The Plant Corner

In each newsletter, we will highlight one native plant species and one invasive plant species found in our region.  

Invasive
Japanese knotwood (Fallopia japonica)
 
    

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TALLGRASS RESTORATION ASSISTS EAGLE SCOUTS IN A LOCAL RESTORATION PROJECT

Two Boy Scouts from Elkhorn, Wisconsin, working in coordination with Mark Steinfest, a Civil Engineering Technician with the Natural Resources Conservation Service, are restoring four flood distressed properties on Silver Lake and North Lake in Walworth County.  The plan involves restoring native prairie and savanna communities as well as installing wood duck nesting boxes in abandoned lots owned by the Township of Sugar Creek.  The four lots, totaling about one acre in size, once had homes on them prior to being flooded out and condemned in 2008. FEMA bought the parcels, demolished the dwellings, and turned ownership and maintenance responsibilities over to Sugar Creek.  Currently the Township mows the lots several times during the summer to keep the weeds down. The hope is that by restoring these lakefront lots the habitat created will benefit local wildlife populations, reduce erosion and maintenance costs, add scenic beauty to the area as well as offer a learning opportunity for the boys as they work towards achieving their Eagle Scout Rank.

Tallgrass became involved when Mark Steinfest and the two scouts, Adam Prince and Austin Morgon, approached Chris Kaplan who runs the Tallgrass office in Milton. Tallgrass offered to assist in the project by donating herbicide to kill off the existing weeds and turf, as well as provide all the seed that would be needed to restore the sites. There was only one catch... that the boys would need to harvest the seeds themselves. Chris took the boys, along with parents, grandparents and fellow scouts, to the 215 acre Tallgrass Farm located at 3129 E County Highway N in Milton to harvest seed from the extensive restored prairies. Seed collection took place on two separate days, one early and one late in October. This was done to capture a wider range of species as the seed of the native species matures at different times.   Below are a few pictures of the seed collection: 

The group harvests Obedient Plant (Physostegia virginiana) seed

 

Adam Prince holds the rattle-like seed pods of Wild White Indigo (Baptisia leucantha)

 

 

Austin carefully cuts and collects the showy goldenrod (Solidago speciosa) seed before it flies away

 

 

 

Austin and his grandmother pose with Adam and his parents holding up some of the seed they collected

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After the seed was collected, Adam and Austin laid it out to dry.  Once it dries, they will clean the seed.  This cleaning process is done by shaking, stirring, and agitating the harvested material to free the seeds from the stems.  Following cleaning, the seed will be blended into two mixes, one for the sunny prairie areas and one for the shady savanna areas.  The seed will finally be hand sown this November to overwinter in the soil and germinate in the following spring.  Following germination, and up through the first couple of years critical to establish the cover, Adam and Austin will work with the Township of Sugar Creek to maintain the newly seeded areas. Tallgrass is proud of its involvement in this project and will continue to offer support going forward.   Good work Austin and Adam!

 

  

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MEDICINAL PLANTS
 

In our last issue we focused on "Edible Plants," and decided to share some information on certain plants that have been used for medicinal purposes. 

White Wild Indigo (Baptisia alba)

White Wild Indigo

Native Americans used white wild indigo for several  medicinal purposes.  It was used to treat colds, scarlet fever, typhus, eczema, and dysentery. When combined with senega snakeroot it helps to treat snakebites. It was considered a stimulant and a treatment for cuts. This plant can be toxic therefore experimenting with it is not advised.

Boneset

 Boneset  (Eupatorium perfoliatum)

Boneset was a favorite remedy of Native Americans, who primarily used it to treat fevers.  The early settlers used the plant to treat rheumatism, dropsy, dengue fever, malaria, pneumonia, and influenza.  In fact, the name "boneset" is derived from the use of this plant in treating a form of influenza which due to the pain accompanying it was called breakbone fever. Boneset was also used as a diuretic and laxative in small doses, while in large doses it was used to induce vomiting.  Although there are few reports of adverse effects with the use of boneset, the FDA has classified boneset as an "Herb of Undefined Safety."

Echinacea purpurea syn E. angustifoli, Purple Coneflower

Echinacea

The Plain Indians (Comanche and Sioux) used the purple coneflower for the treatment of upper respiratory infections, burns, snakebites, and cancers. It has been demonstrated that plant extracts from the purple coneflower stimulate the immune system to combat bacterial and viral infections. It also possesses antibiotic properties.   

Horsetail

Horsetail (Equisetum arvense)

Horsetail has been used as an herbal remedy as far back as Roman and Greek times. It is an extremely effective diuretic which is why it has traditionally been used as a treatment for illnesses related to retention of liquids, such as diabetes, obesity, and kidney disease.  Other uses were to stop bleeding, heal ulcers and wounds, and treat tuberculosis. In addition, horsetail contains silicon, which plays a role in strengthening bone. For that reason, it is sometimes suggested as a treatment for osteoporosis. Recently, studies have suggested that horsetail has antioxidant properties and may inhibit cancer cell growth. Modern science has yet to unravel horsetail's medical properties completely.  However, in the interim exercise caution in using horsetail as it is listed as a "hazardous" plant by the University of Wisconsin Herbarium meaning that "[s]ome part of these plants MAY be known to be mildly to severely toxic to either animals and/or humans." 

Yarrow

Achillea millefolium, Yarrow
 

Achilles, the great hero of the Trojan War in Homer's "Iliad", is reported to have used yarrow to stop the flow of blood from his wounds inflicted in battle. It has been scientifically proven that this plant has substances that have blood clotting and anti-inflammatory properties. In the Middle Ages in Europe, yarrow tea was taken to stop internal bleeding. Micmac Indians drank it with warm milk to treat upper respiratory infections.

Tallgrass Restoration Project Receives Chicago Wilderness Award

Valley Lakes Community Association of Round Lake received the Conservation and National Landscaping Award from Chicago Wilderness and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The association was honored for its work restoring 273 acres of wetlands and 21 ponds in the Fox Valley watershed. Also cited in the award notice was Tallgrass Restoration, LLC of Schaumburg, which has worked with Valley Lakes Community Association since spring 2006 to design native shorelines and create wetland management plans. Award organizers called the association "a model of citizen stewardship and grassroots environmental education." The award recognizes local government agencies, individuals, and businesses for "exemplary natural landscaping and conservation development."

Prairie 101 - How to recognize a prairie...  
 

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Government Programs 

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Tallgrass Anniversaries: