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<DIV>We just had a very thoughtful and lengthy discussion of this topic in
Virginia; I've copies the emails below; there are some good citations,
too.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">From:</SPAN></B><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma"> cecropia13@msn.com
<BR><B>Sent:</B> Sunday, March 16, 2008 8:14 PM<BR><B>To:</B> Hayden, John;
helen44@earthlink.net; rccsca@comcast.net; TwinOakPond@aol.com;
jlang@riposi.net; Ferriter@aol.com<BR><B>Cc:</B> fredandbeth@verizon.net;
horseblanketcb@yahoo.com; chrlssmith@msn.com; Earlinedickinson@aol.com;
daune@poklis.org; dajones@vt.edu; smithes6@juno.com; jrbush@cox.net;
John.Townsend@dcr.virginia.gov; jedodge3@verizon.net; persimmon@rockbridge.net;
kas3a@virginia.edu; Lbc289@aol.com; m.mooney@comcast.net; mslover@gmu.edu;
mbp44@columbia.edu; MALawler@aol.com; Ferriter@aol.com; nstaunton@earthlink.net;
philips@hoos.net; rdunbar@elizabethriver.org; shirleywg@comcast.net;
shetlers@si.edu; patriciagray67@juno.com; <A
href="mailto:dmeware@verizon.net">dmeware@verizon.net</A><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma"><BR><B>Subject:</B>
Re: cultivars</SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: black"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: black"><FONT face="Times New Roman">Nick and
John,<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: black"><FONT face="Times New Roman">Thanks for
your thoughts on cultivar-clone issue. In my experience, clones or
cultivars of native plants from gardens don't immediately, via
pollinators, alter the genetic structure of nearby wild plants - although
they certainly have the potential to do so <B>if</B> the nearby native plants
are close enough to be visited by the same pollinators. Of course, they
don't alter the genetic structure of the existing flowering plants, only the
<B>offspring</B> of those plants. In a short time, especially with
easily pollinated plants like Asters, etc., one could have innumerable
seedlings that would no longer be considered "natural" and would
be spreading throughout the natural
landscape. <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: black"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">Consider species of native Rhododendrons. A
native azalea specialty nursery will usually grow most species that occur in a
myriad of habitats from the coastal plain, piedmont, and mountains or
from larger geographic areas (i.e. Florida species, Smoky Mountain
species, New England species, etc.). Many overlap in blooming
periods, especially in garden or nursery settings, often leading to
cross-pollination and numerous, unnamable hybrids. Take a look at the
Woodlander's Nursery catalog and you'll see many of these plants offered for
sale - all deliberate or accidental crosses resulting from pollination of
true species in close proximity, i.e. Rhododendron sp. #3, #4, etc. If one
of these or similar plants was to be promoted as a "natural selection" or
"cultivar" and therefore sold in mass quantity and planted near wild
populations, it could definitely pollute those populations and degrade
the natural landscape. (Also compare the cross-mixed species of Echinacea
- some federally-listed for their uniqueness/identity/rarity - that are sold by
nurseries, which are no longer true to the species but which carry
genetic material from different regions of the country, from different habitats,
etc. Based on observation and reports, I can say that if Echinacea
purpurea was planted near E. laevigata and they inter-crossed, the
offspring would be composed solely or mostly of E. purpurea, with E.
laevigata being essentially outcompeted
genetically.) <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: black"><FONT face="Times New Roman">Numerous
clones or cultivars of Aster novae-angliae definitely mix in the garden and
nursery (though "Purple Dome" appears to be sterile) and can spread
from garden plantings to pollute native populations.
Fortunately, this species is relatively rare in suburban and urban areas, but
occasionally one finds a "wild" plant or population that is pink or
whitish or striped, etc. - all indications that the plant has crossed
with a garden cultivar. (Most Aster novae-angliae offered by <B>eastern
</B>native plant nurseries are not true to the species for this very
reason. They have hybridized so much that they do not represent the type
for the species anymore - what we all should be interested in, not the weird or
unusual, like "Ice Ballet" Asclepias incarnata,
etc.) <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: black"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">Should one of Richard Jayne's mountain laurel
selections - a dwarf with reddish flowers, say, selected from <st1:State
w:st="on">Maine</st1:State>, be planted in or near natural Kalmia
in <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">North
Carolina</st1:place></st1:State>? Most restoration ecologists would say
emphatically no. There is and should be always maintained a difference
between ornamental horticulture and ecological restoration. Why are native
plant societies so fascinated by cultivars and clones when they aren't
natural, at least in their application, and there are so many good
choices for local, appropriate material at hand. (Collect seed,
take cuttings, contract grow from local sources, rescue plants, etc.)
Factor in the potential and documented, in some cases, problem of polluting
local, native populations and one has an iron-clad case against the use of
cultivars and clones - at least in and around any natural areas.
<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: black"><FONT face="Times New Roman">The main
purpose of native plant societies, in my opinion, is to promote the real and the
natural and its conservation. (See www.VNPS.org archived Stan
Shetler article.) Many of these plants and their habitats have enough
threats against them without people fooling around needlessly with plants that
have the real potential to seriously alter what exactly <B>is</B> real
in nature. From my perspective, there is nothing more deflating than
to find garden escapes or inappropriate species in otherwise pristine or healthy
natural areas.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: black"><FONT face="Times New Roman">Rod
Simmons <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: black"><o:p><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Rod (et
al.):<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">I think we are
essentially in agreement. I’m hard pressed to find an example, either from
the literature (not that my knowledge of plant conservation literature is all
that deep), or from personal experience, of garden clones or cultivars of native
species mixing with truly wild plants and causing some measurable alteration of
the wild plant’s genetics. It does seem <I>possible</I>,
though.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">For cultivars that are
nothing more than a particular selected genotype from a wild ancestor, I find it
hard to generate much concern about potential impact of cross-pollination
between the cultivar and nearby wild plants since the cultivar’s genes already
exist in the wild population. One may fret about altering the frequencies
of this or that allele beyond what would have happened in the total absence of
human intervention . . . but where do we find the total absence of human
intervention anymore? Our collective human footprint has brought about so
much change in nature that the possible impact of planting a cultivar of a
native plant in your back yard seems infinitesimal in comparison. And
besides, planting a cultivar of a native plant has got to be better, in the
overall scheme of things, than growing another crepe myrtle or clump of lily
turf.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Cultivars that are
hybrids between multiple species are much more artificial or non-natural than
the above example. As the artificiality of the garden plant increases, so
should our wariness about escape of genes into the wild. Yes, I believe
that it would be unwise to plant masses of hybrid azaleas in proximity to
closely related wild species in a natural setting. But, as I mentioned in
one of my earlier posts on this thread, in a densely populated suburb distant
from native vegetation, I suspect that the risk of cross pollination between
hybrid and wild azaleas would be quite low. Personally, I would not worry
about undue impact in such a situation. But if asked as a representative
of VNPS, I would still suggest growing native plants! <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">From the little
searching that I did recently, the phrase “genetic pollution” seems most closely
associated with genetically modified crop plants and the transfer of exotic
genes via the GM crop to its wild (or less highly refined) relatives. The
classic case involves genes from genetically modified corn allegedly showing up
in corn fields in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Mexico</st1:place></st1:country-region>, near the ancestral homeland
of the crop. Less commonly, I find the term used in the context of alien
(exotic, non-native) plants (or animals) crossing with natives and exerting a
genetic impact via interspecific hybridization. Certainly, these are
troubling situations, but different from the origin of this whole cultivar
discussion: cultivars of native plants having some potential impact on wild
native plants.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Yes, VNPS is at its
core a conservation organization properly focused on nature and the preservation
of natural systems. But the whole gardening thing will not just go
away. Many VNPS members enjoy growing at least a few native plants in
their yards. And many members of the general public will look to us for
advice about growing native plants—and these people are probably our hottest
prospects for recruiting new members! We need to have sensible advice on
hand, for ourselves and for the general public.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">You mention the
deflating/depressing impact of finding “garden escapes” and “inappropriate
species” in natural areas. I certainly share the sentiment. But in
my experience, the garden escapes and inappropriate species are never cultivars
of native species—they are always exotic aliens, and I think we are all in
agreement that invasive exotics are detrimental.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Please understand, I’m
<I>not</I> saying that it cannot happen, but I still would like to hear of
actual cases (not hypothetical situations) in which cultivars of native plants
growing in gardens have altered the genetic constitution of nearby wild plants
in a natural habitat.</SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: black"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">John<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman">W. John
Hayden<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman">Professor of
Biology<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman">Department of
Biology<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceType w:st="on"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">University</SPAN></st1:PlaceType><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"> of <st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Richmond</st1:PlaceName></SPAN></st1:place><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">Richmond</SPAN></st1:City><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">, <st1:State w:st="on">VA</st1:State> <st1:PostalCode
w:st="on">23173</st1:PostalCode> <st1:country-region
w:st="on">USA</st1:country-region></SPAN></st1:place><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><o:p><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman">phone -
804-289-8232<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman">FAX -
804-289-8233<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">jhayden@richmond.edu<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><A
href="http://www.richmond.edu/~jhayden/"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">http://www.richmond.edu/~jhayden/</FONT></A><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><o:p><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Times">John,<BR><BR>Though,
personally, I have nothing to contribute to this discussion, as I look through
the newsletters and publications VNPS receives, today I find in the California
Native Plant Society Bulletin Vol. 38 No. 1 January-March 2008, an article
on page 1, continued on page 6 “Considerations When Planting California Native
Plants.” It is not yet online in their archives, but will be. Their
Conservation Conference of 9/8/07 featured Deborah Rogers, conservation
geneticist with the Genetic Resources Conservation Program, U. of
C.-Davis.<BR><BR>The CNPS in 2001 addressed the issue: <A
title=http://www.cnps.org/cnps/archive/landscaping.php.
href="http://www.cnps.org/cnps/archive/landscaping.php.">http://www.cnps.org/cnps/archive/landscaping.php.</A>
<BR><BR><st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Rogers</st1:place></st1:City>’ full presentation, along with the
others given at the conference, are now available on the CNPS website – access
by clicking on “Conservation” and then, on “2007 Santa Cruz Conservation
Conference Proceedings.”<BR><BR>Other links: <BR>Fact Sheets on Genetic
Conservation: <A
title=http://www.grcp.ucdavis.edu/projects/FactSheetdex.htm
href="http://www.grcp.ucdavis.edu/projects/FactSheetdex.htm">http://www.grcp.ucdavis.edu/projects/FactSheetdex.htm</A><BR>Genetically
Appropriate Choices for Plant Materials to Maintain Biological Diversity:
<A title=http://www.fs.fed.us/r2/publications/botany/plantgenetics.pdf
href="http://www.fs.fed.us/r2/publications/botany/plantgenetics.pdf">http://www.fs.fed.us/r2/publications/botany/plantgenetics.pdf</A><BR>Native
Plant Journal, Fall 2004: <A
title=http://www.nativeplantnetwork.org/journal/
href="http://www.nativeplantnetwork.org/journal/">http://www.nativeplantnetwork.org/journal/</A><BR><BR>Those
who are closely following this discussion might like to learn what a fellow
native plant society has to share. (Even though they are located on the opposite
coast.)<BR><BR>Nicky<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><o:p><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Nicky and John (et
al.),</SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: black"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <BR><BR></FONT></SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: sans-serif">Thanks for your
comments. Nicky, I'm glad you sent the California Native Plant Society
article, I thought that was good as well. </SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: black"><BR><BR></SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: sans-serif">This native plant
cultivar and hybrid debate has been going on a long time now, but seems to have
been thrust back into the forefront locally, with the Irvine Conference in
<st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Baltimore</st1:place></st1:City> last
year and the Lahr Symposium coming up next week (also lots of
articles).</SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: black"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <BR><BR></FONT></SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: sans-serif">I certainly agree
that VNPS and MNPS locally (and many native plant societies as well) are
"conservation organizations properly focused on nature and the preservation of
natural systems." I also think gardening is a fine thing - something which
I personally enjoy. However, as conservation and not gardening
organizations, when "asked for advice about growing native plants," as John
says, we definitely "need to have sensible advice on hand." The most
sensible advice about using native plants we can give, based on numerous case
studies, empirical observations, research, and a sizeable number of red flags,
is to plant native species - if one wants to plant - that are naturally found in
very close proximity to where they will be planted and that are true species.
(Native by definition excludes cultivars and man-made hybrids as the
definition of "native" is that which is local and natural) Besides, there
are numerous native plant nurseries that grow material from local stock, so
sourcing appropriate plants is no longer a problem. </SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: black"><FONT face="Times New Roman">
<BR><BR></FONT></SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: sans-serif">Different
nurseries supplying the demand for new/unusual plants to gardeners (mainly in
last decade or two!) have unleashed incredible destruction on our wild plants
and places. Dogwood Anthracnose imported by way of Kousa Dogwood for
landscape use, Sudden Oak Death from imported ornamental stock, Emerald Ash
Borer, Hemlock Adelgid, etc. Those are some of the prominent ones in the
news currently, but there are scores of others that are off most radar
screens.</SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: black"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <BR><BR></FONT></SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: sans-serif">We have more than
enough examples of what harm moving and mixing plants around can do and I think
we should promote, when the topic of gardening with native plants comes up, only
what is truly native and not cultivars (no this isn't a "purist" policy it's
reality!). Moreover, we're not gardening advocates and there is more than
enough justification to be wary of cultivars, just as some exotic plants, and to
not promote them. Promoting cultivars is the job of the nursery industry,
not ours. Our job is to stick with what's natural and real.</SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: black"><FONT face="Times New Roman">
<BR><BR></FONT></SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: sans-serif">Rod
</SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><BR></SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: black"><BR></SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: sans-serif">p.s. I've
included below some more info and links on the subject.</SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: black"><FONT face="Times New Roman">
<BR></FONT></SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: sans-serif">
</SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: black"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <BR></FONT></SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: sans-serif">1.</SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: black"><FONT face="Times New Roman">
<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: green; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><A
title="http://www.conps.org/pdf/Horticulture & Restoration/nativeplantdef.PDF"
href="http://www.conps.org/pdf/Horticulture%20&%20Restoration/nativeplantdef.PDF">www.conps.org/pdf/Horticulture%20&%20Restoration/<B>nativeplant</B>def.PDF</A></SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: black"><BR><FONT face="Times New Roman">2.
<BR></FONT></SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: sans-serif">"</SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: black"><FONT face="Times New Roman">Be wary of
seeds from cultivated <I>E. angustifolia</I> if grown in areas with native or
cultivated populations <I>of E. pallida, E. atrorubens, E. angustifolia</I> var.
strigosa or <I>E. simulata</I>. Native American Seed (Company) has collected
seed in the <st1:City w:st="on">Dallas</st1:City>/<st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Fort Worth</st1:place></st1:City> environs from plants that fit the
description of <I>E. angustifolia</I> var. strigosa, which is thought to be a
hybrid between <I>E. angustifolia</I> and <I>E. atrorubens. </I>The achenes were
larger and rougher than seeds of <I>E. angustifolia</I> var. angustifolia. (The
isolation distance to avoid hybridization has not been determined. It is likely
that wild bees, honeybees and other pollinators can transport pollen several
miles between plants). The geographic range of Echinacea species is illustrated
in McGregor, R.L., 1968, "The taxonomy of the genus Echinacea (Compositae),"
Univ. Kansas Sci. Bul. 48, and in Barker, W.T. <U>et al</U>., 1977, <U>Atlas of
the Flora of the Great Plains</U>, Iowa State University Press. <BR><BR>More
importantly, however, cultivated sources have potential problems of
hybridization and contamination with other seeds that are less likely to occur
with wild sources. One seed grower has addressed the problem of hybridization by
arranging to have <I>E. angustifolia</I> grown in an isolated location in
<st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">New Mexico</st1:place></st1:State> in
1996.</FONT></SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: sans-serif">"</SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: black"><FONT face="Times New Roman">
<BR><BR>Source:
biomicro.sdstate.edu/reesen/Echinacea/newsletter.htm<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: black"><BR></SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: sans-serif">3.</SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: black"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><U><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: black">Cultivars
of Native Plants</SPAN></U><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: black">
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: black"><FONT face="Times New Roman">In the wild,
plants have been discovered that have one or more ornamental characteristics
that are superior or substantially different compared to the typical plant of
that species. When these selections are propagated and produced in a manner to
preserve the desirable characteristics, they are often referred to as cultivars.
Cultivars typically are evaluated under landscape conditions to determine their
potential use in residential and commercial sites. For cultivars derived from
naturally occurring populations outside of <st1:State
w:st="on">Florida</st1:State> or areas bordering <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Florida</st1:place></st1:State>, cultivar origin is an important issue
to consider as mentioned previously. For example, a dogwood cultivar derived
from a natural population in the northeastern <st1:country-region
w:st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region> would not be appropriate to use in
<st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Florida</st1:place></st1:State>.
<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: black"><FONT face="Times New Roman">The other
issue to consider is man-made cultivars of native plants. Many native plant
experts and enthusiasts do not consider man-made cultivars as being native,
although it might be argued that selections or hybrids could have occurred under
natural conditions. It is very unlikely, however, that man-made selections or
hybrids with "double flowers" (the reproductive parts of the flowers develop
into petals so that there appear to be twice the number of petals) would be
found in the wild for species that rely on seed for reproduction. Such species
with "double flowers" would not be able to reproduce.
<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: black"><FONT face="Times New Roman">Use of
cultivars in restoration or reclamation should be done with caution because
genetic diversity could be very limited. Potential consequences of inbreeding
and outbreeding depression also need to be considered.
<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: black"><FONT face="Times New Roman">Source:
Native Plants: An Overview Jeffrey G. Norcini, <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:PlaceType w:st="on">University</st1:PlaceType> of <st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Florida</st1:PlaceName></st1:place> <BR><BR>4. <BR><B>CONSERVATION OF
GENETIC RESOURCES </B><BR>Everyone involved with the selection, use and
promotion of new native plant species and cultivars and/or any of their close
relatives must be fully aware of the potential negative consequences of their
use in gardens and landscapes. Most of these concerns center around the issue of
conservation of genetic resources and the genetic pollution of native plant
populations in the wild. Three examples from the <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">California</st1:place></st1:State> flora will serve to illuminate this
issue. <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: black"><FONT face="Times New Roman">Nevin's
Barberry [<I>Mahonia</I> (<I>Berberis</I>) <I>nevinii</I>], an extremely rare
plant in nature, is found in widely distributed and ecologically varied small
populations in southern <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">California</st1:place></st1:State>. It is, however, a relatively
commonly seen landscape plant throughout the state. A molecular level study of
these plants showed that there is little to no variation present in the gene
pool. Therefore, the seed source of plants to be planted in the vicinity of the
remaining individuals in the wild is not of concern--there will be no adverse
consequences to the gene pool. <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: black"><FONT face="Times New Roman">The
<st1:State w:st="on">California</st1:State> dandelion (<I>Taraxacum
californicum</I>) from the wet meadows in the <st1:place w:st="on">San
Bernardino Mountains</st1:place> is a rare plant whose continued existence is
threatened by ongoing hybridization with the common European dandelion
(<I>Taraxacum officinale</I>), a weedy pest plant that is common throughout the
range of the rare species. <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: black"><FONT face="Times New Roman">The <st1:City
w:st="on">Monterey</st1:City> pine (<I>Pinus radiata</I>) is known from five
geographically isolated populations (three are from central coastal <st1:State
w:st="on">California</st1:State> and two are on islands off <st1:State
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Baja California</st1:place></st1:State>). This
tree is a significant forest tree in the southern hemisphere, particularly in
<st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">New
Zealand</st1:place></st1:country-region>. Material from all five populations has
been grown together on a massive scale in <st1:country-region w:st="on">New
Zealand</st1:country-region>, such that the primary seed source of <st1:City
w:st="on">Monterey</st1:City> pine (even in <st1:State
w:st="on">California</st1:State>) is from <st1:country-region
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">New Zealand</st1:place></st1:country-region>. The
issue of primary concern here is that the "mongrel" Monterey pines of New
Zealand mixed origin will genetically pollute the "pure" native stands of these
trees, such that the unique genetic character of the California populations will
be lost due to homogenization of the gene pool over time (the Baja California
populations are not threatened in this way at this time).
<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: black"><FONT face="Times New Roman">Source:
Xeriscaping: Sources of New Native Ornamnetal Plants Bart C. O'Brien
<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: black"><FONT face="Times New Roman">5.
<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<TABLE class=MsoNormalTable style="WIDTH: 100%; mso-cellspacing: 1.5pt"
cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0>
<TBODY>
<TR style="mso-yfti-irow: 0; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes">
<TD
style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; PADDING-RIGHT: 0.75pt; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3; PADDING-LEFT: 0.75pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0.75pt; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; WIDTH: 100%; PADDING-TOP: 0.75pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0dfe3; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent"
width="100%">
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: green; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><A
title=http://www.ca.uky.edu/agc/pubs/for/for98/for98.htm
href="http://www.ca.uky.edu/agc/pubs/for/for98/for98.htm">www.ca.uky.edu/agc/pubs/for/for98/for98.htm</A></SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: black"><BR><FONT face="Times New Roman">6.
<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<TABLE class=MsoNormalTable style="WIDTH: 100%; mso-cellspacing: 1.5pt"
cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0>
<TBODY>
<TR style="mso-yfti-irow: 0; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes">
<TD
style="BORDER-RIGHT: #e0dfe3; PADDING-RIGHT: 0.75pt; BORDER-TOP: #e0dfe3; PADDING-LEFT: 0.75pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0.75pt; BORDER-LEFT: #e0dfe3; WIDTH: 100%; PADDING-TOP: 0.75pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #e0dfe3; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent"
width="100%">
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: green; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><A
title=http://www.ser.org/pdf/SER_restoration_genetics.pdf
href="http://www.ser.org/pdf/SER_restoration_genetics.pdf">www.ser.org/pdf/SER_<B>restoration</B>_<B>genetics</B>.pdf</A></SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><o:p><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Times">John, Helen, <BR><BR>I
agree with John. Policy is set after presentation of pros and cons that
are developed by a balanced committee (diverse data, information and
viewpoints heard) and >then< present findings to the board. I
have been following this as an informed discussion, not as an exchange to set a
formal VNPS policy.<BR><BR>This subject is fraught by diverse nuances and
opinions and this is not a simple subject that can be encapsulated into one or
two paragraphs after this series of e-mails<BR>Surely we do not want a policy
that tries to restrict native plant cultivar sale by the nursery industry.
We can educate our members/public/natural resource managers to use care
where cultivars are introduced. I would not want to have us expend our
meager time and funds on a Quixotic crusade. Is the idea, calling
cultivars of native plants “non-native plants” and to consider them
inappropriate for use? <BR><BR>We know you are not some crazy kook, John.
Nor are the other participants. Good science from John is welcome as
we try to understand the use of native plants and native plant cultivars in home
gardens/landscapes, public gardens/trails, and restoration of natural areas.
By education, we can first thoroughly educate ourselves and
then lead the gardeners, natural resource managers and the nursery industry to
wise use of cultivars of native plants. A well worded policy could very
well evolve from such a study. I believe we can educate about this subject
without a formal policy.<BR><BR>Helen, if you are calling for a VNPS policy, you
would bring the request first to the EC who would involve the chairs of
committees involved in the subject, and then the next step could send it to the
board and if they agree, a committee would need to be named to gather the
information, present a report and recommendation to the Board who would need to
study and discuss the recommendation before voting. I am not saying that
we should not do this, but I feel we are not ready for that final writing and
adoption of a policy. <BR><BR>For instance, when VNPS formed a policy concerning
use of herbicides, it was an exhaustive study commissioned by the board and done
by Cris Fleming, Faith Campbell and others, that formed a very well worded,
rational statement to the effect that while we do not condone all use of
herbicides, there are situations that we feel it is appropriate to use with
proper controls by trained personnel to apply it. (I believe that natural
resource managers proved a need for its use in control of invasive plants under
some specific conditions.)<BR><BR>And, I believe that there are far, far more
dire imminent threats to our native plant populations than the use of native
plant cultivars in home and urban botanical gardens. (Not placing them in
natural wild situations is easy to support.) It is interesting to remember
that nature creates "cultivars." What was it that Hal Horwitz said, in
citing the huge diversity in the orchidacea family, that in nature when faced
with change, 'adapt, move or die'?") I would prefer our
efforts to form policy focus on loss of habitat to expanding urban/suburban
development that erases the natural <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Virginia</st1:place></st1:State> landscape. (i.e. The town centers and
housing developments that remove all trees and vegetation, level the terrain,
place streams underground on hundreds of acres of <st1:State
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Virginia</st1:place></st1:State> landscape.)
Or, global warming. Or, removal of southwest <st1:State
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Virginia</st1:place></st1:State>’s mountain tops
for coal export. We each have our issues.<BR><BR>Kind thoughts to all,
Nicky<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Times"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: black"><FONT face="Times New Roman">Rod (et
al.)<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: black"><FONT face="Times New Roman">In my
previous message (19 March message) I thought we were largely in agreement, but
now I fear we have entered the realm of cross-talk. Perhaps we are not
really talking about the same things. I initiated this dialog in response
to Helen’s question about cultivars. I endeavored to explain (13 March
message) what cultivars are, which is a tricky thing, because the origin and
genetic makeup of cultivars can be so different from one example to the
next. Further, I understood the context of Helen’s question to
concern merchandise for a plant sale, so I assumed that if cultivars were
involved, they would be cultivars of native plant species, and their use would
be as garden subjects, planted in someone’s yard—and certainly not in a natural
habitat nor to be used in an ecological restoration project. Context
matters. If I got the gist of Helen’s question wrong, or if anyone who has
kept up with this exchange has misunderstood the intended context of my words,
then I am sorry for the confusion.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: black"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: black"><FONT face="Times New Roman">Based on the
content of your last message (22 March), it seems to me that you have addressed
a range of problems much broader than the specific matter of cultivars of native
species in gardens. Your 22 March message cites examples of invasive
exotic species (aliens) and artificial inter-species hybrids, along with some
very reasonable principles of conservation genetics in the context of ecological
restoration. Other than hybrid Monterey Pine (<I>Pinus radiata</I>), every
other example contained in that message seems (to me) extraneous to the topic of
native plant cultivars and the possible/potential negative impact of planting
them in garden settings. See material below the stars (***) for my
comments on specific examples cited in your 22 March message.
<I><o:p></o:p></I></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: black"><FONT face="Times New Roman">I think it
only muddies the water to equate cultivar with any plant that has entered, at
any point in its history, cultivation. Kudzu and Japanese honeysuckle
were, at one time, intentionally cultivated, but that fact alone does not make
these plants as we encounter them in the landscape “cultivars.” That
simply is not the meaning of the word. In an attempt to clarify this
distinction: Most Japanese honeysuckles have ordinary green leaves.
There exists a cultivar of Japanese honeysuckle called “Mint Crisp” that is
distinguished from wild populations by a creamy speckled variegation pattern on
the leaves. The plant that infests our woods and fields is
<I>Lonicera japonica</I>, a nasty invasive exotic species; one particular
genotype of that species is known as <I>Lonicera japonica</I> cultivar ‘Mint
Crisp.’ The Japanese honeysuckle that infests my woods is not a cultivar,
<I>L. japonica</I> ‘Mint Crisp’ offered for sale by some nurseries is.
(Please note: I am certainly neither condoning nor promoting the cultivation of
either plant—species or cultivar – just noting the distinction between the
two.) <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: black"><FONT face="Times New Roman">Perhaps I
should have provided more explicit examples of cultivars of native
species. Here are a few. There exists a form of <I>Cimicifuga
racemosa</I> that has unusually heavy deposits of anthocyanin pigment in the
leaves; these dark-leaved plants are known as <I>Cimicifuga racemosa</I> cv
‘Atropurpurea.’ There are numerous selections of red maple based on the
specific hue of their fall color; thus we have <I>Acer rubrum</I> cv ‘Red
Sunset,’ <I>Acer rubrum</I> cv ‘October Glory,’ <I>Acer rubrum</I> cv ‘Autumn
Flame,’ etc. There is a selection of river birch with shaggier than usual
exfoliating bark that is known as <I>Betula nigra</I> ‘Heritage.’ As I
attempted to explain in my first message, these examples of cultivars represent,
essentially, just small subsets of the genetic diversity that occurs at large in
populations of their “parent” species. While it remains in my mind a
theoretical possibility that planting this sort of cultivar of a native plant in
a garden setting <I>could</I> have unforeseen negative consequence for truly
wild and natural populations, it is difficult – in most cases – to conceive what
the nature of that harm could possibly be. I see no reason not to plant
these sorts of cultivars derived from native plants in gardens. Never did
I advocate planting this sort of cultivar in natural settings, nor did I
advocate use of cultivars for ecological restoration.
<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: black"><FONT face="Times New Roman">Yes, it would
always be prudent to consider with great care the potential impact of
introducing any plant in the urban-natural interface (to borrow a concept from
the California Native Plant Society page that Nicky cited). So, for
example, it would not be wise to plant purple coneflower (<I>Echinacea
purpurea</I>) near populations of our rare native <I>Echinacea
pallida</I>. Similarly, restraint should be exercised in planting hybrid
Monterey Pine near the few remnant and genetically isolated natural populations
of the species (in <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">California</st1:place></st1:State>). Of course, rare plants are
rare and therefore likely to be distant from most backyard gardens.
<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: black"><o:p><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: black"><FONT face="Times New Roman">* *
*<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: black"><FONT face="Times New Roman">Comments on
examples cited in the 22 March message.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><I><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: black">Cornus
kousa</SPAN></I><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: black">, dogwood
anthracnose, sudden oak death, emerald ash borer, and hemlock wooly adlegid –
these are all cases of alien plants and animals having negative impacts on
native plants. No argument, these are real problems, but they constitute
an issue different than the origin of this exchange about cultivars of native
plants.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: black"><FONT face="Times New Roman">1. <st1:State
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Colorado</st1:place></st1:State> Native Plant
Site: </FONT><A
title="http://www.conps.org/pdf/Horticulture & Restoration/nativeplantdef.PDF"
href="http://www.conps.org/pdf/Horticulture%20&%20Restoration/nativeplantdef.PDF"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">http://www.conps.org/pdf/Horticulture%20&%20Restoration/nativeplantdef.PDF</FONT></A><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: black"><FONT face="Times New Roman">I think the
distinctions made therein between “native plant” and “local native plant” are
useful.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: black"><FONT face="Times New Roman">The following
paragraph is copied directly from that same site:<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: black"><FONT face="Times New Roman">“Native
species are often "improved" by selection and propagation of individuals for
certain traits, such as early flowering or taller flower stalks. These selected
native plants are called <I>cultivars</I>. Cultivars are often not adapted to
local environmental conditions and may not thrive. Research has shown that some
cultivars will breed with local native plants and decrease a population's
fitness or ability to survive in an area. No one really knows what effect these
cultivars will have on the wildlife that depend on local native plant species
for food. If a local native plant's bloom period, color, or frost hardiness is
changed, it could have a drastic effect on the hummingbirds, bees and other
wildlife that may utilize them.”<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: black"><FONT face="Times New Roman">Despite the
assertions made in the third and subsequent sentences of that paragraph, I note
that no specific examples of native plant cultivars harming (decreasing fitness)
of local native plants are provided. I wonder if the word cultivar was
used (inappropriately) in reference to any cultivated
plant?<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: black"><FONT face="Times New Roman">2.
Coneflowers, species of <I>Echinacea</I>: <I>E. angustifolia</I>, <I>E. pallida,
E. atrorubens, </I>or <I>E. simulata</I>. <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: black"><FONT face="Times New Roman">Distribution
maps for these coneflower species (and others) can be found at: </FONT><A
title=http://www.kbs.ku.edu/people/staff_www/kindscher/echinacea/maps2.htm
href="http://www.kbs.ku.edu/people/staff_www/kindscher/echinacea/maps2.htm"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">http://www.kbs.ku.edu/people/staff_www/kindscher/echinacea/maps2.htm</FONT></A><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: black"><FONT face="Times New Roman">Quick perusal
suggests that ranges of these species are at most only modestly overlapping in
nature. Grown in proximity in a common garden, they will hybridize.
So if a commercial grower offers seed from multiple coneflower species it is
quite likely that some significant proportion of the seed will not be
“true.” No argument here. But this is a question of mixing species
from different geographic locations, not the issue of a cultivar of a (single)
native species causing “harm” to the species at large from which it was
derived. I did acknowledge in my first (13 March) message that
interspecies hybrids <I>could</I> pose a risk of introducing new/different genes
into wild populations (see 4<SUP>th</SUP> paragraph from the end of that
message).<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: black"><FONT face="Times New Roman">3. Extract
from “Cultivars of Native Plants” by J. G. Norcini.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: black"><FONT face="Times New Roman">I find no
real argument here. Of course, “double flower” cultivars that are sterile
(because stamens or carpels or both have been converted to petals) will have
absolutely no impact on the population genetics of nearby wild/native members of
the same species. If someone finds this sort of double flower appealing,
there should be no worries about planting them in his/her garden.
<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: black"><FONT face="Times New Roman">There is one
sentence: “For example, a dogwood cultivar derived from a natural population in
the northeastern <st1:country-region w:st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region> would
not be appropriate to use in <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Florida</st1:place></st1:State>.” I don’t know what the author
intended, but the northeast dogwood simply might not grow well in <st1:State
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Florida</st1:place></st1:State>, so it could be
inappropriate that way. And it would certainly be inappropriate for
ecological restoration in <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Florida</st1:place></st1:State> . . . but (again) that is a different
issue. I have been saying all along that ecological restoration should be
based on local sources (see my first message – 13 March – third paragraph from
the end).<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: black"><FONT face="Times New Roman">4.
“Conservation of Genetic Resources” from xeriscaping article by B. C.
O’Brien<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><I><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: black">Mahonia/Berberis nevinii</SPAN></I><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: black"> example – O’Brien sees no problem in
planting the native plant (in <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">California</st1:place></st1:State>) and neither do
I.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><I><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: black">Taraxacum
californicum</SPAN></I><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: black"> example –
this is a problem with an invasive exotic crossing with a rare wild plant, and I
think we all agree that this is bad. Our common weedy invasive dandelion
is not a cultivar.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: black">Monterey</SPAN></st1:place></st1:City><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: black"> Pine – <I>Pinus radiata</I> example – OK,
here is a case where the cultivated (infraspecific) hybrid (derived from a few
genetically isolated sources of a rare species) could have an impact if planted
where it could interbreed with the naturally occurring populations. I will
not take a position on whether that impact would be good or bad . . . I can see
both arguments!<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: black"><FONT face="Times New Roman">5 </FONT><A
title=http://www.ca.uky.edu/agc/pubs/for/for98/for98.htm
href="http://www.ca.uky.edu/agc/pubs/for/for98/for98.htm"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">http://www.ca.uky.edu/agc/pubs/for/for98/for98.htm</FONT></A><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> The only reference to “cultivar” that I could find
on this page refers (fleetingly) to hybridization of coneflowers (see number 2
above).<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: black">6.
</SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: green"><A
title=http://www.ser.org/pdf/SER_restoration_genetics.pdf
href="http://www.ser.org/pdf/SER_restoration_genetics.pdf">www.ser.org/pdf/SER_<B>restoration</B>_<B>genetics</B>.pdf</A>
</SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: black">The title of the article is
“Introduction to Restoration Genetics.” It looks like a very useful source
of information. The term “cultivar” does not appear in the article.
“Genetic pollution” occurs once, in a context that reinforces the principle that
best practice is to use local plant resources when undertaking restoration
projects. I have no argument with that.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: black"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">John<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><o:p><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman">W. John
Hayden<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman">Professor of
Biology<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman">Department of
Biology<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceType w:st="on"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">University</SPAN></st1:PlaceType><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"> of <st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Richmond</st1:PlaceName></SPAN></st1:place><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">Richmond</SPAN></st1:City><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt">, <st1:State w:st="on">VA</st1:State> <st1:PostalCode
w:st="on">23173</st1:PostalCode> <st1:country-region
w:st="on">USA</st1:country-region></SPAN></st1:place><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><o:p><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman">phone -
804-289-8232<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman">FAX -
804-289-8233<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">jhayden@richmond.edu<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">http://www.richmond.edu/~jhayden/<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><o:p><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><o:p><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: black"><FONT face="Times New Roman">John et
al,<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: black"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: black"><FONT face="Times New Roman">Thanks for
your comments. I realize that this discussion quickly gets extremely
complicated and dense - much like the discussion on "what is native" that so
many of us spent so much time trying to clarify years ago,
especially when our native plant societies were being formed. I
also realize how some of these topics, which I believe to be
strongly related and illustrative of the same central argument, can
appear at cross purposes or confusing to some.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: black"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: black"><FONT face="Times New Roman">In my
opinion, examples like the Purple Coneflower, Monterey Pine, various cultivars,
and even Kousa Dogwood (referred to below) all speak to the same point:
native plant societies should protect and be advocates for their local native
flora and habitats. The natural and not the artificial. With all the
planting going on these days, the threats to natural populations and habitats
increase because most (if not all) of the plants used are not from local
sources and are not appropriate/native to that locality. This is what
the Purple Coneflower, Monterey Pine, and Kousa Dogwood examples
illustrate.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: black"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: black"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">Ideally, a native plant society should not, in good
conscience, sell or advocate the use of "native plant" cultivars as native
plants. Instead, we should tell folks, if these plants happen to be
sold at one of our plant sales, that these really are not native plants mainly
because a) many are man-made hybrids, i.e., Tradescantia x andersoniana, Aronia
x brilliantissima, Amelanchier x grandiflora, etc. (not to mention grafted Pink
Dogwoods, hybrids between American and Oriental Chestnuts and American and
European Elms, etc.) and b) those cultivars that represent small genetic
subsets of larger diversity, like Solidago rugosa "Fireworks", Tiarella
cordifolia "Sliprock", Ageratina altissima "Chocolate Ruffles", etc.,
are mass-produced, atypical plants that are not native or appropriate outside
the place they were discovered. Moreover, those atypical varieties are
extremely rare/isolated in nature and definitely not the norm for the
species. We should always maintain a strong distinction between the
ecological and that which is gardening. Gardening, whether with
native plants, exotics, cultivars, or not, is still gardening.
It's a wonderful pursuit in its own right, but really a
separate enterprise from what a native plant society is
about. In addition to being concerned with "what is native" and
"whether or not a cultivar will impact native flora", we should also be equally
concerned with the related and important question of where a plant is native
to, also taking into account a species'
rarity. <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: black"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: black"><FONT face="Times New Roman">I personally
do not have a problem with people planting whatever is not invasive or
ecologically destructive in their own gardens. Too often as we all know,
however, some plants find their way into local natural areas; hugely
destructive problems like the Emerald Ash Borer pop up as volumes of nursery
stock arrive for landscaping purposes; and, occasionally, some cultivars can
negatively impact local natural areas. (In the <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Washington</st1:City>, <st1:State
w:st="on">D.C.</st1:State></st1:place> region, Hydrangea arboresecens
"Grandiflora" has seeded into Soapstone Valley of Rock Creek
Park, Sugar and Red Maples commonly seed from nursery stock, seedlings
of cultivars of Phlox paniculata are fairly common; seedlings of Tradescantia x
andersoniana have been noted, and so forth. Moreover, I have seen on
several occasions inappropriate native plants and cultivars that
were purchased at native plant society plant sales and planted in natural
areas as restoration projects. Upon inquiring, I was told that the
plants were purchased without any advice, caution, etc. at the plant sales with
grant monies earmarked for restoration. They thought they were native and
suitable since the local native plant society sold them! (The
problem isn't as much whether John or I advocate the use of these
plants in natural areas - we don't! - but the fact that on numerous occasions
they do get planted there or escape there and some of this is
our fault!) We need to include a disclaimer (or at least a
comment) at all of our native plant society plant sales that none of the plants
offered (exceptions notwithstanding) are appropriate for restoration
purposes with a brief explanation of why that's so - that they are for
home gardens only! In short, we just have to be careful about what we
plant, ask whether it's really necessary to plant a particular plant,
and give those less informed good and clear advice on how to be a good
neighbor to surrounding natural
areas. <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: black"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: black"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">Rod<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P></DIV></FONT><BR><BR><BR><DIV><FONT style="color: black; font: normal 10pt ARIAL, SAN-SERIF;"><HR style="MARGIN-TOP: 10px">Planning your summer road trip? Check out <A title="http://travel.aol.com/travel-guide/united-states?ncid=aoltrv00030000000016" href="http://travel.aol.com/travel-guide/united-states?ncid=aoltrv00030000000016" target="_blank">AOL Travel Guides</A>.</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>