New York Flora Association Blog

From the Long Island Botanical Society:

Corydalis sempervirens, pink corydalis (Fumariaceae, the Fumitory Family; formerly included in the Papaveraceae, the Poppy Family). This delicate, showy spring wildflower is very rare on Long Island; the LIBS draft atlas of vascular plants records it from only one unspecified locality in Suffolk County. On 30 May 2009, George Dadone found a naturally occurring population of pink corydalis at the former Pilgrim State Hospital property in Edgewood. Rich Kelly, Donald House, and Paul and Mary Beth Tomko accompanied George.
Silene caroliniana ssp. pensylvanica, wild pink (Caryophyllaceae, the Pink Family). Rich Kelly, Donald House, et al. observed a small population of this state-listed, rare plant at the former Pilgrim State Hospital property in Edgewood on 30 May 2009. Steve Young of NYNHP has been closely monitoring this species in New York and has reported a decline in occurrences possibly due to browsing by herbivores.

Euphorbia ipecacuanhae, ipecac spurge (Euphorbiaceae, the Spurge Family). This species is at its northern range limit on Long Island; in New York, it is known only from Suffolk County where it usually occurs in extremely nutrient poor, well drained, dry sandy soils. Usually, occurrences on L.I. consist of very few individuals (fewer than a dozen widely scattered individuals). On 30 May 2009, Rich Kelly, Donald House, et al. observed three widely scattered individuals of ipecac spurge at the former Pilgrim State Hospital property in Edgewood.

Ipecac plant at Edgewood. Photo: Steve Young

Viola pedata, bird’s foot violet (Violaceae, the Violet Family). On 31 May 2009, John Heidecker observed a large colony of bird’s foot violet in full flower growing in sandy soil along Grumman Blvd. in Calverton, a short distance from the Swan Lake Golf Course. Thirty years ago, this showy violet was relatively common throughout regions of Long Island, but today it is rarely observed. The decline of this species on L.I. is mostly attributed to habitat destruction, road expansion and maintenance projects, and chemical herbicides applied along the borders of railroad tracks.

Viola pedata at Edgewood. Photo: Steve Young

This entry was posted on September 25, 2009 at 1:29 am and is filed under Plant Sightings. You can subscribe via RSS 2.0 feed to this post's comments. You can comment below, or link to this permanent URL from your own site.