1. Minnesota Plant Press
The Minnesota Native Plant Society Newsletter
www.mnnps.org
Volume 31 Number 3 Summer 2012
Monthly meetings
Thompson Park Center/Dakota Prairie Conservation
Plan is implemented
Lodge
Thompson County Park
360 Butler Ave. E., by Steve Chaplin, senior conservation scientist, The Nature Conservancy.
West St. Paul, MN 55118 Native prairie once covered as much as 18 million acres of Minnesota.
Programs A hallmark of this prairie was its rich diversity of grasses and flowering
The Minnesota Native Plant forbs, often as many as 200 species per acre. Now, most of the native
Society meets the first Thursday prairie is gone, with only about 235,000 acres surviving. Unfortunately,
in October, November, December, the loss and degradation of prairie and other grasslands continue, due
February, March, April, May, and to agricultural conversion driven by high crop prices, the expiration of
June. Check at www.mnnps.org for Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) contracts, and new technologies for
more program information. rock removal and water drainage.
6 p.m. — Social period The Minnesota Prairie Conservation Plan, developed by 10 conservation
7 – 9 p.m. — Program, Society agencies and organizations, is a response to these losses. The initial draft
business. was completed in 2011 and is now being implemented (See http://files.
Oct. 4: Program to be announced. dnr.state.mn.us/eco/mcbs/mn_prairie_conservation_plan.pdf) The plan
Check the website (www.mnnps. calls for three approaches: conservation of prairie core areas, development
org) for details. of corridors connecting the core areas, and local projects within the
surrounding agricultural landscape.
MNTaxa lists state Prairie Core Areas
Thirty-six areas with concentrations of native prairie have been identified
vascular plant species in Minnesota. These are special places where some of our prairie heritage
MNTaxa is the Minnesota DNR’s (the prairie biota and its physical habitat) still exist and where grass-based
list of all vascular plant species that agriculture remains part of the economic base. These places range from
have been documented in the state. 5,000 to 300,000 acres in size, totaling about 1.6 million acres. Together
For each species, MNTaxa they capture 77 percent of the native prairie in the prairie region of the
provides the full scientific name, state. The goal for these core areas is to maintain or restore 40 percent to
whether the species was introduced prairie or grassland and 20 percent to wetland. The remaining 40 percent
to Minnesota, current endangered would continue to be used for row cropping and other development.
species status, and the counties and
In this issue
subcounties in which the species Prairie Corridors
has been documented. Even if all of the prairie core
The DNR uses MNTaxa to areas are protected, many prairie Society news ...........................2
organize data in various plant and plants and animals will have New members .........................2
vegetation databases and to generate difficulty moving between them to President’s column ..................3
regional or county checklists for recolonize or claim new habitat. Wetland plants, quality ...........4
survey work, projects, and reports. Such movement is essential to Raingarden transformation ....4
It is available as a statewide checklist maintain genetic integrity and Native Orchids of Minnesota ...5
or as a county record checklist at population viability, especially Finding moonworts.................6
mndnr.gov/eco/mcbs/plant_lists. Plant Lore - eyebright ..............7
html Continued on page 3

2. Treasurers’ Welcome, new MNNPS Board
report members of Directors
Treasurers Ron and Cathy The Society gives a warm President: Scott Milburn, board
Huber report that on June 30, the welcome to 15 new members who member, scott.milburn@mnnps.org
Minnesota Native Plant Society joined during the second quarter of
Vice President: Shirley Mah
had total assets of $29,170.03. 2012.
For the first six months of this Kooyman, shirley.mah.kooyman@
year, income totaled $13,867.51; All are from Minnesota. Listed mnnps.org
expenses totaled $10.087.46. Net alphabetically, they are: Secretary, program coordinator:
income was $3,780.55. Andrés Morantes, andres.
Steve Chaplin, Roseville;
Major income items were dues, Ross Collins, Excelsior; morantes@mnnps.org
$2,348; symposium, $5,934, and Brian Fewell, Falcon Heights; Treasurers, membership data
orchid books, $3,593.55. Major Laura Geris, Richfield;
expenses were symposium, base: Ron and Cathy Huber, ron.
Enrique Gentzsch, Minneapolis; huber@mnnps.org
$5,451.78, and orchid books,
Gloria Gervais, Ely;
$3,231.99. Communication Ken Arndt: board member, field
expenses (newsletter, membership Karin Grimlund, Rushford;
Catherine Gutfleisch, Northfield; trip chair, ken.arndt@mnnps.org
directory, meeting postcards,
member packets, and postage) Laurel Krause, Excelsior; John Arthur: board member, john.
totaled $905.59. Bram and Lori Middeldorp, arthur@mnnps.org
Northfield;
Sale income down Bill and Anna Morrison, Ham Lake;
Steve Eggers: board member, steve.
Proceeds from the 2012 June eggers@mnnps.org
Jeanne Quillen, Pequot Lakes;
Plant Sale totaled $368.50, Karen Westphall, St. Paul. Otto Gockman: board member,
including $331.50 from the sale otto.gockman@mnnps.org
and $37 from the plant auction.
This total is the lowest in the last Field trips Daniel Jones: board member,daniel.
seven years. The highest total was There is a waiting list for the August jones@mnnps.org
$911 in 2006; the previous low was 25 field trip to Iron Horse Prairie.
$416 in 2009. The weather reduced For future trips, go to the website: Peter Jordan: board member, peter.
attendance at the meeting and sale. www.mnnps.org jordan@mnnps.org
Mike Lynch: board member, mike.
lynch@mnnps.org
Minnesota Native Plant Society’s purpose
(Abbreviated from the bylaws) Stephen G. Saupe: board member,
This organization is exclusively organized and operated for stephen.saupe@mnnps.org
educational and scientific purposes, including the following. Field Trips: fieldtrips.mnnps@
1. Conservation of all native plants. mnnps.org
2. Continuing education of all members in the plant sciences.
3. Education of the public regarding environmental protection of plant Memberships: memberships.
life. mnnps@mnnps.org
4. Encouragement of research and publications on plants native to Historian-Archives: Roy Robison,
Minnesota. historian-archives.mnnps@mnnps.
5. Study of legislation on Minnesota flora, vegetation, ecosytems. org
6. Preservation of native plants, plant communities, and scientific and
Technical or membership
natural areas.
inquiries: contact.mnnps@mnnps.
7. Cooperation in programs concerned with the ecology of natural
org
resources and scenic features.
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. Prairie plan
Continued from page 1
President’s bill. We also need to look at the
recent power play, where elected
officials have sought managerial
when confronted with the impacts
of climate change. The Prairie
column
by Scott Milburn
control over these lands. The
premise behind the concept of
Plan identifies a set of corridors, The Society’s Board of Directors extracting resources from a set
each six miles wide, along five will meet later this summer to elect area of land within each township
geomorphological features that will the officers for next year. This will was to provide financial support
connect the prairie core areas: the be the first board meeting with our for schools. Times change, and so
Agassiz Beach Ridges, Alexandria latest board additions, Steve Eggers should this policy and the mindset
Moraine, Minnesota River, Altamont and John Arthur. Steve is a former of continuous resource extraction
Moraine, and Buffalo Ridge. The board member from the earlier days under the disguise of serving our
goal for the corridors is to have at of the Society, and John has been an children. These lands provide only
least 10 percent of each section of active member in recent years. They $26 per student annually.
land (64 acres) in perennial cover will complement the existing board How would politicians manage
as well as large (four to nine square and help provide an exciting year. these lands? They may be
mile) grassland/wetland complexes under the false impression that
spaced every six miles along the Looking forward to the upcoming
the management of lands is a
corridor as “stepping stones.” year, we need to explore two
rudimentary task. For instance,
particular topics. Besides discussing
Agricultural Matrix consider the certification process
the ecology and biology of plants, I
To maintain the full range of for selling timber. The market place
believe it is imperative that we also
local genetic variability of prairie says timber needs to be certified.
discuss policies and laws as they
plants and animals, we will have Will these politicians continue the
pertain to our natural resources.
to conserve not just the core areas existing practices that meet the
Specifically, I would like to provide
but also smaller grasslands and requirements for certification? If
an opportunity for us to explore the
wetlands in all parts of the state they don’t, the product sits. That
issue of School Trust Lands, as well
where prairie once occurred. This may be their agenda, with the
as the push to allow cattle grazing at
approach will provide small pockets politicians moving in a direction to
locations with intact prairie.
of local ecotypes scattered around sell off this land to private interests.
the state that can be the source of Members should question a
number of the issues surrounding The other issue is the push
propagules for prairie and native
plant restoration projects, the the School Trust Lands, including to allow cattle grazing on lands
foundation of water quality and the proposed land swap of these with intact prairie. This has been
flood retention efforts, and the base lands within the BWCA in a House gaining momentum, perhaps due to
a combination of group think and
of grassland-oriented recreation. appeasement to a vocal industry.
The Prairie Plan proposes that survived, it is usually because local This is not the West, where cattle
a minimum of 10 percent of each residents can earn a greater net roam on large tracts of land. We
Land Type Association in the Prairie return from grass-based agriculture, don’t know who is going to manage
Region of the state be maintained such as grazing livestock, than they these efforts, what monitoring will
in permanent perennial vegetation. can by tilling and annually planting take place, and what safeguards will
Most of the conservation work in the land. That will need to be the be in place to protect the integrity
the Agricultural Matrix will take the case in Minnesota as well if we want of these sites. We hear about aquatic
form of stream buffers, grassland to have more than scattered public invasive species, but what about
strips, and habitat restorations, but reserves and wildlife management terrestrial invasives and grazing?
to achieve the maximal results, it areas. Some may argue that invasives are
will be important to strategically of little concern, but how much
The Prairie Plan endorses the
locate the projects. practical experience do they have?
use of public funding and lands
Visit a place like Blue Mounds State
Even with substantial new public to catalyze the growth and health
Park where the wild carrot (Daucus
conservation funding, the success of grass-based agriculture in the
carota) is problematic, or the remote
Minnesota has in maintaining and prairie core areas. Minnesota needs
site of Caribou WMA.
restoring its prairie heritage will to protect its remaining prairies, but
largely depend on private actions. it also needs to buffer and reconnect These issues should provide
In areas of the world where large them with restored grasslands and motivation for all of us to be
areas of native grasslands have wetlands. engaged.
3

4. Plants are keys to monitoring for wetland projects,
will begin to provide an answer as
to whether we are achieving “no
quality of wetlands net loss” of wetland quality and
biological diversity in Minnesota.
by Michael Bourdaghs, Minnesota
Pollution Control Agency. This is a
which is a numerical rating
from zero to 10 that reflects
Rainwater plan
summary of his talk at the Feb. 2, how restricted a particular plant transforms mall
2012, MNNPS meeting. species is to intact natural habitats.
Minnesota has a policy to achieve Species that have narrow habitat parking lot
“no net loss” in the quantity, quality, requirements and/or little tolerance The results of the “extreme
and biological diversity of the to human disturbance have high makeover” of the Maplewood Mall
state’s wetlands, but how do we C-values, and vice versa. For parking lot will be featured at its
know if these goals are being met? example, the Small white lady’s grand opening Saturday, Sept. 15,
A variety of wetland monitoring and slipper (Cypripedium candidum) from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the east main
assessment approaches are needed is typically only found in intact entrance of the mall. This rainwater
to answer this question. Tracking wet prairies and has a C = 10 management project includes 16
wetland quantity through project value. Box elder (Acer negundo), rainwater gardens and 200 trees.
accounting and an ongoing DNR on the other hand, can be found in The event will include a
statewide status and trends aerial many disturbed habitats outside ribbon-cutting ceremony with the
photo survey is well established. the floodplain forests where it Farmsworth Aerospace Magnet
Our ability to track wetland quality, naturally occurs and has a C = School marching band and student
on the other hand, continues to 1 value. Metrics derived from parade; tours and displays; “show
improve as the science behind vegetation data and the C-values and tell” with landscaping artists
wetland quality monitoring and have been found to be robust and and experts; and photo ops with
assessment evolves. reliable wetland quality indicators. their mascot, “Leap Frog.” Grant
Wetland plant communities In 2007, the MPCA completed information and applications to make
tend to respond in predictable a project to assign C-values to the over home yards will be available,
patterns when exposed to human Minnesota wetland flora. Since as will information on a Girl Scout
impacts such as changes in wetland then, work has progressed to service project for clean water.
hydrology, physical wetland develop a simplified Rapid FQA
The mall is located at 3001
alterations, or excess nutrient and sampling approach and data driven
White Bear Ave. N., Maplewood.
sediment loading. Responses to assessment criteria that can be used
For additional information, contact
these stressors include changes to turn FQA metrics scores into
Louise Watson at 651-792-7956, or
in the species composition and/ meaningful categories of wetland
go to the Ramsey-Washington Metro
or community structure. In severe quality for all of the wetland types
Watershed District website at www.
cases, wholesale changes can occur in Minnesota. This will allow
rwmwd.org
where a native plant community natural resource professionals
is replaced by invasive species. with a moderate level of wetland
These plant community responses botanical expertise to make rapid Ancient seeds grown
integrate the effects of impacts over and scientifically robust wetland Russian scientists have successfully
time. They can be measured and quality assessments, which can grown narrow-leafed campion plants
thus be used to indicate wetland then be applied to their specific from seeds buried by an arctic
quality. management questions. ground squirrel 31,800 years ago.
The frozen Silene stenophylla seeds
The Minnesota Pollution Control The MPCA is currently using were found in an ancient burrow
Agency (MPCA) has an active FQA as the primary assessment on the banks of the Lower Kolyma
research program to develop approach in a statewide wetland River in northeastern Siberia by a
wetland quality monitoring and quality survey. Wetlands Russian research team. The scientists
assessment techniques. Most are first sampled randomly took cells from the placentas in the
recently, the MPCA has focused statewide. Because the sample is seeds and grew them in culture dishes
on an approach called the Floristic representative, the results reflect into whole plants. The plants appear
Quality Assessment (FQA). FQA the overall quality of Minnesota’s identical to the present-day narrow-
relies on a measure called the wetlands. This survey, in leafed campions, but their petals are
Coefficient of Conservatism (C), conjunction with increased narrower and more splayed-out.
4

5. The book concludes with a two-
Book review page phenology, seven pages of
Native Orchids of Minnesota is glossary, an extensive five-page
bibliography, and the index.
Welby Smith’s newest book One might expect such a lavishly
illustrated book to be much higher
Book by Welby Smith, published presented on the seldom noted
subterranean aspects of orchids’ priced, but virtually everyone
by the University of Minnesota
lives. This fascinating material is can enjoy having a copy on their
Press, 2012. Softcover, 285 pages;
well explained in the book and was bookshelf. MNNPS members also
seven by 10-inch format; color
the main thrust of Welby’s May received a substantial discount on
photos, black-and-white drawings,
program. the price.
range maps. $34.95
Review by Ron and Cathy Huber A one-page preface is followed Excerpt from Native
The sign-in sheet for the MNNPS by an extensive introduction. This
May monthly meeting showed 126 includes basic orchid biology, the Orchids of Minnesota
attendees, but the actual headcount roles of mycorrhizal fungi, and “[Showy lady’s slippers] do best
was over 140 — a new all-time habitat discussions. Two pages of in partial shade or direct sunlight, not
record. The reason? Welby Smith “Frequently Asked Questions about in deep shade. You will most often
gave a fascinating presentation to Orchids” are followed by several find these conditions in a mossy,
launch the sale of his new book, pages of pictorial keys to orchid forested swamp under a thin canopy
Native Orchids of Minnesota. genera. of conifers, or sometimes in a not-
so-mossy swamp under hardwoods
Although originally slated The following 237 pages of or tall shrubs. Sometimes showys
to be an updated edition of his Genera and Species Accounts can be found in open wetlands such
first (1993) book on Minnesota provide the real “meat-and- as seepage fens or sedge meadows.
orchids, this new revision is greatly potatoes” of this book, enhanced Into this last category I would put
expanded, treating 49 wild orchids by anatomical drawings, range the odd roadside ditch where showys
(six additional from 1993), with maps, and beautiful color photos, sometimes make a brief appearance.
emphasis on their identification, showing details of the plants, their I say brief because roadside habitats
habitat, and natural history. underground features and often tend to get scraped or graded on a
Exciting new discoveries are their habitats. regular basis.”
Ditches are a favorite location for Minnesota’s state flower, the showy lady’s slipper, Cypripedium reginae.
Scott Milburn took this photo on Highway 371 south of Cass Lake in Cass County in June 2012.
5

6. Stalking and finding
rare native plants
by Malcolm and Rosemary MacFarlane, volunteers, Minnesota DNR
County Biological Survey.
Our experience with rare native plants has been a 30-year journey
with many side trips, chance encounters, frustrating attempts to acquire
expertise, and a measure of dumb luck. It started with photography and
ended in moonworts. There was never any grand plan. The photography
was pure entertainment, at least to start. The accumulating images pushed
us in directions we had not anticipated nor were we properly prepared
to go. Neither of us can claim to be a botanist. But we were enticed by
interests-turned-obsessions, each in its way more compelling than the last,
until we found ourselves a part of a long and grand tradition of amateur
botany in Minnesota.
As we acquired expertise, our interests slid slowly from the common
to the rare. We were drawn through a series of obsessions with orchids, Botrychium ascendens, a
lichens, endemic species, relicts, disjuncts and species of exceptionally rare moonwort. Photo by
unique and rare habitats. We crossed paths with folks who had a wealth Malcolm MacFarlane.
of unique expertise, which they shared most generously. These encounters
presented us with lifelong friendships and opportunities to participate in Range? Yes again, we found B.
new ways, in new discoveries. ascendens and B. lineare in 2007.
So, is there a chance of finding them
So, by way of a very circuitous path, we found ourselves in June of last in other habitats outside the iron
year in the middle of Koochiching County, on hands and knees, in the range? Apparently so. We found B.
ubiquitous cloud of black flies, bleeding from the temples, nose to nose ascendens last year all the way up in
with a curious little moonwort. We were having the greatest time. Lake of the Woods County.
Part of the allure of moonworts was the flood of new information, new In southeastern Minnesota, there
distributions, even new species. was one isolated collection of prairie
Only six percent of the moonwort moonwort, B. campestre, from a
records in the Natural Heritage bedrock bluff prairie in 1993. Is it
Database predate 1990. Significant likely that could be the only place it
pieces of the puzzle of moonworts occurs in that part of the state? We
in North America were coming searched a number of prairies over
from here in Minnesota. a period of six years and found 12
populations in four counties.
Each new piece of information
prompted new questions. Many of There were no collections of
these could be addressed at our level moonworts from Koochiching or
of expertise. Three of the most rare Roseau counties, and only three
species of moonworts in Minnesota (two species) from Lake of the
were first found in tailings basins Woods County. Two of those
on the Cuyuna Iron Range — collections, dating from 1894, were
Botrychium ascendens and B. from an island in the middle of the
spathulatum in 1998, and B. lineare lake. But habitats looked especially
in 2005. Could any of these be good, at least to us. We spent a
found on mine dumps as well? Yes, long weekend in each of 2009 and
we looked and found two of them, 2010 on the hunch that we could
Botrychium simplex. Photo by B. ascendens and B. spathulatum, in find them there. We did. In 2011,
Malcolm MacFarlane. 2008. And what about the Mesabi we applied for a contract from the
6

7. County Biological Survey, and
that allowed us to spend the entire
month of June.
Plant Lore
by Thor Kommedahl
with roots attached to grasses.
(For this reason some have placed
eyebright in the broomrape family.)
What is eyebright? Where does it grow?
From 2009 through 2011, we Eyebright is Euphrasia
made nearly 200 collections from This native species grows along
hudsoniana, in the figwort family, the north shore of Lake Superior
these three counties, including but the taxonomy is confusing and in rock fissures and ledges, and it
nine species of moonworts and a it may be listed as other species, blooms from June to September.
rare grape fern. The rarest of these e.g., E. arctica. Of the hundreds of
were B. ascendens, B. lunaria, B. described species, E. hudsoniana Does it have medicinal uses?
minganense, and B. simplex var. is recognized by the Integrated Milton in Paradise Lost suggested
tenebrosum, which was unusually Taxonomic Information System. it was mankind’s first medicine:
robust and significantly west of its Michael from Adam’s eyes the
known range. How did it gets its names? film removed,
Eyebright (E. officinalis) was Which the false fruit, that
Minnesota is richer in moonwort called “Eyebryghte” by William promised clearer sight,
species than anyone would have Turner in England (1548). Had bred; then purged with
predicted just a few years ago. Euphrasia means “good-cheer” in euphrasy and rue
Discoveries of species here that reference to its use in eye lotions. The visual nerve, for he had
were thought to be limited to the Hudsoniana refers to its being much to see.
western states and provinces would found along Hudson Bay — and
beg the question: might there be sometimes called Hudson Bay Eyebright has been a folk remedy
others? We believe that we found eyebright. Arctica (perhaps a for eye ailments, coughs, and
one in 2008, B. pedunculosum, synonym) points to its circumpolar earaches. Because the blossoms
on a mine dump west of Hibbing. distribution. look like eyes, they were thought
in medieval times to benefit eye
Confirmation awaits genetic
What does the plant look like? maladies. Cotton Mather in Boston,
testing, but so far prospects look
It is an annual herb and has small, 1724, remarked, “A plain Eye-bright
good. opposite, toothed stem leaves and water constantly or frequently used
white to pale-blue flowers that look will continue to the eye-sight a
like eyes. Petals have an upper lip brightness to be wondered at.” It
that may be two-lobed or notched has been reported in recent times
and a lower lip that is three-lobed. that members of this genus contain
There are four stamens. Stems are anti-inflammatory and antibacterial
hairy. The plant is a semiparasite compounds.
Euphrasia hudsoniana var. Euphrasia officinalis (above), European eyebright, is rapidly
ramosior. Photo by Peter invading the Arrowhead. Photographer Peter Dziuk says it is almost
Dziuk. identical to E. hudsoniana, and the two species may hybridize.
7

8. Minnesota Native Plant Society
P.O. Box 20401
Bloomington, MN 55420
Summer 2012
Directions:
Take Highway 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.