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Post by meadowview on Oct 14, 2007 17:38:25 GMT
Hi Mike:
Glad to be on the forum.
The Tatnall, GA population of S. purpurea was intentionally sprayed by an incompetent right-of-way maintenance crew despite: a. a written agreement with the utility not to spray and b. signs on both sides of the wetland stating the area shouldn't be sprayed. In short, cheap herbicide crews don't get the message. Many of the power line pitcher plant colonies that we documented have been adversely impacted by herbicides. Of course, this is just one of the many ongoing factors leading to the demise of Sarracenia in the southeast.
In addition, this very valuable Tatnall Co., GA population has also suffered from the usual poaching insults. I saw the site before it was sprayed and poached and there were some beautiful large S. x catesbaei and S. minor x S. purpurea. Of course, the large S. x catesbaei clumps were soon poached.
I spent a considerable amount of time (over 10 years field work) working remote parts of Georgia trying to track down old Sarracenia colonies and researching significant range questions in that state for S. oreophila, S. purpurea, S. leucophylla, and Sarracenia in general.
The Atlantic coastal range for S. purpurea terminates in Tattnall County, Georgia and did not extend into Florida. In fact, S. purpurea starts getting pretty rare on the coast of South Carolina just north of Charleston.
Best,
Phil
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Post by meadowview on Oct 14, 2007 16:36:09 GMT
Hi Folks:
We have the complete distribution of Sarracenia purpurea and S. rosea mapped out by county and province within the U.S. and Canada. To make a long story short here are the following significant bullets:
1. S. purpurea is not native to the mountains of Virginia. This taxon only found on coastal plain in VA with small Piedmont incursion in Brunswick Co., VA.
2. S. purpurea not native to West Virgnia. Populations introduced from extirpated colony at Highpoint on PA/MD border (see 2006 ICPS Frostburg conf. for details).
3. S. purpurea venosa EXTANT in GA coastal plain in Tatnall County. This population extremely rare. Extirpated populations originally discovered by Roland Harper in Tatnall County in early 1900's. Extant pops. in Tatnall have been sprayed with herbicide and in recovery.
4. Mountain S. purpurea in GA is recognized as var. montana. Populations extremely rare.
5. Major gap (hundreds of miles) between mountain pops. in Rabun and coastal Tatnall S. purpurea venosa pops BUT S. purpurea originally scattered through Piedmont in NC bridging coastal and mountain pops. of S. purp. venosa.
6. There were three historical pops. of S. rosea in SW Georgia (Lee, Randolph, Tift Counties). All sites extirpated. The most recent population (Randolph) eliminated by 1960. There is a MAJOR range gap between the SW Georgia S. rosea occurrences and the eastern Tatnall and north Georgia Rabun County S. purpurea. This range gap, along with numerous morphological, biochemical, ecological, and physical differences help separate S. rosea from the S. purpurea group. The SW Georgia S. rosea were part of the gulf coast range of this taxon.
7. We have done extensive work on S. purpurea in Maryland and VA and have the taxon's range mapped in detail. Populations are in serious declines or are being extirpated. In Virgina, we have a little over 500 plants left in the state in natural sites with over 75% of the plants in one site within the state. Where possible, plants are being raised in ex situ conservation and/or being incorporated in restoration work at Joseph Pines Preserve.
8. My personal opinion, and ongoing research, indicate that mid-Atlantic S. purpurea (e.g. coastal Georgia to at least NJ) is one taxonomic entity.
Sincerely,
Phil Sheridan Director Meadowview Biological Research Station
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Hello
Oct 14, 2007 16:08:01 GMT
Post by meadowview on Oct 14, 2007 16:08:01 GMT
Hi Folks:
Phil Sheridan signing onto the Forum. This is new for me so we'll see how I can navigate through this.
Best,
Phil
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