[NatureNS] Jack-in-the-pulpit

From: David & Alison Webster <dwebster@glinx.com>
To: NatureNS@chebucto.ns.ca
Date: Sun, 30 Jun 2013 01:03:47 -0300
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Original-Recipient: rfc822;"| (cd /csuite/info/Environment/FNSN/MList; /csuite/lib/arch2html)"

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Dear All,                                    June 30, 2013
    A year after I made a woods road in North Alton (about 1988) two plants 
of Jack-in-the-pulpit (Arisaema stewardsonii) appeared on disturbed soil 
generated by pick and shovel grading; the only 'stands' in these 70 acres 
that I have noticed. This rises the question of seed mobility. Do Squirrels 
or Mice dry and store these berries ?

    One survived only a few years and the second, helped perhaps by my 
cutting invading shrubs back, has gradually become well established.and in 
recent years has had several blossoms. This year it established a new 
record; 8 flowers earlier and 12 at last count (June 27); five now reduced 
to pale husks presumably over developing berries. So to really get a firm 
toehold it took 25 years.

    This plant is usually found only in seasonally swampy areas but this is 
I think only because the loose soil generated by frost action in soil over a 
shallow water table enables establishment of seedlings. The most vigorous 
plant I have encountered (1996), easily 1 metre tall, was on a steep slope 
of shifting soil produced when soil from a 101 highway cut was pushed over a 
slope during construction (west of exit 13; about 1970?).

Yt, Dave Webster, Kentville 

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