by Allen B. Burdett, Jt,
FLOR I DA DOES TOO HAVE AN AUTUMN!
Some even lose their leaves to provide you with those nostalgic leafraking chores. Many of Florida's trees lose and replace their leaves within a period of only days or weeks, such as the laurel oak, red maple, and live oaks. Other trees such as the persimmon and swamp tupelo may remain leafless for several months, beginning as early as September or October, while many native oaks shed and replace their leaves in late winter or early spring without anyone taking much notice The time between complete leaf fall and budding out varies from four to ten weeks for many central Florida species A few trees like the turkey oak and the southern sugar maple (Florida maple) will retain many of their dried brown leaves throughout the dormant period. Many may not completely shed all leaves until the last week in December or the first week in January.
THE PALMETTO
935 Orange Ave., Winter Park, FL 32789
Peggy S. Lantz, Editor
THE PALMETTO is published quarterly by The · Florida Nat i ve Plant Society under the auspices of The Env i ronmental Information Center and The Florida Conservation Foundation No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission of the Editor or the Publisher.
Articles on any aspect of Florida Native Plants are invited Include drawings or photos, if possible. They will be handled with care, and will be return ed if you include a self-addressed, stamped enve lope. Send to Peggy S. Lantz, Editor, The Palmetto, Rt. 3, Box 437, Orlando, FL 32811, 305/299-1472.
FLORIDA AUTUMN - -from page 1
Flowering dogwood (Corn us florida) is a small tree grown in rich welldrained soils of central and north Florida. Dogwood provides both colorful red foliage in the fall and beautiful white flower bracts in the spring.
Red maple (Acer rubrum) is one of the most popular and easily grown trees in Florida. Brightly colored yellow-orange-red leaf displays occur in December. In January red maple 'flowers quickly produce red winged seeds (samara) and sends out new leaves. Red maple is a medium-sized tree which prefers moist soil. Growth is relatively fast and seeds and seedlings develop rapidly in rich potting soil. Small trees are easily transplanted.
Southern sugar maple or Florida maple (Acer barbatum) is a beautiful tree of upland hammocks which can be found on the rolling limestone hills of Hernando County northward. The southern sugar maple is very shade tolerant and displays a nice form and foliage when grown as an understory tree. Open grown specimens placed in well drained sandy-shelly soil (pH 7 +) in Pinellas County are growing up to 5 to 6 ft. per year in height. Numerous seedlings collected beneath mature trees can be pot grown up to a height of 4 ft. in a single season. Prior to planting, soil should be richly mulched. Southern sugar maple appears to be suitable for use in the urban landscape. Fall color is yellow to golden orange and occasionally orange-red.
Dormancy following the fall color is generally from the end of December to late.in February or a period of about 8 weeks. Many brown leaves usually remain on the tree until budding in the spring begins.
The sweetgum (Liquidambar styracif/ua) is a large tree with a tall pyramidal crown The natural range is from south central Florida northward and the tree is generally associated with mesic hammocks and found along natural watercourses. Sweet gum will grow in sandy soil. The starshaped leaves vary from a yelloworange to purple . Sweetgum is widely recommended for planting throughout most of peninsula Florida.
The turkey oak (Quercus /aevis) is found on dry sandy ridges from Collier County northward and is often seen associated with longleaf pine. Turkey oak is a medium sized tree well adapted to the periodically burned pine/oak sand hills and requires full sun. Some improved vigor and leaf coloring has been observed in trees under cultivation. Turkey oak has large deep pointed lobes similar to other red oaks found in the north. Fall colors are orange -red in December and the dead leaves usually persist on the tree. New leaves normally appear by the first week in March.
Shumard oak (Quercus shumardii) is one of the largest of the southern red oaks reaching heights of 100 to 130 ft. with trunks 3 to 5 ft. in diameter (max. 180 by 8 ft.). Shumard oak is found in well drained coastal limestone hammocks and rich upland hammocks (usually underlain by limestone) from Hernando County northward. Potted acorns can easily be grown to a height of 5 ft. in one season. Small trees planted in full sun, in well drained sandy soil with some shell (pH 7 + ); in Pinellas County have gained from 5 to 8 ft. in height per year. The lustrous green leaves are 6 to 8 inches long with deep pointed lobes. The orangered fall colors are usually seen late in December. Shumard oak tends to grow tall and the branches spread to form a rather open crown. Some care should be given to protect the thin bark of young trees from mechanical injury.
Pignut hickory (Carya glabra) is a medium to occasionally large tree which is found from the mesic hammocks of south central Florida north ward Pignut hickory will grow well in sandy soil and is shade tolerant. Pignut hickory is difficult to transplant; however, good results may be obtained by planting nuts directly on a· selected site. After 6 growing seasons a height of 15 ft. can be obtained on sandy soil. Once established, growth rates may range between 3 to 4 ft. per year. Pignut hickory leaves often become bright yellow in December.
Bald Cypress (Taxodium distichum) and pond cypress (Taxodium ascendens) are well known wetland species found throughout Florida. Although naturally found in a wet environment, cypress trees can be established without much difficulty on many upland soils. Pot grown seedlings can develop to a height of 3 ft. in one growing season. In well drained sandy soil a height of 15 ft can be obtained for bald cypress in 6 growing seasons. Bald cypress is generally selected over pond cypress because of the fern-like foliage, pyramidal form and more rapid growth rate. In central Florida bald cypress usually leafs out 3 to 4 weeks earlier in the spring than pond cypress. Both trees provide a pleasant fragrance as the leaves and small branch lets turn to a gold or rusty brown. The taprooting characteristic of the bald cypress often make even small trees difficult to remove. Cypress should be planted in full sun and not crowded by other trees.
Most of the trees discussed may be grown in peninsula Florida when cared for in an urban environment. An effort should be made to obtain seed or plants originating from the local geographic area. Some attention should be given to avoid over fertilization and the development of high pH conditions particularly for trees like the turkey oak and pignut hickory. The placement of trees in bedding areas where they can be mulched and protected from the damaging cuts of edgers and mowers is highly recommended.
And then when your northern visitors ask, "Don't you miss the fall colors?" you can say "Of course not. Florida has an autumn, too!"
CONSIDER
Each plant that becomes extinct causes the extinction of 10 to 30 dependent species of insects, higher animals, and other plants.
Dr. Peter Raven, Missouri Botannical Garden
If you plant natives, you will be able to spend your time watching your plants grow rather than making them grow.
Joyce Gann, in Planting a Hammock "
Half the species of trees native to North America grow in Florida. Joyce Gann, in " Planting a Hammock"
Nov., 1981,
THE LOSS OF BEAUTY
by Marie B. Mellinger
"Ah , what were beauty lost, the fallen petal, and the drifting leaf, the orchid and the fern, forever gone, and still but seldom mourned "
In Florida, where tourism is one of the largest sources of income, the loss of natural beauty hurts, both economically and aesthetically. The latest list of rare and endangered Florida plants put out by the Smithsonian Institution lists 222 threatened plants in the stai:e. And many more species are threatened that are not on the Smithsonian list All this in spite of the fact that Florida already has supposedly stringent laws to protect her rare and endemic plant species.
Ironically, many tourists destroy the very thing they come to see, either by mass of numbers trampling the habitat , or by individual greed, smuggling orchids or air plants out of the state for selfish purposes. Each person rationalizes by saying, "It won't hurt to take just one," but by the time "one" is multiplied by thousands, the effect upon the native flora is devastating The fact that many rare plants are in State or National Parks in no way fully protects them, for even these areas are not completely free from selfish vandalism.
Yet, at least the Parks and Reserves make an attempt to protect Florida's rare and endangered species. In the rest of the state, natural habitats are disappearing at a rapid rate before the ,--
A single plant of Zami a i ntegrifol ia in the pine woods near Naranja, Florida. Fire had cleared hundreds of acres of the oolitic limestone on which the Zamia grows Many of the Zamia plants, too succulent to burn , were thus made clearly visible.
ever increasing onslaught of development and progress.
At one time Florida had more endemic species of fern than any other state. The lime sink fern grottoes around Pineola once had over twenty species, most of them rare and unusual. Much of the limestone area has been quarried, to the detriment of the grottoes and the ferns. The original hammocks in Dade County were extravagant gardens of fems and air plants, wild peppers, and orchids. Back in the days of the early botanist , Dr. J.K Small, the plant life of the hammocks was among the most unusual in the world. Cypress swamps and bogs once held a profusion of rare orchids and air plants. Plant collectors and nursery men carried carloads of them away for private gardens, or to offer them for sale.
Still other habitats have suffered from the developments. Sand hill scrub areas, where a profusion of blue lupines and green eyes (Berlandiera) made natural flower gardens, have almost disappeared in Florida. Remains of once vast kitchen middens and shell mounds are nowfound only in a few protected areas, such as Turtle Mound and C rystal River. These mounds and middens once contained endemics such as the wild pepper (Peperom,ia cumulicola) , found only on shell heaps.
The Okeechobee gourd, supposedly the ancestor of the modern pumpkin, once flourished around Lake Okeechobee. Now it is on the Smithsonian list So ; too , are all the spec ies of coontie (Zamia).
There seems to be some confusion between the Smithsonian list of rare and endangered species, and those plants listed as protected by Florida state law . For example, the Smithsonian lists Zamia integrifolia, and Florida law lists all species of Zamia . And again, the Smithsonian lists only the parrot pitcher plant (Sarracenia ps i ttacina), while Florida law protects all species of Sarracenia. Much of the difficulty in protecting plants comes from the fact that the experts cannot agree on what needs protection. And why are none of the bromeliads on the Smithsonian list, and only a few orchids?
The Florida law, as written in 1965, states, " prohibits the injury, destruction, or removal of the following trees , shrubs, and plants from private lands without the permission of the landowner; or their transport , or offer for sale, unless grown under cultivation, or taken with permission." "The intent of the law is to preserve and encourage the growth of these native plants, which are rapidly disappearing from the state " The law, as written then, included all air plants, except the common Spanish moss, and all species of native orchids, both epiphytic and terrestrial, and most of the rare native ferns.
This law · needs strengthening, updating, and upholding
(The photos accompan y ing this article , courtesy of Mrs f,.fellinger , were taken by J.K. Small, ( 1869-1938) who was curator of the New York Botanical Garde ns, and wrote many articles and papers on the flora of Florida, including a volume titled , Flora of Southeastern United States, J?ublished in 1903-. Th is book was reissued in ,193Funder the title, Manual of Southeastern Flora )
minutes of general meeting
MINUTES OF FNPS MEETING
A regular meeting of the Florida native Plant Society was held in the Auditorium/Museum of Highlands Hammock State Park. 54 members and guests attended.
Call to order(Bill Partington, at 9 :50 am)
Joyce Gann moved to appoint Mrs. Louise Hill as Parliamentarian for the meeting. Motion carried.
Adoption of bylaws (Bill Partington presided)
The establishing resolution and bylaws of the FNPS , written by Francis Alsobrook and amended by the Interim Board of Directors, were read aloud by Bill Partington through Article IV, Section 8. At that point, Dick Workman moved to accept the remaining articles without further discussion. Amendment was offered by Louise Hill to discuss only those points that needed clarification. Motion as amended carried, with only four (4) members opposing , and the bylaws were adopted.
Election of Officers (Bill Ackerman presided)
Members of the nominating committee: Bill Ackerman, Norma Jeanne Byrd and Terry Mock. The following slate of officers was presented:
President: Bill Partington
Vice President: Terry Mock
Secretary: Dorie Karl
Treasurer: Gen Pratt
There were no nominations from the floor and the above officers were elected unanimously
Election of Board of Directors (Bill Ackerman presided)
The nominations committee also presented a slate of District Directors. After also receiving nominations from the floor, the election of District Directors resulted in the following additions to the Board of Directors:
Northwest: Linda Duever, Donna Legare
Northeast: Chuck Salter, Gail Baker
North Central: Francis Alsobrook, Lewis Yarlett
West Central: Tony Arcuri, Allen Burdett
East Central: Carol Lotspeich, Heather Wagner ·
Southwest: Jean Barnhart, Anne Williams
Southeast: Joyce Gann, Sara Davis
Nominations for seven Directors at Large were accepted from the floor, and the results of the election named these persons as directors: Taylor Alexander, Dan Austin, Norma Jeanne Byrd, Bijan Dehgan, Jim Haeger, Dan Ward, Dick Workman.
Committees (Bill Partington presided)
Bill Partington, President, established the following committees and appointed committee heads. Brief reports on progress and/or plans were given by those in attendance.
Informational Resources: Carol Lotspeich. Her report is attached.
Propagation: Norma Jeanne Byrd. Plans include a seed exchange, workshops, publications on how to start a nursery and how to propagate certain native plants.
Conservation: Bill Ackerman. Plans are to keep the membership abreast of pertinent issues and areas of potential involvement
Finances: Terry Mock. Plans are to seek conference sponsors, grant funding, donors, and project ideas.
Publications : Peggy Lantz . The fine job that Peggy has been doing was recognized. Plans include more of the Palmetto, plus other types of publications.
Education : Bill Hammond , not present.
Science: Bijan Dehgan, pending acceptance. Carol Lotspeich proposed this committee and reported that FNPS has been invited to become a Section of the Florida Academy of Sciences . FINANCES· Bill Partington presided.
income: $7,943 00
expenses: $3,367.47 for conference at w. Park $2,500 00 approximate subsidy by Environmenta I Information Center, Florida Conservation Foundation , Inc balance : $2,075 53
There are currently over 350 memberships in FNPS
LUNCH -1:10 pm. Thank you, Fat Boy's BBQ!
SLIDES • A presentation on Highlands Hammock State Park was given by Lt. Dick Roberts.
The meeting resumed at 2 :40 pm.
CHAPTER QUALIFICATIONS
· Fred Duisberg moved to adopt a policy of separate state and local chapter dues. Any income having a tax basis must be reported and sent to the State treasurer. This does not include nominal dues payments. The motion carried with one opposing.
PERMITS TO COLLECT THREATENED OR ENDANGERED PLANTS
· Jack Gaddy arranged to get these special permits for FNPS members from the Florida Dept. of Agriculture. He outlin-
ed the restrictions and application procedure. Cynthia Plockelman moved to enter into the agreement with the FDA Motion carried.
NEW BUSINESS · Carol Lotspeich proposed the creation of a mobile display for the FNPS to set up at various meetings and conferences. She also proposed purchasing FNPS decals for new members.
Dan Mackey, an editor for Hoffman Publications, proposed a joint venture in compiling a book on the "How to" of landscaping with native plants and trees. He circulated a guestionnaire on the subject. No commitments were made . Joyce Gann informed the group that Dade County is experiencing pressure from opponents of the revised endangered plant preservation ordinance. The revised version would include understory plants as well as trees. No commitments were made. Suzanne Cooper of the Nature Conservancy in Tallahassee, informed the group of programs of interest . Her colleague, Linda Duever, is an FNPS District Director.
Bill Partington tentatively scheduled a Board Meeting in January, 1982, and a conference sometime in the spring. The meeting adjourned at 4:30 pm. Respectfully submitted, Dorie Karl, Secretary
Fl NANCE COMMITTEE
Following is a list of committee members and their areas of responsibility:
Mrs. Earl Pratt • Treasurer 1953 Summerfield Road Winter Park, FL 32792 (305)644-6974
Carol Lotspeich · Decals, T-Shirts P.0.Box 12 Winter Park, FL 32790 (305)422-0600
Bill Ackerman • Grant Proposals 7601 N. Highway 301 Tampa , FL 33610 (305)985-7 402
Terry Mock • Chairman 2930 Okeechobee Blvd. West Palm Beach, FL 33409 (305 )686-0546
Thank you for offering your assistance in our effort to get FNPS off to a sound financial start.
K. Terrance Mock
BUSINESS
INFORMATION COMMITTEE
The first meeting of those persons interested in the formation of a committee on the gathering of information on the flora of Florida was held at the first statewide Florida Native Plant Society Conference, held in Winter Park, Florida, April 25, 1981, with 36 persons attending.
The general consensus of those attending was the need for a central gathering of information to be used as reference and educational sources.
Sydney Feinberg of the Institute of Food & Agriculture Sciences agreed to keep the FNPS current on IFAS publications relating to the flora of Florida.
Dr. John Morrill agreed to initiate a preliminary listing of all publications on the flora of Florida, which I received (Florida Botanical/Ecological Bibliography). In turn, I contacted the following persons for possible additions to this preliminary listing: Dr. Dan Austin, Dr. Dan Ward, Dr. David Hall, Dr. A.H. Miller, Dr. R. Taylor Alexander, Dr. Robert Godfrey, Dr. Julia Morton, and Dr. Richard Wunderlin.
To date, we have received information on additional publications from Dr. Dan Ward and Dr. Richard Wunderlin. In the meantime, it has come to our attention that Dr. Hank Whittier at the University of Central Florida has been computerizing such a list by subject and author. Dr. Whittier has contributed his time and efforts to the Florida Native Plant Society by making this list available to us.
Thank you to all who have participated in compiling this list. It will soon be as complete as we can make it, and will be kept up-to-date as new material is published. The list will be made avaiable to FNPS members requesting it.
Chairperson Carol S. Lotspeich
PROPAGATION COMMITTEE
This is a draft statement of the goals and objectives of the FNPS Propagation Committee.
OBJECTIVES:
• Encourage the propagation of Florida native plants
• Promote the use of native plants in landscaping
• Promote the use of native plants in restoring natural plant communities
GOALS:
• Compile and disseminate information on seed collection, propagation, planting, culture, care, and availability of Florida native plants.
• Make available lists of nurseries that stock native plants.
• Work with landscape architects and landscape designers to increase the use of native plants in their designs.
• Encourage nursery growers to stock native plants.
• Encourage cooperation between landscapers and growers to facilitate native plant production and use.
• Encourage propagation of rare, endangered, and threatened species, and their reintroduction in the wild and in the landscape.
• Aid local chapters of the FNPS in conducting workshops, seminars, and lectures on propagation and landscaping with native plants.
• Develop a slide file of the native plants of Florida and include examples of their use in landscaping and restoration.
Norma Jeanne Byrd Chairperson
NEWS NOTE·
Carol S. Lotspeich of Lotspeich and Associates, Inc. has been appointed to the Orange County Parks Advisory Board representing District V.
Nov., 1981, PALMETTO,
CHAPTER NEWS
CENTRAL FLORIDA
The Central Florida Chapter of FNPS will hold an organizational meeting on Monday, November 9, at 7:30 pm at the Rosemont Community Center. Call Jack Gaddy, 293-9111, for more information or directions.
NAPLES
Naples Chapter will hold its first meeting on Nov. 16th, at 7 pm at Big Cypress Nature Center. Joyce and Don Gann will speak on their favorite subjects - Landscaping with native plants.
Dorie Karl
SOUTH BREVARD
The South Brevard Chapter of The Florida Native Plant Society organized on September 5, 1981. Their activities include:
• an ongoing membership drive.
• presentation of a program to the Circle president of the Melbourne Council of Federated Garden Clubs, resulting in commitments for programs for three additional Circles, acquainting them with FNPS.
• commitments to three Girl Scout Troops to help with Conservation Badge work.
• work with Planning Departments and Planning and Zoning Boards of three municipalities in revising tree ordinances.
• donations of native plants and seeds by members to the newlyestablished city nursery for street and park plantings.
• preparation of a plant list of Turkey Creek Preserve for the Dept. of Natural Resources grant application, by our chapter Plant Identification Committee and State Forester Frank Kier.
• work by a committee on plants for boardwalks in Turkey Creek Preserve.
• and finally, they have assisted in finding suitable locations for native plants removed by staff biologists and environmentalists of a major corporation, and they gave the corporation advice about on-site tree preservation.
Hester Wagner more CHAPTERS page' 8
THE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT THE LACEY ACT
The response on membership forms indicates that many FNPS members feel strongly about the issues presented in this release from Faith Campbell, PhD.of the Natural Resources Defense Council, 1725 I St., N.W. Suite 600, Wash., D.C., 20006. If you are one of these members, here is help on how to take action.
The future of Endangered Species Act protection for plants appears ever more precarious. The Interior Department has already indicated that it places a low priority on plants; the highest rank which a plant can attain on the new priority system for listing actions is 11. The result of this ranking is that some full species of vascular plants may be listed during the next year, but no lower ranked taxon, i.e., subspecies of vascular and nonvascular plants, will be considered, even though it may be at high risk and all field study may have been completed. Now I have learned that at /east one high official of the Department has suggested eliminating plants from protection under the Act. Development interests have also suggested downgrading or eliminating protection for plants. One association ·representing primarily Western interests has reportedly placed a high priority on deleting plants.
At least one Congressman has publicly advocated removal of plants from the Act. We must treat these as serious threats and increase our preparations to counter such a move.
Please begin now to identify individuals and organizations in your State who support plant conservation and will write to congress when the time comes next year.
Finally, begin compiling information on rare plants in your State and how the Act can benefit them. When hearings begin in late January, this information should be sent to the House and Senate committees.
Political action atthe State level isabso/ute/y essential if we are to rescue a meaningful endangered species program. Natural Resources Defense Council and others located in Washington are ready to help. As you already know, I have arranged for production of a pamphlet describing rare plant species (by region of the country) and their protection under the Act. Those of you who wish to purchase these lobbying materials at cost should contact me immediately.•
A second invaluable tool for lobbyists or biologists is the issuance of the December, 1980, list of 3,000 plant "candidates" by State of occurrence. A new book reports currently listed species, candidates for listing, and those no longer under consideration for listing, in both alphabetical order by genus and State of occurrence. It also contains maps indicating the relative numbers of plants in each category in each State except Alaska and Hawaii. Organizations and institutions which work with plant conservation throughout the country should request Review of Plant Taxa for Listing as Endangered or Threatened Species: Compilation by State. Organizations working in one or a few States should ask for computer print-outs of only those States, as the book is in short supply. Address these requests to Dr. John Nagy, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Building 475, Upton, New York 11973. Updates and corrections to this list will be issued from time to time. These lists are invaluable in preparing educational material on the importance of the Act in conserving locally occurring species and biological communities.
Conservaton organizations planning to work together to re-authorize the Act held a second meeting on September 25. At that time they reviewed progress on preparation of educational materials (e.g., the plant pamphlet) and briefing papers on controversial issues, and continued discussions of how the groups can work together despite some serious philosophical disagreements.
TEXT OF LOBBYING PAMPHLET
Why Conserve Plant Species
Wildflower displays have inspired poets and lovers for centuries. The cactus' twisted shape and threatening spines and the Venus flytrap's hinged traps also charm us. Our appreciation for the beauty and variety of wild plants impels us to protect them.
The most important reason for conserving plants, however, is practical: to continue to obtain the many utilitarian benefits plants provide.
Mankind's very existence depends on a healthy ecosystem in which plants play a dominant role. Only green plants can convert sunlight, atmospheric carbon dioxide, and water
into food which can be used by animals. Wild plants directly provide fodder for our cattle and sheep.They also shelter birds that prey on agricultural pests, and bees and other insects that pollinate our crops. So im-· portant are plants in the web of life that Dr. Peter Raven of the Missouri Botanical Garden estimates that each plant the becomes extinct causes the extinction of 10 to 30 dependent species of insects, higher animals, and other plants.
Many species of wild plants have great proven or potential utilitarian value. A quarter of all medical prescriptions sold in the United States contain chemicals derived from higher plants. Vincristine, extracted from the tropical periwinkle, is one of the standard treatments for Hodgkin's Disease, which strikes 5,000 - 6,000 Americans annually. An endangered wild corn from Mexico, Zea dip/operennis, may make our major crop more resistant to fungal infections, such as that which destroyed 15% of U.S. production in 1971. Various plant products show promise for industrial use, especially oil from the seeds of the jojoba and rubber from guayule, both native to the U.S. and Mexican deserts.
Threats to Wild Plants
Around the world, an estimated 10% of all vascular (stemmed) plants may become extinct in coming decades. Tlie U.S. is no exception. Botanists with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have identified 3,000 species of terrestrial plants from all parts of the country that are probably threatened. Man's activities have increased the r·ate of extinction alarmingly.
The major cause is loss of habitatthat area which provides the right combination of sunlight, water, temperature, soil nutrients, and associated species of other plants, insects, etc., for the plant to thrive. Habitat loss occurs if a river valley is drowned by a dam, a swamp is drained, a forest is cleared, meadows or desert valleys are converted to croplands or housing developments. A habitat may also be made unsuitable by poisoning by pesticides or pollution, suppression of natural fires, or disturbance of the soil by off-road vehicles or hikers. While wide-spread plant species may persist in still undisturbed areas, plants that are confined to a few small" locations are highly vulnerable.
Overcollecting for horticulture or
Nov., 1981, PALMETTO,
other purposes also threatens some plants. Cacti, Venus flytrap and pitcher plants, woodland orchids, and alpine plants, such as those of the genus Lewisia, are very popular. The collecting pressure, especially when combined with habitat loss, may decimate entire species. Nearly one-quarter of our native cacti are so jeopardized.
A final cause of extinction is competition with or predation by introduced species. Plants on islands are particularly vulnerable because they have evolved in isolation from these stresses. Over 40% of the native flora of Hawaii is already extinct or endangered.
The Endangered Species Act
The Act is widely considered the most important wildlife conservation law in the world. It establishes a comprehensive program to conserve a species of plant or animal - including insects and other invertebrates - determined to be "endangered" (in danger of extinction in all or most of its range) or "threatened" (likely to. become an endangered species in the foreseeable future). Any species or subspecies of plant may be eligible; unlike vertebrate animals, however, geographically separate populations of plants and invertebrates are not protected by the Act. The public participates in identifying species that deserve protection.
A plant listed as endangered or threatened benefits from the following protections under the Act:
• restriction of interstate or international commerce (listed animals are also protected from killing or collecting).
• assurance that the actions of Federal agencies will not jeopardize species' continued existence or damage critical habitat (this does not prohibit all development).
• _implementation of conservation programs by Federal land-owning agencies (the Forest Service's is widely praised).
• cooperative management by States (so far, 10 have such programs for plants).
• purchase of habitat where necessary.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service protects terrestrial species. So far, it has listed only 63 of the estimated 3,000 eligible plant species. Enforcement of trade restrictions by the FWS (domestic) and Department of Agriculture (international) is also sadly lax. Public pressure can help improve these agencies' programs.
Reauthorization of the Endangered Species Act
The Fish and Wildlife Service can protect endangered species only as long as it has legal permission to spend tax dollars for this purpose. This permission, or authorization, expires on 1 October 1982; Congress must pass a new law if the program is to continue.
House and Senate consideration of the new law will begin in /ate January with hearings to examine how the Act has been implemented. The committees will then "mark up", or draft, bills. Congressional procedures require that the committees approve these bills before 15 May 1982. The bills must then be passed by both the House and Senate, and differences between them reconciled. The final bill must be passed once agai~both chambers and signed by the President - all before 1 October 1982.
During this reauthorization process, Congress may change or repeal any part of the Act. Many development interests have already begun lobbying Congress to weaken the entire program. Most of the proposals would undermine provisions in the Act intended to protect species' habitats from inadvertant destruction as a result of inadeq!Jately planned development projects. Other amendments would permit agencies to abandon on-going programs to conserve species found on land under their jurisdiction.
Still other changes would slow efforts to list additional disappearing species under the Act. Worst of all, some Congressmen, Administration officials, and development interests have suggested eliminating plants and invertebrates from the Act's protection.
What You Can Do To Conserve Rare Plants
The Endangered Species Act is the only national program to conserve rare plants. Reauthorization of a strong Act is essential to survival of these valuable species. Conservationists can make this happen by working together to lobby Congress. Congress does respond to public pressure - especially in an election year like 1982!
Because we are fewer in number, plant conservationists must work particularly hard to make sure that Con~ gress does not eliminate or reduce the Act's protections for plants.
Conservationists have already begun to organize a coordinated lobbying campaign. In many states, native plant
societies, garden clubs, or other groups are already knowledgeable about rare species in your region and the endangered species program. They need your help to
• identify additional supporters of the Act;
• compile information on how the Act benefits species in your area and prepare testimony for the January hearings;
• write letters to Congressmen and Senators from your State before they vote on the Act.
• schedule 30 minutes at one of your chapter meetings as soon as possible to discuss the Act. Complete speakers kits (i.e. sample speech, fact sheets, answers to most commonly asked questions) will be available from me soon; they will be helpful in planning your session.
• organize panels of speakers at local functions (including opponents of the Act) to publicize the Act. Use the speakers kit, your knowledge of the local effects of the Act, and the newsletter described above. Other material available from Washington will be useful to you.
Please contact me promptly with any questions or suggestions. / am particularly eager to learn your ideas for strengthening the Act or improving its implementation.
Help us conserve rare plants by keeping the Endangered Species Act strong!
AUTHORS AND ARTISTS
Allen J. Burdett Jr. has a BA in Botany from the U. of South Florida and a Forestry Tech degree. He has worked for the Florida board of Conservation, the Department of Natural Resources, the Department of Environmental Regulation, and has been involved with the dredge and fill operations in Tampa Bay.
Paul and Sherry Cummings manage The Tree Gallery in Boynton Beach.
Terry Mock in Finance Chairman of FNPS, and is a developer with a "white hat".
Marie B. Mellinger of Tiger, Georgia, sent her article to Palmetto, saying, "This is to help the cause of saving Florida Native Plants."
Melanie Darst is a botanical artist for Tall Timbers Research near Tallahassee.
Kathy Sample is president of the Bartram Wildflower Study Club.
Which Comes First? Supply or Demand?
K. Terrance Mock
It is inevitable. Whenever a serious discussion on increasing the role of native vegetation in landscaping takes place, the question always· seems to come up. Is it more important to increase the supply of nursery grown native material, or to increase the demand for it? ·
Those who desire to use native vegetation in landscaping may justifiably complain about the scarcity of quality material. Some say that the general public will never fully accept native vegetation until slash pine and red mangroves are available in K-Marts. They have a point.
The growers, however, who are putting their financial lives on the line in the form of hundreds of thousands of dollars in land, materials, labor and equipment, claim that they must have proven demand for native vegetation in order to justify the inv~stment. It
CHAPTER NEWS
TAMPA BAY
The Tampa· Bay Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society was initiated and organized by Interim Society Directors, •Bill Ackerman and Tony Arcuri. So far, the Chapter, with some twenty-five members, has been involved in a slide show program entitled, "Shumard Oaks," by Allen Burdett, and two plant collection/identification field trips. The main emphasis of the two field trips was to collect native trees (bare root seedling transplants and seeds) within areas in Hillsborough County scheduled for development.
To initiate our conservation effort, one member, Colleen O'Sullivan, is preparing an ordinance proposal to Hillsborough County Commissioners concerning the mandatory use of native plants in developmental landscaping schemes within the county. An ad hoc committee was elected to formulate chapter by-laws, nominate a slate of officers, and designate future long-range conservation goals.
Sponsorship in the form of stationery, xeroxes, typewriters, postage, and meeting places has been provided by Environmental Science and Engineering, Inc. (Tampa Office), ftHlsborough Community College, and Biological Research Associates, Inc.
Toni Arcuri
can be a humbling experience to approach a bank for a loan at 22% interest on a crop with no proven track record.
It is my opinion that substantial demand for the product must come first. I believe that the free enterprise system can meet any increased demand for native vegetation in a relatively short period of time.
I_ also belie~hat a substantial increase in the demand for native vegetation will soon appear. Here's why:
The exotic-oriented, landscape nursery industry in Florida is in much the same position today as the United States automobile industry was prior to the Arab oil embargo in 1974 - it is a dinosaur and doesn't know it! Waterloving exotic landscape material makes as much sense now as a gasguzzling V-8 engine! Most people do not see the handwriting on the wall because they do not vet understand
PALM BEACH
The Palm Beach County Chapter is shifting into gear. Paul Cummings was el~cted as the President and Sally Black - was elected as the VicePresident. · ' -
Six Committees are being established to help increase our working knowledge of native plants and spread the word about their importance to us. The Committees are:
Horticultural Committee to deal with matters of propagation and cultivation.
Identification Committee to increase our awareness of native plants.
Education Committee to provide us with methods of spreading the native plant information to all county residents.
Environmental Action Committee to review state, county, and local legislation in an effort to assist governments in realizing the energy savings ot landscaping with native plants.
Other Special Projects Committees have been established to deal with endangered species, etc.
The September meeting was a talk by Dr. Dan Austin on the subject of rare and endangered plants. The October meeting will highlight the use of landscaping with native plants.
If you would like any additional information about the Chapter, call Paul Cummings 734-4416 or Sally Black 686-6600.
Paul Cummings
that our water shortage· is here to stay.
The National Water Resource Council estimates that total national water consumption is now 700 billion gallons per day. They estimate that this results in 2 7 billion gallons being drawn out of the aquifer each day beyond what rainfall can replace, and that if population and consumption continue to grow at their present or projected rate, by the year 2000, over 800 billion gallons per day beyond the aquifer recharge rate will be withdrawn.
Water wars are looming on the horizon. Urban users versus agricultural users. Residential users versus industrial users. The arguments are complex and the ultimate outcome is uncertain, but one thing is sure - the cost of water, like the cost of gasoline, is going to rapidly increase. Nonessential uses will become uneconomical if not downright illegal. In the words of South Florida Water Management executive director Jack Maloy, "This is a problem technology can't solve." He sees a need for a fundamental shift in people's habits of consumption, and says, "I'm talking about the need for a major social change, and it's not going to be easy, but there isn't any choice." So what does major social change have to do with native vegetation? Here's an example: Most people view the lush, tropical landscape of Palm Beach as the best example of the ideal South Florida habitat. But the daily water consumption on the island of Palm Beach is over 600 gallons per person, more than three times the national average. The residents of Palm Beach may have more money than most Americans, but they don't drink water or bathe that much more. Where does all the water go? On their lush, exotic yards - that's where! The illusion of tropical paradise is being artificially supported by a fragile life support system carrying a precious, liquid resource from the mainland. The choice that soon must be made iswater for our children, or water for our yards?
I think I know what the decision will be. I know that properly designed and installed native landscapes can survive with little or no irrigation. I think that demand for drought-resistant, native landscape material will eventually explode. I think that existing nurseries will scramble to "retool", just as Detroit did, in order to supply the products to meet this demand. I think that within 12 months of the beginning of this demand we will be able to buy native vegetation in K-Marts.
Bartram Lives Again!
by Kathy Sample
Bartram Wildflower Study Club, a member of the Federation of Garden Clubs, Inc., is following Bartram's Trail through Florida, studying the wildflowers and indigenous plants. The club members record native flora found along the "Trail" today. Many of the plants Bartram recorded in his Travels in 1774 are growing happily on his "Trail" today, and the most unusual sites recorded by him have become either a State Park, a State Preserve, or a National Wildlife Refuge.
Everywhere he traveled in Florida, Bartram was impressed by the astonishing magnitude of the great, ancient live oaks which are still evident, although some show the ravages of storms and hurricanes. The live oaks on the large shell mound at Hontoon Island State Park appear to have suffered in the great hurricane which Bartram survived on the shores of the "beauteous long lake" (Lake Beresford near Deland).
Bartram was enchanted with the
large floating plant communities in the St. John's River. The dominant amphibious plants in these islands were floating lettuce, pond lilies, ragwort. Today, these floating islets are found in small creeks and rivers and contain the same plants Bartram recorded as well as floating heart, floating ferns, frog's bit, and many others.
Deep Creek on County Road 310 west of Palatka, and the River Styx on County Road 346 east of Micanopy, are a sight to behold in the fall, when the golden glow of Biden laevis and Biden mitis cover the floating islets with their blooms. Try to visit Deep Creek right after a rain. The Florida gallinules are out on the lily pads talking to each other across the marsh, like a bunch of hens, as they did in Bartram's time. It was at Deep Creek where one of our members discovered frog's-bit, which flowers under water, and also Habenaria, growing in the pond lilies.
Deep Creek was one of the crossings Bartram made on his way to the "Great Alachua Savanna" (Paynes Prairie) near today's Cross Creek. Bartram crossed the River Styx which was on his route to visit the Indian village (Tuscawilla-Micanopy). Even today at Nov.,
any time of year the traveler would feel impelled to stop a few minutes at this crossing. Bald cypress still grow in the creek. Due to the large islets of floating plants, it's almost impossible for a boat to get through. White ibis, egrets, and the Florida limpkin may be seen feeding on these floating isles with the Bidens coloring the islands golden.
Bartram's wild ora!J_ge's are usually found in the swamps along the St. John's River, as well as the Cardinal flower, Lobe/ia cardinalis. It is in this same habitat that Clematis crispa, with its roots in the shade, climbs to the top of a large shrub to reach the sun and display its showy blue flowers all summer.
William Bartram still lives along the trails he documented through early Florida!
~-
DID YOU KNOW?----,
The oak in Highlands Hammock State Park is 36 feet in circumference, or more than 11 ft. j n diameter and is estimated at 1, 000 years old (according to sign on Big Oak Trail).
Harold J. Nett
STAMP OUT BRAZILIAN PEPPER!
by Paul and Sherry Cummings
The Florida Native Plant Society has a goal of educating the public to the advantages of using native plants in landscaping. The Society should also take some responsibility, however, for the opposite side of the coin: that is, the problem of educating the public to the disadvantages of the troublesome non-native plant, making every effort to see that they are removed from the landscape scene.
Some of the most common and destructive non-native trees in Florida are the melaleuca, the Australian pine, and the Brazilian pepper. These exotics are lush and fertile trees. They are so fertile, in fact, that they crowd out the native species. They were introduced as landscape and windbreak plants, but adapted so well that they quickly escaped cultivation. They now dominate the areas in which they grow, creating their own monoculture, to the exclusion of native plants and many wildlife species.
Of these exotic!">, Brazilian pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius) deserves our primary attention, for a number of reasons. It is widely distributed in the moist soils of peninsular Florida, occupying many sites formerly inhabited by native vegetation. Its growth pattern is
such that it covers large areas of ground completely, shading out and eliminating any plants that might try to grow under it. It belongs to the same family as poison ivy and presents the same hazard of causing skin reactions in humans. It has the cosmetic advantage over the other two primary exotic pest trees by having red berries and reminding us of holly. In fact, it is commonly referred to as Florida holly. Because of this, many uninitiated people think of
FLORIDA NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY
ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION CENTER
935 ORANGE AVENUE
WINTER PARK , FLORIDA 32789
it as both beautiful and native, and, therefore, desirable both in landscaping and in attracting birds.
In an effort to begin to eliminate this troublesome pest, it is important to wage a war against it on three levels. The first step is to discourage the use of the term Florida holly. Whenever we hear or see the Brazilian pepper incorrectly referred to as Florida holly, we should ensure that the speaker or writer is made aware of the error, and knows the reason for our distress with this incorrect name. The elimination of the term Florida holly from our vocabulary will go a long way toward the eradication of this tree.
Secondly, landscape architects, authors of landscape books, and nurserymen should be made aware of the drawbacks of this plant, both in cultivation and in the wild. Properly informed, they should make valuable allies in our battle. Our goal here is to stop the Brazilian pepper from being recommended for landscaping by any source and to discourage reproduction and sale by the nursery trade. Lastly, whenever we see a seedling growing in the wild, we should pull it up to keep it from spreading. Working together against this troublesome tree, we may accomplish the seemingly impossible task of keeping the Brazilian pepper from taking over the entire southern part of peninsular Florida.
Won't you help?
NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION
U.S. POSTAGE
WINTER PAR~, FLA. PERMIT NO 3-358