A Natural Areas Inventory of the - Kansas Natural Heritage Inventory ...

silverband shiner, Notropis shumardi (Girard); and western silvery minnow, Hybognathus
argyritis (Girard).
Several state threatened and endangered species not found during this study still may occur on
FLMR because there is suitable habitat. They include: eastern spotted skunk, Spilogale putorius
(Raf.); redbelly snake, Storeria occipitomaculata (Storer); and smooth earth snake, Virginia
valeriae (Baird & Girard). All suitable woodland habitats in Leavenworth County are designated
as critical habitat for the redbelly snake and the smooth earth snake.
State-rare animals with no protection status documented on FLMR were the broad-winged hawk,
Buteo platypterus (Vieillot), Cooper’s hawk, Accipiter cooperi (Bonaparte), great egret,
Casmerodius albus (Linnaeus), and ovenbird, Seiurus aurocapillus (Linnaeus).
Of 428 species of vertebrates considered potentially to occur on the installation, 292 species
(68%) have been confirmed since 1995. The bird and mammal faunas of FLMR are the best
documented. The level of understanding of the reptile and amphibian fauna on the installation is
intermediate, with fishes being the most poorly studied vertebrate group.
No populations of the federal-listed plant species Asclepias meadii, Platanthera praeclara, or
Trifolium stoloniferum were observed. However, nine of 11 state-rare vascular plant taxa
documented by Freeman et al. (1997) were confirmed as persisting. These were Aster
lateriflorus, Brachyelytrum erectum, Bromus nottowayanus, Hydrophyllum appendiculatum,
Osmorhiza claytonii, Packera glabella, Ranunculus recurvatus var. recurvatus, Stachys pilosa
var. arenicola, and Uvularia grandiflora. Populations of Blephilia hirsuta and Lithospermum
latifolium were not relocated during the 2003 field season, but these may persist. In addition,
Carex radiata, Carex rosea, and Lipocarpha micrantha, three state-rare taxa reported by
Freeman et al. (1997) as occurring on FLMR but not included among the state-rare species
discussed by those authors were confirmed as persisting on the installation, and seven state-rare
taxa were documented as occurring there for the first time. These were Carex crus-corvi, Carex
hirtifolia, Carex hitchcockiana, Carex normalis, Carex tribuloides var. sangamonensis,
Hypericum ascyron, and Rubus alumnus.
Plant surveys of more than 17 sites yielded 267 specimens of vascular plants and bryophytes.
Among these were voucher specimens representing 5 families, 13 genera, 52 species, and 55 taxa
of vascular plants and bryophytes previously undocumented on FLMR, making a total of 103
families, 325 genera, 585 species, and 591 taxa of vascular plants and 18 families, 32 genera, 43
species of bryophytes confirmed on FLMR. Overall, the provenance for, longevity of, and
habitat regularly occupied by taxa reported from FLMR have changed little between 1995–1996
and 2003.
The frequency of certain exotic taxa on the installation indicates that several species, including
Berberis thunbergii, Elaeagnus umbellata, and Ligustrum obtusifolium, cited by Freeman et al.
(1997) as adventive, are better considered naturalized in the area. Moreover, some exotic taxa,
such as Alliaria petiolata, Ligustrum obtusifolium, Lonicera maackii, and Rosa multiflora,
previously reported as rare, are now common, while others, such as Phalaris arundinacea and
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