1. Minnesota Plant Press
The Minnesota Native Plant Society Newsletter
Volume 21 Number 1 Fall 2001
Monthly meetings Global warming may be
Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge
Visitor Center, 3815 East 80th St.
Bloomington, MN 55425-1600
cause of early blooming
952-854-5900 Washington, D.C. cherry trees start blooming an average of seven
days earlier now than they did in 1970; flowering plants are blooming
6:30 p.m. — Building east door opens
6:30 p.m. — Refreshments,
4.5 days earlier. Global warming is suspected as the probable cause.
information, Room A
7 – 9 p.m. —Program, society business
These figures were released by The Smithsonian’s National Museum
7:30 p.m. — Building door is locked of Natural History in a report on results of a 30-year study of flowering
9:30 p.m. — Building closes plant species in the Washington metro area. The study, which was
conducted by the museum’s Department of Botany, showed that the
Programs rise in the region’s average minimum temperatures is producing earlier
The MNPS meets the first Thursday in flowering in 89 of the 100 common plant species investigated.
October, November, December, February, Botanical data were collected from 1970 to 2000. Smithsonian
March, April, May and June. Check the scientists Dr. Stanwyn Shetler, Mones Abu-Asab, Paul Peterson and
web page for additional program Sylvia Stone Orli examined the data. “This trend of earlier flowering
information. is consistent with what we know about the effects of global warming,”
Dec. 6 Shetler said. “When we compared the records from the Smithsonian
The Art of Botanical Illustration” by study with local, long-term temperature records, we discovered
Vera Wong. statistically significant correlations. The minimum temperature has
been going up over these years, and the early arrival of the cherry
Feb. 7, Speaker to be announced blossoms appears to be one of the results.”
March 7, Speaker to be announced The two predominant species of Japanese flowering cherries that
were planted near the Tidal Basin are the Oriental cherry blossom
Symposium on wetland (Prunus serrulata) and the Yoshino cherry blossom (Prunus
yedoensis). They now reach peak bloom six and seven days earlier
restoration to be in March than in the 1970s, respectively.
Wetland restoration will be the subject of
the society’s annual symposium. It will be The Yoshino reached peak bloom March 20, 2000, the second
in March. Jason Husveth, Nancy Sather earliest date on record. The average date to bloom is April 4. Eleven
and Esther Mclaughlin are organizing this of the 100 native and naturalized plant species studied showed a reverse
educational opportunity. Watch the MNPS trend and are blooming later. The Japanese honeysuckle is blooming
web site for information on the date, an average of 10.4 days later; the Dutchman’s-breeches 3.2 days later.
location and presenters.
“Over a long period, the species composition of our local flora
MNPS Web site could change,” Shetler said. “Species like the sugar maple that
http://www.stolaf.edu/depts./biology/mnps continued on page 2

2. Global warming The Minnesota MNPS Board of
continued from page 1
require a long cold period may die
Native Plant Society Directors
out in our region. Invasive alien The Minnesota Native Plant
species ... may become more and President: Joel Dunnette, 4526
Society is a tax-exempt 501 (c)(3)
more of a problem. Weedy species Co. Rd. 3 S.W., Byron, MN 55920;
organization as determined by the
like false- strawberry that can bloom 507-284-3914 (W);
U.S. Internal Revenue Service.
throughout relatively mild winters 507-365-8091 (H);
could spread. ... Persons with allergy Dues for regular members are $12 dunnette.joel@mayo.edu
problems will experience them per year; students and seniors, $8; Vice-President: Harriet Mason,
earlier.” families, $15; institutions, $20; 905 5th St., St. Peter, MN 56082-
donors, $25. All dues include a 1417; 507-931-3253;
The study is continuing. Data are
newsletter subscription. Four issues cmason@gac.edu
maintained at www.nmnh.si.edu/
are published each year. Make
botany/projects/dcflora. Secretary: Deborah Strohmeyer,
checks out to: Minnesota Native
(This information is from an article Plant Society. Mail them to: 7900 Wyoming Ave. S.,
in the Fall/Winter issue of Minnesota Native Plant Society, 220 Bloomington, MN 55438;
“Marilandica,” the newsletter of the Biological Sciences Center, 1445 952-943-9743;
Maryland Native Plant Society.) Gortner Ave., St. Paul, MN 55108. debstrohmeyer@yahoo.com
Field trip is Nov. 10 Meredith Cornett, 1520 N. 9th
Minnesota Plant Press Ave. E., Duluth, MN 55805; 218-
Jason Husveth will conduct a
The Minnesota Plant Press is the 728-6258;
winter botany identification field
quarterly newsletter of the Minnesota mwc@duluth.com
trip/walk at the Minnesota Valley
Native Plant Society. Articles are
National Wildlife Refuge Saturday, Linda Huhn, 2553 Dupont Ave.
welcomed. Write the editor, Gerry
Nov. 10, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. S., Minneapolis, MN 55405;
Drewry, at 24090 Northfield Blvd.,
During a walk through the river
Hampton, MN 55031; phone her at 612-374-1435
bottoms and bluffs, Jason will show
651-463-8006; or send an e-mail to: Jason Husveth, 1284 N. Avon St.,
how to identify native flora of the
gdrewry@infi.net. St. Paul, MN 55117; 651-488-2692;
Minnesota River Valley.
jhusveth@qwest.net
Minnesota Native Plant Society’s purpose Janet Larson, 7811 W. 87th St.,
Bloomington, MN 55438;
(Abbreviated from the bylaws) 952-941-6876;
This organization is exclusively organized and operated for educational jrlarson@cnr.umn.edu
and scientific purposes, including the following:
Esther McLaughlin, Biology
1. Conservation of all native plants. Dept., Augsburg College,
2. Continuing education of all members in the plant sciences. Minneapolis, MN 55454;
3. Education of the public regarding environmental protection of plant 612-330-1074;
life. mclaugh@augsburg.edu
4. Encouragement of research and publications on plants native to
Minnesota. Ethan Perry, 1520 N. 9th Ave. E.,
5. Study of legislation on Minnesota flora, vegetation and ecosystems. Duluth, MN 55805;
6. Preservation of special plants, plant communities and scientific and 218-728-6258;
natural areas. etperry@hotmail.com
7. Cooperation in programs concerned with the ecology of natural Treasurer: David Johnson, 6437
resources and scenic features. Baker Ave. N.E., Fridley, MN 55432;
8. Fellowship with all persons interested in native plants through meetings, 763-571-6278;
lectures, workshops and field trips. david.johnson@usfamily.net

3. Minnesota Native
Plant Society
Membership
Directory
October, 2001
This directory is for members’ use only. The society will not sell
the list or give it to libraries or other organizations.

5. The Big Blowdown in the context of the
history and future of the BWCAW forest
conifers such as fir that invade and
has agreed to, prescribed fires
by Lee E. Frelich replace pines in the absence of fire.
should allow some of the groves of
(Abstract of talk at May 3, 2001 A few very small areas virtually
pines and ancient cedars that did
MNPS meeting) never burned, and these little
not blow down —principally
The big blow-down of July 4, pockets along rocky lakeshores
confined to lakeshore areas —to
1999, was superimposed on a contained the ancient white cedars
survive. This will save the seed
forested landscape mosaic created that can live 1000 years or more.
source and potential for future
by a combination of fire and
recovery of the forest.
logging. Between 1890 and 1970, about
half of the BWCAW was logged.
The overall pattern of succession
In presettlement times (1600- Virtually all of the logged areas
in the BWCAW over the last
1900), the Boundary Waters Canoe have been reforested with aspen
hundred years has been
Area Wilderness forest had two and paper birch. The portion of the
replacement of pines by aspen after
major natural disturbance regimes. forest that was not logged was also
logging and by spruce and fir due
First were stands of even-aged jack affected by humans through the fire
to fire exclusion. In the blow-
pine forest, sometimes mixed with exclusion, by fragmenting the flow
down, these two conversions will
black spruce and aspen, that of fire across the landscape
continue, because fires will convert
originated after major severe crown surrounding the wilderness, and
more pine forests to aspen, and
fires. These fires were similar in direct fire suppression. This
those parts of the blow-down that
intensity to the Yellowstone fires of allowed fir and spruce to begin
do not burn will succeed rapidly to
1988, with 50- to100-foot flame replacing the pines.
spruce and fir.
lengths and sizes from 100,000 to
400,000 acres. Jack pine and black The big blow-down is about
spruce are adapted for massive evenly split between second-
reproduction after such fires, which growth aspen forest and primary
occurred with an average interval forest still dominated by jack, red
of 50 years at a given point on the and white pines. In both areas the
ground. Occasionally, two fires initial impact of the blow-down has
would burn an area within 10 been to accelerate succession, by
years, and the conifers would not removing the upper canopy of fire-
be old enough to bear seeds. In dependent pines, or the post-
this case, aspen, with its long- logging aspen, and releasing shade-
distance seed dispersal, would tolerant conifer seedlings and
invade after the second fire. saplings of balsam fir, spruce, and
cedar. Fires, either prescribed or
The second disturbance regime wild, are sure to occur in much of
consisted of surface fire at 20- to the blow-down. Wild fires would
50-year intervals in white and red be very intense and likely consume
pine forests concentrated on the seeds of the pines and other
islands, peninsulas, and areas with conifers, which are now on the
large lakes that broke the flow of ground, and regenerate the forest to
major crown fires across the aspen and birch. Prescribed fires
landscape. The surface fires killed will be moderately intense, but will
few of the big pines and allowed still convert most of the burned
them to reproduce by eliminating areas to aspen. With the mitigation
competition from shade-tolerant procedures that the Forest Service

6. Prairie research MNPS receives grant to inform
grants are offered
anglers of earthworm damage
Prairie Biotic Research, Inc. is a
by Ethan Perry
new, nonprofit organization whose
Current research at the Natural Resources Research Institute (NRRI) in
purpose is to foster basic biotic
Duluth has revealed that European species of earthworms are invading some
research in prairies. One way they
Minnesota hardwood forests, decimating the diversity of wildflowers. New
do this is through a small grants
earthworm populations are established when people transport them, usually
program. They are especially
by dumping unused fish bait.
interested in supporting independent
researchers — individuals lacking The Minnesota Native Plant Society has received a grant from the Minnesota
institutional support — but anyone Department of Natural Resources’ Environmental Partnership Program to
may apply. Projects may be slow the spread of this threat to native plant communities. The project aims
underway, being planned, or the to slow the invasion by informing people, particularly anglers, of the problem
results being prepared for and promoting efforts to prevent new infestations. We will be producing
publication. “Our expectation is printed materials (e.g., posters) for
that (recipients) will publish (their) Proposed Spirit educational events and to reach an
audience that extends beyond our
findings and/or present them to Mountain golf membership.
people who share our interest at a
prairie conference or similar course is a concern Anyone interested in helping with
forum,” said Andrew Williams. The MNPS Conservation this project (including artists and
“We’ll consider prairie projects Committee alerts members to a designers) is asked to contact Ethan
from anywhere in the USA, dealing controversial Spirit Mountain golf Perry at etperry@hotmail.com.
with any taxa.” course proposal. We’re gearing up to begin the work
Two $1,000 grants will be Spirit Mountain, a sacred Anishinabe this winter.
awarded in 2002. The deadline for site, contains a trout stream and one For more information on the
receipt of applications is Jan. 15. To of the largest remaining tracts of old damage that non-native earthworms
request an application form, e-mail: growth northern hardwood forest in are causing, visit NRRI’s website:
prairiebioticresearch@hotmail.com, Duluth. http://www.nrri.umn.edu/worms
or write to Prairie Biotic Research,
The Duluth City Council is
Inc., P.O. Box 5424, Madison, WI What field trips would
considering a development plan that
53705.
would replace a large portion of the members prefer?
Michael P. Anderson, Rebecca A. forest with a golf course. The Jason Husveth, chair of the field
Christoffel, Andrew H. Williams Minnesota DNR has not reviewed the trip committee, will distribute a
and Daniel K. Young are listed as proposal. questionnaire at the December
organizers of Prairie Biotic meeting to determine what types of
According to the Isaac Walton
Research, Inc. field trips members would prefer.
League, DNR field people have raised
concerns about the future of the trout The questionnaire will list
Ruth Phipps is honored stream and forest if the golf course is potential trips throughout Minnesota.
Ruth Phipps, a long-time member built. The league wants the DNR field Some would require an overnight
of the MNPS, was honored at the analysis to be the basis for any stay. Suggested sites include
October meeting. Ruth joined at the environmental review instead of the Scientific and Natural Areas, state
second meeting and served as developer ’s environmental parks, the University of Minnesota
treasurer for at least eight years. assessment worksheet. Herbarium and the Como
After that, she prepared name tags Conservatory. Members interested
Links to additional information are
for meetings, and helped with available on the MNPS website, in leading field trips or with ideas for
symposiums and at meetings. trips should contact Jason. (See page
www.stolaf.edu/depts./biology/mnps.
2 for phone number and addresses.)

7. Whither goes the should be better for native plants.
Plant Lore And that is our main goal.
by Thor Kommedahl Minnesota Native So, what should we be doing? That
What is wild licorice? Plant Society? depends on the interest and energy
Wild licorice is a shrubby perennial
by Joel Dunnette, MNPS president and abilities of our members. We
in the legume family and is called
MNPS has many good purposes have no paid staff — only volunteers.
Glycyrrhiza lepidota.
for existing. In the next few months And we don’t have piles of money.
How did it get its name? I would like to discus with you some So what we do and what we
Glycyrrhiza means sweet root in of these purposes. Each of us can accomplish depends on me and you.
Greek, and lepidota means scaly, do only so much, so we are each What do you want to see done? And
referring to minute brown scales likely to have particular interest in a what are you willing to do? There is
(glands) on young leaflets. It is called few of these topics. Even all a world of opportunities and growing
wild licorice because its close together, we will likely need to focus public interest.
relative G. glabra, which grows in more on some aspects than on others. For myself, I will be leading
Europe, is the commercial source of meetings of MNPS, advising local
Public interest in native plants is
licorice in the confectionary industry. groups and individuals on
increasing. You can see it in various
Where does wild licorice grow? organizations springing up around establishing and maintaining areas of
Wild licorice is most abundant on the area. Some recent examples are native plants, giving a few programs
prairies and meadows in most Great River Greening, Prairie on planting prairie, controlling
counties of the western half of Enthusiasts, and the Wild Ones. invasive species on local areas, and
Minnesota, and in locations from Other organizations such as TNC and planting some more areas of my
Ontario to Texas. MN DNR and MN Audubon, with own. A total of a few dozens of hours
interests in native plants, have per year.
What is the plant like?
existed for longer. Each group has My efforts are not much in the big
It is a woody plant with compound
its own particular focus and area of picture. But taken together with
leaves of 15-19 leaflets each that are
overlap with MNPS. And yours, I think we can really make a
dotted with glands. Its white flowers
sometimes, differences with MNPS. difference for native plants, and
lead to oblong fruits covered with
curved prickles. This shrub can be up My question today is “How should share our enjoyment in the
to three feet tall. MNPS interact with these groups to accomplishments.
further our interests as well as
What was licorice used for?
Sioux Indians were said to chew
cooperate to further our shared Climate changes
interests?” One approach could be threaten partridge pea
fresh roots to treat toothache. Lewis
to essentially go our own way and
and Clark reported they roasted roots (From the University of Minnesota
try ourselves to cover all the
in the embers, separated the ligament E-News, Oct. 11, 2001)
purposes stated in the box on page
in the root center, and chewed the The partridge pea (Chamaecrista
two of this newsletter. I suspect this
rest, commenting that it tasted like fasciculata) could face severe
would be the easiest approach, but
sweet potato. It is a laxative and is reduction in numbers if climate
probably not the most effective in
estrogenic. Its derivatives have been conditions in the Midwest change to
conserving native plants.
used to reduce or cure ulcers. the extremes predicted for the next
The approach I advocate is to work 25 to 35 years, according to a study
Does wild licorice have any
with each group that shares interests published in the Oct. 5 issue of the
commercial use today?
with us, to find where we can share journal Science. The study’s
Not in official medicine. The
our enthusiasm, knowledge and principal investigator, Julie R.
mucilage content of wild licorice
actions to greater effect than the sum Etterson, a former doctoral student
makes it useful as a soothing cough
of the individual groups. This will at the University of Minnesota who
remedy, but it is not used
take effort. Cooperation takes conducted the study, is now a
commercially. Wild licorice can raise
energy and patience and often postdoctoral research associate in
blood pressure if ingested.
compromise. But the end effect biology at the University of Virginia.

8. Minnesota Native Plant Society
University of Minnesota NON-PROFIT ORG.
220 Biological Sciences Center U.S. POSTAGE
St. Paul, MN 55108 PAID
Minneapolis, MN
Permit No. 2233
Fall 2001 Issue