Education and training program in the hospital APR.pptx
Summer 2005 Minnesota Plant Press
1. Minnesota Plant Press
The Minnesota Native Plant Society Newsletter
Volume 24 Number 4 Summer 2005
Monthly meetings
Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge
Combined attacks by deer,
Visitor Center, 3815 American Blvd. East
Bloomington, MN 55425-1600
earthworms endangering
952-854-5900
6:30 p.m. — Building east door opens
hardwood forests in state
6:30 p.m. — Refreshments, by Lee E. Frelich, director, University of Minnesota Center for
information, Room A Hardwood Ecology. This is an abstract of his talk at the April 7,
7 – 9 p.m — Program, society business
7:30 p.m. — Building door is locked 2005, meeting.
9:00 p.m. — Building closes European earthworms and deer are having a synergistic impact
on woodland plant communities that is cascading through forest
Programs ecosystems, causing major changes in soil structure, nutrient
The MNPS meets the first Thursday in availability, loss of native plant species, facilitation of invasive
October, November, December, February, species, and failure of tree regeneration. European earthworms eat
March, April, May, and June. Check the the duff in hardwood forests when they invade, exposing the root
Web site for more program information.
systems and causing death of a large proportion of woodland plants.
Oct 6: “Managing Woodlands During The deer-to-plant ratio is then much higher, allowing deer to finish
and After Buckthorn,” by Janet Larson, off many of the remaining plants and tree seedlings.
forester. Place of the Month: Meyers’ Recovery of the plant community is difficult because the seedbed
Prairie, Nicollet County, by Linda Huhn. conditions are changed from duff to mineral soil, the mycorrhizal
Nov. 3: “Plant Communities of the community is changed, the dusky slug (also a European invader)
Mississippi River Gorge,” by Karen Schik, causes high mortality of newly germinating seedlings, growth of
ecologist with Friends of the Mississippi plants is relatively slow due to lesser availability of nutrients, and
River and MNPS board member. Seed those plant seedlings that get past these difficulties can then be eaten
Exchange. by deer.
Previous research in the Big Woods by Augustine and Frelich
Collect, package native showed that densities of plants must be on the order of 4,000 per
seeds to exchange Nov. 3 acre or more to saturate the deer, and such densities are hard to
Place native seeds for the exchange in achieve. A few species of plants,
envelopes. Write the name of the plant and
the seed source on each envelope. The including Pennsylvania sedge and In this issue
exchange will follow the meeting. jack-in-the-pulpit, are adapted to Leadership changes ............ 2
the post-invasion conditions. The President’s column.............. 3
New MNPS Web site sedge in particular can become Fall field trip .......................3
www.mnnps.org very dense and out-compete other Go Native! book review........4
e-mail: contact@mnnps.org native plant species. Mower County prairies.........4
MNPS Listserve The combination of high deer New board members.............5
Send a message that includes the word populations and invasion by New lifetime member.......... 6
“subscribe” or “unsubscribe” and your European earthworms and slugs Sneezeweed (Plant Lore).....7
name in the body of the message to: Rediscovered flower............. 7
mn-natpl-request@stolaf.edu Continued on page 5
2. Officers re-elected; some MNPS Board of
Directors
committees changed President: Jason Husveth,
Critical Connections Ecological
Officers were re-elected and chairs and Gerry Drewry, who resigned as Services Inc., 14758 Ostlund Trail
and members of several committees co-chair. N., Marine on St. Croix, MN; 651-
were changed at the June 16 MNPS The Think Native Program will be 247-0474; jhusveth@ccesinc.com
Board of Directors meeting. led by Karen Schik, Shirley Mah Vice-President: Scott Milburn,
Jason Husveth will serve one more Kooyman, and Linda Huhn. 744 James Ave., St. Paul, MN 55102;
year as president, and Scott Milburn Other positions include: Program 651-261-4381;
will again be vice president. Karen Chair, Linda Huhn; Seed Exchange, smilburn@ccesinc.com
Schik will continue as secretary and Dave Crawford; Nominations, Scott Secretary: Karen Schik, 13860
will be assisted by Mary Grace Milburn, chair, Karen Schik, Shirley 236th St. N., Scandia, MN 55073;
Brown. Ron Huber, who recently Mah Kooyman; New Member 651-433-5254 (h), 651-222-2193
relieved David Johnson of the Contacts and Newsletter Mailers, (w); kschik@fmr.org
treasurer’s duties, will continue in Chuck and Ellen Peck; Web site Treasurer: Ron Huber, 2521
that position. David is continuing to managers, Scott Milburn and Jason Jones Place W., Bloomington, MN
manage the membership data base. Husveth; Listserve manager, Charles 55431-2837; 952-886-0783;
Daniel Jones succeeds Karen Schik Umbanhowar; Newsletter Editor, huber033@umn.edu
as chair of the Symposium Gerry Drewry. Ken Arndt, 2577 Co. Rd. F, White
Committee. Shirley Mah Kooyman, Bear Twp., MN 55110; 651-426-
A volunteer is needed to send the 8174; karndt@pioneereng.com
Scott Milburn, and Karen are also on monthly meeting-notice postcards.
this committee. Mary G. Brown, 9300 Old Cedar
Ave., #119, Bloomington, MN
Ken Arndt is the new chair of the 55425-2426; 651-310-8085 (w),
Field Trip Committee. He will be Wild Ones plan annual
conference Sept. 9 - 11 952-885-0913 (h);
assisted by Jason Husveth, Scott MGBROWN@stpaultravelers.com
Milburn and Doug Mensing, the The Twin Cities chapter of Wild
former chair. Ones, will hold its annual conference Daniel Jones, 208 Linden St. S.,
at Bunker Hills Park Sept. 9 - ll. Joan Northfield, MN 55057-1723;
Ken Arndt and Dave Crawford will Nassauer, University of Michigan, 507-664-9663;
co-chair the plant sale. Other will be the keynote speaker. For dwjonesecoserv@earthlink.net
committee members are Daniel Jones information, go to www.for-wild.org Shirley Mah Kooyman, 4520
Terraceview Lane N., Plymouth, MN
55446; 952-443-1419 (w), 763-559-
Minnesota Native Plant Society’s purpose 3114 (h);
(Abbreviated from the bylaws) shirley@arboretum.umn.edu
This organization is exclusively organized and operated for educational Sandy McCartney, 8824 35th
and scientific purposes, including the following: St.,#5, St. Louis Park, MN 55102;
952-932-0954 (h);
1. Conservation of all native plants. sandy2950@hotmail.com
2. Continuing education of all members in the plant sciences. Program Chair: Linda Huhn,
3. Education of the public regarding environmental protection of plant 2553 Dupont Ave. S., Minneapolis,
life. MN 55405; 612-374-1435
4. Encouragement of research and publications on plants native to Listserv Coordinator: Charles
Minnesota. Umbanhowar, ceumb@stolaf.edu
5. Study of legislation on Minnesota flora, vegetation and ecosystems. Minnesota Plant Press editor:
6. Preservation of special plants, plant communities and scientific and Gerry Drewry, 24090 Northfield
natural areas. Blvd., Hampton, MN 55031; phone,
7. Cooperation in programs concerned with the ecology of natural 651-463-8006; fax, 651-463-3135;
resources and scenic features. gdrewry@infionline.net
8. Fellowship with all persons interested in native plants through
Technical or membership
meetings, lectures, workshops and field trips.
inquiries: contact@mnnps.org
2
3. From the president Savanna, bog field
With the warm, sunny summer of The officer elections resulted in trip is Sept. 18
2005 upon us, I am pleased to report several officers continuing on for Hannah Texler, Minnesota DNR
that the Minnesota Native Plant another year’s term. Scott Milburn regional plant ecologist, will lead a
Society continues to flourish. Our was re-elected as vice-president, and fall field trip to the Helen Allison
steady growth can be attributed to the Karen Schik will continue on as Savanna SNA and Cedar Creek Bog
hard work and dedication of the secretary, with assistance from Mary at Bethel in Anoka County from 2 to
board of directors and the active Brown. Ron Huber has graciously 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 18. To register,
participation of many of our accepted the position of treasurer. contact Doug Mensing at
And I am honored to have the fieldtrips@mnnps.org or 612-202-
members. The society continues to
privilege to serve as president for one 2252.
grow with new members, and we
continue to offer informative more year. Linda Huhn continues to Helen Allison Savanna SNA is an
programs, field trips, and services to plan our monthly meetings, and Ken 86-acre prairie and oak savanna. It
Arndt has taken the lead role as field was named for Helen Allison Irvine,
our membership. This is no accident.
trip coordinator. “Minnesota’s grass lady,” who wrote
Over the past several months, the
board and many members have been Most of all, I want to wish all of a text on the 180 grasses of
very committed to improving the our members a most enjoyable Minnesota. This SNA lies within the
society, developing new ideas, and summer of botanizing and enjoying Anoka sand plain, providing an
planning future programs, field trips, Minnesota’s great outdoors. We excellent example of sand dune plant
and symposia. welcome your ideas and succession, with blowouts and dunes
participation. in various stages of stabilization by
At the June board meeting, we said pioneer species.
farewell to two members of the board Please be sure to visit
who have gone above and beyond the www.mnnps.org and please feel free Community types found on the site
call of duty over the past three years to contact the officers, board include oak sand savanna, dry prairie
– Doug Mensing and David Johnson. members, or other key members with with bur oak and pin oak, thickets of
Among his many contributions to the your ideas for future society services willow and aspen, and sedge marshes
society, Doug has taken the lead in and programs. I hope to see you at in scattered depressions. Trees and
planning and organizing our many the summer field trips, and at our shrubs include pin oak, bur oak,
field trips each year, as well as next membership meeting in American hazelnut, chokecherry,
helping to organize the 2004 and October. willow, and quaking aspen. Other
2005 annual symposia. David has Best regards, Jason Husveth, savanna species include lead plant,
served as our treasurer for many president smooth sumac, slender willow,
years, and has handed the books over steeple bush, aster, and goldenrod.
Native bottlebrush Look on the dunes for pioneer sand
to Ron Huber for safekeeping. We
thank both Doug and David for their grass likes dry shade plants such as sea-beach needle grass
energy, enthusiasm, and adept by Erin Hynes, president of the and hairy panic grass. Sedge
service to the society! Ornamental Grass Society of meadows contain tussocks of
Minnesota .This is an abstract of her Hayden’s sedge, along with marsh
Sandy McCartney and Mary fern and blue-joint grass. Other rare
presentation at the May 5 meeting.
Brown were both elected to the board Native bottlebrush grass (Elymus plant species occurring include long-
this spring and started their terms at hystrix; Hystrix patula) is one of the bearded hawkweed, rhombic-petaled
the June meeting. Daniel Jones was evening primrose, and tall nut-rush.
few ornamental grasses adapted to
recently appointed to the board to dry shade. It tolerates wet or dry soil,
complete Dianne Plunkett Latham’s A side trip will take participants on
full shade to partial sun. Although it a short boardwalk through the nearby
term, and he has already begun is reputed to be short lived, it re- Cedar Creek Bog, which is located
taking the lead on planning the 2006 seeds, although not invasively. The
symposium. We look forward to at the University of Minnesota Cedar
most notable feature is the bristly Creek Research Center. This is one
working with Sandy, Mary, and flower, after which the grass is of the most interesting bogs in the
Daniel, and the new ideas, named. Bottlebrush grass grows
considerable experience, and fresh Anoka sand plain. Common plant
about two feet tall and flowers from species include leatherleaf,
perspectives they bring to the board June through August. The flowers cottongrass, three-way sedge, and
and the society. persist into autumn. bog cranberry.
3
4. Survey identifies
Go Native! by Carolyn Harstad prairie remnants in
is resource for native gardens Mower County
by Paul J. Bockenstedt, a restoration
Book Review by Dianne Plunkett which the reader can readily see that ecologist with Bonestroo and
Latham Carolyn has an eye for beautiful Associates, Inc., and former resource
Carolyn Harstad moved to combinations. It’s no accident that manager for Metro State Parks. This
Lakeville, Minn., from Indiana in the she is a flower show judge for the is a summary of his talk at the Feb.
fall of 2003 and shortly thereafter Federated Garden Clubs of 3, 2005, MNPS meeting.
joined the MNPS. She is a past Minnesota. The Lyle-Austin Wildlife
president and a founding member of Although the book was published Management Area encompasses
the Indiana Native Plant and as part of a series on Gardening in approximately 114 acres along 9.5
Wildflower Society, as well as a the Lower Midwest, nearly all the miles of former Chicago Great
founding member of the Indiana native plants included in Go Native! Western railroad right-of-way on the
Hosta Society. are fully hardy in Minnesota. The few Iowan Surface landform between the
that are not are at least marginally cities of Lyle and Austin in southeast
In addition to authoring Go Minnesota.
Native!, an exhaustive resource on hardy here. The extensive research,
plus entertaining prose and plant lore, This area includes a rich history in
native plants, she is also the author prairie, landform, and railroads. The
of Got Shade?, which the Dec. 8, make this book a must read for native
plant enthusiasts of all levels! Both intersection of these factors with the
2004, issue of the Minneapolis Star apparent influence of the culture of
Tribune listed as one of eight paperback books retail for $24.95
and are published by Indiana the Chicago Great Western Railroad
recommended Christmas gift books had a major effect on conserving
for gardeners. Got Shade? was also University Press, 601 N. Morton St.,
Bloomington, IN 47404. Go Native! these important tallgrass prairie
featured as one of the top 10 remnants.
gardening books in Best of the Year and Got Shade? are available at
major bookstores, or can be ordered To better understand the location
in the February 2005 Fine Gardening and quality of prairie remnants and
magazine. on-line from Amazon.com or Barnes
& Noble. They are also available at rare plant populations, a review of
Go Native! is an outstanding the Minnesota Landscape historical railroad information was
resource for the native plant Arboretum. conducted, and a botanical survey
enthusiast. Not only does it tell you was completed between 1999 and
why and how to design a native 2003.
garden for prairie, wetland,
Grasses studied The inventory identified 23 areas
woodland or wildlife, it also makes during workshop of good to very good quality remnant
recommendations for vertical and prairie. A total of 324 species of
The May 5, 2005, meeting featured plants were noted, 47 of which are
horizontal accents, in addition to
an interactive grass identification non-natives. Over 150 populations
recommendations for biohedges and workshop, which was led by Anita F.
ferns. Go Native! has a chapter on for 10 rare plant species were
Cholewa, Ph.D., curator of encountered, including those that are
exotics, where buckthorn gets the temperate plants, J.F. Bell Museum
boot, with plenty of information on state-listed, or not listed but tracked
of Natural History, University of
why and how to remove it. Given that by the Minnesota Department of
Minnesota, St. Paul.
Carolyn is a Master Gardener, a Natural Resources Natural Heritage
popular garden lecturer, a certified The grass workshop started with a Program. A new state record for
brief introduction to the grass family, sweet coneflower, Rudbeckia
Landscape Design Critic, and a
consisting of the distinguishing subtomentosa, was also recorded.
regular contributor to several features and major groupings as
gardening newsletters, the book currently understood. This was
contains much practical advice on grasses, looking for those with
followed by a hands-on portion, in features that matched information
each species’ planting requirements which museum specimens of
and propagation. sheets Cholewa distributed. The
common Minnesota grasses were Museum’s herbarium website
The book contains 125 lovely line available for viewing, along with (www.cbs.umn.edu/herbarium/
drawings by Jeanette Ming. There samples of grass flowers. vascularplantpage2.htm) contains a
are also 100 of Carolyn’s own MNPS members and visitors detailed and technical identification
gorgeous color photographs, from examined the many samples of guide to Minnesota’s grasses.
4
5. Mary Brown, Sandy McCartney, and
Daniel Jones join MNPS board
The MNPS Board of Directors has “I grew up in Wayzata, actually Jones started his career in 1984 in
three new members. Daniel Jones Orono, and what is now Wood Rill the Chicago area and returned to the
was appointed in March to serve the Scientific and Natural Area was Midwest two years ago, after 11
final year of Dianne Plunkett about 12 feet from my bedroom years in the Pacific Northwest. He
Latham’s term. Mary Brown and window,” he wrote. “I spent many was active with the Washington
Sandy McCartney were elected by hours in the woods, and that is
Native Plant Society, serving as
society members for three-year terms probably where I learned to love the
that began in June. They succeed outdoors. I spent over five years editor of Douglasia, the WNPS
Doug Mensing and David Johnson. driving over the road, have worked quarterly journal. He also was
Jason Husveth, president, was re- construction, been a telephone WNPS liaison to Earth Share of
elected to the board. operator, and worked for United Washington.
Parcel Service from 1993 to 2003. “I am impressed by the talent,
Mary Grace Brown
Mary Brown is a resident of “I was first invited to attend the knowledge, and passion for native
Bloomington. She has volunteered to Minnesota Native Plant Society plant stewardship that I see at the
help monitor and maintain Grey meetings by Janet Larson, but was MNPS meetings, and I am eager to
Cloud Dunes and Nine Mile Creek unable to attend until I left UPS. tap into that passion to help the
prairie and to be more involved in Besides my new board position with Society grow,” he wrote. Jones
restoration. the society, I am the secretary/ hopes to continue promoting MNPS
treasurer for the College of Natural advocacy for conservation of
“I am excited to become more Resources Alumni Society and also
involved in the MNPS by serving on the national board representative sensitive native plant species and
the board,” she wrote. “I am an from the college to the University of stewardship of native natural
ornamental gardener, using some Minnesota Alumni Association.” communities.
native plants, but am more interested
in restoration and seeing plants in the Daniel Jones Endangered forests
wild than in my garden. Therefore, Daniel Jones is a botanist and
I am grateful to the leaders who now certified ecologist with a career spent Continued from page 1
offer more local field trips. I have in natural resource inventory and appears to be spreading into the
been active in my Audubon chapter management. He currently works as countryside from metropolitan areas.
(which also meets at the refuge), an environmental scientist for Barr When a Big Woods remnant is
enjoying many birding field trips, Engineering in Edina. His wife,
surrounded by farms, deer are
organizing two fundraising native Karil Kucera, is a professor of East
plant garden tours that generated Asian Studies and Art History at St. maintained at relatively low
$2,000 profit, and leading spring Olaf College, Northfield. densities. When a few houses are
wildflower field trips. I am looking built, however, hunting pressure goes
forward to working with you all.” Daniel has worked in the Midwest down and deer multiply. If they were
and the Pacific Northwest, in both the not already present, European
William H. “Sandy” McCartney, public and private sectors. His work
has included wetland delineation and earthworms, slugs, and invasive
Jr.
plant species such as European
Sandy McCartney, a resident of St. mitigation design, forest inventories,
Louis Park, received a B.A. in rare plant surveys and vegetation buckthorn and garlic mustard also
economics and a M.S. in forestry management plans. He has worked arrive with the first wave of houses.
from the University of Minnesota. in a wide variety of vegetation types Native Big Woods plant
He has been the tree inspector for St. from prairie to forest, and from communities are winking out one by
Louis Park for the past three seasons wetlands to subalpine meadows. He one across the landscape, and a large-
and went back to work for the city is also a trained mycologist and has scale research and conservation
the end of April. He and his wife, conducted fungal surveys, as well as
Tracy, have a 10-year-old daughter, surveys for sensitive moss and lichen program will be necessary to save
Susan. species. these native communities.
5
6. scenes. Gerry has served as the editor
Gerry Drewry receives MNPS of the Minnesota Plant Press since
1998 (that’s 28 issues), and has done
lifetime honorary membership a fantastic job as editor, improving
the quality of the newsletter, and
by Jason Husveth, president, MNPS Since her introduction to the
ultimately working with the board to
Gerry Drewry was awarded the society in 1985, Gerry has attended
facilitate the electronic publication of
Minnesota Native Plant Society’s every annual symposium and has
the Plant Press in the past few years.
Lifetime Honorary Membership contributed her talents and
Award April 7 at the 2005 annual enthusiasm as an active member. Gerry has also served as a primary
symposium. Gerry has been a Each year, Gerry is a regular attendee organizer and facilitator of the
member of the Minnesota Native of our monthly membership MNPS annual native plant sale,
Plant Society since 1985 (the society meetings, and has attended many along with David Crawford. She has
was founded in 1982). field trips over the past two decades. served in this role for approximately
Gerry also served on the board of 10 years. Each year, Gerry informs
She learned about the society from
directors for two terms, before she our members, board, and others
attending the 1985 symposium as a
became the editor of the society’s about the coming plant sale, plans
private landowner, interested in
newsletter, the Minnesota Plant the details of the event, and oversees
learning about the native plants and
Press, and she still attends most the sale at the June meeting. Gerry
native habitats of Minnesota,
quarterly board meetings. has given so much of her time and
wanting to apply this information to
the restoration and management of talents to the society, and we are
Most impressive are Gerry’s
her land in Hampton (near considerable volunteer services to the honored to have her as our fourth
Northfield), and to help educate society, which she adeptly provides recipient of the society’s lifetime
others about Minnesota’s native graciously and quietly behind the honorary membership award!
flora.
Read Plant Protection
Review on-line
A Minnesota Department of
Agriculture publication, Plant
Protection Review, is an excellent
resource that will keep you abreast of
insect pests, noxious weeds, and plant
diseases, what the department is doing
about them, and what you can do. The
newsletter merged two previous
newsletter publications, the Overstory
and Nursery News, into a single
publication. The intent is to provide
the green industry, the public, and
other interested parties with timely
articles and information relating to
nursery inspection, export
certification, shade tree programs, and
invasive species, as well as seed and
noxious weeds. The next issue is to
be published in July.
The newsletter can be viewed by
going to www.mda.state.mn.us To
subscribe to the e-mailed version, just
send an e-mail addressed to
MajorDomo@State.MN.US. In the
body of the message, type: Subscribe
Gerry Drewry holds plaque presented by Jason Husveth MDA-Plant-Protection-Review
6
7. Plant Lore Mt. Diablo buckwheat rediscovered
by Thor Kommedahl A petite pink flower that hasn’t which is part of the Center for Plant
What is sneezeweed? been seen in 70 years has been Conservation network, will provide
rediscovered on the flanks of Mount a reserve of seeds in case the species
Sneezeweed is Helenium
Diablo in Contra Costa County by a declines further.
autumnale (and some other species)
University of California, Berkeley, “At some point, if we have the
in the sunflower family. graduate student. mature seeds and can get them started
How did it get its names? The Mount Diablo buckwheat, in cultivation so there is a backup,
Legend has it that Helenium is Eriogonum truncatum, “has been a then we can relax a little more,”
named for Helen of Troy, who cried Holy Grail in the East Bay for several Ertter said.
at seeing the lives lost by those who decades,” according to UC Berkeley Park, 35, began surveying the flora
came to rescue her, and where her botanist Barbara Ertter, who of Mount Diablo three years ago as
tears fell, these plants sprang up. confirmed the identification in the part of Ertter’s ongoing surveillance
“Sneezeweed” comes from the plant field on May 20. Last reported in of the area’s plants. Now finishing
used as a snuff. Menominee Indians 1936, the flower was presumed his first year as a graduate student in
ground mature flower heads into a extinct, she said, because its habitat the Department of Integrative
powder to sniff for treatment of head has been overrun by introduced Biology, Park found the buckwheat
grasses. It is one of only three plants, while completing his survey during
colds. The powdered leaves induce all of them rare, that are endemic to a prime time of the year, when plants
sneezing. Mount Diablo. are flowering profusely after one of
What does the plant look like? Michael Park had the missing the latest and rainiest winters in
This fibrous-rooted, native buckwheat on his mind May 10, decades. He divulged his secret to
perennial has yellow ray flowers in when he hiked to a remote corner of Ertter and alerted the park service.
which each petal has 3 shallow lobes. Mount Diablo State Park. Following Two days later, he hiked with two
The center of the head is spherical a different routine from his normal fellow graduate students to take
and ocher-yellow. The elliptical survey, he stumbled across the plants photos, which convinced Ertter he
leaves are punctuated with glands. It — about 20 in all — in full bloom, had indeed found the elusive
grows from two to five feet tall and looking like pink baby’s breath. Less buckwheat. First reported in 1862,
than eight inches tall, the annuals are there are only seven historical
is often found in clumps.
inconspicuous and were growing in records of the plant, the last in 1936.
Where does it grow? a balding area between full chaparral Park suspects that the
It is widespread in Minnesota, and non-native grassland. unseasonably late rains may have
except in the arrowhead region, and The discovery site, a full day’s hike produced the flowering, since many
grows in open, moist areas, often from public trailheads in the park, is native plants produce seeds that
along streams. being kept secret for now so that remain dormant in the soil for
admirers won’t flock to the area and decades until the right moisture
Is it poisonous or medicinal? inadvertently destroy the conditions make them germinate.
Both. Sneezeweed (several rediscovered plant. Brent Mishler, UC Berkeley
Helenium spp.) is a major economic professor of integrative biology and
Ertter, the curator of western North
problem for sheep raisers; in one director of the Jepson and University
American flora at UC Berkeley’s
year, for example, 8,000 sheep died Jepson Herbarium, noted that one Herbaria, noted that this is typical of
in Colorado from sneezeweed priority should be to gather seeds and plants in Mediterranean-type
poisoning. Liver and kidneys are start cultivating the buckwheat at the climates like California. “It really
damaged. UC Botanical Garden. Cultivated demonstrates the importance of
specimens conserved by the garden, continuing floristic and systematic
The plant produces a lactone, studies across the decades and
helenalin, which has anti-tumor centuries, the key role of herbaria,
activity and is being tested by the Has it any horticultural uses? and the need to maintain strong
National Cancer Institute. This It has been grown in backs of educational programs in these areas,”
lactone also is a powerful insect borders or in wild gardens. Varieties he said.
repellent. Tea made from have been developed that thrive in (The complete article, with photos,
sneezeweed is used to treat intestinal fairly rich soil in sunny locations. It can be seen at www.berkeley.edu/
worms. Sneezeweed may cause can be propagated by seeds, cuttings, news/media/releases/2005/05/
contact dermatitis. and division. 24_buckwheat.shtml)
7
8. Minnesota Native Plant Society
University of Minnesota
250 Biological Sciences Center
1445 Gortner Ave.
St. Paul, MN 55108
Summer 2005