Wildflower Research and Development for Phlox Floridana
Final Report for Year Two
To: Florida Wildflower Foundation
Project Contact:
Joanna S. Booth
Salter Tree and Herb Farm (STHF)
PO Box 20066, Tallahassee FL 32316-0066
1301 NE Cattail Drive, Madison, FL 32340
Phone 850-574-8367 fax 850-574-7023
email: joanna@saltertreeandherbfarm.com (NEW email address)
August 2009
Part A: The Research
Summary
The purpose of the second year of funding is successfully completed with the expansion of the Phlox floridana propagation colony. The next generation of Phlox floridana plants can be propagated from the established colony as well as continued moderate collection from wild colonies.
Seed gathering for P floridana will always be a challenge due to small, sparse colonies in the wild and wildlife grazing on succulent stems and seed pods under production at Salter Tree and Herb Farm (STHF). Poultry wire will be used to discourage deer and rabbits and assure a healthy and sustainable propagation colony.
Direct seeding from wild collections is underway at two STHF sites where production material has taken hold. Floridana frequently goes dormant with transplant disturbances. Biodegradable containers do not aid in protecting floridana from the initial transplant shock. These containers should minimize the second shock of relocating material to other sites after the rooting process. Seed will remain rare for some time to come.
Colonies in the wild may continue to thrive with moderate collection, two or three times in a season, for several years. On the down side, the wild colonies are in direct proximity to development, county road management practices, and invasive plant management activities. Any continued collection should be considered as rescue activity instead of over harvesting.
Conclusion: Research data suggests that Phlox floridana would not be a hardy enough candidate for commercialization. Transplant shock is strong and floridana takes an entire season to recover in most instances. Still floridana is a valuable species to recognize both in supporting plant diversity and as having historical importance in Florida.
Research Report
Purpose: Research seed and stock development, planting and fertilization methods for Phlox floridana, Florida Phlox, a perennial, Florida native wildflower.
Study Objective is completed. Seed and stock development have been limited but successful and efforts will continue to supply collectors and producers with plant material. Transplanting P. floridana results in severe shock. The perennial roots are strong enough to support new vegetative growth the next season. Seed production is not robust and propagation by germinating seedlings and transplanting is problematic. Seed gathering in the wild is difficult due to few bloom stems and many undeveloped seed capsules on the blossom stem. This could be due to pollinator scarcity or genetic deficiencies
Growth Habits
The wild populations are thin, the bloom activity is weak, the seed production is small and the germination and transplant activity is anemic. The viability of root activity appears to be the strongest growth characteristic of this species. Once established, plants send up 3-5 sprouts at the crown in late April to May. A bloom period follows with sparse seed capsules forming. After the initial flush of growth and seed setting, floridana will send up a second set of sprouts, usually 1-2, that supply a later bloom and seed set in August to September. The plants go dormant in winter.
Germination and Rooting Requirements
An organic, bio-degradable container was selected to attempt to reduce transplant shock. All cuttings in the mist house were rooted directly in the organic, bio-degradible pots. A soil mix of 50 percent sand and 50 percent commercial potting soil was used.
Placing seed between wet towels resulted in a germination rate of 60 percent in 14 days and 70 percent in 21 days. A sprouting-flat in a mist environment showed an 80 percent rate over 1 month. A flat, seeded in June 2009, in the irrigated production plots, has not shown seedlings as of August 2009. Transplanted seedlings will be monitored through 2010. The organic pots that were direct-seeded in June 2009, also, do not show sprouted seedlings. While P. pilosa and Phlox drummondii will show evidence of rapid sprouting from the same year’s seed crop under natural conditions, there is no such response from P. floridana. Germination characteristics particular to floridana reflect a much slower germination and successive generation development in natural conditions. In fact, changing environmental conditions and habitat stressors could be impacting the viability of the species in general.
When older, blooming plant stems are taken as cuttings,
around 25 - 50 percent of the material recovers and continues with growth depending on the time of year. Early spring is the most successful time to attempt to root cuttings. Attempts to improve rooting with powdered hormone and liquid root stimulant were moderately successful with a 10 to 15 percent increased success rate. In the spring of 2009 it was observed that vegetative shoots from material rooted in late summer of 2008 were appearing in cells and pots that were presumed dead. In addition, stems of Phlox floridana taken late in the summer of 2008 were buried in perlite and held over in a mist environment throughout the winter.
By February 2009, although there was no indication of the survival of these stems above ground, rooting activity had progressed to the point of anchoring the stems into the perlite. This material has been relocated into a sandy, full-sun propagation site and will be monitored for survivability. By June 2009 these transplanted rootings had not created vegetative growth. From previous behavior, it is expected that these roots will show vegetative material in the spring of 2010.
Propagation observations, in 2009, noted a higher survival rate than was reported in the summer of 2008. Plants emerged after winter dormancy when the material had exhibited complete top-growth die-off. Roots appear to survive disturbance during the growing season in greater numbers than would be expected from so much top-growth die-off.
Environments.
A description of the STHF sites for the propagation colonies:
Site 1 receives morning sun and afternoon shade. It is located at the drip line of a live oak tree and receives irrigation 3 times a week. It has a natural mix of organic matter in sandy soil. P. floridana is well established at this site.
Site 2 is in high shade all day. It has no irrigation other than normal rainfall. The sandy soil is high in natural organic matter. P. floridana is struggling but established. It does not appear to prefer a high organic content in the soil.
Site 3 receives full sun and has irrigation 3 times a week. The sandy soil drains quickly. P. floridana plants have not over wintered in this site yet, but did maintain vegetative material for 3-4 months when transplanted in the early spring.
Phlox floridana did not survive the 2008 herbicide applications at the entrance of Big Pine Tract. The gap in the colony is defined by the treatment area. The impact of drifting is obvious, whether caused by wind or slope of the terrain.
Habitat encrochment by humans, through development of residential areas, roads, roadside maintenance, and environmental pollutants are the most likely reasons floridana is no longer flourishing. It cannot be assumed that the genetic frailty of this species is the fault of the plant alone. It is suggested that the results of decades of acid rain have altered the soil. Ariel applications of pesticides and the effects of nitrogen in fertilizers and sewage management have ripple effects not completely recognized. There are decades of environmental contamination and accumulated effects not easily erased from native plant habitats.
Available Nutrients
Propagation sites received dense, leaching nutrients from natural, companion plant decay cycles. One row in Site 3, in full sun, received a thin application of 8-8-8 granular fertilizer during the growing season. Another application of commercial fertilizer was applied to a partial row in Site 1. Fertilizing does not appear to enhance performance of P. floridana. Also, plant performance is not significantly differentiated between irrigated versus non-irrigated rows.
Plant distributions
Native plant growers have been notified of the development of propagation material through the STHF web site and inventory listings throughout 2008 and 2009. (See AFNN 2009 Directory)
Phlox floridana plants have been donated to two nurseries and are under propagation. Several individuals have received donated plants to reestablish this species at different locations in Florida. Bill Bates, a native plant collector, received a second group of plants during 2009 and Nancy Desmond with Environmental Equities also received more plants. P. floridana will be given to Dr. Richard Weaver, Department of Plant Industry, in Gainesville and Jeff Caster, landscape architect with FDOT, in Tallahassee.
Phlox floridana has been listed on 2007-2008 STHF retail and wholesale plant availability lists, the STHF web site and the Associated Florida Native Nurseries (AFNN) directory.
Phlox floridana was highlighted in the new species section of the AFNN retail directory for 2009 which also noted the Florida Wildflower Foundation support of the research grant. Though the species was listed as inventory, no price is associated with Phlox floridana. When there are inquiries, plants are offered from the STHF at no charge.
Phlox floridana was submitted as a horticultural specimen in the Florida Federation of Garden Clubs’ Madison Flower Show, May 7, 2009. It received a third place ribbon. (Phlox pilosa received a second place award and Phlox drummondii received a first place award.)
Characteristic variations:
The Central Florida colony at Big Pine Tract and one Wakulla County colony exhibit the upward angled leaf position as an observable defining characteristic of P. floridana. The Leon County populations on Hwy 20 and Springhill Road have ovate, hairy leaf structures very different from the pilosa-like leaf characteristics of Hernando and Wakulla County floridana colonies.
Only microscopic blossom characteristics distinguish the P. floridana and P. pilosa species in this case. One large Phlox colony in Brooksville is located 2 miles from Big Pine Tract and is considered to be P. pilosa. Plants in this colony have varying leaf characteristics of both species and an abundance of blossom variations that most resemble Phlox drummondii. Such variations in one colony supports the suggestion that Phlox floridana is hybridizing in these southern most areas of it habitation in Florida.
Genetic material was sent to the Polymoneacia research associates with Carolyn Ferguson, curator at the herbarium at Kansas State University. Research there is ongoing. While relying on western native Phlox species for research projects, the genetic hybridizing occurring in the Brooksville P. floridana colonies has the attention of researchers.
II Documentation Research
*Plant and habitat description: sites, documents, Atlas of Florida Vascular Plants
*Bay Yard Point, Dr. Cecil Slaughter, map, emails, travel
*Big Pine Tract, Chinsegut, FWC maps, emails, letters, travel, Public Records on herbicide profiles, contracts, cost data, herbicide application data, management and volunteer management records; Conceptual Management Plan-1997, Commonly Used Herbicides documents
*Brooksville lot, permit, emails, ID sample, seed collection
*Apalachicola National Forest permit request, emails, letters (no response)
*Nearly Native Nurseries, Jim Rogers, Florida plant material
*Wendy Poag, Taylor County sightings
*Dr. Loren Anderson, FSU, local specimen listings, spread sheet
*Dr. Bruce Hansen, USF recent specimen listings
*Kent Perkins, UF, specimen listings
*Carolyn Ferguson, Herbarium Curator at KSU, emails
*Activity list
*Travel log
* Annual precipitation log, 2008/2009 Weather Central, Inc., Tallahassee Democrat
*Propagation site description, planting dates, observations
*Sensitive Plant list, Osceola National Forest
*Source of origin: all sites have permission to collect, ID supported, collection dates, GPS data, soil samples, and images
BPT, Big Pine Tract, Hernando County
BVK, Brookville residential lot, Hernando County
Hwy 20, Leon County
SPH, Springhill Road, Leon County
WAKU-spe, Spears property, Wakulla County
WAKU-brn, Braun property, Wakulla County
*DOT Pots biodegradable, organic containers link
*Plant listings in afnn, The Plant List, and STHF inventory marketing publications
*Horticultural specimen submitted in the Florida Federation of Garden Clubs, Madison Flower Show
