bees
photographed on private land crossed
by the pipeline projects, send the same
information to T’ai Roulston (tai.
roulston@virginia.edu).

For more information about the
species and how to identify, visit these
sites: https ://www.fws. gov/midwest/
endangered/ insects/rpbb/ factsheet-
rpbb.html and http://www.xerces.org/
wp-content/uploads/2008/09/Eastern_
Bumble_Bee.pdf. ♦>

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