Table Of ContentAmerican Fern Journal 85(3):95-97 (1995)
Shorter Notes
—
nudum New
The
Psilotum Arkansas. pantropical pteridophyte Psilotum
to
nudum
Beauv. distributed in the United States across the Atlantic
(L.) P. is
Coastal Plain from Florida to North Carolina (Perry and Musselman, Amer.
Fern 84:102-104, 1994), across the Gulf Coastal Plain from Florida to Texas
J.
(Lodwick, Amer. Fern and Arizona Flora
65:62, 1975), disjunctly in [Thieret,
J,
of North America 2:16-17, Three populations, one natural and two ad-
1993).
were
ventive, discovered recently in Arkansas. In the U.S., these populations
are most distant from oceanic moderation and most exposed to interior con-
km
They
northward 200 from
tinental climate. extend the species' range re-
The
ported populations in Texas and Louisiana (Rhodes, Sida 3:525, 1970).
populations are suggestive that other populations might be located in the
southern half of Arkansas, and perhaps in other northerly locations in the
Southeastern United
States.
In autumn of 1992, the Arkansas population was noticed while doing
first
yardwork. The population was located within Arkadelphia, Clark County, by
Dennis McMasters. While raking, he located a single stem that was sheltered
was
by a rock retaining wall and by a thick covering of English ivy. protected
It
on sides from direct sunlight, and was observed for three years before a
all
were
voucher was removed [McMasters 95001, HSU). Preliminary observations
autumn
reported (Bray Proc. Arkansas Acad. 48:239-241, 1994). In
et Sci.,
al.,
of 1993, two stems were observed; in autumn of 1994, three stems were ob-
cm The
by and
served, each 10 thrice branched, etiolated shade, sterile.
tall,
mulch
from im-
population ^most probably originated horticultural soil or to
prove landscaping. The McMasters family was involved in the greenhouse
The Henderson Uni-
business Arkadelphia, but did not Psilotum. State
in
sell
km
(HSU) campus, away, has greenhouse with Psilotum. Thus,
versity 1.5 a
may
the population probably adventive and have arisen as a waif or escape
is
from might have been introduced with land-
a local source; alternatively,
it
scaping materials trucked northward to Arkadelphia from nurseries to the
km
south. This population 200 north of the nearest population in Texas or
is
now
growing suggesting
Louisiana; has been observed in four seasons, it is
it
and become
whether can reproduce
well remains be seen
established. to
It it
naturalized.
On February 1994, a natural population was discovered by the senior
12,
swamp
author the edge of a Nyssa aquatica/Taxodium distichum adjacent
at
an impoundment extreme southern
a gravel timber access road bordering in
to
R24W Management Area Lake
Arkansas (T19S Lafayette Wildlife at Erling,
S2,
Lafayette County, Peck 94003, LRU). The population was discovered by ser-
cm by and
The above-ground stems were 10 etiolated shade,
endipity. six tall,
was
browsed by Only one stem observed
two stems were stunted, deer.
sterile;
probably
in March 1995. The population appears to be naturally occurring,
may
be
but not self-replicating.
the result of a long-distance colonization event,
—
MERICAN FERN VOLUME
96 JOURNAL:
was Amason
discovered by on
Carl January
While
growing two
plants in partially-shaded sidewalk
m
supported
that
2.5
^ _.._^.
^
^
,
ings were established in 1984. The source greenhouse has never
carried
Psi-
um. most
Therefore,
it is likely that the plants originated from
mulch
trucked northward cm
filler to El Dorado. These plants are
than being
etiolated, these plants have the stem
grow wa
;e material; thev in a narrow but sunnv
The
that slopes southward. plants occur on the
run-off water. After being informed im
of the
growing
bank
in their landscaping, the
officers
uniformed
guards showing
delight
in off the plants to botani;
plants from customers.
H. Peck, Department
^James
Bray
James
R.
Marsh, and Dennis W. McMasters,
Department
AR
AR
Arkadelphia, Carl Amason,
71999; and
Calion, 71724,
Winfred Crank
D.
Growth
Estimated
revious paper Amer. Fern
(Seller, 71:75-81, 1981), investigated the
I
J.
demography
and growth
of Alsophila Hook, Bosaue Monte-
salvinii in
estimated
the
July
Montecristo and measured some
srowth
the actual of
the trees used in the 1978-80 study. The actual growth
i%
of the original estimated
rate.
In June
1978,
I tied flagging tape to the bases of stipes
July
the original 28 trees from the remnants of the flagging tape on them. Seventeen
of the 18 were
trees determined growth between
still alive. the of the
I trees
and
June 1978 July 1991 by measuring between
the distance the flagging tape
and crown
the The mean
of the plant. growth
of the during
1 7 living trees that
was 95%
period cm;
66.1 the confidence
growth ±0.8
interval the
for rate 5.1
is
The
cm/yr. range
is 2.3 to 7.7 cm/yr.
my
arithmetic
May
rate is recalculated here. For the period from 1979 May 95%
to 1980, the
mean
confidence
limits for the frond production
rate are 2.5 ±0.8 fronds/yr [n
=
In January 1979, counted cm
10). stipe bases in 50 sections of the apical
I
95%
part of the trunk on 10 mean
confidence
trees; limits for the are 18.1±1.1
cm. Thus, growth
the rate calculated from
1978-80
is:
