Oklahoma Native Plant Record

Gloria Caddell — 2024-10-03

Front Matter

Gloria Caddell — 2024-10-03

Foreward

Gloria Caddell — 2024-10-03

A Floristic Inventory of the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation’s Lexington Wildlife Management Area, Cleveland County, Oklahoma

Amy K. Buthod — 2024-10-03

This paper reports the results of a vascular plant inventory at the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation’s Lexington Wildlife Management Area in Cleveland County, Oklahoma. Five hundred and six specific and infraspecific taxa in 90 families were collected. Two-hundred and ninety-six genera, 487 species, and 19 infraspecific taxa were identified. The largest families were the Poaceae with 86 taxa and the Asteraceae with 82 taxa. Sixty-eight taxa were non-native to the U.S. (13.4 % of the flora). Four species tracked by the Oklahoma Natural Heritage Inventory were found.

Assessment of Oklahoma Phlox (Phlox oklahomensis: Polemoniaceae) in the Gypsum Hills of Northwestern Oklahoma and Southern Kansas

Tim L. Springer — 2024-10-03

Phlox oklahomensis Wherry, Oklahoma phlox, occurs within the tall grass prairie of the southern Flint Hills of Kansas, and other populations occur within the southern mixed grass prairie of the Gypsum Hills of northwestern Oklahoma and southern Kansas. The first census of Oklahoma phlox in northwestern Oklahoma and southern Kansas was conducted over a three-year period (1980-1982). The second and third censuses occurred approximately 20 years after the first census, in 2002 and 2003. Since the 1980s two major wildfires and several droughts have occurred throughout its distribution range. The goals of this research were to compare the 1980-1982 census and the 2002 and 2003 censuses of Oklahoma phlox to censuses conducted in 2020 and 2021 and assess the current status of the species. In addition, we used a geographic information system (GIS) to identify factors that influence the likelihood of finding Oklahoma phlox in the region. The final census found that the occurrence of Oklahoma phlox has not changed significantly over the last 40 years. Populations thrive in areas where the fire interval is >5 years, and it commonly occurs on the upper elevations of the landscape on hilltops and/or ridges where the slope is > 7%. Although plants were observed on all landscape exposures, populations occur more frequently on west and northwest facing slopes. The authors recommend an S3 ranking for Oklahoma phlox.

Analysis of a Plant’s Response to Climate Change Factors Through the Use of Herbarium Records: Collinsia violacea Nutt. (Plantaginaceae)

Lynn Nguyen — 2024-10-03

Climate change has resulted in various changes to the phenology of species, and some of these changes have been documented through the use of herbarium specimens. Understanding how plants react to changes in the environment can give scientists insight into how plants have been responding and will respond to the continuing consequences of climate change as well as how to approach biodiversity conservation. In this study, herbarium records of Collinsia violacea Nutt. ranging from 1895 to 2014 were utilized to show the trends of the first and peak flowering dates with regard to various geographic and climatic variables using regression analysis. The results from simple linear regression analyses showed a trend of the flowering times for first and peak flowering dates occurring earlier over the years; however, the relationship was not significant. The multiple linear regression full model for first flowering indicated increases in latitude, longitude, and mean monthly temperatures were associated with delayed flowering while increases in monthly minimum and maximum temperatures were associated with earlier flowering. The full model for peak flowering showed that peak flowering was delayed with increases in latitude, longitude, and maximum monthly temperature. The reduced models, with highly correlated variables removed, indicated significant delays in first flowering and peak flowering with increases in latitude, longitude, and mean monthly temperature, but no significant relationship between monthly precipitation and flowering time. Further research is needed to fully understand the implications of these changes.

Post-Burn, Post-Flood Effects In A Degraded Grassland, Lake Texoma, Bryan County, Oklahoma

Erica A. Corbett — 2024-10-03

Plant communities change over time, sometimes leading to an increase or decrease in biological diversity. Often, absence of active management of a site leads to its degradation including loss of native species and invasion by non-native weeds. Lake Texoma, Texas and Oklahoma, represents an area where extensive landscape change has happened over the course of almost a century. The Denison Dam was completed in 1938, forming the lake, which over time has altered conditions in the forested and formerly-grazed locations surrounding it. The location studied in this paper is a 186-ha tract of land situated between Johnson Creek and the Roosevelt Bridge in Bryan County, Oklahoma. In summer 2000, a species list was compiled for a grassland located at the lake site as part of a larger study. This grassland comprised ~10% of the total site area. Following two major floods and an extended drought, the site was resampled in 2018. Results indicated it had suffered a serious decline in species richness and an increase in abundance of invasive or encroaching species. Species richness was reduced by approximately 50% between 2000 and 2018. Fewer transects were sampled in 2018 because of woody encroachment on the original site. In spring 2021, following an extensive prescribed burn, the site was resampled to see if burning led to any reduction in undesirable species. The most frequent species in 2000 included Panicum philadelphicum, Lespedeza virginica, Rudbeckia hirta and Ambrosia psilostachya and in 2018 they were Lespedeza cuneata, Ambrosia psilostachya, and Dichanthelium oligosanthes. It is possible that the invasive Lespedeza cuneata (sericea lespedeza) spread after a 2007 flood because of some combination of reduced competition and transport of seed in floodwater. In 2021, the most frequent species were the same as in 2018, showing little effect of the burn. However, the Shannon diversity and evenness in both early and late summer sampling periods after the burn were higher than those for the 2018 data, suggesting that the burn may have had some effect. To attempt to restore the site to more “native” conditions would probably require some combination of regular burning, flash grazing, and possibly herbicide use. Once sericea lespedeza establishes, it is very difficult to eradicate from a location.

Note: Pawnee Native Sumac/Tobacco Resurgence

C.R. "Randy" Ledford — 2024-10-03

Research of historical tobacco changes and continuation in current practices has led to recommendations after thoughtful consideration by the Pawnee Nation Agricultural Committee and the Chiefs' Council. Preparation of a native tobacco mixture taught to the author by Boy Chief is explained. Traditionalists recently allowed the use of a native tobacco/native smooth sumac mixture in tribal ceremonies. Because native tobacco is additive-free and has a lower nicotine content, this mixture is considered healthier than commercially marketed tobacco for use in ceremonies.

Five Year Index to Oklahoma Native Plant Record

Gloria Caddell — 2024-10-03