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<br />FINAL Saddle Club Rare Plant Survey 8 -20 -13
<br />and Acer saccharinum. Within all woodlands, fern diversity was high and included Athyrium filix femina,
<br />Thelypteris palustris, Osmunda claytoniana, Osmunda regalis, Onoclea sensibilis. Other species in the
<br />woodlands included Carex pennsylvanica, Amphicarpaea bracteata, Eurybia macrophylla, Arisaema
<br />triphyllum, Scuttelaria spp., Desmodium glutinosum, Quercus rubra, Galium spp., Corylus americana, and
<br />Geranium maculatum (Map 4, point 10, 19, 20, 25). Woodlands on the western half of the site had a
<br />higher density of common buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica) than on the eastern half of the site;
<br />however, the buckthorn occurs in patches (Map 4, point 5, 27). Other areas are dominated by native
<br />species in all strata (Map 4, point 11, 28).
<br />The old fields in the center of the site and in the northeastern corner (Map 4, points 3, 4, 9, 12) are
<br />comprised of non - native pasture species and ruderal native species, including Rumex acetosella, Bromus
<br />inermis, Trifolium pretense, Phleum pretense, Ambrosia artemisiifolia, Poa pratensis, Silene spp.,
<br />Asclepias syriaca, Elytrigia repens, and Achillea millefolium, Oenothera biennis, Verbascum thapsus, and
<br />Linaria vulgaris. The old field also contains a small population of Lespedeza capitata (Map 4, point 12).
<br />The cover of vegetation is fairly low as there is a lot of bare/ open soil.
<br />One species of orchid was observed near the eastern boundary of the site (Map 4, point 13). This
<br />species was identified as ragged fringed orchid (Platanthera lacera), and only two individuals were
<br />observed. Orchids are typically indicators of high quality habitat that may provide habitat for other rare
<br />species; however, no other rare species were observed within the vicinity of the ragged fringed orchids.
<br />Other plant species surrounding the orchids included Galium spp., Impatiens pallida, Cornus spp.,
<br />Onoclea sensibilis, Athyrium filix femina, Thalictrum dasycarpum, Geranium maculatum, and Rubus spp.
<br />Rubus species at the site were very abundant and diverse, especially within the meadows and ecotones
<br />between meadows and woodlands on the eastern half of the site. None of the species that were
<br />observed were identified as a rare species listed above. Seasonal timing of the site survey provided a
<br />challenge for identifying Rubus spp. because flowers were not present. Several additional Rubus species
<br />are proposed for state - listing, including Rubus semisetosus, Rubus missouricus, Rubus multifer, and
<br />Rubus fulleri. The site provides suitable habitat for all these species which are associated with wet
<br />meadows, ecotones, or oak -aspen woodlands on the Anoka Sand Plain.
<br />Summary
<br />No rare species were observed during the July site visit; however, the site contains high quality plant
<br />communities that could provide habitat for rare species that are currently listed or are proposed for
<br />state listing. The eastern half of the site is generally in better condition than the western half of the site.
<br />The western side of the site contains a higher density of invasive species, especially common buckthorn
<br />in the woodlands.
<br />Sources
<br />Gleason, H. A. and A. Cronquist. 1991. Manual of the Vascular Plants of Northeastern United States and
<br />Adjacent Canada. 2nd ed. New York Botanical Garden, New York.
<br />Husveth, J. Ecological Surveys of Rare Plants and Plant Communities in Eastern Anoka County,
<br />Minnesota. Critical Connections, Inc. January 13, 2003
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