1. Minnesota Plant Press
The Minnesota Native Plant Society Newsletter
Volume 29 Number 4 Fall 2010
Monthly meetings
Thompson Park Center/Dakota
Lodge
Election will affect
Thompson County Park
360 Butler Ave. E.,
environmental legacy
by Scott Milburn, MNNPS president
West St. Paul, MN 55118
We live in a state that has had a reputation as a place of ubiquitous
Programs natural resources. It’s a legacy we hope will continue for future generations,
The Minnesota Native Plant and public support, such as the recent constitutional amendment, is
Society meets the first Thursday encouraging.
in October, November, December,
February, March, April, May, and Yet the overall political process seems counterintuitive when it comes
June. Check at www.mnnps.org to protecting and overseeing those natural resources. Ideally, the heads
for more program information. of agencies that oversee our natural resources would be chosen on merit
6 p.m. — Social period and experience rather than political favor. However, that is not the usual
7 – 9 p.m. — Program, Society pattern. We obviously have an election for the next governor of Minnesota
business this November, and my concern is this trend will continue regardless of
Nov. 4: “Characterizing who presides over our state.
patterns of natural disturbance
There are other issues dominating this election, and debate has neglected
in Minnesota’s wet mesic
southern boreal mixed wood detailed thought and discussion about natural resources. Instead, the debate
forest ecosystems,” by Michael has focused the attention on jobs, taxes, and regulation due to the sour
Reinikainen, master of science economy. These are important issues, but this should not deter action from
student, Department of Forest other important concerns.
Resources, U of M. Plant-of- Unfortunately, we are often thinking only of today as dictated by this
the-Month: Naked miterwort current political system. The majority of our politicians serve under the
(Mitella nuda), “a good indicator banner of entitlement, all too often compromising to protect their political
for my research sites,” by Michael careers. The reason I bring this up is that it does affect the mission of the
Reinikainen. Seed exchange. Society. We continue to see a changing landscape that brings a series of
Dec. 2: To be announced. challenges. We face a growing population, which puts added pressure
Seed exchange Nov. 4 on our resources. We should be optimistic, however, because we have
In this issue
opportunities to be creative and
The annual seed exchange
provides an opportunity for members solve problems before they appear.
to obtain seeds of native plants at This goes back to the issue of Conservation Corner ................2
no cost. Seeds must be placed in putting the best and the brightest Native plant seed guidelines ....3
envelopes and labeled. No bulk in positions of leadership. So as Prairie research grants .............3
piles of seeds will be accepted. November approaches, members Emerald ash borer fight ...........3
of the Society need to consider Proposed bylaw changes ........4
MNNPS website such issues and hope that the next Boundary Waters plant search ..5
For information about Society governor will appoint true leaders, New members ..........................5
field trips, meetings and events, rather than continuing our current Book reviews ...........................6
check the website: www.mnnps.org system. Plant Lore: Speckled alder .......7

2. Conservation Corner MNNPS Board
by Elizabeth Nixon
The MNNPS Blog on Conservation topics is two quick clicks away of Directors
from the Society’s Internet home page. Issues include legislative status President: Scott Milburn, scott.
on funding invasive species control, the ecological price of holiday milburn@mnnps.org
decorations, and the need to have a voice for native plants at the Lessard-
Sams Outdoor Heritage Council decisions on allocating the Minnesota Vice President: Shirley Mah
legacy amendment dollars. Kooyman, shirley.mah.kooyman@
Clicking on the Education Blog brings to your attention both a crucial mnnps.org
education and conservation initiative, that of No Child Left Inside. I Secretary, program coordinator:
hope you will consider what you can do to support this initiative. The Andrés Morantes, andres.
MNNPS has helped by funding urban school buses to transport kids to an morantes@mnnps.org
annual schoolchildren’s bird festival in Ramsey County. Sad as it sounds, Treasurers, membership data base:
education dollars are not available for this. Ron and Cathy Huber, ron.huber@
Experiential learning in the natural world by children has been taken on as mnnps.org
a serious outdoor conservation strategy by federal, state, and local decision-
makers. The federal government hosted a national road trip this year called Derek Anderson, board member,
America’s Great Outdoors (www.doi.gov/americasgreatoutdoors/index. derek.anderson@mnnps.org
cfm). I learned that top agency leaders are seriously soliciting programmatic Ken Arndt, board member, field
ideas for getting urban (the vast majority) kids outdoors. Our state DNR trip chair, ken.arndt@mnnps.org
had a very successful “More Kids in the Woods” inaugural season (www.
Michael Bourdaghs, board member,
dnr.state.mn.us/forestry/education/
morekidsinthewoods/index.html). Two-state invasive michael.bourdaghs@mnnps.org
You don’t have to be an expert species conference Elizabeth Heck, board member,
to volunteer as a chaperone getting The first collaborative Minnesota- webmaster, elizabeth.heck@mnnps.
more kids out in nature in your Wisconsin Invasive Species org
community. We hope you will read Conference will be held Nov. 8 - 10 Daniel Jones, board member,
more about No Child Left Inside at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, St. Paul. daniel.jones@mnnps.org
legislation at the MNNPS Blog, and It will cover invasive aquatic and
consider what you can do to help terrestrial plants, animals, pests, and Dylan Lueth, board member, dylan.
advance the ideas at any level of pathogens.Information is at www. lueth@mnnps.org
effort that you can give. minnesotaswcs.org Elizabeth Nixon, board member,
conservation committee chair, beth.
nixon@mnnps.org
Minnesota Native Plant Society’s purpose Erika Rowe, board member, erika.
(Abbreviated from the bylaws) rowe@mnnps.org
This organization is exclusively organized and operated for Russ Schaffenberg, board member,
educational and scientific purposes, including the following. russ.schaffenberg@mnnps.org
1. Conservation of all native plants.
Field Trips: fieldtrips.mnnps@
2. Continuing education of all members in the plant sciences. mnnps.org
3. Education of the public regarding environmental protection of plant
life. Memberships: memberships.
mnnps@mnnps.org
4. Encouragement of research and publications on plants native to
Minnesota. Historian-Archives: Roy Robison,
5. Study of legislation on Minnesota flora, vegetation, ecosytems. historian-archives.mnnps@mnnps.
6. Preservation of native plants, plant communities, and scientific and org
natural areas. Technical or membership
7. Cooperation in programs concerned with the ecology of natural inquiries: contact.mnnps@mnnps.
resources and scenic features. org
8. Fellowship with all persons interested in native plants through Minnesota Plant Press Editor:
meetings, lectures, workshops, and field trips. Gerry Drewry, 651-463-8006;
plantpress.mnnps@mnnps.org
2

3. Three agencies work together, Weapons to fight
set restoration guidelines for emerald ash
borer are tested
native plant communities Biological and chemical controls
are being tested in two areas as
by Dan Shaw, BWSR vegetation Outdoor Heritage Council grant Minnesota fights the invasive
specialist/landscape ecologist, and programs. New Mn/DOT seed emerald ash borer.
Ken Graeve, Mn/DOT botanist. specs have also been developed
This is a summary of their talk at the for construction projects. These Stingless wasps
June 3, 2010, MNNPS meeting. specs incorporate the new list of On Sept. 22, scientists from
state seed mixes and bring Mn/DOT the Minnesota Department of
As an increasing number of Agriculture’s Plant Protection
restoration projects are underway in requirements in line with the BWSR
native seed guidelines. Division released two species of
the state, Board of Water and Soil stingless, predatory wasps on a
and Resources (BWSR), Mn/DOT Examples of new restoration dozen ash trees on a Mississippi
and DNR staffs have been working resources include a Mn/DOT Native River island in Houston County.
to develop a new list of state Seed Mix Design Manual to assist Different proportions of male and
seed mixes as well as new native the development of site-specific female wasps were let loose on the
vegetation standards and restoration seed mixes (www.bwsr.state.mn.us/ trees. The wasps search out ash
resources to guide professionals. native_vegetation/); the Minnesota borer larvae or eggs and insert their
The new list of state seed mixes Wetland Restoration Plant ID Guide; own eggs into them. The developing
has been developed to combine the Minnesota Wetland Restoration wasps then consume their hosts.
mixes from the three agencies, keep Guide Vegetation Section, and the
BWSR What’s Working Website Release of the wasps was
species within their native ranges, approved by the U.S. Department of
eliminate confusion, and create (www.bwsr.state.mn.us/grants/
WhatsWorking.html#veg) Agriculture. It will be several years
more consistency for restoration before scientist can analyze the
efforts. A new seed-mix numbering results. The stingless wasps were
system and a substitution table that
lists pre-approved substitutions for
Prairie research reared in a Michigan laboratory.
The wasps and ash borers are both
species in mixes have also been grants are available native to Asia.
developed. The substitution table Prairie Biotic Research (PBR)
will allow vendors more flexibility Chemical control
has announced its 2011 competitive Minneapolis parks officials
in preparing mixes, which will help small grants program which funds
to keep costs down and will also are testing the effectiveness of
grants of up to $1,000 to individuals insecticide injections on about
promote landscape-scale diversity
in the use of these standard mixes. for the study of any grassland taxon three dozen ash trees in the Lowry
anywhere in the United States. Hill and Whittier neighborhoods.
New BWSR “Native Vegetation There are no known infestations in
Establishment and Enhancement Proposals must be received by Jan.
7, 2011. these areas, but they are considered
Guidelines” were developed through vulnerable to the emerald ash borer.
a collaborative effort by BWSR PBR is an all-volunteer The treatment costs about $17 per
partners. These partners included Wisconsin non-profit established tree and must be repeated every
federal, state and local agencies, in 2000 to foster basic research in three years.
vendors, consultants, non-profits and prairies and savannas. Grants are
universities. These guidelines were funded by donations. Since 2002, Treasurers’ report
written to meet legislative language, PBR has awarded 100 grants worth Treasurers Ron and Cathy Huber
while developing consistent report that on Sept. 30, 2010, the
standards for native vegetation seed $94,849 to people in 24 states. Many
of these grants supported graduate Society had assets of $24,115.40,
and plant sources, diversity levels, which included $8,867.30 in
and quality. students. They expect to award at
certificates of deposit.
Since they were finalized last least 12 grants of up to $1,000 each Total income for the first nine
winter, the guidelines have been in 2011. months of 2010 was $9,186.78.
adopted by the DNR, Legislative- For additional information on the Expenses totaled $9,700,18.
Citizen Commission on Minnesota grants or to make a donation, go to Estimated expenses for the
Resources, and Lessard-Sams prairiebioticresearch.org remainder of the year are $1,543.
3

4. Bylaw changes proposed
accounting of the corporation’s
receipts and expenditures which shall
be published in the next newsletter.
The MNNPS Board of Directors choice of receiving back issues Chairpersons shall report on their
has proposed changing the of the newsletter for that year, or committee’s activities. A dinner
organization’s bylaws. Members applying the membership for the may be held in conjunction as the
will be asked to vote on the revisions full following calendar year. Board of Directors shall determine.
at the December and February SECTION I. Special assessments to Notice of the Annual Meeting shall
monthly meetings. cover agenda may be proposed at any be given by the Secretary via the
The proposed changes are shown monthly meeting by the President Minnesota Plant Press newsletter.
below. Additions are underlined for vote upon by the membership. A Directors will be elected by a simple
like this; deletions are indicated two-thirds majority of the members majority.
by a strike-through line like this. present shall carry. A quorum of 20 SECTION E. Directors will be
If only the title letter of a section is percent of the general membership elected by a simple majority. An
changed, and content of that section is necessary.
is unchanged, that change is not identified absentee ballot may be
shown. ARTICLE IV - MEETINGS cast by mail. An absentee ballot may
5. BYLAWS OF MINNESOTA SECTION B. Regular meetings be obtained from the Secretary and
NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY of the Board of Directors shall be must be returned to the Secretary
(adopted 1983, revised 1988, 1989, held quarterly in June, September, before the election. Voting by proxy
1998, 2003) December, and March at such shall not be permitted. Election
time and place as the President results shall be immediately
ARTICLE III - MEMBERSHIP shall determine. The Secretary or announced by the President and
SECTION A. There shall be seven Program Chair shall give due notice published in the Minnesota Plant
eight classes of membership: of all meetings via the website, Press by the Secretary.
[1. Individual, 2. Family, 3. Student, Minnesota Plant Press newsletter, ARTICLE V - BOARD OF
4. Senior] e-mail or by telephone. The meetings DIRECTORS
5. Institutional. A legal organization. shall be conducted by the President SECTION D. Board members
Twice the Individual rate. Entitled with assistance from other officers are expected to attend three of the
to one vote and one mailing as requested and the Secretary shall four board meetings, including
of newsletter, does not include take and record minutes. mandatory attendance at June
privilege of holding office. SECTION C. Special meetings of meeting, and are expected to actively
6. Donor. Those individuals or the Board of Directors may be called participate in the operations of the
organizations who make a gift, by the President at such time and Society.
devise or memorial of $25.00 three place as he or she shall determine. SECTION F. G. The Board of
times the Individual rate, or more. The Secretary shall give due notice Directors shall each year appoint a
Same privileges as individual. of all meetings by e-mail, post card, Nomination Committee of not less
7, Lifetime. Twenty times the or telephone as appropriate. Said than three persons, chaired by the
Individual rate. Same privileges as meetings shall be conducted by the Vice President, to propose a slate of
Individual. President and the Secretary shall three new directors, with notice of the
[8. Honorary.] take and record minutes. proposed slate being mailed at least
SECTION B. Dues are payable SECTION D. The Annual meeting 30 days prior to the annual meeting.
upon application for membership of the membership shall be during The Nomination Committee shall
and annually on the first of the March meeting or at such time propose a slate of new officers to
October. Membership is based and place as the President shall the Board of Directors.
upon the calendar year with dues determine in the month of March.
payable in January. Any person SECTION G. All members in
Notice of the Annual Meeting shall
with delinquent dues shall not be a good standing are welcome to
be given by the Secretary via the
member in good standing entitled to attend meetings of the Board of
Minnesota Plant Press newsletter.
mailing of newsletter, voting rights Directors and have standing to
The election of Directors to the
or privileges of holding office. make suggestions deemed in the
Board and transaction of pertinent
best interests of the corporation by
SECTION H. New members business shall be conducted by the
the President.
joining after April June first shall be President. and the Secretary shall take
considered paid through September and record minutes. The Treasurer SECTION H. Directors shall serve
of the following year. have the shall prepare and give an annual from the time of the June Board
4

5. meeting following their election
to the June meeting following the Searching for plants in the
Boundary Waters Canoe Area
election of their successor.
SECTION I. In case any Director
shall by death, incapacity,
resignation or absenteeism fail to
serve his or her full three-year term,
the Board of Directors shall appoint
a successor to serve out the balance
of such term.
SECTION J. Whenever a vacancy
shall occur in any office, it shall be
immediately filled by the Board of
Directors.
ARTICLE VI – OFFICES
SECTION C. The Vice-President
shall actively assist the President,
shall preside in the President’s
absence, shall chair the nominations
committee and may be considered
for the next presidency.
SECTION D. The Secretary shall Mike Lee, botanist/ecologist for
take and record minutes of all board the Minnesota County Biological
meetings and shall give due notice Survey, studied plants in the
of the Monthly and Board meetings Boundary Waters Canoe Area
via the Minnesota Native Plant this summer. His work included
Plant Press newsletter. identifying plants and drying the
specimens he collected. This is part
ARTICLE VIII - STANDING of the ongoing work by MCBS to
COMMITTEES document plant communities and
The standing committees of the rare flora in the Border Lakes area.
corporation are as follows: The photo above shows how Mike
1. Program, Education, and Lee used solar power when pressing
Lectures. and drying plant specimens. In the
2. Membership and Outreach. photo at the left, he is examining a
2. Publications (Minnesota Plant rock face, looking for potential areas
Press newsletter) with rare plants. Both photos are by
3. Conservation Scott Milburn, MNNPS president.
4. Symposium
ARTICLE IX – NEWSLETTER MNNPS welcomes
The Minnesota Plant Press new members
newsletter shall be published at least The Society gives a warm
three times a year. in September welcome to five new members who
(fall), January (winter), and May require a two-thirds majority vote joined during the third quarter of
(spring) and at such other times that of the membership. present at two 2010. Listed alphabetically, they
the Board of Directors determines. consecutive Monthly meetings. are:
Members shall be notified by the Nancy Lizette Berlin, Red
ARTICLE XI - AMENDMENTS Minnesota Plant Press newsletter
Wing;
A quorum to transact business of any change proposed by the Donald A. Doeksen, St. Paul;
shall be 20 percent of the general Board of Directors. Voting shall Daniel and Diane Stauner, New
membership. Changes to the Articles be by secret ballot. or an identified Hope;
of Incorporation or the Bylaws shall absentee ballot. Barbara Wieman, Burnsville.
5

6. Prairie ecology, Helzer believes that invasive
species removal needs to be
Book explores
management are prioritized. He feels that preventing state wild places
new weeds from becoming a “Our Neck of the Woods:
new book topics problem should always be first. Exploring Minnesota’s Wild Places,”
The Ecology and Management He states that the reason grassland edited by Daniel J. Philippon,
of Prairies in the Central United birds are so scarce is because they published by the University of
States, by Chris Helzer, published need a very large area for nesting. Minnesota Press, 2009; paperback,
for the Nature Conservancy by the Their predators come in from the 277 pages, $19.95.
University of Iowa Press, 2010, edges of the prairie, especially
paperback, 208 pages, illustrated, when trees are present. A greenway Review by Gerry Drewry
$29.95. patchwork of areas that are close or Most of these 57 personal “Sense
Review by Arlene Kjar, MNNPS connected can provide corridors for of Place” essays were published in
member; president of Prairie their movement. issues of Minnesota Conservation
Partners of Cannon Valley, a In the last half of the book, he Volunteer since November 1994.
volunteer group in Northfield that identifies different ways to manage Each article reflects the strong sense
helps others with nature areas; a the prairie. Patch-burn grazing is a of place felt by the author.
member of Prairie Smoke Chapter system in which a third of the prairie Some are by well known writers,
of The Prairie Enthusiasts; and a is burned. Cattle (or the grazing including Paul Gruchow, Sigurd F.
retired teacher. animal of choice) will eat from that Olson, Peter M. Leschak, Bill Holm,
The Ecology and Management of area and leave the rest of the prairie and Greg Breining. Some writers are
Prairies in the Central United States to grow. This allows the grasses and members of the Minnesota Native
is an excellent book that provides forbs to recover. Every year another Plant Society, including Erika Rowe,
background knowledge about how third of the prairie is burned, and the Nancy Sather, Kathleen Weflen, and
prairies work. The author provides grazing animals will move to the Vera Ming Wong.
information on how to mix and new area without being fenced.
It is easy to find specific essays.
match management techniques in This is an excellent book to add The table of contents sorts them
ways that will help to keep prairies to your nature library. It is published by category: Making Camp,
vigorous and viable. for the Nature Conservancy by the Encountering Wildness, Getting
Chris Helzer is the program University of Iowa Press. Wet, Embracing Winter, Doing
director for The Nature Science, Practicing Conservation,
Conservancy’s Eastern Nebraska Bell Museum opens and Finding Home. A geographical
Project Office in Aurora, Nebraska.
He oversees the management and
exhibit on shelter index groups the essays by biome:
Sustainable Shelter: Dwelling Coniferous Forest, Deciduous
restoration of approximately 5,000 within the Forces of Nature opened Forest, and Prairie Grassland.
acres of conservancy-owned land. Oct. 16 and runs through May 15, Some of the essays are lyrical,
The first part of the book consists 2011. Just as birds gather local especially Sigurd Olson’s Trapper’s
of a description of the complex materials for their nests, humans Cabin. Some are informative, such
workings of prairies. Grasslands build homes that use natural as Anne M. Dunn’s Sugar Bush
that are dominated by only a few resources to meet their needs and Journal and Eric Hanson’s Count
plant species, especially non-native desires. But while shelters in the Your Loons. Some paint contrasting
grasses, lack the ability to support animal kingdom work in tandem pictures of the same topics,
the majority of prairie-dependent with natural cycles, most human including Lake Superior in winter
species and, in Helzer’s opinion, shelters consume more natural and the Boundary Waters Canoe
are not prairies. He defines a plant resources and energy than they Area. Some praise specific aspects
community as all the plants that need. of nature, from winter to native
grow and interact together in a This exhibit explores innovative plants to exploring a cave.
particular place. The strategies the home building technologies and
plants develop to survive strengthen strategies that can help restore the In summary, if you enjoy
the community’s ability to respond viability of natural systems; contrasts Minnesota’s outdoors, you will find
to drought, flooding, intense grazing, human dwellings with those of other essays that reflect your experiences,
fire and other disturbances. A high animals; looks at housing around the inspire you to visit other locations,
quality prairie can have as many as world, and changes in U.S. houses or make you feel that you are there
150 - 300 species of plants. over the past 150 years. with the author.
6

7. Is it part of any other “lore?”
Plant Lore
by Thor Kommedahl
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow,
in his Midnight Ride of Paul Revere,
wrote:
What is speckled alder? “And under the alders that skirt its
Speckled alder is Alnus incana edge,
subsp. rugosa, and native to Now soft on the sand, now loud on
Minnesota. It belongs in the birch the ledge,
family. Is heard the tramp of his steed as he
How did it get its names? rides.”
Alder is an ancient name for Right: Stalked speckled alder
tree. The Old English name was terminal bud. Below, top:
alor. Alnus is the Latin name for Male and female speckled
alder. Incana means gray (stem alder catkins, in winter.
color), and rugosa means wrinkled Below, bottom: Leaves,
(network of sunken veins on female catkins of speckled
undersides of leaves). It is called alder. Photos are by Peter
speckled because of the numerous Dziuk.
warty lenticels on the stem that are
pale yellow or orange.
What does the plant look like?
It is a thicket-forming shrub,
occasionally a small tree, with
simple and alternate leaves. The
terminal bud is stalked. It produces
yellowish male flower clusters
(catkins or aments) and reddish
female, cone-like inflorescences
bearing small, one-seeded, winged
fruits (samaras). Wind disperses
samaras. This female catkin remains
on the plant in winter — useful for
identification.
Where does the shrub grow?
It grows in wetlands or moist
lowlands in the wooded areas of
Minnesota, often as an understory
in forests.
Is it poisonous or medicinal?
It is not poisonous or edible,
but American Indians used a bark
tea for diarrhea treatment, as a
diuretic, for toothache, anemia, and
many other problems.
Is it ecologically significant?
Alder roots fix nitrogen
comparable to that by legumes. As
an understory plant in forests, alder
promotes growth of many deciduous
and coniferous trees. Songbirds eat
the “seeds,” and it is the larval host
for the green comma butterfly; it
also attracts the tent caterpillar moth
and other moths.
7

8. Minnesota Native Plant Society
P.O. Box 20401
Bloomington, MN 55420
Fall 2009
Directions:
Take MN Hwy. 52 to the Butler Ave. E. exit in West St. Paul.
Go west on Butler 0.2 mile to Stassen Lane.
Go south on Stassen Lane to Thompson County Park.