Essays - by Stephen G. Saupe, Ph.D.; Biology Department, College of St. Benedict/St. John's University, Collegeville, MN 56321; ssaupe@csbsju.edu; http://www.employees.csbsju.edu/ssaupe/

Partch Woods:  Checklist of Species

prepared by

Stephen G. Saupe
College of Saint Benedict/Saint John�s University
Biology Department
Collegeville, MN 56321

Tel: 320-363-2782; Fax 320-363-3202

The following checklist (Table 1) reports the species observed during a visit to Partch Woods on May 11, 2001.  The botanical team included Craig Anderson (MN DNR); Dr. Jorge Arriagada and one of his students (St. Cloud State University, Biology Department); and Dr. Stephen G. Saupe and Katrina Viegas (College of St. Benedict/St. John�s University; Biology Department).  The team was at the site for approximately two hours and randomly walked from the parking area to the wetland area near the western edge of the site.  Species were recorded as they were encountered.  All identifications were by sight with the exception of R. cynosbati and B. virginianum, for which small samples were collected for identification purposes.  The names follow Ownbey and Morley (1991)

The plants we observed (Table 1) were typical for a basswood�maple forest.  We were surprised to find a small population of ginseng (Panax quinquefolia), a plant of special concern in Minnesota.  We had expected to find Dutchman�s breeches (Dicentra cucullaria) but did not.

For more information about the plants of this area, check out the excellent long-term study conducted by Dr. Max Partch (1995) that summarizes his many seasons of collecting field data. 

References

  • Ownbey, G. and T. Morley.  1991.  Vascular Plants of Minnesota, A Checklist and Atlas. University of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis.
  • Partch, M. (1995) Vegetation changes in a central-Minnesota hardwood forest over 27 years.  St. Cloud, self-published (QK168 .P38 1995)
Table 1.  Species observed in Partch Woods, May 11, 2001

Family

Binomial

Common Name

Notes

Aceraceae Acer saccharum Sugar Maple  
Aceraceae Acer negundo Box elder  
Apiaceae Osmorhiza sp. Sweet cicely  
Apiaceae Sanicula sp. Black Snakeroot  
Anacardiaceae Rhus radicans Poison ivy  
Araceae Arisaema triphyllum Jack-in-the-pulpit  
Araliaceae Panax quinquefolia Ginseng plant of special concern, about 5 individuals
Aristolochiaceae Asarum canadense Wild ginger  
Asteraceae Arctium minus Burdock  
Berberidaceae Caulophyllum thalictroides Blue cohosh  
Brassicaceae Cardamine pensylvanica   wetland area
Cornaceae Cornus sp. Dogwood  
Cyperaceae Carex sp. Wood sedge at least 2 species observed
Fern Adiantum pedatum Maidenhair fern  
Fern Athyrium sp. Lady fern  
Fern Botrychium virginianum Grape fern  
Geraniaceae Geranium maculatum Wild Geranium  
Grossulariaceae Ribes cynosbati Gooseberry  
Liliaceae Uvularia grandiflora Large-flowered Bellwort  
Liliaceae Similax herbacea Catbrier  
Liliaceae Allium tricoccum Wild leek  
Liliaceae Maianthemum canadense Wild Lily-of-the-Valley  
Liliaceae (Trilliaceae) Trillium recurvatum Nodding Trillium  
Papaveraceae Sanguinaria canadensis Bloodroot  
Poaceae Oryzopsis racemosa    
Ranunculaceae Anenome quinquefolia Wood anemone  
Ranunculaceae Hepatica nobilis Hepatica  
Ranunculaceae Thalictrum sp. Meadow rue  
Ranunculaceae Ranuculus abortivus Heart-leaved buttercup  
Ranunculaceae Actaea rubra Red Baneberry  
Rutaceae Zanthoxylum americanum Prickly ash  
Rosaceae Prunus virginiana Chokecherry  
Rubiaceae Galium boreale Bedstraw  
Thymeleaceae Dirca palustris Leatherwood  
Tiliaceae Tilia americana Basswood  
Urticaceae Urtica dioica Stinging nettle  
Violaceae Viola pubescens Yellow violet  
Violaceae Viola sororia Blue violet  
Vitaceae Parthenocissus inserta Virginia creeper  

 


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