A Survey of the Vascular Flora of Some Igneous Glades at Buford Mountain Conservation Area, Missouri

ABSTRACT Buford Mountain Conservation Area, located primarily in the northeastern corner of Iron County, Missouri, on the border with Washington County, is both geologically and floristically unique. To help develop an area management plan, the Missouri Department of Conservation was interested in conducting a floristic survey of vascular plants on a designated igneous glade region. The purpose of this study was to provide a vouchered floristic inventory, and to document any occurrences of rare or endangered taxa. The floristic survey was conducted over parts of two growing seasons (from 7 August 2010 to 2 August 2011) during which specimens were collected on approximately weekly to biweekly intervals. A controlled burn that encompassed the entire study site was conducted by the Missouri Department of Conservation on 13 April 2011 in an attempt to discourage encroachment by Carya ovata (shagbark hickory) and Juniperus virginiana var. virginiana (red cedar). A total of 132 vascular plant taxa (including 15 taxa identified to the level of variety or subspecies) in 102 genera and 49 families were collected, including 3 ferns, 1 gymnosperm, 25 monocots, and 103 dicots. All of the taxa were native except for Setaria faberi (nodding foxtail). The most diverse family was the Asteraceae with 22 species, followed by the Fabaceae and Poaceae represented by 14 and 12 species, respectively. The most diverse genus was Panicum with six different species. Only one species of conservation concern was collected, Eupatorium semiserratum (a thoroughwort), which was abundant in the wooded areas surrounding the glades.