IMAGE #2
Phlox nivalis has slipped through the cracks. As of today, most
of its traditional habitat has been destroyed; many of the Florida
Herbariums noted locations have fallen to development. Looking for
surviving colonies felt like looking for the proverbial needle in a
haystack. In the 1970s nivalis had been propagated in the
earliest emerging native plant industry and had some interest. As a
generation of plant nurseries closed and ninety percent of its habitat
destroyed, finding nivalis became a true challenge. When a band of four
searchers located the first untagged plant, one of the members said:
“Oh, that’s ‘ground pine’” Indeed, the tufts of new growth on the stems
looked exactly like miniature pine branches.
IMAGE #3
Acknowledgements: A special thanks go to Bill Anderson, Wilson Baker,
Angus Goulson, Gil Nelson, Jerry Mc Clune, Jo Williams, Billy Boyd, Jeff
Caster, Steve Carpenter, Carolyn Kindell, Justin Carmichael, Carolyn
Ferguson, the late Kathy Burks, Andy McLeod, Marc Frank, Nancy Desmond,
Wendy Poag, Kent Perkins, Loren Anderson, Ginger Morgan, Blake Hunter,
Gary Henry, and the Florida Wildflower Foundation’s Executive Committee
and Science Committee.
Special thanks to Bill Anderson for flagging a dormant plant during
December 2006 to progress the search and to O’Leno State Park manager Tyrone Morgan and DEP botanist Ann
Barkdoll for allowing limited collection of plant material.
IMAGE #4
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I Research
Objective: Create a production colony of Trailing Phlox, Phlox nivalis.
Develop Sites
Develop Product Variety
Develop Color Variety
Develop Site Diversity
Description: Phlox nivalis TRAILING PHLOX, POLEMONIACEAE
Why nivalis? This question was asked several times from botanists,
herbarium employees and public lands officials. The late Kathy Burks had
suggested that P. nivalis would be a good candidate for research and
development, though she had commented that it would be extremely
difficult. Beyond those comments, we will never know why she had
selected nivalis.
“Trailing Phlox, Phlox nivalis has creeping stems from which rise erect
branches 4-8 inches tall, bearing narrow, sharp leaves not more than ½
inch long, some of them hairy. The corolla varies from white to purple,
usually with darker streaks in the center. The stamens are shorter than
the tube of the corolla.”1. Recommended zones include 4-7, requiring
part sun to full sun. Origin is the southeast USA. Growth habits are mat
forming, 4-6” tall. Nivalis needs regular watering and good drainage.
Bloom color ranges from white to pink with dimensions varying around
1”diameter. Blossom size varies from colony to colony. It blooms March
to May, in sandy pinelands in the coastal plain from Florida to Alabama
and Virginia. P nivalis is listed as endangered in Texas but not in
Florida. A search did not find it listed on any watch list or plants of
concern in Florida, as of March 2007.
DOC #1 Phlox
nivalis Distribution Map
http://www.plantatlas.usf.edu/maps.asp?plantID=675
Range in Florida: The range area for P.
nivalis includes most of the
panhandle, and central Florida. Site information includes data locations
at Herbariums at University South Florida, University of Florida and
Florida State University. Florida Natural Areas Inventory website also
lists the plants.
Search:
The search always begins with the Atlas of Florida Vascular Plants and
Florida herbariums. The Godfrey Herbarium at FSU, the Herbarium at UF,
and the Institute for Systematic Botany at USF: all sources listed
species sites.
DOC #2, DOC #3
Where is Phlox nivalis?
Nivalis was not listed in the Association of Florida Native Nurseries
inventory of native species growers as of January 2007.
http://www.afnn.org
The Salter Tree and Herb Farm, (STHF) lists P nivalis for propagation
through contract orders.
An internet search was conducted of Department of Environmental
Protection Unit Management plans for sand hill communities at: Twin
Rivers State Forest, Jennings State Forest, O’Leno State Park, and
Torreya State Park. No listings of nivalis were found. Buckeye and Foley
cooperated with efforts to survey the proposed power plant site in
Taylor County, but no sign of wildflowers were found. Phlox nivalis
cultivars from Nearly Native Nursery, in Fayetteville, Georgia were
purchased in November of 2006 to gain recognition of dormant plants in
the wild. Wendy Poag, a nursery owner and collector in central Florida
donated a native plant to begin the propagation colony at the STHF.
Twin Rivers State Forest was researched, permission assured, but no
specimens were found.
Jennings State Forest was in the correct area but not searched.
O’Leno State Park was listed in FLAS herbarium’s database and
cooperation was given to collect.
Torreya State Park was not pursued due to restrictive conservation
policy.
The Nature Conservancy received permit request, denied STHF application.
DOC #4
Rejection of Permit Request - Nature Conservancy
Apalachicola and other national forests were eliminated due to
restrictive policies regarding commercial applications of collections by
STHF.
Eglin Air Force Base sites are numerous in herbarium location data,
especially around highway 285 in the DeFuniak and Niceville areas on the
Florida panhandle. Because of the anticipated time and logistical
expense of receiving approval, pursuing these sites was postponed.
References: See Footnotes at end.
FNAI listings: See http://www.fnai.org/contact.cfm
Atlas of Florida Vascular Plants, Wunderlin and Hansen at http://www.plantatlas.usf.edu/result./asp?search=POLEMONIACEAE&Searchby=Family
The Godfrey Herbarium listed sites in Bay, Walton, Washington, Calhoun,
Columbia, and Alachua counties. No nivalis was found because it was not
visible during the bloom period or disturbed from development activities
since location inventory was done. Only two sites, one at SR 20 in
Calhoun County and a location at O’Leno State Park were productive for
collection.
Note: In Wildflowers of the United States, Harold William Rickett
mentions that Phlox subdulata (Creeping phlox) and P nivalis are both
cultivated and the two have often been confused. Such was the case with
a plant specimen listed in the FLAS database. Department of Plant
Industry declined to identify the specimen from vegetative growth. When
an archived bloom was analyzed under a microscope it was conclusively
identified as P subdulata and redesignated.
IMAGE #5
Phlox subdulata, creeping phlox
One of the site notations at FLAS contained a reference to a master’s
thesis by Bian Hwee Tan, in 1991, titled A Floristic Inventory of O’Leno
State Park and Northeast River Rise State Preserve. This reference
proved invaluable in locating the first natural colony of Phlox nivalis.
Location references were 16 years old, and the colony had migrated
significantly, but on the second visit, plant material was discovered in
its dormant state and limited production began. See letters of
permission - DOC # 12.
The search then became focused on Bristol, in Liberty County and Perry,
in Taylor County because of the proximity to STHF.
Bristol: In December, 2006 STHF requested permission from the Liberty
County Board of County Commissioners for permission to collect on county
road right of ways. The request was denied with special humiliation that
only Liberty County commissioners can deliver.
DOC #4a
Rejection of Permit Request audio
(mp3 file)
DOC #4b
Rejection of Permit Request Minutes - Liberty County
The Nature Conservancy and Apalachicola National Forest botanist were
then approached following rejection by the county commissioners. Both
groups refused the STHF’s collection requests on grounds that commercial
interests are never approved. Appeals of the appearance of arbitrary
positions were terminated due to the time delay involved.
Perry: Supervisor of Roads in Taylor County, Andy McLeod approved Right
of Way (ROW) collection on all Taylor County roads. (See letters of
approval.) No nivalis plants were found in Taylor County in 2007.
Wildflowers in general did not bloom proficiently this year due to the
extended drought conditions in north Florida. Taylor County is usually
rampant with wildflowers in the spring and further scouting for nivalis
will continue.
SR 231 in Jackson County and Calhoun County and SR 441 in Columbia
County had similar difficulties. Populations of P nivalis could not be
distinguished in the bloom period that coincided with Phlox drummondii.
No colonies were confirmed where these two species were growing
together, but drummondii was present at most of the various herbarium’s
database locations for nivalis. Closer searching was abandoned due to
excessive travel requirements.
Inventory of Locations Used in Propagation: Origin of Material
Because of the controversy surrounding the crossing and
misidentification of P nivalis with P subdulata, collecting plant
material was adjusted to coincide with confirmation of identification
through the Botany Division of the Department of Plant Industries. All
source material was confirmed as P. nivalis.
#1 Environmental Equities, Hudson Florida; native material collected for
propagation, sold as 1 gallon pots and rooted liners was originally
purchased by STHF in November 2005. Five plants were established but not
vigorous in the 1 gallon pots. EE #1
IMAGE #6
#2 Nearly Native Nursery, was the source of bare root cultivar plants
from central GA. (Plants were acquired for identification and comparison
only. No propagation of these plants was attempted) 1 plant of P nivalis,
eco brilliant, 9 plants of P nivalis, eco flirty-eyes GA#1
#3 Marc Frank, UF Herbarium, listed as collector with P. nivalis growing
at residence. Upon seeing this colony, it was suspected that the plant
was misnamed nivalis and was instead Creeping Phlox, P subdulata. No
confirmation of this distinction could be done through DPI without a
blossom stem. Mr. Frank did a dissection of an archived bloom and
concurred that the plant was most likely P subdulata. Several cuttings
had been prepared and were transported back to STHF for further analysis
and future comparison. The plants suffered neglect during the spring
drought and as yet have not showed regrowth. They will be observed
throughout the winter of 2007 and isolated from nivalis propagation
sites. GV#1
IMAGE #7
Phlox subdulata, creeping phlox
 |
4# Clarksville site, Calhoun County, SR 20. With the assistance of
Wilson Baker and William Anderson, of Bristol, a P nivalis plant had a
GPS marker. On 12/10/06, Mr. Anderson located the plant and marked it
for observation. On 12/11 Booth found the sample and located four
additional plants in the area and collected five cuttings from the
colony. This critical event allowed for digital images to record dormant
conditions and descriptions for others to assist in the location of
nivalis statewide. CLK#1 (See Image # 16)
5# O’Leno State Park site. Herbarium data bases documented sites of
nivalis on hwy 441 north of High Springs and in O’Leno State Park.
Negotiations with park officials and DEP botanists resulted in
conditional approval to collect material for the propagation colony at
STHF. Visits were supervised in December, January, April, and August.
OLO #1
With Florida Department of Transportation (FL DOT) permission to collect
on SR 20, 27 and 221 in Taylor county, efforts were focused in those
areas cross matching herbarium data information. Phlox nivalis plant
material from three different colonies is growing in the propagation
colony at the STHF in Madison, FL.
Description of Sites Used for Production Material
Control / Observation plants
1) EE #1. Observation plants, Site full sun; Rooted in 1 gal pots, moved
into chimney stone
IMAGE # 11
2) Fayetteville cultivars: These bare root clumps were placed at the end
of irrigated rows in full sun planted in Bahia grass, in early November
2006. All ten plants lived, bloomed and survived the summer drought.
Nearly Native website
3) CLK #1
The first transplant from December 2006 was placed in full sun, with
companion plants from the right-of-way, into Bahiagrass at STHF.
4) OLO #1 Site material from the oldest sand hill in the park was placed
at the high sand flat at STHF to naturalize.
OLO #2 is material from a second site, two miles north of first site, a
larger undiscovered colony, aprox 30x30’ in diameter. One rescued plant,
in January 2007, was transplanted to grow with a wire grass clump in a
natural setting at STHF.
5) POG #1Wendy Poag’s contributed specimen, from central Florida, was
placed in a wire grass semi shaded natural area
Naturalized plantings:
IMAGE #14 |
CLK 1-2 high sand flat – 3 plants
OLO 1-1 high sand flat – 30 plants
IMAGE #15
OLO 1-2 bird sanctuary – 2 rescued well rooted plants into
wiregrass/scrub setting
EE 1-2 bird sanctuary – 21 rooted cuttings naturalized
POAG 1-1 bird sanctuary – 1 mature plant and 5 rooted cuttings
naturalized
CLK 1-3 bird sanctuary – 5 groupings of crown divisions naturalized in
wiregrass
Plants in rooting phase:
OLO 1-3 rooting bed – 40 cells, 8 clumps in clay pots
OLO 1-4 rooting in mist house approx 100 cells, two slips per cell
CLK 1-4 irrigated rows – 35 rooted cuttings, transplanted directly in
irrigated production rows
CLK 1-5 rooting in mist house – approximately 50 cells rooting, two
slips per cell
(This ongoing production material and naturalized plantings represent
the successful completion of proposal requirement to create Phlox
nivalis propagation colony.)
Description of a disturbed site in Clarksville:
IMAGE #16
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The growing area of material from Clarksville is a 20’ ROW where
nivalis
grows with little competition in poor soil. Bare sand is evident,
lichens and pine cones are scattered about. Rust plant and silver grass,
and wire grass grow on the edge of volunteer pines. The roadside plants
appeared to be suffering during the extreme drought and collection
activity waited until after a rain had passed through the area. Only
limited collection occurred until April 2007 when the nivalis blooms
helped determine where collections would not adversely affect the sparse
colonies. The roadsides were mowed about every 6 weeks. No continued
blooming resulted, and therefore, no seed could be collected from this
site.
Description of a dry sand hill site at O’Leno State Park: Two colonies
were located at O’Leno, though it is probable that more exist. “Sandhill
communities typically contain the highest species diversity of any
Florida ecosystem probably due to the open park-like aspect. This
openness is due to high fire frequency with characteristic species
possessing adaptation to resist fire, such as thick, fire resistant
bark, coriaceous leaves, heat induced germination, resprouting from
persistent roots or rhizomes.” 4 Florida Natural Areas Inventory field
guide describes the ecology as high pine, longleaf pine-turkey oak,
turkey oak barrens, and turkey oak scrub. And in areas where soils
change from sand to that with more clay, the presence of turkey oak is
replaced by bluejack and southern red oaks.5
DPI Botany Reports:
The Division of Plant Industries, Plant Inspection Division of FDACS,
Gainesville FL, confirmed the identification of EE, CLK, POAG, and OLNO
plant blossom samples.
DOC #5 Botany
Specimen Report B2007-230
DOC #6
Botany
Specimen Report B2007-229
DOC #7
Botany
Specimen Report B2007-228
DOC #8
Botany
Specimen Report B2007-227
Identification was also confirmed by Carolyn Ferguson, curator at Kansas
State University herbarium and Polemoniaceae expert. North Florida
specimen material from this grant was contributed to the collection.
IMAGE # 17
IMAGE # 19
 |
 |
Permits/Letters of Permission/Correspondence:
The following individuals offered permission and support for collecting
material for the grant.
DOC #9 Jerry McClune, Madison County, FL
DOC #10 Andy McLeod, Taylor County, FL
DOC #11 FDOT Blake Hunter for State Road (SR)ROW
collection
DOC #12 DEP botanist and Park Manager for O’Leno State Park
These permissions to collect specimens made the difficult search
scenario a success.
Weather:
A very dry fall and prescribed burns in Liberty County made difficult
the early efforts in November 2006, to visually locate nivalis. In
December, when the plant with a GPS marker on SR 20 was flagged, the
vegetation was significant with evergreen stems and dried material from
the last bloom cycle. At O’Leno in late November, no material was found
but on January 3, 2007, with sprigs of P nivalis from Clarksville in
hand, several plants were located at O’Leno. Recent rains had occurred
and the vegetative growth was a vivid emerald green against stark
blanched Bahia grass. It is probable that the plant material was visible
during the dry time, but the color had become more vibrant and visible
after December rains. North Florida continued a second year into extreme
drought conditions, (Tallahassee Democrat, June 8, 2007, and Madison
County Carrier, Wednesday, May 30, 2007, vol. 43, No 42.) The Suwannee
River Water Management District had issued a report indicating a 15”
deficit of precipitation from May 06 through April 07. This district
covers most of the collections sites for nivalis. (See
www.srwmd.gov/conserve
and www.coaps.fsu.edu/climate_center)
Over all, coupling cold spring nights and the drought, pollination
appeared to have suffered even though drought-like conditions are this
plants’ forte’. (Reference data on temperature, precipitation, and wind
patterns are available through the National Weather Service.)
Automatic watering schedule: The observation plants EE#1 and CLK #1 are
positioned to receive twice a week watering. OLO #1 is only getting
natural precipitation. CLK 1-3 was added to the seed production rows
receiving twice weekly soaking through drip irrigation. Hand watering at
naturalized sites was necessary after transplanting and continued one
to two times a week from April through July 2007.
Soil Considerations for P. nivalis
All collection sites have soil sample test results and STHF has tested
soil from propagation colony sites for comparison.
IMAGE # 21
 |
Purpose for Soil Testing
1) What are the natural soil conditions that P. nivalis grows in?
2) Are there any unusual elements present?
3) What are methods to mimic natural soil conditions?
Four soil tests were done for analysis and comparison. The application
of testing protocol made it difficult to get clear indications of the
conditions of selected soil samples. Testing protocol was developed
primarily for creating conditions for specific crops. Wildflowers are
not currently listed as a crop for analysis codes on IFAS Extension Soil
tests. Attempts were made to extrapolate information under these
conditions. A standard soil fertility test, ph test, and micro nutrient
test were selected to gather information on the condition of the soils
where P. nivalis came from and where it would be grown.
DOC #13
Soil Testing Report December 14, 2006 -
Madison County Doc #13
DOC #14 Soil Testing Report May 31, 2007 -
Columbia County Doc #14,
DOC #15
Soil Testing Report May 31, 2007 -
Calhoun County Doc #15
DOC #16
Soil
Testing Report May 31, 2007 - Pine Nursery Doc #16
(Two soil tests that were done for Phlox pilosa in 2006 are still
relevant to nivalis. New plots were tested and current old tests were
resubmitted for reference. O’Leno State Park sandhill sample is Doc# 14
and the Clarksville roadside sample is Doc # 15. Test 1205A is a sample
taken at the STHF, of undisturbed native soil, referred to as bird
sanctuary and the 1205 B sample is the developed and irrigated
production area. This site had two successive 25 year mono culture slash
pine crops grown on the land. It was left to native re-growth influences
after the last harvest in 2001.
Phlox nivalis’ natural habitat is dry hammocks and sandhills. Its
location on roadside ROWs indicates nivalis escaped and naturalized, or
survived the construction and repeated improvements of roads. In a
discussion with Carolyn Kindell, nivalis was considered suitable for
fire managed plant communities. With the additional information detailed
in the master’s thesis by Bian Tan, and the burn records submitted by
DEP, it appears nivalis has maintained as a colony in these various
conditions that affect soils.
In the native sites where P. nivalis grows, water is a big issue in the
sandy soil. Nivalis' ability to adapt to dry soil conditions shows
strong survival capabilities but without the repeated bloom efforts of
it cousin, pilosa. The collections made during the dry and dormant
periods did not root as consistently as tip-end cuttings during the
summer rains. Transplants of “rescued” plants during their dormant state
were all successful, while rooting activity was more limited to specific
parts of the plant and at specific times. The owner of Nearly Native
Nursery in Fayetteville Georgia, only propagates nivalis cultivars
during the summer, and only ships bare root clumps in the winter.
Soil temperature data and moisture content are areas for further
investigation. Nivalis was observed growing close to fire breaks at
O’Leno. Was it seeking ground moisture, turned soil, or less competition
as a more desirable condition? Does nivalis like humus? Like pilosa does
not? How does wire grass companionship differ from Bahia grass? Nivalis
likes the high filtered shade of pines and turkey oaks? What happens
with dense shade? mulch?
Wildlife in the Neighborhood
Previous experience in rooting P. pilosa caused extreme care to be used
with hard to find nivalis cuttings. Hardware cloth cages were
constructed to protect the material from all kinds of animals that like
to forage on the tender new cutting material.
IMAGE #22a
IMAGE # 22b
IMAGE #22c
Foraging was not apparent at O’ Leno or on SR 20. Similar to
pilosa, the
stems of nivalis act brittle and break off at the ground with a slight
tug. When phlox is well rooted into sand it is very resistant to being
pulled up and normal foraging activity causes it to rebound with
vigorous succoring activity. Foraging may actually play into the plants
behavior at certain times of the year, increasing vegetative material
but not bloom response. P nivalis also adapts to disturbed sites often
growing in the overturned sand of fire lines, ditched dirt roads, and
the periodically mowed highway right-of-ways.
Production activity is viewed as similar to foraging activity. Images in
this report support the increased abundant vegetative regrowth with
collections for propagation. Conservation policies would seem to be
counter productive to the health of the colony when restricting any
efforts to reproduce scarce plant material.
Even though hardware cloth was used to protect cuttings, there was no
evidence of mice denuding nivalis, like they did pilosa under mist house
propagation conditions.
Deer and rabbit will be expected to graze on nivalis after it is
established. Due to limited propagation material and slow rooting
activity, no chances are taken with wildlife foraging. Poultry wire laid
over the plants will be required in order to have a collectible seed
harvest and protect the plants during the acclamation phase.
At O’Leno only minor foraging activity was evident in December, February
and April visits. A few dried branches were broken off during collection
the visit before or by animals. No major destruction was noted.
Fertilizer:
The only fertilizer used on nivalis observation plants were the organic
green tea made from Dog-fennel and Bahiagrass. The green tea attempts
to mimic nature with the nutrients provided by the decomposition of the
companion plant community. Production plants placed in the irrigation
rows received a 10-10-10 time release application at 90 day intervals.
Rooting nivalis takes 90 days, or more, and receives a fungicide
application and a weak solution of 10-10-10 as well as a rooting hormone
application.
Note: After a soil testing consultation was done with William Schaftall,
Jr., of the Leon County Extension Service, in regards to the research
and development of P pilosa, in 2006, questions arose over the relevance
of a fertilizer program. The control plot data show P pilosa does not
respond to commercial fertilizer which will cause a salt build-up in the
soil. Considering P nivalis has a similar low nutrient need, a low
fertilization program would avoid micro nutrient build-up which may
impair performance and get soil out of balance. Consideration continues
for environmentally benign approaches and a further concern to establish
a more “native” site for the propagation plot. More information is
needed on fire maintained landscape and the release of nutrients from
the burning. Nivalis won't have need for much organic material with low
nutrient needs and environmental conditions that select for more
complete (full) decomposition. Failure to perform should not be due to
lack of organic material. If nivalis grows in sand, under pines, it gets
acid from pine needles but leeching reduces the chance for nutrient
build-up. Increasing organic matter in sand does not appear to be a
requirement but may enhance conditions for nivalis in the horticultural
environment.
Production Methods: Creating Product Variety
Seeds: Due to the ongoing drought, there were very few seed capsules
observed in the source colonies. As the summer progressed, efforts at
collecting seeds both in the propagation area and natural sites were not
successful. Nivalis is slow to root and slow to reestablish after
transplanting. Material purchased from Environmental Equities in 2005
never bloomed until removed from the 1 gallon pots and acclimated to a
chimney stone in December 2006. The plants bloomed in April 2007. Blooms
were cut and submitted for identification confirmation. These truncated
stems did rebloom but no filled capsules were observed. Seed production
as a product variety will have to wait until the production colony is
established and blooming in 2008. Conversations with Fayetteville
nursery owner revealed that seeds are produced in generous quantities
from field grown cultivar material.
Germination: At this time, no seed is available to test germination for
nivalis.
In August 2006, correspondence with Dr. Wunderlin led to contacting an
expert on Polemoniaceae, Carolyn Ferguson, at Kansas State University.
Ms. Ferguson was able to provide information on species identification.
The question of the probability of P. divaricata and nivalis crossing
was discussed, as well. There are no studies that she is aware of that
have tested the percentage of seeds showing cross pollinating from these
two species. (See reference footnotes, at the end of the report, for research articles
available.)
Cuttings: Cuttings have been successfully rooted throughout the
collection activity from December 06 through August 07. A cutting was
placed with two or more nodes below soil and 2 to 3 inches of nodes
above soil in a potting soil mix. Rooting hormone is needed with nivalis.
Stems lifted at the dirt line have been attempted and are slow to root
during the dormant state. Because of nivalis’ slow growth, even dried
material has been retained to allow for anticipated rooting activity
that is not visible by observing the greening state of the needle-like
vegetation. The plants both in the production nursery and the
naturalized plots will be given 18 months to respond before given up as
not viable.
In mist house conditions, nivalis appreciates high humidity but not wet
soggy soil. Efforts to establish a leeching growing medium included
using netting, clay pots, as well as traditional polyurethane pots with
high sand content in the growing medium.
Transplants and rescued plants:
IMAGE # 26
Half of the transplants will
have immediate die back, meaning a quick drying of top material. The
other half will be vigorous with little shock and can show buds and
immerging sprouts on the stem and at the soil line within one month from
being moved during the dormant state. Plants that have experienced shock
may begin sprouting after three months. Of the 10 plants purchased from
Fayetteville, all ten survived as bare root clumps shipped during the
winter. It appears that all ten also survived the extreme drought
conditions during the summer as well.
Companion plants such as wire grass and Bahia are allowed to co-mingle
with nivalis plants. Moisture is higher with foliage around nivalis
plants. It is easily observed that nivalis likes growing in wire grass
at O’Leno. The only place nivalis was found without wiregrass was the
ROW, mowed area at Clarksville, however, the colony was usually present
off the managed area in the adjacent traditional wiregrass and pine
community.
Mulch: No mulch is used in the production nursery. Stems and litter are
used over the poultry wire to create semi shade and nutrients in the
full sun naturalized areas. Except for presence of companion plants,
mulch has not been observed in the original states. Mulching with stems
and grasses to shelter nivalis in the irrigated rows has helped in the
adaptation phase. At this point, observation shows that mulching does
seem to aid nivalis in the establishment period only.
Site development
Observation plants were established and source material maintained in
separate plots.
Full sun site: The test plot and adjacent production plot were selected
in full sun since nivalis was observed in full sun conditions on SR 20.
This plot has a Clarksville specimen growing and a separated plot of
O’Leno material
Full sun 2nd site: In the summer of 2007 three rows, 10 foot each, were
planted with rooted cuttings in the irrigated rows at STHF. Little new
growth has been observed since the June planting. Nivalis experiences
shock at the transplant stage during the growing season.
Part shade site: This site was planted with OLE, CLK and EE material.
Observations will continue to demonstrate site diversity. Hand watering
on a weekly basis helped establish plants. Small oaks, leaf litter and
wire grass provide a natural setting. Plants have adapted and show
growth with the
exception of the POAG material which appears to have not
adapted to the native soil after being in a pot for several years. These
plants will continue to not be disturbed for 18 months to allow for
natural response.
Product Color and Variety has been achieved as proposed.
Summary of Findings: Native Phlox nivalis is hard to find in north
Florida. Initial rooting and seed collection experience indicates a fair
probability for the plant to endure high volume propagation. Plants
enjoy being pruned and are vigorous in regrowing vegetative material. It
does not like moist areas and will not root if over watered. Two
commercial producers indicated that P. nivalis tolerates plastic pots to
adequately survive the industry needs. It is suspected that homeowner
and landscapers would experience a high mortality rate with transplant
shock.
Nivalis adapts well to dry conditions but is not a prolific bloomer. It
blooms early in the season, sometimes in the winter in Florida. The
first rooted cuttings purchased from central Florida took 18 months to
produce blooms. It was like a watched pot…. The observation sites and
production areas contain nearly 75 plants with approximately 200 plants
in various stages of rooting and containerized growth. Some material has
experienced die-back and will be left undisturbed to observe rebounding.
The production time table was held back by waiting for the bloom period
to locate additional material in the wild. It is not conclusive that
weather affected the production of nivalis since it exhibits a high
adaptability to drought conditions.
Many native colonies of P. nivalis undergo mowing by county and state
road crews. This effects seed and cutting collection. Unlike P pilosa,
nivalis does not try to rebloom but does exhibit serious regrowth
activity in six to eight weeks from mowing. Many colonies are present on
Hwy 20 between Clarksville and Hwy 231. The support of FDOT with
collection permission increased production success. Limited material was
collected from O’Leno due to conservation policies at state parks.
Native Phlox nivalis has a frail aspect that may not be appreciated by
the public and horticultural industry. It responds to fluctuations in
its environment with a die-back that is concerning. Stems will go
completely dry, dead looking, and then green up again. Long leaders will
experience a trauma and dry out after snaking along the ground. Then a
new green shoot will appear at the end of the dry section – not exactly
an enhancing look.
Plants improved in appearance with the cutting and breaking of leaders
for propagation. These plants would rebound with generous new growth
throughout the summer, in some cases showing latent bloom potential. In
every observed case, appearances improved with new growth swirling at
the crown at the dirt line when stems were removed. Tip end cuttings
showed a regrowth of 2 to 4 times the plant material that was removed
for propagation. Nivalis would be a worthy candidate for a style of
landscaping called xeriscaping that is gaining recognition in drought
prone areas of Florida; and as a member of a community of plants that
have been lost because their natural habitats are also desirable for
development, Nivalis is a worthy candidate for collectors. The cultivars
that have been developed that closely resemble Phlox subdulata (creeping
phlox) are more acceptable to the public’s notion of what is pretty and
durable. Native nivalis looks rather insipid next to these cultivars.
Perhaps the difficulty of growing native nivalis makes it all the more
valuable as an addition to the restoration efforts of the sandhill and
longleaf pine habitats. Based on the size and growth of the colonies at
O’Leno, fire management has not deterred the colony though even the
limited production activity has had an immediate positive result.
Behaviors:
Nivalis appears to be a passive, non-aggressive competitor with food,
seeds production and root disturbance. On highway right of way, in poor
soil with little plant competition, it makes a mat and tendrils wander
in amongst rust plant, asters, and late summer blooming vegetation. It
has a very scrappy presence on barren sandy road shoulders.
With wiregrass in the sand hill community nivalis has a different
presence in plant structure and behavior. Nivalis and wire grass behave
together like a supportive, symbiotic relation, wanting support in the
grass clump, perhaps the dew collection and increased humidity and will
exhibit a vertical inclination. At O’Leno a nivalis plant was observed
climbing almost three feet up a young plum shrub - not exactly
“trailing”. The high shade caused less density in the needle-like leaves
while the full sun plants appeared to have dense tufts of needles along
the stem. Because nivalis appears to flourishes in high shade with
wiregrass STHF will devote naturalized propagation colony in a wire
grass environment and a full sun irrigated location for comparisons.
Nivalis shows little adaptability to wet conditions. With mulch it shows
a wider range of behavior. Pine or wire grass mulch seemed to hold
nivalis back in the winter, where bare sand plants seemed robust,
emerald green and pine like in appearance. Later, in the summer, the
mulched area showed more lush growth than the bare sand plants that
become prickly and dry.
Nivalis appeared to migrate over ½ mile in 16 years at O’Leno. Also, the
larger colony at SR 20 was 250 feet east of the GPS marked plant. Wind
patterns and mowing could be the significant factors for colony
movement.
Site and Production Summary:
The location of sites for continued collection and production are
established and available for short term. The production stock colony is
established and will provide material for ongoing production needs. A
varied genetic pool from four sites, including central Florida, insures
good color variety and genetic diversity. No seed was produced in the
control plot to document germ percent by site. Data gathering and
interpretation will continue through August 07.
Ongoing deterrents for wildlife management are being explored. In order
to harvest seeds, poultry wire will be used to cover plants and allow
the roots to anchor in the soil before submitting the fragile plants to
foraging activity.
Other questions to ask: Why is P. nivalis not wide spread? If it is
artificially maintained, can it withstand competition with other
grasses? Is it a plant for restoration? Does it prefer a winter or
summer burn if at all? How does soil temperature of plants in plastic
pots and landscape fabric affect growth patterns? Is competition a major
factor in the behavior of nivalis? Are there other factors besides soil
that contribute to behavior in P. nivalis such as the use of galvanized
wire and metal flagging material??
DOC #17 Burn History at O’Leno State Park
II Development
Objectives:
Increase Market Diversity/Availability
Increase Market Quantity
DOC #18a Letter to Madison County Commission
DOC #18b Letter from Madison County Commission
DOC #18c Letter from
Madison County Development Council
DOC #18d Letter from
Madison County Tourist Development Council
DOC #18e
Letter from Madison
County Chamber of Commerce
1. Create market with growers
DOC #19
Notice to Growers/Wildflower Seed and Plant Growers Association
DOC #20 Listed in Association of Florida Native Nurseries member inventory
DOC #21 Listed in the Plant List July
–
Dec
2. Create retail market for nivalis
O’Toole’s Herb Farm, Madison: OTHF currently buys 1 gallon wildflower
plants from STHF. They have expressed interest in retailing nivalis when
plants are ready.
Small seed packet sales: STHF has a seed dealer’s license to sell small
packets of seeds directly to the public. Attempts to distribute seeds in
small packet sales will proceed when a quantity of seed is available,
hopefully with the 2008 harvest.
STHF plant orders: The agreement with O’Leno State Parks provides for a
return of 10% of the material collected and rooted at
STHF. At the
conclusion of the grant it is anticipated that 30 to 50 rooted cuttings
will be returned for a restoration project at the park. It is expected
to be the most favorable transplant time when the winter 2007 rains
come.
STHF grant production material inventory will be kept available at the
nursery in Madison for two additional years to give marketing publicity
time to circulate.
Marketing through web site: Nivalis is listed on the STHF web site for
sale as plants for contract orders. This listing will continue for 2008
and 2009 at the minimum. See
http://www.saltertreeandherbfarm.com
Links with STHF vendors of the small seed packets are listed on the web.
Ongoing activities include attempts to link with other parties
interested in promoting Florida wildflowers. STHF plans to continue
efforts to market P. nivalis through professional organizations.
Under the objectives of the proposal, it is here demonstrated that the
grant recipient has successfully developed sites, product and color
variety, and site diversity and has increased market availability for
the native wildflower, Phlox nivalis.
Footnotes:
1. Wildflowers of the United States, by Harold William Rickett, The New
York Botanical Garden, McGraw-Hill Book Company, p 412.
2. 1. POLLINATION BIOLOGY OF FOUR SOUTHWESTERN SPECIES OF PHLOX (POLEMONIACEAD):
INSECT VISITATION IN RELATION TO COROLLA TUBE LENGTH; Suzanne C.
Strakosh* and Carolyn J. Ferguson, The Southwestern Naturalist 50 (3):
291-301 September 2005
2.2. Natural hybridization between an outcrossing and a selfing Phlox (Polemoniaceae):
the maternal species of F1 hybrids Carolyn J. Ferguson, Donald A. Levin,
and Robert K. Jansen;Plant Systematics and Evolution 218: 158 (1999)
2.3 A CHLOROPLAST DNA PHYLOGENY OF EASTERN PHLOX (POLEMONIACEAE):
IMPLICATIONS OF CONGRUENCE AND INCONGRUENCE WITH THE ITS PHYLOGENY
Carolyn J Ferguson , and Robert K. Jansen
2.4 Relationships of Eastern North American Phlox (Polemoniaceae) based
on ITS Sequence Data; Carolyn J Ferguson, Franziska Kramer, and Robert
K. Jansen; Sytemic Botany (1999), 24(4): pp. 616-631.
2.5 Pollinator Importance and Temporal Variation in a Population of
Phlox divaricata L. (Polemoniaceae); Shelly Wiggam and Carolyn J.
Ferguson: Am. Midl. Nat. 154: 42-54
2.6 POLEMONIACEAE PHLOLOGNEY AND CLASSIFICATION: IMPLICATIONS OF
SEQUENCE DATA FROM THE CHLOROPLAST GENE NDHF1; L. Alan Prather, Carolyn
J. Jerguson, and Robert K. Jansen: American Journal of Botany 87(9):
1300-1308. 2000.
3. A Field Guide to Wildflowers of Northeastern and North-central North
America by Roger Tory Peterson and Margaret McKenny, 1968, Houghton
Mifflin Company, Boston, p 226.
4. A Floristic Inventory of O’Leno State Park and Northeast River Rise
State Preserve, by Bian Hwee Tan, A Thesis Presented to the Graduate
School of the University of Florida in Partial Fulfillment f the
Requirement for the Degree of Master of Science, University of Florida,
1992
5. Field Guide to the Rare Plants of Florida, Linda G. Chafin, Florida
Natural Areas Inventory, 2000
