Review of \u3ci\u3eWeeds of the Midwestern United States & Central Canada,\u3c/i\u3e edited by Charles T. Bryson and Michael S. DeFelice

This volume is the culmination of work by more than 40 weed scientists and botanists. Its stated purpose is to help identifY the great diversity of weedy and invasive plants that interface with agriculture, industry, and natural ecosystems in central North America. The geographic range covered by this book extends from southeastern Saskatchewan to eastern Kansas, northern Kentucky, northwestern Pennsylvania, and southwestern Quebec. This is a welcome edition because a current book on unwanted plants has not been available for the eastern two-thirds of this region. The book is arranged taxonomically by family and alphabetically by species within each family. Scientific nomenclature follows the accepted names specified by the Weed Science Society of America rather than the most current taxonomic treatments. This treatment focuses on weed identification rather than management recommendations. The book covers the identification of about 350 species. A brief introduction is followed by a nine-page illustrated terminology depicting parts of a dicot stem, parts of a monocot collar, leaf shape and arrangement, flower parts, inflorescence types, root types, and stem types. A key to the families follows. The key is relatively simple, but a person using it will need some botanical knowledge. In my opinion, the key is not an important feature of the book

PANEL DISCUSSION: ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT OF PRAIRIE DOGS

Questions and answers: Monte G. Garrett, Kathleen A. Fagerstone, Greg L. Schenbec

EC07-118 Common Forbs and Shrubs of Nebraska : Prairies, Rangelands, Pasturelands

Extension Circular 07-118 discusses common forbs and shrubs of Nebraska - prairies, rangelands, pasturelands

Alternative Methods for Wetland Restoration in the Rainwater Basin, Nebraska, USA

South-central Nebraska is recognized as a focal point of the mid-continent migratory waterfowl flyway. Substantial wetland alterations led to a critical need for restoration. Managers have restored wetlands by scraping with heavy earthmoving equipment to remove excess organic material and near-monocultures of reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea L.) but managers report high costs and topsoil perturbation. Moderate livestock grazing was tested to compare results with those achieved with mechanical techniques. Advantages of grazing could include low costs and less soil perturbation. During the 2006 and 2007 growing seasons, we compared cover of bare ground and open water and plant species composition in mechanically treated, grazed, and untreated wetlands dominated by reed canarygrass to determine restoration success. Significantly less reed canarygrass and a higher percent composition of desirable species were found in mechanically treated areas as compared to grazed or control treatments. However, waterfowl food plants and marsh species were similar between treatments. Significantly higher percent cover of open water was found at mechanically treated wetlands possibly improving shorebird and waterfowl habitats. Both restoration techniques increased bare ground. Our findings reject the proposition that moderate livestock grazing is an effective technique in restoring reed canarygrass dominated wetlands in Nebraska and suggest additional research be conducted on intense, short-duration grazing in early spring

EC92-124 Nebraska Handbook of Range Management

Every Nebraskans should be interested in rangeland. The plants, soil, and water are the foundation of Nebraska\u27s economy and quality of life. Rangeland is one of Nebraska\u27s most important and valuable natural resources because it: • produces forage for livestock and wild game; • provides a varied habitat for many wildlife species; • protects the soil from wind and water erosion; • preserves a germplasm bank for many plant species that may become important for yet unknown uses; • purifies and enhances the environment by cleasing the air, filtering the runoff to streams, increasing the intake of precipitation, and aiding groundwater recharge; • perseveres in adversity and renews itself when the opportunity is provided by those who use and sometimes abuse it; and • pleases those who have learned to appreciate the beauty and aesthetic qualities of rangeland. These are called the Seven P\u27s of Rangeland. Range plants must be the right kind and kept productive for best use of this resource. Most people enjoy wildlife, hunting, camping, clean water, fishing, and eating beef. Range supplies us with those items, so we must management it wisely

Pollination Characteristics of Blowout Penstemon (\u3ci\u3ePenstemon haydenii\u3c/i\u3e S. Watson)

The pollination characteristics of blowout penstemon (Penstemon haydenii S. Wats.), the only officially endangered plant species in Nebraska, were investigated. Cross-pollination was determined to be the major method of pollination, but self-pollination also occurs. Insects increased cross-pollination. The natural habitat of blowout penstemon has greatly decreased during this century, resulting in only a few isolated populations. The opportunity for cross-pollination with other populations no longer exists. Without crosspollination, lowered genetic diversity of the species may result in less vigorous plants and declining populations. Introduction of new genetic material into declining populations may help to assure the continued existence of the species

Blowouts in the Nebraska Sandhills: The Habitat of \u3ci\u3ePenstemon haydenii\u3c/i\u3e

The Nebraska Sandhills is the largest area of sand dunes in the Western Hemisphere, occupying over 5 million ha in northcentral Nebraska. The rolling to steep dunes range in height from a few meters to over 60 m. Soils are poorly developed in wind deposited sand. The continental climate is characterized by 425 to 625 mm of annual precipitation, an average annual temperature of 10 C, and a frost-free period of 130-155 days. Upland vegetation is primarily tall grasses and midgrasses such as sand bluestem [Andropogon gerardii var. paucipilus (Nash) Fern.], prairie sandreed [CaLamovilfa Longifolia (Hook.) Scribn.], little bluestem [Schizachyrium scoparium (Michx.) Nash], and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.). Forbs are common. Wind erosion occurs when the protective cover of vegetation is destroyed. Blowouts are active sites of erosion. Blowouts are irregular or conical craters formed when the deep, loose sands are removed by swirling action of the prevailing northwesterly winds. Blowout penstemon (Penstemon haydenii S. Wats.) is only found on these sites of active wind erosion and is an early successional species. Important associated species in blowouts include blowout grass [Redfieldia flexuosa (Thurb.) Vasey] and lemon scurfpea (Psoralea Lanceolata Pursh). The number of blowouts has decreased with the control of fire and improved range management techniques. Loss of suitable habitat is one of the reasons for the decline of blowout penstemon. At the same time, there are many blowouts in the Sandhills that seem to offer suitable habitat where blowout penstemon is not found