South Carolina Native Plant Society • Summer 2010 1

The Journal of the

The Wateree Trilliuma New Sessile-Flowered Trillium from Kershaw and Richland Counties, South Carolina

Summer 2010

In this issueThe Wateree Trillium ...... 1President’s Perspective .... 2Rescuing in Woodlands .... 3SCNPS Rescues ............. 3Spring Seed Collection ...... 6Epiphytic Plants in SC ....10News and Events ...........12

Name ThatNative Plant!

The answer is embedded in the text somewhere in this newsletter. Photo by Bill Stringer.

Iamanativecool-seasonannualgrass.Youmaynotrealizeittolookatme,butIwasonceanimportantfoodsourceforhumans.Seedsofmyancestorsmaybefoundinarchaeologicaldigsaroundancientcampfiresites,andIplayedapartinearlydevelopmentofagricul-tureintheareaeastoftheMississippiRiver.Mylifestylemaybealittlemore

relaxedthesedays,andyoumaynothavenoticedmeloung-ingaroundinregularlydisturbedsites.I’mjustasgoodasIwasoncewas,sodon’tforgetallaboutme-youmayneedmeagainsomeday.

(See Trillium, page 4)

The “umbrella” in M.fraseri. Photo courtesy of Chris Evans, University of Georgia.

South CarolinaNative Plant Society

Inthespringof2002,IwaswalkingalongBigPineTreeCreekinKershawCounty,SouthCarolina,onthelookoutforinterestingspringwildflowers,whenInoticedthetendrilsofCanadamoonseed(Menispermum canadense)climbingonablackwalnuttree.Knowingthatbothofthesespeciesaregoodindicatorsofrichsoils,Icarefullyscannedtheunderstoryforwhatitmightyield.Alargeyellow-floweredtoadshade(asthesessile-floweredtrilliumsarecommonlycalled)wasbloomingundertheblackwalnutandanearbybitternuthickory.Istaredattheplantforawhile;thensuddenlyrealizedthatnothingwasregisteringinmybotanicalmemorybankbuilton36yearsoffieldexperi-ence.Ihadneverseenthisplantbefore.Interestingly,thatisthesamereac-tionmostpeople—includingexpertsonthegenusTrillium—havewhentheyseetheWatereetrillium:“Whatonearthisthat?”

By L. L. GaddyTerra Incognita, Inc. - environmental consulting, research, and exploration

A colony of T. oostingii in May on the banks of the Wateree River.Photo courtesy of the author

2 South Carolina Native Plant Society • Summer 2010

Ifyouwerenotabletoattendour12thAnnualSymposiumlastmonth,youmissedafantasticevent.TheLowcountryChaptersymposiumteamdidawonderfuljobputtingtogetheraveryinformativeandfunweekend.MagnoliaPlantationandGardenswasaperfectvenuewhich,togetherwithneighbor-ingDraytonHall,providedbotanicallyrichfieldexcursionsandofferedaglimpseintothehistoricalriceculture,aculturedefinedbybotanicalecology.Wehadagreatgroupofpresenterscoveringawidevarietyoftopicsfromhands-onworkshopsinplantpropagationanddiseases,landscapedesign,andcreatingyourownherbarium;topresentationsonlo-calfloralandfaunalnaturalhistory;andofcoursethenaturalhistoryofourriceplantations.

Dr.DougTallamy(ChairoftheUniversityofDelawareDepartmentofEntomologyandWild-lifeEcologyandauthorofBringingNatureHome:HowYouCanSustainWildlifewithNativePlants)wasourplenaryspeaker.Heprovidedanexcellentpresentationonhownativeplantsandsustainablelandscapedesigncanresultinaricherecologyforourpersonallandscapes,andifemployedonalargescale,canhaveimportantpositiveeffectsonregionalconservationofnativeplantsandanimalsalike.ThepaneldiscussionthatfollowedDr.Tallamy’spresen-tationgeneratedverypassionatediscussionontheimportanceofeducationandoutreach,andthistopicbecameadominantthemeofdiscussionthroughoutthesymposium.

Educatingthepublicaboutpreservationofournativeplantsandecosystemsisadauntingagenda,especiallygiventheoverwhelmingdominanceofthe“bigbox”gardeningcentersinourcountry.Therewasmuchdiscussiononhowwemightpenetratethisforce,andIheardalotofangstabouttheprospectsofmakingarealdifference.OurcollectivewrestlingwiththisissueiscentraltotheagendaoftheSC-NPS.ThecommonconclusionthatIheardinthepresentationsandconversationsatthesymposiumis:“Thisisreallyaboutculturalchange.”Inthenottoodistantpast,anygreatoptimismaboutaffectingashiftinthe“bigbox”forcesandtheprominenceof

Greetings fellow SCNPS members!

landscapedesignsofmonoculturedlawnsandpuffballshrubswouldhavebeenviewedasstarry-eyeddream-ing.However,timeshavechanged…somewhat.Oureducationagendaisstillnodoubtambitious,butindiscussionsatthesymposium,Iheardmanytakestockinthefactthatwehaveenteredanerathatmaygiveusmorehopeofmakingeffectivechange.Thatis,the“gogreen”movementthatourculturehaslargelyembracedrepresentsatrueshiftinthewaythegeneralpublicviewsourplaceintheplanet’secosystem.Muchofthisculturalshiftmaybemoresuperficialthansubstantive.Nevertheless,thefactthatitisnowgenerally“cool”tobegreen,nomatterwhatyourpoliticalleaning,isasignificantstep.Thisnewmindsetisafoundationthathasallowedthecommercialgrowthofsustainablelandscapedesignandarchitecture(e.g.,thereareagrowingnumberofLEEDsandEarthCraftprojectsintheCarolinasandGeorgia)wherenotsolongagotherewasnone.AndIofferheresomeveryencouragingdataaboutourownorganization.PamHowe(statemembershipcommitteechair)haslookedatourmembershipdata,andreportsthatwecurrentlyhave440members,andthatnewmembershipsarecominginweekly.

Ihavebeeninvolvedinmanyvolunteerconser-vationorganizations.However,theSCNPSstandsoutlikenoneotherinthewaymembersstepuptoprovideconservationandeducationresourcesonecanuseonone’sownland,andeffectiveactivismbyourchaptershasmadearealdifferenceinlocalconservationeffortsformanyofourspecialecologicalareas.Aswecontinueinourmission,Iinvitealltoexplorenewwayswemightfulfilloureducationandoutreachagenda,andIamsurewewillseegrowthinourorganizationand,withtime,growthinthepres-ervationandrestorationofourspecialnativeecologythatworksinconcertwithourgrowingpopulation.

JeffBeacham,President

South Carolina Native Plant Society • Summer 2010 3

OurGeorgiawoodsareawonder,filledinallseasonswithtreasures,beauty,andreleasefromthepressuresofdailylife.Whenwestrollorhikeintoarescuesitewiththeintentofsavingplantsfromtheimminent,catastroph-iceffectsofearthmovingmachines,ourheartsareintherightplace.Thesenativeplants,fromsmalltreesandlovelyshrubstodelicatewildflowersandgracefulferns,canandwilladapttonew,safehomes.But,toensuretheirsurvival,eachrescuershouldbeaware,alert,andcontem-plativeastotheplants'indigenoussituations.

Thereareanumberoffactorsthataren'treadilyapparenttothenovicerescuer,andevenseasonedres-cuerssometimesfailtoconsiderthateachplanthasitsownneeds.Somefloraarevery"picky"whenitcomestorelocation.Forinstance,nativeladyslippers(Cypripediumspp.),trailingarbutus(Epigaea repens),runninggroundpine(Lycopodium digitatum),andhorsesugar(Symplocos tinctoria),althoughdifferentintheirneeds,areallde-manding,butwellworththeeffortofeducatingoneself.Ofcourseweallknowthatmoisture,light,andnutrientsarethebasicelementsthatallplantsrequireinvaryingamounts.Butotherfactorsaren'tsoobvious,andevenmoisture,light,andnutrientsaren'tsosimple.

Awater-lovingplantgrowingonthebankofastreamistherebecauseitneedstheoxygencontainedinmov-ing,bubblingwater.Gentians(Gentianaspp.),cardinalflower(Lobelia cardinalis),foamflower(Tiarella cordifolia),andgrass-ofParnassus(Parnassia asarifolia)cometomind.OtherplantssuchasJack-in-the-pulpit(Arisaema triphyl-lum)andVirginiasweetspire(Itea virginica)arefoundindamporboggyconditions,andareattheirhappiestthere.Northernmaidenhairfern(Adiantum pedatum),wildhy-drangea(Hydrangea arborescens),mountainlaurel(Kalmia latifolia),andgalax(Galax urceolata),amongothers,oftenprefertheconditionstheyfindatthetopofstreambanksandravines.Whiletheyneedamplemoisture,theyhate"wetfeet."Onceinawhile,aplantwillbenoticedgrow-ingoutofcontext,sotospeak.Forinstance,asouthernladyfern(Athyrium filix-femina)mightbespottedatthetopofadryslope;thatdoesn'tmeanthatladyfernslikedryconditions.Onthecontrary,thereisprobablyanun-dergroundseepcloseby.

Seasonednativeplantgardenerscometorealizethatcertainplants,suchasfoamflower,galax,andShuttle-worthginger(Hexastylis shuttleworthii),canbemovedintoagardensettingandwilldoquitewell.While,intheirnaturalsettingstheyprefergivenconditions,theseamenableplantsmanagenicelyelsewhere,aslongasthey

SC Native Plant SocietyPlant Rescues

It has been the policy, whether formal or informal, of the SC Native Plant Society to place high priority on placing rescued native plants into visible restora-tion projects to which the public has access. This helps to facilitate the objectives of the Society dealing with education on, and restoration and preservation of native plant communities in SC.

The following draft language has been guiding the Upstate Chapter in managing rescue opportunities:

1. Prioritiesforplantplacement.Allthingsbeingequal,prioritiesforplacementofrescuedplantswillbeasfollows(fromhighesttolowest).

a.AllocationtoprojectsoftheUpstateChapterof theNativePlantSociety.Inthissenseprojects wouldincludeboththoseadministereddirectly bytheChapterandprojectsweareworkingon cooperativelywithotherorganizations.

b.Areasonableallocationofplantsorseedsfor thepersonaluseofparticipantsintherescue

itself.

c.Allocationtoaplantsalesponsoredbythe UpstateChapteroftheNativePlantSociety.

d.Allocationtoeducationalinstitutionsfrom elementarythroughhighschool.

e.Allocationtootherpubliclandscapingprojects.

f. Allocationtobotanicalgardens.

g.Allocationforthepurposesofresearch.

2. Theunifyingthemeindeterminingtheallocationofrescuedplantsisbasedonthepolicy:

Placementofrescuedplantsismadefirstonthebasisofthelong-termwelfareoftheplantsrescuedandsecondonthebenefitsthataccruetotheUp-stateChapter,asaresultofthatrescue.

The spirit of this policy is reflected in the language of a consent form that participants in rescues facilitated by the Upstate Chapter are asked to sign:

Uponsigning,eachparticipantagreestothefollowing:

1. IwillnotreturntoanySCNPSrescuesitefor thepurposeofremovalofadditionalplantsfor privatepurposesorforthepurposeofprotesting orimpedingdevelopment.

(See Rescuing in Woodlands, page 8) (See SCNPS Rescues, page 5)

Rescuing in Woodlands -ObservationsJeane Saylor Reeves

4 South Carolina Native Plant Society • Summer 2010

Trillium, from page 1

From2003to2007Irevisitedthegeneralareaeachyearanddiscoveredadditionalnearbysub-populationsoftheTrillium,andalsocontinuedresearchingtheidentityoftheplant.WhilereviewingthedatabaseoftheSouthCarolinaNaturalHeritageProgramin2002,IhadnoticedaTrilliumcollectionbyH.J.OostingonApril7,1937fromsamegeneralarea.OostinghadoriginallycalledtheplantTrillium virideBeck;Oost-ing’sspecimenwaslaterannotatedTrillium lancifoliumRaf.AfteranexaminationofOosting’sspecimenattheDukeUniversityHerbarium,IconcludedthattheplantIwasseeingintheWatereefloodplainwasprobablythesamespeciesthathehadcollectedin1937.

MostoftheplantsontheWatereesiteweremorerobustandhadbroaderpetalsthananyT.lancifoliumIhadeverseen(InSouthCarolina,T. lancifoliumisonlyfoundalongtheFallLineintheSavannahRiverdrainage.).Furthermore,theintra-floralstructureofitsflowerswassig-nificantlydifferentfromthatoftheflowersofT. lancifolium.I,therefore,concludedtheplantwasnotT. lan-cifolium(astheDukespecimenhadbeenannotated),butIhadnoideawhatitreallywas.AfterexaminingimagesoftheWatereetrillium,Mr.TomPatrickoftheGeorgiaNaturalHeritageProgram,anexpertonthegenusTrillium,pointedouttomethattheplantappearedtoexhibitsomemorphologicalelementsofTrillium re-curvatumBeck,amid-westernspeciesneverreportedfromSouthCarolina,andcouldrepresentadisjunctpopu-lationofthatspecies.Mr.Patrick’s

observationswerepartiallyborneoutaftermeasurementsandimagesoftheWatereetrilliumwerecomparedtothoseofT. recurvatum,but,intheend,IconcludedthattheplantswerenotT. recurvatum.

Afterfiveyearsofmorphologicalandbio-geographicalresearchandareviewoftheWatereetrillium’sDNAandchromosomedata,IconcludedthattheWatereetrilliumwasanewspecies.InapaperpublishedintheonlinejournalPhytologiain2008,InameditTrillium oostingii,inhonorofitsoriginalcollectorHenryJohnOosting,professorofBotanyatDukeUniversityfrom1932to1968.

Trillium oostingiiiscloselyalliedwithT. lancifoliumandT. recurvatum.ThenearestknownpopulationofT. lancifoliumisinSouthCarolina100kmtothewestintheSavan-nahRiverdrainage,andtheclos-estpopulationofT. recurvatumisadisjunctpopulationincentralNorthCarolinaabout120kmtothenorth.(Trillium recurvatumisknownfromtheMidwestandMississippiValleyandrangeseasttoeasternAlabamaandcentralTennessee.TheNorthCarolinadisjunctpopulationisin

CatawbaCounty,inthesamedrain-agesystemastheWatereeRiver.)

Trillium oostingiihasthetallandelongate“look”ofthesetwospecies,andlikebothofthesespecies,ithasrelativelythin(usuallylessthan20mmindiameter)creepingrhizomesandformssmalltolargeclones.Itsintra-floralstructure,however,ismoresimilartoothersessile-floweredTrilliumsunrelatedtoT. lancifoliumandT. recurvatum.ThestamensofT. oostingiiareshorterthanthoseofT. lancifoliumandT. recurvatum,and,unlikethoseofT. lancifoliumandT. recurvatum,whosefilamentsareaboutthesamelengthorslightly

shorterthantheanthers,T. oostingii’sfilamentsarelessthanone-halfthelengthofitsanthers.Furthermore,itsanthersareonlyslightlyin-curved,andthestamensareonlyslightlytallerthanthestigma.Theintra-floralregioninT. oostingiiis,therefore,compact,withtheareainsideofthestamenscompletelyfilledwiththeovaryanditstallstigma.Ontheotherhand,inT. lancifoliumandT. recurvatum,thestronglyin-curvedstamensandtheshortovarycreatesanopenareawithinthestamens.

WhenT. oostingiifirstappearsinlateMarch,itsleaves(bracts)angle

downwardlikethoseofT. lancifolium(notarchingupwardasdothoseofT. recurvatum),butastheplantmatures,theleavesbecomeparalleltotheground.ThesepalsarestronglyreflexedearlyinsomeT. oostingiiplants,but,again,astheplantsmature,thesepalsbecomeparalleltotheground.MostmatureT. oostingiiplantsarelarge,broad-leaved,robustplantswithbroad,longpetals,withlittleresemblancetoT. lancifolium.Occasionally,however,anarrow-leaved,narrow-petaledplantisfoundinaT. oostingiisubpopulation;anex-

A close-up comparison of T. oostingii (left) and T. lancifolium (right).Photo courtesy of the author.

South Carolina Native Plant Society • Summer 2010 5

aminationoftheintra-floralpartsoftheflowerthenbecomesnecessarytoseparatethetwospecies.Noflower-ingT. oostingiiplantsinanyofthe20subpopulationshadpetiolateleaves,asisusuallythecaseinT. recurvatum.WhentheWatereetrilliumfirstopens,itspetalsaregreenish.Asitmatures,thepetalsgraduallyturnyel-lowishuntiltheyarebrightyellowastheymatureandfallofftheplant.

EarlyinmystudiesofT. oostingii,IthoughtthatitmightbeTrillium maculatumRaf.formasimilansFree-man(aformofT. maculatumwithyellowpetalsandmaroonclaws),orahybridbetweenformasimilansandT. lancifolium.Afterfurtherresearch,however,theonlyrealsimilaritybe-tweenthetwotaxawasflowercolorandintra-floralstructure.ItlateroccurredtomethatT. oostingiimaybeanaturalhybridbetweenT. lanci-foliumandT. recurvatum,butDNAsequencesindicatethattheallthreespeciesareunique.Infact,accord-ingtoaDNAsequencegeneratedbyDr.SusanFarmer(nowatAbrahamBaldwinCollege),T. lancifoliumandT. recurvatumaremorecloselyrelatedtoeachotherthaneitheristoT. oostingii.Furthermore,chromosomecounts(byDr.GeraldMooreofHighPointCollege)revealedthattheWatereetrilliumhasachromosomenumberof2n=10,thesamenumberasallknownNorthAmericanTril-liumspecies,andisprobablynotahybrid.(AllknownTrilliumhybridspeciesarepolyploids.)

FoundonbothsidesoftheWatereeRiver,justsouthwestofCamden,inKershawCounty,SouthCarolina,andalongtheWatereeRiversouthwardinRichlandCounty,SC,Trillium oostingiigrowsinlargecoloniesinrich,floodplainalluviumunderacanopyofbitternuthickory,blackwalnut,slipperyelm,willowoak,cherrybarkoak,andShumardoak.Intheunderstory,nativecane,Chineseprivet,andspicebushareoftenpresentwiththeT. oostingii.

NearlyeveryknowncolonyofT. oostingiiisassociatedwithacolonyofmayapple(Podophyllum peltatum).Likemayapple,theWatereetrilliumproduceslarge,interconnectedcloneswiththousandsofstems.SoifyouhappentobeintheWatereeflood-plainalongtheFallLineandfindtheWatereetrillium,youprobablywon’tseejustone—you’llseehundreds(ormaybethousands).

Reference

Gaddy,L.L.2008.Anewsessile-floweredtrilliumfromSouthCaro-lina.Phytologia90:374-382.

L.L.(Chick)Gaddy,PhD.,isanaturalistoriginallyfromTim-monsville,SouthCarolina.HeisauthorofA Naturalist’s Guide to the Blue Ridge Front; Biodiversity: Przewalski’s horse, Edna’s trillium, the giant squid, and over 1.5 million other species; and Spiders of the Car-olinas.TheWatereetrilliumisthethirdnewplantspecieshehasnamed—theothersareRadford’ssedge(Carex radfordii,aGA-NC-SCendemic),andtheCarolinaheartleaf(Hexastylis rhombiformis,aNC-SCendemic).

Hecanbereachedatllgaddy@bellsouth.net

Definitions:intra-floral-withinthestructureofa

flower,ie.,theinteriorpartsdisjunct-Apopulationofaspecies

foundoutsidethenormalgeograph-icalrangeofthespecies.

forma–Inbotanicalnomenclature,aform(forma)isalow-leveltaxo-nomicrankbelowthatofvariety;itisaninfra-specifictaxon(infra=below).Itsnameconsistsofthreeparts:agenusname,aspecificepi-thet,andaninfra-specificepithet.Theabbreviation“f.”orthefull“forma”shouldbeputbeforetheinfra-specificepithettoindicatetherank.

2. Iunderstandthatallplants removedduringarescue

operationarethepropertyoftheSCNPSexceptthoseplantsthatthefacilitatormayallowmetokeepformypersonaluse.IwillnotsellanyoftheplantsItakefromthisoranyrescuesite.

3. Iwillnotdoanythingtoantago-nizeorinterferewiththedevel-opers/propertyownersofthissite,ortoimpededevelopment.

4. IwilllistentoandconformtotherulesandguidelinesasexplainedbytheSCNPSrescuefacilitator.

5. Iwillnotdiscusswithordis-closeanyinformationtooutsideagencies,organizationsorthemediaconcerninganyrescuesitelocation,itsdispositionortheplantsdiscoveredthere.AllsuchinquiriesshouldbereferredtothePresidentoftheUpstateChapter,SCNPS.

6. IwillnotholdtheSCNPSor thedeveloperresponsibleshould

Isufferanadversemedicalreactiontoanyplant,animalorinsectIencounterwhileonarescue.Furthermore,Iunder-standthatifIhaveaknownpre-existinglife-threateningallergytoinsectsand/orplants,itismyresponsibilitytocarrymyownmedicationandbeabletoadministerittomyselfshouldtheneedarise.IwillnotholdSCNPSresponsibleforaccidentsorinjurieswhileonthisfieldtrip.

7. IunderstandthatifIviolatethisagreement,ImaynotbeabletoparticipateinanyfutureSCNPSrescues.

SCNPS Rescues, from page 3

6 South Carolina Native Plant Society • Summer 2010

InearlyJuneIjoinedagroupof10SCNPSmembersforseedcollectingofnativesalongupstateSouthCaro-linaroadsides.HavingrecentlyrelocatedtoGreenwood,SCfromManhattanBeach,CA,thiswasmysecondoutingwiththegroup.MyfirstwasinthewinteratTwinChimneyslandfillwherewerescuednativeplantsin27oFweather.Theseedcollectingtripwasahumid90degreeday.Comingfromacitywherethetemperaturehighis78andlowis50,IpromisedmyselfIwouldn’twhine.

IwaswelcomedwiththeusualsoutherncharmthatIdon’tthinkIwillevertakeforgrantedhere.BeingalandscaperandhorticulturistIhavetwocriteriawhenIvolunteerforplantsocieties.Ihavetolearnsomethingandhavefun.Icameawaywithboththanksto“foreman”andleaderBillStringerfromClemsonUniversityandthegreatgroupofmemberswhocametowork.

AtourfirststopIwatchedmycompanionsspraytheirsocksandthebottomoftheirpantswithDEETfortickandchiggerprevention.Ireluctantlysprayedmyclothes,flashingbacktoyearsofeatingorganicproduceandhav-ingjustreceivedalifetimeenvironmentalheroaward.PreventingdaysofitchingandunknowndiseasesmadeitMaygrassPhalaris carolinianaseemokay.

WewereshownLespedeza hirtawhichwelearnedtoidentifybecauseofthetrifoliateleavesandstipulesthatweinspectedwithourhandlenses.NearbywereseveralSilphium compositumorKidney-LeafRosinweed(Fig.1).TheselargebasalrosettesofleavesintheAsterfamilywerehardtomissalongtheroadside.Thesummerbloompromisestobeshowyyellowdaisiesonanimpressivelytallspike(Fig2).Aperennialherb,alsointheAsterfamily,Liatris squarrosa,wasbrieflyremovedfromthesoilsowecouldexaminetheundergroundgloboserootstockwheretheplantstoresitsreservesforthefollowingseason.Wesawsassafras,theflavorsourceforrootbeer.Sassafras albidum,anaromaticshrubtosmalltreehasadistinctivequalityofhavingoneorsometimestwolaterallobesonitsleaves.

Iplacedstarsnexttomyfavoriteplants.TheymadethislistbecausetheywereneatinappearanceandIoftenthinkofplantcombinationsthatwilllookgoodtogetherinamorestructuredgardenlandscape.Ruellia carolinensis,WildPetunia(Fig.3),withitspurpleflowers(norelationtopetunias),wasaprettysight,alongwithStylosanthes biflora,PencilFlower(Fig.4)withitsdelicateyellowflowersonaveryneat,compactplant.Nothingstoodout

Spring Seed Collection Field tripAnn Barklow, Garden Magic Company

Figure 1. Vegetative stage of kidney-leaf rosinweed, Silphium com-positum. Photo courtesy of Janie Marlow, www.namethatplant.net

Figure 2. Flowering kidney-leaf rosinweed. Photo courtesy of Janie Marlow, www.namethatplant.net

Figure 3. Wild petunia, Ruellia carolinensis. Photo courtesy ofJohn D. Byrd, Mississippi State University, Bugwood.org

South Carolina Native Plant Society • Summer 2010 7

moretomethanthefrequentappearanceofAsclepias tuberosa,butterflymilkweed.Itsbrilliantorangeflowersandnectarandfoodsourceforbutterfliesmakeitamustinmygarden.BothoftheTephrosia’smademylist.Spe-ciesspicatawithgreenleavesandwhiteflowersturningpinkandthencarmineandvirginianaorGoatsRuewith

apubescencethatgivestheleavesasilveryap-pearanceandtheflowersabicolorofyel-lowandrose.

DrivingdownarockyroadalongtheTygerRiverwediscoveredalarge8-foottallAmor-pha fruticosa,IndigoBush(Fig.5)withitsairyloosegrowthhabit.UndercloseinspectionwefoundaClematis

viornascramblingnearbywithitsdelicatebellshapedpurpleflowers(Fig.6).Theteamphotographerssnappedmanyphotosandwerethelasttoreturntothevan.

EvenwithallthisbotanicalknowledgewestillhadtimetocollectseedsfromDanthonia sericea,SilkyOat-

grass,thatwillbeusedforgermplasmbytheUSForestService.SeedcollectingwaspeacefulandenjoyableandtookplacealongUS176andSC72.WhenBillwouldhonkthehornforustoturninourseedsandgetbackinthevan,manyofusrebelled,wantingtospendmoretimecollecting.

Discussionsinthevanwereequallyinformative.IamveryfamiliarwithinvasiveplantsinCaliforniabuthearingthenamesofSouthCarolinainvasiveswasabigeducation.InparticularbecausetheyarecommoninlandscapesinbothSouthernCaliforniaandSouthCaro-lina.Ligustrum,Privet;Elaeagnus,AutumnOlive;Lonicera japonica,JapaneseHoneysuckle;Pyrus calleryana,Brad-ford(orCallery)pear;Albizia juilbrissin,Mimosa;Buddleia,ButterflyBush;andEuonymus alata,BurningBush;tonameafew.ConsideringIhadmysunroomchairsde-signedtobringinthecolorfrommyBurningBushIhadtolaugh.

Learningplantbotanicalnamesandidentifyingtheminthefieldisthefirststepinlearning.UntilIgrowandobservethemIdon’tfeelIreallyknowthem.Fortunately,Ihaveplentyofroomwherewelivetogetacquainted.Forinstance,aretheydeerresistant,dotheylikethesoilhere,aretheirculturalneedsmet,aretheypoisonoustomydogs,ordotheygettoomanychewedupleavesfromcaterpillarstobecenterstageinmygarden?

IhavesomuchtolearnandIamsogratefulfortheSCNPSforhelpingalongthislongpathofknowledgeandtohelpmebeagoodstewardoftheland.Inthemean-timeafewbooksthatarehelpingmeare:AGuidetotheWildflowersofSouthCarolina,byPorcherandRayner,BringingNatureHome,byDouglasTallamy,andfortheseriousplantgeeks,ManualoftheVascularFloraoftheCarolinasbyRadford,AhlesandBell.

Figure 4. Pencil-flower, Stylosanthes biflora. Photo courtesy of Janie Marlow, www.namethatplant.net

Figure 6. Leather-flower, Clematis viorna. Photo courtesy of Janie Marlow.

Figure 5. False indigo bush, Amorpha fruticosa. Photo courtesy of Sally & Andy Wasowski, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

8 South Carolina Native Plant Society • Summer 2010

Rescuing in Woodlands, from page 3

aregivendappledsunlight,adequatewater,anddecentsoil.

Aboutwater:wehavefoundthatmostnativeplants,ifgiventhechoice,wouldrejectchlorinatedtaporhosewaterinfavorofrainwater.Sincethatisn'talwaysanoption-theyears-longdroughthasmadeusvividlyawareofthegloryofasoakingrainstorm-thenextbestthingistocollecttapwaterincontainersandletitstandforadayorso.Justkeepitlightlycoveredtoletthechlorinegasescapeandtokeepoutmosquitoes.

Cardinalflowerandgreen-and-gold(Chrysogonum virginianum)aretwoofafairlysmallnumberofplantsthatneedtobekeptfreeofwinterleaflitter.Ifthesewildflowerswithwinterrosettesareplantedonslopes,thecanopy'sautumnleaveswillslideoffandletwintersunshineintodoitswork.

Anotherhorticulturalconsid-erationisthatsomeplantsrequirecertainminerals,enzymes,orfungiforobtainingorassimilatingnutrients.Forexample,ifadownyrattlesnakeplantain(Goodyera pubescens)istosurviveinanewsite,agoodquantityofthesurrounding,alliedsoilshouldaccompanyit.Itshouldthenquicklybeplacedinacomparablewoodedsetting.Atthatpoint,andwithproperwatering,thegardenercanonlyhopeforthebest.

Onthecontrary,otherplants,suchasChristmasfern(Polystichum acrostichoide)s,Catesby’strillium(Trillium catesbaei),andmouse-earedcoreopsis(Coreopsis auriculata),areaneasypleasure.Anotheragreeablefern,thesmall,charmingebonyspleenwort(Asplenium platyneuron),enjoysoftenacidic,less-than-moistsoil.Itcanbefoundcolonizingondisturbedsoil(once,eveninalocalvineyard!),oramonglichen-spottedrocksonsmall,mossyridges.

Pleasedokeepinmindthataclumpofgreenthatisseeminglyinsignificant,evenboringinappear-ance,maysportdelightfulflowers,fall

color,orberriesinanotherseason.Andthereareafewplants,suchastoothwort(Cardamine diphylla)andcraneflyorchid(Tipularia discolor),whosefoliageappearsinlateau-tumnandremainsgreenthroughthewinter,whilefloweringinthespringandgoingdormantforthesummer.Itreallydoesserveanewrescuerwelltostudyafewbooksonnativeplantsandtokeeptheeyesandearsopentolearnfromotherrescuers.

Whenwearefortunateenoughtohavearescuesitethatholdstroutlilies(Erythroniumspp.),wequicklylearnthatthebulbs,moreoftenthannot,arenestledamongrocksunderthesoil.Therockshelppreventrodentsfromdiggingandeatingthebulbs,andtheyalsoprovideacoolrootrun.(Bytheway,troutlilies,astheygrowolderandbigger,placetheirbulbsdeeperunderground;wemustallowforthatwhenwedig,soasnottoseverthebulbs.Anotheraside:wefindtroutliliesinagivensitespringingfromthetopsofmesichillocks,growingdowntheslopes,andalmostintocreeks.)

Infact,manyplantsbenefitfromincludinglocalstonesintheplantinghole.Inadditiontoacoolrootrun,therocksaeratesoilthatmayother-wisebecomecompactedovertime.Someplantssuchashepatica(He-patica nobilisvar.obtusa)andOconeeazalea(Rhododendron flammeum)growbestinrocky,dryishsoilthathasaratherhighlimecontent.Evenhereinourlowerpiedmont,withitsmanyacid-lovingplants,wefindpocketsofbasic(highpH)soilandtheplantsthatthriveinthem.Aquickmen-tionofanotherfactoristhatof"lean"soil.Someplants,suchasbird's-footviolet(Viola pedata)andcertainasters(formerlyAsterspp.,nowreclassifiedintoseveralgenera),prefersoilthatisnotrichandfriablebutratherthin,sometimeshard-packed,andusuallydry,ofteninsunniersites.ErmaBom-beck,thelatecolumnist,oncewroteofrearingherchildrenwith"benignneglect."Sometimesgreenthings,too,don'ttaketobeingcoddled.

Rescuersneedtoconsiderthatsomeplants,frombuckeye(Aesculusspp.)toShuttleworthginger,haverootsystemsthatrequirespecialattention.Theirrootsarefewinnum-ber,andtherefore,mustbeworkedoutoftheirhomeswithcare.Patienceisavirtue-infact,perhapsamatterofvegetativelifeordeath.Butwithanyplant,don'tgiveuptoosoonifitseemstohavepassedintotheGreatBeyond."Goner"shrubsandtrees,whileappearingtobedried-upsticks,maysendoutnewgrowthfromtherootsorstemsayearortwolater.

Asforsmalltrees,someareread-ilytransplanted;othershatebeingmoved.Beech(Fagus americanus)andchalkmaple(Acer leucoderme)arequitetolerant,whileredbud(Cercis canadensis),whichseedsabundantly,oftenrebelsathavingitstaprootdisturbed.Rescuershavejokedovertheyearsaboutasmallnumberofplants"dyingjusttospiteyou."Ofcourse,treesandshrubsarecertainlymoreamenabletobeinguprootedduringdormancy.Unfortunatelythisisn'tusuallyanoptionatasiteonthevergeofbeingdeveloped.Selectivepruningbeforetransplantingcanhelplessenthestrainontheplant,asfewerleavesmeanlowerwaterdemand.

Alongthesamelines,itisimpor-tanttokeepinmindthattheferns,wildflowers,trees,andshrubsonecomesacrossonarescueinthewoodsemergedthroughseeddispersaloroff-shoots.Almostneverweretheydugfromanotherplaceandploppedintonewsites.Whilewerescuersmustdojustthat,extracare-especiallyregularwateringforayearorso-willhelptoensuretheirsurvival.Someofthesestressedplantsmaywiltbadly,especiallyintheheatofsummer.(Again,cuttingthefoliagebackcanreducethestrainontheroots.)Oth-ers,surprisingly,don'tmissabeatandcontinuetoadjustandthrive.

Canopyisanotherconsideration;thetreetopleafcoverthatstartsoutsparsely,withpioneeringtrees,overtheyearsbecomesdenser,heavily

South Carolina Native Plant Society • Summer 2010 9

shadingthegroundbelow.Theplantsthatbloomedinbrightdappledshademaynotdosowhensunlightisno-tablyreduced.Piedmontazaleas(R. canescens),inparticular,mightstopformingbuds,eventhoughtheshrubsthemselvesarequitehealthy.Movingone(whilecuttingitbackasneces-sary)toamoreopenareacouldbeallitneedstostartfloweringagain.Thelargerlilies-Turk's-cap(Lilium super-bum)andCarolinalily(L. michauxii)-fallintothesamecategory.Anotheraspectofcanopyisthat,occasionally,rescuerswilldiscoverafreshpointofviewregardingflorathattheyareonlyaccustomedtoseeinginasunnyspot.Ifsouthern,orbull-bay,magno-lia(Magnolia grandiflora)isfoundinarich,moist,woodedarea,itwilllooksodifferentfromitslawnorroadsideversionastobequitesurprising.Itgrowstallandslender,notsoladenwithleaves(andnotusuallybloom-ing).Inthewinteritrevealsitselfnicelythroughthestarkhardwoodsasabright,almostdelicate,towerofgreen.

Whataboutarescuerwhodearlywantsthatclumpofbloomingflypoison(Amianthium muscitoxicum)butcan'tprovidetheloamy,wooded

slopethatiscommonlyitschoice?Or,say,afineturtlehead(Chelonespp.),thrivinginabright,dampswale?Ifonestudiestheareainwhichaplantisdistributedandchoosesaparticularplantonthelocale'souterreachesthatmostcloselymatchesthenewhomedestination,chancesforitssurvivalimprove.(Geneticsatwork?)Ontheotherhand,desirecanandshouldgoonlysofar.Rescuerswhocan'tcomeclosetoprovidingasuitableadoptivehomearewelladvisedtoletsomeoneelsewithamoreacceptablegarden,woodland,orcreeksettingtakeatreasureandkeepithealthy-oralive!

Onahorticulturalnote,ifarescuercomesacrossaplantthatself-seedsreadily,forinstanceCoreop-sisspp.,Indianpink(Spigelia mari-landica),orwildgeranium(Geranium maculatum),placingitattheupperendofaslopewillhelptoensurethattheseedswillworktheirwaydownovertheyears.A"drift"ofsuchaplantcanbealovelything.Anothergardeningtip:whenoneobservestwoormoreplantsbloomingatapproxi-matelythesametime,andappreci-atingthesameconditions,placingthemascompanionscancreateade-

lightfulpicture.Trythepaleyellowofbellwort(Uvulariaspp.)noddingoverthedwarfcrestediris(Iris cristata),withitsyellowpatch,forinstance,ornotehowtherich,plumyredofsweetshrub(Calycanthus floridus)isechoedinthetinydotsofredseeninthewhitebellsofmountainlaurel.

Theeducationofarescuerisajoyousthingforboththeneophyteandthefacilitatororoldhandwhohelps.Atthebeginningofthelearn-ingcurve,itmayallseemoverwhelm-ing,andevencauseanxiety.Butournativeplantsareforthemostpartquiteforgivingandhearty.Outinthewoods,afterafewrescuesare"underthebelt,"themanyquestionsandconcernssoongivewaytothecamaraderieandgoodwillthatpullusalltogether.

Ourcauseisgood,andtheresultsareablessing.

This article reprinted from NativeSCAPE, the Georgia Native Plant Society Newsletter.

We were saddened to learn of the passing of Ms. Reeves, and wish to express our gratitude to her family and to the Georgia Native Plant Society for the use of her wonderful article.

Members of the SCNPS Lowcountry Chapter rescuing native plants on the construction site of the new Boeing plant near Charleston. Photos by Jean Everett, PhD, College of Charleston.

10 South Carolina Native Plant Society • Summer 2010

FormanypeopletheimagemostassociatedwithcoastalSouthCarolinaisthatofvenerableliveoaksdrapedinSpanishmossandpunctuatedbydensecoloniesofresurrectionfern.Whiletheoaksthemselvesarequiteimpressive,theSpanishmossandresurrectionfernimbuethemwithalushnessthattellsyouthatmoistoceanbreezesorslowmeanderingriversarenearby.ThesearejusttwoofourbetterknownepiphytesinSouthCarolina.

Anepiphyteisaplantthatlivesupon(epi-)anotherplant(phyte).Trueepiphytesareclassifiedasnon-parasiticorganisms.Ecologicallyweclassifythetree-epiphyterelationshipascommensalism.Unlikeparasitism,thehostinacommensalrelationshipisunharmedbythesymbiontlivinguponit.Whiletheepiphyteisfrequentlyan-choredtothehostplantwithroots,theserootsareabsorbingwaterandnutrientsfromtheairandsedimentsthatlandonthetree.Theepiphytebenefitsfromtheheightitgainsthroughthisassocia-tion.Beingelevatedabovetheforestfloormaypreventtheplantfrombeingtrampled,coveredinleavesorgrazeduponbylargeherbivores.Thegreat-estadvantageofbeinganepiphyticplantmaybetheopportunitytogainmoresunlightthanitwouldatgroundlevel.

SeveralepiphytesareclearlynativeinSouthCarolina:

resurrectionfern(Pleiopeltis polypodioides),Spanishmoss(Tillandsia usneoides)andgreen-flyorchid(Epidendrum magnoliae).ThesespeciesareprimarilyfoundintheouterCoastalPlain,butmaybefoundfurtherinlandalong

rivers.Thehighhumiditycharacteristicofthesepartsofthestateisessentialforournativeepiphytes.Inplaceswherethehabitathasbeenalteredwemayobservefewerornoepiphytes.Largeoaksthatsupportspanishmossandresurrectionfernmaylosethesetaxawhensurroundedbyasphaltorotherbuiltstruc-turesthatraisetheambientairtemperatureandretainlesswaterthanforestsormeadows.

Resurrectionferngetsitsnamefromitswater-conserv-inghabits.Whenmoistwithrainorfog,resurrectionfernisgreenandlushinappearance.Astheplantdriesoutthefrondscurlup,turngreyandappeartohavedied(seeFig.1).Followingthenextrainevent,theplantwillquicklyreactivateandappeartohave

comebacktolife(seeFig.2).ResurrectionfernhasevenbeenusedasatraditionalmedicinethroughoutCentralAmericatotreatliverailments,lowbloodpressure,feverandcough.

Themostlyfree-hangingSpanishmossisnotamoss,butafloweringplant.TheobscureflowersofthisuniqueplantmaybefoundfromApriltoJuneandareevidencedbythreedelicategreenpet-als(seeFig.3).Justlikethepineapple

Epiphytic Plants in South CarolinaJoel M. Gramling, Biology Department, The Citadel

Figure 1. Drought-stricken resurrection fern. Photo courtesy of Rebekah D. Wallace, Bugwood.org

Figure 2. Resurrection fern after a rain. Photo courtesy of Rebekah D. Wallace, Bugwood.org

South Carolina Native Plant Society • Summer 2010 11

plantandsomehouseplants,Spanishmossisabromeliad.Bromeliadsareadiversefamilyofplantsfoundintropicalandsub-tropicalregionsworldwide.OtherspeciesinthegenusTillandsiaaresometimesmarketedas“airplants”andsoldaskeepsakestotouristsinFloridaorasnoveltiesinsomegardencenters.

Showytropicalor-chidsaretheprototypicalepiphytesformanyplantenthusiasts.WhileSouthCaroliniansmaybefamiliarwithnon-nativeepiphyticorchidsthatarecommonlycultivatedonbarkormossandtradedworldwide,thegreen-flyorchidisarelative-lyobscurenativeplantthatisfrequentlyfoundmixedinwithresurrectionfernonthebranchesofliveoaktrees.Thegreen-flyorchidistheonlyepiphyticorchidnorthofFloridaandreachesitsnorthernlimitjustacrosstheNorthCarolinaborderinBrunswickandNewHanoverCounties.Thegreen-flyorchidhasadelicatewhiteflowerthatbloomsfrommid-summerthroughthefallinSouthCarolina(seeFig.4).Dr.RichardD.Porcherarguesthatthistaxonshouldbeconsidered“commonratherthanrare….Itisoftenoverlookedbecauseitgrowshighupinthetreeswhereitissometimeshiddeninresurrectionfernand/orSpanishmoss.”Re-centlydiscoveredinMarionCounty,thisepiphyteisonetolookoutforwhenpaddlingorhikingalongourriversintheCoastalPlain.

Justaswefindterrestrialandaquaticnon-nativeplantsspreadingacrossSouthCaro-linatherearetwoepiphytesthatareexpandingtheirrangesaswell.Ballmoss(Tillandsia recurvata)isasisterspeciesofSpanishmossmorecommonlyfoundinFlorida.UntilthiscenturyballmosshadnotbeendocumentedinSouthCarolina.Inthelastfiveyearsithasbeenfoundinnearlyeverycoastalcounty,butitalmostcertainlyhasn’tbeenspreadingonitsown.TodayballmossinSouthCarolinaismostlyfound

onyoung,plantedliveoaks.Itisthoughtthatthis“airplant”fromFloridahashitchhikeditswayupthecoastonnurseryplants.Whileitismostlyconfinedtostreetscapes,neighborhoodsandparkinglots,ballmosscanbeobservedcolonizingnewhosts(suchasmagnolias,cypresses,crape

myrtlesandevenJapaneseprivetthatmaybeplantednearby).

Cabbagepalmettofern(Phlebodium aureum)isan-otherexampleofanepiphytethatisincreasingitspresenceincoastalSouthCarolina.Thisrelativeofresurrectionfernlivesonthefrondsofpal-mettotrees(Sabal palmetto).AfewrecordsofthisplanthavebeenlinkedtoSouthCarolinainthepast,buttodaythenumberofsightingsisontherise.Apparentlythisplantisalsoridingupfrom

FloridaontreespurchasedfromnurseriesandplantedalongtheSouthCarolinacoast.

Otherplantsmayexhibitanepiphytichabitwithoutbeingconsideredtrueepiphytes.Mistletoe(Phoradendron leucarpum)isahemi-parasitethatgrowsprimarilyuponoaktrees.Thestrikinggreencoloranddistinctgrowthformofmistletoeinwintergivesisabushyappearance

intheotherwisebarrenbranchesofdeciduoustrees.Weclassifymistletoeasahemi-parasitebecauseitiscapableofphotosynthesizingitsownfoodasevidencedbyitsgreenness(aresultoftheabundantchloroplasts),butitalsotapsintothehosttreetogainnutrients.Also,non-epiphyteswilloccasionallyestablishonatreethathasaccumulatedsoilorhumusonorinastemorbranch(seeFig.5).Whiletheseoppor-tunisticindividualsusuallydon’tsurviveovertime,theycancreateaninterestingsight.

Whenlookingfornativeplantsitiseasytogetintothehabitofseeingatreeyou

arefamiliarwithandlookingpastittofindsomethingnew.Withepiphytesweneedtotakeasecondlookat

Figure 3. Spanish moss in flower. Photo courtesy of author.

Figure 4. Green-fly orchid. Photo courtesy of Jim Fowler

12 South Carolina Native Plant Society • Summer 2010

theplantsweknowtofindtheextra“plantuponaplant”.AsnewepiphytesspreadintoSouthCarolinaitwillbeinterestingtoseeiftheyadoptnewhosts,colo-nizenaturalareasorevensurviveinourclimatelongterm.Takealookaround,theremaybemorenewepiphytesinSouthCarolinathathaven’tbeendocumented.

Dr. Joel Gramling is a Charles-ton native, and did his undergradu-ate study at College of Charleston, followed by a Masters in Education from The Citadel, and Doctorate from UNC-Chapel Hill.

The Journal of theSouth Carolina

Native Plant SocietyPublishedquarterlyEditor:BillStringer

Design Editor:CharleneMayfieldUpstate Chapter-Greenville

Lowcountry Chapter -Charleston

Midlands Chapter-ColumbiaPiedmont Chapter-RockHill

South Coast Chapter-Beaufort

www.scnps.orgFigure 5. Opportunistic pseudo-epiphytes on an oak. Photo courtesy of author.

Cullowhee Native Plants ConferenceTheannualCullowheeConference:NativePlantsintheLandscapewillbeheldJuly28-31,2010,onthecampusofWesternCarolinaUniversity,Cullowhee,NC.Formoreinformationand/orregistration,seehttp://nativeplantconfer-ence.wcu.edu

LowCountry ChapterLowcountry Fall Plant Sale–October23atCharlestowneLanding–TimeandotherdetailsTBA.Watchhttp://www.scnps.org/calendar.html

Midlands ChapterFieldTrip:Savage Bay Heritage Preserve-July10,2010(Saturday)BertPittmanandKathyBoylewillleadthisfieldtriptoSavageBayHeritagePreserve.Approximatelyhalfofthe110acrepreserveconsistsofCarolinabayhabitat.PleasecontactEllenBlundyatellenblundy@windstream.nettoregister.DirectionswillbesentatthebeginningofJuly.

FieldTrip:Goodale State Park-August14,2010(Saturday)-FormoreinformationcontactEllenBlundyellenblundy@windstream.net

FieldTrip:Botany Bay Heritage Preserve,EdistoIsland-Sept11-12,2010(Saturday-Sunday).The4630acretractisecologicallyandhistoricallysignificantwithmanydiversehabitats.Themaritimeforestbeachhasitsownboneyard.ThepropertyismanagedbySCDNR.FormoreinformationcontactEllenBlundyellenblundy@windstream.net

FieldTrip:Peachtree Rock Heritage Preserve-October9,2010(Saturday)-LeaderwillbeWayneGrooms.FormoreinformationcontactEllenBlundyellenblundy@windstream.net

Upstate Chapter FieldTrip:Lee Falls-Saturday,July17,8:00am.JoeTownsendwillleadusona1.5milehiketothe75-footLeeFalls.ToseeitwehikethroughahardwoodhollowfullofbotanicalraritiessuchasOconeeBell(Shortia galacifolia)andBulbletFern(Cystopteris bulbifera).MeetattheHollySpringsStoredirtparkingareaat8:00am.FormoreinformationandregistrationcontactMaryatmmcnettles@gmail.com

Presentation:Magnolias in the Carolinas-Tuesday,July20,7:00pm-DickFiglar,worldauthorityonthegenusMagno-lia,andresidentofPickensCounty.FoundersHallinDiningCommons,SouthernWesleyanUniversity,Central.Foramapandmoreinformation,visithttp://www.scnps.org/activi-ties_ups.html

FieldTrip:Coon Branch Trail / Lower Whitewater Falls.Thursday,July22.Registrationanddetailsavailablefrommmcnettles@gmail.com

Presentation:The Natural and Cultural History of Fire in the Southlands.Tuesday,Aug17,7:00pm-JohnnyStowe.HeritagePreserveManagerforSCDNR’sHeritageTrustProgram.Location:GreenvilleTEC@McAlisterSquare,225SPleasantburgDr.,Greenville.

Presentation:Mosses in the Landscape.Tuesday,Sept21,7:00pm-Dr.RobertWyatt,formerDirectoroftheHighlandsBiologicalStation,willfocushistalkontennativemossspe-ciesthatmakeattractivesubjectsforarangeofgardensites.FoundersHallinDiningCommons,SouthernWesleyanUniversity,Central.

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