Spring ephemeral flowers are an important food resource for early-season pollinators such as flies and native bees. Without ephemerals, these early foragers would go hungry because nothing else is in bloom. In return for their pollen and nectar, pollinators move pollen from flower to flower—an important step in plant reproduction that allows plants to produce…
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Downy paintbrush (Castilleja sessiliflora) is a wildflower native to dry prairies in the central United States. Though considered secure throughout most of its range, downy paintbrush is endangered in Illinois. Troublingly, recent research has indicated that downy paintbrush experiences low fruit set in Illinois, meaning it may be struggling to produce healthy seeds. While this…
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…at the Field Museum herbarium, that is! On March 17th, instead of watching the Chicago River being colored green and enjoying green carbonated beverages, a group of local botany enthusiasts from the Northeast Chapter of the Illinois Native Plant Society visited the Field Museum herbarium to look at rare plant collections, including the exclusive and…
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The Illinois Native Plant Society Research Fund promotes the study and conservation of Illinois native plants and ecosystems through scientific research. This program supports projects by graduate students, faculty, land managers, and community scientists. Grant awards range from $500 to $1500 and are intended for one-year projects. The INPS Central Chapter may provide additional funding for…
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The ‘Naturalist at Large’ by the retired biology professor Bernd Heinrich is a feature in the Natural History Magazine; always a favorite of mine. In the last issue of the magazine he writes about ‘The Lives of Trees in the Forest [Growing up in a tough neighborhood]’. Last year in his northern New England woods…
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Due Date: March 31, 2019 The final reports for the 2018 Research Grants are due no later then March 31, 2019. Grant recipients should review the Final Report Requirements on the 2018 Research Grants page. Once you have reviewed the requirements and gotten the necessary files prepared, you can submit your final report by following…
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April 5-7, 2019 John A. Logan College, Carterville, IL Understanding the Research Behind Local Conservation Southern Illinois is known to be one of the most biologically diverse places in the Midwest, and the Shawnee National Forest, the related state and federal lands, and our large private holdings contain the most magnificent examples of that diversity.…
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A nice colony of Pale-spike Lobelia [Lobelia spicata] is in early bloom in my garden as I sit here one of the last days in June. It is a rather dainty species as compared to its well-known relatives, the robust Great Blue Lobelia and the Cardinal Flower and therefore perhaps less well known. The flower color…
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-Mary Ring, Plant Sale Chair The INPS Central Chapter’s plant sale again was a resounding success, the result of the phenomenal efforts of the chapter’s talented and dedicated growers and volunteers. And again, customers began claiming their positions in the opening line beginning at 7:45 a.m., patiently waiting for the 9:00 opening. Between 125 and…
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Rare plants, unusual plants, that were some alternate headings that came to mind. This exploration is prompted by a long list of plants that I have come across over a period of time that had not previously recorded from ‘my neck of the woods’. They were often far removed from their main area of distribution.…
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