Minutes of the Rare Plant Forum

16 March 1996

Shippensburg University

ca. 9 AM-noon

ANNOUNCEMENTS.

1. Wild Resource Conservation Fund application forms are available from Kathy McKenna; deadlines are the same as last year (April 30 to contact her verbally or in writing about any proposal that one intends to submit; June 30 to get proposals in, although earlier--e.g., June 15--is recommended).

2. Bonnie Isaac passed out registration forms for the First Annual North American Native Orchid Conference, to be held July 19-21 at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History in Pittsburgh. The North American Native Orchid Alliance will be publishing a journal which will be important for those interested in orchid taxonomy. The contact person for the conference is Philip A. Keenan, 31 Hillcrest Dr.,Dover, NH 03820.

3. Forms were passed out for making donations to a fund being established in honor of Mr. Buker who in his long and distinguished career has collected 14,000 specimens for the herbarium at Carnegie. The money will be used to support students doing research at the herbarium.

INTRODUCTION. Paul Wiegman reviewed the purpose of the meeting and the process by which plants are classified for regulatory purposes in PA. The former Rare Plant Committee Meetings, now known as the Rare Plant Forum, allows us to propose particular plants for listing as Plants of Special Concern in PA (POSCIP) and to propose shifts from one category to another or delisting. We consider the proposals and make recommendations on them which are reviewed by the Vascular Plant Technical Committee and finally by Kathy McKenna who shepherds the recommendations through the regulatory process. On the proposal list for today's meeting are listed several columns of rankings or categories. GR and SR are global ranks and state ranks assigned by the Heritage Program, with G1 or S1 meaning almost extinct worldwide or in the state and G5 or S5 meaning secure. US rankings are federal classifications. PA statuses are those of the official POSCIP list receiving one or another degree of protection at the state level. PBS statuses are those currently recommended by the VPTC, which generally become PA statuses after they go through the regulatory process. Proposed statuses are those up for consideration at the current meeting.

Our order of proceeding was to treat proposed additions, then proposed changes of status, and finally proposed deletions. A large number of the change and deletion proposals for the current meeting were made by the VPTC at a meeting last October in which the entire TU list was reviewed to see if we could get some species off it. That committee wanted to seek input at the RPF before approving its own recommendations. These VPTC-recommendations are treated in separate sections under Proposed changes and Proposed deletions, below.

Proposed additions to the POSCIP list:

Acalypha deamii. Proposed for PX status (Carnegie). One confirmed (G.A. Levin) specimen from 1900, collected in a natural area in a park. PA is reportedly within the geographic range of the species, and the occurrence appears to have been a natural one. There are no recent specimens or sightings. ->PX

Antennaria virginica. Proposed for PR status (Carnegie). A shale barrens species, known from 25 historic locations with most Carnegie specimens confirmed. There are no recent collections, which together with the limited historic range suggests that the number of extant sites is under 50. John Kunsman or Jim Bissel (sorry, recorded as "J" in my notes) described it as locally abundant in the Ridge and Valley Province and thought he might be able to come up with about 30 sites. ->PR

Carex peckii. Proposed for PE status (Ann Rhoads). Not previously known from PA but one site with 500+ ramets has been discovered on Bartlett Mountain and there may be more in the Delaware Water Gap area. It occurs also in NJ, NY, and west to BC. ->PE

Carex richardsonii. Proposed for PE status (Charlie Davis and Tom Benassi). Represented in PA by a single population of ca. 350 ramets on a mowed trailside at the Nottingham Park Serpentine Barren where it came up after a burn. There were no other populations in evidence nearby, although there were more plants just over the state line in MD. PA is within the reported geographical range, but eastern occurrences are rare and scattered, resulting apparently from postglacial migration from the west (Stebbins 1935). ->PE

Equisetum x ferrisii. Proposed for TU status (VPTC). Last year it was mentioned as a potential addition during discussion of E. laevigatum, and the VPTC discussed it in October and recommended that it be added as TU. It has been nearly confirmed at Presque Isle, where there is quite a lot. The parent species E. hyemale and E. laevigatum are not present, which makes the hybrid worth preserving, In fact, PA does not seem to have E. laevigatum at all; that name has been misapplied to PA specimens and E. x ferrissii should replace E. laevigatum on the POSCIP list. It was then argued that if E. x ferrissii replaces E. laevigatum, it should be PE as E. laevigatum was. We recommended E. x ferrissii for PE status; I'm not sure if there was a formal recommendation implied to delist E. laevigatum. ->PE

Isoetes x brittonii. Proposed for TU status (Carl Keener). Five of eight known locations are in PA (D.F. Brunton and W.C. Taylor, 1990, American Fern Journal 80:82-89) including the type locality. One parent (I. riparia) has scattered populations in central and eastern PA. Needs more fieldwork. ->TU

Pinus echinata. Proposed for TU status (Western PA Conservancy). A southern species with scattered native and possibly planted populations in PA. Need to sort out native occurrences and figure out how forest management has affested its distribution and abundance in PA. ->TU

Viola selkirkii. Proposed for PR status (Carnegie). There are only 19 historic sites in PA and the species is at the edge of its range. Several people thought it may be undercollected, so we decided to make it TU and look for it this summer. ->TU

Zigadenus glaucus. Proposed for TU status (Carnegie). One population of 50+ plants has been found in Huntingdon County and there are more areas to search, with field work planned. The habitat is relatively inaccessible (calcareous cliffs and bogs), and the species has been only recently discovered in MD and VA. Although the numbers found so far suggest a PE status, TU was proposed to avoid overburdening the understaffed DCNR office with collecting permit requests that cannot necessarily be processed fast enough to allow the field work. (Permits are required to collect PT and PE species). The permit problem was discussed briefly and referred to the VPTC, but based on the numbers, the species was recommended for PE status. ->PE

Proposed changes to the POSCIP list (including Scirpus ancistrochaetus, which was discussed although it was not on the proposal list):

Amelanchier humilis. Proposed change: from TU to PE (Ann Robinson and VPTC). In a thorough study Ann Robinson has located only 8 small extant populations, three of which are threatened (one is behind a shopping center that may be expanded, one is a single shrub that only escapes mowing because it grows by a fence, and one is a single tree by a roadside that just missed being cut down when a new electrical line was put up in 1995). There may be more, and people are welcome to send portions of plants to Ann but please bear in mind that one needs specimens from different times of year (flowers, fruits, etc.) to identify the plants. The habitat is rocky and open banks and mountain tops, frequently calcareous. from TU ->PE

Amelanchier obovalis. Proposed change: from TU to PE (Ann Robinson and VPTC). Of eight historic locations, seven have been developed; the remaining site is a privately-owned woodlot. A coastal plain species, occasionally moving onto the Piedmont. See note re looking for Amelanchier under A. humilis, above. from TU ->PE

Amelanchier sanguinea. Proposed change: from TU to PE (Ann Robinson and VPTC). Relocated in seven of 13 historic sites. As in the other Amelanchiers, populations are very small (e.g., one individual), and aren't always doing well: one site is threatened by dirt bikers and another by commercial development. See note re looking for Amelanchier under A. humilis, above. The habitat in PA is rocky glen slopes and, frequently, calcareous soil. from TU ->PE

Asplenium pinnatifidum. Proposed change: from TU to PR (John Kunsman). At least 22 extant locations with potential for many additional sites (40 total?), but populations tend to be small (10 of the 22 have fewer than 20 plants and there are less than 1,000 plants known in the state). The habitat is rock outcrops, ledges, and cliffs, mostly along the Susquehanna, on non-calcareous rock. One Atlas dot is a record from Muddy Creek Falls, on property that we may now be able gain permission to visit (it has changed owners). from TU ->PR

Aster radula. Proposed change: from TU to PT (Steve Grund). Steve Grund and Joe Isaac have checked almost all of the western sites and in most cases failed to find it. Only two of the roughly 10 extant populations are large, and the estimated number of plants in the state is only several thousand. Ann Rhoads found only a few plants at Lancaster Co. sites, and Susan Munch could not relocate Berks Co. sites. It is scarce on South Mountain (Cumberland and Adams Cos.) There was some expectation that we could find more, but more eastern sites need to be checked. Ann Rhoads has seen it in Monroe Co. Kathy McKenna cautioned us about making species PT before their time, and we agreed to stay with TU for another field season. remains TU

Carex buxbaumii. Proposed change: from TU to PT or PR (Steve Grund). A wetland plant (peat bogs, marshes, wet meadow, somewhat successional in the east but less so in the west). There are perhaps 18 extant sites (ca. 35 historic). Most of the western historic sites have failed and most of the historic sites that haven't been searched are in urbanized areas (e.g. around Allentown). The total number of stems in western PA is 400-500. In discussion regarding whether to call it PT or PR: Ann Rhoads reported seeing it in wet, open habitat on diabase in Berks and Montgomery Cos.; she and Larry also found a good stand on limestone in Lehigh Co. It seems to move around. Jack Holt finds it as an early successional species on serpentine barren in Chester Co. There seems to be enough to call it PR. from TU ->PR

Carex crawfordii. Proposed change: from TU to PE (Carnegie). The state's previous specimens have been redetermined but a legitimate new site has been located by Naczi in Crawford Co. The site is in a wet area at the edge of a railroad yard. It appears to be native (this species frequently occurs naturally in disturbed areas, being a denizen of wet meadows, swamps, and shores). from TU ->PE

Carex paupercula. Proposed change: from PT to PR (John Kunsman). After combining eastern and western records and finding some plants himself, John came to the conclusion that PR fits the numbers better than PT (ca. 28 extant occurrences, more than 10,000 plants). The species seems less habitat-specific than he originally thought. His only reservation is that most records are in one area (the Pocono plateau). from PT ->PR

Carex polymorpha. Proposed change: from PE to PT (John Kunsman). Eleven extant occurrences so far, two of which have plants scattered over 100s of acres with numerous subpopulations. There are probably well over 10,000 plants in the state, with more populations to find, according to John Kunsman and Ann Rhoads. from PE ->PT

Gaylussacia brachycera. Proposed change: from PT to PE (John Kunsman). Only two extant locations, one protected by the state but the other owned by four landowners and "being chopped up". Charles Bier reported reading in a popular magazine of a population in Bedford Co., which he'll be checking out. from PT ->PE

Gymnopogon ambiguus. Proposed change: from PE to PX (John Kunsman). Only one historic site (1937-1939, specimens confirmed), on a serpentine barren in an area degraded by quarrying. Field surveys to relocate it have not been successful. from PE ->PX

Lycopodiella margueritae. Proposed change: from TU to PE (Carnegie). Only one known extant location (Titus Bog, specimen confirmed), which is the same area as the only historic location. More taxonomic work needs to be done (old Carnegie specimens are not confirmed, nor are Academy specimens) and some L. inundata specimens may actually be margueritae. More fieldwork is needed too. We decided there were enough questions remaining to retain TU status for this species. remains TU

Ptilimnium capillaceum. Proposed change: from PE to PX (John Kunsman). This change is suggested by Rick Mellon, who visited two of the three known populations in 1993 or 1994 (notes conflict) and concluded that it had succumbed to competition from exotics and was unlikely to return. The third population is also believed extirpated. There was debate as to whether this species still existed in seed banks and needed more time, particularly at a site confirmed in 1982; but those who knew the site argued that it was a poor site to begin with and has been severely degraded for long enough that the plants are extremely unlikely to come back. from PE ->PX

Salix candida. Proposed change: from PT to PE (John Kunsman). Seven historic occurrences; two extant occurrences with a combined total fewer than 100 plants. The plants have been confirmed. Jim Bissell has not run across the species in the northwest, and it is probably not overlooked or misidentified in general because it is relatively easy to recognize. The habitat type is rare (calcareous wetlands). from PT ->PE

Scutellaria serrata. Proposed change: from PX to PE (John Kunsman). Two populations, with a combined total of ca. 200 plants, were found in York Co. in 1995. from PX ->PE

Sisyrinchium albidum. Proposed change: from TU to PX (Carnegie). There is a single, confirmed PA specimen, collected in 1918 from Logan's Ferry. The general area has since been trashed. from TU ->PX

Streptopus amplexifolius. Proposed change: from PT to PE (John Kunsman). There are only nine extant populations with ca. 150 plants, located in a specialized habitat (cool moist ledges and cliffs, usually near waterfalls). from PT ->PE

Scirpus ancistrochaetus. Not proposed for change, but the need for a change from PE status became evident in discussion. Steve Grund reported that there are now 42 extant populations known; Ann Rhoads chipped in with a 43rd. The species occurs in vernal ponds at high altitudes. Those who have been looking at it estimated that there may ultimately turn out to be twice as many populations in PA, and it is being found in other states such as Virginia. Our current numbers are in line with PR status, but the sites are small and easily disturbed so we decided to recommend PT status. from PE ->PT

Changes proposed by Vascular Plant Technical Committee following discussion of TU species at their October 1995 meeting. We looked these over at today's Rare Plant Forum and agreed with the recommendations except as indicated. Reasons for the recommendations from VPTC are given in the minutes from the October meeting and are generally not repeated here. The first five species in this category on the proposed status changes handout for RPF (Antennaria solitaria, Asclepias variegata, Carex limosa, Corallorhiza wisteriana, and Cystopteris laurentianus) were changed last year and were included on the proposed status changes handout by mistake, so they were not reexamined at the present meeting.

Species and recommended change (from TU unless otherwise indicated):

Dryopteris celsa, from TU ->PE

Dryopteris clintoniana, from TU ->PT. It was questioned whether this species shouldn't be PE, because there are only two sites. But Bill Olsen has 11 sites from last summer, and most of the specimens he collected were checked (for spore fertility, among other things) by Jim Montgomery. PT is the recommendation of Jim Parks.

Gentiana alba, from TU ->PX

Gentiana saponaria, from TU ->PT but the Rare Plant Forum suggested retaining TU status because we may not have all our homework done. Concern was raised that we haven't checked enough historic sites. Not all historic sites are included on the Plant Element Occurrence Summary handed out at the meeting because some specimens were on loan when the recording was done. There are also more than the one extant site on the Element Occurrence Summary: Ann Rhoads knows some, and Jack Holt and Rick Mellon have seen it. More fieldwork needs to be done, and it should get high priority because the sites are in a high growth area.

Goodyera tesselata, from TU ->PT

Hedyotis purpurea, from TU ->PE, but the Forum recommended TU instead because of the same taxonomic issues discussed at the October VPTC meeting.

Lathyrus palustris, from TU ->PE

Lysimachia hybrida, from TU ->PT

Lythrum alatum, from TU ->PE

Malaxis brachypoda, from TU ->PX

Meehania cordata, from TU ->PE

Melanthium virginicum, from TU ->?, and RPF decided to recommend retaining TU status. Jim Bissel has seen about 100 plants in a powerline, flowering well. Jack Holt may have seen a couple, and Ann Rhoads has seen nonblooming plants in Montgomery Co. Paul Wiegman knows of one site, in a rather unusual alkaline habitat. Tim Draud has a site mostly on diabase. Apparently some historic sites have not been checked.