Sempervirens : the quarterly of the Virginia Native Plant Society

2015·4.4 MB·English

by  Virginia Native Plant Society

Sempervirens
Fall 2019 The Quarterly of the Virginia Native Plant Society
Ancarrow’s List
‘Native Plants on the River’s Edge’ exhibition
Article by Judy Thomas, Plants of the James River Project Chair
A s a botanical artist living in arose: Ancarrow’s boats,
Virginia, I have long been dock, and business
interested in native plants. Joining property on the James
VNPS has been amazingly helpful to were being fouled by oily
my learning about native flora. A few pollution. He could not
years ago, another artist, Paula Blair, allow his famous clients
and I formed the Plants of the James to visit the boatyard.
River Project (PJRP). We recruited When the pollution
two talented artists, Cheryl Exley and began to peel the paint
Betsy Lyon, to form our board. After off his beautiful wooden
casting about for some structure to boats, his disgust turned
organize our native plants project, we to activism and he began
rediscovered Ancarrow’s List. to work in earnest to
Newton Ancarrow was born in force the city to clean up
Richmond in 1920. The James River the James.
was his playground and had a lasting Ancarrow explored Newton Ancarrow, 1971, seen photographing a wildflower
at the James River in Richmond. (Courtesy Lewis Ginter
influence on his life. Ancarrow was the riverbanks and
Botanical Garden and VCU Libraries)
said to have “a need for speed.” He documented where
majored in chemistry and physics pollutants were being
experience when we discover a plant
at the University of Richmond, but dumped to provide evidence to the
new to us. Ancarrow taught himself
his first love was fast boats. This led city and, later, the courts. What he
some botany and photography to
him to open Ancarrow Marine in the found appalled him. At this time,
document native plants. Eventually,
1960s, located in Richmond along the the city of Richmond was dumping
he would take 35,000 photographs
James River. Soon, a huge problem raw sewage into the James River,
of over 400 species, native and
along with heating oil, and
introduced. Along the way, he
industrial chemicals. But what else
realized that these photographs
did he notice as he explored the
“Running Cedar” could be a powerful tool to inspire
river banks?
Colored pencil and support for cleaning up the James.
Wildflowers. River banks and
graphite. Copyright Judy
Ancarrow developed a strategy: he
Thomas. lowlands can be rich in flora,
created a slide show of wildflowers
and the James River is no
and presented it to garden clubs
. exception. We can guess
and other organizations around
_ that Ancarrow
the state. This produced a growing
” experienced the
chorus of voices that eventually led
same joy VNPS
to cleaning the James. Today, 1.8
members (and
(See Ancarrow, page 11)
"botanical artists)
Sempervirens, Fall 2019
From the President, Nancy Vebrs
‘Plant Natives’ is theme of fundraiser
for most of the areas of Virginia that immense contributions to the Society.
include the Coastal Plain because Cathy Mayes previously served as
ith so much of our beautiful grant money was available. Other VNPS treasurer for many terms and
Commonwealth already areas of the state need start-up funds we are grateful for her faithful service.
developed, we despair for the future to produce these guides. Reprints of We welcome Kevin Howe as our
of our native birds and insects that current guides need funding as well. I new First Vice President, and he has
depend on our precious native plants. hope that you will give generously to volunteered to serve as our research
The VNPS seeks to conserve the this effort and support the rewilding grants coordinator for the upcoming
lands that are still undisturbed, but of built environments. Our goal is application period. We also welcome
we also need to make developed $20,000 exclusive of expenses. Jim Hurley to the board of directors
spaces more hospitable to nature. As the year comes to a close, we where he will share duties with
Dr. Doug Tallamy addresses this thank the members of our board of Ruth Douglas as Co-Invasives
effort in his upcoming book Nature’s directors who recently completed Plant Educator. There are still open
Best Hope, A New Approach to their terms, Janet Pawlukiewicz as positions on our board including
Conservation that Starts in Your Yard. First Vice President, Bland Crowder Membership Chair (develop ways to
That’s why this year’s fundraiser was as Publications Chair, Joyce Wenger retain and recruit members), Publicity
selected to support the Plant Virginia as Director-at-Large/Research Grants Chair, and Publications Chair.
Natives effort. Regional native plant Coordinator, and Cathy Mayes, Best wishes for a happy and
gardening guides have been developed Director-at-Large. We appreciate their healthy holiday season. +
s seen at the Annual Meeting
J
Sempervirens, Fall 2019
Piedmont Chapter lauded as excellent hosts
embers of the Piedmont in or near the meadows—the native charter members Jocelyn Sladen and
Chapter outdid themselves with Horsenettle and the non-native Crown Marion Lobstein and announced that
organizing this year’s annual meeting Vetch—and the third, American one of the annual research grants will
and offering such a wide variety of field Linden, is a tree that commonly grows be named in memory of past president
trips and activities. While the VNPS in nearby forests. What a revelation. Mary Pockman.
board of directors held its quarterly Following an early morning buffet Saturday evening’s keynote address
meeting in the late afternoon, the on Saturday, the field trip carpools was presented by Woody Bousquet,
halls of the Holiday Inn boomed with departed every five minutes as designed Professor Emeritus of Environmental
activity: T-shirt and book sales, invasive by the planning committee. I was in Studies and Biology at Shenandoah
plant exhibits, raffle sales, and plenty the earliest group because we had University in Winchester. Entitled
of native plants on display. The happy the farthest to travel: Hawksbill in “Abrams Creek Wetlands: An Ongoing
hour before dinner allowed members Shenandoah National Park. September Conservation Story,” Woody’s
a chance to catch up with old friends 29 was “National Public Lands Day” presentation examined the scientific
from across the commonwealth. so admission was free to the park and investigation, protection, management,
Following the buffet dinner, Piedmont trailhead parking lots were crowded. promotion, and continuing challenges
Chapter President Karen Hendershot Meeting up with leaders Gary Fleming of preserving the rare ecological
officially welcomed the more than 140 and Johnny Townsend of Virginia’s communities and species of this
participants representing every chapter. Natural Heritage Program, we set off calcareous wetlands complex, which
Featured speaker T’ai Roulston, ona short bushwhack to a beautiful is located in the northern Shenandoah
Research Associate Professor and rock outcrop. Before we even left sight Valley. Among the points emphasized
Curator, State Arboretum of Virginia of Skyline Drive, Mary Jane Epps was were the importance of developing
at Blandy, University of Virginia, finding and identifying interesting a written management plan, the
presented “In Praise of Unloved fungi. A few sprinkles fell as we made need for community involvement
Things, the Ecological Interactions our way amongst several species of and environmental education, and
of Despised Plants.” His presentation goldenrods and asters. Besides some the flexibility required to respond
demonstrated that warm season uncommon species at the outcrop, I to both barriers and opportunities
meadows are a popular way of delighted in fall-blooming Witch Hazel for conservation. Google “Abrams
converting weedy fields, mowed areas, (Hamamelis virginiana), Mountain Ash Bousquet Fleming” for the full floristic
or abandoned agricultural fields into (Sorbus americana), and the remains of study that Woody co-authored in 2017
native habitat to support wildlife, Tall Milkweed (Asclepias exaltata). with Gary Fleming of the Virginia
including birds and insects. He noted Another before dinner social and Natural Heritage Program.
that these areas are potentially very bountiful buffet dinner preceded Sunday morning we all started an
important in supporting pollinator the official annual meeting. The hour later for our half-day adventures.
populations, but relatively little is membership adopted the annual Harry and I went to Shenandoah River
known about the value of individual budget and reelected Johnny State Park for the mushroom walk.
plants in these meadows compared Townsend (At-Large) and Ruth The mushrooms were scarce because
with the value of plants that are being Douglas (Invasive Plant Co-Educator) of the late summer drought.
replaced or plants in surrounding to the board of directors. Kevin Howe We thank the members of the
areas. As part of a study of bumble (First Vice-President), Alex Fisher Piedmont Chapter’s annual meeting
bees in cool season and warm season (Conservation), and Jim Hurley committee for their meticulous
meadows, he and his team found that (Invasive Plant Co-Education) were planning. Special thanks go to Cathy
the three most common plant species also elected to the board. Jerome Mayes, the committee chair, and
used for pollen collection by bumble Prochaska elicted gales of laughter chapter president Karen Hendershot.
bees in these meadows in early to mid from the audience during his Bravo! Next year we plan to hold
summer are not species intentionally unscheduled comedy monologue at the annual meeting in Abingdon in
planted in the meadows. Two of them the conclusion of the business meeting. southwestern Virginia the last weekend
are usually considered weeds that grow We recognized the attendance of in September.
—Nancy Vehrs, President
Sempervirens, Fall 2019
View from Buffalo Mountain summit, one of Virginia’s top scenic assets in the New River region. (Courtesy Natural Heritage Program)
Natural Heritage celebrates land additions
fforts to permanently protect directly collaborated and NRLT had
From Your
Virginia’s natural heritage have never previously purchased a tract of Natural Heritage
resulted in six real estate projects, which land. NRLT staff and board stretched
Program
dedicated new land to the Division their comfort zone and completed a
By Rob Evans
of Natural Heritage (DNH) Natural 66-acre purchase identified as critical
Area Preserve system. The fact that our by DNH, backed up by funds secured native vegetation in order to provide
last report, in 2018, only highlighted by DNH from the Virginia Land critically needed fruits and insects
two completed projects hints at Conservation Foundation (VLCF) for migrating songbirds.
the overall rarity of such projects. and Department of Game and Inland
From cultivating willing landowners Fisheries. NRLT consummated the ANTIOCH PINES NATURAL
to obtaining necessary grants (the purchase, repaid the loan, and placed AREA PRESERVE—
Heritage program receives no direct a perpetual deed of dedication on the ISLE OF WIGHT COUNTY
state appropriated acquisition funds) property with expectation to donate As an addition to one of the keystone
through completing due diligence the tract to the Commonwealth in the preserves in DNH’s effort to restore
and closing steps, involving several coming months. Longleaf Pine and its associated
other state agencies and multiple fire-adapted vegetation, this 140-acre
contractors, an “average” acquisition MAGOTHY BAY NATURAL tract provides both smoke buffer
can take three years. Given the lengthy AREA PRESERVE — to support existing prescribed burn
process and detailed procedures NORTHAMPTON COUNTY efforts as well as additional area to
each closing feels like a significant DCR has continued to partner with expand habitat restoration, which will
milestone. However, there is little time the Coastal Zone Management include a number of significantly rare
for celebration as we try to keep the Program (CZMP) to improve plant species.
pipeline of new projects moving. migratory bird habitat near the
Here’s a brief summary of the southern tip of the Eastern Shore. BUFFALO MOUNTAIN
newest preserve additions. The area is one of the most NATURAL AREA PRESERVE —
significant fall migration stopovers, FLOYD COUNTY
CAMP BRANCH WETLANDS but existing farm fields provide little A six-acre addition protects
NATURAL AREA PRESERVE— cover or food for birds along this part of the entrance corridor
FLOYD COUNTY critical route. With CZM funds and into the preserve and its existing
This project included several a match secured from VLCF, we parking lot and hiking trail from
significant firsts. DNH and the New purchased 105 acres and will soon incompatible development. As such,
River Land Trust (NRLT) had never begin to restore the open fields to this tract directly complements the
Sempervirens, Fall 2019
recreational and user experience on
the preserve, while also protecting a
small population of Roan Mountain
Sedge (Carex roansensis). In addition
toa VLCF grant, this project
was supported by both a private
benefactor and the Blue Ridge
Wildflower Society, each of which
made financial contributions to the
Natural Area Preservation Fund.
BALD KNOB NATURAL AREA
PRESERVE — FRANKLIN COUNTY
Known to rare plant enthusiasts
for its large population of the
globally-rare Piedmont Fameflower
(Phemeranthus piedmontanus), yagi
Bald Knob is the most recent new The Bald Knob tract in Franklin County borders the Pigg River, a designated Virginia
Water Trail. (Courtesy Natural Heritage Program)
Virginia Natural Area Preserve to be
established (2016). With 33 additional the Potomac-Appalachian Trail including a portion of an Audubon
buffering acres, this preserve now
Club (PATC) and the National Society Important Bird Area with
protects frontage along the Pigg River, Park Service, as well as a private “important stopover habitat for
a designated Virginia Water Trail and landowner. With grants from VLCF hundreds of thousands of migrating
potential Virginia Scenic River, as well and the DuPont settlement, 62 passerines during migration” and
as habitat for the state endangered acres were donated in fee by PATC “one of the most significant fall
Roanoke Logperch (Percina rex). as an addition to the preserve, raptor flyways in Virginia.” The
while an additional 62 acres are site is also replete with cultural
DEEP RUN PONDS NATURAL held by PATC and protected by significance as part of the Port
AREA PRESERVE — DCR-held Open Space easements. Republic Civil War Battlefield Study
ROCKINGHAM COUNTY The combined acreage links the Area, and a Civilian Conservation
Perhaps the most complex existing NAP with Shenandoah Corps and Civilian Public Servant
transaction of the year, this one National Park and protects Camp facility from 1933-1946.
involved a new partnership with significant conservation values In the coming year, we will remain
focused on improving the resiliency of
a
existing preserves and expanding them
= Toae
iat eee7
r where strategic opportunities exist
to do so. With a little luck, we expect
more additions to one of VNPS’s
favorite locations, The Cedars, and we
may even add a new preserve!
From the land donation made
last year at Mount Joy Pond in
southeastern Augusta County to the
monetary donations made to the
Natural Area Preserve Fund that
have helped with all additions listed
above, DNH staff never forget that
ee7 e A. (ioe - Nant VNPS remains one of DNH’s most
committed partners.
The Morton Tract is a 124.88-acre project in Rockingham County in the
Shenandoah Valley. (Courtesy Natural Heritage Program)
Sempervirens, Fall 2019
Society founders create
large environmental legacy
wo venerable ladies, both named passing. Mary Murrin Painter of
Mary and both intertwined with Bonita Springs, Florida, passed
the story of the Virginia Native Plant away on Sunday October 6.
Society, passed away this year. The Born Mary Carol Murrin on
absence of both women leaves a hole in December 19, 1949, in Charleston,
the Society, but the legacy of their vision West Virginia, she was an avid Mary Murrin Painter (Courtesy Painter family)
and the strong foundation they built for equestrian, swimmer, artist, writer,
important conservation work continues. designer of hats and furniture, and
Mary Painter is survived by her
“The Two Marys,” are founder a lifelong golfer.
partner of many years, Dr. John Allen
Mary Painter and second president Mary Painter was the founder of
Mayo and two sons and their families.
Mary Pockman. Mary Painter had the the Virginia Wildflower Preservation
Mary Pockman died on Sunday,
inspiration Society, later named the Virginia
May 12, 2019, in Albuquerque after
and energy Native Plant Society, in 1982. She
a long struggle with dementia. She
to lead the was president and board member
was 88 years old. She is survived by
creation of the of VNPS for several years and was
her husband, Ted, her son, Will,
organization honored at the White House by First
her daughter-in-law, Marcy, and her
in 1982 as Lady Barbara Bush as a Washington
granddaughters, Ella and Lucy.
the Virginia Metropolitan Area Volunteer of the
Mary Pockman was also an early
Wildflower Year. Mary was also Director and
leader in the Society who fought
Preservation long-standing steering committee
against the destruction of Virginia’s
? Society. member of the widely-acclaimed
Mary Pockman era) ee natural landscape Her biggest battle
Originating Conference on Landscaping with
involved Disney’s attempted takeover
in Fairfax County where land Native Plants, held annually at
of Gainesville and western Prince
development was accelerating, Western Carolina University in
William County, but she also fought to
the VWPS sought to rescue and Cullowhee, N.C. She was also
stop the destruction of Mason Neck,
relocate plants in jeopardy, cultivate honored by Mary Baldwin College
a large, old-growth, Oak-Heath forest
wildflowers, and educate the public in 1991 with a Career Achievement
and a native American cobble-tool-
about them. Mary Pockman, the Award and the Sesquicentennial
terrace in Fairfax County.
second president of the Society, and Medallion in 1992.
Mary Pockman was the second
also based in Fairfax County, was a Mary Painter graduated from
president of the Society. It was
formidable presence and held strong Charleston Catholic High School in
during her tenure that the name was
views about saving the land and plant 1967 and later as an art major in 1971
changed from the Virginia Wildflower
communities themselves. She also from Mary Baldwin College. She went
Preservation Society to the Virginia
saw the threat of nonnative invasive on to marry Jamie Painter and lived at
Native Plant Society. She had a
plants. It was during her presidency their home, Wildside Farm, in Virginia
lot to do with the organization’s
that the Society’s name was changed until 2009. At Wildside, Mary was
development and the creation of the
to the Virginia Native Plant Society the owner and operator of Virginia
administrative handbook. She also
to reflect a broader range of issues. Natives Nursery, where she poured her
served on the Mid-Atlantic Invasive
Both women retired out of state. heart and soul into all living things,
Plant Council.
We certainly owe our existence to including plants, dogs, cats, horses,
Mary Pockman was born in
these two very different, but equally and, of course, her children. Known
Champaign, Illinois, to Dr. Harold
remarkable, women. for her flowery handwriting and
Bailey, a professor at the University
Let us remember the work of drawings. She created the original
of Illinois, and Marian Kinney
these two women through the words banner for the Bulletin, the society’s
(See The Mary Legacy, page 11)
of those who honored them at their newsletter.
Sempervirens, Fall 2019
se
Various insectcs ine a TREN pollinating ae of =ae sa y Geant americanus. 1. A sweat bee, Lasioglossum sp.
(family Halictidae). 2. A bumblebee, perhaps Bombus griseocollis (family Apidae).3. A longhorn beetle, Brachyleptura rubrica or a similar
species (family Cerambycidae). 4. A flesh fly (family Sarcophagidae). 5. A hover fly from the genus Syritta (family Syrphidae). 6. Another
hover fly, Toxomeris marginatus (family Syrphidae).
Celebrating NJ Tea’s unspecialized pollination
Article by W. John Hayden, Botany Chair
The accompanying images con-
Sea pollination systems are sip of nectar; a second visit to another stitute a celebration of New Jersey
the source of some of the most flower will smear some of that pollen Tea and the diverse insects that visit,
compelling stories in natural history: directly onto a perfectly positioned and probably pollinate its flowers—
There is something appealing to the stigma. Mission accomplished! actually, shown here are just a small
human psyche about what seems to As intriguing as they are, portion of its potential insect visitors.
be a reciprocal agreement between a specialized pollination symbioses are Note that while rigorous scientific data
given plant and its dedicated pollinator: not the only game in town. What might are required to demonstrate that any
the plant attracts a pollinator and be considered the opposite extreme floral visitor is an actual pollinator,
provides ample nectar and/or pollen are highly unspecialized pollination I think it is highly probable that the
as a reward for the pollinator’s service syndromes characterized by individual insects illustrated here are indeed
in moving pollen from anthers to flowers, or groups of closely spaced effectively transporting Ceanothus
stigmas while foraging for food. Of flowers, that are easily accessible to a pollen between flowers. Tom Houser
course, these organisms have neither wide variety of visitors. Such plants of the Norfolk Botanical Garden
signed agreements nor memos of are often characterized as “pollinator graciously provided these images
understanding, Instead, it has merely magnets.” The 2019 VNPS WOY, and Dr. Art Evans provided insect
identifications. Their assistance is
proven to the benefit of the plant, over Ceanothus americanus or New Jersey
time, to form certain floral structures, Tea, provides an instructive case in gratefully acknowledged.
and to produce excess pollen and/or point. Granted, Ceanothus flowers are
nectar. Likewise, certain behaviors by a bit peculiar (see Sempervirens Spring
the pollinators have proven, in the long 2019: 6-7). Despite their individual
run, beneficial to the survival of the oddities, these small flowers occur
pollinator. To put it in human terms, in clusters and within a given cluster
VIRGINIA NATIVE
each is acting in its own self-interest, many flowers are open at the same
but together they are like pieces of time. A wide variety of insects can PLANT SOCIETY
a puzzle that fit together perfectly. alight on a Ceanothus flower cluster, Sempervtrens (ISSN 1085-9632) is the
Thus, for example, Cardinal Flower probe multiple flowers for nectar, and quarterly newsletter of the Virginia Native
Plant Society, Blandy Experimental Farm,
(Lobelia cardinalis, the 1991 VNPS while clambering around, pick up
400 Blandy Farm Lane, Unit 2, Boyce, Va.
WOY) is bright red, a color highly pollen on one or another body part. 22620, 540-837-1600, [email protected]. Nancy
attractive to hummingbirds, the flower The process is repeated upon visiting Vehrs, President; Nancy Sorrells, Editor;
Karen York, Office Manager. Original
is zygomorphic (bilaterally symmetric), another flower, but some pollen from
material in Sempervirens may be reprinted
which channelizes the hummingbird’s anthers of the first flower cluster will if credit is given to the Virginia Native Plant
approach to a direct, head-on rub off on stigmas of the second. And Society, to Sempervirens, and to the author
orientation, from which the anthers are because many different insects can of the material, if named. Readers are invit-
ed to send letters, news items, and queries
positioned in just the right spot to dust function as effective pollinators, most for consideration. E-mail items to Nancy
pollen on the face of the hummingbird Ceanothus flowers get pollinated and Sorrells at [email protected].
as it probes deeply into the flower for a eventually produce seeds. Next submission deadline: Jan. 15, 2020
8 Sempervirens, Fall 2019
Wood pellet industry threatens Virginia forests
nvironmentalists around the Otherwise, how
world have been appalled by this —_ could it possibly be
year’s fires and illegal agricultural financially feasible
deforestation in the Amazon rain to cut down trees
forest. Yet, according to the Sierra in Virginia, chop
Club, industrial logging in the and bake them into
southeastern U.S. is reducing forest pellets, truck them
cover four times faster than in the to a port, ship them
Amazon. across the Atlantic,
Virginia is part of that equation, then transport them
thanks in part to the cutting of trees to a power plant
for wood pellets that are exported there to be burned
and then burned for electricity inthe for energy?
United Kingdom (UK). So ultimately, It is true that ee ,
Vis ciniadoreees areiontaretueuasithie pee, aaa An aerial view of a wood pellet processing center. (All photos
courtesy Dogwood Alliance)
Amazon has been. point renewable
The bewildering thing about this if they are replanted. Indeed, the and where biodiversity does not exist.
practice is that its supporters call it wood pellet manufacturers like to By contrast, older growth hardwood
“green energy.” Burning Virginia trees say that more trees are being planted _ forests are biodiverse regions critical
that have been chopped and baked than are cut down. Yet, according to the environmental health of
into wood pellets in former coal-fired — to numerous environmental groups, Virginia and other states. This is
power plants is apparently helping this process has often left traditional —_ especially true because studies find
the UK and other countries meet native hardwood forests cut down that land with greater forest species
their carbon reduction obligations and replaced by “pine plantations.” diversity absorbs more carbon than
under the Paris Climate Accords. Pine plantations are “forests” in do monoculture pine plantations that
This is because the European Union that they are large tracts of land are favored for their fast regrowth.
(EU) considers wood pellets to be a covered with trees. But they are also Yet, pine plantations are now
renewable form of energy when it monocultures—rows upon rows of ubiquitous. Between the 1950s and
replaces coal, a nonrenewable fossil artificially fertilized, crop-like trees, the early 2000s, pine plantations in
fuel. This is also why both the EU and _ where the undergrowth is controlled the Southeast grew by 30 million
UK ae subsidize this industry. iusut like weeds on a tobacco farm, acres, according to the Rachel Carson
i Council, a national environmental
ie ei eie n - a rca E : = organization.
. a| ie ;e Pee BEE ae hey When the wood pellet industry
. i | ep ail ee Hh Mri | ; Ff ramped up to provide pellets to major
ie \ a Vk ae aah i ee European power plants, industry
; i gas Bs eT . % officials said they would use only
“waste material” from forests—
things like saw mill waste, the tops
of trees, and the top limbs and roots
of processed trees. But then the
demand for wood pellets grew beyond
what could be met by these residues,
according to the Rachel Carson
Council’s exhaustive 2019 report on
the wood pellet industry. As a result,
Wood pellet industry critics note that the pinEe r SerE created for harvest are (See EU standard, next page)
moncultures that contribute little to the natural environment.
Sempervirens, Fall 2019
EU standard presents
a false equation
Pp -
(Continued from page 8)
esS sw e es
clearcutting sometimes occurs, and
sometimes this even occurs among ma
bottomland hardwoods, though the
extent to which this happens has tk,
been hard for environmental groups
to quantify because the wood pellet
industry has not cooperated with
environmental corroboration efforts.
What is known is that a large expanse
along the Virginia-North Carolina
A logging truck hauls wood to a wood pellet plant.
border was one of three regions under
“imminent threat” from potential bring to areas that need them. those forests are highly regulated.
heavy wood harvesting for wood A second Enviva plant is being Ours are barely regulated, if at
pellets, according to a 2015 study considered outside Danville. all. And more and more tree-
by the Natural Resources Defense The only reason why cutting cutting could be coming, as Enviva
Council. The region includes “60% Virginia forests meets the EU and other companies, including
of Virginia’s unprotected woody standard for greenhouse gas Drax—the massive UK power
wetlands,” the study reported, some emissions is because emissions are company now running its own
of which is surely gone in the four measured only at European power wood pellet mills in Mississippi and
years since the report was written. plants. What never gets added to Louisiana—have been doggedly
While Virginia has a plan to that equation are the effects of the intensifying their pellet operations
cap its carbon pollution from carbon storage that’s lost when throughout the Southeast.
power plants, it — just like the EU trees are cut down, or the carbon —Cindy Elmore is a professor at
— basically exempts the pollution emissions from the massive, hot, East Carolina University and the vice
created from burning wood for pellet plants, the logging and pellet chair of her local Sierra Club group,
electricity. According to studies, trucks, or from container ships which has been fighting the wood
about 180,000 acres of Southern that transport trees across the pellet industry in North Carolina.
forests are logged annually to Atlantic. Even worse, according She holds a Ph.D. in journalism from
supply the wood pellet mills, to the Rachel Carson Council, UNC-Chapel Hill and was raised in
most of which are located in new studies find that burning Hampton Roads, Virginia.
rural areas such as Southampton wood pellets for fuel erase as
County, just west of Suffolk. much as, or '
There, Enviva Biomass, the even more,
world’s largest producer of carbon
wood pellets, has a plant with dioxide
the capacity to produce 750,000 per unit of
metric tons of wood pellets each energy than
year, according to Biomass, the coal.
wood pellet industry’s magazine. Why are
It is in areas like Southampton European
County, where the poverty rate is power plants
high and the population is low, not using
where wood pellet companies European
can best justify a questionable forests?
industry because of the jobs they Because
10 Sempervirens, Fall 2019
Herbarium move helps biodiversity future
Article and photos by Andrea Weeks, Director, George Mason ea) herbarium
Editor’s Note: In 2019, with needed a new home to
sponsorship from the Virginia Native preserve its record of
Plant Society, the Lord Fairfax Virginia’s flora for use
Community College Herbarium by future researchers.
(LFCCH) was transferred to the After consultation with
herbarium of George Mason Professor Simpson and
University (GMU) for digitization his college, I applied
and long-term curatorial care. This for and was awarded
brief article provides an update on a VNPS research
the progress of this initiative and award to facilitate
an invitation to Society members to the relocation of the
follow the digitization process online contents of the Lord
as it unfolds over the coming year. Fairfax herbarium to
Packing day at Lord Fairfax Community College Herbarium.
George Mason. Approximately two-thirds of the boxes required to transport LFCC are
[’2 017, Professor Robert Simpson, In late spring of pictured, along with graduate curatorial assistant, Elizabeth McMurchie.
the founding curator of LECCH 2019, I obtained an official donation delivered the emptied metal
located in Middletown, Virginia, letter from the college that authorized herbarium cabinets from LFCC
retired after more than 40 years. the transfer of the herbarium to the to GMU, which was also funded
During his tenure, he built the 20,000- university, which allowed moving through the VNPS award. As each
plant specimen collection through plans to be finalized. In early summer, box of specimens was unpacked,
field work that centered on the my graduate students and I bagged, specimens were repaired as needed,
seven-county region of northwestern packed and moved the entire LFCC then barcoded and their label
Virginia (Clarke, Fauquier, Frederick, collection to GMU, which totaled 62, data entered into the LFCC public
Page, Rappahannock, Shenandoah, 18-inch by 12-inch by 12-inch boxes database: http://sernecportal.org/
and Warren counties). The collection including accessioning log books portal/collections/index.php. Some
was key in documenting county and and unmounted specimens. Once at of the specimens use taxonomic
state records during the atlas of the GMU, sequential batches of boxes names that are no longer recognized
Virginia flora construction of the were frozen at -80°C for 10 days to by the Flora of Virginia, so these will
1980s and 1990s and is the most destroy any potential insect pests. With require nomenclatural annotation
comprehensive floristic record of this funds from VNPS, I hired a recently- prior to high-resolution imaging.
rapidly-changing region of Virginia. graduated botany master’s student, Consequently, when photographs of
Because the college did not intend to Elizabeth McMutchie, to assist all LFCC specimens are posted to
hire another curator, the herbarium with the move, develop a taxonomic the online database, all taxonomic
annotation workflow for the LFCC names will be fully updated. Four
specimens, and manage the specimen undergraduate students have been
decontamination. Elizabeth started hired to assist with this process
her Ph.D. this fall in Iowa, where she’ll using VNPS funds, in part, and will
be working on bamboo systematics, be trained in herbarium curation
so the summer curatorial experience over the coming year. Once LFCC
served her well in the future. The specimens are fully processed, they
international online registry of will be filed with GMUF specimens
herbaria, Index Herbariorum, was also where researchers will be able to
updated with the new location of the access them. The combined collection
The curatorial care and digitization workflow for
LFCC is now underway at George Mason University, LFCC herbarium in Fairfax. will tally about 80,000 specimens
with undergraduate students as key partners. Here, The curation and digitization and will comprise the most complete
undergraduate Rahima Adnan is databasing LFCC
process for LFCC is now underway research collection in existence for the
specimens in the section of the herbarium reserved
at GMU. On September 6, movers northern Virginian flora.
for its cabinets and boxed specimens.