Noteworthy Collections from the District of Columbia and Maryland

Castanea, Jun 2004 by Steury, Brent W

Chaenorrhinum minus (L.) Lange (SCROPHULARIACEAE)-District of Columbia: Anacostia Park, gravelly edge of parking area near south end of park, 29 june 2000, Steury 000629.1, (National Capital Parks-East Herbarium, US). Seventeen plants observed in flower and fruit over a distance of 3 m.

Significance. This is the first record of Chaenorrhinum minus (dwarf-snapdragon or lesser toadflax) for the District of Columbia. Native to Europe, this species has been introduced on waste places in North America from British Columbia to Quebec, south to Oregon, Texas, and Georgia (Gleason and Cronquist 1991, Kartesz 1999).

Saccharum ravennae (L.) L. (POACEAE)-District of Columbia: Anacostia Park, Poplar Point, meadow, 16 October 2000, Steury 001016.1, (National Capital Parks-East Herbarium, US). At least fourteen tufts occurred scattered over approximately 23.6 hectares. These are probably escapes from a nearby abandoned greenhouse.

Significance. This is the first record of Saccharum ravennae (ravenna grass) for the District of Columbia. Native to southern Europe, this species has been reported in North America in a band across the central United States from California to Tennessee, ranging north to Michigan and south to Florida, but not established on the East Coast except in Georgia and Maryland (Bailey and Bailey 1976, Kartesz 1999).

MARYLAND

Spergula morisonii Boreau (CARYOPHYLLACEAE)-Prince Georges County: Bowie, fallow field on bare soil along the east side of Church Road just south of Rt. 214 and north of Black Branch, 20 April 2002, Steury 020420.1 (RM, MICH, US). Thousands of plants observed in flower and fruit on the date of collection.

Significance. This is the first record for Maryland. Native to Europe, this taxon has been reported from North America only in New Jersey (Gleason and Cronquist 1991, Kartesz 1999).

Fatoua villosa (Thunb.) Nakai (MORACEAE)-Baltimore City: Alleyway near corner of Biddle and Lovegrove Streets, 15 August 2000, Steury and Saffer 990800 (US); Montgomery County: Takoma Park, yard, 30 September 1990, F. Meyer 22475 (NA).

Significance. These are the first records for Maryland and the northern most sites known for this species along the East Coast of North America. Native to eastern Asia, Fatoua villosa (mulberry weed) is established in North America along the West Coast in California and Washington and in the east from Texas to Missouri, Ohio, and Virginia (Kartesz 1999).

Anoda cristata (L.) Schlecht. (MALVACEAE)-Queen Annes County: Chino Farms, edge of agricultural field, 10 October 2002, Steury 021010.5 (US).

Significance. This is the first known record for Maryland. Anoda cristata (crested anoda) is native to the southwestern United States and tropical America (Gleason and Cronquist 1991). Along the East Coast of North America it has been reported as adventive from Florida to New York and Ontario, including the District of Columbia and all states bordering Maryland, except for Delaware (Kartesz 1999).

Appreciation is extended to B. Isaac (CM), R. Naczi (DOV), E. Terrell (MARY), and K. Conrad (NA) for checking their collections.-BRENT W. STEURY, NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, 1900 ANACOSTIA DRIVE, S.E., WASHINGTON, D.C. 20020. email address: Brent_Steury@nps.gov