Discovery of two new Lycopodiella (Lycopodiaceae) in Maine

4 Pages·2001·1.9 MB·English

by  A Haines

RHODORA,
Vol. 103, No. 916, 431-434, 2001
pp.
NEW
ENGLAND NOTE
TWO NEW
DISCOVERY OF LYCOPODIELLA
MAINE
(LYCOPODIACEAE)
IN
Arthur
Haines
Woodlot
Alternatives,
Inc.,
ME
Main Topsham, 04086
122
Street,
e-mail: [email protected]
Lycopodiella Holub a distinctive genus of wetland club-
is
mosses. Species of genus have creeping horizontal stems and
this
may
which
upright, unbranched, leafy peduncles each of bear a
single strobilus. Leaves of both the peduncle and strobilus (spo-
rophylls) are unreduced and morphologically similar to the leaves
The
genus
of the horizontal stem, unusual the family.
traits in
includes species North America, four widespread diploids
six
in
and two tetraploids of global conservation concern (Wagner and
common
(Bruce and
Beitel 1993). Interspecific hybrids are 1975),
same
plants resulting from crosses between species of the ploidy
generally with normal spores, whereas those from
level are fertile,
between and
crosses species of different ploidy levels are sterile
produce aborted spores.
New
Three species of Lycopodiella occur England: alo-
in L.
pecuroides (L.) Cranlill; appressa (Chapm.) Cranfill; and L.
/..
The
inundata Holub (Angelo and Boufford 1996). former
(L.)
two found on and
species are primarily the Atlantic coastal plain
New
common
The
are more south of England. latter species a
is
north temperate and boreal plant of North America and Eurasia.
Maine
Both L. appressa and L. inundata arc reported to occur in
(Angelo and Boufford 1996; Haines and Vining 1998), although
observed
appressa currently ranked state historic not
L. is (i.e.,
extant 20 years) by the Maine Natural Areas Program (1999).
in
New
Recognition of England Lycopodiella generally not
is
where complicate
problematic except hybrid individuals identifi-
cation. Lycopodiella inundata a small plant with upright shoots
is
rarely than 6 cm. strobilus has spreading, entire sporo-
taller
Its
35-50%
commonly
phylls and comprises of the upright shoot
height. Lycopodiella appressa a taller plant with upright shoots
is
cm com-
13-40 strobilus has appressed, entire sporophylls
tall. Its
15-35%
monly comprising of the upright shoot height. Ly-
total
431
432 Rhodora
Vol. 103
I
copodiella alopecuroides, similar to the preceding species, also
is
cm
bog clubmoss. 6-30
relatively robust upright shoots are
a lis
which commonly 15—35%
of the strobilus comprises of the
tall,
The
height. sporophylls are spreading and provided with
total
minute teeth on each margin. Lycopodiella alopecuroides has an
unusual growth habit. The horizontal stems arch over the sub-
strate and root distant points where the stem contacts the
at
ground. Both inundata and appressa have stems
horizontal
/.. /..
that are normally on the ground and root along the length.
flat
Wagner
The reader directed to and Beitel (1993) and Mont-
is
gomery
and
Fairbrothers 1992) for additional characteristics
that
(
distinguish these three species bog clubmoss.
o\'
On November
29 2000. conducted a preliminary rare plant
I
community
and natural survey on property Topsham, Saga-
a
in
Two
dohoc County. open power-line occurred on
clearings
this
property that have recovered as mixed gram inoid—shrub wetlands
low These
the areas. wetlands occur on saturated, sandy
in soils
overlaid by a layer o( organic matter and high bryophyte cover.
Within one of these wetlands, robust Lycopodiella with
a upright
cm
shoots exceeding 10 height was observed. had
in thick,
It
arching horizontal stems, and leaves with minute
teeth. Identifi-
cation confirmed the small colony as alopecuroides popu-
a
L.
lation o( approximately six individuals. Species associated with
the population included Muhlenhergia uniflora (Muhl.) Fernald,
Kalmia Rhynchospora
angustifolia capitellata (Michx.) Vahl,
L.,
Rubus
hispidus L., Spiraea tomentosa L., Solidago uliginosa
Eriophorum
Nutt., virginicum Gentiana linearis FroeL, and
L.,
Lyt opodiella inundata.
A
search ol* the area revealed a second colony o( large Lyco-
growing
podiella plants meters from previous
live the location.
mew
The colony was substantially larger and across and along
the edge of an infrequently used off-road vehicle path within
the
mixed graminoid-shrub
wetland. Further examination revealed
these plants as hybrids of/., alopecuroides and inundata. These
/..
hybrid plants exhibited the thick, arching stems o( alopecu-
L.
(35-46%
roides with the relatively of
tall strobili the total uprighl
shoot height) o( inundata. This morphology similar
L. to that
is
L
X
observed
other alopecuroides inundata occurrences o(
in L.
eastern North America (Montgomery and Fairbrothers 1992). The
presence o( hybrid plants not surprising given the reproductive
is
biology of Lycopodiella frequency of hybridization mixed
(i.e., in
New
England Note 433
2()()l|
populations) and the abundance of inundata the wetland.
L. in
Neither alopecuroides nor hybrid with inundata have
L. L.
its
New
been collected previously Maine. Within England,
in L. al-
X
opecuroides inundata has only been reported Massachu-
L. for
and Somers
setts (Sorrie 1999). High-resolution digital scans of
Montgomery
the collected plants were provided to James to con-
firm species identification. Rare species report forms have been
forwarded Maine Areas Program and specimens
the Natural
to
Maine
o[ both taxa have been deposited the University of Her-
in
barium.
Lycopodiella alopecuroides Sagadahoc Co.: Top-
L. Cranfill.
Nov
sham, 29 2000, Haines (maine).
s.n.
X Co
Sagadahoc
Lycopodiella alopecuroides inundata.
L.
Nov
Topsham, 29 2000, Haines (maine).
s.n.
November
Prior to the survey, the global range of Lycopodiella
was
alopecuroides reported to be Massachusetts, south along the
coastal plain to Florida, and west to southeastern Texas, with
disjunct occurrences central Texas, Arkansas, and Kentucky
in
(Wagner and Beitel 1993). This surprising discovery represents a
km
range expansion of approximately 250 north from the nearest
known
population Winchendon, Worcester County, Massachu-
in
New
(Paul Somers, comm.), England. alopecu-
setts pers. In L.
roides Flora Conservanda Division 2 species (fewer than 20
a
is
New
Brumback
England occurrences; and Mehrhoff, 1996)
et al.
and therefore of regional conservation concern. Massachusetts,
In
provided a state status of endangered (Massachusetts Natural
is
it
Heritage and Endangered Species Program 2000). Connecticut,
In
has a state status of special concern, though believed ex-
is
it it
(Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection
tirpated
Rhode given of endangered
1998). In Island, a state status
is
it
(Brumback and Mehrhoff,
1996).
et
al.
Maine
Given regional protection of the station a
rarity,
its is
New
Prompt
high priority for this species England. conser-
in
dam-
vation action suggested as vehicular traffic currently
is is
aging the hybrid plants proximate to the Lycopodiella alopecu-
roides colony. Maintenance o( an open community for the power
lines likely to be beneficial to the survival of these plants.
is
Future transmission-line tower repairs, however, could threaten
the plants heavy machinery not routed around the colonies.
if is
434 Rhodora
|Vol. 103
Company
Maine Power
Coordination with Central crucial to
is
the long-term survival of the alopecuroides occurrence.
/..
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. thank James Montgomery, Arthur
Gil-
I
man, Robbin Moran, and Somers
Paul for helpful discussion
oi'
Lycopodiella morphology, and Thomas Vining com-
for editorial
The
ments. opportunity survey and discovery
for this a result
is
o( Steven Walker's resource conservation
ethic.
LITERATURE CITED
New
Angelo, and Boci okD.
R. D. H. 1990. Atlas of the flora of England:
i
Pteridiphytes and gymnospernis. Rhodora 98: 1-79.
Bruce, G. 1975. Systematics and morphology of subgenus Lepidotus of
J.
genus Lycopodium (Lyeopdiaceae). Ph.D. Univ. Mich-
(he dissertation,
Ann
Arbor, Ml.
igan.
Bkimback, W. and Mehrhoff, it 1996. Flora Conservanda:
E. L. al.
J.
New New
England. The England Conservation Program (NEPCoP)
Plant
need Rhodora 233-361.
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list
CoNNECTiCt parimin Environmental Protection. Endan-
oi 1998.
I)i r
i
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T. oi' V.
ME.
Harbor.
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House ME.
Augusta.
Station.
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Species
2000. Massachusetts endangered, and concern
threatened, special
list oi'
MA.
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New
Montgomery, and
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J.
New
Fern-allies. Rutgers Univ. Press, Brunswick, NJ.
A
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P. oi'
county checklist. Massachusetts Natural Heritage and Endangered Spe-
MA.
Program. Westborough.
cies
Wagner, W. H.. Jr. and M. Bkiti-l. 1993. Lvcopodiaccac, 18-37.
J. pp. ///:
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oi'
New
ica North Mexico. Vol. Oxford Univ. Press, Oxford and York.
oi' 2.