A broad range of understory forest herbs are harvested for medicinal properties, particularly from species-rich forests of the central and southern Appalachian Mountains. Many species have been collected and used for centuries with little understanding of harvest impacts, some with resulting population declines. Species valued for belowground components, such as Actaea racemosa L. (black cohosh), appear particularly vulnerable to harvest impacts. Between 2005 and 2011, we conducted experimental harvests on natural A. racemosa populations in central Appalachian oak (Quercus L.) forests. Responses were examined during 3 yr of moderate (33% plant removal) and intensive (66% removal) harvest treatments and up to 3 yr of regrowth, to simulate local harvesting practices and assess recovery potential. After 2 yr of moderate harvests, aboveground growth remained similar to controls. However, after 3 yr of moderate harvests or 2 yr of intensive harvests, significant declines were evident. After our third harvest year, leaf area and stem density were 65–80% lower in moderate harvest plots and 80–90% lower in intensive harvest plots, compared with controls. These differences persisted for at least 2 yr after harvests treatments ended. Curve-fitting models suggested recovery of leaf area and mean plant height to preharvest levels after 4–7 yr without further plant removal. In contrast, stem density showed little to no increase during our study period, and model projections suggested declines, rather than recovery. Thus, although individual growth metrics suggested that limited harvesting may be sustainable, results for stem density indicated little new recruitment into the population and concern for long-term population persistence. Forest herbs harvested for belowground components create particular challenges for sustainable management. Our concerns for A. racemosa are applicable to other economically important forest perennials in our region and worldwide and emphasize the need for continued study and monitoring to maintain viable populations and associated natural systems.

Fire exclusion, agriculture, and the extirpation of large herbivores have contributed to the loss of early successional plant communities and species across the southeast USA. Georgia aster (Symphyotrichum georgianum (Alexander) G.L. Nesom), a wildflower endemic to the southeast Piedmont, is one species that is thought to have experienced a notable decline. To document the status of S. georgianum in an area in which Piedmont prairie plant communities were historically present (Clemson Experimental Forest, Central, SC), we inventoried patches and flowers and collected seeds for a germination study. We found 37 patches across this 7,082-ha forested landscape, with an average of 25 flowers/patch. Seed germination rates were low, averaging 11%. In addition to fragmentation and low seed-germination rates, camera traps suggest herbivory from eastern cottontail rabbits (Sylvilagus floridanus J.A. Allen) further constrains the population. We conclude that forest management that creates, maintains, and connects early successional habitat is crucial in the conservation of S. georgianum.

Wetlands are important habitats in urban landscapes that reduce flooding and improve water quality, yet urban wetland seed banks are rarely studied. Our main objective was to profile urban wetland seed banks in south-central New York. We exposed sediment cores from four wetlands in Broome County, New York, to flooded and drawdown treatments for 16 mo, and recorded community composition and seedling density. We found high spatial variation in species richness and seedling density among the four sites. Species richness ranged from 28 to 56 species, with sample-based extrapolation (S_est), Jackknife1, and Chao1 analyses estimating similar expected species richness values (S_est projected 37.9–77.0 species, Jackknife1 analysis estimated 40.5–77.8 species, and Chao1 projected 32.2–79.1 species). Mean seedling density ranged from 3,367 seedlings/m² to 19,132 seedlings/m². These seed banks were dominated by obligate wetland species (75.8–93.3%). Invasive species comprised a high percentage of seedlings for three wetlands (40.8–80.9%), but not for the fourth site (4.2%). Lythrum salicaria, Typha sp., and Ludwigia palustris were common species based on relative seedling density for three seed banks, while Leersia oryzoides, Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani, and Alisma triviale were common species in the fourth site. Similarity indices between the standing vegetation and their respective seed banks, based on presence/absence data, were low (13–34%). Species richness and seedling densities were within the ranges of natural wetland seed bank studies.

Conservation of historic forest landscapes at national historic sites involves maintaining and replacing the historic trees as well as removing modern trees. Tree stem inventories in 1995 and 2013 are compared to assess conservation efforts for the historic forest landscapes of three U.S. National Historic Sites located in the New York metropolitan area: Glenmont of Thomas Edison; Sagamore Hill; and Vanderbilt Mansion. The terms alien tree taxa and native tree taxa are defined in regard to the eastern United States. Among the three historic forest landscapes there are 77 alien tree taxa, but only Abies nordmanniana, Acer palmatum, Acer platanoides, Aesculus hippocastanum, Fagus sylvatica, and Magnolia × soulangeana are present in Glenmont, Sagamore Hill, and Vanderbilt Mansion. Of the 56 native tree taxa, there are 15 species common to the three historic forest landscapes. Paired t-tests (P ≤ 0.05) of taxa stem counts from the 1995 and 2013 inventories reveal the alien and native tree stems for historic and modern trees declined significantly at Sagamore Hill. Both alien and native historic tree stems decreased significantly at Glenmont. Only alien historic tree stems were significantly smaller at Vanderbilt Mansion. Differences in forest landscape management efforts among the national historic sites provide explanations for the significant decreases in alien and native trees at Glenmont, Sagamore Hill, and Vanderbilt Mansion.

Artificial nighttime lighting (light pollution) is increasing worldwide and may have undocumented consequences. In this study, we asked if artificial nighttime lighting affects the performance in monoculture of four grass species: the Eurasian Bothriochloa bladhii (Retz.) S.T. Blake (Poaceae), and Bothriochloa ischaemum (L.) Keng (Poaceae); and the North American Panicum virgatum (L.) (Poaceae), and Sorghastrum nutans (L.) Nash (Poaceae). We conducted a field pot experiment to test for the effects of artificial nighttime lighting and plant density on height, biomass, and leaf number. Height of the tallest individual per population was affected by separate interactions between species and density, light, and time. Final total biomass per individual biomass was increased under nighttime lighting, but more so at low density. Leaf number was increased by artificial nighttime lighting irrespective of species. These results suggest that artificial nighttime lighting may have previously undocumented influences on plant height, biomass, and leaf number within certain species. These findings warrant more in-depth studies into the role that artificial nighttime lighting can have on various plant species.

Canebrakes in the southeastern United States form a unique ecosystem composed of monotypic stands of the cane species Arundinaria gigantea Michaux within bottomland hardwood forests. Since European settlement, canebrakes have been reduced to less than 2% of their historic range and are considered a critically endangered ecosystem. Despite efforts to restore bottomland hardwood forests to the landscape, current practices have yet to address restoration strategies for canebrakes. This paper synthesizes current understanding of abiotic and biotic factors limiting canebrake reestablishment within bottomland hardwood forest complexes. Consideration is given to the effects of hydrology, landscape and biogeographic factors, disturbance, cane reproductive history, growth patterns, and herbivory on canebrake establishment and persistence. While there is no single factor controlling the distribution and abundance of canebrakes, it is reasonable to believe abiotic factors have a greater impact on the establishment of canebrake systems than biotic factors. Once ecosystem hydrology, topography, and disturbance regimes are restored, biotic factors may have a greater limiting effect on canebrake reestablishment. Herbivory is particularly detrimental to canebrake formation and maintenance by decreasing cane density and cover, selectively removing root stock, and facilitating colonization of areas formerly occupied by cane. This review concludes that under current restoration and management practices of restored bottomland hardwood forests, widespread canebrakes seem unlikely to reestablish.

Apios priceana B. L. Rob. is federally threatened and little is known about its pollination biology. At the Redstone Arsenal population, Alabama, we studied its breeding system, determined major floral visitors and their pollination effectiveness, and explored pollen limitation of fruit and seed production. Fruit initiation was low (3.9%) for cross-pollinated flowers but only marginally greater than for self-pollinated or nonpollinated flowers (none initiated a fruit). Most floral visits (97%) were by bees with 43% of visits by large bees (> 1.5 cm in length) and 51% by medium bees (1–1.5 cm in length). Keel petals of A. priceana flowers enclose the style and stamens: flowers must be “tripped” for pollination to occur. Large and medium bees were equally effective in tripping flowers, whereas small bees (< 1 cm in length) did not trip flowers. Success of large and medium bee species (several Bombus species and Megachile sculpturalis Smith) in initiating legumes after a single floral visit ranged from 17–35% but did not differ significantly among species. Pollen supplementation showed legume production was pollen-limited: 24% of supplemented flowers produced fruits versus 6% of nonsupplemented flowers. Seed counts revealed a marginally nonsignificant trend for more seeds in legumes from pollen-supplemented flowers. We conclude that this rare plant species is dependent on medium and large bees for pollination, and that reproduction is partially pollen-limited. Conservation efforts should include measures to protect bee pollinators of this species to ensure that managed populations of this rare plant continue to reproduce sexually.

Microlicia latifolia D. O. & M. J. Silva, a new species from the highlands of the state of Goiás, Brazil, is herein described and illustrated. It can be easily differentiated from its congeners by the combination of the following characters: carthaceous, large (1–4.3 × 0.4–2.5 cm), (3–)5-nerved leaves, with spherical short-stalked glandular trichomes on both surfaces, and entire but prominently ciliate margins, 5-, 6-, or 7-merous flowers, with 10, 12, or 14 stamens, bi- and polysporangiate anthers, obconical hypanthium, calyx lobes longer than the tube, and 4–5-locular ovary. The geographic distribution, conservation status, phenology, and habitat preference of the new species are also provided.