Date: Tuesday, November 2nd 7:00 PM

Speakers: Rod Simmons, (and maybe) Greg Zell and Mark Strong

Topic: Unexplored Pine Barrens of Washington and Vicinity

Flyer for November meeting is at: http://botsoc.org/nov10.doc


The globally-rare Magnolia Bogs are a characteristic component of the pine
barrens communities (themselves globally-rare) that occur along the fall
line more or less from the Baltimore area southward to the Fredericksburg,
Virginia area, with the greatest concentration in the
Laurel-D.C.-Franconia area.  They are considered ancient outliers of the
New Jersey Pine Barrens northern coastal plain pineland communities.


Meeting location: Cathy Kerby Room (Room CE-340), Smithsonian Institution,
National Museum of Natural History, 10th St. and Constitution Avenue NW,
Washington, DC. Use the Constitution Avenue entrance; wait to be escorted
up. All are welcome. As usual, light refreshments will be served prior to
and after the presentation.

Pre-meeting dinner: 5:30 P.M. at the Elephant & Castle Pub and Restaurant,
1201 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., Washington. Phone 202-347-7707. The
restaurant is diagonally across from the Old Post Office Pavilion at 12th
and Pennsylvania, a few blocks from the Museum, with Federal Triangle the
nearest Metro station, and Metro Center also nearby.

Larry Dorr has made arrangements for the annual banquet.  It will be held
at the Aria Trattoria where it has been held a couple of previous years,
close to the Smithsonian and easily accessible by Metro.  The invitation
(reproduced below) and a form for sending in your reservation are
attached.  It is asked that you let Paul Peterson know by December 2nd
that you plan to attend.

****************************************************************


It's time for the annual BSW holiday banquet. This year we will be holding
it at Aria Trattoria - http://www.ariatrattoria.com which is in the Ronald
Reagan Building and International Trade Center near the Federal Triangle
Metro.

Along with this invitation is a form to send in with your reservation. (Be
sure to write the names of those planning to be at the dinner.) Larry Dorr
will be giving the President's Address after dinner. Directions to the
restaurant can be found at the restaurant’s web site.

The Botanical Society of Washington
Annual Banquet Dinner
Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Aria Trattoria
1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20004
Web site: http://www.ariatrattoria.com

Parking is available below the Ronald Reagan Building, and garage
entrances are off 14th Street and Pennsylvania Ave. (parking will be
validated by the restaurant for those who enter the garage after 5 pm);
nearest Metro stop is Federal Triangle (just to the east of the building).

Arrival time is 6:00 pm with cash bar. Dinner served at 7:00 pm; departure
at 8:30 pm.
Dinner is $50.00 per person (includes DC tax and gratuity).

Please respond to this invitation by Thursday, December 2, 2010, which is
when the restaurant expects us to give them a head count. You may indicate
(on the attached form) your preference for a first course and an entrée
for the dinner. Also, you can renew your BSW membership for 2011 by adding
to $10.00 ($15.00 for two at same address). Please send form with check
(payable to Botanical Society of Washington) (or notify by Thursday,
December 2nd) to: Paul Peterson, Department of Botany MRC-166, Smithsonian
Institution, PO Box 37012, Washington, DC 20013-7012 (peterson@...).

Dinner menu

First course (choice of soup or salad)

Entrée choices (select one):

Slow-cooked Beef Bourguignon Sautéed with Orecchiette Pasta (Fall
Vegetables, Natural Jus)

Oven-Roasted Free Range Chicken (Celery Root Mousseline, Oyster Mushroom
Fricassee, Juniper Berry Sauce)

Vegetarian Option (not yet determined by the Chef)

Plated Desserts (various choices)

_/\_     __/\__
        )   (_  _) .' (
        `) '.( ) .'  (`
         `-._\()/__(~`
             ()()
            / |`\
            ) : (
            `)_/`


It's time for the annual BSW holiday banquet. This year we will be holding
it at on Tuesday, 7 December, at the Aria Trattoria -
http://www.ariatrattoria.com which is in the Ronald Reagan Building and
International Trade Center (1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW) near the Federal
Triangle Metro.

Larry Dorr will be giving the President's Address after dinner. Directions
to the restaurant can be found on the restaurant's web site.

Parking is available below the Ronald Reagan Building, and garage
entrances are off 14th Street and Pennsylvania Ave. (parking will be
validated by the restaurant for those who enter the garage after 5 pm);
nearest Metro stop is Federal Triangle (just to the east of the building).

Arrival time is 6:00 pm with cash bar. Dinner served at 7:00 pm; departure
at 8:30 pm. Dinner is $50.00 per person (includes DC tax and gratuity).

Please respond to this invitation by Friday, December 3, 2010, which is
when the restaurant expects us to give them a head count. You may indicate
(on the form available for download below) your preference for a first
course and an Entr�e for the dinner. Also, you can renew your BSW
membership for 2011 by adding to $10.00 ($15.00 for two at same address).

Please send form with check (payable to Botanical Society of Washington)
(or notify by Friday, December 3 - peterson@...) to: Paul Peterson,
Department of Botany MRC-166, Smithsonian Institution, PO Box 37012,
Washington, DC 20013-7012

Menus and forms can be found here:

http://botsoc.org/2010BSWdinner.doc
http://botsoc.org/2010banquetformand2011dues.doc

*****************************************************************

                  -*-
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                 _|"|_
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                  """

The 919th meeting of the BSW will take place on TUesday, January 4 2011 at
7 PM. The speaker will be Anne Frances who is the lead botanist of
NatureServe. Her topic will be:  Florida native wildflowers in the
landscape:  Methods for establishment and management on roadsides.

A flyer to print/post can be found here: http://botsoc.org/jan11.pdf


Location:  Cathy Kerby Room (Room CE-340)
Smithsonian Institution, National  Museum of Natural History

As usual, light refreshments will be served.

Pre-meeting dinner: 5:30 P.M. at the Elephant & Castle Pub and Restaurant,
1201 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., Washington. Phone 202-347-7707. The
restaurant is diagonally across from the Old Post Office Pavilion at 12th
and Pennsylvania, a few blocks from the Museum, with Federal Triangle the
nearest Metro station, and Metro Center also nearby.

Let Larry Dorr know if you are coming to the meeting by December 31 so
that he can arrange for badges.  DORRL@...

Anne Frances is the Lead Botanist at NatureServe, where she coordinates efforts
to assess the conservation status of rare plants and the vulnerability of
native species to climate change.

A botanist, ecologist, and horticulturist by training, Anne is a Miami,
Florida, native who most recently worked for the U.S. Forest Service. Anne has
also worked at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, the Institute for Regional
Conservation, and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.

Anne’s interests lie in native plant conservation, ethnobotany, and
restoration
ecology. She first learned about native plant conservation at the University of
North Carolina Chapel Hill, where she completed a bachelor’s degree in
Biology.
Her interest in native plants led to an internship at the North Carolina
Botanical Garden. She completed an M.S. in Biology with a focus on ethnobotany
at Florida International University. As part of her thesis, Anne lived in
southern Costa Rica with an indigenous group called the Guaymí, collecting
plants and documenting plant uses. She earned her Ph.D. in Environmental
Horticulture from the University of Florida. Her dissertation focused on
establishing native wildflowers on roadsides and former pastures in Florida.

Subject: some good links/sites for posting

Here is a link to Steve Young's excellent site on forest restoration and
invasive exotic plant removal at the local/county level:

http://plantwhacker.blogspot.com

And Meghan First's excellent store for quality bird seed and material for
birdwatching, nature, etc.:

http://www.polyxenes.com/

�

Thanks,

Rod

FYI: The Alien Plant Working Group's Invasive Plant Calendar for 2011 is
now done and available online for you to download & print.  Take a look at
it at http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/pubs/calendar.htm It highlights this
year's updated version of Plant Invaders of Mid-Atlantic Natural Areas.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The first meeting of 2011 will take place tomorrow, 4 January at 7 pm.

919th meeting of the Botanical Society of Washington

Speaker:  Anne Francis, NatureServe

Topic:  Florida native wildflowers in the landscape:
   Methods forestablishment and management on roadsides

Meeting location: Cathy Kerby Room (Room CE-340), Smithsonian Institution,
National Museum of Natural History, 10th St. and Constitution Avenue NW,
Washington, DC. Use the Constitution Avenue entrance; wait to be escorted
up. All are welcome. As usual, light refreshments will be served prior to
and after the presentation.

Pre-meeting dinner: 5:30 P.M. at the Elephant & Castle Pub and Restaurant,
1201 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., Washington. Phone 202-347-7707. The
restaurant is diagonally across from the Old Post Office Pavilion at 12th
and Pennsylvania, a few blocks from the Museum, with Federal Triangle the
nearest Metro station, and Metro Center also nearby.

Simone Cappelli will be speaking at the next meeting on February 1st.
The general topic is the Malpighiaceae.  A more specific title will be
provided at a later date.

Upcoming speakers and topics:

Joshua Bell 3/1 ethnobotany of New Guinean palms
Sara Tangren 4/5 MD wild ryes


You can check to see if you have paid your 2011 dues here:
http://www.botsoc.org/BSWASH DUES 2011_5jan.xls

If you need to pay dues, please send them to:

Paul Peterson
Department of Botany, MRC-166
National Museum of Natural History
Smithsonian Institution
P.O. Box 37012
Washington, DC 20013-7012

Dues are $10 for individuals or $15 for two at one address.

_______________________________________________

For any who may be curious, and whose email program does not strip off the
address, the reason the mails are sent to Botanical Society
<terr60@...> is that the person whose email address this is was unable
to receive the mails which are sent via BCC so I came up with this
solution so I wouldn't have to remember to send him a separate mail every
time I sent out a mail.

Jil brought to my attention that there was a problem with opening the dues
file using the URL provided.  I'd neglected to notice the spaces in the
original filename.  (There can't be spaces in a file for the web.)  So
anyway, I've fixed the problem and it should now be found without problem
at:

http://www.botsoc.org/BSWASH_DUES_2011_5jan.xls

920th Meeting

Tuesday, 1 February, 2011 at 7:00 P.M

Speaker: Ms. Simone Cappellari
of Smithsonian Institution and the University of  Texas

Topic: “Addicted to oil:  Pterandra pyroidea - a case of pollination shift
within Neotropical Malpighiaceae”

Flyer for posting is available at: http://www.botsoc.org/feb11.pdf

Neotropical Malpighiaceae are well know for their fairly specialized
pollination system, known as "Oil Flower Pollination Syndrome".
Pollination shifts away from this specialized system will be explored with
a species that occurs within the region considered a hotspot of
oil-collecting bee diversity in the Brazilian Cerrado!

Location:  Cathy Kerby Room (Room CE-340)
Smithsonian Institution, National  Museum of Natural History
All are Welcome.
As usual, light refreshments will be served.

Pre-meeting dinner: 5:30 P.M. at the Elephant & Castle Pub and Restaurant,
1201 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., Washington. Phone 202-347-7707. The
restaurant is diagonally across from the Old Post Office Pavilion at 12th
and Pennsylvania, a few blocks from the Museum, with Federal Triangle the
nearest Metro station, and Metro Center also nearby.

Let Larry Dorr know if you are coming to the meeting by January 28 so that
he can arrange for badges.  DORRL@...

Website:  http://botsoc.org (where you can always find all these messages
archived)

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Xerces Society announces new publication:  

"Attracting Native Pollinators"

http://www.xerces.org/announcing-the-publication-of-attracting-native-pollinator\
s/

"The work of bees and other pollinators is something that touches us all
through the food we eat, the clothes we wear, and the landscapes we enjoy.
Attracting Native Pollinators offers a window onto the fascinating lives
of these insects and provides detailed information about how you can care
for these vital animals wherever you live. Whether you are an urban
gardener, a suburban park manager, a working farmer, or caring for a
nature reserve Attracting Native Pollinators has something for you."

Since weather isn't as bad (at least until later tonight) as
it had looked like it might be - the meeting for tonight,
Tuesday, February 1, is on as scheduled.

7 PM in the Cathy Kerby Room, with dinner beforehand for
those who wish to go at the Elephant and Castle.  Details on
the webpage at http://botsoc.org

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Also, Rod Simmons just sent info about the 75th anniversary
of the Southern Appalachian Botanical Society.  See their
webpage:  http://www.sabs.appstate.edu/75thAnniv/Index75.htm

Note: The March speaker for the BSW meeting on the 1st is
scheduled to be Joshua Bell of the SI Dept. of Anthropology.
His topic is to be the  Ethnobotany of New Guinean palms.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Carol Spurrier asked that I send this out to the BSW list:


    The Potowmack Chapter of VNPS invites butterfly enthusiasts to join them
   for a lecture on using Native Plants and Butterflies on Thursday, February
   10th at Green Spring Gardens.

                          Native Plants For Butterflies
                       Thursday, February 10th, 7:30 pm at
                               Green Spring Gardens
                              4603 Green Spring Road
                               Alexandria, Virginia

     Everybody knows that monarch caterpillars must have milkweed leaves to
     eat, and some of us grow milkweed for them. But what about mourning
     cloaks? Eastern tiger swallowtails? Buckeyes? Red admirals?

     For anyone with a camera, 2010 was a very good year for chasing
     butterflies. Margaret Chatham is ready to share her pictures of
     butterflies from our watershed, their caterpillars, and the native
     plants they need, all in plenty of time for planning this spring's
     additions to your yard or garden.

     Margaret Chatham works with the VNPS Propagation Committee, the Potomac
     Gorge Weed Warriors and Fraser Preserve Visitation Committee. She is a
     Certified Virginia Master Naturalist, and leads an Early Detection/Rapid
     Response team for Fairfax County Park Authority.

BSW secretary Laurie Eyde, recently reported to the BSW that
her son, Doug, died in his sleep on the 10th of January. She
said that he used to sometimes come to BSW meetings with his
father.    (noted plant taxonomist, Richard Eyde)

In his honour, the BSW has made a donation to Martha's
Table.  (http://www.marthastable.org/)

A week from tonight is the next BSW meeting on Tuesday,
February 1.  Start time is 7 PM, though, if you wish to eat
with the group beforehand, you are invited to meet for
dinner at 5:30 at the Elephant and Castle, 1201 Pennsylvania
Ave., N.W., Washington. Phone 202-347-7707. The restaurant
is diagonally across from the Old Post Office Pavilion at
12th and Pennsylvania.

The March speaker will be Joshua Bell.
Curator of Globalization, Department of Anthropology
Smithsonian Institution
http://si.academia.edu/JoshuaABell

His topic: “ Weaving Worlds: Ethnobotany of Metroxylon sagu
and other palms in the Papuan Gulf of Papua New Guinea”

Let Larry Dorr know if you are coming to the meeting by
February 25 so that he can arrange for badges.
DORRL@...

A flyer for posting is available at:
http://botsoc.org/mar11.pdf

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Some may be interested in videos from last Friday's Science
Friday -  Jumping Fleas, Burrowing Owls -
http://www.sciencefriday.com/program/archives/201102182

Date: Tuesday, March 1st 7:00 PM

Speaker:  Joshua Bell

Topic:  Ethnobotany of New Guinean palms

Meeting location: Cathy Kerby Room (Room CE-340), Smithsonian Institution,
National Museum of Natural History, 10th St. and Constitution Avenue NW,
Washington, DC. Use the Constitution Avenue entrance; wait to be escorted
up. All are welcome. As usual, light refreshments will be served prior to
and after the presentation.

Pre-meeting dinner: 5:30 P.M. at the Elephant & Castle Pub and Restaurant,
1201 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., Washington. Phone 202-347-7707. The
restaurant is diagonally across from the Old Post Office Pavilion at 12th
and Pennsylvania, a few blocks from the Museum, with Federal Triangle the
nearest Metro station, and Metro Center also nearby.

The next BSW meeting will be on April 5. The speaker will be Sara Tangren
of Chesapeake Natives - http://www.chesapeakenatives.org - who will speak
about Elymus. (Specific title to be announced.)

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Upcoming fieldtrips:

April 2, Saturday - Across from Angler's Inn  - C and O Canal - Mile 10.5
(Maryland) -
9:00 AM.

April 9, Saturday - Across from Angler's In - C and O Canal - Mile 10.5
(Maryland) - 9:00 AM.

April 16, Saturday - Turkey Run Park, Virginia - 9:30 a.m. (approx. time -
specific time will be provided later)

Here is a list of spring-blooming species for the area of the park we will
be visiting. It's based on Dan Nicolson's list, with some additions by
Alan Whittemore.
http://botsoc.org/fieldtrips/Bear_Island_list_March_2010.pdf

And here is a key to the species.
http://botsoc.org/fieldtrips/Bear_Island_key_March_2010.pdf

The not-yet-updated fieldtrips page is here:
http://botsoc.org/bswfieldtrips.html

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Alison Parker,Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology,
University of Toronto, is looking for help in a project regarding
pollinators of Spring Beauties.

See this page for full details:

http://springbeauties.wordpress.com/

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++


Facebook page for Spring Flowers of The Washington-Baltimore Area.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Spring-Flowers-of-The-Washington-Baltimore-Area/14\
8838098493628#!/pages/Spring-Flowers-of-The-Washington-Baltimore-Area/1488380984\
93628?v=info
(or http://tinyurl.com/5tucyrc )

I think you can see it even if you don't have a Facebook account, but
you'd only be able to post with an account.

Invitation to the 2011 Joint Field Meeting of the Botanical Society of
America - Northeastern Section, Torrey Botanical Society, and Philadelphia
Botanical Club


The 2011 Field Meeting will examine the flora of Tompkins County and
vicinity in upstate New York.� Housing will be on the campus of Ithaca
College, at the southern edge of the city of Ithaca.� Located at the
southern end of Lake Cayuga, Ithaca is in the heart of the extremely
scenic Finger Lakes region. The city is home to the campus of Cornell
University, including the Cornell Plantations, a remarkable botanical
garden and arboretum as well as owner of numerous natural areas.� Tompkins
County also is renowned for three state parks with magnificent gorges and
waterfalls, plus many additional designated natural areas that are open to
the public.

You can find full details and reservatation form here:

http://plant-biology.net/news/pdfs/NE_Section-Invitation_2011JointFieldMeeting.p\
df

There are 3 fieldtrips coming up on the first 3 Saturdays in April. See
http://botsoc.org/bswfieldtrips.html for some further information.  I
believe Edd Barrows will be providing some more documentation for the
turkey Run trip when it gets closer to April 16.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

At the next BSW meeting on April 5, Sara Tangren will be speaking about 5
species of Elymus. A flyer is available for download here:
http://botsoc.org/apr11.pdf

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Jil sent a report about some recent legislation in MAryland:

Hi,

I just wanted to inform you that something good happened in Maryland this
week! The Maryland House passed HB 831. Here's a link for more
information:
http://mlis.state.md.us/2011rs/billfile/HB0831.htm

The following description (slightly edited) was exerpted from an earlier
message sent by Kerrie Kyde, Invasive Plant Ecologist for the Maryland
DNR/Wildlife and Heritage Service. She was instrumental in developing and
pushing this legislation along.

"The bill (authorizes) the creation of an Invasive Plant Advisory
Committee, which would assist the Secretary of Agriculture in adopting a
risk-assessment protocol and using it to rank invasive plants into either
Tier I or Tier II risks.  Tier I plants would ultimately be phased out of
production and commerce altogether; Tier II plants would still be
permitted but only with accompanying signage that they were invasive.
Landscaping firms similarly would have to notify their clients if Tier II
plants were included in a plan or planting.  The intention of the bill is
to remove certain invasive species from use in the state in order to
reduce or eliminate their negative impacts on Maryland natural areas."

"This is not a departmental bill, meaning it is not being presented by
MDA, but by a collection of interested parties, of which two are state
agencies MDA and DNR."


Thank you,

Jil
________________
JIL SWEARINGEN
IPM & Invasive Species Coordinator
National Capital Region
Center for Urban Ecology
4598 MacArthur Blvd. NW

You are invited to the May 12 Annual Banquet of the Washington Academy of
Sciences to be held in Arlington.  The speaker will be: Sam Kean, a
science writer of note and the author of The Disappearing Spoon and Other
True Tales of Madness, Love, and the History of the World From the
Periodic Table of Elements..  See this page for detils:

http://www.washacadsci.org/Banquet/Index.htm

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

This Saturday will be a BSW field trip to the Angler's Inn area along the
C and O Canal.

Meet at 9:00 a.m. at the parking area across from Old Angler's Inn. Here's
a tinyurlified google map for the location: http://tinyurl.com/4jy5wwv
(Do not park in the private lot at the Inn itself!)


At this time, the weather doesn't look too bad.  Possibility of showers,
and high around 55�F.

Things to think about bringing: handlens, books, lunch, water, umbrella,
raingear, sturdy footware, checklist and key (see below), unbridled
enthusiasm.

This trip includes rugged, uneven terrain and occasional rock-scrambling.
No facilities are available beyond the parking area.


http://botsoc.org/fieldtrips/Bear_Island_list_March_2010.pdf
http://botsoc.org/fieldtrips/Bear_Island_key_March_2010.pdf


Lots of things are out up here in the Shepherdstown area, so I'd think
even more will be out at Great Falls.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

And remember that the next BSW meeting is coming up soon - next Tuesday,
April 5.  Sara Tangren will be speaking about Ryes.

The trip to Turkey Run which will be led by Edd Barrows has had a date
change.  It will now be happening on Sunday, April 17 starting at 10 a.m.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

And remember, there will be two Saturday morning trips to the Old Agler's
Inn area tomorrow, April 2 and the following week on April 9.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

For details:
http://botsoc.org/bswfieldtrips.html

Reminder, the 2nd fieldtrip to the Old ANgler's Inn area is coming up this
Saturday.  See http://www.botsoc.org/bswfieldtrips.html for further
information.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Rod Simmons pointed out this article in the New York Times:

The Curious Case of the Washington Elms That Are Unlike Any Other
Published: April 4, 2011
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/05/science/05obtree.html

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Jil Swearingen sent this email about Miscanthus:


Hi,

Please read Dr. Quinn's message below and contact her if you'd like to
participate in her project. The more input she receives, the better the
results. Miscanthus is known to be invasive in natural areas in the
eastern U.S. with most reported occurrences coming from northern New
Jersey and the Appalachian region of North Carolina and Tennessee,
sporadically elsewhere (see link below). It may be underreported in the
mid-Atlantic.

http://www.eddmaps.org/midatlantic/distribution/viewmap.cfm?sub=3052

Thank you,

Jil
________________
JiL SWEARINGEN
IPM & Invasive Species Specialist
NCR Center for Urban Ecology
Washington, DC 20007
202-342-1443, ex 218

www.nps.gov/cue | www.nps.gov/plants/alien
www.invasiveplantatlas.org | www.maipc.org

----- Forwarded by Jil Swearingen/NCR/NPS on 04/06/2011 12:22 PM -----

From: Lauren Quinn [mailto:lauren.quinn@...]
Sent: Thursday, March 24, 2011 1:34 PM

Hello,

First of all, apologies for cross- and duplicate postings. This message
seems to have been going around fast and furious in the last couple of
days! Thanks to any of you who have already responded.

I am a researcher at the University of Illinois, and I'm looking for help
to locate escaped individuals or whole populations of Miscanthus sinensis
and/or M. sacchariflorus in natural areas in your state. As you may know,
these are large ornamental grasses commonly planted in gardens and used in
landscaping. Unfortunately, many varieties of Miscanthus have the capacity
to produce copious viable seeds which can establish in "natural" areas
(e.g. roadsides, pastures, forest openings) to become invasive. As part of
a large study aimed at describing the current distribution of naturalized
Miscanthus populations, I am planning to visit as many of these
populations as possible this summer and next.

If your membership can help me out with specific locations and other
information (see below), I'd very much appreciate it! Also, feel free to
forward this message to any other knowledgeable parties. I am not
restricting my search to the Southeast, so if you've got weedy friends in
other parts of the country, feel free to send it along.

More specifics on what I'm looking for...

- The species: Miscanthus sinensis and Miscanthus sacchariflorus
General info on M. sinensis:
http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=MISI
General info on M. sacchariflorus:
http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=MISA
Current known distribution of naturalized/escaped/invasive M. sinensis:
http://www.eddmaps.org/google/index.cfm?sub=3052
A side-by-side comparison of M. sinesis and M. sacchariflorus:
http://miscanthus.cfans.umn.edu/identification.html

- The environmental context: any Miscanthus individuals in "natural"
areas.
That is, plants that have established independently away from intentional
cultivation. "Natural areas" can be roadsides, forest openings, pastures,
etc. I am not as interested in instances of "volunteer" plants growing in
the same yard where they were planted in the first place. Ideally, I'm
looking for plants that have moved themselves (via seed dispersal or
rarely
rhizome dispersal) some substantial distance away from plantings (perhaps
across some natural boundary) to establish healthy self-sustaining
populations.
Examples of such populations for M. sinensis:
https://picasaweb.google.com/lauren.quinn/MiscanthusSinensisUSAPopulations?authk\
ey=Gv1sRgCLejucuBiq7GAg#


- The info I'd like (I'll take whatever I can get):
Location (GPS coordinates, if possible. If not, then an intersection, or
other landmark)
Description of environmental context (e.g. roadside, pasture, etc)
Population size (a rough estimate of the number of plants. E.g. one, a
handful, a dozen, hundreds, etc)
If on private property, names/contact info of property owners if possible
If possible, an estimate of the history of the population (how long it has
been there, where the nearest planting is and when it was planted)
A photo of the population
Your contact info

- An additional useful step:

If possible, folks could add their sightings to the map of naturalized
populations of M. sinensis and M. sacchariflorus on EDDMaps. I suppose I
don't have to tell the folks on this list about this service (!), but the
fairly painless process is described here:
http://www.eddmaps.org/report/index2.cfm
Otherwise, folks can send their sightings directly to me at this email
address: ldquinn@...

Thank you so much!

Lauren Quinn


Lauren D. Quinn, Ph.D.
Post Doctoral Researcher
Energy Biosciences Institute
University of Illinois
Urbana, IL 61801
ldquinn@...
708-753-3709

The Parkfairfax Native Plant Sale is three weeks away, on Saturday, April 30,
from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.  The website is www.ParkfairfaxNativePlantSale.org.

(Here is a note from Edd.  Some items pertain to his students at
Georgetown.)

April 14, 2011

Hi All: Turkey Run, Sunday 17 April 2011

1.  You are all welcome to come.  Because some people who did not RSVP will
come, I don’t know how close to 25 we are.  

2.  Be sure to read the info below carefully.

3.  See you all soon.

Edd Barrows


Turkey Run, Generic Information

1. The 2011 hike is on SUNDAY 17 April in Turkey Run Park, info below.

2. Directions: Take Key Bridge over the Potomac River.  Turn right onto the
George Washington Memorial Parkway.  Take the GWMP northbound. Take a
right-hand exit at the Turkey Run Park sign just AFTER the Parkway
Headquarters/U.S. Park Police Substation. Make first right turn into the
park.  The park is about 10 miles from GU.

3.  Meet at 10 a.m. in parking lot C-1, map:
http://botsoc.org/fieldtrips/turkeyrunmap.jpg
Note Well:  You will need a printed copy of this map.  A cab driver might
have no idea how to find C-1.
A general map is at:  http://www.nps.gov/gwmp/turkey-run-park.htm .  Also
take a copy of the directions in item 2, above.  

4.  The Center for the Environment will pay your cab fare, if you carpool
and give your ***original receipt to Ms. Leslie Byers,
byersl@....  Other trip attendees might be able to drop you off
at GU after the event.  You should contact each other and organize your car
pools.  There should be at least 3 attendees in a cab to get reimbursed.  

5.  So far (15 April, 7:30 p.m.), possible car poolers are

Danielle Llanos (Michele’s friend)
Michele Jaeger
maj56@...
Megan Griffin
mag293@...
Jacquelyn Fritz and friend
jj.a.fritz@...
Stephanie Welsh
sew72@...
Krista Pontzer
kcp27@...
Chelsea Lauber
cal227@...


6.  The NEW workbook and biota list should be at the Botany site by Friday,
midnight.
http://www.botsoc.org/bswfieldtrips.html
I have not sent them to Kathy of the BSW yet.  

Note: The old 2010 workbook is still online at the BSW site.  I am upgrading
the old workbook.
I’ll be using nonscientific names based on rules in my new book (Barrows
2011). 

The plant-community map is at
https://gushare.georgetown.edu/xythoswfs/webui/_xy-5698701_1-t_QZ6qxgZ4

2010 pics are at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/37133157@N05/sets/72157616647357397/
http://picasaweb.google.com/nwgrasses/Name?authkey=Gv1sRgCOuhw4Pcv83iRw&fea
t=email#

7.  You should be there on time for our orientation in the parking lot, 10
a.m..  In case you are late, take the Zig-zag path down to the River bank,
turn left (west), and catch up with us.  My cell phone is 301-928-8584 in
case of emergency. If I am talking with our group when (if) you call, I’ll
call you back.  

Onward for biodiversity, Edd Barrows

What:  Biodiversity walk at Turkey Run Park, VA
Who: Led by Edd Barrows, Director of the GU Center for the Environment
When: Sunday, 17 April, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Where:  Turkey Run Park, VA

Notes: The walk is limited to 25 people. We will be in a national park where
it is illegal to disturb or collect anything. The hike is of medium rigor
since we will walk down the zig-zag steps down a steep valleyside, walk up a
hill, and cross 1–2 large rocky streams.  Be prepared for different weather
from light rain through a sunny day.  Wear layers if needed, and bring a
backpack to carry your lunch and extra clothes.  We are likely to cancel our
trip due to medium through heavy rain.  There is a restroom in the park at
the beginning and end of our walk.  For forging the stream, you might find a
walking stick useful.  BYO lunch.  At about noon, we will have lunch on the
shore of the Potomac River across from Plummers Island, MD.  Things to see,
hear, or both, include Andrena bees, American Cancer-root, American Robins,
Bladdernuts, Blue Cohosh, Canada Geese, Carolina Wren, Carrionflower,
Chesternut Oak, craneflies, Dancing Whites, Eastern Sycamore, Eastern Tiger
Swallowtail, invasive species, Great Blue Herons, Green Ash, Mallards,
Nomada bees, Pawpaws, Northern Red Oak, River Birch, Spring Azures, sweat
bees, Toad Trillium, Tuliptree, Twinleaf, views of the Potomac River,
Troutlilies, Virginia Bluebells, Western Honey Bees, and Woodland Geranium. 
This trip might occur at the height to the flowering of spring ephemerals,
or later, depending on weather.  An excellent field guide for our hike is
Alden et al. (2008), National Audubon Society, Field Guide to the
Mid-Atlantic States.  

Cost: Free, open to the public.
Contact: barrowse@..., RSVP.  
More information:  For details and downloads, see
http://www.botsoc.org/bswfieldtrips.html. We plan to meet in parking lot C1
at 9:50 a.m. A map of the Park, a vegetation map, and trip handout will be
available through http://www.botsoc.org/bswfieldtrips.html.

The May speaker will be Julie Myers who will speak about Invasive Species
in the Washington, DC, Area.

On the following Sunday you are invited to participate in a volunteer weed
pull on Plummers Island, Sunday, May 8 from 10am-1pm. The event will be
led by Mary Travaglini, Potomac Gorge Habitat Restoration Manager from The
Nature Conservancy of MD/DC.  Details will follow when they become
available.

Flyer for posting available at: http://botsoc.org/may11.pdf

Date: Tuesday, May 3rd 7:00 PM
Where: Cathy Kerby Room, National Museum of Natural History
Speaker:  Julie Myers
Topic:  Invasive Species in the Washington, DC, Area

Free the Natives!
Giving Back to the Most Studied Island in North America

Plummers Island, a 12-acre island lying just south of the American Legion
Bridge in the Potomac River, is the “most studied island in North
America.” Just google its name (or talk to one of the botanists at NMNH),
to discover that there is a DNA bar code for every plant species on the
island, that many Smithsonian scientists have studied its flora and fauna,
and that the exclusive Washington Biologists’ Field Club, which used to
own the island, still maintains their club house there and uses the island
for research. However, non-native, invasive species threaten the
biodiversity of this little island that has given science so much. This
presentation will identify many of these alien invaders, how they threaten
the biodiversity on Plummers Island and in our local area, and what can be
done about it. This presentation is a prelude to a weed pull on May 8th at
Plummers Island in which volunteers will pull and cut invasives such as
garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata), oriental bittersweet (Celastrus
orbiculatus), and bush honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii).

Julie Myers, MSOD, is a “Weed Warrior” for the National Park Service in
Rock Creek Park, a Stream Team Leader for F.O.R.C.E. (Friends of Rock
Creek’s Environment), and a Watershed Steward with the National Capital
Region-Watershed Stewards Academy. Learning about the native flora of
where she lives has inspired her to understand the systemic effects of
small changes in the environment and to become an active steward in
preserving and remediating her local ecosystem.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Botany: Shootingstars Provide Clues to Likely Response of Plants to Global
Warming

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/04/110411152631.htm

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Foraging The Weeds For Wild, Healthy Greens
http://www.npr.org/2011/04/18/135412640/foraging-the-weeds-for-wild-healthy-gree\
ns

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++


Repelling Bugs With The Essence Of Grapefruit
http://www.npr.org/2011/04/18/135468567/repelling-bugs-with-the-essence-of-grape\
fruit

Date: Tue, 19 Apr 2011 14:48:58 -0700
From: Rod Simmons <Rod.Simmons@...>
Subject: May 7,
      2011 Statewide Invasive Exotic Plant Removal Day - Garlic Mustard Pull in
      the City of Alexandria, Virginia


In the City of Alexandria, the Dept. Recreation, Parks, and Cultural
Activities (RPCA), Horticulture and Natural Resources Section; Dept. T&ES,
Office of Environmental Quality; and Ford Nature Center have partnered
together to maximize the City’s efforts in eradicating invasive exotic
species.  The ongoing restoration work at the following sites are some of
many ongoing invasive exotic plant removal and stream clean-up efforts in
Alexandria

sponsored by the City and its partners, including the Northern Virginia
Conservation Trust; Arlington Regional Master Naturalists; National Park
Service; T.C. Williams High School; Episcopal High School; various civic
groups, neighborhood associations, and residents; and others.  Through
this collaborative effort, the City typically hosts 4 large-scale,
volunteer invasive exotic plant removal workdays each year, with the
Statewide Invasives Day being one.  Our March 26 effort was the first such
workday of this year and mainly focused on continuing with removing
English Ivy from Chinquapin Park, as well as other invasive exotic plants.

 

For the May 7, 2011 Statewide Invasives Day, we are again focusing on
hand-pulling Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata) at a number of City parks
because it is a serious problem weed throughout our parks and natural
areas; it is easily recognizable; it is easily pulled and therefore
appropriate for a variety of volunteers and ages; and a lot can be
accomplished in the way of removing it because it is so easy to pull (each
plant pulled and bagged prevents hundreds to thousands of seeds from
germinating into future years’ crops).

 

We welcome volunteers!  For those interested in participating in this
event, please contact the Ford Nature Center at (703) 746-5559 to sign up
for one of the parks below.  Site leaders will oversee activities at each
park.  Rod Simmons, RPCA Natural Resource Specialist, will travel from
site to site assisting with efforts and site orientation.  The largest
number of volunteers are needed for Chinquapin Park and Dora Kelley Nature
Park.  Bags will be provided.  Please bring gloves and wear sturdy shoes. 
Sandals, shorts, and short-sleeved shirts are not recommended.

   

Timber Branch Park – a linear seepage stream valley park along Timber
Branch, just off W. Braddock Road.  Fairly easy site to work in.  Site
leader TBA.

 

Chinquapin Park – another linear seepage stream valley park along Taylor
Run.  The City, NVCT, ARMN, and others sponsored an English Ivy pull here
in March, with some Garlic Mustard pulled.  However, this site is a high
priority this spring for Garlic Mustard removal, where the Garlic Mustard
is concentrated on one hillside at the far eastern end of the main trail. 
This site is a little more challenging because of the steep slope of the
hillside.  Site leaders ARMN and NVCT.

 

Dora Kelley Nature Park - a large City park that stretches along Holmes
Run at the eastern end of the Holmes Run Gorge.  We also want to be sure
to include the section of the park between Beauregard Street and the
Shirley Highway (395) bike path tunnels.  Fairly easy site to work in. 
Site leaders City naturalists and NVCT.

 

Holmes Run Park/All Veterans Park – the section of City parkland on both
sides of Holmes Run between N. Van Dorn St. and the Duke Street (Rt. 236)
bridge crossing.  Fairly easy site to work in.  Site leaders members of
the Alexandria Tree Stewards, Wakefield-Tarleton Civic Association, and
the Holmes Run Park Committee.

For further information, please contact:

 

Rod Simmons

Natural Resource Specialist / Plant Ecologist

Horticulture and Natural Resources Section

Department of Recreation, Parks & Cultural Activities

City of Alexandria, Virginia

2900 Business Center Drive

Alexandria, VA   22314

Rod.Simmons@...

 

Claudia Hamblin-Katnik, Ph.D.
Watershed Program Administrator
Office of Environmental Quality

Department Transportation and Environmental Services

City of Alexandria, Virginia
301 King Street, Room 3000
Alexandria, VA  22314
Claudia.Hamblin-Katnik@...

 

Mark S. Kelly

Director / City Naturalist

Ford Nature Center

5750 Sanger Avenue

Alexandria, VA 22311

(703) 746-5559

Mark.Kelly@... 

A tale of two mustards: Money Plant (Lunaria annua) [left] and Garlic
Mustard (Alliaria petiolata) [right and bottom center].  Both are invasive
exotic, spring-blooming biennials of the Brassicaceae (Lunaria rarely an
annual), though Garlic Mustard is much more widespread and populous. 
However, Money Plant is turning up more and more as an escape from
ornamental plantings throughout our area.  In the City of Alexandria,
we’ll be pulling and bagging it along Holmes Run near the Ben Brenman Park
bridge and Tarleton Park, as well as other sites.  Photo by R.H. Simmons
of infestation near Burgundy Farm opposite Alexandria in Fairfax County,
Virginia.


See also: http://www.virginiamasternaturalist.org/invasives/        

A message from Emanuela Appetiti, our representative to the Washington
Academy of Science.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Tue, 19 Apr 2011 12:15:18 -0400
From: "Appetiti, Emanuela" <APPETITIE@...>
Subject: an article about our research in Smithsonian Magazine!


A short message just to inform you that our research is featured in the
latest issue of the Smithsonian Magazine. HERE is the article. Hope you
will enjoy.

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/What-Secrets-Do-Ancient-Medical-Texts\
-Hold.html
 

Warmest wishes, also on Alain’s behalf,

Emanuela Appetiti

 

.·´¯`·.¸. ><((((*> .·´¯`·.¸. .·´><((((*> .·´¯`·.¸.
.·´¯`·.¸.><((((*>

 

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Thu, 21 Apr 2011 13:54:35 -0700
From: Rod Simmons <Rod.Simmons@...>
To: "armn@googlegroups.com" <armn@googlegroups.com>
Cc: 'Kirsten Johnson' <kirsten2622@...>,
      "lou_aronica@..." <lou_aronica@...>
Subject: May 27-29 Poconos trip


All the Pennsylvania field trips that Lou organizes jointly for the
Maryland Native Plant Society, Pennsylvania Native Plant Society,
Botanical Society of Washington, and others are to great places and a lot
of fun. �This year's field trip to the Poconos region is especially
interesting (see Kirsten's message below).

The event is free and all are welcome.� Field trip is limited to 25.�
Registration is required. �Details will be shared with registrants as
plans evolve. �To register, contact Kirsten Johnson 410-366-7239 or
kirsten2622 at comcast.net.� For ARMN members, this field trip applies
towards advanced training hours.�

Further information at: http://www.mdflora.org/


Thanks,


Rod

From Kirsten:�

Dear Board and others,


At Lou Aronica's suggestion, we are planning a trip to the Poconos on
Friday May 27 - Sunday May 29. (Memorial Day weekend) This is a joint
trip� with the PA Native Plant Society. I just posted this trip on the
website.


On Saturday morning May 28 Jenifer Rituper of Monroe Co EE Center will
lead a walk in the Tannersville Cranberry Bog, the southernmost boreal bog
in eastern US. On Sunday, we will visit the Pocono Glacial Till Barrens
with Dr. Roger Latham, expert and author of several publications on this
rare ecosystem. One or more additional sites may also be added, most
likely a visit to Hickory Run State Park on Friday afternoon.�

Please let me know if you are interested.


Kirsten Johnson
kirsten2622@...�

Date: Tuesday, May 3rd 7:00 PM
Speaker:  Julie Myers
Topic:  Invasive Species in the Washington, DC, Area
Flyer for Posting: http://botsoc.org/may11.pdf

Meeting location: Cathy Kerby Room (Room CE-340), Smithsonian Institution,
National Museum of Natural History, 10th St. and Constitution Avenue NW,
Washington, DC. Use the Constitution Avenue entrance; wait to be escorted
up. All are welcome. As usual, light refreshments will be served prior to
and after the presentation.

Pre-meeting dinner: 5:30 P.M. at the Elephant & Castle Pub and Restaurant,
1201 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., Washington. Phone 202-347-7707. The
restaurant is diagonally across from the Old Post Office Pavilion at 12th
and Pennsylvania, a few blocks from the Museum, with Federal Triangle the
nearest Metro station, and Metro Center also nearby.


The Saturday following the meeting will be a trip to Plummers Island to
help rescue the island from the invasives which are trying to take it
over.

Here is the information for May 8th:�

Help remove invasive plants from Plummers Island!

May 8th, 10-1pm, near Bethesda, MD
�

Join The Nature Conservancy and Botanical Society of Washington on May 8th
for a few hours of cutting invasive bittersweet vines and other exotics on
Plummers Island, one of the most studied areas in the DC Metro region. After
cutting the vines, a Conservancy staffer will treat the stumps with an
herbicide to prevent resprouting. We will meet at Lock 10 and hike in
together, but please rsvp to potomacgorgevol@... so we can expect you,
and have enough tools, t-shirts, and snacks, and provide directions for you.
Please bring water and a lunch, so we can enjoy lunch by the river or on top
of the island when we finish.

�

Julie A. Myers, MSOD
(202) 362-5962
(202) 489-3546 cell
jamyers.consulting@...

http://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/nativegardening/index.shtml

�

The last meeting until September will be held on Tuesday, June 7th.

The speaker will be Janelle Burke; her topic:
Polygonaceae in the Washington Area

The knotweed family is probably most visible in the Washington area in the
form of two notorious weeds: mile-a-minute and Japanese knotweed. She will
touch upon some evolutionary relationships in the family, show some native
Polygonaceae species, and identify characters to distinguish the invasive
ones.

Flyer for posting is available at: http://botsoc.org/jun11.pdf


Meeting location: Cathy Kerby Room (Room CE-340), Smithsonian Institution,
National Museum of Natural History, 10th St. and Constitution Avenue NW,
Washington, DC. Use the Constitution Avenue entrance; wait to be escorted
up. All are welcome. As usual, light refreshments will be served prior to
and after the presentation.  7 PM.


Pre-meeting dinner: 5:30 P.M. at the Elephant & Castle Pub and Restaurant,
1201 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., Washington. Phone 202-347-7707. The
restaurant is diagonally across from the Old Post Office Pavilion at 12th
and Pennsylvania, a few blocks from the Museum, with Federal Triangle the
nearest Metro station, and Metro Center also nearby.


Please let Larry Dorr know by June 3 whether you are coming so he can
arrange for badges. dorrl@...


Bio of speaker:

Janelle Burke originally hails from Chicago, Illinois. She moved to the
mid-Atlantic region for college, and graduated from Johns Hopkins
University 2004 with a major in Behavioral Biology. After college she
worked for the City of Baltimore as the program coordinator for the Urban
Weed Warriors program, training volunteers to identify and remove invasive
species in the city parks. Afterwards, she entered a Ph.D. program in
plant biology at Cornell University with Dr. Melissa Luckow, where she
studied tropical members of Polygonaceae, including the tropical invasive
corallita.



http://www.botany.org/students_corner/profiles/janelle_burke/

From Ray Mims:

Kathy,  I wanted to let you and the Botanical Society know about this
interesting exhibit we have this summer and it will only get better
through the summer as the plantings grow. 


Green Genes: Mapping the Plant World

From May 28 through October 10, the U.S. Botanic Garden examines plant
relationships and how new genetic research is changing the plant family tree
 

May 27, 2011 — Washington, D.C. — On Saturday, May 28, the U.S. Botanic
Garden opens Green Genes: Mapping the Plant World, a garden exhibit
presented on the Conservatory Terrace. The exhibit examines how we assign
scientific names to the world’s flora, estimated at about 300,000 species,
and how the names can guide us in understanding plant relationships. 

Why and how are plants named? At first, scientific names were assigned to
facilitate identification and communication. For the most part, names were
assigned based on visible characters such as numbers of flower parts. In the
19th century, we began to expect that the names would also reflect plant
relationships through shared lines of descent. Only within the past 15 years
have scientists begun to look at gene sequences and use them as a direct
measure of relationship. 
 

Gene sequencing has been a boon to plant sciences, but the changes in plant
names that it produces can be the bane of gardeners, who most often use
names for identification and communication. Old names die hard, and new
names may seem unwarranted because gardeners can’t see genes, especially
those that are largely neutral in effect.

Green Genes: Mapping the Plant World presents flowering plants in the
context of the plant family tree and highlights some of the new
relationships that have been revealed in recent years. Plant taxonomy is
taking on new importance: When plant names reflect relationship, they point
researchers to sources of genes for disease resistance, medicinal compounds,
environmental flexibility or other valuable traits.

Visitors are invited to explore and enjoy the terrace gardens, resplendent
in the beauty and rich diversity of flowering plants. While Green Genes:
Mapping the Plant World is on exhibit, the USBG will be offering several
lectures and tours.

Everyone is invited to the free Green Genes family festival on Saturday,
June 18, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. 

The U.S. Botanic Garden Conservatory is open to the public, free of charge,
every day of the year from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Conservatory is located at
100 Maryland Avenue, SW, on the west side of the U.S. Capitol. Visitors are
encouraged to take Metrobus and Metrorail. Further information is available
by visiting http://www.usbg.gov or calling (202) 225-8333.

http://www.usbg.gov/contact-us/upload/052711-Green-Genes-Terrace-Exhibit.pdf

###

 

United States Botanic Garden

The United States Botanic Garden (USBG) is one of the oldest botanic gardens
in North America. The Garden informs visitors about the importance and
fundamental value of plants, and highlights the diversity of plants
worldwide, as well as their aesthetic, cultural, economic, therapeutic and
ecological significance. With nearly a million visitors annually, the USBG
strives to demonstrate and promote sustainable practices. The U.S. Botanic
Garden has been recognized as a museum and accredited by the American
Association of Museums.