Erythronium propullans
Encyclopedia
Erythronium propullans (Minnesota dwarf trout lily, Minnesota adder's tongue, Minnesota fawnlily) is a rare plant endemic to the Cannon River and North Fork Zumbro River
watersheds in Rice County
, Goodhue County and the extreme northern edge of Steele County
, Minnesota
, in the United States. The plants are believed to be a mutation or sport of the white trout lily (Erythronium albidum
) and evolved following the most recent ice age
.
The plants flower in the spring at the same time as Hepatica
s, Dutchman's breeches, Bloodroot
, and other spring wildflower
s. Nerstrand-Big Woods State Park
, River Bend Nature Center
, and several tracts owned by The Nature Conservancy
protect portions of its habitat.
, Minnesota
, and then formally listed as a new species by botanist Asa Gray in 1871.
, thus limiting population growth and spread of the species.
s and ridges where it currently exists, trampling and recreational use impacts, as well as habitat changes brought on by invasive species
such as common Buckthorn
(Rhamnus cathartica
).
Zumbro River
The Zumbro River is a tributary of the Mississippi River in the Driftless Area of southeastern Minnesota in the United States. It is about 50 mi long from the confluence of its principal tributaries and drains a watershed of 1,428 sq mi...
watersheds in Rice County
Rice County, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 56,665 people, 18,888 households, and 13,353 families residing in the county. The population density was 114 people per square mile . There were 20,061 housing units at an average density of 40 per square mile...
, Goodhue County and the extreme northern edge of Steele County
Steele County, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 33,680 people, 12,846 households, and 9,082 families residing in the county. The population density was 78 people per square mile . There were 13,306 housing units at an average density of 31 per square mile...
, Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
, in the United States. The plants are believed to be a mutation or sport of the white trout lily (Erythronium albidum
Erythronium albidum
Erythronium albidum is a small herbaceous flowering plant in the Liliaceae, native to eastern North America, from southern Quebec and southern Manitoba south to Georgia and Texas....
) and evolved following the most recent ice age
Ice age
An ice age or, more precisely, glacial age, is a generic geological period of long-term reduction in the temperature of the Earth's surface and atmosphere, resulting in the presence or expansion of continental ice sheets, polar ice sheets and alpine glaciers...
.
The plants flower in the spring at the same time as Hepatica
Hepatica
Hepatica is a genus of herbaceous perennials in the buttercup family, native to central and northern Europe, Asia and eastern North America...
s, Dutchman's breeches, Bloodroot
Bloodroot
Bloodroot is a perennial, herbaceous flowering plant native to eastern North America from Nova Scotia, Canada southward to Florida, United States...
, and other spring wildflower
Wildflower
A wildflower is a flower that grows wild, meaning it was not intentionally seeded or planted. Yet "wildflower" meadows of a few mixed species are sold in seed packets. The term "wildflower" has been made vague by commercial seedsmen who are interested in selling more flowers or seeds more...
s. Nerstrand-Big Woods State Park
Nerstrand-Big Woods State Park
Nerstrand-Big Woods State Park is a state park of Minnesota, USA, northeast of Faribault near the small town of Nerstrand. The park derives its name from the Big Woods, a large, contiguous forested area covering much of central Minnesota prior to the arrival of European settlers...
, River Bend Nature Center
River Bend Nature Center
River Bend Nature Center is a non-profit day-use nature center in the city of Faribault, Minnesota. It was established in the late 1970s as a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to helping people discover, enjoy, understand and preserve the natural world. The nature center encompasses ...
, and several tracts owned by The Nature Conservancy
The Nature Conservancy
The Nature Conservancy is a US charitable environmental organization that works to preserve the plants, animals, and natural communities that represent the diversity of life on Earth by protecting the lands and waters they need to survive....
protect portions of its habitat.
Discovery
The lily was first noted by Mary Hodges, a high school science instructor at St. Mary's School (now Shattuck-St. Mary's) in FaribaultFaribault, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 20,818 people, 7,472 households, and 4,946 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,644.8 people per square mile . There were 7,668 housing units at an average density of 605.8 per square mile...
, Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
, and then formally listed as a new species by botanist Asa Gray in 1871.
Reproduction
Research suggests that E. propullans rarely reproduces from seed on its own, but is highly dependent on vegetative reproduction, or limited cross pollination with Erythronium albidumErythronium albidum
Erythronium albidum is a small herbaceous flowering plant in the Liliaceae, native to eastern North America, from southern Quebec and southern Manitoba south to Georgia and Texas....
, thus limiting population growth and spread of the species.
Threats
Due to the very limited historical and current distribution of E. propullans, the primary threats include development and flooding along the floodplainFloodplain
A floodplain, or flood plain, is a flat or nearly flat land adjacent a stream or river that stretches from the banks of its channel to the base of the enclosing valley walls and experiences flooding during periods of high discharge...
s and ridges where it currently exists, trampling and recreational use impacts, as well as habitat changes brought on by invasive species
Invasive species
"Invasive species", or invasive exotics, is a nomenclature term and categorization phrase used for flora and fauna, and for specific restoration-preservation processes in native habitats, with several definitions....
such as common Buckthorn
Buckthorn
The Buckthorns are a genus of about 100 species of shrubs or small trees from 1-10 m tall , in the buckthorn family Rhamnaceae...
(Rhamnus cathartica
Rhamnus cathartica
Rhamnus cathartica , is a species in the family Rhamnaceae, native to Europe, northwest Africa, and western Asia, from the central British Isles south to Morocco, and east to Kyrgyzstan...
).
External links
- Trout Lily Preserve by The Nature ConservancyThe Nature ConservancyThe Nature Conservancy is a US charitable environmental organization that works to preserve the plants, animals, and natural communities that represent the diversity of life on Earth by protecting the lands and waters they need to survive....
- Dwarf Trout Lily by USFWS
- E. propullans. Flora of North America.
- Plant Profile by Center for Plant Conservation
- Spring Wildflowers by River Bend Nature CenterRiver Bend Nature CenterRiver Bend Nature Center is a non-profit day-use nature center in the city of Faribault, Minnesota. It was established in the late 1970s as a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to helping people discover, enjoy, understand and preserve the natural world. The nature center encompasses ...