Notes and News: Noteworthy Additions to the Carex of Mississippi; Pinus Strobus and Heterotheca Subaxillaris New to Long Island
ABSTRACT Four native and one naturalized species of Berberidaceae occur in the flora of Ohio.
ABSTRACT Plants were grown to maturity in an experimental garden from a composite sample of seed collected randomly from ten widely separated populations along the Mississippi coast of the tidal marsh rush, <em>Juncus roemerianus</em>. Progeny segregated into two plant types: hermaphrodites bearing perfect flowers and females bearing pistillate flowers. No plants with staminate flowers were produced, nor were there any exceptions to the above distribution of flower types on individual plants. Examination of 1,323 flowering plants revealed that 861 (65%) produced only perfect flowers and 462 (35%) produced pistillate flowers. Almost twice as many plants bearing perfect flowers were produced in comparison to those bearing pistillate ones. The reason for this ratio is not presently known. This study provides experimental evidence and proof that <em>Juncus roemerianus</em> is gynodioecious. Furthermore, gynodioecism in <em>J. roemerianus</em> makes it unique among rushes and rare among monocotyledoneous plants.
Book Review: Endangered and Threatened Pants of Ohio
ABSTRACT Wildrice (<em>Zizania aquatica</em> L.) pollen is collected and eaten by the bees, <em>Bombus vagans</em> Smith, <em>Dialictus imitatus</em> (Smith), and the syrphid fly, <em>Toxomerus politus</em> (Say) in Maryland. A brief review of the literature on other insects visiting typically wind-pollinated flowers of Poaceae and Cyperaceae is provided.
ABSTRACT Wood anatomy of <em>Betula uber</em> (Ashe) Fernald is described and compared with woods of other birches belonging to series <em>Humiles</em> and series <em>Costatae</em>. Anatomically, wood of <em>B. uber</em> is typical of birches in general. On the basis of pore size and frequency, fiber characteristics, axial xylem parenchyma distribution, and absence of aggregate rays, it is argued that <em>B. uber</em> is properly classified in series <em>Costatae</em>. Resolution of its relationships within series <em>Costatae</em> is not apparent from wood data.
ABSTRACT Ten wetlands, each at least 1 ha in size, are associated with marl deposits in eastern West Virginia. These wetlands contain a predominantly herbaceous, calciphilic flora which includes twenty-seven species of vascular plants considered to be rare in the State. Disturbances, including drainage, impoundment, and grazing, have been widespread and may have led to a reduction in the number of rare species that occur within a wetland.
Book Review: Naturalist’s Big Bend. An Introduction to the Trees and Shrubs, Wildflowers, Cacti, Mammals, Birds, Reptiles, and Amphibians, Fish, and Insects
ABSTRACT <em>Helonias budlata</em> L. (Liliaceae), Swamp Pink, is a rare disjunct species inhabiting few bogs in the Southern Appalachians. Its main range is the coastal plain from Virginia to New Jersey. The status of the species in the Southern Appalachians is presented with a summary of population number, population size, inflorescence number and population threats. The breeding system of the species is also described. <em>Helonias</em> is self-compatible and produces large numbers of seed per plant, however, the browsing of inflorescences, the restricted seed dispersal, and sparsity of safe sites for germination appears to reduce the potential number of seedlings entering the populations. Seed appears to be a minor contributor to the continued maintenance of these populations.
ABSTRACT A short segment of the Little River as it crosses the Fall Line in Hanover County, Virginia, was the focus of this floristic study. Plants were collected throughout the growing seasons of 1976 and 1977 and intermittently from 1978 through 1981. The study area is characterized by six distinct habitats: 1) lowlands, 2) lower to middle slopes, 3) upper slopes and ridges, 4) upland flats, 5) rocky coves and 6) disturbed habitats. The flora of the study area is a mixture of Piedmont and Coastal Plain species. The catalogue of the vascular plants includes 93 families, 278 genera and 453 species. The Asteraceae and the Poaceae are the two largest families representing 21% of the flora.