Seeding the Cumberlands Seed Collection Update

by Sally Wencel
Starting in September 2010, volunteers have embarked from various points on the Cumberland Trail under the guidance of Tennessee State Park Interpretive Ranger Terri Ballinger to collect seeds for the Seeding the Cumberlands project. Trips have ranged from short walks of 1 mile or less to more arduous treks like Barker Camp where collectors traveled up to 5 miles of hilly terrain on unimproved logging trails.   Seeds of native plant species were collected using seed collection protocols established by the Seeds of Success program and based on need for reforestation of newly donated land being incorporated into the Cumberland Trail State Scenic Trail. As seed stores increase, additional seed will be contributed to the National seed bank and the Kew Millennium Seed Bank.

Master Gardener volunteers are learning native plant species identification as well as seed collection techniques. A side benefit is getting exercise in the great outdoors and experiencing original, historic forest landscapes. The table below details the species collected and the collection dates and locations.

Seed Cleaning

Volunteers who were unable to participate on seed collection hikes also assisted the project by cleaning seeds and preparing seeds for storage (Walden Town Hall provides the work space). Preparation includes washing, winnowing, sieving, and pulping or macerating berries. Volunteers also assisted in weighing and packaging seeds for mailing to the USDA storage facility.

Phase Two:  Propagation

Planning is underway for the next phase of this project: propagating seeds, propagules and whips.  Several individuals have volunteered greenhouses and cold frame space to assist with propagation. These volunteers will be trained to tend the whips that will be collected in the next few weeks. Also, we are collecting one quart to one gallon containers to be used to hold transplanted trees (whips) and shrubs. Several MGs have volunteered to provide this space and greenhouse supplies.   Persons interested in donation supplies or greenhouse space may contact Terri Ballinger at (423) 262-9852.

	Species Name	Common Name	Location	Date	Habitat
	Aralia spinosa	Devil’s walking stick	Barker Camp	10/2/10	Mesic forest
	Asimina triloba	Pawpaw	Barker Camp	10/2/10	Mesic forest
	Bidens polylepsis Bidens aristosa	Ozark Tickseed Sunflower	Rock Creek – lower loop	10/16/10	Creek bank
	Calycanthus floridus	Carolina allspice	Falling Water  Barker Camp Flippers Bend	9/15/10 10/2/2010  11/1/10	Mesic forest
	Carpinus caroliniana	American Hornbeam	Rock Creek – lower loop	10/16/10	Creek bank
	Cephalanthus occidentalis	Buttonbush	Rock Creek – lower loop	10/16/10  11/20/10	Creek bank
	Cirsium discolor (Muhl. ex Willd.) Spreng.	Field thistle	Rock Creek – lower loop	10/23/10	dry-mesic prairie
	Chasmanthium laxum	Slender wood oats	Rock Creek – lower loop	11/20/10	Mesic forest
	Chimaphila maculata	Pipsissewa	Flippers Bend	11/1/10	Mesic forest
	Dioscoria villosa	Wild yam	Flippers Bend	11/1/10	Mesic forest
	Diospyros virginiana	Common persimmon	Barkers Camp	10/2/10	dry-mesic prairie
	Erechtites hieraciifolia	Pilewort	Rock Creek – lower loop	10/16/10  11/20/10	Creek bank
	Euonymus americanum	Hearts-a-bustin	Falling Water Barker Camp	10/16/10 10/2/10	Mesic forest
	Eupatorium fistulosum	Hollow Joe-Pye weed	Rock Creek – lower loop	10/16/10  11/20/10	Creek bank
	Goodyera pubescens	Rattlesnake plantain	Flippers Bend	11/1/10	Mesic forest
	Hieracium gronovii	Harry hawkweed	Flippers Bend	11/1/10	dry-mesic prairie
	Ilex opaca	American holly	Barker Camp	10/30/10	Mesic forest
	Ipomoea pandurata	Wild potato	Barker Camp	10/30/10	Mesic forest
	Itea virginica	Virginia sweetspire	Rock Creek – lower loop	11/20/10	Creek bank
	Kalmia latifolia	Mountain laurel	Barker Camp Barker Camp	10/2/10 10/30/10	Mesic forest
	Liatris pycnostachya Michx	Prairie blazing star	Flippers Bend	10/23/10	Dry-mesic prairie
	Liatris spicata	Dense blazing star	Flippers Bend	10/23/10	Dry-mesic prairie
	Lobelia cardinalis	Cardinal flower	Rock Creek -lower Barker Camp	10/16/10 10/30/10	Creek bank
	Ludwigia alternifolia	Seedbox	Rock Creek -lower	10/16/10	Creek bank
	Magnolia acuminata	Cucumber magnolia	Barker Camp Barker CampRock Creek – lower loop	10/2/10 10/30/1011/20/10	Mesic forest
	Maianthemum racemosum	Solomon’s plume	Flippers Bend	10/23/10	Mesic forest
	Mimulus ringens	Allegheny monkey flower	Rock Creek – lower loop	11/20/10	Creekbed
	Mitchella repens	Partridgeberry	Upper Falling WaterFlipper Bend  Rock Creek – lower loop	9/18/1011/1/10  11/20/10	Mesic forest
	Oxydendron arboreum	Sourwood	Flippers Bend	10/23/10	Dry-mesic prairie
	Photinia pyrifolia aka Aronia arbutifolia	Red chokeberry	Flippers Bend	10/23/10	Dry-mesic prairie
	Polygonatum biflorum	Solomon’s seal	Flippers Bend	10/23/10	Mesic forest
	Pycnanthemum virginianum	Mountain mint	Barker Camp	10/2/10	Mesic forest
	Rhexia virginica	Rhexia	Flippers Bend Barker Camp	10/23/10 10/30/10	Dry-mesic prairie Mesic forest
	Rhododendron maximum	Great laurel	Upper Falling Water	9/18/10	Mesic forest
	Rhus copallinum	Winged sumac	Barker Camp	10/2/10	Mesic forest
	Schizachyrium scoparium	Little bluestem	Flippers Bend	10/23/10	Dry-mesic prairie
	Scirpus cyperinus	Woolgrass	Barker Camp	10/30/10	Mesic forest
	Smilax rotundifolia	Greenbriar vine	Barker Camp	10/2/10  10/30/10	Dry-mesic prairie  Mesic forest
	Solidago gigantium	Giant goldenrod	Flippers Bend	10/23/10	dry-mesic prairie
	Tsuga canadensis	Eastern hemlock	Falling Water  Barker Camp	9/18/10  10/30/10	Mesic forest
	Viburnum acerifolium	Mapleleaf viburnum	Falling Water	9/15/10	Mesic forest
	Xanthorhiza simplicissima	Yellowroot	Rock Creek – lower loop	11/20/10	Mesic forest

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