Our annual meeting will be held at Timberline Resort in Canaan Valley. Two condos have been reserved through Timberline Resort Realty, I-800-633-6682 or 304-866-4777. The condo units are NWH2 and NWH3 located next to each other. Check in time is 3 pm and check out time is 10 am.

We should be able to cook our own meals. Bedding is available for 5-6 people in each condo. Therefore, people should bring an emergency sleeping bag in case all beds are taken. If we have 6 people in each condo, the price for the two nights will be around $54 apiece

Pat Hissom, naturalist at Blackwater Falls State Park, will lead a walk at 4 pm, Friday Sept. 20^th. Saturday we will hike Canaan Valley that is the largest wetland in the State. There will be plenty to see because the Canaan Valley Wildlife recently purchased 12,000 acres of wetland and forested slopes from Allegheny Power Co. (formerly Monongahela Power).

Saturday evening we will have the membership meeting and elect officers for 2003.

We will decide where to hike Sunday as a group or groups.

If the condos fill up call Bill Grafton (304 – 292-0229) or email: wgrafton@wvu.edu about other options.

Canaan Valley is a great place, the price is right and we hope to see you there!!!!!

If I were a native wildflower, such as a Jack-in-the-pulpit, these might be my concerns.

It sure seems that those white flowered plants that smell like garlic are getting closer each month. I don’t see the violets, bellworts, and trilliums that used to grow where "old garlic" has taken over. Sure hope they are o’k. Darn! What will I do if they try to take over my space in a year or two.

And there is that strange grass that showed up by the deer trail 10 feet down the hill. I think the seed fell off the deer as it ran up the trail. Regardless, that grass is growing awfully fast and just yesterday fell down on top of my old friend, Gin, the ginseng plant. Gin is having a tough time holding that grass up. Last week, two of those noisy animals that talk a lot and walk on 2 legs said the grass was a stilt grass from Japan.

I wonder how it ever got up this hollow????

Oh yeah, those two noisy animals had their digging tools, but fortunately they didn’t see Gin since she was covered up by that Japanese grass. I guess the grass isn’t all bad. Still I hope it doesn’t grow up my way and fall on top of me. Yes I’m lucky. Aunt Jill, who lived down by the creek got plowed totally out of the ground by a big yellow machine. If that wasn’t bad enough, she was then squashed by some other noisy animals who cleared a spot and built a house.

And Uncle Joe was eaten by a deer 3 years ago.

Hmm! Since I can be male or female, I’m gonna be Jill-in-the-pulpit this year and produce a lot of seed. I’ve got to keep my species from becoming extinct.

But, since I’m a Jack or Jill in-the-pulpit, I think I’ll still say a prayer, just for good luck!!

Bill Grafton – Editor

My interest is in plants has been greatly realized by having a botanist’s paradise at my doorstep: Kanawha State Forest. With 9205 acres and elevations ranging from 700-1500 feet above sea level, a wide variety of plant life is present. Mrs. Margaret Denison compiled a list of 839 species in 1979.

On July 31, 1991, I found my first Yellow fringed orchid (Habenaria ciliaris). If I remember correctly, the flowers were all orange. They were located near where Shrewsbury Hollow Road meets Middle Ridge Road. At the other end of the hollow, many years ago there was a coal mine and then later a Civilian Conservation Corps Camp (CCC). Large Yellow Lady’s Slipper (Cypripedium pubescens) is found on the CCC Trail built by the CCC workers. White Clintonia (Clintonia umbellulata) is also found on this trail.

White Hollow Trail and part of Davis Creek Trail from Copperhead Rock north to White Hollow Trail is filled with many appealing spring wildflowers. These include:

I find this interesting because most of these in this hollow are of these colors when the normal color is maroon or dark purple. According to the Flora of West Virginia, the white form (Trillium erectum forma albiflorum R. Hoffm) is only occasionally found.

These little beauties with their pleasant fragrance are a welcome find in the spring.

I mention this tree because it is a high elevation plant and reaches the southern limit of its range in West Virginia. These were introduced in 1938 throughout the forest. In the general area of the pines at the mouth of White Hollow, there was a sawmill in the early 1900s.

Pink Lady’s Slipper (cypripedium acaule)

This is one of our "sneaky" flowers. Bees are attracted by a nectar-like scent emanating from the pouch, but once inside they find no nectar. However, each bee leaves with its back coated with pollen and it flies undaunted to the awaiting stigma of the next plant.

Golden Seal (Hydrastis canadensis)

I find this "yellowroot" each spring in bloom on the White Hollow Trail. Its roots at one time were used for several medicinal purposes, such as an insect repellent and a source of yellow dye. It has now become reasonably rare.

Great Laurel (Rhododendron maximum) – Have you ever noticed how tight the evergreen leaves roll in very cold weather?

Mountain Laurel (Kalmia latifolia) – The corolla has 10 pollen bearing stamens, each tucked into a pouch. When triggered by an insect, the stamens snap toward the center to pollinate flowers. They will also straighten with the maturity or the blossom.

The total number of flowering plant that I have identified for the White Hollow Trail and the short section of Davis Creek Trail previously described is about 80. These are mostly spring wildflowers and don’t include the various trees and shrubs.

Now we travel to No. 1 Store Hollow where in the early 1900s was found a store, post office, and a coal company office. If you look today you can find Showy Orchis (Orchis spectabilis). Move down Davis Creek past Dunlop Hollow and somewhere before you reach Polly Hollow you pass through what was once the town of Chilton. Wind your way west up Polly Hollow to where the trail leaves the road to find Shortleaf Pine (Pinus echinata). This pine has bundles of 2 & 3 needles on the same tree. Directly across the road are several Tamaracks (Larix laricina). This is West Virginia’s only native conifer with deciduous leaves. Flora of West Virginia indicates that Cranesville Swamp on the Maryland border is the southernmost station for the species. This may no longer be correct. These trees were introduced in 1961 and may now be the southernmost location.

I don’t know. (Editor’s Note: Tamarack reaches its southernmost natural location at Cranesville Swamp, but is planted in many spot south of this site)

Take time if you have it to botanize Kanawha State Forest.

Margaret Denison is a longtime member of WVNPS. She surveyed and published several nice booklets on the flora of Little Creek Park and Kanawha State Forest. Below is a tribute to Margaret written by Shirley Schweizer another longtime WVNPS member.

The 11^th Annual Osbra Eye Memorial Wildflower Walks on April 27, 2002 was a big success, but with a noticeable absence…no, not the rain not the evasive lady slippers, but Margaret Denison, one of our most popular and knowledgeable leaders. Due to a debilitating health problem, Margaret has moved to Tucson, Arizona, to be near her family.

Margaret, who was a Kanawha County school teacher and taught science and botany, collaborated with then Superintendent of Kanawha State Forest, Mr. Eye, on the booklet, Flowering Plants of Kanawha State Forest, which was published in 1967. She received an award from the West Virginia Department of Natural Resources in 1975 for the compilation of a checklist of 710 flowering plants, 42 ferns and their allies, and 138 grasses and sedges. Margaret sighted the Japanese loosestrife growing in the Forest in June 1967. The identity was confirmed by the Smithsonian and reported to be the first time it had been seen in North America.

Margaret is a lifetime of the Kanawha State Forest Foundation, and she has generously supported our various activities, particularly the wildflower walks, organized in 1991. As she walked along pointing out foliage, fruit, and flower, Margaret did not dwell on botanical technology, but rather the common names, their origins, and delightful folklore. Davis Creek was her favorite trail, and she always had a large group surrounding her.

We pray for her healing, comfort and serenity and that she will find solace in her memories of the Forest and the countless students and Forest Friends she has inspired, who love and admire her.

Thank you, Margaret, and showers of forget-me(us)-nots to you!

Margaret’s address: LaRosa Health Care Center, Room 103

7500 North Calle Sin Envidia

Tucson, Arizona 85718

Editor’s PS: Margaret had a very comprehensive collection of ferns, grasses, sedges and other miscellaneous plants which she had stored at the Kanawha State Forest Foundation. Through the efforts of Shirley Schweizer and Carolyn Welcker these plant specimens will become a part of the West Virginia University Herbarium. Donna Ford-Werntz, Herbarium Curator, will have the plants mounted once Bill Grafton has prepared the labels. Margaret also had a nice collection of rocks and fossils that will be offered to the WVU Dept. of Geology to add to their teaching collection as soon as the professors return for the fall semester. Margaret’s legacy of teaching and giving continues!!!

By: Romie Hughart

Dick Thompson and I have started the third year of our systematic, taxonomic survey of the wildflowers of the East Lynn Lake area. Last year we turned in 15 county records to the WVU Herbarium.

One of the better finds was Spiranthes tuberosa. We came upon several specimens of pine sap (Monotropa hypopithys) at different times of the summer. Pinesap doesn’t seem to bloom at any particular time of the year, as do most wildflowers. The environmental conditions seem to influence blooming.

On our first outing this year we have already encountered three species we have not seen at East Lynn before, the wake robin form of Trillium erectum, pennywort (Obolaria virginica), and trailing arbutus (Epigaea repens).

We also came across a growth of pines infected with the pine bark beetle. They really do a job stripping bark from the trees. The best method to stop the beetle is to remove infested trees. Mild winters contribute to the buildup in pine beetle populations. Overwintering beetles are killed when temperatures stay below freezing for 5-7 consecutive days. The life cycle of the pine bark beetle is about 6 weeks and 6-7 generations of beetles can be produced each year.

Good forest management is the only way to resist pine bark beetle attacks through maintaining vigorously growing trees. Thinning overcrowded stands, and regenerating slow growing, over-mature or diseased trees will promote vigorous trees and improve resistance to southern pine beetle. 1

When the pine trees die off, eventually there will be a change of soil pH. Other plants are able to move into the area. Plant species depending on lower pH will not be able to survive. One of these species is the pink ladyslipper (Cypripedium acaule).

1 The Hickory Woods Homeowners Association – Pine Bark Beetle Information (2001).

In the past year or so, my job has given me the opportunity to travel to many places in southern West Virginia, that I would not otherwise have visited. These travels have taken me to communities such as, Wharncliffe, Sharples, Peck Mills, Reed, Tripp and Glen Alum is Kanawha, Wayne, Logan, and Mingo Counties. While exploring these areas in the Kanawha, Tug, and Guyandotte River Valleys, I have taken the time to record the locations and habitat descriptions of out native woody grass, the Giant Cane, (Arundinaria gigantea).

The Giant Cane was observed in several different habitats and plant communities at the locations listed below. The optimum growing conditions occurred in well-drained, rich alluvial soils along the river valleys where the tree species in the canopy consisted of silver maple, box-elder, American sycamore, and river birch. The height of the plant reached nearly 15 feet in the best growing conditions. Normally in southern West Virginia, a railroad right-of-way exists at these same areas and it is probable the activities associated with right-of-way maintenance, such as, cutting, spraying, etc. may actually enhance the spread of the plant. At two locations in the Tug Valley, the cane populations were observed growing next to the railroad and spreading by underground stolons into the rock ballast.

Cane was observed growing high on a dry road bank with a southwest facing aspect, among established white oak trees. Growth competition from other plant species at this site had been eliminated by frequent forest fire events. The plants growing under these poorer conditions only reached heights of 2-3 feet.

The plant was also noted in two locations growing on a rock outcropping near a road cut and a power line right-of-way. Once again competition had been eliminated by these associated manmade activities.

Arundinaria can be easily confused with two introduced species of woody grasses that are also present in West Virginia. The Golden Bamboo (Phyllostachys aureosulcata) and the

Black Bamboo (Phyllostachys nigra) are becoming increasingly common in WV and should be considered invasive in nature. Both genera produce woody culms or stems that persist through the winter months and are highly visible at that season. In appearance, the foliage of Phyllostachys is brighter green, self-pruned, and reaches a greater height than Arundinaria. Arundinaria tends to have olive-colored foliage, is shorter in height at maturity, and commonly has a bushy appearance with persistent dead growth.

Phyllostachys normally has paired woody branches that arise from each node in an alternate fashion on the culms, where Arundinaria will have multiple branches from each node, thus giving it the characteristic bushy appearance. The culms of both genera are rounded, but Phyllostachys has a flattened section on one side of the stem between each of the nodes.

Giant Cane was recorded in the following locations and is listed by each county below:

*Near the former location of the community of Reed, off of Campbells Creek Drive

beside the entrance road to the Malden PSD Wastewater Treatment Plant. The

densest growth habit was noted at this site and it may be the most northern location

location for the plant in WV.

*Near Cane Fork Road, along Davis Creek (Kanawha State Forest Drive) at the

community of Loudendale. First observed by Douglas McClure Wood.

*Near Pecks Mill, off of Route 10 along the Guyandotte River and the N&S Railroad

right-of-way. First noted by Douglas McClure Wood. This is the most extensive stand noted in this listing.

*One half mile south of Caney Branch Drive near Chapmanville, adjacent to Corridor G

(US 119). The plant is located on the road cut for US 119.

*Near the community of N0. 9, along Route 17, near Sharples, ½ mile from US Post

Office

*Near the intersection of Routes 65 and 52, at a residence in Delbarton.

*On a road bank between Blackberry City and Thacker off of Route 47, 3 miles south of

Matewan.

*Along N&S Railroad main line access road on the banks of the Tug River downstream

from the Glen Alum Railroad Tunnel.

*Between the communities of Devon and Glen Alum, ¼ mile from Glen Alum Junction,

along the N&S mainline.

*1/4 mile downstream from the community of Wharncliffe along the Tug Fork River,

near the Glen Alum Railroad Tunnel. First observed by Kevin L. Campbell.

*Near the former community of Tripp, along the Tug Fork River off of County Route

29/9.

The Giant Cane populations at the above listings are remnants of former "canebrakes" that occurred in southern West Virginia at one time. These plant communities must have been extensive in size, covering several acres, like those to the south of West Virginia, in

Kentucky and Tennessee. As stated, the plant as we know it today, occurred in areas with less vegetative competition and appeared to be pushed to the edge of its existence. The stands of cane could only be measured in square feet and only two were larger than an acre in size. In summary, it can be said that, Arundinaria gigantea is hanging on and is as rough and tough as the surrounding topography.

For those who are computer literate, or geeks, or just want the news faster, send your E-mail address to Lynn Wagner at lwagner@intrepid.net Lynn is putting together an e-mail group for WV NPS members. It will allow us to communicate very quickly to respond to various issues, share information on field trips, seminars, and meetings, and eventually can be our newsletter media.

Newsletters are invaluable. Our intent is to send a printed newsletter to members who prefer the printed word. For those who want an electronic copy via the E-mail, it can save natural resources and postage. The choice is yours.

IF you prefer your newsletter on a trial basis by E-mail you need to send your E-mail address to lwagner@intrepid.net You will still receive a printed copy of the newsletter, until we see how the e-mail works.

**Green dragon (Arisaema dracontium) and Wild Hyacinth (Camassia scilloides) observed at the mouth of 8 Mile Creek, near Ambrosia, Mason County, April 25, 2002.

Crossvine (Bignonia capreolata) observed on the Tug Fork River at Devon, Mingo County, May 2, 2002.

Crested Coralroot (Hexalectris spicata) found in mid-July in heavily burned woods near Forks of Hurricane, in Wayne County. The plants were also observed and photographed by Doug Jolley, Clete Smith, Scott Shriver, and Bill Grafton on July 20, 2002.

Bentley’s Coralroot (Corallorhiza bentleyi) 16 plants found near Thornwood, Pocahontas County on July 23, 2002. This is the second county in West Virginia.

Small Whorled Pogonia (Isotria medeoloides) found by Rodney Bartgis on private property east of Maxwellton, Greenbrier County. This was the second location for West Virginia. The 2 plants at the Cole Mountain site have either died or gone dormant. Rodney provided information for Clete Smith, Scott Shriver and Bill Grafton to see the single plant and search for others. However, the search for Small Whorled Pogonia was in vain but the area also contains Showy Orchis, Small Green Wood Orchid, Large Round-leaved Orchid, Large Twayblade, Large Whorled Pogonia, and Botrychium lanceolatum (a rare fern).