1. Minnesota Plant Press
The Minnesota Native Plant Society Newsletter
Volume 23 Number 3 Spring 2004
Monthly meetings
Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Interactive key to
Visitor Center, 3815 East 80th St.
Bloomington, MN 55425-1600
952-854-5900 Minnesota’s woody
6:30 p.m. — Building east door opens
6:30 p.m. — Refreshments,
information, Room A
plants being developed
7 – 9 p.m — Program, society business
7:30 p.m. — Building door is locked by George Weiblin, University of Minnesota. He announced this new
9:30 p.m. — Building closes key during his talk at the Feb. 5 meeting.
Programs An interactive key to the woody plants of Minnesota is being
The MNPS meets the first Thursday in developed at the Bell Museum of Natural History at the University of
October, November, December, February, Minnesota with the goal of providing an easy-to-use guide to
March, April, May, and June. Check the identification of all woody plant species occurring in the state.
Web site for more program information. Interactive keys have many advantages over traditional keys, and this
May 6: “Recent Research on Little one is designed to be accessible on the Web to anyone with a basic
Bluestem (Andropogon scoparius);” knowledge of botany. To use the key, go to http://geo.cbs.umn.edu/
Plant-of-the-Month: Little Bluestem,
both by Mary Meyer. treekey/navikey.html
June 3: “Native Ferns,” by Tom Traditional keys involve a series of choices that divide organisms
Bittinger; Annual plant sale. (See article into smaller and smaller groups, eventually leading to a species
on page 5.) description. Each choice leads further down a particular path, and
users become lost if a wrong choice is made at any point. Keys can be
Spring Wildflower Guide
very difficult if the user does not have complete information at hand,
Do you know where to find wildflowers
or is not skilled in the art. For example, suppose that a key asks whether
in the Twin City metro area? The MNPS
a plant has fleshy fruits or dry fruits, but the plant in question has not
booklet, Guide to Spring Wildflower
yet flowered. Information technology provides a robust alternative in
Areas, Twin Cities Region, gives the
which users query a database according to whatever information is
locations and access rules of 42 parks and
available.
natural areas and lists many of the plants
that may be seen in each location. The What is unique about the Interactive Key to the Woody Plants of
booklets cost $5 ($4 for members) and are Minnesota is the web interface that allows anyone with a web browser
available at all MNPS meetings. free access to this identification tool. We hope to expand this resource
MNPS Web site from 277 species of woody plants to more than 4,000 species of plants
http://www.stolaf.edu/depts/biology/mnps
and fungi recorded in the state. In the future we hope to enhance the
e-mail: MNPS@HotPOP.com key with digital images and information on leaves, twigs, flowers,
fruits, and fungi.
MNPS Listserve
We welcome your comments, corrections and suggestions, as we
Send a message that includes the word
“subscribe” or “unsubscribe” and your are still in the development phase of this project. Please send feedback
name in the body of the message to: to Dr. George Weiblen (gweiblen@umn.edu) or Dr. Anita Cholewa
mn-natpl-request@stolaf.edu (chole001@tc.umn.edu).
1

3. Welcome, new members Two field trips our members. If you are renewing
by Jason Husveth, president
Greetings, Native Plant Society after a brief hiatus, I want to welcome planned in May
members! Spring is finally here, and you all back to the society as well. MNPS members have organized
it’s time to start enjoying the native We currently have two field trips two field trips in May. One is a
plants and natural areas that make planned for the spring season, and weekend at Whitewater State Park,
Minnesota so special. The skunk several others in the works. Doug May 7 - 9; the other is a botany walk
cabbage is flowering, and I have Mensing and Joel Dunnette have through Louisville Swamp
heard that snow trillium is in bloom taken the lead on planning our Spring Management Area, near Jordan, on
at Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden. Wildflower Weekend in Whitewater May 22.
I am pleased to report that our 2004 State Park in southeastern Minnesota
Symposium, “Our Historic for the weekend of May 7 - 9. If you Doug Mensing and Joel Dunnette
Landscape, The Ecology of were unable to make the trip last year, will lead several wildflower walks
Woodlands and Savannas in the I highly recommend you join us in during the Spring Wildflower
Minneapolis / Saint Paul exploring the flora of Whitewater Weekend, May 7 – 9, at Whitewater
Metropolitan Area,” was a great State Park and Whitewater Wildlife State Park in southeastern
success. I would like to especially Management Area. The spring Minnesota. The society has reserved
thank all of our speakers, who ephemeral displays are magnificent. camping area #2. Participants
graciously gave their time to prepare Doug Mensing, Scott Milburn, and should bring their own camping
and present a varied and informative I will lead a day trip to the Louisville equipment and food. The society is
selection of topics concerning the Swamp Management Unit of the only providing the campsite and
ecology of these habitats. The Minnesota Valley National Wildlife guides. A fee of $5 per person will
society owes a debt of gratitude to Refuge on Saturday, May 22. Other
all who contributed to the planning be collected to cover the cost of the
members are working on organizing group campsite. For more
and preparation for the symposium. additional field trips throughout the information, contact Doug Mensing
In October 2003, Karen Schik took summer. These will be announced at dougm@appliedeco.com
a lead role in planning and pulling at the May and June membership
together much of this year ’s meetings, as well as on the MNPS Jason Husveth, Doug Mensing and
symposium. Shirley Mah Kooyman, Web site. Mark these dates on your Scott Milburn will lead the Louisville
Linda Huhn and I assisted Karen calendar and join us in the field. Swamp walk on May 22. It will
with the planning, arranging In addition to field trips, be sure to begin at 9 a.m. at the trailhead, which
speakers, and advertising the participate in our native plant sale, is about 4.5 miles south of Shakopee.
symposium. A special thank you to which will be held immediately Take Hwy. 169 to 145th St, go past
Ron and Cathy Huber, who stepped following our June 3 meeting at the the Renaissance Festival entrance
in and masterfully handled the duties Minnesota Valley National Wildlife and cross the railroad tracks. The
of registration when Shirley became Refuge. We will hold the plant sale Louisville parking lot will be on your
ill. We are grateful to Ken Arndt, out of doors this year, to allow for left. The walk will end at about 2
Janet Larson, Scott Milburn, Doug more space to arrange and display the p.m., so bring a lunch. This event is
Mensing and many others who plants that our members donate.
volunteered their time and energy on limited to 30 participants. More
the day of the symposium to make There are many ideas in the works details are on the MNPS Web site.
sure everything went as smoothly as for the future of the society. I have To sign up, contact Jason Husveth at
possible. Finally, a debt of gratitude begun discussing holding our regular jhusveth@ccesinc.com
to the Anoka Conservation District monthly meetings through the
staff for generously allowing us the summer, possibly on Saturdays, in privilege to serve as president of this
use of their computer projector when various natural areas. This would diverse and growing society. I
we were unable to get ours to work! provide opportunities for our encourage each of you to contact me
membership to experience and learn or a board member if you have ideas
Maybe the most exciting thing about our native flora and natural for ways to make the society even
about the symposium is that we had areas first-hand in the field during the better. I hope you all enjoy the
over 50 new memberships and growing season. I would enjoy beautiful spring weather, and I look
membership renewals! If you are hearing from the membership forward to seeing you at the monthly
new to the society, I want to welcome regarding regular summer meetings meetings and on this spring’s field
you on behalf of the board and all of starting in 2005. I consider it a trips.
3

4. 2004 symposium is a great success
by Karen Schik, symposium chair gophers are a keystone species. changing nature of savannas and how
The Minnesota Native Plant Many animals depend on them either this means different things to
Society has a history of excellent as a food source or for the different people. He also discussed
annual symposia, and this year was underground shelter they create. restoration efforts and showed how
no exception. On Saturday, March some components of the system are
After a wonderful lunch of organic often overlooked. Forbs, for
27, nearly 160 participants packed
food, the equipment was finally example, often regenerate well, but
the Bunker Hills Activity Center to
ready for our keynote speaker. Dr. grasses and sedges do not. Ground
attend “Our Historic Landscape: The
Ed Cushing, University of cover also establishes well at dry
Ecology of Woodlands and Savannas
Minnesota, gave a stimulating and sites, but not at mesic sites because
in the Minneapolis/St. Paul
intriguing geologic history of the there is more weed competition and
Metropolitan Area.”
plant communities. Using maps, he damage from grazing.
The day got off to a rocky start with showed how they are very strongly Fred Harris wrapped up the day
Powerpoint projector difficulties, the tied to the soils in the area, which with a discussion of an oak savanna
bane of new technology. Fortunately, formed from different glacial and prairie restoration project at Pine
staff from Anoka Conservation processes. Oak barrens occur on Bend Bluffs along the Mississippi
District saved the day by fetching sandy soils, maple-basswood forests River in Dakota County. The most
their projector from their nearby occur on heavier till soils of sand, challenging exotic plant to control at
office. Once underway, participants gravel and silty clay. Topography the site has been cheatgrass (Bromus
were treated to an entire day of was also a strong influence, with tectorum). Carefully timed burning
thoroughly interesting and prairie in flatter areas. Fire, which seemed to provide the best results.
informative presentations. Hannah also shapes plant communities, was
Dunevitz became the first speaker, determined in part by the topography. In addition to the speakers, many
due to the technical difficulties. Her people contributed huge amounts of
Steve Chapman gave an overview time and energy to helping make the
descriptions of savannas and
of native American uses for many symposium a success. Special thanks
woodlands provided an excellent
native plants and showed how go to Jason Husveth and Shirley Mah
overview of these communities and
important their discoveries were to Kooyman, co-chairs of the
laid the groundwork for the
present day uses of plants. Some symposium committee and MNPS
following talks. No doubt there will
plants, such as wild rice, are more board members. Jason, in particular,
be many new visitors this season to
important regionally, but others, such donated countless hours in many
all the wonderful places she
as corn and squash, are used months of planning, organizing, and
described where native savanna and
worldwide. trouble-shooting. When Shirley
woodland remnants can be found.
became ill, Cathy and Ron Huber
Degrading factors of woodlands
Dr. Cynthia Lane, Ecological jumped in to take over the
and savannas was the next topic,
Strategies, followed with a more registration work. Board members
presented by Doug Mensing, Applied
detailed look at the insect world of Linda Huhn, Dianne Plunkett-
Ecological Services. He gave a clear
savannas, especially focusing on the Latham, Doug Mensing, Scott
synopsis of the characteristics of a
interesting life history of the karner Milburn, Joel Dunnette, Ken Arndt
healthy system, causes of
blue butterfly, a state endangered and David Johnson all helped with
degradation, and subsequent effects.
species. Because savannas and preparation tasks and the event itself.
One interesting slide showed the
woodlands are now rare plant Members who volunteered at the
dramatic decline of plant and bird
communities in the state, they also event include Kathy Colla, Dorothy
species in natural communities after
harbor numerous rare plant species. Paddock, Mary Nolte, and Melissa
buckthorn invasion. Doug also
Barb Delaney provided interesting Arikian. Many thanks also go to all
outlined basic restoration and
details and wonderful photographs of the people who attended the event.
management strategies.
many of those rare plants. John The result of all this good energy
Moriarty, Ramsey County Parks and Kim Chapman, also from Applied was that the society raised over
Recreation, finished the morning Ecological Services, followed with $2,000 from the symposium and
with a comprehensive view of most a more philosophical view of lessons gained 58 members. These funds
of the vertebrate animals that find learned from savanna restorations in will go far toward continuing to
residence in savannas and the Midwest. He introduced the term promote outreach and education
woodlands. He demonstrated how “polymorphous” to describe the about Minnesota native plants.
4

5. Would you like some Plant sale to be
held outdoors
sawdust with that? The annual MNPS native plant sale
by Ethan Perry will be held June 3 at the Minnesota
Remember last year when the Minnesota Legislature threatened to Valley National Wildlife Refuge. For
prohibit the Minnesota Department of Transportation from using native the first time, the sale will be held
seeds in roadside planting? Well, researchers from the University of outdoors, rain or shine.
Minnesota Department of Agronomy have published a study that Plants will be arranged on the low
demonstrates yet another benefit of roadside prairies: weed control. Dana walls near the building entrance. They
Blumenthal and his colleagues compared weeds in plots of seven-year-old will be grouped according to habitat
prairie restoration to plots of well-established old field on sandy soils. (sun or shade). Woody plants will be
Weeds had declined by 94% in the restored plots. (Weeds were defined in a separate area. In order to provide
agriculturally, so old field grasses — Kentucky bluegrass and smooth brome more time for the sale, we need the
— were not considered weeds, while some natives, such as ragweed and cooperation of every member. The
horseweed, were.) June meeting will start early, at 6:45
These researchers also looked deeper into factors that give either weeds p.m. The sale will start at about 7:30
or prairie species a competitive advantage over the other. In a study that p.m., after Tom Bittinger’s talk on
hasn’t been published yet, they added weed seeds to the same experimental native ferns.
plots. As expected from the first study, many fewer weeds became Plants must be delivered early.
established in the prairie plots. When they added nitrogen to the soil, Bring your plants after 5 p.m. and no
however, the benefits of restoration were reduced. Nitrogen is often a later than 7 p.m. Each plant must be
limiting nutrient for plants. The experiment suggests that prairies can individually potted and labeled.
exclude some weed species because prairie plants are better competitors Include your name, the location where
for scarce nitrogen. When nitrogen is plentiful, the weeds have a better the plant was grown, the plant’s
chance. This also explains why restoring prairie is often easier on sandy common and scientific names, and any
soil than on nitrogen-rich loam. other pertinent information, such as
How can we use our knowledge of nitrogen to help restorations? In a seed source. Do not put a price on the
third study, the researchers tilled various amounts of carbon (in the form plant. However, you may designate
of sawdust) into the soil before planting both prairie and weed seeds. Soil special plants to be considered for the
microbes respond to increased carbon by immobilizing nitrogen, reducing silent auction. Plants that arrive after
the amount available to plants. The highest level of carbon addition resulted 7 p.m. or are not potted and labeled
in fewer weeds and more prairie. on arrival may not make it into the
sale.
Most other carbon enrichment experiments have not been so successful,
but researchers at the U of M Department of Horticulture have just published Dave Crawford, park naturalist at
a study of carbon enrichment to control reed canary grass. Rank mats of Wild River State Park, and Gerry
this grass have smothered acres and acres of wetlands across the Midwest. Drewry are co-chairs of the plant sale.
Laura Perry and her colleagues grew reed canary grass and a native sedge Dave will price the plants, select some
(Carex hystericina) together in a greenhouse. In untreated wetland soil, for the silent auction, ensure that only
reed canary grass had five times the biomass of the sedge, but when sawdust native plants are in the sale, and
was added, the sedge was six times more abundant than the grass. specify the habitat if there are
Is it just coincidence that of the few studies finding a benefit to carbon questions. If you would like to help
enrichment, two were conducted in Minnesota? Actually, no. Laura, who at the sale, call Gerry at 651-463-8006.
happens to be my sister, and Dana, who happens to be her husband, point
out that they both used much greater amounts of carbon than previous
Biodiversity exhibit
studies. Even if adding carbon to soil proves impractical for actual May 2 will be the final day to see
restoration projects, we can still reduce nitrogen inputs in order to benefit the exhibit “Biodiversity 911: Saving
native species. Buffer vegetation around wetlands can significantly reduce Life on Earth” at the Bell Museum
the amount of nitrogen reaching them in runoff. We can also try to minimize of Natural History on the University
the amount of nitrogen released by burning fossil fuels, which then falls in of Minnesota Minneapolis campus.
the rain. But maybe, bizarre as it sounds, site preparation for some future For information, call 612-624-7083.
restorations will include tilling sawdust into the soil.
5

6. Native plant species Plant Lore
by Thor Kommedahl
abound in Papua What is goldenseal?
Goldenseal is Hydrastis
canadensis, in the buttercup family.
New Guinea
by Dr. George Weiblen unique situation is a challenge for
Other names include ground
raspberry.
How did it get these names?
Assistant Professor, Department of biologists confronted by a rising tide
Hydrastis is made up of two words
Plant Biology, Curator of Flowering of species extinction in tropical
meaning water and to act, referring
Plants, Bell Museum of Natural forests worldwide. Tribal land
to the plant’s active juice. The
History, University of Minnesota. ownership in Papua New Guinea
goldenseal name comes from the
This is an abstract of his talk at the means that a botanist can’t so much
yellow scars left on the rhizome by
Feb. 5 MNPS meeting. as set foot in the forest without
the stem that emerges each spring. It
The tropical island of Papua New intruding on somebody’s backyard.
has been called ground raspberry
Guinea is about as far from the Local people share the names and
because of its resemblance.
Minneapolis neighborhood that I call traditional uses of native plants with
home as you can get. New Guinea’s botanists like me in the hope that this What does the plant look like?
forests are one of the last great information can be preserved for It is a low, perennial herb with
biological frontiers on earth, and future generations in the face of leaves and fruit similar to raspberry,
their incredible diversity is what first tremendous cultural change. has a fleshy rhizome with yellow
attracted me to this far-away place. Additional information is available interior, hairy stems, two alternate
at http://geo.cbs.umn.edu leaves that are palmately five- to
For instance, the island has at least seven- lobed, and flowers with three
20 times more species of plants than sepals but no petals and mostly
are found in Minnesota. Nobody Volunteers needed greenish-white stamens. The fruit is
knows exactly how many because a globose berry made up of many
much of Papua New Guinea remains to search for rare miniature, one- to two- seeded
unexplored. Countless new species drupes.
await discovery, if only biologists
lilies and orchids
by Linda Huhn Where does the plant grow?
can locate them before it’s too late. It thrives in rich soil of shady
This tropical forest wilderness is Could you help find rare dwarf
trout lilies or orchids? Nancy Sather woods and moist places at the edges
slightly larger than the state of Texas, of wooded lands. It flowers from
is again conducting the Natural
an area that continues to shrink under April to May and fruits in June. It is
intense pressure from industrial Heritage and Nongame Research
Program’s rare plant search and native to Minnesota in southeast
logging and a growing local counties. Because of overharvesting,
monitoring program.
population. it is almost extinct.
The hunt for dwarf trout lilies will
I first went to Papua New Guinea start April 20 in Nerstrand State Park Did American Indians use this
in 1992 in an effort to catalogue the and other locations in Rice and plant?
diversity of tropical trees, but I keep Goodhue counties. It will continue The Indians valued the root as a
returning because of the people I met tonic, to improve digestion, to treat
through the month of April.
there. Over the years, my botanical eyes, and as a dye. Pioneers adopted
Orchid work will be conducted the goldenseal in their folk medicine.
research has developed into an
ongoing exchange with local July 5 - 14, primarily in Polk,
Does it have medicinal uses?
Pennington and Kittson counties in Root teas were made to treat
residents whose future critically
depends on the fate of the forest. northwestern Minnesota. membranes in mouth, throat, and
People with GPS capabilities are uterus, and a tea (wash) was a remedy
Papua New Guinea doesn’t have for eye infections. Until the 1980s,
national parks protecting its especially needed for both projects.
To volunteer, contact Nancy Sather root components were part of
biological riches. Instead, 98 percent commercial eyewash preparations.
of the country is owned according to at nancy.sather@dnr.state.mn.us Goldenseal may help in treatment of
tribal tradition, which means that Send her your e-mail address, phone tuberculosis, according to a 1998
environmental protection is the sole number and specific information on study. It contains the alkaloid
responsibility of landowners. This when you could work. berberine.
6

7. Memories of Western train went from St. Paul
through the town of Nerstrand and
Illinois botanist to
Nerstrand Woods on into Iowa. It left St. Paul at 8:30 teach about grasses,
by Jean McIntosh. She was a
a.m. and took an hour or so to reach sedges and rushes
Nerstrand. It was just a mile hike
secretary in the University of by Scott A. Milburn
west to the woods. The family who
Minnesota Department of Botany for A growing number of plant
lived on the southwest corner of the
many years. identification courses offered around
crossroads halfway to the woods let
As a botany major at the University the country are not affiliated with
us use their pump to get drinks of
of Minnesota, I joined the Linnaean academic institutions. These courses
water. It wasn’t until the early ‘50s
Club and participated in its activities, tend to be targeted towards an
that any paths or picnic facilities
especially field trips. In the spring were put in. We brought our lunches, audience of wetland regulators and
of 1939, Bruce Ledin introduced us and carried vasculums to collect wetland consultants, and are usually
to Nerstrand Woods. He never could samples of all the plants that grew taught by professors who have now
remember which road to take out of there. The collection was later transitioned into training
Northfield, so we approached the donated to the Herbarium of the professionals in such a manner.
woods from all different directions. Botany Department.
(There weren’t many road numbers One of the most prominent of these
on country roads.) I finally made a We usually hiked back to town by professors is Dr. Robert H.
chart of the road on the return trip so4:30 or 5 p.m. and bought quarts of Mohlenbrock, who has retired from
we could go the most direct route. ice cream at the little store. The clerk Southern Illinois University.
The club members lobbied the cut them in half, and we each ate a
He will come to Minnesota in June
pint out of the carton. The train to
Legislature, and we think we helped to teach, in partnership with Jason
St. Paul came at about 6 or 6:30 p.m.
make the area a state park in 1945. Husveth and Scott Milburn, a class
The fare was very reasonable. One
During the latter years of World trip it rained part of the day, and we on the grasses, sedges, and rushes of
War II, there was gas rationing (1943, were a bedraggled bunch when my Minnesota. For more information
1944), so we couldn’t drive down mother picked us up at the depot in regarding the course, contact Jason
there. However, the Chicago Great downtown St. Paul. or Scott at 651-433-4410.
Minnesota Native Plant Society
Member Registration
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Address __________________________________________________________________________________
City _____________________________________________ State ____________________ Zip ____________
Phone (work) _____________ Phone (home) _____________ e-mail ________________________________
New member? _____ Renewal? _____ Is this a gift? _____ From __________________________________
$12 _________ Individual $15 ________ Family (2 or more related persons, one address)
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Please complete the form above, check the appropriate membership category, and enclose your check made payable
to the Minnesota Native Plant Society. Mail this form and your check to the Minnesota Native Plant Society,
University of Minnesota, 250 Biological Sciences Center, 1445 Gortner Ave., St. Paul, MN 55108
7

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