From aceska at telus.net Thu Sep 7 18:26:34 2006 From: aceska at telus.net (Adolf Ceska) Date: Thu, 7 Sep 2006 10:26:34 -0700 Subject: [BEN-L]BEN # 366 Message-ID: <004301c6d2a2$c4ac7810$bebfb742@xphome> BBBBB EEEEEE NN N ISSN 1188-603X BB B EE NNN N BBBBB EEEEE NN N N BOTANICAL BB B EE NN NN ELECTRONIC BBBBB EEEEEE NN N NEWS No. 366 September 7, 2006 aceska@telus.net Victoria, B.C. ----------------------------------------------------------- Dr. A. Ceska, P.O.Box 8546, Victoria, B.C. Canada V8W 3S2 ----------------------------------------------------------- SIBERIAN WILD RYE (_ELYMUS SIBIRICUS_ L., POACEAE) IN WESTERN NORTH AMERICA: NATIVE OR INTRODUCED? From: B.A. Bennett, Whitehorse, YT Since 1995, botanical surveys in the southeast Yukon have uncovered numerous plant species previously unknown in the territory, many of which were reported in Cody et al. (1998). One of these species is _Elymus sibiricus_ L., or Siberian Wild Rye, long known in the northwestern parts of North America but not found in the Yukon until 1995. For half a century the origin of this taxon in North America has been debated amongst botanists. With the discovery of _E. sibiricus_ populations in an isolated area of the Yukon Territory (YT), the question of its origin again has arisen. Description of _Elymus sibiricus_ Plant tufted or with short runners. Culms 70-120 cm high. Leaves flat 3-16 mm wide, scabrous on both sides. Spikes up to 30 cm long, pendulous, occasionally branching at base; glumes narrowly lanceolate, 3-nerved, much shorter than spikelet, attenuate into a short awn; lemmas 8-12 mm long, 5- nerved, scabrous, with spreading awns 1-3cm long (from Cody, 1996). It should also be noted that the spikelets can be solitary (_E. sibiricus_ f. _monostachyus_ Hult,n) but usually are in pairs and only rarely three or four per node. It resembles _Elymus .canadensis_ in both morphology and habitat but can be readily distinguished by the pendulous nature of its spikes, nearly to the point of touching the rachis. Where is it found? "_Elymus sibiricus_ has a wide range from the European part of the [former] U.S.S.R. to Kamchatka." (Bowden and Cody, 1961). It is also known from Tadzhikistan, China (Lu, 1993), Japan and Sweden. In North America its habitat consists of eroding river banks and clearings. This is quite different from the dry mountain slopes of Tadzhikistan or the semi desert of the Xingjian province of Northwestern China where _E. sibiricus_ serves as an important forage species (Lu, 1993). The first collections of _Elymus sibiricus_ in Canada came from experimental plots operated by Agriculture Canada. In northwest Canada the oldest report was a collection made by J.W. Eastham on July 18th, 1944, who collected it in the Dominion Experimental Station, Prince George, BC. It was "cultivated on trial plots, said to offer promise in re- seeding burnt forest land" (UBC 18938) and he also noted: "Introduced. Seeded for old forest burns, and for airplane landing grounds" (V 17637). The Dominion Experimental Station's Progress Report 1940-1951 (Hutton, 1951) summarizes their work in one line: "The _Elymus_ spp. have been very variable in performance and cannot be evaluated without further testing." In 1947 V.C. Brink made a collection (now housed at University of British Columbia) from the Lethbridge Experimental Station, Alberta. It is unknown if further tests were undertaken or if any seed was subsequently sprayed on airstrips and forest burns. It is noteworthy that Eastham (1947) does not mention the occurrence of _E. sibiricus_ in BC. A final, possibly cultivated, specimen was found at mile 1019 of the Alaska Highway in Haines Junction, YT on July 25, 1960. W.M. Bowden, who identified the specimen, added the following note: "probably introduced; specimen was probably cultivated at (Agriculture Canada) Experimental Farm which is at mile 1019." The oldest collection found in the wild in North America was made by F.S. Nowosad (DAO) on July 19th, 1944 at the mouth of the Nahanni River, NWT and was described as growing on a dry ridge that had been burnt over in 1943. It was identified as _E. sibiricus_ f. _monostachyus_ by W.M. Bowden, February 1961. The Nowosad collection occurred one day after the first collection was made in Prince George and was suspiciously close to another recent burn. It is therefore speculated that these two collections may have been the locations of trial efforts at reseeding forest burns. Lamson-Scribner and Merrill (1910) report: "There is in the U.S. National Herbarium a fragmentary specimen from Fort Yukon [Alaska], collected by O.S. Bates in 1889, that is apparently undescribed, differing from the above [_Elymus glaucus_ var. _maximus_ Davy] in its subulate glumes and strigose-pubescent lemmas, in the latter respect approaching _Elymus sibiricus_ L. It is most closely related to _Elymus macounii_ Vasey". This is the earliest report of _E. sibiricus_ in Alaska that I have been able to uncover. In 1954, Hodgson reported that the species appeared "to be indigenous to south central Alaska". The species was subsequently described by Hodgson (1956) as a new species, _Elymus pendulosus_ Hodgson, after specimens were examined at the Smithsonian Institution, the Wisconsin Agricultural Experiment Station and the Iowa Agriculture Experiment Station. A collection of _Elymus sibiricus_ (Cody & Matte 8668) was made in 1955 in the Northwest Territories from Fort Simpson, at the junction of the Liard and Mackenzie rivers (Bowden and Cody, 1961). It was noted that it resembled _E. canadensis_ L., _E. hirsutus_ Presl and _E. glaucus_ Buckl. At the Plant Research Institute herbarium (DAO) the specimen was compared with a paratype of _E. pendulosus_ (Hodgson 235, DAO) collections and was shown to be the same (Bowden and Cody, 1961). Because the distribution pattern seemed unusual, J.A. Calder suggested that specimens of the Siberian species of _Elymus_ should be considered and they were all determined to be _E. sibiricus_. In addition several other specimens previously identified as _E .canadensis_ also proved to _E. sibiricus_ (Bowden and Cody, 1961). Since then, _Elymus sibiricus_ has also been collected at the lower South Nahanni River (Porsild and Cody, 1980). Jeffrey (1961) made a collection of plants on the Kotaneelee River in extreme southwestern NWT, less than 30 km from where the Yukon populations would eventually be found. This included a plant originally identified as _E. canadensis_ but that has been reidentified as _E. sibiricus_ (Porsild & Cody, 1968). Cody (1967) found additional populations along the Alaska Highway at the crossing of the Muskwa River, which is a tributary of the Liard River in BC (mile 296.6 Alaska Highway, 3 miles SE of Fort Nelson, 58 deg. 47' N 122 deg. 40' W). He found it to be occasional on the steep eroding bank of the Muskwa River, common where part of the silt bank had slumped towards the river, and occasional in a disturbed clearing by the river (W.J.Cody & K.W.Spicer No.16328 July 16, 1967, W.J.Cody & K.W.Spicer No.18044 Aug. 13, 1967). These were the first known collections not associated with cultivation in British Columbia. A.A.Rose subsequently recorded the species as being "common along clay river banks: Fort Nelson ca. 58 deg. 50' N 123 deg. 50' W, June 24, 1978." In 1995, while working along the southern sections of the Beaver River and its tributary Larsen Creek, in southeast Yukon, I found a new population of _Elymus sibiricus_ (BAB 95- 275, June 18, 1995 60 deg. 10' 06" N 125 deg. 01' 57" W). My identification was confirmed by W.J. Cody. I also saw _Elymus sibiricus_ in the LaBiche River watershed but I collected it there three years later. In 1997 I collected _Elymus sibiricus_ along the Beaver River, near the BC/Yukon border (BAB 97-281, June 10, 1997 60 deg. 02' 00" N 124 deg. 31' 40" W). In 1998, after a more thorough search of the river, I found populations further upstream to the west than had been previously observed (BAB 97-451, August 17, 1998 60o18'35"N 125o20'58"W). I found this species to be fairly common in suitable habitats of eroding riverbanks and river bars downstream of this population. In subsequent searches in 1998 of tributaries and upper reaches of the Beaver River found I did not find any new populations. Earlier in 1998, I found a healthy population in the upper reaches of the LaBiche River, near the Yukon/NWT border (BAB 98- 287 June 17, 1998 60 deg. 13' 58" N 124 deg. 13' 58" W) and a second collection was made along the central Beaver River (BAB 98- 168 June 13, 1998 60 deg. 13' 58" N 125 deg 15' 07" W). I also collected this species in British Columbia from the Muskwa River at the Alaska Highway in Fort Nelson (BAB 98-168 July 11, 1998 58 40'N 122 20'W) at the locality previously descovered by W.J. Cody. Native or Recently Introduced? Hodgson (1956) discussed this question in relation to the Alaskan collections and expressed the opinion that the species appeared "to be indigenous to south central Alaska." Bowden and Cody (1961) speculated whether the specimens were native or recently introduced. Cody (1967) also expressed the opinion that "it appeared to be indigenous along the bank of the Muskwa River." When the first collections were made in the LaBiche River, it appeared that they could be a recent introduction. However, the discovery of an extensive thriving population of _Elymus sibiricus_ along the river banks of the Beaver River, far upstream of navigation and not frequented by the few individuals living in the valley, puts this original assumption in question. H.M. Raup (1961) reports in a manuscript on the flora of the Alaska Highway under _Elymus glaucus_: "This species is included with some doubt, for I have seen no specimens from our region. There are records of _E. sibiricus_ and _E. glaucus_ by J. Macoun in the region between Lesser Slave Lake and Hudson Hope. It is probable that Macoun's _E. sibiricus_ is _E. glaucus_." However, I have found no specimens of _Elymus_ spp. collected by Macoun from this area. It is also interesting that such an eminent botanist as Raup, who had worked extensively in the area of southwest Northwest Territories and northeast British Colummbia throughout the 1930's and 1940's, had not seen such a conspicuous grass as _E. sibiricus_ during his travels (Raup, 1934 and 1947). The lack of Raup's observation of this species supports the hypothesis that all these populations may be linked to tests of reseeding forest burns in the mid 1940's. It is interesting to note that the first reported wild occurrence seems to be adjacent to a recent burn. E. Hulten (1968) considered the species "introduced around experimental station at Palmer". A.E. Porsild (1980) writes "In Alaska as well as the District of Mackenzie (NWT) the sporadic occurrence of _Elymus sibiricus_ suggests that it is a recent introduction". If it is a native species, this could be a relic of a larger population that once was connected to south central Alaska. Alternatively it could have reached southeast Yukon through the ice-free areas east of the Mackenzie Mountains during the last glaciation and is still expanding its range. It is widespread along the river courses, possibly showing that they spread readily. Its occurrence here may be of interest since several other suspicious species have also been found in the area. _Poa porsildii_ Gjaerevoll, endemic to eastern Beringia mainly in central Yukon and found on the eastern slopes of the Mackenzie Mountains, terminates at this location. In the winter of 1998, at the University of Alaska in Fairbanks under the direction of Dr. Elena Conti and with the assistance of Janet Jorgenson, I explored the question of whether southeast Yukon was at one time was joined floristically to Alaska as part of Beringia or whether the plants found in the area were recent introductions. Intraspecific genetic variations in _Elymus sibiricus_ populations of the LaBiche, Beaver and Muskwa valleys were compared using Random Amplification of Polymorphic DNA (RAPD), primers and DNA fragments. In the preliminary stages of this study no differences were found between these populations. One explanation for the lack of differences between the populations was that they had all arisen recently from the same genetic source. In addition, interspecific variation was compared between E.sibiricus and E.glaucus, a closely related species that occurs in the same habitats. These were easily separated and E.glaucus showed some intraspecific variation. Unfortunately the study was never completed. Given that in northwestern Canada: 1. there are no historic reports of this species prior to the testing by Agriculture Canada in the 1940's; 2. most historic travel was along river systems where the plant is readily found today; 3. preliminary work on the genetics showed no intraspecific variation; 4. the first "wild" population was adjacent to a recent burn; the exact habitat type for which the plant was being developed for testing; it seems most likely that Elymus sibiricus is an introduced grass in northwestern Canada. The reports of earlier populations in Alaska by Lamson- Scribner & Merrill (1910) and the widespread occurrence in southwest Alaska reported by Hodgson (1956) , could be explained by introductions by Russian settlers. Little is known of agricultural practices prior to the purchase of the state by the USA. Acknowledgements Mr. A. Batten, collections manager, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, AK Mr. W.J. Cody, Honorary Research Associate, Agriculture and Agri-food Canada, Ottawa, ON Mr. B. Kohi, assistant herbarium curator, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB Ms. O. Lee, collections manager, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC Mr. J. Pinder-Moss, herbarium collections manager, Royal British Columbia Museum, Victoria, BC Mr. M. Shchepanek, Canadian Museum of Nature, Ottawa, Ontario Dr. M. Waterway, Associate Professor and Curator, McGill University Herbarium, Montreal QC Mrs. P. Watson, Agriculture Canada, Research Branch, Summerland Research Station, Kelowna, BC Special thanks to Randi Mulder, for taking care of me and our kids as I play with plants. References Bowden, W.M. and W.J. Cody. 1961. Recognition of _Elymus sibiricus_ L. from Alaska and the District of Mackenzie. _Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club_ 88(3): 153-155. Cody, W.J. 1967. _Elymus sibiricus_ (Gramineae) new to British Columbia. _Canadian Field-Naturalist_ 81(4): 275. Cody, W.J. 1996. _Flora of the Yukon Territory_. National Research Council Research Press, Ottawa. 643 p. Cody, W.J.; Kennedy, C.E. and Bennett, B. 1998. New records of vascular plants in the Yukon Territory. _Canadian Field- Naturalist_ 112 (2): 289-328. Eastham, J.W. 1947. _Supplement to "Flora of Southern British Columbia"_. Special Publication No.1 British Columbia Provincial Museum, Victoria, BC. 119 p. Hodgson, H.J. 1956. A new _Elymus_ from Alaska. _Rhodora_ 58:144- 148. Hulten, E. 1968. _Flora of Alaska and Neighboring Territories_. Standford University Press. Standford, California. 1008 p. Hutton, F.V. ed. 1951. Dominion Experimental Station, Prince George, British Columbia, Progress Report 1940-1951. Department of Agriculture, Experimental Farms Service, Canada. Ottawa. Jeffrey, W.W. 1961. Notes on plant occurrence along lower Liard River Northwest Territories. _National Museum of Canada, Bulletin, Ottawa, Ontario_ 171: 32-115. Lamson-Scribner, F. and Merrill, E.D. 1910. The grasses of Alaska. _Contributions from the National Herbarium_ p. 47- 92. Lu, B.-R. 1993. _Biosystematic investigations of Asiatic wheat grasses - _Elymus_ L. (Triticeae: Poaceae)_. The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Plant Breeding Research Dissertation, Sval"v. Alnarp, Sweden. 59 p. Nevski, S.A. 1934. Tribe Hordeae Benth. Pp. 590-728 in: Komarov, V.L. [ed.] _Flora U.S.S.R._ vol. 2, Leningrad. Porsild, A.E. and Cody, W.J. 1968. _Checklist of the Vascular Plants of Continental Northwest Territories, Canada_. Plant Research Institute, Canada Department of Agriculture, Ottawa. 102 p. Porsild, A.E. and Cody, W.J. 1980. _Vascular Plants of Continental Northwest Territories, Canada_. National Museums of Canada, Ottawa. 667 p. Raup, H.M. 1934. _Phytogeographic studies in the Peace and Upper Liard River regions, Canada with a cataloque of vascular plants_. Contributions from the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University, Volume 4. 230 p. Raup, H.M. 1947. The botany of southwestern Mackenzie. _Sargentia_ 6: 1-262. Raup, H.M. 1961. _Letter to W.J.Cody_. Plant Research Institute. 22 November, 1961. NOTES ON THE LECTOTYPIFICATION OF _PHRAGMITES BERLANDIERI_ AND IDENTIFICATION OF NORTH AMERICAN _PHRAGMITES_ From: Paul M. Catling, Agriculture and AgriFood Canada, Environmental Health, Biodiversity, Saunders Bldg., Central Experimental Farm, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0C6 Canada [catlingp@agr.gc.ca] On several occasions I have been asked for information on the lectotypification and identification of _Phragmites_ In North America, This is not surprising since the introduced _P. australis_ subsp. _australis_ has become a significant invasive alien of natural habitats (Catling, 2005, Catling & Mitrow 2005). The most frequent questions are answered in the following notes. Realizing that there was both a native and an alien race of _Phragmites australis_ (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud. in northeastern North America, Fernald (1932) used the name "_berlandieri_" for the North American race. _Phragmites berlandieri_ Fournier was named in 1877 for the Belgian explorer (in North America and Mexico), Jean Louis Berlandier and was based on material from Cutzaro, Vera-Cruz, Texas, Victoria and Laredo (Fournier 1877), all in the Gulf Coast region. Fernald apparently did not examine Fournier's type to determine whether or not it represented the presumably native plant that is found throughout much of North America. Saltonstall et al (2004) defined three taxa of _Phragmites australis_ in North America: introduced European, Gulf Coast, and native northern North American. The native North American plants were described as the new subspecies _americanus_ Saltonstall, P.M. Peterson and Soreng. Saltonstall et al. (2004) indicate that the Gulf Coast lineage is intermediate between the northern North American (subsp. _americanus_) and European taxa but appears more similar morphologically and genetically to the European taxon (now also well established in North America). A syntype (US-82049 ex W, now also isolectotype) of _Phragmites berlandieri_ was utilized by Satltonstall et al. (2004) in their morphological survey and fell within the Gulf Coast lineage. Saltonstall et al. (2004) lectotypified the name _Phragmites berlandieri_ without examining the designated lectotype specimen at P and assuming correspondance to the isolectotype at US which was examined. The selection of the lectotype at P addresses various aspects of recommendations under article 9 regarding utilization and intent by the publishing author (Greuter et al. 2000). While the assumption of correspondance of the lectotype and isolectotype was not unreasonable, it does leave some discomfort because some specimens from the Gulf Coast region have characteristics of subspecies _americanus_ and the type material is quite variable. The lectotypification was not accompanied by any discussion of the type material or how the choice of lectotype was made. Berlandier's collections are in 27 herbaria but those used by Fournier are most likely the specimens at P. Apart from these difficulties the lectotypification conforms to the requirements of the code, is useful to avoid confusion, and thus deserves some additional analysis. It is particularly desirable to know that the designated lectotype and thus the name do in fact apply to the recently defined "Gulf Coast lineage" rather than to the recently described _Phragmites australis_ subsp. _americanus_. Fournier's (1877) description is general and lacking specific measurements. The lectotype (Laredo, Berlandier 1446) at P corresponds to this description to a reasonable extent. The sheet has a "Herb. Mus. Paris" label upon which is written "Berlandieri, n sp." The specimen includes the upper part of a stem and an inflorescence. The inflorescence is weathered, many of the glumes and lemmas are broken or missing, and few of the spikelets have florets, those that do being without a full compliment. Regardless, the relevant measurements were recorded and the lectotype falls within the range of the introduced and Gulf Coast races. Both the lectotype and all of the remaining original material, except the specimen from Victoria (Karw. 1005) which was not seen, possess a relatively short ligule 0.4-0.6 mm long, comprised of a narrow collar and dense fringe of hair, which however is often accompanied by 10 - 100 much longer hairs that extend up to 7 mm. In their measurements of ligules Saltonstall et al. (2004) did not include these longer hairs (Saltonstall et al., pers. comm.). Although in their relatively short ligules, the original specimens correspond to the introduced and Gulf Coast races, their assignment with regard to other characteristics is in some cases more difficult. The Drummond collection from Texas is also well within the range of the latter two races, but one of the two collections from Vera Cruz has some spikelets with glumes that place them in the subspecies americanus and many of the spikelets from Hahn's Cutzaro specimen would key to subspecies _americanus_. One spikelet of the Cutzaro collection has a lower glume 5.8 mm long and an upper glume 8.4 mm long clearly well within the general range of subsp. _americanus_ in Figure 2 of Saltonstall et al. (2004), but note that averages should be used in reference to the diagrams and keys in this publication. Further study may demonstrate that the Gulf Coast lineage is sufficiently distinct to warrant taxonomic recognition, in which case the name berlandieri has to be considered. The lectotype appears to correspond closely to the introduced European lineage, but with a smooth and shiny culm it would be assigned to the Gulf Coast lineage (Saltonstall et al. 2004). However, this stem character is not easily evaluated. Some of the syntypes, notably the Cutzaro specimen, may correspond to the putatively intermediate Gulf Coast lineage. _Phragmites australis_ has assumed increasing importance for three reasons: 1. the introduced lineage is an invasive alien that is spreading and has negatively impacted natural ecosystems over large parts of North America and has also become a weed of agricultural crops (Catling 2005, Catling & Mitrow 2005); 2. the native subsp. _americanus_ is locally endangered or threatened (Saltonstall et al. 2004); and 3. it is a plant with potential to become more important economically (Small & Catling 2001, Mal and Narine 2004). The genus _Phragmites_ includes five species (Greuter & Scholz 1996, Clevering and Lissner 1999, ), but only _P. australis_ occurs in temperate North America and Europe. Although the Gulf Coast lineage in North America appears genetically distinct, additional work is needed to establish its morphological discreteness (Saltonstall et al. 2004). If it is found to warrant recognition then it will be necessary to determine whether or not the name berlandieri applies to it. For the present, the latter name is placed in synonymy under P. australis subsp. _australis_. Therefore as currently understood, there are two subspecies of _Phragmites australis_ in North America: _Phragmites australis_ (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud. subsp. _australis_, _Nom. Bot._ Ed. 2, 2: 324. 1841. _Arundo phragmites_ L., _Sp. Pl._: 81. 1753. _Arundo australis_ Cav., _Ann. Hist. Nat._ 1: 100. 1799. _Phragmites communis_ Trin., _Fund. Agrost._: 134. 1820. Based on _A. phragmites_. _Phragmites berlandieri_ Fournier, _Bull. Bot. Soc. France_ 24: 178. 1877. _Phragmites communis_ var. _berlandieri_ (Fournier) Fernald, _Rhodora_ 34: 211. 1932. _Phragmites maximus_ var. _berlandieri_ (Fournier) Moldenke _Torreya_ 36: 93. 1936. _Phragmites australis_ var. _berlandieri_ (Fournier) Reed, _Phytol._ 63(5): 410. 1987. _Phragmites australis_ (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud subsp. _americanus_ Saltonstall, P.M. Peterson and Soreng, _Sida_ 21(2): 690. 2005. Although _Phragmites australis_ is based on material from Australia, Clayton (1967) reported that the Australian and European plants were conspecific. _Phragmites australis_ subsp. _altissimus_ (Benth.) Clayton, also known as _Phragmites communis_ subsp. _maximus_ Clayton (or as _Phragmites isiaca_ Kunth), is native to the Mediterranean region and North Africa. This taxon intergrades with subsp. _australis_, is difficult to distinguish and is considered unworthy of recognition (Clayton 1967, Tutin 1980, Clevering & Lissner 1999). Regardless many of the introduced North American populations correspond to this large and evidently halophytic race of southern Europe. Based on extensive study in Canada and the adjacent United States (Catling in prep.), the following characters are most useful in differentiating the subspecies. Basal internodes red or reddish-purple; longer lower glumes 3.8- 7 mm long ........................ subsp. _americanus_ Basal internodes pale yellow; longer lower glumes 2.6-4.2(4.8) mm long ................................. subsp. _australis_ LITERATURE CITED Catling, P. M. 2005. New "top of the list" invasive plants of natural habitats in Canada. _Botanical Electronic News_ 345: 1-3. http://www.ou.edu/cas/botany-micro/ben/ben345.html Catling, P.M. and G. Mitrow. 2005. A prioritized list of the invasive alien plants of natural habitats in Canada. _Bull. Can. Bot. Assoc._ 38(4): 55-57. Clayton, W. D. 1967. Studies in the Gramineae; XIV. _Kew Bull._ 21: 113-117. Clayton, W. D. 1968. The correct name of the Common Reed. _Taxon_ 17: 168-169. Clevering, O. A. and Lissner, J. 1999. Taxonomy, chromosome numbers, clonal diversity and population dynamics of _Phragmites australis_. _Aquatic Botany_ 64: 185-208. Fernald, M. L. 1932. _Phragmites communis_ Trin. var. _Berlandieri_ (Fournier), comb. nov. _P. Berlanadieri_ Fournier, _Bull. Bot. Soc. France, xxiv. 178 (1877). _Rhodora_ 34: 211-212. Fournier, E.P.N. 1877. Sur les arundinacees du Mexique. _Bull. Bot. Soc. France_ 24: 177-182. Greuter, W., McNeill, J., Barrie, F. R., Burdet, H. M., Demoulin, V.,Filgueiras, T. S., Nicolson, D. H., Silva, P. C., Skog, J.E.,Trehane, P., Turland, N. J. and Hawksworth, D. L. (Eds.) 2000. _International Code of Botanical Nomenclature (St.Louis Code) adopted by the Sixteenth International Botanical Congress, St. Louis, Missouri, July-August 1999_. Koeltz, K"nigstein. [Regnum Veg. 138.] Greuter, W and H. Scholz. 1996. _Phragmites_ in Crete, _Cenchrus frutescens_, and the nomenclature of the common reed (Gramineae). _Taxon_ 45: 521-523. Mal,T. K. and Narine, L. 2004. The biology of Canadian weeds. 129. _Phragmites australis_ (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud. _Canadian Journal of Plant Science_ 84 (1): 365-396. Saltonstall, K., Peterson, P. M. and Soreng, R. J. 2004. Recognition of _Phragmites australis_ subsp. _americanus_ (Poaceae: Arundinoideae) in North America: evidence from morphological and genetic analysis. _Sida_ 21(2): 683-692. Small, E., and Catling, P. M.. 2001. Poorly known economic plants of Canada - 29. Common reed, _Phragmites australis_ (Cav.) Trin.ex Steud. _Bull. Can. Bot. Assoc._ 34: 21-26. Tutin, T. G. 1980. 109. _Phragmites_ Adanson. P. 253 in: Tutin, T. G.,Heywood, V. H., Burges, N. A., Moore, D. M., Valentine, V.H.,Walters, S. M., Webb, D. A., Chater, A. O. and Richardson, I. B. K. (eds.), _Flora Europaea, Vol. 5, Alismataceae to Orchidaceae (Monocotyledones)_. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. LESSER BLUESTEM - _SCHIZACHYRIUM SCOPARIUM_ (POACEAE) - IN THE PEACE RIVER AREA, BRITISH COLUMBIA From: Oluna Ceska & Adolf Ceska, Victoria, BC, Canada [aceska@telus.net] In the summer of 2005 we took part in a survey for rare plants in the Peace River area from Hudson's Hope, British Columbia to Clayhurst on the BC/Alberta border. We examined mainly the islands in the Peace River and the so-called Peace River breaks, special grasslands that develop on south- facing slopes of the Peace River and the lower reaches of its tributaries. We also surveyed wetlands on the Alberta Plateau; however, the Peace River breaks resulted in largest number of rare plants. Many of those plants were extensions of rare species either from the nearby areas or from Alberta. The most interesting plant was Lesser bluestem, _Schizachyrium scoparium_ (Michx.) Nash. It is a perennial grass that has been previously known in British Columbia from one site in Fairmont Hot Springs and another four areas in southeastern British Columbia (Bull River, Kikomun Creek Provincial Park, Canal Flats, and Grasmere - Jenifer Penny, pers. comm.). With the exception of Fairmont Hot Springs, all these sites are south of the 50 deg. parallel. We were quite surprised when we discovered Lesser bluejoint at seven locations in the Peace River area. It forms stands from several square meters to over 100 square meters, usually at the colluvial portion of Peace River (and Beaton River) breaks. The associated species included: _Achillea milleifolium_, _Anemone multifida_, _Aster pansus_, _Astragalus tenellus_, _Calamagrostis montanensis_, _Carex obtusata_, _Carex xerantica_, _Geum triflorum_, _Hieracium umbellatum_, _Koeleria macrantha_, _Linum lewisii_, _Potentilla glandulosa_, and _Sisyrinchium montanum_. According to Perry Grilz, agrostologist with the BC Ministry of Forests, it is unlikely that Lesser bluejoint was seeded in this area. Most of the sites showed very little disturbance and the occurrence of _Schizachyrium scoparium_ looked natural. _Schizachyrium scoparium_ has not been recorded in the Peace River area in Alberta, but it is most probable that it also occurs there. Botanists who work in the Peace River area in Alberta should look for this species there. List of _Schizachyrium scoparium_ sites in the Peace River area in British Columbia 1) Southern slopes above the Peace River 7.8 km SW of Attachie; 56 deg. 11' 19.356" N. 121 deg. 32' 56.904" W. 02-AUG-05; coll. no. AC 34,003. 2) Southern slopes below the roadside viewpoint, 3 km NE of Attachie; 56 deg. 14' 20.112" N. 121 deg. 24' 9.612" W. 02- AUG-05; coll. no. AC 34,028. 3) Bear Flats W of Fort St. John; 56 deg. 16' 25.716" N. 121 deg. 12' 16.02" W. 21-JUL-05; coll. no. AC 33,706; also 56 deg. 16' 30.504" N. 121 deg. 12' 18.18" 21-JUL-05 coll. no. AC 33,709. 4) South-facing slopes above Fort St. John Provincial Historic Park; 56 deg. 12' 19.656" N. 120 deg. 49' 33.420" 03-AUG-05; coll. no. AC 34,028; also 56 deg. 12' 25.740" N. 120 deg. 49' 33.204" 03-AUG-05; [no collection]; 5) Junction of St. John Creek & Beaton River, ca. 6 km NE of Fort St. John; 56 deg. 17' 1.464" N. 120 deg. 45' 8.388' W. 04-AUG-05 [no collection]; also 56 deg. 17' 8.268" N. 120 deg. 45' 4.500" W. 04-AUG-05 [no collection]; also 56 deg. 17' 21.948" N. 120 deg. 45' 16.056" W. 04-AUG-05 [no collection]; also 56 deg. 17' 16.656" N. 120 deg. 45' 15.120" 04-AUG-05 [no collection]; 6) Southern slopes above the Beaton River below the roadside stop 6 km SW of Cecil Lake; 56 deg 16' 17.328" N. 120 deg. 39' 4.644" W. 04-AUG-05 [no collection]; 7) Clayhurst Ecological Reserve; 56 deg. 8' 46.824" N. 120 deg. 0' 24.840" W. 05-AUG-05 [coll. no. 34,070]. Specimens will be deposited in the University of British Columbia herbarium in Vancouver, BC (UBC). The geographic coordinates were measured with Garmin II Plus in NAD83 setting. ________________________________________________________________ Subscriptions: http://victoria.tc.ca/mailman/listinfo/ben-l Send submissions to aceska@telus.net BEN is archived at http://www.ou.edu/cas/botany-micro/ben/ ________________________________________________________________