1. Minnesota Plant Press
The Minnesota Native Plant Society Newsletter
Volume 28 Number 4 Fall 2009
Monthly meetings
Thompson Park Center/Dakota Conservation priorities,
botanical workshops are
Lodge
Thompson County Park
among future plans
360 Butler Ave. E.,
West St. Paul, MN 55118
Programs by Scott Milburn, MNNPS president
The Minnesota Native Plant
Society meets the first Thursday When the board recently met for our quarterly meeting, the discussion
in October, November, December, centered on committee direction, future programming events, and bylaw
February, March, April, May, and changes.
June. Check at www.mnnps.org Over the last few years, the conservation committee has been revived
for more program information.
under the leadership of Beth Nixon. In an effort to refine our efforts, the
6 p.m. — Social period
7 – 9 p.m. — Program, Society board decided that we need to narrow our focus. Each board member and
business officer was given the task of coming up with three potential conservation
Nov. 5: “Decorative Harvesting issues that directly involve our mission.The board will then decide on one
from Minnesota’s Spruce Bogs,” of these issues to focus on in the upcoming years. Possible topics include
by Norm Aaseng, plant ecologist, biofuels, off-highway vehicle use, and sustainable forestry practices.
Minnesota County Biological The board also discussed possible 2010 symposium topics, along
Survey. Annual Seed Exchange. with the concept of botanical workshops for the membership. The 2010
Dec. 3: “Salvage Logging in symposium committee will be the same committee as led this past year’s
St. Croix State Park,” by Gretchen event. The botanical workshops would ideally develop into annual events
Heaser, St. Croix State Park
with a focus on a particular suite of species. It may be a year or two
Resources Specialist. Plant of the
Month: Orobanche uniflora, one- before we have our first botanical workshop, since we are currently at
flowered broom rape or cancer-root, the conceptual stage. We are obviously open to suggestions and ask for
by Ken Arndt, Critical Connections membership participation.
Ecological Services, Inc. Finally, the board is going to update both the bylaws and the operations
Feb. 4: To be announced. manual. It has been five years since the last update, and it definitely is time
to incorporate some changes. Board
Field trips being planned
Fall and winter field trips are being
member Russ Schaffenberg will
serve as the lead for this undertaking.
In this issue
Healthy watersheds initiative ...2
planned. For the latest information, Members will be informed about MNNPS is on Facebook ....... ....2
go to the Society website. future bylaw changes in the Plant Spotted knapweed fight ..........3
Press, and these proposed changes Campus wetland restoration .. ..3
MNNPS website will be voted on at the general Latin botanical nomenclature ...4
Aspen Parklands tour, plans ....6
For current information about monthly meetings. As always,
we look forward to the continued Plant Lore: Steeplebush .........7
Society field trips, meetings and New members .......................7
other events, check the website: involvement of our members, and
Your dues are due ....................7
www.mnnps.org to hearing from you.

2. Mississippi River amount of nitrogen and phosphorus
reaching basin waters. MNNPS Board
Basin Healthy The watersheds will be selected
in consultation with state technical
of Directors
Watersheds committees, using a consistent
watershed evaluation process.
President: Scott Milburn,
scott.milburn@mnnps.org
Initiative planned Vice President: Shirley Mah
The USDA Natural Resources MNNPS is on Kooyman, shirley.mah.kooyman@
mnnps.org
Conservation Service is developing
a new initiative in Minnesota and 11 Facebook DerekAnderson, board member,
derek.anderson@mnnps.org
other states to help improve water by Michael Bourdaghs
quality and the health of related The MNNPS can now be found Ken Arndt, board member, field
natural resources in the Mississippi on Facebook. This is a social trip chair, ken.arndt@mnnps.org
River Basin. Michael Bourdaghs, board
networking website where users can
The program will be concentrated create their own profile page, join member, michael.bourdaghs@
in priority basin watersheds in networks of other users organized mnnps.org
Arkansas, Kentucky, Illinois, Angela Hanson, board member,
by interests, and communicate in a
Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Minnesota, angela.hanson@mnnps.org
Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee, and variety of ways.
Wisconsin. $320 million has been Have an announcement, want to Elizabeth Heck, board member,
allocated for the initiative. start a discussion, or share a great webmaster, elizabeth.heck@mnnps.
org
NRCS and its partners will work picture with other members? You
with producers in these priority can do all of these quickly and easily Dylan Lueth, board member,
watersheds to help them voluntarily dylan.lueth@mnnps.org
on Facebook.
implement conservation and Elizabeth Nixon, board member,
management practices which avoid, To find the MNNPS Facebook conservation committee chair, beth.
control, and trap nutrient runoff. page, go to www.facebook.com and nixon@mnnps.org
They will use a conservation systems log in. First time users will have to Erika Rowe, board member,
approach to control soil erosion, create a new account and personal erika.rowe@mnnps.org
manage surface and drainage water, page. Type “Minnesota Native Plant
Russ Schaffenberg, board
improve soil quality, and provide Society” in the Search box, and then member, russ.schaffenberg@
wildlife habitat, thereby reducing the click the “Become a fan” link. mnnps.org
Treasurer: Ron and Cathy
Minnesota Native Plant Society’s purpose
Huber, ron.huber@mnnps.org
Linda Huhn, program
(Abbreviated from the bylaws)
coordinator, 612-374-1435
This organization is exclusively organized and operated for
educational and scientific purposes, including the following. Secretary: Andrés Morantes,
andres.morantes@mnnps.org
1. Conservation of all native plants.
2. Continuing education of all members in the plant sciences. Field Trips: fieldtrips.mnnps@
mnnps.org
3. Education of the public regarding environmental protection of plant
life. Memberships: memberships.
4. Encouragement of research and publications on plants native to mnnps@mnnps.org
Minnesota. Historian-Archives: Roy
5. Study of legislation on Minnesota flora, vegetation, ecosytems. Robison, historian-archives.
mnnps@mnnps.org
6. Preservation of native plants, plant communities, and scientific and
natural areas. Technical or membership
7. Cooperation in programs concerned with the ecology of natural inquiries: contact.mnnps@mnnps.
org
resources and scenic features.
8. Fellowship with all persons interested in native plants through Minnesota Plant Press Editor:
Gerry Drewry, 651-463-8006;
meetings, lectures, workshops, and field trips.
plantpress.mnnps@mnnps.org
2

3. MDA releases MNNPS helps fund native
weevils to fight plantings for campus wetland
spotted knapweed by Andrés commute west of the State Fair Grounds on Como Ave., you
If you
F. Morantes
The Minnesota Department of
may notice an urban green space on the north side of the road. This urban
Agriculture is alerting farmers and
other landowners about spotted wetland is known as Sarita Wetlands, and it serves as a major component
knapweed (Centaurea stoebe), an in stormwater drainage for the University of Minnesota St. Paul campus.
invasive weed that is showing up In recent years, the campus community has promoted the restoration of this
with increasing frequency in parts of green space, and MNNPS has contributed to the efforts.
Minnesota. It is considered a threat The recent efforts began in the winter of 2005 when students from
to agriculture and the environment. the Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology (FWCB) Club and
Seedhead and root weevils are being
University staff outlined a vision for having an on-campus living laboratory
used to help control it.
to complement the education of natural resource studies. To achieve an
“Spotted knapweed has attractive
urban space with a diversity of native insects, birds, and other subjects for
pink flowers, but it is not a good
neighbor,” Geir Friisoe, MDA plant study, the vision outlines a need to restore the native vegetation.
protection director said. “When it The efforts continued during the spring of 2006 and 2007 with tree
becomes established in an area, it plantings to increase the diversity of the future canopy and removal of some
crowds out forage plants and other of the heavy boxelder and cottonwood cover. In 2008, MNNPS President
desirable vegetation. This can lead Scott Milburn guided student planning for increasing the herbaceous
to loss of pasture productivity, diversity in the wetland shorelines and surrounding woodland uplands at
erosion problems, and degradation
Sarita.
of wildlife habitat.”
There are extensive infestations Most recently, FWCB students planted shoreline vegetation in the
in the northwest part of the state, and spring of 2009. Funding for plant material in 2009 came partly from
it has been found recently in several MNNPS, which donated $250 to the student-led project. Plantings in 2009
central Minnesota counties. Spotted included wildflowers such as boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum), monkey-
knapweed arrived in North America flower (Mimulus ringens), and great blue lobelia (Lobelia siphilitica), and
in the early 1900s as a contaminant a variety of sedges, including bristly sedge (Carex comosa), fringed sedge
in crop seed. (Carex crinita), and needle spike-rush (Eleocharis acicularis).
The MDA has teamed up with the This project is a unique ongoing effort that is only possible through
Departments of Natural Resources
the continued cooperation and leadership of FWCB students, campus
(DNR) and Transportation (Mn/
DOT) to introduce seedhead weevils staff, professors, and outside organizations like MNNPS. While student
at multiple sites in Chippewa County leadership in the project changes from year to year, several campus
to reduce the spread and impact of faculty have played a major role in the project, most notably Professor
knapweed in that area. Peter Jordan, a past presenter for MNNPS. To date, the university has not
Seedhead weevils lay their eggs officially committed to sponsoring the project. Therefore, future success
on knapweed flowers, and the larvae of this project will continue to rely on volunteers, grants, and donations.
eat developing seeds. The larvae of
the root weevil feed and develop DNR seeks volunteers dnr.state.mn.us/volunteering/index.
Individuals, families, and groups are
in knapweed roots, weakening or for varied projects welcome to participate. Children
killing the plants. The DNR needs assistance with under the age of 16 must be under
Small infestations can be collecting prairie seeds, brushing adult supervision to volunteer.
controlled by gloved hand-weeding, trails, bud-capping trees, surveying If a DNR opportunity is not
followed by herbicide treatment trail users, installing tree shelters, listed for your area, contact your
to kill remaining seeds. Weevils transcribing historical interviews, local DNR office to inquire about
may be the better option for larger and river clean-ups throughout available volunteer positions. For
sites. For additional information, Minnesota. the number and location of your local
go to www.mda.state.mn.us/plants/ Volunteer opportunities are office, call the DNR Information
badplants/skw-origin posted on their website at www. Center, 1-888-646-6367.
3

4. What’s in a name? Commonly
encountered
Mastering Latin nomenclature and
pronunciation of botanical names Minnesota
by Rebecca Dolan, Ph.D., Butler
University Friesner Herbarium
professional botanists pronounce
the same names differently. It
epithets
Intimidated by multisyllabic doesn’t really matter. by Shirley Mah Kooyman, MNNPS
Latin plant names? Understanding vice president and Minnesota
Here’s another trick: Think Landscape Arboretum coordinator
why Latin names are used may about what a Latin term means.
make them more tolerable. Here angustifolia (narrow-leaved) –
Often the term relates to some Lavandula angustifolia (English
are some principles to help you deal obvious feature of the plant. A
with them effortlessly. lavender)
botanist describing a new species
argentea (silvery) – Salvia
Formal scientific names of plants must follow international rules of
argentea (silver sage)
and other organisms are given botanical nomenclature. The new
in Latin so that the language is name given the plant must be an aurea (golden) – Potentilla
international and unchanging. I can original combination of genus and aurea (golden-flowered potentilla)
look at a paper or book in Japanese species names, but the choice of a borealis (northern) – Linnea
or Russian and still distinguish specific epithet (or species name) is borealis (twinflower)
scientific names. While visiting entirely up to the investigator. caeruleum (deep blue) –
my sister in Holland, I bought a The name usually reflects a Polemonium caeruleum (Jacob’s
wildflower identification book physical trait of the plant, but it ladder with blue flowers)
written in Dutch but illustrated with may indicate where the plant was candidum (white) – Lilium
very nice photographs and Latin first collected, the geographic area candidum (lily with white flowers)
scientific names. Thus I could learn where it grows, the name of the
the plants and see their relationships coccineus (scarlet) – Phaseolus
person who first collected it, or coccineus (scarlet runner bean)
with our North American flora. someone who has done a lot of work
cernuum (nodding) – Trillium
Common names are important with related plants. cernuum (nodding trillium)
and often carry historical Personal names are “Latinized,”
information, such as medicinal uses and generally the genus and species esculentus (edible) –
of plants, but they have limitations. names end with matching masculine Abelmoschus esculentus (okra)
For example, very rare plants may (-us) or feminine (-ia) endings. farinacea (mealy) – Salvia
not have common names. Some Some terms are borrowed from farinacea (mealy sage, mealy cup
plants share common names, and Greek and Latinized. sage)
some plants have different common graveolens (aromatic) –
We can use these terms to
names in different parts of the Pelargonium graveolens (rose-
examine names for some oaks.
country. The use of scientific Latin scented geranium)
All oaks are in the genus Quercus.
names overcomes these problems. hirta (hairy) – Rudbeckia hirta
White oak is Quercus alba, scarlet
Pronunciation of Latin is much oak is Quercus coccinea, and red (black-eyed Susan)
easier than English. All letters are oak is Quercus rubra. However, latifolia (broad-leaved) – Typha
pronounced; there are no silent Quercus nigra is water oak, and latifolia (cat-tail with wide leaves)
vowels or consonants. The main black oak is Quercus velutina, maculatum (spotted) – Lamium
trick is knowing where to place apparently because of velvety hairs maculatum (spotted dead nettle),
the emphasis. Most words have on the undersurfaces of the leaves. Geranium maculatum (wild
the emphasis on the next-to-the- Reprinted with permission from geranium)
last syllable; others may have the INPAWS Journal: News and Views nana (dwarf) – Betula nana
emphasis on the syllable before that. from the Indiana Native Plant and (dwarf birch)
Take comfort in knowing that even Wildflower Society, Spring 2009. odoratus (scented) - Lathyrus
4

5. odoratus (sweet pea), Reseda
odorata (mignonette)
creeper)
reptans (creeping) – Polemonium How botanical
officinale (medicinal)
Taraxacum officinale (dandelion),
– reptans (creeping Jacob’s ladder)
sativa (cultivated) – Lactuca names are
Calendula
marigold)
officinalis (pot sativa (lettuce), Cannabis sativa
(hemp) created
by Shirley Mah Kooyman
pallida (yellow) – Echinacea scandens (climbing) – Cobaea
pallida (yellow-flowered Prefix: macro (large, Aster
scandens (cup and saucer vine) macrophyllus)
coneflower), Impatiens pallida
sinensis (of China) – Camellia Suffix: florus (flowered, Trillium
(yellow-flowered impatiens)
sinensis (tea), Miscanthus sinensis grandiflorum)
palustris (growing in bog) – (silver grass) General personality: debile
Caltha palustris (marsh marigold) (weak, Sedum debile)
suaveolens (sweetly scented) –
pratensis (of meadows) – Salvia Mentha suaveolens (mint) Color: argenteus (silvery, Salvia
pratensis (meadow sage), Trifolium sylvatica (of woods) – Myosotis argentea)
pratense (red clover) sylvatica (forget-me-not) Markings: maculatus (spotted,
pumila (dwarf) – Mahonia Geranium maculatum)
tomentosum (hairy) – Cerastium
pumila (dwarf Oregon grape) Shape: campanulatus (bell-
tomentosum (snow-in-summer)
shaped, Agapathus campanulatus)
procumbens (prostrate) – virgatum (wand-like) – Panicum Texture: laciniatus (slashed,
Sanvitalia procumbens (creeping virgatum (panic grass) Rudbeckia laciniata)
zinnia), Gaulteria procumbens viridis (green) – Salvia viridis Direction: cernuus (nodding,
(creeping wintergreen) (salvia with green bracts) Trillium cernuum)
radicans (rooting stem) – vulgaris (common) – Linaria Habitat: montanus (of
Campsis radicans (trumpet vulgaris (common toadflax) mountains, Centaurea montana)
People: Kalmia (for Peter Kalm,
a student of Linnaeus, Kalmia
Searching for rare plants latifolia)
Places: neapolitanus (Naples,
Italy, Allium neapolitanum)
DNR studying how to
increase diversity of
plants, insects to aid
grassland birds
The DNR is conducting a
research project on increasing plant
diversity and insect populations to
benefit grassland birds and their
broods, including pheasants, prairie
chickens and meadowlarks.
The project is being conducted
on portions of 15 state Wildlife
Management Areas and one federal
Waterfowl Production Area which
were originally planted with a heavy
rate of grass and few if any broad-
leaf plants. Prescribed burns will be
Lynden Gerdes, on Seahorse Lake, is documenting rare flora of the conducted on each research unit.
Boundary Waters Canoe Area. He was participating in the ongoing They will be interseeded with forbs.
Minnesota County Biological Survey of the Border Lakes. Photo by For details, go to http://news.dnr.
Scott Milburn, who was also on the survey team. state.mn.us/index.php/2009/09/17
5

6. County to Hwy. 2 in Polk County,
MNNPS members tour stopping to view prairies and the
Old Crossing of the Red Lake River
the Aspen Parklands
by Derek Anderson
along the way.
DNR preparing 10-
The prairie-aspen parkland is a Canadian ecoregion that extends across
Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta. A small section also extends into
year forest plan for
northwestern Minnesota, adding an under-appreciated facet to the state’s Aspen Parklands
fabled reputation as the meeting place of major biomes. As a follow-up to The DNR is preparing a
the Native Plant Society’s spring symposium featuring this biome, nearly Subsection Forest Resource
40 plant society members and local citizens attended a series of field trips Management Plan for the Aspen
on the weekend of July 11-12. Parklands ecological subsection in
Many of the natural features of this landscape are the legacy of Glacial northwestern Minnesota. They hope
Lake Agassiz, which left the level Red River Valley in its former lakebed to implement the plan in 2010.
and a series of beach ridges on its former eastern shore. The beaches The plan is to provide strategic
themselves support dry prairie and savanna communities. Between the direction for vegetation management
ridges, the interbeach zones support wet brush prairie, including the habitat of the Aspen Parklands, to identify
of Minnesota’s largest populations of western prairie fringed orchid. harvestable timber stands, and to
Saturday trips included a choice of explorations of Polk County’s outline harvest levels for the next
Agassiz Dunes SNA and Thorson Prairie WMA with University of decade.
Minnesota, Crookston, instructor Rhett Johnson; or joining DNR The state manages about 12
botanists Derek Anderson and Nancy Sather to learn about the life history percent of the area. Forests and
of the western prairie fringed orchid, assist with the annual census of woodlands (96,000 acres) will be
flowering plants, and assist with demographic monitoring. A number of considered for forest management;
trip participants remained in the area to help DNR monitoring crews later state brushlands and prairies
in the week. A thank you is extended to all who helped; the monitoring (250,000 acres) will be considered
could not have been completed in for biomass. The remainder of state
the short flowering window if it lands (9,000 acres) is in state parks
were not for volunteers. or scientific and natural areas and
On Sunday, about 25 people will not be considered for forest
explored Skull Lake WMA and management.
Caribou WMA with Robert Dana, A public comment period was
who spent several years as an held Sept. 15 – 30. The planning
MCBS plant ecologist documenting team will now produce a document
native plant communities in that addresses issues and provides a
Kittson County. Another group draft list of forest stands for possible
accompanied Nancy Sather, whose harvest. They will seek public
avocation is landscape history, in comment on that draft plan. For
a retracing of the Pembina Trail additional information, go to www.
Oxcart route along the beach ridges dnr.state.mn.us/forestry/subsection/
from Old Mill State Park in Marshall aspenparklands/index
Above: Western prairie fringed
orchid, Platanthera praeclara.
Right: Some of the field trip par-
ticipants exploring the savanna.
Photos by Derek Anderson.
6

7. Plant Lore in Spiraea. As an inflammatory,
Spiraea extracts lack the side effects
Reminder:
by Thor Kommedahl
What is steeplebush?
of aspirin. Of course, salicylic acid
was named from willow (Salix
It’s time to pay
Steeplebush, Spiraea tomentosa,
is a member of the rose family. It is
species), which also contains aspirin
ingredients.
your dues
sometimes called hardhack. The Society now operates on
a calendar-year basis, so dues are
What do its names mean?
Spiraea comes from the Greek payable in January. Members may
word speira, a wreath. Theophrastus pay at the November or December
applied this name for plants used meeting, if they wish. (We do not
in making garlands. The name meet in January.)
steeplebush comes from the flower We do not send out dues notices,
cluster, which is shaped like a church so this reminder will be the only
steeple or spire. Tomentosa refers
one that you receive.
to the tawny, woolly undersides of
leaves. Hardhack means “hard to You can download the
cut.” membership form from our website
Where do the plants grow? (www.mnnps.org) or get one at a
It is native to the east-central meeting.
counties in Minnesota. It grows Mail the form or just send the
in swamps and wet meadows, and information and your check to:
often appears abundantly after a
fire. Minnesota Native Plant Society
P.O. Box 20401
What do the shrubs look like? Bloomington, MN 55420.
The woody shrubs grow up to
four feet tall. The alternate leaves Membership categories
are egg- or willow-leaf-shaped and • $15 - Individual
have hairy undersurfaces; the veins • $15 - Family (Two or more
are prominent. The red, pink, or individuals at the same address)
magenta flowers are borne closely
packed (6-10 per centimeter of axis) • $8 - Student (Full time)
in panicle-like clusters and produce • $8 - Senior (Over 62 or
brown fruits (follicles) that mature retired)
September to mid-October, splitting • $20 - Institution
open in November and December to • $25 - Donor
shed seeds in winter.
Include your name, full address,
Does it have edible or medicinal telephone number (work and/or
properties? home) and e-mail address.
It is not edible. Roots and leaves
were used as an astringent by Osage
Indians and by herbalists. The
Blackfeet Indians made tea from it Spiraea tomentosa flower and MNNPS welcomes
shrub. Photos by Peter Dziuk.
to serve as an enema and for vaginal new members
infections. It was a country remedy The Society gives a warm
for dysentery. MNNPS finances welcome to four new members who
Spiraea species contain methyl Treasurers Ron and Cathy Huber joined during the third quarter of
salicylate and other salicylates that report that on Sept. 30, the Society 2009. They are:
are ingredients in aspirin. In fact, had total assets of $26,255.82.
the term “aspirin” is derived as “a” Income for the year totaled Debra Gagner, Minneapolis
for acetyl and “spir” from Spiraea. $11,003.26 mostly from dues and Diane Lindgren, Edina
(Acetylsalicylic acid is aspirin.) the symposium. Expenses totaled Jim Mulvey, St. Paul
The “in” is a standard suffix— $9,909.92; the largest were for the Ramsey Conservation District,
because the salicylates were found symposium and Dakota Lodge rent. Arden Hills
7

8. Minnesota Native Plant Society
P.O. Box 20401
Bloomington, MN 55420
Fall 2009
Directions:
Take MN Hwy. 52 to the Butler Ave. E. exit in West St. Paul.
Go west on Butler 0.2 mile to Stassen Lane.
Go south on Stassen Lane to Thompson County Park.