ELEMENT STEWARDSHIP ABSTRACT FOR GEUM VERNUM July 1, 1994 Stewardship Abstract No.: 019 By: Elizabeth M. Obee State of New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Division of Parks and Forestry Office of Natural Lands Management CN 404 Trenton, New Jersey 08625 Element Stewardship Abstract Element Stewardship Abstracts (ESA's) are prepared to provide land managers and other conservation workers with current biological and management related information on those species and natural ecosystems that are most important to protect or for which control is most needed. The abstracts organize and summarize data from numerous sources, including the literature and from researchers and managers actively working with the species or ecosystem. The ESA format was originally developed by The Nature Conservancy as a starting point for the stewardship of the many species and ecosystems, or elements, protected by the Conservancy. The New Jersey Office of Natural Lands Management is developing ESA's for those elements that are of particular importance as components of the biota of the state. This includes globally rare plant species that are also listed on New Jersey's official Endangered Plant Species List. The ESA serves several important functions. It helps to identify information gaps and target future research efforts. It provides a standard format for highlighting specific information about a species or community including its management needs. It also allows information to be readily communicated among various preserves, state offices, regional centers, natural heritage programs and private organizations. The ESA is a dynamic document that is continuously updated as new information becomes available. Users are encouraged to contribute their information to the abstract. This sharing of information will benefit all land managers by ensuring the availability of up-to-date information on management techniques and knowledgeable contacts. Please contact the Office of Natural Lands Management for an ESA publication list. It will contain the date of the latest revision to each ESA. Please refer to the abstract number when ordering ESA's. The abstract is a compilation of available information and is not an endorsement of particular practices or products. Element Name: GEUM VERNUM (Raf.) Torr. & Gray (Rosaceae) Element Code: PDROS0S0H0 Preparer: Elizabeth M. Obee Common Name: Spring Avens Description: Habit: Perennial rhizomatous herb. Stem: Several from the basal crown, each erect or ascending, 2.5-6 dm tall, slightly pubescent to glabrous. Leaves: Lower stem-leaves about half as long as the upper. Blades of basal leaves roundish, mostly cordate, simple or shallowly lobed, some or all pinnately compound, margins finely toothed; blades of median stem leaves pinnately dissected, the divisions irregularly lancinate-toothed-lobed, upper leaves short petioled, ternate, leaf surfaces usually sparsely pubescent, the margins of lobes or teeth mostly ciliate, stipules foliaceous, toothed or incised. Inflorescence: leafy-bracted, irregularly branched compound cyme terminal on the branches. Flowers: Small, with five triangular sepals, soon reflexed, 1.5- 2 mm long, pubescent distally, with no bractlets. Five petals yellow or cream, elliptic, 1.5-2 mm long. Numerous stamens. Head of pistils elevated on a stipe 1-2 mm long above the floral tube and calyx. Fruits: Head of achenes raised above floral tube with conspicuous 1-jointed glabrous style, bent or looped near the middle or near the summit, upper segment eventually deciduous, basal portion persistent. Distinctions from Related Species: Geum is a genera of approximately 60 species, primarily of the north temperate zone, with Geum vernum a member of the monotypic subgenus Stylipus (Gleason, 1952). Identification can be confused with Geum canadense when vegetative, since the two species can occur together (New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and Energy, 1993). However, G. vernum disperses seed in mid-June when G. canadense if first flowering. G. vernum can be distinguished by the absence of bractlets and stipitate fruiting head. Habitat: From southern Ontario to Wisconsin, Iowa and southeast Kansas, extending to the east to New York, New Jersey, and Delaware, and reaching it's southern limit in North Carolina, Tennessee and Arkansas (Argus and Pryer, 1990). G. vernum is known to occur in rich loamy soil of wooded slopes, thickets, floodplains, and moist limestone ridges in rich woods. G. vernum is locally common at the northernmost part of its range in Essex County, Ontario, where it is ranked S3 with 40 or 50 extant and 5 historical sites, in low moist clay woods. This county is highly agricultural and many of the remaining natural areas are threatened. It is rarer in the adjacent counties of Kent with 3 locations, Middlesex with 2 locations, and Lambton with approximately 6 locations (Oldham, pers. comm.). In Michigan it was tracked as a special concern species until 1991 when it was delisted with at least nineteen occurrences. The species is considered fairly common (Penskas, pers. comm.). It occurs in the Washtenaw District in the southeast portion of the state in five counties (Voss, 1985). The species continues to be common south of the Great Lakes, through Wisconsin, Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, and Missouri, where it is sometimes weedy in disturbed woods, and is not tracked by Heritage Programs. In east Kansas there are 45 extant and 5 historical occurrences in 15 counties (Freeman, pers. comm.). In Iowa, it is known only from historical records from four counties from 1928-1939, with no confirmed extant occurrences. It is classified as a special concern plant in Iowa (Pearson, pers. comm). In Pennsylvania it is not tracked, but there are over 50 historical records across the south part of the state (Wherry et al., 1979). The species is considered increasing in the west- central region (Kunsman, pers. comm.). In Vermont it is known from a single population last seen 7-8 years ago in an overgrown weedy area adjacent to a pottery studio. When last visited, the site was cleaned up and the plant was not found. This species is not considered part of the natural flora of Vermont (Popp, pers. comm.). G. vernum is rare in the eastern states of New York, New Jersey, and Delaware. In New York, the species is known from 7 historical locations and 3 current occurrences in widely scattered locations south of the Adirondacks (Young, pers. comm.). In New Jersey, there is one historical and seven extant locations (New Jersey Natural Heritage Program, 1993). The species appears to be increasing in the state, however, part of this may be due to better inventory of sites. After an initial assessment of the status in the state as adventitive (Britton, 1913) it has been recently reevaluated as native (Snyder, 1989). In Delaware, two extant occurrences exist in the northern portion of New Castle County in the piedmont (Delaware Natural Heritage Inventory, 1993). In the southeast G. vernum becomes slightly more common. It is common in West Virginia to the west of the Alleghenies in moist woods and alluvial soil (Artz, 1961). In Virginia, it is present in 12 counties in the north and east, with several of the initial reported locations described by Artz (1961). It is endangered in North Carolina, with populations in the northwest portion of the state (Argus and Pryer, 1990). It is common in central and eastern Tennessee (White, 1982) with probably greater than 100 occurrences (Pyne, pers. comm.). In Kentucky, it is frequent in dry-mesic and mesic woodlands and openings on the Coastal Plain, Highland Rim, Knobs, and Bluegrass physiographic provinces. It is possibly less frequent in the Shawnee Hills and the Cumberland Mountains and the Appalacian Plateaus (Medly, 1993). The southwest of the species range includes Oklahoma, northern Texas, and Arkansas. In Arkanses it is known from the northeast corner of the state in eleven counties (Smith, 1988). Biology/Ecology: G. vernum is distinctive when in flower or fruit, and persists as a rosette of leaves during the rest of the year. It flowers early, from late April to mid May, fruiting in early May to early June. Seed dispersal is in the form of hooked akenes (Snyder, 1990). Not much detailed information is available on this species beyond descriptions of preferred habitat types and associated species at several extant locations. The Washington Crossing State Park location is on the seepy bank of a streamlet draining into the Delaware (Snyder, 1990). At another location on a high bank of the Delaware it is frequent along a woods road growing in places with another endangered species, Hydrophyllum canadense. Another location occurs on the lawn outside the front door of a naturalist and plant collector, T. Gordon, who has visited locations of Geum vernum. The plant was probably dispersed to this location by the long beaks of the achenes attaching to his clothing (Snyder, 1990). Individual populations tend to be large. At Washington Crossing Natural Area, New Jersey, up to 900 plants have been tentatively identified as G. vernum, where the population persists on the edges of a trail (New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and Energy, 1993). G. vernum persists along a slope in greater numbers where the trailside vegetation has been trimmed, resulting in 30-50% overhead canopy cover. Approximately seven times as many individuals persist here than along another sloping section of the same trail, with a canopy cover of 50-75%. The population along each slope declines as the habitat becomes drier and flatter (New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and Energy, 1993). The total number of individuals in New Jersey is estimated to be at least 5000 (New Jersey Natural Heritage Program, 1993). Snyder (1989) reports Geum vernum was collected in New Jersey at a vague location listed as "Princeton" as early as 1885. It was later collected in 1914 and 1936, and then not again until 1986 (Snyder, 1989). It has been reported at seven locations in the state in recent years. At one location on the Southwest branch of Rancocas Creek, it occurred scattered over a mile or more of rich floodplain forest, growing with Betula nigra, Fagus grandifolia, Liriodendron tulipifera, and Acer negundo (Snyder, 1989). All known sites in New Jersey occur along river corridors of the Delaware River watershed. Populations are often in disturbed roadside sites and on wooded slopes near streams (New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and Energy, 1993). Only two populations are extant in Delaware. One population of 50-100 individuals flowering in 1991 persists in a grassy area along with Poa pratensis, Cardamine hirsuta, Taraxicum officinale, Trifolium repens, Erigeron philadelphia and Barbarea vulgaris on disturbed alluvium soil. This is considered a fluctuating population which may have been present for some time. Another population, with greater than 100 flowering genets, exists between the ruts in and along a lightly used old gravel road through a mature woods (Delaware Natural Heritage Inventory, 1991). In Michigan, G. vernum is known from numerous locations, some of which have been described as follows: shrubby edge of cedar swamp, in road in oak-hickory woods on sandy soil, the base of a south-facing swamp between an elm swamp and a beech-maple woods, moist sloping woods near a river (Michigan Natural Features Inventory, 1991). More detailed descriptions of two sites have been recorded (Michigan Natural Features Inventory, 1991). The first site was described as a wooded border along a creek with an overstory of Fraxinus spp., Tilia americana, Quercus alba, Q. rubra and Carya ovata. The understory was composed of Cercis canadensis, Ulmus rubra, Viburnum prunifolium and Zanthoxylum americanum. Another location of G. vernum was described as having an overstory of primarily Tilia americana, Ulmus americana, and Fraxinus pensylvanica, and an understory of 50% Ribes americanum. Approximately 60% of the ground cover was composed of Polygonum virginianum, Geum canadense and Sanicula gregaria (Michigan Natural Features Inventory, 1991). Determination of Element Occurrence (EO) Quality: G. vernum is often found on the edges of stream or roads. It is a disturbance dependent species which means that the quality of an occurrence is dependent not only on the size of the population but on the type and frequency of disturbance at the location. High quality occurrences will be those where the habitat quality is maintained by a natural disturbance regime. Threats: The greatest threat to G. vernum at any particular location is likely to be succession by woody vegetation. Any changes in land use, such as the abandonment of a trail or road through woods, which results in the alteration of frequent disturbance, would be detrimental to the persistence of the species. Mowing or other disturbance on roadsides may be a threat if they occur in the spring and early summer at a time when this disturbance might interfere with seed dispersal. Other threats associated with roadside species involve collection or inappropriate road management, such as vehicles pulling off the road and crushing plants, or the application of herbicide. Land Protection Specifications: G. vernum persists as a relatively common and sometimes weedy species over a significant portion of it's range in the central and eastern U. S., including many locations on land protected by individual states or the federal government. Species-specific land protection is probably necessary only to preserve locations on the periphery of the species' range where G. vernum becomes more rare. Owners of private land in Delaware with G. vernum populations are currently willing to participate in preservation efforts. Two locations in New Jersey are on state property, and further conservation efforts are not underway at this time. Some southern locations are protected within Smoky Mountain National Park. Recovery Potential: Recovery potential of populations of G. vernum is good given a seed source and suitable habitat. The capacity for seed banking is unknown for this species. Populations which have been outcompeted by woody vegetation may become reestablished if disturbance is introduced. Biological Monitoring Needs: Repeated yearly monitoring of the demography of large populations is suggested in order to analyze the life history and demography of the species. This would allow for the determination of the life span of individual plants and the success of seedling germination and establishment. Threats to populations could then be assessed on an individualized basis. Searches for new populations or monitoring of historic locations would be useful in areas on the edge of the species' range. Biological Monitoring Procedures: Monitoring should record population size, area, and an estimation of seed set in a given year. Any advances in the successional stage of the surrounding community should be tracked. If any intentional or unintentional manipulation of a population occurs, the effects of the manipulation should be monitored and recorded. Biological Monitoring Programs: The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection plans to survey populations of Geum vernum on a periodic basis at Washington Crossing Natural Area, and assess future management needs (New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and Energy, 1993). This natural area, which exists within a State Park, includes the management objective of the preservation of natural succession and mixed oak-hickory hardwood forests and rare species habitat (New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and Energy, 1993). This appears to be one of the few locations of G. vernum where management is being planned to take into account the needs of the species. Research Needs: Research efforts for this species could focus on several areas. Little is known about seed dormancy, banking, or germination requirements. No studies have been made of dispersal ability, which appears to be very good judging by the ability of G. vernum to colonize disturbed locations. The demographics of the species are unknown, including rates of seedling establishment and mortality of seedlings and adults. Also, it is unknown why individual populations are usually large. Studies of the distribution of G. vernum across it's entire range are needed to assess whether the species is increasing or decreasing in total numbers. The rarity of G. vernum in eastern states is interpreted as the species reaching the edge of its natural range. Pennsylvania and New Jersey both report that the species appears to be increasing. Management Needs: Management for G. vernum requires that current populations be monitored for threats due to natural succession or inappropriate anthropogenic disturbance. Mowing or other disturbance needs to be timed to allow for seed dispersal. Four roadside sites in Smoky Mountain National Park are maintained by mowing, and many other roadside locations throughout the species range are similarly mowed. In cases where natural succession is eliminating appropriate habitat, management in the form of controlled disturbance should be considered. Summary of Stewardship Needs: G. vernum is a disturbance tolerant early successional species which is common throughout the Great Lakes region and eastern United States in mesic woods and roadsides. It is considered rare only along the edges of its natural species range. This species is not currently in imminent danger of extinction, and due to its weedy nature much suitable habitat exists for G. vernum to colonize. Management for the species is only necessary in areas which are on the edge of the natural range. Management of these marginal areas would prevent any shrinking of the species range or loss of genetic diversity, and serve as an early alert to botanists of any significant decline in numbers of this species. Unless research reveals that there is a general decline of G. vernum, species conservation efforts may be best directed to community level land preservation of the mixed mesic woods that are the preferred habitat type rather than to acquisition and management of specific populations. Bibliography for Geum vernum (Raf.) Torr. & Gray: Argus, G.W., and K.M. Pryer. 1990. Rare vascular plants in Canada. Canadian Museum of Nature, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Artz, L. 1961. Geum vernum in Virginia. Castanea 26: 174. Britton, N.L. 1913. An illustrated flora of the United States, Canada and the British Possessions. Charles Scribner & Sons, New York. Delaware Natural Heritage Inventory. 1993. Element occurrence records for Geum vernum. Delaware Natural Heritage Inventory, Dover, Delaware. Gleason, H.A. 1952. The New Britton and Brown illustrated flora of the Northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. D. Van Nostrand Co., Inc., Princeton, New Jersey. Medly, M. 1993. An annotated catalog of the known or reported vascular flora of Kentucky. University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky. Michigan Natural Features Inventory. 1991. Element occurrence records for Geum vernum. Michigan Natural Features Inventory, Lansing, Michigan. New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and Energy. 1993. Washington Crossing Natural Area Management Plan. New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and Energy, Office of Natural Lands Management, Trenton, New Jersey. New Jersey Natural Heritage Program. 1993. Element State Ranking Form for Geum vernum. New Jersey Natural Heritage Program, Trenton, New Jersey. Smith, E.B. 1988. An atlas and annotated list of the vascular plants of Arkansas. University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas. Snyder, D.B. 1989. Notes on some recently rediscovered New Jersey plant species. Bartonia 55: 40-46. Snyder, D.B. 1990. Further note on the occurrence of Geum vernum in New Jersey. Bartonia 56: 67-68. Voss, E.G. 1985. Michigan Flora. Part II. Dicots. Cranbrook Institute of Science Bulletin 59 and University of Michigan Herbarium, Ann Arbor, Michigan. Wherry, E.T., J.M. Fogg, and H.A. Wahl. 1979. Atlas of the flora of Pennsylvania. The Morris Arboretum, Philadelphia. White, P.S. 1982. New and noteworthy plants from Great Smoky Mountain National Park, North Carolina and Tennessee. Castanea 47: 78-83.