Plant status designations of the Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program include a category of Tentatively Undetermined (TU) for plants believed to be in danger of population decline but which cannot presently be included within another classification due to insufficient data. Plants classified as TU do not receive protection under the Pennsylvania Wild Plant Conservation Act,nor do they trigger environmental review. Using a combination of field surveys and herbarium research we gathered data to support proposed status changes for five species currently listed as TU to Pennsylvania Endangered (PE), Pennsylvania Threatened (PT), or Pennsylvania extirpated (PX). In addition, we evaluated current and historical records for ten additional TU species for which information remains ambiguous and no clear status recommendations can be made at this time. These recommendations were reviewed by the Rare Plant Forum and the Vascular Plants Technical Committee on April 24, 2010. Recommended changes will be incorporated in the revised regulations now under development by DCNR Bureau of Forestry

Block, Timothy A

Rhoads, Ann F

English

ScholarlyCommons@Penn

University of PennsylvaniaScholarlyCommonsResearch Works (Botany) Botany2010Field Survey and Status Clarification of PNHPTentatively Undetermined Plant Species IIAnn F. RhoadsUniversity of PennsylvaniaTimothy A. BlockUniversity of PennsylvaniaFollow this and additional works at: https://repository.upenn.edu/morrisarboretum_botanyworksPart of the Botany CommonsFinal Report for Grant Agreement WRCP-08299This paper is posted at ScholarlyCommons. https://repository.upenn.edu/morrisarboretum_botanyworks/4For more information, please contact repository@pobox.upenn.edu.Rhoads, Ann F. and Block, Timothy A., "Field Survey and Status Clarification of PNHP Tentatively Undetermined Plant Species II"(2010). Research Works (Botany). 4.https://repository.upenn.edu/morrisarboretum_botanyworks/4Field Survey and Status Clarification of PNHP Tentatively UndeterminedPlant Species IIAbstractPlant status designations of the Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program include a category of TentativelyUndetermined (TU) for plants believed to be in danger of population decline but which cannot presently beincluded within another classification due to insufficient data. Plants classified as TU do not receiveprotection under the Pennsylvania Wild Plant Conservation Act,nor do they trigger environmental review.Using a combination of field surveys and herbarium research we gathered data to support proposed statuschanges for five species currently listed as TU to Pennsylvania Endangered (PE), Pennsylvania Threatened(PT), or Pennsylvania extirpated (PX). In addition, we evaluated current and historical records for tenadditional TU species for which information remains ambiguous and no clear status recommendations can bemade at this time. These recommendations were reviewed by the Rare Plant Forum and the Vascular PlantsTechnical Committee on April 24, 2010. Recommended changes will be incorporated in the revisedregulations now under development by DCNR Bureau of Forestry.DisciplinesBotanyCommentsFinal Report for Grant Agreement WRCP-08299This technical report is available at ScholarlyCommons: https://repository.upenn.edu/morrisarboretum_botanyworks/41   Final Report for Grant Agreement WRCP-08299   Field Survey and Status Clarification of PNHP  Tentatively Undetermined Plant Species II    Timothy A. Block, PhD and Ann F. Rhoads, PhD Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania 100 East Northwestern Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19118 215-247-5777 ext. 130   August 23, 2010 2                                             Cover photo: Omalotheca sylvatica (L.) Schultz-Bipontinus [syn: Gnaphalium sylvaticum L.] specimen at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia3  Abstract  Plant status designations of the Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program include a category of Tentatively Undetermined (TU) for plants believed to be in danger of population decline but which cannot presently be included within another classification due to insufficient data.  Plants classified as TU do not receive protection under the Pennsylvania Wild Plant Conservation Act, nor do they trigger environmental review.  Using a combination of field surveys and herbarium research we gathered data to support proposed status changes for five species currently listed as TU to Pennsylvania Endangered (PE), Pennsylvania Threatened (PT), or Pennsylvania extirpated (PX).  In addition, we evaluated current and historical records for ten additional TU species for which information remains ambiguous and no clear status recommendations can be made at this time.  These recommendations were reviewed by the Rare Plant Forum and the Vascular Plants Technical Committee on April 24, 2010.  Recommended changes will be incorporated in the revised regulations now under development by DCNR Bureau of Forestry.                     4   Project Objectives  1. Collect data on the occurrence of Tentatively Undetermined (TU) plant species from herbarium records and other historical sources.  2. Conduct field surveys of historical sites and other sites determined to have probable habitat to determine current status of selected TU plants.  3. Clarify the conservation status of TU plants and recommend a new, more accurate status.   Justification  Plant status designations of the Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program include a category of Tentatively Undetermined (TU) for plants believed to be in danger of population decline but which cannot presently be included within another classification due to insufficient data.  Plants classified as TU do not receive protection under the Pennsylvania Wild Plant Conservation Program (DCNR 1988), nor do they trigger environmental review.  Over the years, a lack of funding and therefore, time commitment on the part of qualified botanists, has resulted in numerous plants being stuck in the TU category.  The collection and evaluation of substantial evidence regarding the current status of TU species is critical to achieving appropriate levels of protection for plants of conservation concern in Pennsylvania.    Methods and Materials  Information about extant and historic plant occurrences was compiled from the Pennsylvania Flora Database, Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Database, Herbarium of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, and the Herbarium of the Carnegie Museum in Pittsburgh.  Habitat requirements and phenological data were obtained from historical records and analyzed using GIS mapping. Field sites indicated by historical collections were visited; in addition sites where additional habitat was likely to exist were also surveyed.  Herbarium specimens were collected to document all element occurrences; specimens were deposited in the herbarium of the Morris Arboretum (MOAR).  In addition, field reports on all occurrences were submitted to the Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program.  Information was compiled and evaluated for 49 additional TU plants and discussed with botanists from the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy/ Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program and the Bureau of Forestry at a meeting held at the Middletown PNHP office on March 4, 2009.   5  Products Delivered  Status change recommendations for five plant species were proposed at the Rare Plant Forum of the Vascular Plants Technical Committee of the Pennsylvania Biological Survey held on April 24, 2010 (Table 1).  Table 1.  Recommended status changes for selected TU species   current proposed Cystopteris tennesseensis TU PE Dichanthelium yadkinense TU PE Juniperus communis var. depressa TU PT Omalotheca sylvatica TU PX Veronica catenata TU DL  Recommendations for Cystopteris tennesseensis, Dichanthelium yadkinense, and Veronica catenata were approved by the Vascular Plants Technical Committee as proposed.  Juniperus communis var. depressa was approved at PE, and the proposal for Omalotheca sylvatica was rejected.  Therefore, Omalotheca sylvatica remains TU pending field work and/or rediscovery.  Ten additional species were investigated for possible status changes (Table 2).  Data on these species remains elusive and/or ambiguous.  Therefore, no status changes were proposed for these.  Table 2.  Additional species investigated in this study  Coeloglossum viride Conoclinium coelestinum Elymus trachycaulus Eupatorium rotundifolium Lactuca hirsuta Rosa blanda Rosa virginiana Stellaria borealis Symphyotrichum praealtum Viola selkirkii  Field forms documenting all occurrences of PNHP-listed plants on which we gathered field data in 2010 will be submitted to the Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program office at Middletown, PA.     6  Results and Conclusions  Implementation of four status changes as a result of this project will add to the scientific accuracy of plant status classifications in the Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program by reassigning these species to a status that reflects their current conservation status.  In addition these plants will be a protected through the Wild Plant Conservation Act and environmental review procedures.  In addition, Oldenlandia uniflora, a plant previously unrecorded from Pennsylvania, was discovered at Delhaas Woods in Bucks County this year.  This plant is listed as S1 in NY, KY, and MO; S2 in NC; S3 in NJ and MD; and, S4 in DE and VA.  This species was recommended for PE status in PA and approved by the Vascular Plants Technical Committee.    Our 2010 field studies also resulted in discovery of additional extant  populations of Eupatorium album, a plant previously believed to be extirpated in Pennsylvania and now listed as PE.  At this time, after three years of projects funded by the WRCP, we feel we can make no additional recommended changes to the TU list without further extensive field, herbarium, historic, and taxonomic investigations.  Such studies, although challenging, could be undertaken with future funding.   Literature Cited  Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. 1988. Pennsylvania Code Title 17. Environmental Resources, Chapter 45. Conservation of Pennsylvania Native Wild Plants. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Harrisburg, PA. 

Field Survey and Status Clarification of PNHP Tentatively Undetermined Plant Species II

Kosmopolis

University of Pennsylvania
ScholarlyCommons
Research Works (Botany) Botany
2010
Field Survey and Status Clarification of PNHP
Tentatively Undetermined Plant Species II
Ann F. Rhoads
University of Pennsylvania
Timothy A. Block
University of Pennsylvania
Follow this and additional works at: https://repository.upenn.edu/morrisarboretum_botanyworks
Part of the Botany Commons
Final Report for Grant Agreement WRCP-08299
This paper is posted at ScholarlyCommons. https://repository.upenn.edu/morrisarboretum_botanyworks/4
For more information, please contact repository@pobox.upenn.edu.
Rhoads, Ann F. and Block, Timothy A., "Field Survey and Status Clarification of PNHP Tentatively Undetermined Plant Species II"
(2010). Research Works (Botany). 4.
https://repository.upenn.edu/morrisarboretum_botanyworks/4
Field Survey and Status Clarification of PNHP Tentatively Undetermined
Plant Species II
Abstract
Plant status designations of the Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program include a category of Tentatively
Undetermined (TU) for plants believed to be in danger of population decline but which cannot presently be
included within another classification due to insufficient data. Plants classified as TU do not receive
protection under the Pennsylvania Wild Plant Conservation Act,nor do they trigger environmental review.
Using a combination of field surveys and herbarium research we gathered data to support proposed status
changes for five species currently listed as TU to Pennsylvania Endangered (PE), Pennsylvania Threatened
(PT), or Pennsylvania extirpated (PX). In addition, we evaluated current and historical records for ten
additional TU species for which information remains ambiguous and no clear status recommendations can be
made at this time. These recommendations were reviewed by the Rare Plant Forum and the Vascular Plants
Technical Committee on April 24, 2010. Recommended changes will be incorporated in the revised
regulations now under development by DCNR Bureau of Forestry.
Disciplines
Botany
Comments
Final Report for Grant Agreement WRCP-08299
This technical report is available at ScholarlyCommons: https://repository.upenn.edu/morrisarboretum_botanyworks/4
1 
 
 
Final Report for Grant Agreement WRCP-08299 
 
 
Field Survey and Status Clarification of PNHP  
Tentatively Undetermined Plant Species II 
 
 
 
Timothy A. Block, PhD and Ann F. Rhoads, PhD 
Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania 
100 East Northwestern Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19118 
215-247-5777 ext. 130 
 
 
August 23, 2010 
2 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cover photo: Omalotheca sylvatica (L.) Schultz-Bipontinus [syn: Gnaphalium sylvaticum L.] 
specimen at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia
3 
 
Abstract 
 
Plant status designations of the Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program include a category of 
Tentatively Undetermined (TU) for plants believed to be in danger of population decline but 
which cannot presently be included within another classification due to insufficient data.  Plants 
classified as TU do not receive protection under the Pennsylvania Wild Plant Conservation Act, 
nor do they trigger environmental review.  Using a combination of field surveys and herbarium 
research we gathered data to support proposed status changes for five species currently listed as 
TU to Pennsylvania Endangered (PE), Pennsylvania Threatened (PT), or Pennsylvania extirpated 
(PX).  In addition, we evaluated current and historical records for ten additional TU species for 
which information remains ambiguous and no clear status recommendations can be made at this 
time.  These recommendations were reviewed by the Rare Plant Forum and the Vascular Plants 
Technical Committee on April 24, 2010.  Recommended changes will be incorporated in the 
revised regulations now under development by DCNR Bureau of Forestry. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
4 
 
 
Project Objectives 
 
1. Collect data on the occurrence of Tentatively Undetermined (TU) plant species from 
herbarium records and other historical sources. 
 
2. Conduct field surveys of historical sites and other sites determined to have probable 
habitat to determine current status of selected TU plants. 
 
3. Clarify the conservation status of TU plants and recommend a new, more accurate 
status. 
 
 
Justification 
 
Plant status designations of the Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program include a category of 
Tentatively Undetermined (TU) for plants believed to be in danger of population decline but 
which cannot presently be included within another classification due to insufficient data.  Plants 
classified as TU do not receive protection under the Pennsylvania Wild Plant Conservation 
Program (DCNR 1988), nor do they trigger environmental review. 
 
Over the years, a lack of funding and therefore, time commitment on the part of qualified 
botanists, has resulted in numerous plants being stuck in the TU category.  The collection and 
evaluation of substantial evidence regarding the current status of TU species is critical to 
achieving appropriate levels of protection for plants of conservation concern in Pennsylvania. 
 
 
 
Methods and Materials 
 
Information about extant and historic plant occurrences was compiled from the Pennsylvania 
Flora Database, Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Database, Herbarium of the Academy of Natural 
Sciences of Philadelphia, and the Herbarium of the Carnegie Museum in Pittsburgh.  Habitat 
requirements and phenological data were obtained from historical records and analyzed using 
GIS mapping. Field sites indicated by historical collections were visited; in addition sites where 
additional habitat was likely to exist were also surveyed.  Herbarium specimens were collected to 
document all element occurrences; specimens were deposited in the herbarium of the Morris 
Arboretum (MOAR).  In addition, field reports on all occurrences were submitted to the 
Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program. 
 
Information was compiled and evaluated for 49 additional TU plants and discussed with 
botanists from the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy/ Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program 
and the Bureau of Forestry at a meeting held at the Middletown PNHP office on March 4, 2009. 
 
 
5 
 
Products Delivered 
 
Status change recommendations for five plant species were proposed at the Rare Plant Forum of 
the Vascular Plants Technical Committee of the Pennsylvania Biological Survey held on April 
24, 2010 (Table 1). 
 
Table 1.  Recommended status changes for selected TU species 
 
 current proposed 
Cystopteris tennesseensis TU PE 
Dichanthelium yadkinense TU PE 
Juniperus communis var. 
depressa 
TU PT 
Omalotheca sylvatica TU PX 
Veronica catenata TU DL 
 
Recommendations for Cystopteris tennesseensis, Dichanthelium yadkinense, and Veronica 
catenata were approved by the Vascular Plants Technical Committee as proposed.  Juniperus 
communis var. depressa was approved at PE, and the proposal for Omalotheca sylvatica was 
rejected.  Therefore, Omalotheca sylvatica remains TU pending field work and/or rediscovery. 
 
Ten additional species were investigated for possible status changes (Table 2).  Data on these 
species remains elusive and/or ambiguous.  Therefore, no status changes were proposed for 
these. 
 
Table 2.  Additional species investigated in this study 
 
Coeloglossum viride 
Conoclinium coelestinum 
Elymus trachycaulus 
Eupatorium rotundifolium 
Lactuca hirsuta 
Rosa blanda 
Rosa virginiana 
Stellaria borealis 
Symphyotrichum praealtum 
Viola selkirkii 
 
Field forms documenting all occurrences of PNHP-listed plants on which we gathered field data 
in 2010 will be submitted to the Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program office at Middletown, 
PA. 
 
 
 
 
6 
 
Results and Conclusions 
 
Implementation of four status changes as a result of this project will add to the scientific 
accuracy of plant status classifications in the Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program by 
reassigning these species to a status that reflects their current conservation status.  In addition 
these plants will be a protected through the Wild Plant Conservation Act and environmental 
review procedures. 
 
In addition, Oldenlandia uniflora, a plant previously unrecorded from Pennsylvania, was 
discovered at Delhaas Woods in Bucks County this year.  This plant is listed as S1 in NY, KY, 
and MO; S2 in NC; S3 in NJ and MD; and, S4 in DE and VA.  This species was recommended 
for PE status in PA and approved by the Vascular Plants Technical Committee.   
 
Our 2010 field studies also resulted in discovery of additional extant  populations of Eupatorium 
album, a plant previously believed to be extirpated in Pennsylvania and now listed as PE. 
 
At this time, after three years of projects funded by the WRCP, we feel we can make no 
additional recommended changes to the TU list without further extensive field, herbarium, 
historic, and taxonomic investigations.  Such studies, although challenging, could be undertaken 
with future funding. 
 
 
Literature Cited 
 
Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. 1988. Pennsylvania Code Title 17. 
Environmental Resources, Chapter 45. Conservation of Pennsylvania Native Wild Plants. 
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Harrisburg, PA. 


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