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White Wood-Sorrel
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COLUMBUS, OH -- Two species of native wild plants not seen in the state in more than 20 years have been identified by botanists working in partnership with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR). Investigation continues on a possible third rare plant discovery.
These rare and unusual plant findings are encouraging to biologists because they mean the habitats necessary for those plants to thrive still exist in Ohio, said Stu Lewis, chief of the ODNR Division of Natural Areas & Preserves, which maintains an official list of Ohio's rare and endangered plants.
So far this spring, botanists have found white wood-sorrel growing in Belmont County and long-flowered alumroot in Adams County.
We're off to a good start this year in recording rare and unusual plant finds, said ODNR Botanist Jim McCormac.
White wood-sorrel, last spotted statewide in 1979 in Ashtabula County, has not been recorded in Belmont County since 1915! "Tens of thousands" of these small flowered plants were found growing in a hemlock gorge in Belmont County early this spring. The Appalachian Mountain plant thrives in cool, dark forested areas, stands 2 to 4 inches high, and displays a delicate pale pink bloom. Muskingum College student Jason Larson reported the find to ODNR.
Ohio's last known sighting of long-flowered alumroot was in 1954 in floristically diverse Adams County by famed botanist Lucy Braun. Long-flowered alumroot is very showy with a rosette of large round leaves at its base, from which a 12-inch stem capped with pink flowers emerges. Amateur botanist Barb Lund made the current discovery near Lynx in Adams County.
ODNR botanists are continuing to study a stand of sweetshrub at a private residence in Scioto County. The last recording of sweetshrub in Ohio occurred in 1934 in Meigs County. This spring's find may be native or an out-of-state transplant, McCormac said. Jenny Richards, a naturalist at Shawnee State Park in Scioto County, alerted ODNR to the find.
Another important botanical "find" occurred this spring when ODNR botanist Rick Gardner found early coral-root growing in Summit County. Early coral-root, a parasitic orchid lacking chlorophyll, is on Ohio's endangered species list. It was previously known to grow only in nearby Ashtabula County.
For Further Information Contact:
Jane Beathard, ODNR Media Relations
(614) 265-6860
-or-
Jim McCormac, ODNR Division of Natural Areas & Preserves
(614) 265-6440