ERRATUM
ThelastissueofPALMETTOwasincorrectlynumberedasVolume25:Number2.Thecorrectnumber shouldhavebeenVolume23:Number3.Weapologizetoreadersforthiserrorandanyconfusionit mayhavecreated.Thecorrectnumberingsequenceresumeswiththisissue,Volume23:Number4.
NEWS &ANNOUNCEMENTS
FNPSJoinstheFloridaForeverCoalition
FNPSisnowamemberoftheFloridaForever Coalition,agroupofenvironmentalorganizations thatsupportathirdrenewaloftheFloridaForever fundingprogram.TheCoalitioniscurrently composedoftheTrustforPublicLands,1,000 FriendsofFlorida,TheNatureConservancy, AudubonofFlorida,FloridaRecreationandPark Association,FloridaWildlifeFederation,Defenders ofWildlife,ConservationFund,Rails-to-Trails Conservancy,AllianceofFloridaLandTrusts,Florida TrailAssociation,ConservancyofSouthwestFlorida, AmericanPlanningAssociation(FloridaChapter), AmericanHeartAssociation,AmericanSocietyof LandscapeArchitects(FloridaChapter),andnow FNPS!Moreinformationisavailableonlineat www.tpl.org/floridaforever.
FNPSConservationAwardsProgram
Eachyear,theFNPSConservation Committeegrantsthree$2,500awardsfor appliednativeplantconservationworkaround thestate.FNPSChaptersareinvitedtosubmit proposalsforworkintheircommunities.The conservationawardsgenerallytargetsmall organizationsthatneedseedmoneytoget aprojectofftheground.Thedeadlinefor submittingapplicationsfortheConservation AwardsprogramisMarch2,2007. Tolearnmore,visitwww.fnps.org,select Programs andclickonthe Conservation link. Scrolldownto“FloridaNativePlantSociety ConservationAwardsProgram.”Orcontact ConservationCommitteeChair, SuzanneKennedy,atsk@floravista.net.
Leavealastinglegacy
byparticipating intheFloridaNativePlantSocietyEstateGivingProgram.Yourgiftof cash,stocks,mutualfundsorrealestatewillhelpusachieveourmission topreserve,conserveandrestorenativeplantsandnativeplant communitiesforyearstocome.
ThepurposeoftheFloridaNative PlantSociety istopreserve,conserve, andrestorethenativeplantsandnative plantcommunitiesofFlorida.
Officialdefinitionofnativeplant: Formostpurposes,thephrase Florida nativeplant referstothosespeciesoccurringwithinthestateboundariespriorto Europeancontact,accordingtothebest availablescientificandhistoricaldocumentation.Morespecifically,itincludesthose speciesunderstoodasindigenous,occurringinnaturalassociationsinhabitatsthat existedpriortosignificanthumanimpacts andalterationsofthelandscape.
Organization: Membersareorganized intoregionalchaptersthroughout Florida.EachchapterelectsaChapter Representativewhoservesasavoting memberoftheBoardofDirectorsandis responsibleforadvocatingthechapter’s needsandobjectives.See www.fnps.org
BoardofDirectors
ExecutiveOfficers
President –ShirleyDenton PastPresident –BobEgolf VicePresident,Admin. –JoanBausch VicePresident,Finance –TravisMacClendon Treasurer– SusanThompson Secretary– AmeéBaileySpeck
CommitteeChairs
Communications –CindyLiberton Conference –CharliePedersen Conservation –SuzanneKennedy Development –JoAnneTrebatoski Education –SteveJohnson Finance –TravisMacClendon GovernmentalPolicy –KimZarillo, AnnieSchmidt LandscapeAwards –MikeKenton Membership –Jim&TeddiBierly PublicLands –CharliePedersen
Publications –EileenSzuchy Science –PaulSchmalzer
Directors-at-large LaurenDay (2006-2008) GeorgeKish (2006-2008) LaurelSchiller (2006-2008) DaphneLambright (2005-2007) PeterNeSmith (2005-2007) LynkaWoodbury (2005-2007)
Tocontactboardmembers: FNPSAdministrativeServices Phone:(321)271-6702 info@fnps.org•www.fnps.org
Pleasecontact: TravisMacClendon,VicePresidentofFinance,FNPS Blountstown,Fl32424 850.674.4408 travismac@wfeca.net
ONTHECOVER: Asiminatetramera. PhotosbyDr.ValeriePenceandMarjorieShropshire.Seearticleonpage8.
Tojoinorforinquiries: ContactyourlocalChapterRepresentative,or call,write,oremailFNPS,orvisitourwebsite. FloridaNativePlantSociety POBox278 MelbourneFL32902-0278 Phone:(321)271-6702 info@fnps.org•www.fnps.org
Webmaster –PaulRebman
ContractServices
ExecutiveDirector –KarinaVeaudry AccountingServices –Joslin&Hershkowitz AdministrativeServices –CammieDonaldson Editor,Palmetto –MarjorieShropshire Editor,SabalMinor –RosalindRowe
Palmetto
Features
4ReadingYourLandscape
Whetheryouneedtopursueecosystemre-creationratherthan restorationrequiresrecognizingwhatyouhavetoworkwith. Dr.JackPutzteachesushowto“readourlandscape”inpart twoofhisseriesonpinesavannarestoration.
6BiodiversityandNativePlantGenetics
Alivelypaneldiscussionatthe2006FNPSConferenceprovided asmanyquestionsasanswersonthetopicofmaintainingand protectingthegeneticdiversityofFlorida’snativeplants. SidTaylorgivesusanoverviewofthediscussion.
8PropagatingandPreservingpawPaws
WhatistheCincinattiZooCenterforEndangeredWildlife doingtohelpthefour-petalpawpawandotherendangered Floridaplants?Dr.ValeriePencetalksaboutshoots,roots, andthefrozengarden.
FruitofAsiminaparviflora.Photo©MerleKuns Above:Photos©ShirleyDenton,ValeriePence
ThePalmetto (ISSN0276-4164)Copyright2006,FloridaNativePlantSociety,allrightsreserved.Nopartofthecontentsofthismagazinemaybereproducedby anymeanswithoutwrittenconsentoftheeditor. ThePalmetto ispublishedfourtimesayearbytheFloridaNativePlantSociety(FNPS)asabenefittomembers. Theobservationsandopinionsexpressedinattributedcolumnsandarticlesarethoseoftherespectiveauthorsandshouldnotbeinterpretedasrepresentingtheofficial viewsoftheFloridaNativePlantSocietyortheeditor,exceptwhereotherwisestated.
EditorialContent: Wehaveacontinuinginterestinarticlesonspecificnativeplantspeciesandrelatedconservationtopics,aswellashigh-qualitybotanical illustrationsandphotographs.Contacttheeditorforsubmittalguidelines,deadlinesandotherinformation.
Departments
2Erratum
2FNPSNewsandAnnouncements
16FNPSChapters
Editor: MarjorieShropshire,VisualKeyCreative,Inc. ● pucpuggy@bellsouth.net ● Telephone(772)232-1384 ● 855NEStokesTerrace,JensenBeachFL34957 Printedonrecycledcontentpaper
GettingStarted WithEcosystem Restoration
ReadingYourLandscape
ByDr.FrancisE.Putz
ABOUTTHEAUTHOR – Dr.FrancisE.“Jack”Putzconducts researchandteachescoursesonecosystemmanagement andthengoeshometohis100acreswherehemoreorless successfullypracticeswhathepreaches.HeisthePrince BernhardProfessorofInternationalConservationatUtrecht UniversityinTheNetherlandsandaProfessorofBotanyat theUniversityofFlorida,Gainesville,FL32611.
Whatyouwillneedtodotorestoreanaturalecosystemin yourbackyardorback40dependsontheconditionswithwhich youareinitiallyfaced.Forexample,ifyouhavelargepinesbut onlysparsenativegroundcoverduetohardwoodinvasionandpast overgrazing,therestorationtechniquescalledforareverydifferent thanifyouarefacedwithapine-lesslawn,aweed-encroached garden,oranabandonedpasturethatearliersufferedtheplow. Inseverelydisturbedareaswherethechallengeisessentiallyone ofecosystemre-creationratherthanrestoration,itisalsoimportant todetermineattheoutsetwhichnativespeciesarepresentthat deserveprotectionandencouragement.Insomecasesitmay makesensetowipetheslatecleanandtostartfromscratch.You shouldalsoconsiderthatduemostlytothepresenceofneighbors, restorationinthesuburbsisquitedifferentthanrestoration inmoreisolatedruralsettings.Finally,thewayonegoesabout restorationdependsgreatlyonthesizeoftheareatoberestored aswellasontheamountoftimeandmoneyyouarewilling tospend(notethat“time”shouldbereckonedindecades; Irecommendagainstanyconsiderationofmoneymatters).
Top:LongleafPineRestorationatMorningsideNatureCenter,Gainesville,Florida.Photo©Dr.MerleKuns
EcologicalStartingPoints
Thepathsofleastresistancetorestorationdivergedwellbefore youfirstconsideredwhethertomovetowardsabreezysavannawith mega-diverseunderstoryorahardwoodhammockwith25speciesof overstorytrees.Ifsavannaisyourdestination,thenfromthestartyour problemmayverywellbeexcessiveshade.Pinesavannastypicallyhave widelyspacedmaturetrees,perhapsasfewas10-20peracre,withlots oflightandairmovementintheunderstory.[Fig.1]Naturalpine regenerationismostlyrestrictedtoplacesundergapsinthecanopy createdbythedeathoflargetrees.Ifyouarefacedwiththetaskof openingthecanopyofyourrestorationsite,youmayhavetogirdle, herbicide,bulldoze,orfelllargenumbersoftrees.Bewarnedthatsuch activitiesmightprecipitateamajorpublicrelationschallenge(Gobster 1994).Furthermore,sometreesmaybeprotectedbystatelaw,local stature,ortree-huggingfamilymembers.Ifyouareunwillingorunable toopenthecanopysothatatleast50%ofyourareaisinfullsun, perhapsyoushouldreconsideryourplansforsavannarestoration andthinkaboutmoreshadyoptions,ofwhichtherearemany.
Abandonedpasturesand lawnsmayreceiveplentyof sunshinebutnevertheless presenttheirownchallenges tosavannarestorationists.First ofall,manycultivatedgrasses arefavoredbylawnservices andcattleranchersforthevery reasonsthatmakethemhard toeradicate;theyareresilient, capableofrapidgrowth,and competeeffectivelywithour nativesforwaterandsoil nutrients.Gettingridof introducedgrassesmaybe difficultbutitsnecessarylest theychokeoutthespeciesyou aretryingtoreintroduce(but don’teradicatetheexoticgrasses beforeyouhaveestablished aswardoffire-carryingnatives). Anotherproblemwithrestoring pinesavannaswhereexotic grasseswereformerlycultivated derivesfromtheresidualeffectsofappliedfertilizers.
pokeberries,andothergarden-varietyweedsfavoredbydisturbed soilthatisrichinnutrients.
Formervegetablegardensorotherwiseplowedareaspresent anotherchallenge–burieddormantseedsofweedyspecies.Remember thatsummerafewyearsbackwhenitwasjusttoohotandhumidto weedyourgarden?Eachoftheweedplantsthatyoufailedtoyank outbytherootsprobablycontributedhundredsofseedstothesoil seed“bank.”Disturbthesoilwhenplantinglongleafpineseedlings orwiregrasstublingsandstepbackandwatchtheseedsofyoursloth germinateandcollectcompoundinterest.Neverfear,onceyoustop disturbingthesoil,theburieddormantseedproblemwilldiminish injustafewyears.
ReadingYourLandscape
Mostofournativespeciesadaptedoverevolutionarytimeto harshconditions,particularlynutrientscarcity.Assuch,theybenefit lessfromfertilizerthananumberofcommonnativeandexotic “weedy”species.Whilemostofthenutrientelementsincludedin commercialfertilizerstendtoleachawayrapidly(e.g.,potassium), others,particularlyphosphorus,tendtostickaroundformanyyears. Andwherethereareabundantnitrogen-fixinglegumes,likeclover orhairyindigo,thenutrientexcessproblemcanbeparticularlysevere. Dueinparttothisproblemofresidualfertility,ifyouplantwiregrass youmayendupgrowingSpanishneedles,morninggloryvines,
Beforeplantingyourfirstplant,weedingyourfirstweed,or conductingyourfirstburn,youneedtoemploy(andperhapshone) yourskillsasanecologicaldetective.Whatwasyourlandscapelike inthepast?Howdiditgetthewayyoufoundit?Whatcanit becomewithoutaridiculous amountofeffort?Toanswer thesequestionsyouwillneed tosearchforcluesabove andbelow-ground,within andbeyondyourproperty boundaries.Youwillalsobenefit fromexploringthememoriesof yourolderneighbors,searching outhistoricalaerialphotographs,andconsultingcounty soilmaps.Thepresenceor absenceofvariousindicator speciescanprovidemanyclues, asdoesvegetationstructure.But perhapsthebestplacetostart withlandscapereadingisatthe landscapeorgeographicallevel. Whereareyouinthe landscape?Areyouonthetop ofwhatpassesforahillinour partoftheworld?Howfaris ittothenearestnaturalfire break,suchasalakeorbig river?Isyourrestorationsiteontheedgeofanyprominentlandscape feature,likeamarshorravine?Theseandrelatedquestionsare importanttoanswerbecauselandscapelocationcanoverwhelmother environmentalfeaturesindeterminingwhichsortofecosystem developsonasite.Forexample,yourrestorationsitemayhavethe relativelyrichsoilcharacteristicofahardwoodhammockbutnever supportedamagnoliabecauseitissurroundedbyacresandacres ofdeepcoarsesandswithextremelyflammablevegetation.
Whenreadingyourlandscape,rememberthatoverthepast500 years,virtuallyalloftheuplandsonthecoastalplainhavebeengrazed bycattle,rootedbyhogs,tappedforturpentine,logged,andofcourse
Fig.1: LongleafpinesavannaattheJosephW.JonesEcologicalResearchCenter
Photo©JosephW.JonesEcologicalResearchCenter
Dr.PaulLyrene isprofessorofhorticultureattheUniversity ofFlorida.For30years,hehasbeenbreedingcommercial varietiesofhighbushblueberry–hybridscontainingamix ofgenesfromFloridanativeblueberryspecies,otherwild blueberriesandcultivatedblueberryhybrids.Paulalsohas astronginterestinnativeplantsandisamemberofthe PaynesPrairieChapterofFNPS.Hebelieveshabitatlossdue topopulationgrowth,agricultureandinvasivespeciesthreatens thefutureofmanyFloridanativeplantsandanimals.
Dr.ShirleyDenton,FloridaNativePlantSocietyPresidentand formerScienceAdvisoryCommitteeChair,isaplantecologist withover20yearsofexperiencedealingwithpracticalissues involvingnativeandnon-nativeplantsinundisturbedand urbanizedenvironments.HerPh.D.inforestecologyisfrom theUniversityofMichigan.Shirleyworksasanenvironmental consultantwithBiologicalResearchAssociatesinTampa,Florida.
Biodiversity &Native PlantGenetics
DavidDrylie,Jr.,isalandscapearchitectandthefounder ofGreenImages,aFloridanativelandscapecompany.Drylie helpeddraftFNPS’originalby-laws,servedontheboardof directorsfor10years,andwaspresidentoftheTarflower Chapter.HehelpedorganizetheAssociationofFloridaNative Nurseries(AFNN)andservedasitspresident.Hewaspresident ofthetheAmericanSocietyofLandscapeArchitects’Florida Chapterandservedonthenationalboardoftrustees.David iscurrentlyamemberoftheEndangeredPlantAdvisoryCouncil fortheFloridaDepartmentofAgricultureandConsumerServices.
CherylPeterson hasaMastersdegreeincellularand molecularbiologyfromtheFloridaInstituteofTechnology. CherylisconservationmanagerofHistoricBokSanctuary (HBS),whereshehasestablishedamoleculargeneticslab toaidconservationeffortsforendangeredplants.Shealso workswiththeCenterforPlantConservationtomaintain anex-situcollectionofrareplantspeciesatHBS.
Dr.MattGitzendanner isapopulationgeneticistatthe UniversityofFloridawhofocusesonconservationgenetics andevolutionarybiology.Akeygoalofhisresearchisto understandthegeneticpropertiesofrarespecies.Hebelieves thatabetterunderstandingofraritywillmakeitpossibleto moreeffectivelymanagethegeneticdiversityofspecies threatenedwithextinction.
PanelMembers: CherylPeterson DavidDrylie MattGitzendanner,Ph.D. ShirleyDenton,Ph.D. PaulLyrene,Ph.D.
PanelMonitor: BobEgolf
PhotobySidTaylor
PanelDiscussion–FNPSConference–May20,2006
Understandingthegeneticpropertiesofnative plantsisimportanttopreservingthediversity ofspeciesinthewild,butthereismuchtobe learnedaboutgenetics,speciation,survival,and howintroducedcultivarsinteractwithnative plantspecies.Therecent BiodiversityandNative PlantGeneticsPanelDiscussion broughtsome oftheseimportanttopicstolight.
CompiledbySidTaylor
Paul: Therearerelativedegreesofbiological threattonativeplants.Theworstthreatisloss ofhabitat.Thesecondworstisintroduced species,includinginvasiveplantsandinsects anddiseasesthatattacknativeplants.Ithink thecontaminationofnativeplantgenepools bycrosspollinationwithintroducedrelatives fromothergeographicalareasiscausingsome damage,butlessthanthefirsttwofactors.
Shirley: IagreewithPaul.Hereareexamples ofquestionswearealreadygrapplingwith: Theoriginof Ilexvomitoria var. shillings is Louisiana.Doesthispresentarisktonative Florida Ilex species?Isthisanappropriate landscapingplantforFlorida?Does Lantana camara poseariskto Lantanadepressa?What about Lantanadepressa var.“whatever”– isit acceptabletogrownativesalongsidehybrids whichcouldcrosswithoneanothereasily? Dicerandra isanotherspeciesofconcern.
GeneKelly,FNPSDirector-at-Large: Is Dicerandra anancientremnantthathas thecapabilityto developsubspecieseasily tosurviveorisitanewlyevolvedspecies?
Matt: Floridahasalonggeologichistory,so IlookatplantsinFloridaandtrytotelltheir story.Wehavelotsofhabitatshereandplants mayadapttojustasquaremeteroftheir environment–localadaptation.Ashumans movenativeplantsaround,wedisrupttheir patterns,andwemaymoveplantsthatare non-adaptable.Floridahasrefugiapopulations fromtheGlacialErawithmuchlonger adaptationhistorieswhencomparedtomore NorthernGlacialareasofNorthAmerica.
David: TheAssociationofFloridaNative Nurseries(AFNN)promotesgeneticreserves. Wegrowwhatpeopledemand.Inregardsto geneticpollutionandthe Ilexvomitoria var. shillings example,theplantsinquestionareall males.Whengrowingholliesfromseed,only 1in6seedlingsarefemale.Peoplewantfruits intheiryards,soIusecuttingsfromfemales toproducefemales.Whenmovingplants fromonesitetoanother,theapplicationof geneticpollutionisspeciesspecific.Isblue Serenoa anewplantorjustanewapplication?
(Note:TheAFNNcodeofethicscanberead atwww.afnn.org. TheAFNNPreservation andConservationPolicystates:AFNNsupports thepreservationandconservationofnative plantsintheirnaturalhabitatsandencourages theplantingofnativespeciesinlandscaping. AFNNadvocatesthepropagationofnative plantsbylicensednurseriesusingbest managementpractices).
Paul: Homosapiens isalsonew!
Cheryl: Ihavetwoconcerns–first, plantingornamentalsnearwildplants. Secondly,weareuncertainaboutthe distancepollentravels.Pollinationcanand doesintroduceadditionalgenesintonatural populations.Icalltheseconcernsbecause wedon’tknowenoughaboutthepotential consequencestobedoinganyofit.There arepotentialsformorphologicalchanges andadaptationswhichcouldmakethe progenylessfit.Therewillbespeciation (subjecttonewtaxonomicaldefinitions).
ConsiderLakela’smint, Dicerandra immaculata var. immaculata,whosenatural distributionoccursalongthenorthern St.LucieandsouthernIndianRivercounty borders,andthesubspecies Dicerandra immaculata var. savannarum,whichoccurs atthesouthernendofSt.LucieCounty.I’m concernedaboutdistributingandplanting Dicerandraimmaculata var. immaculata within pollinatingdistanceof Dicerandraimmaculata var. savannarum,orvisaversa.Weneedto keepthesubspecies‘true.’Webelieveittobe chemicallydifferentthanvar. immaculata, butchemicaltestinghasnotyetbeendone –wearehopingtogatherenoughmaterial todosothisfall.
Weneedtoaddresstheseissuesspecies tospecies.Todifferentiatethespeciesweneed touseDNAstudies,whichareexpensive.
David: ThePlantAdvisoryCouncil’slisted specieswhichareendangeredshouldbethe targetsforadditionalprotections.
AlisteneraskedCherylaboutthe Torreyataxifolia thatisplantedatBok Sanctuary,outsideofitsnaturalrange.
Cheryl: BokSanctuaryisamemberinstitution oftheCenterforPlantConservationand participatesintheNationalCollectionof EndangeredPlants,whosegoalispreserving livingspecimens,seedsandDNAforrare plants.The Torreya wasbroughttoBoktobe conservedasaex-situseedsourceincasethe Jackson,Liberty,andGadsdenCounty populationsareextirpated.Itisoneof38 endangeredspeciesinourNationalCollection.
Gene: Globalwarmingmaychangeour definitionoflocallyadaptedgenecomplexes. Isthisacompellingmotivetogoforward withactionforthepreservationofimperiled species?Areotherplantsocietiesaddressing thesequestions?
BobEgolf: IbelongtotheCaliforniaNative PlantSocietyandtheanswerthesecond questionisyes!Theyhaveaddedhorticulture totheirmissionstatementandareactively promotingcultivars.
Paul: Arecentstudypublishedin Science statedthaticecoresamplesindicatethelast timeglobalmeanairtemperaturewasashigh asitispresently,thesealevelwas20meters higherthanitisnow.Theimplicationisthat evenwithoutfurtherglobalwarming,enough icewillmelttoproducethatsealevelrise. Amapthataccompaniedthearticleshowed aboutone-thirdofwhatisnowdrylandin Floridabeingunderwaterwitha20meter rise.Theonlyhopeforsomerareplantsis totakethemintocultivation.
Ilexvomitoria var. shillings maynot beabigproblemintheenvironment,but itaddsnothingtothepreservationofthe native Ilexvomitoria,nortothefloraand faunathatdependonthenativespecies.We neednaturalpropagationinourcommunity landscapes.Sterilecultivarsarenotmuch helptobiodiversityconservation.Biodiversity conservationisalsonothelpedwhenthe landscapeindustryasexuallypropagatesand sellshugenumbersofoneclone.Species preservationdependsonthegenetic richness anddiversitythatcomesfromseedling populations.Propagatingonlyafewclones canleadtogeneticbottlenecking.
Propagating& PreservingPawpaws (andOtherRareSpecies)fromFlorida
"Manyplantspecieshavedisappeared fromtheearthforever,andmanymore faceextinction.Battlingthistrend isthemissionoftheEndangeredSpecies PropagationProgramatCREW."
–Dr.ValerieC.Pence
ABOUTTHEAUTHOR – Dr.ValerieC.PenceistheHeadofthePlant ConservationDivisionattheCenterforConservationandResearchof EndangeredWildlife(CREW)attheCincinnatiZooandBotanicalGarden. Dr.Penceconductsgroundbreakingresearchintheareasofplantpropagation andcryopreservation.
ShereceivedherB.S.fromMountHolyokeCollegeandherM.S.andPh.D. degreesfromNorthwesternUniversityinplantphysiologyanddevelopment.
Dr.PencehasreceivedtheWilsonPopenoeAwardfromtheAmericanSociety ofHorticulturalScienceandthe1998AssociationofZoologicalHorticulture ConservationAward,aswellasgrantsfromtheInstituteofMuseumand LibraryServices,theOhioDepartmentofNaturalResources,theNewEngland WildflowerSociety,andtheOhioOrchidSociety.
Herinterestsincludeadaptingandapplyingtheeverincreasingnumberof techniquesinplantsciencetoproblemsfacingendangeredplantspecies anddevelopingnewtechniqueswhereneeded.
Tolearnmoreabout Asiminatetramera andendangeredplantconservation,visit: www.fnai.org/FieldGuide/pdf/Asimina_tetramera.PDF
www.fws.gov/endangered/i/q/saq3q.html
www.boksanctuary.org/conservation/plants
www.cincyzoo.org/Conservation/GlobalConservation/rareplantprogram/rareplant
Evenonacoldwinter’sdayinJanuary,visitorstotheCincinnatiZoo&BotanicalGarden (CZBG)canenjoytheFloridamanatee,theAmericancrocodile,orthefour-petalpawpaw.The CZBG’sManateeSpringsexhibitprovidesvisitorswithatasteofFlorida’sbiodiversity,aswellasits conservationchallenges.WhiletheZoo’skeepersareactivelyinvolvedintheManateeRescue, RehabilitationandReleaseProgram,thePlantResearchDivisionofCREW(CenterforConservation andResearchofEndangeredWildlife)focusesonpropagatingandpreservingrareplantspecies,many ofwhich,likethefour-petalpawpaw,comefromFlorida.
TheEndangeredPlantPropagationProgram
TheworkonFloridaendangeredplantsbeganin1996withthePlantResearchDivision’s EndangeredPlantPropagationProgram(EPPP).ThepurposeoftheEPPPistouseinvitro,ortissue culturemethodsforpropagatingandpreservingendangeredplantswhentraditionalmethodsofplant propagation(seedsorcuttings)arenotadequate.WithfundingfromagrantfromtheInstituteof MuseumandLibraryServicesandcollaborationwiththeCenterforPlantConservationinSt.Louis, Missouri,speciesarenominatedastargetedspeciesintheEPPP.Oneofthefirsttobetargetedwas Asiminatetramera, thefour-petalpawpaw,nominatedbyHistoricBokSanctuary(then,BokTower Gardens),inLakeWales,Florida.TheonlyknownpopulationsofthisplantarefoundinPalmBeach andMartinCounties,Florida.ItislistedasendangeredbytheStateofFloridaandbytheU.S. governmentandisidentifiedasgloballyendangeredbytheInternationalUnionfortheConservation ofNatureandNaturalResources(IUCN).Aswithmanyrarespecies, Asiminatetramera isthreatened byhabitatloss,butalsosuffersfromfiresuppressionandproducesfewseeds.About30oftheseseeds weresenttoCREWtostarttheproject.
ThemethodsappliedatCREWareallbasedoninvitroortissueculturetechniques.These proceduresweredevelopedinthemiddleofthe20thcentury,firstforresearchandlaterforpropagationofeconomicallyimportantspecies.Smallpiecesofplanttissuearesurfacesterilizedandplaced inasterilecontainersuchasapetriplateoratesttube,withanartificial,nutrientmedium.The sterileenvironmentisimportant,sincebacteriaandfungicankillthetissues.Thetissuesarewashed withadilutesolutionofbleachoralcoholbeforebeingputontoamediumthatsuppliesminerals, sugarandplanthormones.
Thesehormones,alsoknownasplantgrowthregulators,areimportantbecausetheycan stimulateshootorrootgrowthfromplanttissues.Asmallshootbud,leaforstempieceplaced inculturecanbestimulatedtoproducemultipleshoots.[Fig.1]Theseshoots,inturn,canbe isolatedandmovedtofreshmediumtorepeattheprocess,indefinitely.Toproduceplants,shoots aretransferredtoamediumwithhormonesthatspecificallystimulatetheformationofroots. Onceashoothasroots,itcanbemovedoutoftissuecultureandacclimatedtosoilconditions.
ProducingRootsFromShoots
CREWresearchersgerminatedthe Asiminatetramera seedsandusedseedlingshoottipstoinitiate shootcultures.Althoughtissueculturemethodshavebeenappliedtomanyspeciesworldwide,each speciesisdifferentandmayrequiresomemodificationofstandardprocedures.Four-petalpawpaw shootcultureswereinitiatedwithinayearofreceivingtheseeds,butforseveralyearstheshootsdid notproduceroots,eventhoughseveralprotocolsweretested.Interestingly,horticulturistshave reportedthatrootinitiationincuttingsof A.tetramera andotherpawpawspecieshasalsobeen verydifficulttoachieve.
Fig.1: Shootsof Asiminatetramera in nutrientmedium.Once theshootsdeveloproots, theywillberemoved fromtissuecultureand acclimatedtogrowing insoilconditions.
PhotobyDr.ValerieC.Pence
Fig.2: Rootedshootsareslowlyacclimatedtolower humiditylevelsinafoggingtentbeforebeingmoved toambientconditions.Youngplantscanbeseeninthe potattheupperleft.
Fig.3: Invitrocollecting(IVC)allowsresearchersto collectplantsamplesinthefieldinvialsofsterile medium.Thevialsareeasliytransported,andallow hundredsofcollectionstobemadeduringasingle collectingtrip.
PhotosbyDr.ValerieC.Pence
In2001,abreakthroughcamewhenachemicalknownassilver thiosulphate(STS)wasaddedtothemedium.STSisknownto inhibittheactionofethylenegas,anaturalplanthormone.Typical ofplanthormones,someethyleneisneededforrootinitiation,buttoo muchcanbeinhibitory.ThefactthatSTSstimulatedrootingsuggested thattheseplantswereproducingtoomuchethyleneincultureand, thus,inhibitingrootinitiation.WithoutSTStherewasnorooting onthestandardmedium,butwithSTS,approximately25%ofthe shootsmaderoots.Thiswasdramatic,butstillnotideal.Ifwewished toproduce100plantsforoutplanting,wewouldneedtobeginwith atleast400shoots.Thesenumberswerestillabitdaunting.
Asaresult,CREWhasdonefurtherresearchonrootingin Asiminatetramera.Studiesoftheproductionofethyleneinculture by A.tetramera tissuesisunderwayusinggaschromatographyto measureethylenelevels.Inaddition,testsinvolvinghighdosesof rootinghormones(auxins)havealsoproveneffectiveinstimulating rootingtoasmuchas60%insomecases.
Onceshootsarerooted,theyarereadytobemovedbackinto the“realworld”,aprocesscalledacclimation.Inordertoslowly acclimatetheshootstolowerhumiditylevels,theplantletsare placedinafoggingtentintheCREWgreenhouseforseveralweeks beforebeingmovedtoambientconditions.[Fig.2]Whatisthefate oftheplantsthatareproduced?Somehavebeenusedfordisplay attheCZBG’sManateeSpringsexhibit.Othersarebeingprepared forareturntoFloridawheretheywillbepartofoutplanting experiments.Thesurvivalinthewildofplantsproducedintissue culturewillbecomparedwithtransplantedandnaturalseedlings thatarealsobeingmonitoredatseveralpopulationsites.
PreservingGeneticDiversityinPlantCollections
Thegoalofconservationistopreserveasmuchgenetic diversitywithinaspeciesaspossible,butwhenplantsarepropagated bytissueculture,theyareclonal,oridenticalgeneticcopiesofthe originaldonorplant.Thus,whentissuecultureisusedforconservation, asmanygeneticlinesaspossiblearepropagated,inordertoprovide amixofgeneticindividualsforoutplanting.Thesegeneticlines havebeencollectedwiththehelpofatechniqueknownasinvitro collecting,orIVC.[Fig.3]
IVCtakestissueculturetothefield.Researcherstakesmallpieces ofshoottipsoryoungleavesfromplantsgrowinginthewild,wipe themwithalcohol,andquicklyplacethemintosmallvialsofsterile medium.Thesevialsaresturdyandeasilytransported,andhundreds ofcollectionscanbemadeduringthecourseofacollectingtrip. WiththehelpofDr.AnneCoxandMarjorieShropshire,IVC collectionshavebeenmadefromdozensofdifferent A.tetramera plantsgrowinginseveralpopulationsofthespecies.Thesesamples weretakenbacktothelabatCREW,wheretheyweretransferred toplatesofmediumcontaininghormonestostimulateshootgrowth. Thesecollectionsareprovidingadiversemixofgenotypes,which arebeingdocumentedusingmolecularfingerprintingtechniques. Thesemethodsprovideapictureofthegeneticdifferencesbetween individualsandtheamountofdiversitywithinthecollection.
Thisgeneticdiversityisvaluable,notonlyforplantsbeing returnedtothefield,butalsoformaterialbeingpreserved.Ex-situ, oroff-site,conservationisanimportantback-uptotheprimary conservationeffortsofmaintaininghabitatforpopulationsinthe wild.Seedbanksarethemostefficientmethodsformaintaining plantmaterialex-situ,shouldthewildpopulationsbelost.But,for someplants,likethefour-petalpawpaw,traditionalseedbanking isnotanoption,sincefour-petalpawpawseedsare“recalcitrant”, orsensitivetodrying,whichisanecessarystepinseedbanking.
EndangeredPlantsintheFrozenGarden
CREWresearchershavedevelopedmethodsforfreezingthe tinyshoottipsfromthe Asiminatetramera cultures,andthesecan bekeptinliquidnitrogenindefinitely.Thisprocess,knownascryopreservation,requirespatienceandadelicatehandtodissectoutjust thetop1mmtipofeachshoot.Theseshoottipsarethenencapsulatedinasphereofgelandtreatedwithspecialchemicalsknownas cryoprotectants,whichhelpremovethewaterfromthetissuesand stabilizetheremainingbiochemicals.Whenthisprocessiscompleted,theencapsulatedshootsareplungedintoliquidnitrogen,where theyarerapidlyfrozen.Becausethetemperatureofliquidnitrogenis solow(-320oF;-196oC),biologicalmaterialsinliquidnitrogenare verystableandcanremainviablefordecades,orlonger.Although theprocedureismoreinvolvedthanstoringseeds,itisworkable andprovidestheonlymethodcurrentlyavailableforthelong-term storageofthegeneticdiversityof A.tetramera. [Fig.4]
Workwith A.tetramera isalsoservingasamodelforwork withtwootherpawpaws,thebeautifulpawpaw(Deeringothamnus pulchellus)andRugel’spawpaw(Deeringothamnusrugelii),which arealsoendemictoFloridaLike A.tetramera theyhaverecalcitrant seeds.OtherFloridaendangeredspeciesintheEPPPincludeAvon Parkharebells(Crotalariaavonensis),asmalllegumenativetothe centralFloridascrub.WorkingwithcollaboratorsatArchbold BiologicalStationinLakePlacid,Florida,plantsarebeingpropagatedforoutplantingprojectsatseveralsites.Workisalsobeingdone onseveralothertargetedspeciesincollaborationwithHistoricBok Sanctuary,FairchildTropicalBotanicGarden,andMarieSelby BotanicalGardens.
Whiletissueculturemethodscannotaddressalltheissuesof conservation,theyaretoolsthatcansupplementconservationefforts withparticularspecies.Asinthecaseofthefour-petalpawpaw, theycanbeappliedtocollecting,propagation,andlong-term preservationandcanhelpfillgapswhenothermethodsarenot adequate.TheCincinnatiZoo&BotanicalGardenistestingways inwhichlaboratoryresearchusingtissueculturemethodscan combinewiththeworkoffieldresearcherstohelpincreasethe numberofindividualsavailableforresearch,educationand reintroduction.Byusingallthetoolsavailable,bothlaboratory andfieldresearchersareworkingensurethesurvivalofthese endangeredplantsintothefuture. ❂
Whiletissueculturemethodscannot addressalltheissuesofconservation, theyaretoolsthatcansupplement conservationeffortswithparticularspecies.
Fig.4: CREW’s“frozengarden”preserves plantmaterialinliquidnitrogen,allowingfor thelong-termstorageofthegeneticdiversity ofthefour-petalpawpaw.
PhotobyDr.ValerieC.Pence
ReadingYourLandscape
Fig.2: Someresistant,resilient,orotherwisedurablesurvivorsfromformerpinesavannas
A. Chrysopsisscabrella (goldenaster)
B. Pityopsisgraminifolia (silkgrass)
C. Asiminaparviflora (small-floweredpawpaw)
D. Aristidastricta var. beyrichiana (wiregrass)
repeatedlyburned.Additionally,yourrestorationsitemighthavebeenplantedor plowedforcultivation.Firesweremostlikelysuppressed,atleastsincethepassing oflivestockfencinglawsinthe1950s.Alloftheseenvironmentalinterventions leaveclues,thefindingofwhichwillchallengeyouasanecologicaldetective andbenefityouasarestorationist.
Althoughallspeciesindicatesomethingaboutyoursite’spresentandpast environments,someplantspeciesaretypicallyusedasindicatorsofunderlying conditionsandland-usehistories.Forexample,specieswithnotablythickbark suchaslongleafandslashpines,andturkeyandbluejackoaks,arecharacteristic offrequentlyburnedsites.Iffireshavebeensuppressed,yoursiteismorelikelyto hostthinbarkedspeciessuchassandandsprucepines,alongwithlaurelandwater oaks.Downintheunderstory,pawpaws,pricklypears,andmilkweedsaregood indicatorsofformerlyopenconditions.Amongsttheherbaceousspecies,lookfor goldenaster,silkgrass,andscragglyclumpsofwiregrassifyoususpectthatsavanna wasinyoursite’shistory.[Fig.2]
Theabsenceofaspeciessometimesisasinformativeasitspresence,but thepitfallsofusingnegativeevidencearemany.Ifthecanopyofyourupland restorationsiteismoderatelyopenbutthereisnotasprigofwiregrasstobe found,chancesarethatitwasplowed.Similarly,becauselongleafpineswerethe focusofforestersandbecausetheydonotregeneratewellwithoutfire,theirabsence sayslittle.Sometimesallthatremainsoflongleafpinesaretheirresin-impregnated stumps,unlessofcoursetheywereexcavatedfortheirhigh-qualityresin.
Treesizesandcrownformscanalsotellyoualotaboutwhathappened toyourareaoverthepastseveraldecades.Forexample,treeswithlowbranches andwide-spreadingcrownsaregoodindicatorsofopenconditions.Multiplestemmedtreesaretypicallytheresultofsproutingfromthestumpsleftby
Profilesoflandscapescryingouttoberestored: I:Firesupression
● Afewlargelongleaforslashpinesintheoverstory
● Nopineregenerationapparent.Mid-storychoked byoaksandotherhardwoods.
● Counttheannualringsonalaurelorwateroak tojudgewhenfireswerefirstsuppressed.
II:Siteusedforgrazinglivestock
● Bigpinesareloblollies
● Afewfire-sensitivehardwoodsarescatteredaround
● Understorydominatedbybahiagrass,dogfennel, andhairyindigo.
● Watchyourstep!Youcouldtreadonapetrifiedcowpie ortearyourtrousersonsomeoldbarbedwire.
III:Abandonedpasture
● Abigliveoakwithaoncemajesticcrownisstruggling amidstaseaoflaureloaks,blackcherries,sweetgums, andotherhardwoods.Otherliveoaksshowonlytrunks withstubsoflowbranches.
● Counttheringsonhardwoodsencroachingontheliveoak todeterminewhengrazingandmowinghaltedonthis now-abandonedpasture.
IV:Logging,plowing,andfiresupression
● Adenseforestofhardwoodsdominatedbylaurelorwater oak,sweetgum,andpignuthickory,withafewmagnoliasand hollies,alllacedtogetherwithmuscadinegrapevines.
● Ifclayispresentafootorsobelowthesoilsurface,you mayhaveoneofthoseraresitesthathasbeenhardwood dominatedforalongtime.Otherwise,youareseeingtheresult ofloggingandplowing,followedbyfiresupression.
Above:Photos©ShirleyDenton
Right:Photos©Dr.MerleKuns
A B
loggersoraftertreesweretop-killedbyfires.Andifthereareafew largetreesandmanysmallones,youhaveevidencethatwhatever processwasresponsibleforkeepingthesitefrombeingconverted fromsavannaintoforestwassuspendedataboutthetimethat thesmalltreesregenerated.
SoilMatters
Inourregion,firefrequencyandintensitycoupledwithflooding depthanddurationmostlygovernwhatgrowswhere,butsoildoes matter.SinceallFloridiansliveonwhatisorwasbeach,sandisthe primaryconstituentofmostofoursoils,butsandissurprisingly variable.Whetheryouhavefinesandorcoarsesand,whitesugar sandoryellowcoatedsand,puresandorsandmixedwithalittlebit ofclayreallymakesadifference.Throwinsomeorganicmatterand perhapsachunkoflimestone,andyouhavethesoilsofFlorida (Collins1997).Somebasicknowledgeaboutsoilclassificationmight helpyoutoworkwithyoursite’snaturaltendencies.[Fig.3]Hereare somekeycharacteristicsusedinsoilclassification:
1.Sand,sand,andmoresand.Ifyouhavesandbeneaththe litterlayerandsandwhenyourefusetodiganydeeper,you probablyhaveanEntisol.Usuallythesandinthissoiltypeis yellowishwithoutanydifferentiationintoobvioushorizons(layers ofsoildifferingintextureorcolor)belowthetop6-12inchesinto whichorganicmatterhasbeenthoroughlyincorporated.Entisols aredroughty,sobepreparedtoirrigateyourtransplantsuntiltheir rootsystemsarefullydeveloped.
2.IfyoursoilstartsoutlookinglikeanEntisol,butthendigging getsharderafootorthreebeneaththesurfaceduetosomeclay,you haveanUltisol.Thatlittlebitofclayhelpsretainwaterandnutrients, whichsoundsgoodbutusuallymeansthatsavannarestoration requiresagreatdealofbeatingbackthelushgrowthofhardwoods.
3.Iftherearedrainagecanalsinyourneighborhood,yoursand iscoveredbyaninchorsooforganicmatter,andbeneaththesurface layerisafootormorethickofcoarseandextraordinarilywhite sand,thensuspectaSpodosol.Ifthewhitesandhorizonandyour excavationeffortsterminateabruptlyatablackordarkbrown hardpan,thenyouareindeeddealingwithaSpodosol.Thehardpan iscomposedofconsolidatedorganicmatter,andaluminumwith someironleacheddownfromthenowwhitelayerabove.Ifyouare persistentandchipyourwaydownthroughit(palmettorootsdoit allthetime)you’llgetbackintosand,butthistimeofyellow-brown shadesandgenerallymoist.Thehardpan“perches”thewatertable duringtherainyseason,oftenmakingforsquishywalkingforseveral monthsperyear.Spodosolsgenerallydevelopinseasonallywetareas onsandswithverylownutrientcontents–theyaregreatforslash pines,pitcherplants,sawpalmettos,andsalamanders.
Geographical,Political,andSocialSettings
Yourrestorationoptionswillvarydependingonwhetheryour siteisinasuburbanneighborhoodorinamoreremotearea. Ecosystemrestorationwillsomedaybeencouragedeverywhere,but inthemeantime,manywould-berestorationistshavetograpplewith neighborhoodbansonburning,notionsofnaturecorruptedbythe lawncareindustry,andscarcityofplantingmaterials.Nevertheless, duetogrowingrecognitionoftheexcessivewaterneedsofmany
horticulturalendeavors,xeriscapingisbecomingincreasinglyfavored. Similarly,theon-goingeutrophicationoflakes,rivers,andbelowgroundaquifersshouldhaveeveryoneworriedabouttheenvironmental effectsofleachedlawnfertilizers.Atthesametime,exoticspecies, manyofwhichwereintroducedforhorticulturalpurposes,are homogenizingourgloriouslydiverseecosystems.Finally,incontrast tothehotwildfiresthatburndownhousesinareaswherefireshave beenlongsuppressed,pinesavannafiresareeasytocontrol.Your restorationeffortswillthereforebeappreciatedwhenitisrealized thatestablishedpinesavannasrequirenoirrigationorfertilizer,do notneedtobemowedweeklywithnoise-makingandair-polluting machines,andrepresenteffectivefirebreakswhenadjacentunburned areaseventuallyandunavoidablydogoupinflames.
ReferencesCited
Collins,M.E.1997.KeytosoilordersinFlorida.http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/SS113
Gobster,P.H.1994.Theurbansavanna:Reunitingecologicalpreferenceand function.RestorationandManagementNotes12:64-71.
Fig.3: ThreecommonsoilsofFlorida
1:Entisol– Sand,generallyyellowishincolor.Noobvioushorizon layersbelowthetop6–12inchesintowhichorganicmatterisincorporated.
2:Ultisol– Anupperlayerofsandcoversalayerofclay,found onetothreefeetbelowthesurface.
PhotoscourtesyofDr.MaryE.Collins,UniversityofFlorida
3:Spodosol– Organicmatterinthetopsoillayercoverscoarsewhitesand, whichterminatesinahardpanlayercomposedoforganicmatter,aluminum andironleacheddownfromthewhitelayerabove.
Photo©ShirleyDenton
Audiencemembersstated:Hurricanesplayan additionalrolebyblowingpollen.Theypush pollenlongerdistancesandalsopromote longerseeddispersals.Thisisanaturalprocess. Soisextinction. Diospyros isatropicalspecies fromtheCaribbeanthatcamewithastormand in5to10yearsitwasgone–itdidnotadapt.
SharonRich: Dr.RufinoOsoriooncetold usthatwhatyouputoutinyourlandscape fromanurseryisalreadyadifferentand “new”introduction.Weneedtopreserve wildplantdiversitytosupportourwildlife. Dr.Osorioasked“howdoyouknowthe Lantanadepressa thatyoupurchasedisnot promotingsome L.camara genetics?”
Anaudiencememberstated: Lantanadepressa isbeingplantedoutsideitsrangesothere islessriskthatitwillcrosspollinatewith thenative L.involucrata.
Sharon: Whataboutfirebush–Ihavereadit iscrossedwithanAfricanspeciesforitsvigor.
Alistenersaid:Thelackofavailabilityof certainplantsiscausingthedemandfor particularspeciesofbutterflyattracting plants.Weneedtoexaminethesourcesfor specieswhichareofquestionableparentage.
David: Lastyear,afterallthehurricane damage,demandforseaoatswasgreater thansupplysoseedsandplantsfromNorth CarolinaandtheBahamaswerebrought toFloridatoincreasetheiravailability fordunerestoration.
Alistenersaid:westcoastdune sunflower isanotherplantofquestionableparentage. Growersdon’talwaysknowthehistory oftheplantstartstheyarecloning.
MarthaSteuart: Weneedtoaddressthese issuesseparately–rareplantsvs.garden plants.Whatisthelongtermview?Are eithersurvivingthenext10,000years? Whyaresomerare?Whichareonthe waytoextinction?Hybridscanbemorphologicallylargerandtheyhavemixedgenes.
Shirley: Raritycanindicateanewlyevolved species. Torreyataxifolia –doesitstillhave apurpose?Taxonomistswouldtellyouitis
aprimitivespecies,aremnantfromacolder erainFlorida.
Dr.ElianNorman: Whataboutthe speciesincludedintheDepartmentof Transportation’sroadsideplantings,thatwe knowaremostlyfromTexasseedsources?
David: DOTpreviouslyusedavailableseeds, untilthelastfewyears,thankstofundsfrom thewildflowerlicenseplateprogram.
SidTaylor: JohnKunkelSmall’sbook FromEdentoSahara,describinghistravels andobservationsinFloridafrom1900 tothe1930swasrecentlyreprinted.Small figured Coreopsislanceolata and Gaillardia drummondii tobeexoticspecies100years ago.Hisecologicalobservationsandnotes onthelandscapeofhistimearepriceless backgroundforattemptsatrestorationtoday.
PatriciaBurgess: Iamtryingtorestorethe CastleHillSiteandthereI’mcompeting withlargerrestorationprojectstogetthe plantsIneed.Howdowegetsomeofthe $22millionavailabletolocallygrowthese plants–forexample Warea and Paronychia?
CammieDonaldson: Thisisanareaperhaps FNPScouldhelpwith.Talktousabout contractingwithgrowers.Collectivelywe needtobeeducatingpeopleontheneed forsourcesfortheseplants.Ourmission isconservationandrestoration.Also, Cherylsaidthereisnotmoneyfortesting plantDNA.Couldwehelp?
Alistenersaid:AfewyearsagoBrightman /LoganapproachedInstituteofFoodand AgriculturalSciences(IFAS)withaproposal forgrowingrarespecies?Whathappened withthat?
PeggyGretchen:We(FNPS)dropped theball.
RayWunderlich: Howdoescloningfrom cuttingsaffectlongtermdiversity?
Paul: Havingjustoneclonesourceisan issue.Weneedtoknowwhatwearecloning–itsgeneticsandgeographicorigin,andadd otherclonestomaintaingeneticdiversity.
Ray: Shouldthereberulesandregulations togoverntheseneedsweareconsidering?
Alistenersaid:Wedon’twanttoburden thenurseryindustrywitharule.Itisn’t practicalanditscostly.Theseissueshave tobeaddressedspeciestospecies.
Cammie: Thiscouldbeanopportunity. AFNNhaslabelsthatidentifynativeplants. Thespecificoriginofaplantcouldbe addedtothelabelandFNPScouldhelp theindustrybypromotingthistoconsumers. Theindustryistryingtodobusiness,but thereareethicalandmoralconcernsthat FNPScanhelptaketheleadon.
David: Ifyoulookatmybalancesheet forthelasttwoyears,whetherornotIam runningabusinessisquestionable.Igrew muhlygrass25yearsagobeforetherewas ademandandhadtothrowaway2000 plants.Igrewsandliveoaksfromacorns –nooneboughtthem.Supplyanddemand isachickenandeggstory.Youcan’thold nurserystockforever–youhavetomove yourproduct.AFNNgrowerscouldbe contractedtohelpupfrontwithrestoration projects.Theyneedtobeaskedtostartthe plantsthatwillbeneededin2to4years.
Alistenersaid:Anairportauthorityneeded 100,000pondcypressaslargetrees.They developedarelationshipwithagrowerand overseveralyears,gottheneededtrees.
David: Schedulingwithagrowersohehas plantsreadywhenitistimetocompletea projectwiththeplantingsiscrucial.But canthegrowerusuallyguaranteetheseed sourceheused–no!
SteveWoodmansee: Lantanadepressa is beingplantedoutsideitsnaturalrange (therocklands/pinelandsofMiami-Dade County).Wearecreatingartificialecological boundaries.Somemunicipalitiesareplanting mahoganytreesalongroadsoutsideofits rangeinMonroeCounty.Ismahogany becominganexotic?Solution:germplasm availability.Itishardtokeepaheadof thebulldozersanddevelopers.Weneed topromoteplantrescuesonsitesthatwill bedisturbedtosavethegeneticmaterial.
DanielaDeBiase: Doesallthisapplyequally everywhere?Doweneedtobemorecareful ona200,000acrepreservethanapersonin anhighlydisturbedurbanneighborhood?
David: WeneedtoknowtheDNAto answerthis.Weoweourfirstlayerof protectiontoFlorida’spubliclands, whichcomprise27%ofthestatenow.
Alistenersaid:Backaddressingspecific species,casebycase.
Shirley: Differentstandardsapplytoa restorationarea.Westcoastfolksare planting Illiciumfloridanum,yellowanise, whichdoesn’toccurtherenaturally.Soit isinnocuous.Harmless.Nothingto corrupt.Butplantinganativelantanain aseaof Lantanacamara is“plantrape.”
NancyBissett: Howareplantspropagated atTheNativesinDavenport?Wearetrying topromotebiodiversitywhichwillcontribute somethinginthehabitatswheretheplants willbeplaced.Ifmyhusband,Bill,wasin thisroomhewouldsay,“Itisnotenough tohavepreservationareasandnotjustas corridors.Weneedpreservationwithinour livingspaces.Weneedmorediversityin ourlifestyles.”Weneedfewercultivars.
Matt: Remember,notalldiversityisgood, i.e.,BahamianseaoatsgrowinginFlorida.
PatriciaBurgessorStephenTonjes: Stuffisn’tavailable.Industryisplayingcatch up.Thereisnothingworsethanplanting anativeanditdies.Sometimesproject specificationshaveunreasonableexpectations andregulations.Communitystandardsare toohigh–forexample,ruleswhichrequire plantingtreeswithlargediameters.
David: For25yearsIhavefoundithardto predictwhatpeoplearegoingtoaskmefor. Iencourageacontinueddiscussionbetween landscapers,developersandgrowers.The consumerneedstosaytothegrowers, “Ifyougrowit,I’lluseit!”
Anaudiencememberstated:Collectthe seedsourcewithina50-100milerangefor thelandscapecontractors’needs.
David: Codesgoverntheprocess.80%of cultivarsareplantedonprojectswhosespecificationsdemandthem.Plantsarerequired tobeuniforminsize,color,andshape.The waytoachievethisistogrowcultivars.
Daniela: Togrowers–ifyouplanttoo manynatives,trytofindataxwrite-offby havingFNPSfolksadoptthemoradvertise throughAFNNforcheapstockavailable.
Shirley: Weneedtotweakthecodesfroma grassrootslevel.Whencommunityguidelines comeupforreviewweneedtomakemore reasonablesuggestionsforplantsizes,etc,
David: Whenatreebuffer20to50feettall isrequiredinaparkinglot,theplanthas tobeageometricshapeandisinessence an“architecturalcomponentoftheparking lot”facingalifetimeofhardpruning.For suchstringentspecsasthis,orforahedge tobeusedasawall,cultivarsarethevigorous plantsthatwillsurviveinthatspace.
Listenerscommented:Landscapecodesare negotiablewithlocalgovernments.Conflicts canbediscussedwiththeplansreviewer. –Weneedtotalkwithplanningboards andworkwithDOT.Weneedtolookat ourlandscapingordinances.Workwith otherstotweakthecodes.Environmental interestgroupscanhelpwritemorerealistic codesandaddressplantgrowingneeds.Find outtherestraintsofthebuildingindustry. –Putaclauseinthenegotiationwiththe contractorsothatyoucanuseplantsthat areavailable,ratherthanspecificplants whichmightnotbeavailable.Havethe environmentalengineerwritethisclause intoyourcontract.
–Weneedmoreenvironmentalsensitivity andmorenativeplantuseinthelandscape. Toachievethis,weneedknowledgeof habitats,notjustofplants.
BobEgolf: Weneedthepublicationthat AFNNusedtouse–XericLandscapingwith FloridaNativePlants.MaybeAFNNwill workwithFNPSreprintit.
DavidChiappini: ItisintheAFNN5-year plantoreprintthis.UniversityPressof Floridawantsmorephotos,andweneedto
findagraduatestudenttoeditit.AFNN supportsFNPShelpingwiththispublication.
Anaudiencememberstated:Analternative ideacouldbeahand-outforretailersto distributeaboutnotplantingtroublesome plantsoutsidetheirnaturalrange.
Paul: Iunderstandthegrowers’needfor planning.WhenIreleaseanewblueberry hybrid,everybodywantsitandwecan’t meetthatdemandfor3or4years.Weneed communicationbetweenlandscapersand propagators.Tellyourgrowersfarenoughin advancewhatyouwillwantsotheyhave timetopropagatetheplantsfordelivery whenyouwillneedthem.
Matt: Remembertoaddressthegenetics andtheneedforbiodiversity.
UsefulDefinitions
Clone –Agroupofgeneticallyidentical cellsorindividuals,derivedfromacommon ancestorbyasexualdivision.
Cultivar –Anyvarietyorstrainofplant whichhasbeenproducedbyhorticultural techniquesandisnotnormallyfoundin wildpopulations.
Diversity –Mostsimply,thespecies richnessofacommunityorarea.
Geneticerosion –Thelossofgenetic informationthatoccurswhenhighly adaptablecultivarsaredevelopedand threatenthesurvivaloftheirmore locallyadaptedancestors.
Germplasm –Thehereditarymaterial transmittedtooffspring.
Germplasmbanking –Theconservation ofhereditarygeneticmaterialwhichmay belostthroughgeneticerosion.
REFERENCES
MichaelAllaby,editor.1992. TheConciseOxfordDictionaryofBotany OxfordUniversityPress,London.
FNPSChapters& Representatives
Forchaptercontactinformation,pleasevisit http://www.fnps.org/pages/chapters/chaptermap.php
1.Broward .........................MollyTaylor&JackLange..............................................jl_phoenix@comcast.net
2.Citrus ..............................TeddiBierly......................................................................jbierly@tampabay.rr.com
3.Coccoloba ......................MarkMiller....................................................director@fnps-coccolocachpater.org
4.Cocoplum .......................JoanBausch.....................................................................................jclb@gate.net
5.Conradina .......................ReneeShaffer.................................................................shaffer_m@bellsouth.net
6.Dade ...............................LynkaWoodbury....................................................lwoodbury@fairchildgarden.org
7.Eugenia ..........................SueThompson....................................................................sue@pa-services.com
8.Heartland .......................KeelyPesch..........................................................................kpesch@earthlink.net
9.Hernando ........................JimClayton......................................................................geoska10@hotmail.com
10.LakeBeautyberry ..........RonaldPlakke............................................................................flplakke@aol.com 11.LakelasMint ..................RoyceSisson.................................................................roycesisson@hotmail.com 12.LiveOak .........................RandyHarelson.................................................................rharelson@earthlink.net 13.LongleafPine .................AmyHines.................................................................amy@sidestreamsports.com 14.Lyonia ..............................RayJarrett..............................................................................sjarrett1@cfl.rr.com 15.Magnolia ........................NiaWellendorf.............................................................snwellendorf@earthlink.net 16.Mangrove .......................John&ChristineHolyland.....................................christineholyland@comcast.net 17.Naples ............................DuaneRepp......................................................................dlrmanrjr@earthlink.net 18.NatureCoast ..................SusanVaughn..........................................................................vaughn_s@firn.edu 19.PalmBeach ....................CynthiaPlockelman......................................................cplockle@mindspring.com 20.Pawpaw .........................PaulRebmann..................................................................wildflpaul@earthlink.net 21.PaynesPrairie ................ErickSmith..................................................................................edsmith@ufl.edu 22.Pinellas DebbieChayet&RayWunderlichIII.....dchayet@verizon.net;rayrunner@yahoo.com 23.SeaRocket ....................PaulaBerntson.......................................................................jepasm.3@juno.com 24.Serenoa ..........................MikeKenton......................................................michael.kenton@co.manatee.fl.us 25.SouthRidge ...................NormanCook.........................................................................seedman@ispvip.biz 26.Suncoast .......................GeorgeKish......................................................................gkish@tampabay.rr.com 27.Tarflower ........................GreggWalker...........................................................................asligregg@aol.com
TheFloridaNativePlantSociety POBox278
MelbourneFL32902-0278
