Volume 61 – Issue 2 (June 1996)

The quillwort Isoetes virginica was described from material from a single location in west central Virginia in 1937. Subsequent treatments have considered it to be either a rare Virginia endemic, a synonym of Isoetes melanopoda or as a broadly defined taxon including the Piedmont endemic Isoetes piedmontana. The discovery of a new population near the type locality and rediscovery of an historical station has permitted cytological and ecological investigations of the original species concept. These investigations establish that Isoetes virginica is tetraploid and provide additional morphological and ecological evidence for this distinct species. Characteristics separating Isoetes virginica from the morphologically similar Isoetes piedmontana and Isoetes melanopoda are discussed. A lectotype for Isoetes virginica is designated. This pteridophyte is considered a Virginia endemic with a total known population of about 350 plants.

Keys and descriptions are presented for the 27 genera and 76 species of Ericaceae (including Empetraceae, Monotropaceae, Pyrolaceae, Vacciniaceae) in the southeastern United States. The largest genera include: Rhododendron (16 spp.), Vaccinium (11 spp.), Gaylussacia (8 spp.) and Lyonia (5 spp.).

Silphium wasiotense Medley was recently described as S. wasiotensis (Medley 1989). Campbell et al. (1993) and Kartesz (1994) give “wasiotense” as the correct orthographic form of the epithet. Silphium wasiotense was previously known only from the Rugged Eastern Area of the Cumberland Plateau (as defined by Braun 1950) in eastern Kentucky. According to maps in Campbell et al. (1993), about 40 populations of S. wasiotense are known.

We sampled aboveground biomass in four stands of oak-saw palmetto scrub vegetation that were 2, 4, 8, and 25 years since the previous fire by harvesting 1 m2 plots. Biomass samples were analyzed for major nutrients. We sampled and analyzed soils from the 0-15 cm and 15-30 cm layers. Stands were dominated by Quercus myrtifolia, Q. geminata, Q. chapmanii, Serenoa repens, and ericaceous shrubs. Live aboveground biomass (excluding saw palmetto rhizomes) increased with time since fire. Litter biomass increased for eight years after fire. Standing dead biomass was an important component of above-ground biomass throughout the time sequence. Aboveground saw palmetto rhizomes were a major biomass category. Nutrient concentrations in live aboveground biomass did not appear to change with time since fire and were similar to those in other shrublands. Biomass pools of major nutrients frequently equaled or exceeded those in the soil, but wetter sites had more organic matter and nutrients in the soil. Atmospheric deposition of N, P, Ca, Mg, and K was low compared to biomass pools. Retention of nutrients in soils and regrowing vegetation after fire may be important to the persistence of scrub on low nutrient soils.

The distribution of twenty taxa of Carex (Cyperaceae) in West Virginia is described, with miscellaneous notes on habitat and taxonomic status. Six species are additions to the West Virginia flora: Carex deflexa, C. interior, C. lucorum var. austrolucorum, C. novaeangliae, C. rugosperma, and C. woodii. Previous reports of Carex interior and C. lucorum from West Virginia were based upon misidentifications. Two taxa are deleted from the West Virginia flora: Carex alopecoidea and C. atlantica ssp. capillacea. The twelve other taxa discussed are Carex aestivalis, C. albicans var. albicans, C. annectens var. xanthocarpa, C. atlantica ssp. atlantica, C. buxbaumii, C. echinata ssp. echinata, C. grayi, C. lacustris, C. nigromarginata, C. normalis, C. pellita, and C. umbellata.

Noteworthy Collections: North Carolina and Louisiana

In the 34 years since the publication of Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring, researchers and interpreters have generated mountains of literature on practically every significant environmental topic. Some eloquent environmental voices (Barry Commoner, Joseph Wood Krutch) have caught our attention and faded from prominence.

One hundred and thirty families of flowering plants are described and illustrated in this very commendable volume. The author states that the families were chosen on the basis of “floristic dominance, phylogenetic interest, and economic importance.” The families are delineated according to the classification system of R.F. Thorne, a system which the author admits is “disconcerting to many taxonomists.” In a brief opening chapter the author also attempts to explain how cladists and “traditionalists” differ in their acceptance of monophyletic and paraphyletic taxa by using as examples the monocots and dicots, and how the cladistic approach more accurately depicts our current knowledge. Although all may not agree with her positions, the chapter does provide a succinct account of the controversy.