The Search for Linnaea borealis The Story of Expedition 1

The Search The Search for Linnaea borealis for Linnaea borealis

The StoryThe Storyof Expedition 1of Expedition 1

May 27-28, 2006May 27-28, 2006

The background…The background…

• The story of Linnaea in The story of Linnaea in TennesseeTennessee

Looking for LinnaeaLooking for LinnaeaOne of Tennessee’s N One of Tennessee’s N

speciesspecies

Linnaea borealisLinnaea borealis

LinnaeaLinnaea in Tennessee in Tennessee First & last First & last observation Sevier observation Sevier County “in County “in Mountain woods” Mountain woods” Albert Ruth Albert Ruth August 11, 1892August 11, 1892

A circumpolar plant A circumpolar plant Linnaeus knew in SwedenLinnaeus knew in Sweden• The green dot shows the range The green dot shows the range

extension that the Ruth specimen extension that the Ruth specimen representsrepresents

A beautiful but delicate A beautiful but delicate native wildflower is the native wildflower is the icon of Linnaeus himselficon of Linnaeus himself

Carolus Carolus LinnaeusLinnaeus

1707-17781707-1778

Father of Father of taxonomy & taxonomy & the binomialthe binomial

Systema naturae Systema naturae (1735)(1735)

Species plantarum Species plantarum (1753)(1753)

Genera plantarum Genera plantarum (1754)(1754)

1844-19321844-1932

Collected by Albert Ruth Collected by Albert Ruth then living in Knoxvillethen living in Knoxville

Note he wrote the label Note he wrote the label after his move to Texasafter his move to Texas

Bought after Ruth’s Bought after Ruth’s death from his daughter death from his daughter in Texas because the UTK in Texas because the UTK Herbarium burned to the Herbarium burned to the ground in 1934ground in 1934

1904-19971904-1997

Identity and significance Identity and significance recognized by renowned recognized by renowned UT Botanist Jack SharpUT Botanist Jack Sharp

Location is equal to Location is equal to 25,000 acres! 25,000 acres!

Need GPS!Need GPS!

Ruth never brought the Ruth never brought the specimen to anyone’s specimen to anyone’s attention because he attention because he mis-id’ed it after moving mis-id’ed it after moving to Texas! We need DNA to Texas! We need DNA Barcodes!Barcodes!

DNA Barcodes DNA Barcodes of lifeof life

1707-17781707-1778

Father of Father of taxonomy & taxonomy & the binomialthe binomial

Systema naturae Systema naturae (1735)(1735)

Species plantarum Species plantarum (1753)(1753)DNA Barcodes: DNA segments DNA Barcodes: DNA segments

that map well on taxonomythat map well on taxonomy

DNA Barcodes will DNA Barcodes will challenge the nature of challenge the nature of Linnaean taxonomyLinnaean taxonomy

Linnaea borealis,Linnaea borealis,Pictures found by JuliePictures found by Julie

The preparation…The preparation…• Old maps:Old maps: Where was Ruth in Where was Ruth in

1892? Where did roads penetrate 1892? Where did roads penetrate the high elevations in Sevier the high elevations in Sevier County, Tennessee?County, Tennessee?

• Answer:Answer: 2 places, (1) vicinity of 2 places, (1) vicinity of Newfound Gap Road but crossing Newfound Gap Road but crossing mts at Indian Gap AND (2) road mts at Indian Gap AND (2) road along Porters Creek from the along Porters Creek from the thriving Greenbrier Community…thriving Greenbrier Community…the road becoming a trail up and the road becoming a trail up and over Dry Sluice Gapover Dry Sluice Gap

• We target Porters Creek because it We target Porters Creek because it is so remote and because it is so remote and because it harbors the Northern Tree, Heart-harbors the Northern Tree, Heart-leaved Paper Birch (the only TN leaved Paper Birch (the only TN locale, not discovered until 1970s), locale, not discovered until 1970s), which occurs with Linnaea in the which occurs with Linnaea in the NorthNorth

• There are steep N-facing rocky There are steep N-facing rocky places above 4000 ft that would places above 4000 ft that would seem ideal for the huntseem ideal for the hunt

• Also Greenbrier was a thriving Also Greenbrier was a thriving community in Ruth’s daycommunity in Ruth’s day

We found 2 old mapsWe found 2 old maps

• 1893 USGS Quad for Mt Guyot1893 USGS Quad for Mt Guyot– This map has some inaccuracies as This map has some inaccuracies as

you will seeyou will see

• 1934 East Half of Great Smoky Mts 1934 East Half of Great Smoky Mts National ParkNational Park

1893 USGS Mt Guyot 1893 USGS Mt Guyot QuadQuad


Closer-upCloser-up

Note LeConte is NOT on Note LeConte is NOT on the stateline!the stateline!


Closer-up againCloser-up again

Note Road follows creek Note Road follows creek to 3300 ft and becomes to 3300 ft and becomes pathpath

1934 Park Map, E Half1934 Park Map, E Half

Path follows Porters Path follows Porters Creek to Dry Sluice Creek to Dry Sluice GapGap

1934 Park Map, E Half1934 Park Map, E Half

Closer upCloser up

The Start: 8:30 am, May The Start: 8:30 am, May 2727thth

Jess, Mark, Julie, Gillian, Jess, Mark, Julie, Gillian, Keith Lily, Rose, Carol AnnKeith Lily, Rose, Carol Ann

The picture Julie held up in The picture Julie held up in the previous slidethe previous slide

Oxalis montanaOxalis montana

Stream crossing 1Stream crossing 1Later we didn’t bother taking off our shoesLater we didn’t bother taking off our shoesRose, Julie, Carol Ann, Keith (actually Keith Rose, Julie, Carol Ann, Keith (actually Keith

didn’t bother even here)didn’t bother even here)

Rose and Keith get Rose and Keith get interested in a snail at interested in a snail at

Campsite 31Campsite 31If we had a video, we could If we had a video, we could show its spinning behavior!show its spinning behavior!

Debris avalanche at 4360 ft Debris avalanche at 4360 ft

Young pin cherry Young pin cherry

Julie in debris scarJulie in debris scarIt was BigIt was Big

Dave Scanlon says Dave Scanlon says that this scar that this scar

happened in 1984 happened in 1984 because he hiked because he hiked the area before it the area before it occurred that year occurred that year and the Smoky Mt and the Smoky Mt Hiking Club came Hiking Club came to the fresh scar to the fresh scar just hrs or days just hrs or days

after it happened after it happened later that same later that same

yearyear

Clintonia borealisClintonia borealis

On the Way Down: Porters Creek TrailOn the Way Down: Porters Creek TrailTree in picture on RightTree in picture on Right

is World Champion Carya cordiformis tho is World Champion Carya cordiformis tho listed as Carya ovalis by AFA (says Jess)listed as Carya ovalis by AFA (says Jess)

Key elevations on the following Key elevations on the following mapsmaps

• Lester Prong jct with Porters Creek is Lester Prong jct with Porters Creek is at 3960 ftat 3960 ft

• Branch to E to Porters Gap is at 3950 Branch to E to Porters Gap is at 3950 ft; 1934 map says BM 3967 ftft; 1934 map says BM 3967 ft

• Heart-lvd paper birch photographed Heart-lvd paper birch photographed by Peter ca. 1980 is at 4310-4350 ft by Peter ca. 1980 is at 4310-4350 ft as recorded by altimeter back thenas recorded by altimeter back then

• This tree died (according to Janet This tree died (according to Janet Rock) and the area may have been Rock) and the area may have been affected by a larger debris avalancheaffected by a larger debris avalanche

• Heart-lvd paper birch population Heart-lvd paper birch population mapped by Janet Rock in the 1990s is mapped by Janet Rock in the 1990s is located W of the location of that tree located W of the location of that tree at 4400 ft and just belowat 4400 ft and just below

• Dry Sluice Gap is at 5375 ftDry Sluice Gap is at 5375 ft

Purple dots are Purple dots are Peter’s GPS pts Peter’s GPS pts on Porters Creek on Porters Creek ManwayManwayHatched area is Hatched area is location of Heart-location of Heart-lvd Paper Birch lvd Paper Birch population (only population (only one in TN)one in TN)Brown outline is Brown outline is debris avalanche debris avalanche from Vegetation from Vegetation MapMapRed dot is Miller Red dot is Miller Plot (No. Plot (No. Hardwoods)Hardwoods)

Map by JulieMap by Julie

Peter, Julie, Jess Peter, Julie, Jess got to 5000 ftgot to 5000 ftJess ran out to Jess ran out to ATATPeter and Keith Peter and Keith GPS’ed base of GPS’ed base of large debris large debris avalancheavalanche


Vegetation Map Vegetation Map for Expedition for Expedition area extracted area extracted by UGA project by UGA project mapmap


Heart-lvd Paper Birch Heart-lvd Paper Birch -- -- Betula cordifoliaBetula cordifolia

Photograph by Photograph by Peter ca. 1980Peter ca. 1980

Celebrator is Celebrator is Mary EnglishMary English

Janet Rock says Janet Rock says that this tried has that this tried has died died

End of Day 1End of Day 1

• Gillian has to turn around (after 3.7 Gillian has to turn around (after 3.7 miles) at Campsite 31 to get to the miles) at Campsite 31 to get to the Atlanta AirportAtlanta Airport

• Mark, Carol Ann, Rose, Lily do an Mark, Carol Ann, Rose, Lily do an amazing number of stream crossing amazing number of stream crossing and unmaintained trails (including and unmaintained trails (including climbing over large trees and through climbing over large trees and through Rhododdendron) and get back to cars Rhododdendron) and get back to cars at 5:30 (see next slide)at 5:30 (see next slide)

• Keith gets back to the car at 7:30 Keith gets back to the car at 7:30 after 11 hrs of hiking (see next slide)after 11 hrs of hiking (see next slide)

• Peter, Julie, Jess get back to the car, Peter, Julie, Jess get back to the car, apparently just after Keith, missing apparently just after Keith, missing him, but also about 7:30him, but also about 7:30

Notes found by Peter, Julie, Jess on the way Notes found by Peter, Julie, Jess on the way downdown

Note important clue in signatures of note on Note important clue in signatures of note on RightRight

Plant list for Day 1Plant list for Day 1• Aruncus dioicusAruncus dioicus• Clintonia umbellulaClintonia umbellula• Oxalis montanaOxalis montana• Dentaria diphyllaDentaria diphylla• Houstonia puberaHoustonia pubera• Tiarella Tiarella sp. sp. (in bloom at high elevations)(in bloom at high elevations)• Claytonia carolinana (still in bloom at high elevations!)Claytonia carolinana (still in bloom at high elevations!)• Clintonia borealisClintonia borealis• Streptopus roseusStreptopus roseus• Trillium simileTrillium simile• Vaccinium erythrocarponVaccinium erythrocarpon (not in bloom)(not in bloom)• Menziesia pilosaMenziesia pilosa• Ribes Ribes • Diphylleia cymosa (tons in bloom on steep wet slopes)Diphylleia cymosa (tons in bloom on steep wet slopes)

• Cardamone clematitisCardamone clematitis• Parnassia asarifoliaParnassia asarifolia (not in bloom)(not in bloom)• Viola pallens Viola pallens (or (or V. McCroskeyi V. McCroskeyi subsp. subsp. pallenspallens))• Saxifragum michauxiiSaxifragum michauxii (not in bloom)(not in bloom)• Cardamine clematitisCardamine clematitis

The UT Field StationThe UT Field Stationand the Chicken Coop and the Chicken Coop

GhettoGhetto• Well, for some reason, I neglected to take Well, for some reason, I neglected to take

pictures of the chicken coop ghetto next to pictures of the chicken coop ghetto next to the UT field station that Peter, Julie, Carol the UT field station that Peter, Julie, Carol Ann, Mark, Rose, and Lily stayed in near Ann, Mark, Rose, and Lily stayed in near the Greenbrier entrance…Friday and the Greenbrier entrance…Friday and Saturday nightsSaturday nights

• Or record the roosters at 4:30 am (Peter Or record the roosters at 4:30 am (Peter left the door open for fresh air and it would left the door open for fresh air and it would have been much quieter if he hadn’t)have been much quieter if he hadn’t)

• The place must supply eggs to all The place must supply eggs to all restaurants in Gatlinburg and we looked restaurants in Gatlinburg and we looked suspiciously at our plates in the Black Bear suspiciously at our plates in the Black Bear Restaurant on Saturday morning before Restaurant on Saturday morning before the hikethe hike

• There were a lot of Chicken and feather There were a lot of Chicken and feather jokesjokes

May 28May 28thth: Peter, Julie scout AT : Peter, Julie scout AT from Newfound Gap to the Jumpoff from Newfound Gap to the Jumpoff

View from the Jumpoff to the EastView from the Jumpoff to the East

Charlie’s Bunion from the Charlie’s Bunion from the JumpoffJumpoff

Peter, Julie, Jess made it to here at Peter, Julie, Jess made it to here at 5000 ft and Jess ran out to AT at 5375 5000 ft and Jess ran out to AT at 5375

ft in “5 or 10 minutes”ft in “5 or 10 minutes”

Actual spot they made it to is to Left of Actual spot they made it to is to Left of Charlies Bunion and hidden by ridge Charlies Bunion and hidden by ridge

coming down from therecoming down from there

White dots are White dots are hikers at Charlies hikers at Charlies

BunionBunion

Closer view of Charlies BunionCloser view of Charlies BunionErosion here occurred in 1927 debris Erosion here occurred in 1927 debris

avalanches, conditioned by a logging fire avalanches, conditioned by a logging fire

from the NC sidefrom the NC side

Rugelia nudicaulis along Rugelia nudicaulis along the ATthe AT

Plant list for Day 2Plant list for Day 2• Trillium simileTrillium simile• Trillium erectumTrillium erectum• Rhododendron minus Rhododendron minus or cor caroliniana aroliniana • ErythroniumErythronium• Kalmia latifoliaKalmia latifolia• Claytonia carolinianaClaytonia caroliniana• HoustoniaHoustonia• Rugellia nudicaulisRugellia nudicaulis• Solidago glomerataSolidago glomerata• Clintonia borealisClintonia borealis• Streptopus roseusStreptopus roseus• PotentillaPotentilla • Disporum maculosumDisporum maculosum • Smilacina racemosaSmilacina racemosa• Denteria diphyllaDenteria diphylla• Viola pallens Viola pallens oror ((V. McCroskeyi V. McCroskeyi subsp. subsp. pallenspallens))• Amelanchier laevisAmelanchier laevis• Viburnum latanoidesViburnum latanoides

The Tasty Food Peter was The Tasty Food Peter was served after ordering Green served after ordering Green

Beans in Maggie ValleyBeans in Maggie Valley

ResultsResults

• Well, no Linnaea (yet)Well, no Linnaea (yet)• So it was a Spectacular FailureSo it was a Spectacular Failure

• Make that a Make that a Spectacular Spectacular failurefailure

• And it lead to a new round of And it lead to a new round of planning…planning…

Expedition 2 PlanningExpedition 2 PlanningAugust after ATBI Board August after ATBI Board Meeting on August 19Meeting on August 19thth

• Attempt to reserve spaces at Ice Attempt to reserve spaces at Ice Water Springs Shelter along the Water Springs Shelter along the AT because if offers access to AT because if offers access to several N-facing slopes at high several N-facing slopes at high elevation, including Dry Sluice elevation, including Dry Sluice GapGap

• Plan to drop down to Heart-Plan to drop down to Heart-leaved Paper Birch and several leaved Paper Birch and several other places to about 4000 ft other places to about 4000 ft and then back up from the and then back up from the Boulevard Trail to Porters GapBoulevard Trail to Porters Gap

Documents

The Search for Linnaea borealis The Story of Expedition 1