These two recent publications treat those plants potentially poisonous to humans either by ingestion or skin contact. They are compilations from the literature and as such present no new information on the subject.
These two recent publications treat those plants potentially poisonous to humans either by ingestion or skin contact. They are compilations from the literature and as such present no new information on the subject.
The Georgia Botanical Society has begun publication of a new botanical magazine, Tipularia, devoted to the state’s native plants and related subjects. The first issue appeared in November 1986; the second is scheduled for May 1987. The goal is three issues the second year and quarterly publication by the third year.
Matos and Rudolph (1985) report several species found in the Roy E. Larson Sandylands Sanctuary, part of the Big Thicket, Hardin County, Texas, as endemics to Texas (endemics to Texas and Oklahoma in one case). Hardin County is about 30 km west of the Louisiana border and the habitat is continuous from east Texas into Louisiana. Endemism in state terms is unlikely in such situations.
The cedar glade endemic Viola egglestonii is reported for the first time from Indiana, eastern Tennessee and two additional counties in Kentucky. In Indiana, the species grows on a Paleozoic (shaley) limestone glade in Harrison County in the Interior Low Plateaus Physiographic Province, in eastern Tennessee it occurs on Paleozoic limestone glades in Hamilton and Meigs counties in the Ridge and Valley Physiographic Province and in Kentucky the new records of occurrence are for limestone glades in Jefferson and Hardin counties in the Interior Low Plateaus Physiographic Province.
Lepuropetalon spathulatum (Saxifragaceae), a minute and little-known winter annual native to the southeastern and south-central United States, has been found within the state of Florida. This discovery extends the range into all the southeastern coastal plain states. The species, hitherto assumed rare, is now known from 130 counties, from southeastern North Carolina to eastern Texas and southeastern Oklahoma. A map is provided. Apparent frequency is much higher in the south-central states where collectors have been active. The suggestion is made that examination of suitable habitats in the early spring would disclose a greater abundance of this plant than has previously been suspected.
In the most recent monographic study of the decurrent-leaved species of Helenium, Rock treated H. virginicum Blake, and the varieties of H. autumnale L., as a single species complex. Rock based this treatment on the apparent continuity of variation within the complex and his uncertainty as to the basis of this variation. To begin to determine if reported differences between H. virginicum and H. autumnale are genetic or phenecotypic, an experimental garden comparison of H. virginicum with H. autumnale var. parviflorum (Nutt.) Fern. was undertaken. Genetically based differences between these taxa were found in height, bolting date, blooming period, cauline leaf morphology and abundance, pappus length, and length of basal leaves during flowering. The presence or absence of basal leaves during flowering was found not to be a good distinguishing character. Field observations suggest that H. virginicum and H. autumnale var. parviflorum are ecologically isolated.
Popcorn disease, known to be caused by Ciboria carunculoides (Siegler and Jenkins) Whetzel, was observed on a single white mulberry tree (Morus alba L.) growing in south central Kentucky. The disease was not found on other white or red (Morus rubra L.) mulberries growing nearby. Diseased fruits were significantly (P<0.01) heavier, longer, and wider than normal fruits. On the lower branches, approximately one-half of the berries were diseased, whereas the proportion of diseased fruits decreased in the higher branches.
The Blackwater Ecologic Preserve includes the northernmost stand of Pinus palustris in the United States as well as several associated species unique in Virginia. The following two relict pyrophytic communities are recognized: Pinus palustris/Quercus laevis/mixed ericads on a sand ridge and Pinus serotina/Pinus serotina–Quercus laevis/mixed ericads or Pyxidanthera barbulata on a moist sand flat. Other communities include a mixed oak-pine slope, a black gum swamp, a river bluff, and an alluvial flat. Vegetation analyses of each community are presented. The history of botanical exploration, presettlement vegetation of the area, and importance of Pinus palustris in Virginia are discussed.
Vegetation and soil characteristics of five, steeply sloped sandstone glades located in Devil’s Den State Park, Arkansas were surveyed. Soil factors were similar to those of other glade types reported in the literature. Mean soil depth was 5.2 cm, and 90% of all soil depth measurements were <10 cm. Quercus stellata and Juniperius virginiana were the most common tree species, and mean basal area for all trees was only 3.6 m2ha-1. Schizachyrium scoparium was a dominant species on all five glades. Coreopis palmata, Aristida dichotoma, and Helianthus hirsutus were co-dominants on one glade each; grasses comprised 46% of herbaceous vegetation.
Using diagnostic plant species, an index was developed that is sensitive to site potential on the Savannah River Plant property within the upper coastal plain of South Carolina. Low index values indicate xeric, high upland flats and gentle slopes, while high index values represent mesic to hydric alluvial bottoms. A significant relationship was found between the vegetation index and loblolly pine site index. Vegetation index scores can provide useful resource interpretations for many disciplines.