1. Minnesota Plant Press
The Minnesota Native Plant Society Newsletter
Volume 23 Number 2 Winter 2004
Monthly meetings
Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge
Scientific and Natural
Visitor Center, 3815 East 80th St.
Bloomington, MN 55425-1600 Areas need support
952-854-5900
From the MNPS Board of Directors
6:30 p.m. — Building east door opens Is it becoming harder to find places to photograph your favorite
6:30 p.m. — Refreshments,
information, Room A wildflower? Do you enjoy seeing wildflowers in their natural settings?
7 – 9 p.m — Program, society business Are other recreational uses destroying your favorite place? Is it
7:30 p.m. — Building door is locked
9:30 p.m. — Building closes becoming more difficult to find good locations for bird watching? If
you answered yes to any of these questions, then you may want to
Programs take some action.
The MNPS meets the first Thursday in
October, November, December, February, This year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the
March, April, May, and June. Check the first state natural area in Minnesota. The Department of Natural
Web site for more program information. Resources Scientific and Natural Areas (SNA) Program administers
Feb. 5: “Native Plants of Papua, New state natural areas. These areas include lands for rare and endangered
Guinea,” by George Weiblen, University species, outstanding native plant communities, and state significant
of Minnesota; Plant-of-the-month: geological features.
Cardinal flower, by Evelyn Moyle.
Mar. 4: “Minnesota’s Scientific and SNAs are the places that Minnesota Native Plant Society members
Natural Areas Program,” by Bob go to photograph elusive orchids, old-growth forests and other unique
Djupstrum, DNR. features. They are the places where we can go to reconnect with
April 1: “Genetic Diversity of Native nature without being disturbed by ATVs or other recreational vehicles.
Plants in Minnesota,” by Kristine They protect some of the most sensitive and unique lands in the state,
Moncaca; Plants-of-the-Month:
Bloodroot and Twinleaf, by Shirley Mah the only public places where many rare plants are found.
Kooyman. Land protection and management of SNAs takes money — public
May 6: “Recent Research on Little funding — to buy and protect the unique land acquired. This year the
Bluestem (Andropogon scoparius);” Minnesota Legislature will be appropriating money for highways and
Plant-of-the-Month: Little Bluestem,
both by Mary Meyer. universities, and purchasing lands for parks and hunting as well as for
June 3: “Native Ferns,” by Tom SNAs. The DNR is only requesting $500,000 to purchase and develop
land for natural areas, yet it is requesting tens of millions to buy other
Bittinger; Annual Plant Sale.
land for intensive recreational use.
MNPS Web site
http://www.stolaf.edu/depts/biology/mnps 2004 is a bonding year, so if you want the most critical lands in the
e-mail: MNPS@HotPOP.com state protected as state natural areas, now is the time to contact your
state legislator, preferably by letter. The Legislature reconvenes Feb.
MNPS Listserve 2. Let your representative and state senator know that you use SNAs
Send a message that includes the word for photography or as places to view rare and endangered species. Or
“subscribe” or “unsubscribe” and your even if you don’t visit them, tell your legislators that you want these
name in the body of the message to:
mn-natpl-request@stolaf.edu Continued on page 3

3. SNAs need help
Continued from page 1
critical places protected for present
and future generations. Tell them that
you want to see $10 million
appropriated to accelerate the
acquisition of new SNAs now, before
the land is lost to development. A
few years from now, the same land
may be even more expensive,
because demand for land is growing
as our population grows.
If you have questions, call Linda
Huhn at 612-374-1435. To find out
who your legislator is, go to the state
Web site: www.leg.state.mn.us/leg/
Districtfinder.asp
Botany Web sites
Minnesota’s state flower, the showy lady’s-slipper (Cypripedium reginae)
are photo resources grows in some of the state’s Scientific and Natural Areas. It is the largest
by Dave Crawford and most beautiful northern orchid. The long-lived plants take about
Several botany Web sites contain 15 years from seed germination to flowering. Photo by Jason Husveth.
good photos of native plants of the
northeastern United States. The sites
include the following. Scott Milburn replaces Dan
The Web site for the Connecticut
Botanical Society has many very
Mielke on board of directors
good photos of northeastern U.S. Scott Milburn was appointed to the MNPS Board of Directors at the board’s
Dec. 4 meeting. He replaces Dan Mielke, who resigned because his new
plants: http://www.ct-botanical-
position is demanding all of his active time. Dan plans to continue, on a
society.org/galleries/ more limited basis, his restoration efforts and will continue to search for
galleryindex.html and identify wildflowers on his land and his uncle’s land. He has led several
The University of Wisconsin has a field trips on this land.
great botany photo Web site: http:// Scott is from Arlington Heights, Ill. He holds degrees from Iowa State
botit.botany.wisc This is an address University (B.S. in Botany) and from the University of Mississippi (M.S. in
change from the old Virtual Foliage Biological Sciences). His graduate work focused on evaluating the effects
web site. of wintertime flooding on agricultural soils in the Mississippi Delta. “More
In Minnesota’s own Sherburne specifically, the research examined the existing nitrogen budget in the soil
and how wintertime flooding affected the total nitrogen budget,” he said.
County, the Sherburne National
His graduate work is included in a recent collaborative effort entitled
Wildlife Refuge Web site has a plant Achieving Sustainable Freshwater Systems, published by Island Press.
list page with links to photos of many
of the plants: http:// “Towards the end of graduate school, I decided that my true interest was
m i d w e s t . f w s . g o v / S h e r b u r n e / not wetland biogeochemistry, but rather plants,” Milburn said. “From that
Plant.HTM point on, I have been focusing much of my time and effort towards the
subject of botany, or more specifically, sedges. I started my professional
Do you know of other such sites? career in Chicago for Hey and Associates, where I was able to learn the
Send your recommendations to Dave flora of the region. I spent about a year and a half working there and decided
Crawford at to move to Minnesota in pursuit of more botanical diversity.” Milburn now
grownativeplants@hotmail.com works with Jason Husveth at Critical Connections Ecological Services.
3

4. Old-growth forests are a source of
biological materials for restoration
by Lee E. Frelich, University of years. The inner city of Minneapolis, be noticed by one generation of
Minnesota Department of Forest for example, has many bur oaks that foresters, does not occur.
Resources. He presented this were present before the city existed.
information to The Minnesota Native Resilience to rather severe natural
Since the area was oak savanna for
Plant Society on Nov. 6, 2003. disturbances is a very special feature
several thousand years, these are
of old-growth forests. Near-boreal
Old-growth remnants are a treasure remnants of ancient populations that forests of jack pine and black spruce
trove of unique biological resources. are adapted to local climate and soils. on the Canadian Shield bedrock in
Many tree populations that have Even if the individual trees are not northern Minnesota can burn right
adapted to unusual site conditions ancient, the populations often are. down to the bedrock and bounce
exist and would be good sources for There is also much to be gained back to dense forest within a few
new horticultural varieties of trees from old growth that could be useful years, but often become brushy after
that could withstand city conditions. for management and restoration of harvest. Someday we may learn how
this resilience works, and be able to
Examples include paper birch commercial forests. High-grading is
use that knowledge to better manage
growing on rocky south slopes near the practice of taking the best trees
commercial forests.
the southern edge of its range, and (tallest trees of best growth form),
sugar maples growing on rock or on and leaving poor individuals as well Preservation of old-growth forests
flood plains. There are also as less desirable species to regenerate can be fully justified based on the
numerous examples in Minnesota of the next forest. High-grading has scientific values just discussed.
trees in old growth that can do things been and still is a common harvesting Spiritual and esthetic values, and the
not generally known or expected of practice, and it will eventually lead fact the people want them, only add
a species, such as black ash four feet to degradation of the quality and to the reasons for preserving them.
in diameter, red maple, five feet, volume of timber produced. Old- We should not forget how important
cottonwood seven feet in diameter, growth remnants contain trees that it is to allow old-growth forests to
and so-called short-lived species like have only undergone natural experience and recover from natural
jack pine and cottonwood living to selection via natural disturbance and disturbances, since it seems that this
age 150-200. competition with other trees. process is probably the most
Two of the most important important aspect of old growth, and
Some of these features occur in the
scientific values of old-growth it is what shaped the ancient
metro area in remnants such as
forests are as a control for the populations of trees over thousands
Wood-Rill,Wolsfeld Woods, and
commercial forest landscape and for of years. Certainly, it is more
Riley Creek Conservation Area.
lessons we can learn from them, such important than the age and size of the
They also occur right on city streets.
American elms, for example, were as resilience after disturbance. trees at a given moment in time.
obtained from natural seed sources Silviculture, the science of growing
trees, is a long-term experiment that Abatement events posted
100 years ago. Now the natural
will last thousands of years. Like all The schedule for noxious weed
populations have been through
experiments, controls are necessary. abatement events is posted on the
several generations without living a
Forest ecosystems did not evolve to MNPS Web site. Last year 36
full life span, due to infection by
produce commercial crops, and we abatement and six educational
Dutch elm disease by age 30. But
do not and will not know for some events were posted. We need
those older elms in the city have been
time how much harvesting is information on 2004 events. If your
protected from elm disease and still
ultimately sustainable. Old-growth organization has scheduled a time to
represent the original genetic
remnants that experience only remove buckthorn, garlic mustard,
structure of native elm populations.
natural disturbance can be used for Siberian elm, mulberry, honeysuckle,
Ancient populations also exist in periodic comparison with second or other invasives, send the
the city in the same locations that growth to make sure that slow information to Dianne Plunkett
they have been for thousands of decline in productivity, too slow to Latham at plunkettdi@mn.rr.com.
4

5. Garlic mustard March 27 symposium is
management on savannas, woodlands
plan developed by Karen Schik
The annual symposium is the
The long-term plan of the board is
to have future symposia focus on
A management program for flagship event of the Minnesota different plant communities and
attacking garlic mustard has been Native Plant Society. It is always a regions of the state over the next
developed by Driftless Land topical subject that draws a crowd, several years. We welcome your
Stewardship, a restoration firm in and this year is no exception. The title suggestions.
southwestern Wisconsin. The firm
of the 2004 symposium is: Our A brochure on this year ’s
says that their protocol, which
Historic Landscape: the ecology of symposium will be mailed in
integrates multiple control strategies,
savanna and woodland in the February. The following
is very effective. Using it, they have
taken massive garlic mustard metropolitan area. It will be held on presentations have been scheduled.
infestations to “manageable levels” Saturday, March 27, from 8 a.m. to • Geologic overview
in two years. Their comprehensive 4 p.m. at the Bunker Hills Activity • Plant communities
approach uses a combination of Center, Bunker Hills Regional Park, • Rare plants
prescribed burning, weed torching, Coon Rapids. The building is • Plant-insect interactions
hand-pulling and herbicide surrounded by native prairie and • Ethnobotany
application, coupled with intensive savanna restorations. • Mammals, birds, amphibians,
survey and documentation. and reptiles
The board discussed a number of • Degrading factors
The DLS method of garlic mustard good options for the topic of this
control is described below and on • Case studies in restoration
year’s symposium. This one was Symposium committee members
the company’s Web page — http://
selected because there is currently a are Karen Schik, chair, Shirley Mah
driftlesslandstewardship.com/
id30.htm lot of activity in the plant Kooyman, and Jason Husveth.
communities, as well as a lot of local
In fall, winter or spring, while most expertise on the subject. Most
MNPS display is a winner
natives are dormant, garlic mustard members live in the metro, which by Dianne Plunkett Latham
should be foliar-sprayed with was historically dominated by these I recently became aware that
Roundup (or, if green natives such educational displays can be entered
communities (and prairie). We are,
as sedges are present, Garlon4/ at flower shows when a member of
however, very cognizant of the fact my garden club asked me to enter
water). Always use label
that there are many outstate members my buckthorn display at the July Tri-
recommendations; a higher
percentage of herbicide is not better in the society, and we would like to City Flower show (Edina, Richfield,
and is often less effective. The encourage more members Bloomington). It was awarded
herbicide can be applied to garlic throughout the state. second place. Since so many people
mustard as long as the ambient picked up the buckthorn literature, I
temperature is above freezing. hand-pulling by burning off all of the decided to create a new buckthorn
garlic mustard seedlings with a hand- display and enter it in the State Fair
If the garlic mustard infestation is held propane weed torch. (DLS does Flower Show. There it got an
in a fire–dependent natural not burn in the fall, because the roots honorable mention, and more than
community (are oaks present?), remain viable and resprout in the 100 people picked up the literature.
broadcast-burn the garlic mustard- spring. Top-killed plants cannot be At the Sept. 13 Arboretum Flower
infested areas in late spring when the sprayed in the winter. Therefore, fall Show, I entered the buckthorn
cotyledonous-stage plants are burning increases the amount of display (second place), my all-new
present. This step kills many first- hand-pulling that is necesssary.) invasive plant display (third place)
year plants as well as removes leaf and the MNPS display.
This cycle needs to be repeated
litter that prolongs germination and
until garlic mustard is eradicated. MNPS got first place and the
frustrates the control process.
The seed can remain viable in soil Educational Award (a big maroon
Before garlic mustard sets seed, all for five to seven years. All non- ribbon)! Congratulations to all those
second-year plants should be pulled infested areas should be monitored who had a hand in designing the
to prevent seed production. Follow to prevent further infestation. MNPS display. It is truly a winner!
5

6. Wild rice is valuable food and a
culturally significant resource
Darren Vogt, environmental flat on the water surface and can form for years if the seed remains in the
biologist for the 1854 Authority, vast leafy mats. During July, the rice water. Wild rice is susceptible to high
discussed the “Biology, Traditional grows vertically and eventually water levels, human disturbances,
Harvest, and Cultural Significance stands out of the water up to six to and competing vegetation such as bur
of Minnesota Wild Rice” at the Dec. eight feet. Separate male and female reed, water lilies, bulrushes, and
4, 2003, MNPS meeting. The spikelets are located on a terminal pickerel weed.
following article includes flowering panicle. Cross-pollination If you are interested in purchasing
information from Vogt’s abstract and occurs naturally in rice beds, usually native-harvested rice, be sure to read
from the “Wild Rice Resource in late July. Rice kernels begin to package labeling to verify
Guide” published by the 1854 fill with a milky substance in late July authenticity, and make inquiries of
Authority. to early August, later hardening to your grocer. You may also want to
The 1854 Authority is an inter- become seeds. look for native-harvested rice at food
tribal natural resource management Wild rice ripens in late August or co-ops. In the Twin Cities area, try
agency governed by the Bois Forte early September, and it is during this Lakewinds Natural Foods, Linden
Band and Grand Portage Band of time that harvesting is done. A state Hills Co-op, Mississippi Market,
Lake Superior Chippewa. The license or 1854 Authority River Market Community Co-op,
organization is charged to preserve identification card (for Bois Forte or Seward Co-op Grocery & Deli,
and protect the treaty rights and Grand Portage band members) is Valley Natural Foods, and Wedge
natural resources in the 1854 Ceded required. Two people in a canoe Co-op. It is also available at St. Peter
Territory of northeastern Minnesota. typically cooperate to harvest wild Food Co-op in St. Peter and may be
available at other co-ops in the state.
Wild rice, known as manoomin in rice. One person guides the canoe
the Ojibway language, has been a while the other uses knockers (short For additional information, contact
valuable food source and a culturally pieces of wood) to harvest the rice. the 1854 Authority at 4428 Haines
significant resource for Native Because the kernels ripen at different Rd., Duluth, MN 55811; 218-722-
Americans for centuries. The 1854 times, the same wild rice bed can be 8907; www.1854authority.org
Authority developed the Wild Rice harvested several times in a year.
Resource Guide in an effort to outline Finishing of wild rice prepares it The buckthorn-Asian lady
potential water bodies where wild for cooking or storage and beetle connection
rice may be harvested within the traditionally includes drying, Buckthorn played a role in the
1854 Ceded Territory. The booklet parching, hulling, and winnowing. Asian lady beetle infestation last fall,
also includes information about wild Much of the wild rice for sale in according to Bruce Potter, a
rice biology, harvest regulations, and stores is actually “paddy” rice, a University of Minnesota biologist.
traditional harvesting and finishing. hybrid that is cultivated in artificially
Buckthorn is the primary host of
Several varieties of wild rice have created fields and mechanically soybean aphids, which are eaten by
been identified. The wild rice found harvested. the Asian lady beetles. In the fall,
in northeastern Minnesota can be If wild rice is not harvested, the the aphids lay eggs at the base of
classified as Zizania palustris, but is ripe seeds will eventually fall into the buckthorn buds. The eggs hatch in
sometimes misnamed as Zizania water and sink into the sediment at the spring, producing asexual
aquatica. Wild rice is not related to the bottom of the lake or river. With females that reproduce asexually on
white rice (Oryza sativa). favorable conditions, seeds will grow buckthorn and then move to
Wild rice is an annual plant that into wild rice plants beginning the soybeans, their alternate host. Some
grows best in shallow lakes and next spring. However, wild rice seed winged aphids travel long distances.
rivers. It begins growing soon after also has the ability to remain dormant “Eggs on buckthorn are believed to
ice-out, reaching the water surface in until favorable conditions are be the only way soybean aphids can
June. During this time, the plants lie encountered. This dormancy can last overwinter here,” Potter said.
6

7. Board member nominees Plant Lore
to be announced Feb.5 by Thor Kommedahl
What is prickly pear cactus?
by Linda Huhn All candidates for the board must Prickly pear cactus is a species of
At the Feb. 5 Minnesota Native have been active society members for Opuntia. Species native to Minnesota
Plant Society membership meeting, more than one year. Any interested are O. fragilis and O. macrorhiza, but
the society’s Board of Directors, as member in good standing who meets O. humifusa has also been reported.
required in the bylaws, will introduce this qualification may also become a These species are in the cactus
three candidates it deems qualified candidate. family.
to fill the three board member What do these names mean?
At press time, the Nominations
positions that expire in 2004. Opuntia is a Greek city, and this
Committee, chaired by Vice
Additional nominations may be name was used for succulent plants
President Linda Huhn, is selecting a
made by members. by Tournafort. Others say it was a
slate of three nominees to propose to
Each year three of the nine board the board for its approval as name given by Pliny for a plant
described by Theophrastus; however,
members, who serve staggered three- candidates. Any members who neither of them could have been
year terms, are either up for re- would like to nominate themselves describing this plant for it was not
election or step down. Board or other members should call or e- present in Europe until the discovery
members whose terms expire in 2004 mail Linda Huhn at 612-374-1435, of the New World. Fragilis means
are President Jason Husveth, Vice or lindahuhnphoto@aol.com fragile, macrorhiza means large root,
President Linda Huhn and Secretary and humifusa means sprawling. The
At the March 4 annual meeting, “pear” refers to the fruit.
(and Former President, 2000-02) Joel
secret ballots will be cast by
Dunnette. Where do these plants grow?
members present. Three directors
Opuntia species are native to North
Is your town a ‘Native will be elected by a simple majority and South America. In Minnesota
Plant Community?’ of all candidates. These will include
the board-approved slate of three they are found along the Minnesota
by Joel Dunnette River and in the southwest part of the
candidates, any other announced
How can we raise awareness of state, on rocks, sand dunes and
candidates, and nominations from the prairies, and along shores.
native plants? You’ve seen signs
floor.
promoting towns as “Tree City What do the plants look like?
USA.” Why not extend that idea to An identified absentee ballot may Minnesota species are prostrate and
native plants? The Prairie Smoke be cast by mail if obtained from spreading and form large mats. The
Chapter of The Prairie Enthusiasts, Secretary Joel Dunnette and returned stems (sometimes called pads) are
Minnesota Department of Natural to him before the election. (Contact flat and spined. Flowers are yellow,
Resources and MNPS are beginning Joel: dunnette.joel@mayo.edu). often with a red or reddish center, and
discussions of a plan to do just that. Voting by proxy is not permitted produce a juicy berry. They bloom
in early summer.
A town would get a sign under the society’s bylaws.
recognizing it as a “Native Plant Election results will be announced Does the prickly pear have any
Community” if they have an area of immediately and will also be uses?
native plants and encourage use of published in the spring Minnesota Most of the uses are attributed to
native plants. Details remain to be Plant Press. New board members O. humifusa. Pads are roasted,
worked out. You can help make this will begin their three-year terms of peeled, sliced, and eaten. Seeds are
happen. Contact Joel Dunnette at office in June 2004. roasted and ground as a meal for soup
thickeners. The Pawnee and Dakota
Dunnette.joel@mayo.edu> Indians used the pads for sizing to
The board hopes all members
Booth was in school fair fix colors on hides or receptacles
interested in serving the society made from hides. They also ate fruits
Between 700 and 1,000 people (which, like most volunteer fresh or dried. American Indians also
attended the Volunteer Fair at Edina organization is run by just a few applied fruit juice to warts and drank
High School Oct. 28. MNPS was one volunteers) will step forward and run pad tea for lung ailments. An Israeli
of 55 participating organizations. for office. We need your skills, your research group used flowers to
Diane Plunkett Latham and Linda ideas, and your dedication. Call or reduce urgency to urinate for those
Huhn set up and staffed the booth. e-mail Linda at the above numbers. with benign prostatic hyperplasia.
7

8. Minnesota Native Plant Society
University of Minnesota
250 Biological Sciences Center
1445 Gortner Ave.
St. Paul, MN 55108
Winter 2004 Issue