This object is either not yet digitized or not digitally available. To learn how to gain access, please contact the Sterling Morton Library at library@mortonarb.org or (630) 719-2429.
Restoration Status of the Federal Threatened Mead's Milkweed (Asclepias meadii) in Illinois and Indiana as part of "Proceedings of the Northern Illinois Prairie Workshop"
3.114777
Digitized
(Item)
Book
2001
The digitized document in this record is the chapter: Restoration Status of the Federal Threatened Mead's Milkweed (Asclepias meadii) in Illinois and Indiana, which is a part of the full document "Proceedings of the Northern Illinois Prairie Workshop".
Mead’s milkweed is a federal threatened perennial prairie forb of undisturbed Midwestern
prairies. This species is self-incompatible, and the few remaining eastern populations have been
fragmented into small clones that no longer reproduce. Recovery will require restoration of genetically
diverse populations capable of reproduction. Following state and federal recovery planning guidelines,
Mead's milkweed has been experimentally restored to one Indiana and eight Illinois sites. Most
restorations have been in small high quality prairie remnants and have compared the efficiency of planting either seeds or one-year old juvenile nursery stock propagated at The Morton Arboretum. After six years, these restored populations average about 60 plants each, with about 20 different genetic lines represented in each restoration. This species flowers after 3-4 years in cultivation, but requires a longer period of growth to a threshold flowering size in the field. Juvenile plantings have had about 26% survivorship with five or fewer plants flowering annually since 1995; but seed production did not occur until 2000. Seed
plantings have had 33% germination and 34% seedling survivorship, but with almost no growth and complete lack of flowering. Seedling survivorship is enhanced by fire and greater than normal rainfall,
while juvenile survivorship has a greater positive response to fire than rainfall. Continued restoration
efforts, coupled with fire management, are needed to create viable restored populations of this species.
prairies. This species is self-incompatible, and the few remaining eastern populations have been
fragmented into small clones that no longer reproduce. Recovery will require restoration of genetically
diverse populations capable of reproduction. Following state and federal recovery planning guidelines,
Mead's milkweed has been experimentally restored to one Indiana and eight Illinois sites. Most
restorations have been in small high quality prairie remnants and have compared the efficiency of planting either seeds or one-year old juvenile nursery stock propagated at The Morton Arboretum. After six years, these restored populations average about 60 plants each, with about 20 different genetic lines represented in each restoration. This species flowers after 3-4 years in cultivation, but requires a longer period of growth to a threshold flowering size in the field. Juvenile plantings have had about 26% survivorship with five or fewer plants flowering annually since 1995; but seed production did not occur until 2000. Seed
plantings have had 33% germination and 34% seedling survivorship, but with almost no growth and complete lack of flowering. Seedling survivorship is enhanced by fire and greater than normal rainfall,
while juvenile survivorship has a greater positive response to fire than rainfall. Continued restoration
efforts, coupled with fire management, are needed to create viable restored populations of this species.
"Restoration Status of the Federal Threatened Mead's Milkweed in Illinois and Indiana"
Calendar Year 2001 Staff Publications
Publications
Plant Conservation at The Morton Arboretum
Calendar Year 2001 Staff Publications
Publications
Plant Conservation at The Morton Arboretum
English
This object is either not yet digitized or not digitally available. To learn how to gain access, please contact the Sterling Morton Library at library@mortonarb.org or (630) 719-2429.
