TENNESSEE NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY NEWSLETTER Vol. 8, No. J February 15, 1985 MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT As TNPS approaches its seventh anniversary on the last weekend in April, 1985, I hope our Society continues to grow, that rare plant legislation makes it through the State Legislature, and that we hear from each of you by letter, field activity, or otherwise. I call your attention to a new annual event in the form of an Anniversary Hike in the vicinity of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (on the Sunday following the Gatlinburg Pilgrimage). Details will be given in our April edition, but a visit to a low elevation area off the beaten track and ending by mid-afternoon will be proposed. Plan now to attend! With the aim of visiting new places, other field events are listed in the 1985 Field Trip Schedule, developed by Bertha Chrietzberg, Dennis Horn, and your President. I wish I had more space to get into the details of some important issues facing us this year. Most important is rare plant legislation; the bill is to be re-introduced this legislative session. We have joined the Environmental Action Fund (EAF), a consortium that supports an environmentalist lobby and endorses rare plant legislation. I urge you to read the enclosed statement by EAF President Bill Terry. The major objectives of the Rare Plant Conservation and Protection Act of 1985 are printed on the reverse of his letter. Consider a financial contribution directly to the EAF in support of lobbying efforts for passage of this bill. I strongly encourage you to write to your legislative delegation requesting them to support this bill. Personal letters are the most effective means of influencing some of our lawmakers. Mention that the bill would establish, formally, a means of listing rare plants in Tennessee and that it would protect the more sensitive ones. Another major impact would be to allow State funds to be appropriated for rare plant conservation efforts. Also, grant monies could then be actively sought by the State's Heritage personnel. I can provide the latest version of the bill upon request. For most of us, suffice it to say that Nashville members Paul Somers (Botanist, Tennessee Heritage Program) and Margaret Mann (our representative on the EAF Board) are looking out for our best interests, understanding full well the constant pressure of compromise. You can get additional ideas for your personal letters on why rare plant legislation is needed by perusing the excellent brochure prepared primarily by Paul Somers (copy enclosed). It is imperative to take action on this bill before the end of February . Addresses are: Representative or Senator , Tennessee General Assembly, Nashville, TN 37219. Also send a letter to: Governor's Safe Growth Team, The State Capitol, Nashville, TN 37219. Knoxviile area members are advised that the Eastern State Wildlife Management Area close to Knoxville's Ijams Audubon Nature Center is once again threatened by development, this time as an industrial site by Knox County. Murray Evans detailed its significance ( Newsletter , Sept. 15, 1983) and noted the work of local conservation organizations to save the 350 acre tract from encroachment. Our Society recently supported the addition of Eastern State WMA to a list of noteworthy natural areas monitored by the Protection Planning Committee, which has the means to interact with various agencies to protect property from development. A letter campaign to maintain the area as a wildlife observation area is underway. To support the movement, let our State's Wildlife Agency know of the need for wild area for use by Knox County area residents, particularly for environmental education classes. Urge the Wildlife Agency to acquire Eastern State WMA (property it now has authority to manage but does not own). Write: Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, Ellington Agricultural Center, 5103 Edmondson Pike, Nashville, TN 37211. In addition, see the related article below on additional ways to help as suggested by our birding friends. Also enclosed is a petition about Cherokee National Forest Wilderness Areas that you are encouraged to complete. We are still perfecting our membership list, please make sure we have your telephone number. In our next Newsletter , I will present the annual statement on business matters and detail results of the January Board Meeting. Until then, please help inform legislators and friends about the pending rare plant legislation and, by the way, pay your 1985 TNPS dues. Hope to see you on a trip this year. Tom Patrick 1985 DUES Active - $5 Associate - $2.50 Institutional - $10 Life - $100.00 Regular membership with voting rights and Newsletter. Covers one person or an entire family, but carries only one vote per membership. Additional voting rights for couples or families would come through additionaHActive memberships. Includes the Newsletter and participation in all activities, except voting rights. Includes Newsletter, participation in all activities and one vote. For libraries, governmental agencies, parks, recreation areas, consulting firms, other business firms, etc. Same as the Active memberships, but a one-time payment; the funds to be invested; the annual income to be used for current expenses and growth. MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL/APPLICATION FORM (Check your address label on reverse side and if incorrect indicate necessary changes below). Name Phone Address (Indicate below TNPS programs you would like to work on) Publicity: writing, photograph Newsletter; publications Membership Natural Area inventories Conservation: plant mapping, roadside revegetation, plant rescues Assist with field trips _Other, Please specify: ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP DUES (Pay dues in January or when joining) Active $5.00 Institutional $10.00 Associate $2.50 Life $100.00 Mail to: Tennessee Native Plant Society Department of Botany The University of Tennessee Knoxville, Tennessee, 37996-1100 1985 FIELD TRIP SCHEDULE TENNESSEE NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY NOTE: Each trip is presented in greater detail in an appropriate issue of the Newsletter . Phone numbers are (W) for work and (H) for home. Addresses and additional phone numbers for contact persons are given elsewhere. Saturday March 23 Big Ridge State Park Early Spring Trek, Union County Ed Clebsch 615-974-6209 (W) Saturday March 30 Flint River Bottoms Early Spring Flora, Lincoln County Katherine Simmons 615-433-3229 (H) Saturday April 13 Wolf Cove Floristic Survey, Franklin County Richard Clements 615-525-4641 (H) Sunday April 14 Alabama Snow-wreath, Scales Mtn. Knobs, Rutherford County Leo Collins 615-494-9800 (W) Sunday April 21 Dwarf Trillium Foray, Brady Mtn., Cumberland County Margret Rhinehart 615-946-2113 (H) Sunday April 28 SEVENTH ANNIVERSARY HIKE Cosby Campground to Indian Camp Creek, Great Smoky Mountains National Park Earl Rothberger 615-756-4780 (W) Saturday May 4 Cumberland Gap National Historical Park, Claiborne County Larry Pounds 615-483-5953 (H) Sunday May 5 Powell River Bluffs, Claiborne County Joe Feeman 615-494-0394 (H) Friday evening thru Sunday, May 17-19 ANNUAL SPRING MEETING Beersheba Springs Assembly, Grundy County Camp Office 615-692-3669 Saturday June 8 AEDC Orchids and Rare Plants, Coffee County Dennis Horn 615-455-5742 (H) Saturday thru Sunday July 6-7 Appalachian Trail, Big Bald Area, Search for Roan Mtn. Bluets, Unicoi County Tom Patrick 615-577-5652 (H) Saturday August 24 Buggy Top Cave Rare Plant Survey, Franklin County Randy Hedgepath 615-592-3931 (H) Saturday thru Sunday September 21-22 ANNUAL FALL MEETING Urban Wi 1 df lowers and Gardens Goldsmith Civic Garden Center, Memphis Joyce Woodford 901-388-9776 (H) Saturday October 5 Grass-of-Parnassus Seeps, Autumn Glades, Lewis and Maury Counties Bill and Kay Jones 615-388-8373 (H) Saturday November 2 Stones River Canoe Float with TSRA Rutherford County Bertha Chrietzberg 615-896-1146 (H) OTHER SPRING WILDFLOWER EVENTS THROUGHOUT TENNESSEE The following list of events is incomplete. Several other state parks offer events in the spring of interest to wildf lower enthusiasts. District Naturalists can provide details on hikes later in the season: WEST TENNESSEE MIDDLE TENNESSEE EAST TENNESSEE Charles Norvell Sharon Patterson Bracey Bobby Fulcher 901-873-2149 (W,H) 615-364-2222 (W) 615-426-7461 (W) In addition, nature centers throughout the state may sponsor wildf lower walks. March 23, 1985 Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park, Spring Stroll, Shelby County Charles Norvell 901-873-2149 (W,H) March 30 Wildf lower Photography Workshop, Bays Mtn. Nature Center, Kingsport Park Office 615-245-4192 March 30 River Bluff Walk, Norris Dam Reservation, Anderson County Judith Bartlow 615-494-9800 (W) April 6 Long Hunter State Park, Rutherford County Reggie Reeves 615-885-2422 (H) Apri 1 6,13,20,27 Wildf lower Walks, 10 AM (ET), Bays Mtn. Nature Center, Kingsport Park Office 615-245-4192 April 13-14 Frozen Head State Natural Area, Morgan County Duane Wyrick 615-346-3318 (W) April 13-14 Montgomery Bell State Park, Dickson County Andra Fuson 615-797-2886 (H) April 14 Open Garden Day, Audubon Park, Memphis Frances Spence 901-452-6982 (H) April 19-21 Cedars of Lebanon State Park, Wilson County Sandy Suddeth 615-444-4566 (H) April 20-21 Frozen Head State Natural Area, Morgan County Duane Wyrick 615-346-3318 (W) April 20-21 South Cumberland Recreation Area, Grundy, Franklin and Marion Counties Randy Hedgepath 615-924-2980 (W) Apri 1 20-21 Reel foot Lake Spring Festival, Lake and Obion Counties Park Office 901-253-7756 April 25-27 Great Smoky Mountains National Park Wildf lower Pilgrimage, Gatl inburg Ed Clebsch 615-974-6209 (W) (to be continued in next Newsletter ) MARCH FIELD TRIPS BIG RIDGE STATE PARK - EARLY SPRING TREK DATE: Saturday, March 23, 1985 TIME: 10:00 a.m., Eastern Time PLACE: Parking Lot of Main Office, Big Ridge State Park, UNION CO. Follow signs to Park along either TN HWY 61, east of Norris, or TN HWY 33, west of Maynardville. Allow plenty of time, the access road is a crooked one, though well-marked. There is a small interpretive center to browse. LEADER: Dr. Ed Clebsch, Professor of Botany, Dept, of Botany, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996. 615-974-6209 (W) or 615-856-3350 (H). Big Ridge State Park is noted for its pink lady-slipper display later in the year, but there are several moderate hiking trails to explore in early spring. The plan is to hike 5-6 miles total, identifying trees and shrubs and observing the earliest spring bloomers. A good chance to review winter botany and learn some natural history of plant communities and plant succession. The Park is adjacent to Norris Lake; much of the forests are upland oak types. There should be plenty of trailing arbutus ( Epigaea repens ) and roundleaf, or stemless yellow violet ( Viola rotundifolia ). FLINT RIVER BOTTOMS EARLY SPRING FLORA DATE: Saturday, March 30, 1985 TIME: 10:00 a.m., Central Time PLACE: Meet at intersection of U.S. Hwy. 64 and TN Hwy. 50, 3.0 miles east of Fayetteville in Lincoln County. There is a small highway department gravel area parking lot at the "Y" in the road. LEADER: Katherine Simmons, Rt. 6, Box 43A, Fayetteville, TN 37334. 615-433-3229 (H). The Flint River Bottoms are floodplain habitats with a rich herbaceous flora. Several areas have been explored and a few support populations of Trillium pusillum , commonly known as least or dwarf trillium. Since we will be on the Highland Rim, we should see the trillium at its peak. Our excursion will be by car and short walks in the Flintville and Fayetteville area. Plan to stop for lunch at a country restaurant in Flintville, or bring your own. This is a highly recommended trip for early spring flora. Katherine Simmons has been a leader at the Gatlinburg Wildflower Pilgrimage and has an extensive wildflower garden near Fayetteville. *****************DEAg)LiNE FOR MID APRIL ISSUE IS MARCH 1 5****************** Send Materials to: Lorene L. Sigal, Environmental Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, P.O. Box X, Oak Ridge, TN 37831. Phone: (615) 574-7266 APRIL FIELD TRIPS WOLF COVE ON "CARTER MOUNTAIN," FRANKLIN COUNTY DATE: Saturday, 13 April 1985 TIME: 9:30 a.m., Central Time PLACE: Franklin County Bank parking lot, one block east of the Courthouse in the center of Winchester, Franklin County. LEADER: Richard Clements, Graduate Student in Botany, Department of Botany, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996. 615-974-2256 (W) or 615-525-4641 (H). On the Cumberland Plateau, Wolf Cove is a huge limestone sinkhole known to have a rich herbaceous flora, with little recent logging disturbance due to the steepness of the terrain. The area is within lands owned by members of the Carter Family, thus is locally known as "Carter Mountain." The region has several natural areas of interest to botanists, including the infamous haunt of the shadow-witch orchid along Turkey Creek. Some of these areas may become available to the State for acquisition as small preserves. Richard Clements is beginning his floristic survey of a portion of "Carter Mountain." Members, who wish to learn the flora, are encouraged to accompany us on this trip, one of many Richard will be taking into the vicinity. Wolf Cove is excellent karst topography with limestone boulders and underground water surfacing seemingly at random on some of the sinkhole faces. Bring sturdy hiking equipment and pack lunch. There will be much roughing it over boulder fields mixed with some moderate hiking not to exceed 6-7 miles. ALABAMA SNOW-WREATH EXCURSION, SCALES MOUNTAIN KNOBS, RUTHERFORD COUNTY DATE: Sunday, April 14, 1985 TIME: 2:00 p.m., Central Time PLACE: Franklin Rd. (Tn. Hwy. 96) Exit off Interstate 24 at Murfreesboro. Meet along Franklin Rd. heading west as close to the exit ramp access road as possible. We will be heading west along Tn. Hwy. 96 for about 6 miles to the Preacher Rice Rd. and the John Rice Camp. LEADER Dr. Leo Collins, Botanist, Regional Natural Heritage Project, Recreation Resources Program, TVA, Norris, TN 37828. 615-475-7676 (H) or 615-494-9800 (O). At Scales Mountain Knobs west of Murfreesboro, a healthy, large new population of the Alabama snow-wreath ( Neviusia alabamensis ) was discovered by Edwin Bridges in 1984. This is an attractive spring-blooming shrub in the Rose Family (Rosaceae). It should be nearly at its peak of bloom. We should see examples of cedar glade plants in the Murfreesboro vicinity as well. The trip to the snow-wreath will require a moderate to easy hike of 3 miles (total) and involves climbing to the top of Scales Mountain from the headquarters area of the John Rice Camp, a gain in elevation of some 300 ft. Join us on this short trip to see one of Tennessee's more unusual woody plants. BRADY MOUNTAIN SPRING WILDFLOWERS, CUMBERLAND COUNTY DATE: Sunday, April 21, 1985 TIME: 9:00 a.m., Central Time PLACE: Parking lot at the conspicuous sandstone tower, the Cumberland Homestead Tower, at the junction of U.S. Hwy. 127 and Tn. Hwy. 68, 3.6 miles south of the center of Crossville going toward Pikeville on U.S. Hwy. 127. LEADER: Dr. Margret Rhinehart, M.D., Box 128, Spencer, TN 38585. 6 1 5-946—238 1 (H) Brady Mountain is the western edge of Grassy Cove; the proposed Cumberland Trail from Cumberland Gap to Signal Mountain crosses its crest. Although past and present landowners have allowed selective logging occasionally, the slopes still support a rich spring flora. The primary purpose of this foray is to discover the extent of a population of least or dwarf trillium ( Trillium pusillum ). A gravel road, passable by ordinary cars, goes to the top of nearby Hinch Mountain and passes diagonally up the western slope of Brady Mountain. We will drive along this road; those who wish to do extensive hiking can go up or down the mountain using the highway as a baseline. This is an excellent opportunity to see just about all of the common spring wildflowers from shooting stars to green violets, as well as the extremely ephemeral tiniest of the trilliums. Bring a pack lunch and a good water supply; be prepared to spend a few hours looking at carpets of wildflowers. NATIVE PLANTS FOR SALE The TNPS Newsletter will make advertising space available, free, to any" nursery or individual having seeds of native plants or plants grown from seeds for sale. We hope that this policy will promote propagation of Tennessee's native flora. Sunlight Gardens, Inc. offers for sale over 60 species of native wildflowers -- All grown from seed. Call for species and availability at 615-986-6071, or write Sunlight Gardens, Inc., Rt. 3, Box 286B, Loudon, TN 37774. Wildflowers of the eastern USA. Plants and seed available. Specials on Tennessee Coneflower and Purple Coneflower for TNPS members. Write for free catalogue today. Natural Gardens, 113 Jasper Lane, Oak Ridge, TN 37830. Phone 615-382-6746. APALACHEE. NURSERY offers for sale White Pine and Hemlock seedlings; also 2'— 3* Sweet Shrub, Spicebush and Hearts-a-Bustin. Route 1, Box 331B, Turtletown, TN 37391. 615-496-5047 nights, 615-496-7246 days. EASTERN STATE WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA The Knoxville Chapter of the Tennessee Ornithological Society (TOS) needs help in preserving a unique natural resource; the 350 acre tract of land, which is located just outside the Knoxville city limits at the junction of the French Broad and Holston Rivers, is now the Eastern State Wildlife Management Area. A proposal has been made by Knox County to transfer the Area from the jurisdiction of the State of Tennessee to Knox County for development as an industrial park. This large, single tract of open, undeveloped land is unique because of its size and location, a fact which results in an amazing diversity of habitats: the two rivers steeped in the traditions of the last 250 years; their shorelines with a wealth of plant and animal life (ducks, fish, frogs, shorebirds); tilled fields in the river bottoms with game birds; abandoned fields in various stages of successional growth with woodcock and quail; open shale ridges; a pond and a marsh; and a heavily wooded, high hill frequented by migrating and resident song birds - to mention some of the variety. The area is actually a microcosm of most of the rural habitats of Knox County, and its wealth and diversity of wildlife are partially due to its size unbroken by travelled roads, human habitations, or other man-made disturbances. The Tennessee Ornithological Society asks that we write to Mr. Dwight Kessel, Knox County Executive, City and County Building, Knoxville, TN 37902, urging him to reconsider the decision. Letters to your senators and representatives of the Knox County Legislataive Delegation are also in order. THE KNOX COUNTY LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION SENATORS District 6 Ben Atchley P.O. Box 436 Knoxville, TN 37901 637-5433 District 13 Ted Ray Miller 3313 Sunset Avenue Knoxville, TN 37914 525-8551 District 16 Charles M. Severance P.O. Box 12168 Knoxville, TN 37912 687-5050 District 19 District 7 Bill Owen 4315 Webb Lane Knoxville, TN 37921 588-8641 REPRESENTATIVES District 14 Joe May 101 Brentway Circle Knoxville, TN 37919 588-3359 District 17 Paul C. "Buddy" Scruggs 5410 Homberg Drive, 1A Knoxville, TN 37919 584-3909 District 8 Carl O. Koella P.O. Box 6 Maryville, TN 37801 573-7913 District 15 Pete Drew 2304 E. Fifth Ave. Knoxville, TN 37915 521-7558, 521-2234 District 18 Maria Peroulas 8016 Chesterfield Drive Knoxville, TN 37919 693-1735 Jimmy Kyle Davis Rt. 2, Carter School Road Strawberry Plains, TN 37871 FIELD TRIP REPORTS SNAKE MOUNTAIN AND CROSS MOUNTAIN, EAST TENNESSEE, AUGUST 18-19, 1984 On Saturday, five hardy souls challenged the rainy weather for some of the high mountain specialties of Snake Mountain. Chokecherry ( Prunus viriginiana ) was the first of these, followed by Allegheny Stonecrop ( Sedum telephioides ), but this one could not be found on the Tennessee side of the line. It is found only on the highest mountains along our North Carolina border facing to the south or southeast on the North Carolina side. Others seen on this 5518 foot mountain were three-toothed cinquifoil ( Potentilla tridentata ), Minniebush ( Menziesia pilosa ), Silverling ( Paronychia argyrocoma ), Skunk goldenrod (Solidago glomerata ), and Rose twisted-stalk ( Streptopus roseus ). Sunday was a fine day, and we had seven plant enthusiasts to visit the Shady Valley cranberry bog and Osborne's bog on Cross Mountain. Both bogs contained nice large cranberries ( Vaccinium erythrocarpum ). While not so rare, Bartonia virginica was new to many of us. A new Ladies'-tresses ( Spiranthes lacera ) was added to the Tennessee flora (per Tom Patrick). Other niceties of the day included Shinleaf ( Pyrola rotundifolia ), Grass-of-Parnassus ( Parnassia asarifolia ) and Meadowsweet ( Spirea alba ). Edward Schell CUMBERLAND PLATEAU WEEKEND, AUGUST 25-26, 1984 On Saturday, a group of four led by Ranger-Naturalist Randy Hedgepath ventured into a large bowl-shaped sinkhole in the rim west of Beersheba Springs. The sinkhole is on top of the plateau but near the edge of the escarpment. Inside the sinkhole on the more gentle west slope a colony of Three-birds orchid ( Triphora trianthophora ) was found. Although the orchids were not in flower, their discovery was the highlight of the hike. Accompanying Randy on the trip were Chuck Wilson, Richard Simmers of the TNPS and Dr. Bigby from the Savage Gulf Preservation League. On Sunday, Margret Rhinehart led a large group of fifteen hikers into the Caney Fork River bottoms of White County. In order not to miss the announced main attraction, we first drove to a known population of the Spider Lily ( Hymenocallis occidentalis ) in full bloom and • quite spectacular. Then a convoy of three four-wheel drive vehicles were assembled for the ride deep into Scotts Gulf along the Caney Fork River. Afte a short hike and lunch, we climbed to the unusual cave-waterfall-sinkhole complex known as Virgin Falls. Then back to the sandy terraces along the Caney Fork, we found Three-birds orchid and more Spider lilies. At one point the Caney Fork River completed disappeared into a sinkhole. Refreshing soft drinks were on ice and awaiting our return, a welcome conclusion to a rewarding day. Randy Hedgepath, Margaret Rhinehart, and Dennis Horn NORTHWEST ALABAMA TRIP REPORT, SEPTEMBER 15, 1984 A cool and sometimes cloudy day welcomed eight visitors to an unusually dry northwest Alabama. The group visited two sites, one along a small creek southwest of Littleville, the other to barrens just east of Littleville. Several hundred plants of the northwest Alabama endemic Jamesianthus alabamensis were found in sunny spots along the creek margin. One individual of Plantago cordata , an aquatic, nonweedy plantain was noted among rocks in close association with Orontium aquaticum . The barrens were impressive and arrayed in the purple of Liatris aspera , the blue of Salvia azurea , and the yellow of several species of composites such as Silphium pinnatifidum , Helianthus occidentalis , and Solidago rigida . Approximately one hundred plants of Eriogonum longifolium var. harperi were observed at the probable type locality for the taxon. A good trip and a great area where the ghost of Roland Harper still roams! David H. Webb TURKEY CREEK, CARTER MOUNTAIN (FRANKLIN COUNTY), SEPTEMBER 29, 1984 On a pleasant Saturday morning, a group of ten botanizers left Little Mountain Cemetery for the upper reaches of Turkey Creek. The weather had been extremely dry for the preceding five weeks which was evident by the wilted appearance of both late flowering herbs and shrubs. Once we reached Turkey Creek, the limestone ledges forming the creek bed made walking a little easier. Some of the plants observed along the creek were black-eyed Susans ( Rudbeckia spp.), Lobelia siphilitica , False hellebore ( Veratrum parviflorum ), the rare Southeastern Viburnum (V. bracteatum ) andThe rare rosinweed ( SilphiunrT brachiatum ) first discovered by Dr. Gattinger near Cowan over eighty years ago. Our lunch stop brought us to the site of the Shadow Witch orchid ( Ponthieva racemosa ). Although many rosettes of leaves were found, none of the plants were flowering, probably a result of the dry period. We returned by a gentle sloping ridge to the jeep trail which led us back to the cars. Dennis Horn BIG SOUTH FORK HIKE, OCTOBER 20, 1984 Five of us turned out on a rainy morning to see two special habitats with their endemic plants. First we hiked along and into a series of rockhouses. We found large colonies of Cumberland sandwort ( Arenaria cumberlandensis ) and Braun's thorough wort ( Eupatorium luciaebrauniae ). Then we moved down to the shores of the Big South Fork. Here the unusual habitats are the white water scoured rocky beaches. On one of the these we found Cumberland Rosemary ( Conradina verticillata ). TNPS. members joining me for the hike were Richard Clements, Vern McNeilus, Tom Patrick and Richard Simmers. Larry Pounds STONES RIVER CANOE FLOAT, NOVEMBER 3, 1984 Twenty persons turned out, with ten canoes and one C-l, for this 8 1/2 mile float on the Stones River near Murfreesboro. Glenn Hanley from MTSU Campus Recreation brought a trailor with five canoes for those that had none and we had had plenty of rain the week before, so there was plenty of water. It was the one day of sunshine and warm weather during the week and everyone enjoyed the float. We put in at the old Readyville mill, and came across a new one lane bridge a mile down stream. This strange new low-water bridge, which replaced a concrete slab bridge, was made of concrete poured around six 6-foot diameter culverts. The abutments had already washed out on one side during high water two weeks previously. We were able to run the culverts but had an interesting drop on the other side. However, one bow person got her 6-foot paddle stuck cross-ways in a groove of the culvert and although she could turn it 160°, she had difficulty getting it out. It caused a few hairy moments before she was finally able to bend it loose. We saw many birds, pileated woodpeckers, three great blue herons that carried the point position down stream, a defiant cow or two who thought the shallow stream was theirs, and even a little excitement with swamped canoes in our Class I rapids. We found a large flat table rock for lunch, and everyone shared with six Biology Club students from MTSU who did not know it was an all day trip. It was a little late for wildflowers, but there were vestiges of some late bloomers. Leaves were strangely still green, with very little color this year, due to the odd fall weather we have had. There are about sixty miles of canoeable stream on the Stones above the Percy Priest impoundment. The high rock bluffs and peaceful, pastoral, surroundings make it a relaxing delightful stream to float. For those of you that missed it, we will try to schedule it again next year on a different section. Bertha Chrietzbert and Glenn Hanley Environmental Action Fund P. 0. Box 22421 Nashville, Tennessee 37202 Dear Friends: As you are probably aware, last year's effort by the Environmental Action Fund to pass rare plant protection legislation was unsuccessful. Valuable groundwork was laid, nevertheless, for passage of a bill this year. A revised version of the bill has been prepared by EAF for intro- duction in late January. It is going to take a lot of hard work by all of us to pass this legislation. The Environmental Action Fund has been very active over the years in supporting environmental legislation. For the past 2 years, EAF's number one priority has been the passage of rare plant legislation. In 1983, EAF initiated the state superfund bill and was instrumental in its passage. To accomplish this, we depended upon active support and contributions donated by concerned individuals which enabled us to hire a lobbyist. Your support is needed to pass this year's rare plant bill. There are two ways you can help. Individual monetary contributions are needed, of course, to support our lobbyist and publicity efforts. Equally important are your letters and contacts with legislators and key adminis- trative officials. For more information on how you can help with this effort, please refer to the back side of this letter or contact our EAF office at the above address. Thank you for your continuing support. Yours sincerely William Terry, President Environmental Action Fund I wish to contribute $ , $10 , $2 0 , $30 , $ toward the passage of this year's Rare Plant bill . Signature Send to: Environmental Action Fund P. 0. Box 22421 Nashville, TN 37202 INFORMATION SHEET "THE RARE PLANT PROTECTION AND CONSERVATION ACT OF 1985" Supported by the Environmental Action Fund Senate Bill No. 440, sponsored by Senator Jim Lewis (D, South Pittsburg) House Bill No. , to be sponsored by Representative Steve Cobb (D, Nashville) Major purposes: 1. To authorize the Department of Conservation to investigate the status of rare plants and to formulate a list of rare species of plants. 2. To prohibit the taking of rare plants from any lands without the consent of the owner and to provide for penalties and enforcement to prevent such unlawful taking of rare plants. 3. To create a system of licenses for nursery farmers who sell rare plants. 4. To establish conservation programs and utilize existing programs to conserve rare plants. 5. To authorize the commissioners of conservation and agriculture to enter into agreements designed to conserve rare plants, and to promulgate rules and regulations to implement the act. Here's what you can do: Write, call or visit your legislators and others, such as key committee members in the Senate and House (including sponsors), and send a copy of your letter to the Governor and Commissioners of Conservation (Charles A. Howell, III, 701 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37219) and Agriculture (William H. Walker, III, Ellington Agriculture Center, P. 0. Box 40627, Nashville, TN 37204). FOR INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR LEGISLATORS - NAMES, PHONE NUMBERS, ADDRESSES - CALL YOUR COUNTY ELECTION COMMISSION. This bill will be considered first by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. Senators on this Committee who need to hear from you are: Frank Lashlee, Chairman (Hwy 70 East, Camden, TN 38320), Ed Davis (Vice Chairman), Ray Albright (Secretary), Ben Atchley, Tommy Burks, James Elkins, Jim Lewis, Carl Moore, and Anna Belle O'Brien. "The Rare Plane Protection and Conservation Act of 1985" A bill supported by the Environmental Action Fund 1. To authorize the Department of Conservation to investigate the status of rare plants and to formulate a list of rare species of plants. 2. To prohibit the taking of rare plants from any lands without the consent of the owner and to provide for penalties and enforcement to prevent such unlawful taking of rare plants. 3. To create a system of licenses for nursery farmers who sell rare plants. 4. To establish conservation programs and utilize existing programs to conserve rare plants. 5. To authorize the commissioners of conservation and agriculture to enter into agreements designed to conserve rare plants, and to promulgate rules and regulations to implement the act. 6. To accomplish other related purposes. PETITION TO CONGRESSMEN JIMMY QUILLEN AND JOHN DUNCAN AND THE U .S . FOREST SERVICE Since the northern Cherokee National Forest in upper east Tennessee has many areas of outstanding natural beauty, but no areas that are protected by legislation from clearcutting , road building, oil and gas leasing and related development, we, the undersigned, urge you to support legislation to designate the following areas in the northern Cherokee National Forest as wilderness under the 1964 Wilderness Act: 1) Rodgers Ridge; 2) Flint Mill Gap; 3) Jennings Creek; 4) Pond Mountain and Pond Mountain Addition; 5) Unaka Mountain; and 6) Big Laurel Branch. We also urge you to support legislation to designate the Big Frog Mountain Wilderness Study Area and Little Frog Mountain Wilderness Study Area located in the southern Cherokee National Forest as wilderness. These areas are included in the Citizens Wilderness Proposal of Cherokee National Forest Wilderness Coalition (Sierra Club, Tennessee Citizens for Wilderness Planning, Audubon Society, Trout Unlimited, Smoky Mountains Hiking Club, Tennessee Ornithological Society and other Tennessee groups) . SIGNATURE NAME (PLEASE PRINT) ADDRESS (PLEASE PRINT) RETURN BY APRIL 20, 1985, TO: Gaye Bolen 8001 Bennington Drive Knoxville, Tennessee 37919 Tennessee Has Another Trillium! During a collecting trip in the spring of 1979, Dave Boufford and Emily Wood made a new discovery for Tennessee - they found the decumbent trillium ( Trillium decumbens ). Their discovery was unknown to Tennessee botanists until 1983 when Dave came down from Harvard University to accompany visiting Chinese botanists and an assemblage of Tennessee folks on a brief botanical exploration of areas on the Cumberland Plateau. As we were chatting about trilliums in general, a habit I frequently indulge in, he noted that he had collected a trillium just past bloom with its mature leaves resting on the leaf litter. He identified the strange trillium correctly as T. decumbens , but specimens for documentation were hidden away at Vanderbilt University and the Carnegie Museum in Pittsburgh. No Tennessee botanists had bothered to relocate the collection until the Afbees (formally known as members of the Association of Amateur Field Botanists) accompanied me one rainy April day in 1984 on a trek into the Cherokee National Forest very near the State Line Bridge over the Conasauga River, Polk County. With five sets of eyes peeled along the roadside, we searched the areas rich with the conspicuous yellow trillium ( Trillium luteum ). We are misled by an error in the original site locality and spent some time looking in the wrong area, but finally hit the jackpot. You have to see this plant to believe it. It does grow on the ground! The stem comes up through the leaf litter, bends horizontally for a few inches, and then curves straight up once again, just enough to hold the three leaves flat on the duff. The leaves are three shades of green, one of which has a silvery sheen especially in the damp weather we were experiencing. The dark purple color of the three upright, slightly twisted petals is similar to the purple toadshade ( Trillium cuneatum ). The anther has a distinctive beak (see illustration) and the pollen falls to the outside, plus there are small hairs on the upper stem and under the leaves along the veins. The decumbent trillium brings the total number of Trillium species now known from Tennessee to 17. To my knowledge, that makes our State the second richest place in the World for such plants. Alabama has 16 species, whereas Georgia has more than any other State with 19 species. Of course, these figures are changing all the time with new species being delimited and additional localities found. I regret that the details of this locality must remain confidential, but invite you all to come along on March 30 or April 21, to see another unusual species - the dwarf trillium ( Trillium pusillum ). Tom Patrick Trillium decumbent The Tennessee Nature Conservancy reports that 1984 was a good year; 3558 acres were preserved, six projects completed, and several state threatened or endangered species protected. For instance: 650 acres of bottomland hardwoods are now protected as part of the Lower Hatchie National Wildlife Refuge; Stone's River Mustard Field which contains the largest known population of the state endangered Stone's River Bladderpod is now protected; White Oak Swamp , 2500 acres of wetland in Hardin County, was purchased by the Conservancy through a bargain sale. However, much remains to be done. For example: The Tennessee Coneflower is only known to grow naturally in five placed in the world — all in Tennessee. Only one of these sites is currently protected; a large in-holding at Meeman Shelby Forest is scheduled for timber harvest in the near future unless The Nature Conservancy quickly purchases this site; more than 46% of Tennessee's wetlands have been destroyed. Quick action is needed to protect the best of those that remain. Donations to the Tennessee Nature Conservancy, 202 Capitol Boulevard Building, P. O. Box 3017, Nashville, TN 37219, can make a difference. mjcppy OOH-9664E 33SS3NN3X '3T1IAXONM 33SS3NN3X 30 AXISdSAIND 3HX JLN3Wi.MVd3a ANVXOS A13IX>S INVnd 33SS3NN31 Jimsonweed, Jamestown Weed Datura stramonium L. Although deadly poisonous when used incorrectly, this species is used in the Eastern Mountains to treat wounds and kill pain as well as smoked in pipes to relieve asthma. In Europe it has been used to treat pulmonary diseases, nervous disorders, and nymphomania. Artist: Barbara C. McBride < CD X o i Appalachian Medicinal Herb Notes Distributed by the Tennessee Native Plant Society to support conservation of Tennessee's wild flora. | TNPS c/o Department of Botany, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37916 i 15, 1^05 /9 o o o 2 * 00 o > ! Mountain Avens Now restricted in Tennessee to fewer than a half-dozen rocky, mist-swept sites at high elevations, Geum radiatum is an Appalachian endemic sorely in need of protective management. Tennessee Native Plant Notes Designed and distributed by the Tennessee Native Plant Society to support conservation of Tennessee's wild flora. TNPS c/o Department of Botany, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996