| Rare
Plants Newly Appear in DuPage County
Four
conservative plant species new to DuPage County were documented
in restoration areas in 2001.
A
strange parasitic plant called one-flowered broom rape
was found in a managed woodland savanna. Flat-stemmed
pond weed, a gangling wetland plant, appeared in an
area that has been undergoing restoration work for a decade.
Water could have brought it into the area, or an animal
may have obligingly left the seeds behind.
Another
wetland species, dwarf bur-reed, was spotted in a
high-quality creek in a preserve just south of another park
where it also resides. The new find is in a well-managed
area that has developed into an excellent wetland. But how
did it arrive? Perhaps the seeds floated down the creek,
or they could have lain in the soil, waiting for optimum
conditions.
Slender
lady’s tresses were sighted last year in a somewhat
restored agricultural area that had been burned. They may
have been in DuPage for a while. Although a confirmed sighting
was made in 2001, in the early 1970s the orchid authority
Charles Sheviak reported a DuPage County occurrence of a
hybrid between this species and the Great Plains lady’s
tresses. Evidently these two species had cozied up and produced
some seed. Lady’s tresses are lovely plants whose flowers
spiral gracefully down the stalk.
Slender
lady’s tresses grow best in open areas where they will
not be crowded. Though rare, this plant thrives in disturbed
areas. "Plant populations fluctuate with weather and other
variables, and many species are not evident (or accurately
identifiable) unless they are in the proper stage," noted
Scott Kobal, plant ecologist for the forest preserve district.
"Many species do show up after management has begun because
environmental conditions are now more favorable for them."
—
Elizabeth Riotto
|
