Partch Woods:  Checklist of Species

prepared by

Stephen G. Saupe, Ph.D

College of Saint Benedict/Saint John’s University

Biology Department

Pengl 335

Collegeville, MN 56321

Tel: 320-363-2782; Fax 320-363-3202

The following checklist (Table 1) reports the species observed during a visit to Partch Woods on May 11, 2001.  The botanical team included Craig Anderson (MN DNR); Dr. Jorge Arriagada and one of his students (St. Cloud State University, Biology Department); and Dr. Stephen G. Saupe and Katrina Viegas (College of St. Benedict/St. John’s University; Biology Department).  The team was at the site for approximately two hours and randomly walked from the parking area to the wetland area near the western edge of the site.  Species were recorded as they were encountered.  All identifications were by sight with the exception of R. cynosbati and B. virginianum, for which small samples were collected for identification purposes.  The names follow Ownbey and Morley (1991). 

The plants we observed (Table 1) were typical for a basswood–maple forest.  We were surprised to find a small population of ginseng (Panax quinquefolia), a plant of special concern in Minnesota.  We had expected to find Dutchman’s breeches (Dicentra cucullaria) but did not.

For more information about the plants of this area, check out the excellent long-term study conducted by Dr. Max Partch (1995) that summarizes his many seasons of collecting field data. 

References

• Ownbey, G. and T. Morley.  1991.  Vascular Plants of Minnesota, A Checklist and Atlas. University of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis.

• Partch, M. (1995) Vegetation changes in a central-Minnesota hardwood forest over 27 years.  St. Cloud, self-published (QK168 .P38 1995)