UW-Stevens Point Freckmann Herbarium: News and Events

NEWS:

May 1, 2012: Spring 2012 Central Wisconsin Plant Flowering Dates (through April 30^th): Averaged 14 Days Ahead of Pre-2010 Records

Emmet Judziewicz, Associate, Professor of Biology and Robert Freckmann, Emeritus Professor of Biology

Through April 30^th, Central Wisconsin (Marathon, Portage, and Woods Counties) native, weedy, and cultivated plant species have broken their record early flowering dates (most set in 2010) by an average of 8 days. In turn, 2010 records beat all 1973-2009 records 8 days. 2012 records have beaten all records previous to 2010 by an average of 14.2 days. (Spring 2012 Stevens Point phenology list (PDF)).

Over the 37 year period from 1973-2009, a total of 15 species had flowering records before April 1^st in the Stevens Point area, and 86 species before May 1st.

In 2010 alone, 24 species flowered before April 1^st, and 121 species before May 1^st.

And in 2012, 84 species flowered before April 1^st, and 252 species before May 1^st.

A total of 263 species are on this list; 112 are native to Central Wisconsin, while 151 are weedy or cultivated.

An important caveat: We admit to a data collection bias this year – we really searched for early-flowering garden records all over town, much more so than in earlier years.

1973-2009 observations were made by Bob Freckmann. 2010 and 2012 observations were made by Judziewicz (about 60%), Freckmann (ca. 20%), with the rest kindly contributed by these colleagues and students: Seth Barthen, Mary Bartkowiak, Alvin Bogdansky, Tracy Feldman, Diane Lueck, Carol Kropidlowski, Angie and Rich Hauer, Rhiannon Kohlmoss, Steve Krause, Noel Martell-Segura, Jeff Morin, and Ron Tschida.

We'd welcome any of your observations for additional early flowering species we have missed (flowering cut-off date: April 30^th).

APRIL 1, 2012: SPRING 2012 EARLY FLOWERING RECORDS

If 2010 was a 73 home run year with respect to record early flowering dates in the Stevens Point area, then so far 2012 has been a 90 homer year.
In March, Central Wisconsin (Marathon, Portage, and Woods Counties) native and cultivated plant species have broken their record early flowering dates (most set in 2010) by an average of 8 days. In turn, 2010 records beat all 1973-2009 records by 8 days.

So, 2012 records have beaten all records previous to 2010 by an average of 16 days. We don’t have enough Stevens Point area data on every species for each of the last 40 years to say how much earlier 2012 blooming dates are compared with the averages of the previous 40 years. But… based on my field experience (intuition if you wish) I believe that plants are flowering about one month earlier than the long term average. Look out the window; it’s more like a “typical” May 1st than an April 1st.

Another striking way to look at the data:
Over the 37 year period from 1973-2009, a total of 16 species flowered before April 1st in the Stevens Point area. In 2010 alone, 28 species flowered before April 1st in the area. And this year, a whopping 82 species flowered before April 1st.

The attached list (pdf) includes native species that are cultivated in gardens. It is not comprehensive; for example, we missed flowering dates for some common plants like red maple and cottonwood including this year
1973-2009 observations were made by Bob Freckmann.
2010 and 2012 observations were made by Judziewicz (about 70%), Freckmann (ca. 15%), with the rest kindly contributed by these folks:
Seth Barthen, Mary Bartkowiak, Alvin Bogdansky, Tracy Feldman, Rich Hauer, Rhiannon Kohlmoss, Steve Krause, Noel Martell-Segura, and Ron Tschida.

OCT 2011: Aquatic Plants of the Upper Midwest, A new and expanded version of the popular guide Aquatic Plants of Wisconsin. By Paul M. Skawinski.

Aquatic Plants of the Upper Midwest is a full-color, photographic field guide to the aquatic plants of Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan. As an expanded version of the popular guide Aquatic Plants of Wisconsin, this book easily and effectively teaches readers how to identify 131 species, with over 350 color photos and easy-to-understand descriptions.
This guide is designed to be comprehensive and user-friendly for professionals and casual users alike. Magnified inset photos and detailed descriptions make identification as easy and enjoyable as a day on the water. Handy appendices include botanical keys and much more.

In addition to more photos, more species coverage, and a broader area of coverage, Aquatic Plants of the Upper Midwest contains more extensive descriptions, and an introductory section on aquatic plant ecology. Additional appendices have also been added, including a table of “Coefficient of Conservatism” values for each state. These tables give the reader an idea of the quality of habitat in which each plant is typically found. A botanical key to the pondweeds (Potamogeton, Stuckenia, and Zosterella) has been added, and the key to watermilfoils (Myriophyllum) has been revised and updated to include low watermilfoil (Myriophyllum humile). For those who press aquatic plants to submit to herbarium collections, an appendix of author citations is also included.
196pp, published September 2011.

Review by Emmet Judziewicz, UWSP
"This book is an essential botanical reference for anyone interested in Midwestern plants; it is absolutely essential for anyone interested in the identification of aquatic macrophytes, far exceeding in clarity of presentation and photography any published North American aquatic plant guide.
The full-color, high-resolution photos by Paul are superb and show all of the diagnostic characters needed to name these difficult-to-identify plants, for example the pondweeds (pages 56-77) and bladderworts (pages 42-49).
Aquatic Plants of the Upper Midwest is an excellent elaboration of the earlier edition. I particularly like the ring binding and (by popular demand) the key to Potamogeton and related genera.”

Review by Ryan P. O'Connor, Botanist, Wisconsin Natural Heritage Inventory, Department of Natural Resources

Never before has such a comprehensive photographic field guide to aquatic plants been available: covering 131 species and containing over 350 high-quality pictures taken by the author, this book is the definitive photographic guide to the often daunting world of aquatic plants. Paul Skawinski's self-published Aquatic Plants of the Upper Midwest is an excellent resource for botanists, water resource managers, citizen scientists, and anyone with an interest in submerged and floating aquatic plants.

Although covering Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan, it will be applicable to a much wider audience including neighboring states and Canadian provinces. Notable is the inclusion of every species found in the region including very rare and recently discovered invasive species often left out of non-technical manuals.

Designed to be useful for experienced professionals and beginners alike, species are organized by leaf shape to facilitate identification of unknowns, then broken down by genus. Each species is covered by a clearly written description accompanied by a large full-color photograph with smaller insets of diagnostic characters, including close-ups of fruit, flowers, and leaves. Invasive species and listing status for rare species in each of the three states are also noted. Though distribution maps are not included, the range of each species is noted by broad geographic region.

Professionals will appreciate the technical dichotomous keys included in the appendices for four major genera including Myriophyllum, Sparganium, Utricularia, and Potamogeton (with close relatives Stuckenia and Zosterella). Also included are the Coefficient of Conservatism (C) values for each species by state, which indicate a species' affinity for high-quality undisturbed habitat.

Designed as a field manual with the user in mind, the book is spiral bound with water-resistant (though not water-proof) paper for functionality and durability. It should be a staple for anyone working with aquatic plants in the Upper Midwest, professional and casual user alike.

Paul Skawinski is the Regional Aquatic Invasive Species Education Specialist for Wood, Portage, Marathon, Waupaca, and Waushara Counties.

Available from the author lakeplants@yahoo.com for $32.00 + $4.00 S&H.
Paul Skawinski
PO Box 1021
Stevens Point, WI 54481

The book is also be available through the UW-Extension Lakes website.
http://www.uwsp.edu/cnr/uwexlakes/publications/

SEPT 2010: AQUATIC PLANTS OF WISCONSIN, A photographic field guide to submerged and floating-leaf aquatic plants. By Paul M. Skawinski.

This is a full-color, photographic guide to Wisconsin's true aquatic plants, highlighting 120 species. This guide is designed to be comprehensive and user-friendly for professionals and casual users alike. Species accounts include detailed descriptions, sharp photos, and many magnified inset photos, with special attention to important characteristics that simplify identification.

280 beautiful photographs showcase the incredible diversity of Wisconsin's aquatic flora. Easy to use and understand, this book is a must-have reference for fishermen, boaters, and biologists.

150 pages with 280 color photographs by the author.

Review by Emmet Judziewicz, UWSP

This book is an essential botanical reference for anyone interested in Midwestern plants; it is absolutely essential for anyone interested in the identification of aquatic macrophytes, far exceeding in clarity of presentation and photography any published North American aquatic plant guide.

The full color, high resolution photos by Paul are superb and show all of the diagnostic characters needed to name these difficult-to-identify plants, for example the pondweeds (pages 50-71 ) and bladderworts (pages 38-43).

I had the great good fortune to have Paul in my UWSP aquatic macrophytes class in 2009 and he was amazing. He was clearly more knowledgeable about these plants than his professor, but wore his learning lightly and functioned as a super-TA to my other students.

Paul tells me that 750 copies of this guide have been printed. I’ve picked up two and advice others to buy while they can. This book is an instant classic and will be quickly snapped up.

Paul Skawinski is the Regional Aquatic Invasive Species Education Specialist and Aquatic Invasive Species Coordinator for Wood, Portage, Waushara, Marathon Counties and is employed by Golden Sands RC&D Council, Inc.

Available from the author lakeplants@yahoo.com for $30.00 + $4.00 S&H.
Paul Skawinski
PO Box 1021
Stevens Point, WI 54481

The book will also be available around the end of the month through the Wisconsin Association of Lakes website and UW-Extension Lakes website.
http://www.wisconsinlakes.org/books.htm
http://www.uwsp.edu/cnr/uwexlakes/publications/

2010: EARLY SPRING IN CENTRAL WISCONSIN: Complete list of early blooming times by date from January 2010 - May 1, 2010

Bob Freckmann and Emmet Judziewicz

Sample records by number of days

54 Taraxacum officinale
47 Medicago lupulina
29 Berteroa incana
25 Geum triflorum
24 Capsella bursa-pastoris
24 Veronica arvensis
17 Dirca palustris
16 Anemone acutiloba
16 Antennaria neglecta
15 Scilla siberica
14 Carex plantaginea
14 Chamaedaphne calyculata
14  Viola sororia
11 Sanguinaria canadensis
9    Ranunculus rhomboideus
8    Acer saccharinum
8    Erodium cicutarium
8    Acer negundo
8    Glechoma hederacea
4    Crocus sp.
4    Populus tremuloides
4    Salix discolor
3    Forsythia sp.
3    Anemone patens

Past News: 2003-2009

EVENTS: (links open new window)

North Woods Native Plant Society

The North Woods Native Plant Society is a group of professional and amateur botanists interested in learning about and protecting the native plants and plant communities of the western U.P. and northern WI. We schedule free botany hikes to special places during the summer. To see the schedule and to sign up for email reminders, visit our website at www.northwoodsnativeplantsociety.org--
Sherry Zoars
North Woods Native Plant Society

Botanical Club of Wisconsin

Wisconsin Wetland Assoc.

Prairie Enthusiasts

Blue Mounds Area Project

The Nature Conservancy