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

hickory Forest on FLMR. Observations during the 2003 field season confirmed that hairy sweetcicely
is scattered throughout both White oak-Shagbark hickory Forest (Table 4.7, occurrences 1
and 2) and Maple-Basswood Forest (Table 4.7, occurrence 3) on the installation (Figure 4.6),
where it is often found with its more common congener, Osmorhiza longistylis. This species is
known in Kansas from eight recent and historic collections made in six counties in the
northeastern part of the state. Of these, five collections in four counties were made subsequent to
1974 and the populations they represent are considered likely to be extant.
A large population of thousands of individuals of Packera glabella (Poir.) C. Jeffrey
(Asteraceae; floodplain ragwort) was reported by Freeman et al. (1997; as Senecio glabellus
Poir.) in open, wet-mesic to aquatic habitat in the floodplain of the Missouri River, especially in
the depression between the railroad right-of-way and bluffs in the northwest part of FLMR.
Populations of this annual herb may undergo dramatic fluctuation in size from year to year.
However, observations during the 2003 field season confirmed that this population of floodplain
ragwort is stable, slightly larger than it was in 1995–1996 (Figure 4.13). This species is known
in Kansas from 17 recent and historic collections made in nine counties in the eastern part of the
state. Of these, nine collections in six counties were made subsequent to 1975 and the
populations they represent are considered likely to be extant.
A small population of Ranunculus recurvatus Poir. var. recurvatus (Ranunculaceae; eastern
hooked buttercup) was reported by Freeman et al. (1997; as Ranunculus recurvatus Poir.) from a
deep ravine in White oak-Shagbark hickory Forest west-northwest of the National Cemetery.
Observations during the 2003 field season confirmed that eastern hooked buttercup comprises at
least several small subpopulations in mesic ravines (Table 4.7, occurrences 1 and 3) and along
vehicle trails (Table 4.7, occurrence 2) in White oak-Shagbark hickory Forest and on lower
slopes in Maple-Basswood Forest (Table 4.7, occurrence 4; Figure 4.14). This species is known
in Kansas from seven recent and historic collections made in three counties in the eastern part of
the state. Of these, four collections in two counties were made subsequent to 1987 and the
populations they represent are considered likely to be extant.
Two small subpopulations of Rubus alumnus L.H. Bailey (Rosaceae; nursling highbush
blackberry), a thicket-forming shrub, were discovered during the 2003 field season, one along a
power line clearing (Table 4.7, occurrence 1) and the other along an old two-track on an eastfacing
slope in Maple-Basswood Forest (Table 4.7, occurrence 2). It is likely that additional
surveys would reveal that this frequently overlooked species is scattered in openings throughout
the upland forests on FLMR (Figure 4.15). This species is known in Kansas from 17 historic and
recent collections made in 12 counties in the eastern half of the state. This is the first
documented occurrence of nursling highbush blackberry in Leavenworth County.
Stachys pilosa Nutt. var. arenicola (Britton) G.A. Mulligan & D.B. Munro (Lamiaceae;
marsh hedge-nettle) was reported by Freeman et al. (1997; as Stachys palustris L. subsp. pilosa
(Nutt.) Epling) as occurring in scattered locations on the Missouri River floodplain. This
rhizomatous, perennial herb grows in open, mesic to wet-mesic or marshy habitats or at the edge
of floodplain forests or willow thickets. Observations during the 2003 field season confirmed that
marsh hedge-nettle is locally common in disturbed sites in the floodplain, along vehicle trails,
NATURAL AREAS INVENTORY OF FT. LEAVENWORTH II 89