Great Natives of Midwestern Ecotype
July 2009 Edition
Great Natives Of Mid-western Ecotype
V o l u m e 1 0 , Is s u e 1 July 1, 2009
GNOME N EWS THE BIG PICTURE:
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
Native grasses stronger than TNT? Plant Profile
2
Native on the Net
2
Best Books
2
Organization Spotlight
3
Native News
3
Planting with a Purpose
3
Featured Interview
4
Invasives!
5
Fantastic Fauna
5
Focus on the Future
6
Did you know... •
•
TNT contaminates hundreds of US sites from military firing ranges to old production dumps to waterways? The higher the demand or requests for natives in retail outlets, the more likely they are to stock them? Ask for natives!
In the GNOME News March article feature, native grasses were being studied in reducing and breaking down the chemical atrazine– one of the most commonly applied agricultural chemicals in the US.
Missouri researchers (from left) Chung-Ho Lin, Robert Lerch and John Yang are investigating whether native grasses can clean up pollution caused by explosives at hundreds of locations across the country.
Researchers at the University of Missouri took information from the atrazine studies and started to apply those results to another large problem in the United States- TNT contamination. Today there are 538 sites identified by the Department of Defense as having Trinitrotoluene (TNT) and cyclotrimethylene trinitramine (also called RDX) contamination. 20 of these sites are classified as the country’s most dangerous abandoned toxic waste locations.
Robert Lerch, John Yang and Chung-Ho Lin began talking about how chemically similar atrazine is to the explosives TNT and RDX.
The team is finding that eastern gamagrass and switchgrass are the most effective. These break down the toxic chemicals into harmless water and CO2.
TNT and RDX pollution pose a threat to the human nervous and to kidneys and liver. It is believed to cause cancer and also increases risk of birth defects.
“If it worked for atrazine, we thought it might work for these things,” said Lin, a research professor for the University of Missouri Center for Agroforestry.
The normal cost of cleaning a contaminated area of TNT or RDX is between $10,000 and $1 million dollars and acre. The native grass solution, if it follows results in the lab, would cost about $3000 an acre.
GNOME’S MISSION Great Natives Of Mid-western Ecotype (GNOME) is an organization focused on the preservation and expansion of native floral and faunal species. The mission is to provide a netbased forum where mem-
bers can share their passion, plans, ideas, and questions with other people having a common interest.
1. Join our facebook group at
You can participate in many different ways.
3. Visit or link to the website 4. Pass on the newsletter.
http://www.facebook.com/ group.php? gid=45643568296
2.
Submit articles, pictures, stories, or plans for publication.
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Ruellia humilis– Wild Petunia Ruellia humilis is the wild native perennial version of the commonly planted annual petunia (they belong to different families). It is similar in growth habits, getting to be about one foot tall. It must have been an easy one– it got 100% of the votes on the Name that Native webpage.
“If we go on the way we have, the fault is our greed [and] if we are not willing [to change], we will disappear from the face of the globe, to be replaced by the insect” ~Jacques Cousteau
This plant originally lived east of the Rocky Mountains and was found all the way to the Atlantic Ocean. It was also found in New Mexico and Arizona. This plant is currently blooming, having light purple flowers and a darker purple lines running toward the corolla used by pollinators as a guide to the nectar. It grows low to the ground and readily reseeds itself.
A fascinating seed dispersal method is utilized by this plant. Seed pods will freeze with seeds inside. Wild petunia can reseed to create a beautiful When they begin to thaw
blooming groundcover!
NATIVE
ON THE
Sometimes wading through sites looking for good resources on native plants is just too time consuming. This section should help! This month’s featured site is :
North American Insects and Spiders http://www.cirrusimage.com/
Summertime is again upon us and with that come a cavalcade of interesting tiny creatures until winter makes it too cold for them. Unfortunately many of these animals are difficult to identify. This site will help you! To begin, all species are classified by order, making it relatively easy to narrow your
PLANTS
One of the things I enjoyed about the book was how it seamlessly tied scientific knowledge into common and readable language. Often times a book like this is either too technical or too elementary. This book will have experienced and novice gardeners enjoying it.
Faunal associations are mainly long-tongued bees like the Anthrophorid and Leafcutting bees. Leaf cutters will also use the leaves of this plant for creating brood nests. I have found this plant to be a nice background plant for other savannah and prairie plants. Do to its prolific seeding, it can also create an effective ground cover. Though I do not dead head it and let it go to seed, it can be kept blooming by doing so.
NET
BEST BOOKS– GARDENING This book by Sally Wasowski is almost like having three books in one– field guide, natural history book, and how-to lessons.
they explode from internal pressure to spread seeds many feet from the parent plant.
WITH
search. By scrolling down the orders, you are sure to find where your crawler fits in. At the bottom, there are links to help id your animal as well. You can also submit your photo if you can’t find it by browsing. With amazing pictures, you will enjoy just looking at bugs!
PRAIRIE
Another unique thing about One more excellent thing about this book is that it covers all this book would have to be the of the prairie photos. Taken by states, not just Andy Wasowski, the Midwest. these photos Since part of the really illustrate focus of book is the many wonderto extol the ful native plants benefits of nain various settive plants and tings. the biodiversity they create, it is It sells for benice that the tween $20 and regional focus is $30 dollars and is expanded. This is a great book for those well worth it! interested in native flora.
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O RG A N I Z AT I O N S P O T L I G H T : FAIR TRADE FEDERATION The Fair Trade Federation is the trade association that strengthens and promotes North American organizations fully committed to fair trade. The Federation is part of the global fair trade movement, building equitable and sustainable trading partnerships and creating opportunities to alleviate poverty. Mission statement taken from www.fairtradefederation.org
You might be wondering what fair trade has to do with native plants and animals– especially those in the Midwest. A lot! Fair Trade products are focused on reducing or eliminating poverty. As a Changing the world one gift at a time secondary benefit, environmental issues are often North American migrant birds focused upon. I will site as an have a place to overwinter. example shade grown coffee by small independent farmers. Large scale coffee growers oust Check out the site. You can families and clear habitat. By find all sorts of fair trade supporting small farmers that products with the drop down grow shade-grown coffee, our menu on the right sight of the home page.
NATIVE NEWS:
“SUPER WEED” AND CLIMATE CHANGE Researchers at the University of Delaware have found out why Phragmites australis, a tall, feathery looking reed commonly seen in roadside ditches and other moist areas, is becoming one of the most invasive weeds in the United States.
When this acid is exposed to sunlight it degrades. This is where the plant gives a double whammy. The degraded acid is then turned into mesoxalic acid. Both acids are highly toxic and create a “cellular death cascade” in victim plants.
This plant produces gallic acid to kill neighboring plants– often times these are native ones.
With an increase in UV-B exposure due to global climate change, this plant is accidentally
PLANTING
WITH A
taking advantage of the new cycles to actively conquer new areas. The study, which is published in the June issue of the scientific journal Plant Signaling & Behavior, is believed to be the first to report the effects of UV-B radiation on plant allelopathy.
~Russel Baker
PURPOSE:
NATIVE REPLACEMENTS Sometimes no matter what you try to do, a plant just doesn’t thrive where it is planted and dies. When this happens, why not replace it with a native?
There are a larger variety of natives and cultivars being offered commercially every year . This doesn’t mean that they are easy to find.
Creating new beds, whether with traditional ornamentals or natives, can be expensive. One good way to bring natives into your landscape in a less expensive manner is simply to replace unwanted plants or ones that have died with natives.
A friend of mine was looking to add some small native clump grasses to her landscape this spring. She was frustrated when natives were not readily available at her normal plant suppliers.
“Ah, summer, what power you have to make us suffer and like it.”
There are some links on GNOME webpage to assist you in locating native plant sources. Increase your diversity with native plants!
When adding plants to your yard, consider planting natives!
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ONE ON ONE WITH WILD ONE DONNA VANBUECKEN Wild Ones is an organization that “promotes environmentally sound landscaping practices to preserve biodiversity through the preservation, restoration and establishment of native plant communities.” Donna VanBueken is the Executive Director of this North American not-forprofit environmental education and advocacy organization. I was lucky enough to have contact with Donna and she agreed to answer a few questions for this interview. Thanks Donna!
“If nothing moves in your landscape but a lawnmower, it’s time to think about designing a natural yard.”
Q- What is your mission for Wild Ones?
native plants to include natives because their customers will begin asking that they do.
There is also one other element to be considered and that is that nonnative propagation resources have been readily available, while native plant resources have had to be developed. The development of any new "industry" particularly one which is so dependent upon education is slow and costly. In time, as the industry grows, the costs will be equalized and native plant prices will become more comExecutive Director of Wild Ones petitive with non-native Donna VanBuecken plants.
A- To help them become a stronger and bigger national organization for people advocating the use of native plants in natural landscaping. Q- What are some things that you think can be done to promote native plant use? A- Education is the key. As an organization, Wild Ones cannot do it all, however. It will be important to partner with organizations who can provide the elements of this natural landscaping movement that Wild Ones cannot. From an individual perspective, education is still the key. Use of the guidelines Wild Ones developed so many years ago is still relevant. BRASH http://www.forwild.org/download/GrowItDontMowIt.pdf Q- Why do you think that there are so few nurseries and retail outlets for native plants? A- Education, again. Traditional landscaping since the 40's has been lawns and duplicates of the beautiful European garden. It goes back further than that, however, to the idea that man can control nature. Slowly, however, through the knowledge scientists are discovering about how the circle of life actually works, we are beginning to realize the importance of nature in human-kind's existence. With that knowledge, nurseries and their customers are beginning to realize that the native plant species have a really important place in our existence. With that realization, nurseries will begin changing their stock from only non-
Q- Wild ones recently acquired a headquarters on Stroebe Marsh in Wisconsin's Fox Valley . What are the immediate plans at the site for the summer? A- We started our rain garden last year, and although we still have some work to do on that garden, we're planning to do the entrance gardens this year. Volunteers have also been working at removing buckthorn and honeysuckle and just cleaning up the site. Initially, because we're just settling in, most of the work is being done by volunteers, so the development of our planned demonstration gardens is going slowly. Volunteers are always welcome and we've set aside Fridays as "work days" for Wild Ones members and friends. Once we're completely moved into the WILD Center and have some semblance of routine established, we will begin looking for grant funds to develop the rest of the demonstration gardens and restore the prairie and the riparian woodland. Q- Do you have a favorite quote or slogan that guides you in your endeavors? A- I have two. Wild Ones mission is to help people learn about the benefits of using native plants in natural landscaping. And If nothing moves in your landscape but a lawnmower, it’s time to think about designing a natural yard.
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I N VA S I V E S COMMON REED I was riding in the car recently and my passenger remarked what pretty grasses we have in our ditches along I-88. What she was referring to was not a “grass”, but Phragmites australis, also known as the common reed.
This is a clonal grass growing up to 18 feet tall. They have hollow culms and showy tufts when in bloom. They will spread through seed dispersion, but also through rhizomes. Some of these rhizomes have over 200 stems.
Perhaps one of the reasons that this invasive plant has not received more press is because until recently, there has been much debate as to whether this species is native or introduced. Research has somewhat settled this debate by finding both native and introduced genotypes.
As mentioned in the Native News this month, new research has shown just how deadly this plant the to native flora. Containing toxic acids, this plant can aggressively conquer new territory.
Common Reed Distribution
It is currently widely distributed throughout the US and is causing a decline in native forms.
F A N TA S T I C F A U N A : T H E L I T T L E B R O W N B A T Bats are one of the most feared and misunderstood mammals in North America. So, if you have chiroptophobia, set your fear aside for a moment and read on. Maybe this information will give you an appreciation for these beneficial insectivores.
Myotis lucifugus is a common bat in North America. Commonly called the little brown bat, it feeds mainly on insects near water.
This bat is brown and has small ears compared to other American species. It only weighs about 1/3 of an ounce on average. It is usually about 3 1/2 inches long and has a wingspan between 8 and 10 inches.
This bat’s diet includes many insects that humans consider a nuisance. Midges, beetles, moths, mayflies, and mosquitoes all are on the list of prey for this species. In fact, a single little brown bat can eat 1,200 insects per hour during peak feeding times. It is not uncommon for them to eat near their own bodyweight in a night. Let’s debunk some myths– first, bats may fly near your head, but they don’t get tangled in hair. Did you know that only 1/10th of 1% of wild bats carry rabies? If they have it they usually become paralyzed and not turned into frenzied biting machines. Oh– one more– bats aren’t blind– they can see as well as you do!
“I cannot walk through the suburbs in the solitude of the night without thinking that the night pleases us because it suppresses idle details, just as our memory does.” ~Jorge Luis Borges
There are three different roosting sites that this bat will use: a day roost, night roost, and hibernacula. Bats need to have warm temperatures to come out of the torpor that they use to reduce energy expenditure. This is why they use human dwellings– especially attics or barns in summertime. They will also utilize bat houses. Myotis lucifugus—little brown bat Visit www.batconservation.com
Great Natives Of Mid-western Ecotype Primary Business Address 1753 Wick Way Montgomery, IL 60538
E-mail: GNOME.Native@gmail.com
Great Natives of Mid-western Ecotype (GNOME) is an organization focused on the preservation and expansion of native floral and faunal species. The mission is to provide a netbased forum where members can share their passion, plans, ideas, and questions with other people having a common interest in native species.
Check out our site!!!
We’re on the Web! http://gnomenative.webs.com/ There’s no place like GNOME!
Fantastic Fauna p.5- http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/ accounts/information/Myotis_lucifugus.html Fantastic Fauna p.5- http://www.billbatboy.ca/gallery/ photos_of_bats/001.jpg
releases/2009/06/090603131439.htm
Invasives- http://www.invasiveplants.net/phragmites/ Common Reed p.5- http://www.um.es/eubacteria/VISU/44_Phragmites% 20australis.jpg
Native News p.3- http://www.sciencedaily.com/
Cover- http://www.kansascity.com/105/story/1253873.html
Invasives Map p.5- http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=PHAU7
Articles
Big Picture Photo-http://www.kansascity.com/105/story/1253873.html
References Pictures
GNOME
Join our facebook group! (http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=45643568296)
This is our primary forum location. The newsletter as well as open discussions are there and also other links to people and groups that focus on natives.
Got an article? Now accepting member submitted news and photos! Once you have something to share, send it to the email listed at left. Monthly news articles will, of course, give credit to the contributor. Everyone welcome!
FOCUS
ON THE
FUTURE
“Snakes”, “Bugs”, Worms”, and “Spiders”. What sort feelings to these words evoke in you? Fear? Apprehension? Disgust? If they do, you are not alone.
their spaces? What about a basic social understanding of their plant companions? I feel we are not allowing these lessons to be taught in our culture any longer.
I was thinking about seemingly universal reactions to things similar to those mentioned above. Socializing with a 13-lined ground squirrel It could be that these are remnants of hard-wired instincts that were once necessary for survival in our natu- I have often heard parents ral history. That would make espousing the benefits of early sense from a evolutionary standsocialization. Socialization point. But I think there may be “gets them ready” to not only another factor at play in addition to distinguish people by name, this. sex, role, or personality, but it also by learning appropriate behavior toward others in a Have you ever watched a child variety of circumstances. outside without interfering? It seems bugs are at least interesting and at most awe inspiring. Spiders are approached tentatively, but kids are drawn to them like a moth to a flame.
What about the same philosophical application to the natural world? Wouldn’t everyone benefit from “getting to know” the animals that also inhabit
While it may be an extreme case, I have neighbor (I call him the Lawn Nazi) that simply has groomed his yard to lifelessness. He has a small child. How can that child be expected to understand global climate change, let alone help to solve it when the example is spray, smash, and mow? Sure, the child will get a good education from books, school, and possibly some day trips to a zoo or nature center. He/she will likely get read books about apples and apple trees. But would he/she recognize one if she saw it outside of the paper world (ok-maybe in the fall if it were bearing)? Would you? Perhaps we are still driven by instincts. Or maybe we need some natural socializing...