ELEMENT STEWARDSHIP ABSTRACT FOR BREWERIA PICKERINGII VAR. CAESARIENSIS November 29, 1990 Stewardship Abstract No.: 003 By Alfred E. Schuyler For: State of New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and Energy Division of Parks and Forestry Office of Natural Lands Management CN 404 Trenton, New Jersey 08625 Element Stewardship Abstract Element Stewardship Abstracts (ESA's) are prepared to provide land managers and other conservation workers with current biological and management related information on those species and natural ecosystems that are most important to protect or for which control is most needed. The abstracts organize and summarize data from numerous sources, including the literature and from researchers and managers actively working with the species or ecosystem. The ESA format was originally developed by The Nature Conservancy as a starting point for the stewardship of the many species and ecosystems, or elements, protected by the Conservancy. The New Jersey Office of Natural Lands Management is developing ESA's for those elements that are of particular importance as components of the biota of the state. This includes globally rare plant species that are also listed on New Jersey's official Endangered Plant Species List. The ESA serves several important functions. It helps to identify information gaps and target future research efforts. It provides a standard format for highlighting specific information about a species or community including its management needs. It also allows information to be readily communicated among various preserves, state offices, regional centers, natural heritage programs and private organizations. The ESA is a dynamic document that is continuously updated as new information becomes available. Users are encouraged to contribute their information to the abstract. This sharing of information will benefit all land managers by ensuring the availability of up-to-date information on management techniques and knowledgeable contacts. Please contact the Office of Natural Lands Management for an ESA publication list. It will contain the date of the latest revision to each ESA. Please refer to the abstract number when ordering ESA's. The abstract is a compilation of available information and is not an endorsement of particular practices or products. Element Name: BREWERIA PICKERINGII var. CAESARIENSIS Fern. and Schub. (Convolvulaceae) Element Code: PDCONOKO11 Preparer: Alfred E. Schuyler Common Name: Pickering's Morning-Glory Description: Habit: prostrate perennial herb. Stem: freely branching, with minute tawny pubescence up to 2 m long. Leaves alternate, linear to narrowly elliptic, up to 7 cm long, sessile or nearly so, gradually tapering to base, apex acute or obtuse, surface slightly to moderately pubescent, veins obscure except for midrib. Inflorescence: terminal and axillary cymes with 1-5 flowers, peduncles up to 7 cm long, pedicels up to 1.5 cm long, subtended by leaf-like bracts. Flowers: all pedicellate. Sepals 5, ovate, up to 6 mm long, densely pubescent, apex blunt. Petals, 5 white, up to 1.8 cm long, fused to form campanulate or funnelform corolla. Stamens 5, filaments usually glabrous. Ovary densely pubescent, 2 style branches slightly unequal, up to 3 mm long. Fruits: pubescent ovate or elliptic thin-walled capsules with 1 or 2 seeds, subtended by persistent sepals. Chromosomes: Lewis, Stripling, and Ross (1962) reported n=14 and 2n=28 for plants of B. pickeringii from Texas. They observed univalents and trivalents in some pollen mother cells. Infraspecific Variation: Fernald and Schubert (1949) recognized four varieties of B. pickeringii: 1) var. caesariensis from New Jersey; 2) var. angustifolia from North Carolina; 3) var. cuthbertii from Georgia; and 4) var. pattersonii from Illinois, Oklahoma, and Texas. Variety angustifolia was contrasted from var. caesariensis by having the central flower of the inflorescence sessile instead of pedicelled. Variety cuthbertii was contrasted by having acuminate instead of blunt sepals and var. pattersonii was contrasted by having grayish pubescence, more acute sepals, and shorter style branches very rarely up to 1.5 mm long. Myint (1966) did not differentiate the three eastern varieties which he stated were a "continuous spectrum of very slight differences." He recognized two varieties based on lengths of style branches: 1) var. pickeringii with style branches 2-3 mm long from New Jersey, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama, and 2) var. pattersonii with style branches 1-1.5 mm long from Illinois, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. Distinctions from Related Species: In New Jersey, there are no other species which resemble B. pickeringii. In the southern United States, B. pickeringii can be distinguished from related species of Breweria by its shorter style branches (less than 5 mm) and longer floral bracts (more than 1 cm). Generic Status: Myint (1966) presents a strong argument for placing B. pickeringii in the genus Stylisma. Other authors (e.g., Shinners, 1962) place it in the genus Bonamia. Habitat: Breweria pickeringii var. caesariensis is endemic to the New Jersey Pine Barrens where it is known from 8 extant occurrences and 10 additional historical occurrences (NJNHP, 1989b). At most of the known localities there are numerous genets although approximately one-half of the statewide known occurrences are at a site where 156 genets were recorded (NJNHP, 1989a). It generally grows on dry open sand where it sometimes is associated with Hudsonia ericoides, Chrysopsis falcata, Polygonella articulata, and Triplasis purpurea (NJNHP, 1989a; Stasz, pers. comm., 1990). This is a pioneer habitat from the standpoint of plant succession. Some habitats have been modified by human disturbances and are in or along sand roads and trails, dikes of cranberry bogs, and abandoned railroad beds. Biology/Ecology: Breweria pickeringii var. caesariensis flowers from mid-July to late August. A high proportion of the plants at a given site are usually found in flower (Stasz, 1984) although the relative amount of asexual and sexual reproduction is not known. The plants produce abundant seeds, which can be observed in large numbers on sand around the plants when capsules dehisce (Olson, pers. comm., 1990). It appears that seed banks are formed and germination occurs after disturbances that adversely affect competitors. In New Jersey, Stasz (pers. comm., 1990) reports finding more seedlings following a drought year. In South Carolina, Rayner (pers. comm., 1990) reports finding plants along roadsides where seed banks have been exposed. It is likely that fire influences B. pickeringii. Hot water apparently enhances seed germination (Rayner, pers. comm., 1990) and the plants grow in Pine Barrens and Sandhills where fire is known to have considerable influence on the flora (Garren, 1943; Little, 1979). Studies (Hartnett and Richardson, 1989) on a related species, Bonamia grandiflora, that grows in a similar pioneer habitat, indicated that fire stimulates seed production and new genet recruitment as well as increasing clonal stem production and genet size. Fire also stimulates a significant and rapid turnover of the seed bank population in this species. Whether or not the same would occur in B. pickeringii remains to be determined. In one situation, fire apparently has had a negative impact on B. pickeringii. At Whitesbog, New Jersey, Ted Gordon (pers. comm., 1990) reports that a large portion of a population was eliminated by fire and there has been no replacement by seedlings. B. pickeringii is an early successional species with low shade tolerance (Gordon, pers. comm., 1990; Stasz, pers. comm., 1990). Although its habitat of dry open sand is not unusual in the Pine Barrens, its distribution is very restricted. Many sites appear to be suitable habitat, but the plants are not there (Gordon, pers. comm., 1990). Out of the 18 reported occurrences of B. pickeringii in New Jersey, at least 5 are believed to be destroyed (NJNHP, 1989b). Determination of Element Occurrence (EO) Quality: Most occurrences of B. pickeringii are in portions of the Pine Barrens where habitats are protected from severe degradation. Extant populations appear to be in good condition and producing abundant seeds. From the standpoint of the total statewide population, however, there are relatively few plants. Fewer than 500 were counted in 1984 (NJNHP, 1989b). Threats: Succession is a serious threat to existing stands of B. pickeringii as it is to any species that has low shade tolerance and grows on exposed sand. Damage by all-terrain-vehicles also is a threat although the occurrence of B. pickeringii in old sand roads indicates some disturbance is beneficial. Land Protection Specifications: Land protection should be directed toward preserving individual sites as well as adjacent areas with similar habitat. The possibility that seed banks are present where plants no longer occur has to be considered. If fire proves essential to maintaining necessary habitat conditions, a larger land area may be needed to provide a buffer to controlled burning. Recovery Potential: Recovery of B. pickeringii in a severely degraded habitat would be poor because it occurs in nutrient-poor conditions that would hinder growth. If the seed bank is not destroyed, however, recolonization by young plants might be rapid if the right conditions prevailed to enhance seed germination and seedling growth. Because of substantial population gaps, a seed source other than a seed bank would not be available. Biological Monitoring Needs: Population sizes, ages of individual plants, and kinds of competitors present should be monitored. We also need to know if plants are still present at some historic sites and if there are populations that have been overlooked. Biological Monitoring Procedures: Periodically (every one or two years) visit all sites and record population sizes, ages of individual plants, and kinds of competitors present. Conduct searches for plants at historic sites and other places where habitat conditions appear suitable. Biological Monitoring Programs: Continue to encourage competent field botanists to provide information such as that compiled by James Stasz. Research Needs: Research is needed on the influence of fire on sexual and asexual reproduction. The possible benefits of other disturbances to reproduction from seed banks need evaluation. Duration of seed viability and factors enhancing germination need investigation. Management Needs: To reverse the trend of habitat destruction and reduce the threat of succession, active management is needed to protect habitats and maintain them in an early successional stage. Management Procedures: Owners of all sites should be informed of the presence of B. pickeringii on their properties. At sites where succession is adversely affecting survival, the competitors should be eliminated. Summary of Stewardship Needs: Breweria pickeringii is a rare North American species with disjunct populations in New Jersey, the southeast, and the mid- west. In New Jersey, it is restricted to a few localities in the Pine Barrens where it is a pioneer species on dry exposed sand with few competitors. Some disturbances, including fire, probably are beneficial because they reduce the threat of succession. Although its range has become constricted by habitat destruction, most sites have high EO Quality in relatively well- protected parts of the Pine Barrens. Nutrient-poor habitats and substantial gaps among seed sources make recovery potential low although some seed bank disturbances might result in rapid recolonization by seedlings. Searches should be conducted at old and new sites and monitoring should record population sizes, ages of individual plants, and the kinds of competitors present. More research is needed on the influence of fire and other disturbances on sexual and asexual reproduction as well as on the duration of seed viability and factors enhancing germination. Management should focus on protecting sites from destruction and keeping habitats in an early successional stage. Bibliography for Breweria pickeringii var. caesariensis fern. and Schub.: Anonymous. 1912. Abstract of the Proceedings of the Philadelphia Botanical Club for 1911. Bartonia No. 14: 24-27. Bassett, G.W. 1912. Trials and Pleasures of the Collector. Bartonia No. 4: 11-13. Fernald, M.L. 1950. Gray's Manual of Botany. 8th ed. American Book Co., New York. lxiv + 1632 pp. Fernald, M.L. & B.G. Schubert. 1949. Some Identities in Breweria. Rhodora 51: 35-43. Fox, W.B., R.K. Godfrey & H.L. Blomquist. 1950. Notes on Distribution of North Carolina Plants-II. Rhodora 52: 253-271. Garren, K.H. 1943. Effects of Fire on Vegetation of the Southeastern United States. Bot. Rev. 9(9): 617-654. Gleason, H.A. 1952. The New Britton and Brown Illustrated Flora of the Northeastern United States and Adjacent Canada. The New York Botanical Garden, New York. 3 v. Gordon, T. 1990. Vincentown, NJ, personal communication. Hartnett, D.C. & D.R. Richardson. 1989. Population Biology of Bonamia grandiflora (Convolvulaceae): Effects of Fire on Plant and Seed Bank Dynamics. Amer. J. Bot. 76(3): 361-369. Lewis, W.H. 1971. Pollen Differences between Stylisma and Bonamia (Convolvulaceae). Brittonia 23(4): 331-334. Lewis, W.H., G.L. Stripling & R.G. Ross. 1962. Chromosome Numbers for Some Angiosperms of the Southern United States and Mexico. Rhodora 64: 147-161. Little, S. 1979. Fire and Plant Succession in the New Jersey Pine Barrens. Pages 297-314 {in} R.T.T. Forman, ed. Pine Barrens: Ecosystem and Landscape. Academic Press, New York. Myint, T. 1963. A Monographic Study of Stylisma and a Revision of North American Bonamia, North of Mexico. ASB Bull. 10(2): 34-35. Myint, T. 1966. Revision of the Genus Stylisma (Convolvulaceae). Brittonia 18(2): 97-117. Myint, T. & D.B. Ward. 1968. A Taxonomic Revision of the Genus Bonamia (Convolvulaceae). Phytologia 17(3): 121-239. NJNHP. 1989a. Element Occurrence Summaries. New Jersey Natural Heritage Program, Trenton. NJNHP. 1989b. State Ranking Forms. New Jersey Natural Heritage Program, Trenton. Olson, W.F. 1990. Najarian & Associates, Eatontown, NJ, personal communication. Radford, A.E., H.E. Ahles & C.R. Bell. 1968. Manual of the Vascular Flora of the Carolinas. The University of North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill. lxi + 1833 pp. Shinners, L.H. 1962. Synopsis of United States Bonamia, Including Breweria and Stylisma (Convolvulaceae). Castanea 27(2): 65-77. Snyder, D.B. 1990. New Jersey Natural Heritage Program, Trenton, personal communication. Stasz, J.L. 1984. Pickering's Morning Glory (Stylisma pickeringii) in New Jersey. Unpublished report, New Jersey Natural Heritage Program, Trenton. 3pp. Stasz, J.L. 1990. The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, Upper Marlboro, MD, personal communication. Waterfall, U.T. 1949. Some Results of a Summer's Botanizing in Oklahoma. Rhodora 51: 18-28. Wilson, K.A. 1960. The Genera of Convolvulaceae in the Southeastern United States. J. Arnold Arbor. 41: 298-317. Winterringer, G.S. 1954. Breweria pickeringii in Illinois. Rhodora 56: 274-275.