January 2006 Vol. III
No. 6
Ruth Loper, Director Lynn Sherrod, Director 3312
Gail Tyler, TX 75701 jimshowen@aol.com Roberta Gustafson, VP Programs Sonnia Hill, Secretary/Treasurer Elizabeth Parks, VP Field Trips Jane Washburn, VP Membership
Directors &
Officers
Jim Showen, President
Kay Fleming, Newsletter Editor
JANUARY
PROGRAM
For our Chapter meeting in January, Lynn Sherrod will
present a program titled "Invasive Plants.” The program will cover items such as: What is an invasive plant species? Is it
just a weed by another name? What makes
a plant species invasive? Why should we
be concerned? What do invasive plants
do when they invade? Where do they come
from? Do we have any invasive plants
locally that we should be aware of and what can we do about these plants?
These are a few of the questions about invasive
plants that will be addressed in his presentation. Roberta Gustafson
FIELD
TRIPS
We
will probably not have any field trips until it warms up. Hopefully, we
can have one close to home in March, if the weather cooperates. Do you
know of a place that you think our group would love to explore? Let
me know and we will try to schedule it. Thanks for the good attendance
this year. I hope you had as much fun as I did! Elizabeth Parks
ANNOUNCEMENTS AND EVENTS
OCTOBER 2005 SYMPOSIUM REPEAT
The Big Bend Chapter of NPSOT will offer a repeat of the October Symposium Presentations on Feb. 10 and 11, 2006. Because it was necessary to limit attendance, many of the Big Bend Chapter members didn’t get to hear the presentations nor did many NPSOT members from across the state. To remedy that, a two-day program will be offered that will repeat the symposium presentations.
It is hoped that many will take a mid-winter
opportunity to visit the Big Bend, see our beautiful part of the state without
the crowds and possibly find spring coming early “down South,” along the Rio
Grande. As at the October Symposium, the goal is to present the
Trans-Pecos to NPSOT members as completely as possible, and toward that end
they have included presentations on the geology, climate, peoples, plants and
animals of the Big Bend.
The ten presentations by well-known scientists,
anthropologists, geologists will take place in the Fellowship Hall of the
Methodist Church in Fort Davis. There will be no cost to attendees except
$10 for lunch. You may make reservations by e-mail at symposium@npsot.org.
Questions should also go to that e-mail address.
Hotel rooms in Fort Davis should be plentiful, as should camping sites for RV’s
at the Davis Mountains State Park.
We invite you to take a break just before Valentine’s
Day and head out to the Big Bend. If you choose to stay until Feb. 14,
Willie Nelson is playing a benefit concert in Alpine for the new public radio
station in Marfa. Tickets range from standing room at $15 to front row seats at
$50 and are available at www.marfapublicradio.org.
SPRING JOINT SYMPOSIUM “NATIVE PLANTS AS
HABITAT”
The Symposium will be hosted by NPSOT and Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center on Saturday, February 25, 2006, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin.
The Spring Symposium will include a plenary session
reviewing the ecological aspects of native plants as habitat, followed by an
in-depth afternoon of breakout sessions. We will address specific animal
and plant relationships and review current biological research as related to native
plant ecology. Visit the LBJ Wildflower Center website (www.wildflower.org) for complete
information and registration.
Early
Registration: $65 per person
After January 31, 2006: $75 per person
3RD
LONE STAR REGIONAL NATIVE PLANT CONFERENCE
The 3rd Lone Star Regional Native Plant
Conference will be hosted on May 25-28, 2006 by the Stephen F. Austin
University Pineywoods Native Plant Center in Nacogdoches. This conference is in
association with the Cullowhee Native Plant Conference at Western Carolina
University. Speakers will address topics such as East Texas ecosystems,
landscape use of plants, invasive and exotic plants, and conservation efforts.
Field trips will allow you to enjoy the local flora and the hands-on workshops
will include topics such as edible native plants, plant propagation,
photography, and plant identification. http://pnpc.sfasu.edu/
PONDERERINGS
BRASSICACEAE (CRUCIFERAE)
The Mustard Family
By Lynn
Sherrod
The mustard family is cosmopolitan with a predominant
presence in north temperate zones.
There are nearly 400 genera and over 3000 species of mostly herbaceous
plants, often scented with pungent compounds called mustard oils. This family is very common in East Texas and
includes some of our earliest blooming spring annuals and perennials.
It is one of the easiest families to recognize
because the flowers and fruits of all species have common features. The conserved name “Cruciferae” denotes the
major feature of flowers; that is, a “cruciform” or cross-shaped in appearance
when viewed from the top. There are 4
sepals and 4 distinct, separate petals. The petals are paired and opposite each
other. One pair is slightly larger than
the other. There are always at least 4
stamens arranged to coincide with the petals.
In some species, there are 2 additional stamens with shorter filaments
opposite each other. This is referred
to as a “4+2” arrangement. The petals
and stamens together give the cross-like or “cruciform” appearance.
The other common feature is the production of a fruit
with two compartments (carpels) separated by a persistent membrane or septum
(the replum). Seeds are produced in
both cavities. In some species, the
fruit is longer than it is wide and is called a silique. This superficially resembles a legume,
except legumes have only one seed cavity.
If the fruit is wider than it is long, it is called a silicle.
Mustards may be small herbaceous annuals or
perennials or occasionally shrubs.
Leaves are usually alternate but may be opposite or whorled, simple or
pinnate.
This family has considerable economic
importance. Many important garden
vegetables such as cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, kale, brussels sprouts,
collards, and kohlrabi are included under the collective name “kohl”
crops. The original meaning of this
term comes from the German word for cabbage.
In fact, all of these plants are simply varieties of the same species, Brassica oleracea. They have been highly modified through
selection and differ greatly in appearance.
The edible parts differ among this group. We eat the buds of broccoli and cauliflower, the leaves of
cabbage, kale, brussels sprouts, and collards and the stem of kohlrabi.
That is, some people eat these vegetables. Of all the types of food, the kohl crops
seem to engender the most divisive opinions.
Some people love them while others cannot tolerate them. One reason is
that they smell while cooking. This is
due to the sulfur-containing amino acids they have which volatilize and turn to
sulfuric acid. Also, to many people
they leave a bitter aftertaste. This
may be due to differences in genetic makeup.
Some people are unable to perceive the bitter mustard oils (non-tasters)
while others do taste it (tasters). So,
when your child (or grandchild) balks at eating his broccoli, you should accept
that it might simply not taste good to him.
Other common vegetables of this family include turnip
and Chinese cabbage (Brassica. rapa),
rutabaga (B. napobrassica), and
radish (Raphanus sativus). Other well-known examples are horseradish (Amoracea rusticana) and the plants from
which the condiment mustard is prepared (Brassica.
nigra, B. juncea, and Sinapsis alba).
Rapeseed oil prepared from B. napus has numerous industrial uses. Because of high quantities of crucic acid, this oil is
unpalatable. However, when refined to
eliminate the component it is known as canola oil.
Ornamental mustards include Matthiola (stock), Lobularia
maritime (sweet alyssum), Iberis
(candy-tuft), and Erysimium
(wallflower).
Probably one of the most familiar examples of this family is the early spring weed Draba reptans. A close relative is Cardamine parviflora. Neither of these has an accepted common name though Cardamine is sometimes called bittercress. They differ only in the fact that Draba has very small hairs along the stem, which Cardamine lacks. Otherwise, they are identical. Other common lawn weeds are peppergrass (Lepidium virginicum), which is named due to the pepper taste induced by the oil when the fruit or leaves are chewed; and, shepherd’s purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris), which was named after the fancied resemblance of the fruit to a miniature leather pouch.
Contributions to Newsletter
The
newsletter is normally printed monthly, September through May. Members are
encouraged to submit articles for publication in the newsletter. Contributions will be considered on the
basis of interest, suitability, and available space. Grammar and spelling corrections will be made at the discretion
of the editor. Email your articles and announcements to the
editor at kfleming@mycvc.net or mail to Kay Fleming, 809 E. Clinton, Athens, TX
75751. If you are able to receive your
newsletter by Email, please send Kay your Email address. This will save the
Chapter mailing expenses.
If
you have never attended one of our meetings, and you are interested in learning
more about native plants and their habitats, we invite you to give us a visit.
We have a good time! Our meetings are normally held at the Walter Fair United
Methodist Church in Tyler on the first Monday of each month, September through
May. Walter Fair United Methodist
Church is located just off 5th Street (Highway 64) at 1712 Old Omen Road, east of Loop 323.
NPSOT, Tyler Chapter
c/o: Kay Fleming
809 E. Clinton
Athens,
TX 75751