ML18023A198

Mckerrow 1996- TN5304--FWS 1996 Large Flowered Skullcap

ML18023A198
Person / Time
Site:	Clinch River
Issue date:	01/23/2018
From:	State of TN, Dept of Environment & Conservation, US Dept of Interior, Fish & Wildlife Service
To:	Office of New Reactors
Fetter A
References
Download: ML18023A198 (37)

Text

Large-flowered Skullcap (Scu tellaria mon tana)

Recovery Plan U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Southeast Region Atlanta, Georgia

Recovery Plan for Large-flowered Skullcap (Scutellaria montana)

Prepared by Alexa McKerrow Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation Nashville, Tennessee for Southeast Region U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Atlanta, Georgia Approved:

Noreen K. Clo~Regional irector, Southeast Region U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service Date:

DISCLAIMER Recovery plans delineate reasonable actions that are believed to be required to recover and/or protect listed species. Plans are published by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, sometimes prepared with the assistance of recovery teams, contractors, State agencies, and others.

Objectives will be attained and any necessary funds made available subject to budgetary and other constraints affecting the parties involved, as well as the need to address other priorities.

Recovery plans do not necessarily represent the views nor the official positions or approval of any individuals or agencies involved in the plan formulation, other than the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. They represent the official position of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service only after they have been signed by the Regional Director or Director as approved. Approved recovery plans are subject to modifications as dictated by new findings, changes in species status, and the completion ofrecovery tasks.

Literature citations should read as follows:

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1996. Large-flowered Skullcap Recovery Plan.

Asheville, North Carolina. 31 pp.

Additional copies of this plan may be purchased from:

Fish and Wildlife Reference Service 5430 Grosvenor Lane, Suite 110 Bethesda, Maryland 20814 Telephone: 301/492-6403 or 1-800/582-3421 Fees for recovery plans vary, depending upon the number of pages.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Thanks to Leo Collins, Tennessee Valley Authority; Graham Hawks and Jim Brown, Tennessee River Gorge Trust; Tom Patrick, GeorgiaDepartment ofNatural Resources (Freshwater Wetlands and Heritage Inventory); Milo Pyne and Andrea Shea, Tennessee Natural Heritage Program; Keith Woster, Chattahoochee National Forest; and Andrew Kemp for their contributions to this recovery plan.

ii

EXECUTIVE

SUMMARY

Current Status: Scutellaria montana is listed as an endangered species. There are 17 extant populations (12 in Tennessee and five in Georgia) that vary greatly in size. Three populations are presumed extirpated due to habitat alterations, including development and clear-cutting. At the time oflisting there were 10 known populations ofS. montana, with most individuals occurring on only two sites. Habitat destruction (as a result of logging, wildfire, grazing, and residential development) threatens the species.

Habitat Requirements and Limiting Factors: Scutellaria montana occurs in slope, ravine, and stream-bottom forests in northwestern Georgia and adjacent southeastern Tennessee.

Habitat loss and lack ofinformation on appropriate management are the factors limiting the number of viable populations.

Recovery Objective: Delisting Recovery Criteria: Large-flowered skullcap will be considered for delisting when there are 15 protected and managed self-sustaining populations. Populations must be distributed throughout the range and must be maintained for 10 years.

Actions Needed:

1. Search for additional populations and conduct a status survey.

2. Protect known populations.

3. Conduct long-term demographic studies.

4. Study the effects ofmanagement and disturbance regimes.

5. Maintain seeds and plants ex situ.

Cost ($OOOs):

~

f NEEDi [

NEED NEED3 NEEJI4 } NEEDS [TOTAL FY 1 16.5 9.0 9.0 10.5 1.4 46.4 FY2 4.5 4.5 6.0

.4 15.4 FY 3 4.5 4.5 6.0

.4 15.4 FY4 4.5 6.0

.4 10.9 FYS 4.5 6.0

.4 10.9 FY6 4.5 6.0

.4 10.9 TOTAL 16.5 18.0 31.5 40.5 3.4 109.9

• Does not include land acquisition.

Date of Recovery: By 2012, if necessary funds are provided and all recovery criteria are met.

iii

TABLE OF CONTENTS PART 1 INTRODUCTION 1

History ofthe Ta~xon 1

Description 2

Distribution 3

Habitat 3

Life History 4

Conservation Measures 9

Recovery Strategy 10 PART II RECOVERY 11 A. Recovery Objectives 11 B. Narrative Outline 12 C. Literature Cited and References 16 PART III IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE 18 PART IV LIST OF REVIEWERS 20 PART V APPENDIX 31 iv

LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1. Generalized Range ofScutellaria montana 5

LIST OF TABLES Table 1. Extant populations ofScutellaria montana in Georgiaand Tennessee 6

V

PART I INTRODUCTION Large-flowered skullcap (Scutellaria montana Chapman) is an herbaceous representative of the mint family (Lamiaceae) with 17 known populations in northern Georgia and southeastern Tennessee. In 1986 the taxon was listed as endangered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1986). At that time, there were seven populations known in Georgia and three in Tennessee. The taxon was threatened by habitat loss due to timbering or development. Over 90 percent ofthe 7,000 individual plants known in 1986 occurred at only two sites, neither ofwhich was completely protected from known threats.

Scutellaria montana is listed as endangered in Tennessee (Tennessee Natural Heritage Program) and as threatened in Georgia (Georgia Department ofNatural Resources, Freshwater Wetlands and Heritage Inventory).

History of the Taxon 1878 - Scutellaria montana was described by Chapman (1878).

1890 to 1973

- Collections were made from several sites, including Hamilton County, Tennessee, and possibly Catoosa County, Georgia.

1924 - Penland reduced the taxon to varietal status (Penland 1924).

1927 - Leonard treated Scutellaria montana at specific rank (Leonard 1927).

1942 - Epling described Scutellariapseudoserrata as distinct from Scutellaria montana.

1974

- Leo Collins rediscovered populations of Scutellaria montana in the Marshall Forest in Georgia.

1975 - Service published a notice in the Federal Register accepting a report on endangered, threatened, or extinct plants by the Smithsonian Institution as a petition for the listing ofScutellaria montana (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1975).

1980 - Service published a notice in the Federal Register indicating Scutellaria montana was a category 1 candidate species (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1980).

1983 - Leo Collins submitted information gathered from several years of research on the species to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

1983 - Service published a notice in the Federal Register indicating a change from category 1 to category 2 candidate for Scutellaria montana ( U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1983).

1984 - Survey ofthe Tennessee River Gorge located an additional population in Marion County, Tennessee (Hawks 1985).

1985 - Service proposed listing Scutellaria montana as an endangered species (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1985) and requested comments on the proposal.

1986 - Service listed Scutellaria montana as endangered (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1986). The Service had information on 10 locations from Georgia and Tennessee.

1986 - Marion County populations were surveyed and determined to contain over 50,000 plants (Tennessee Natural Heritage Program, no date); Tennessee Valley Authority botanical surveys added populations north ofthe previous range.

1993 - Marion County populations were resurveyed (Faulkner 1993); Lookout Mountain was surveyed (McKerrow and Pyne 1993).

Description (modified from Bridges 1984b, Kral 1983, Collins 1976, Epling 1942)

Scutellaria montana is a perennial herb with solitary, erect, square stems, usually from 30 to 50 centimeters (cm) tall (Figure 1). The leaves are lanceolate to ovate, on 1 to 2 cm petioles, with blades 5 to 8 cm long and 3 to 5 cm wide, crenate to serrate margins, and hairy on both surfaces. The inflorescence is a terminal, leafy-bracted raceme, with or without paired lateral racemes at the base. The calyx is two-lobed (characteristic ofthe genus Scutellaria). The corolla is relatively large, 2.6 to 3.5 cm long, blue and white, and lacking a fleshy ridge (annulus) within the corolla tube near the top ofthe calyx. Flowering occurs from mid-May to early June and fruits mature in June and early July.

Bridges (1 984b) stated, The genus Scutellaria can be easily recognized by its distinctive calyx, with a protrusion, or cap on the upper lobe. Within the genus there are other species with which Scutellaria montana could be confused. Bridges (1984b) listed some important characters that a specimen must have to be characterized as Scutellaria montana: (1) a terminal inflorescence; (2) a large corolla (at least 2.5 cm long); (3) tapering or truncate leaf bases, never cordate; (4) amidstem with at least some stipitate glandular hairs; (5) no sessile glands on the upper leaf surface, (6) a fairly densely pubescent lower leaf surface, often with glandular hairs; and, (7) a corolla tube lacking an annulus within.

Inthe field, Scutellaria montana is most likely to be confused with S. pseudoserrata, which has transparent sessile glands on the upper leaf surface and hairs only on the veins and leaf margins. In contrast, £ montana has a fine, even-mixed glandular and nonglandular velvety 2

pubescence on the upper and lower leaf surfaces. Two other skullcaps that can occur in the same region are S. elliptica and S. ovata. Scutellaria ellipticatends to have leaf margins with rounded teeth and noticeably longer hairs on the leaf Scutellaria ovata has strongly cordate leafbases, and it flowers later in the season. The Appendix includes a key used to distinguish these species.

Distribution Extant Populations. Large-flowered skullcap is known to occur intwo counties in Tennessee and four counties in Georgia, within a limited area ofthe Ridge and Valley and Cumberland Plateau provinces (Figure 2). There are 17 extant populations (12 in Tennessee, five in Georgia) that vary greatly in size (Table 1). Detailed population data is available for the Marshall Forest and the Hicks Gap sites (Faulkner 1993, Kemp 1983).

ExtirpatedPopulations. Three populations, one from Tennessee (Hamilton County) and two from Georgia (Gordon and Floyd Counties) are presumed extirpated due to habitat alterations.

Habitat Bridges (1984b) described the habitat of Scutellaria montana as follows:

.rocky, submesic to xeric, well-drained, slightly acidic slope, ravine and stream bottom forests in the Ridge and Valley and Cumberland Plateau provinces ofNorthwestern Georgia, and adjacent southeastern Tennessee (and probably Alabama).

Bridges (1984b) listed distinguishing characteristics ofthe forests where large-flowered skullcap are found as: (1) ahistory ofsome natural pine occurrence; (2) a canopy dominated by oaks and hickories; (3) a mostly deciduous shrub layer with some evergreen Vaccinium; (4) a moderately dense herb layer with mesic and xeric species; and (5) the site occurring on well-consolidated paleozoic to precambrian strata, often with some exposed rock.

Forest composition data has been collected on sites in the Marshall Forest and the Marion County populations (Faulkner 1993; Collins, unpublished; Lipps 1966). Data from the sites where Scutellaria montana was first studied indicate that it occurred in late-successional forests. Additional sites suggest that it is more of a mid-to late-successional species (Bridges 1984a; Collins, unpublished; Lipps 1966). At the Marion County site, Faulkner (1993) observed large-flowered skullcap persisting in an areawhere timbering activities had occurred and where the plants had been subjected to low-intensity ground fires. He concluded that while individual plants that are established prior to the disturbance may survive, recruitment into disturbed sites is not likely.

3

Bridges (1984b) noted that large-flowered skullcap sites occur on a variety ofgeologic strata, including shale, chert, limestone, and sandstone from Cambrian to Pennsylvanian age. Most of the Tennessee sites occur on the Upper Mississippian Pennington Formation and Lower Pennsylvanian sandstones and shales. Plants found on Lookout Mountain occur on some of the Mississippian Formations that underlie the Pennington (McKerrow and Pyne 1993).

Georgia sites occur predominantly on Mississippian Formations, including Rome, Red Mountain, and Rockwood (Collins, unpublished).

Life History Phenology. Collins (unpublished) described the phenology ofthe species as follows:

Nutlets are released from mid-June to mid-July, overwinter, and apparently germinate in late March. Mature individuals that have perenneated as root stocks begin shoot growth in late March. By early April, plants are 5-10 cm tall and are pushing through the leaf litter. Anthesis typically begins during mid-May and continues through early June.

Pollination is principally exclusively by Hymenoptera of the superfamily Apoideae (bees). The corolla shrivels somewhat and falls from the calyx one or two days after pollination, presumably within 24 hours2.777778e-4 days <br />0.00667 hours <br />3.968254e-5 weeks <br />9.132e-6 months <br /> of fertilization. The calyx closes around the developing fruit immediately after corolla abscission. During the next two to four weeks, the calyx and the enclosed nutlets enlarge and mature. The calyx then dehisces by the loss ofthe upper lip and the nutlets are released.

A different course is followed iffertilization does not occur. The corolla shrivels markedly and may or may not remain united to the calyx. The entire calyx, still open at the mouth, falls leaving the pedicel bare.

Seed Dispersal and Germination. Collins (unpublished) states the following:

A method for long distance dispersal, here meaning any distance overtwo miles, is not known for Scutellaria montana. Nonetheless, its opportunity for such dispersal seems as great as for its wide-ranging relatives in that nutlet morphology and calyx dehiscence are virtually identical throughout the section. Thus, the limited distribution ofScutellaria montana should not be attributed to an insufficient means ofdispersal without further study.

Conditions required for germination and establishment have not been studied to date.

Reproductive Biology. Field observations of the Marshall Forest populationwere made by two students from ShorterCollege (Kemp 1983, Stirling 1983). The reproductive potential they observed seemed low when compared to observations on related species (Collins, unpublished). Stirling found that fewer than 40 percent of the flowers formed fruit, while Kemp observed fewer than 10 percent producing fruit. Some of the difference in fruiting rate 4

Figure 2.

Generalized Range of

~utellaria m~fl~

5

Extant populations of Scutellaria montana in Georgia and Tennessee.

POPULATION LAST I__________I i~i COUNTY (SITE)

~_OWNERSHIP SIZE SEEN THREATS GEORGIA:

1.

Floyd County (Blacks Bluff)

TNC 250 1986 Lack of information for management.

2.

Floyd County (Marshall Forest)

TNC 1,300 1986 Lack of information for management.

3.

Walker County (Missionary Ridge)

Private 5

1986 Small population size.

4.

Walker County (Hawkins Ridge)

Private 60 1988 Development.

5.

Gordon County (Armuichee)

Private 35 1983 Development.

TENNESSEE:

6.

Hamilton County (White Oak Mountain)

Private 5

1981 Small population size.

1.

Hamilton County (Chestnut Ridge)

Private 100 1993 Development.

8.

Hamilton County (Walden Ridge)

Private 10,000 1993 Development.

9.

Hamilton County (Murphey Hill, Chickamauga Reservoir)

TVA 135 1986 Unauthorized use of the area.

Invasive plants.

10.

Hamilton County (Ware Branch, Chi ckamauga Reservoi r)

IVA 30 1986 Heavy recreational use.

Table 1.

Table 1 (Continued)

COUNTY (SITE)

OWNERSHIP POPULATION SIZE LAST SEEN]

THREATS

TENNESSEE (continued):

11.

Hamilton County (Fairview Slopes, Chickamauga Reservoir)

IVA 190 1986 Informal recreational use.

12.

Hamilton County (Booker T.

Washi ngton TDEC (Parks)

Few 1986 Heavy recreational use.

13.

Hamilton County (Big Ridge, Chickamauga Reservoir)

IVA 130 1987 Lack of management plan and inventory.

14.

Hamilton County (Signal Mountain)

Private 2,000 1986 Development.

15.

Hamilton County (Hunters Road)

Private 6

1989 Small population size.

Invasive_plants.

Lack of information for management.

16a.

Hamilton County (Lookout Mountain)

NPS and Private 238 1993 16b.

Hamilton County (Lookout Mountain)

NPS 39 1993 Dissected habitat and recreational use.

16c.

Dade County, Georgia (Lookout Mountain)

NPS 8

1993 Small population size.

17a.

Marion County (Bill McNabb Gulf)

TDF Included below 1993 Lack of information for management.

llb.

Marion County (Kellys Ferry Slope)

IRGT Included below 1993 Lack of information for management.

Table 1 (Continued)

COUNTY (SITE)

OWNERSHIP POPULATION SIZE LAST SEEN THREATS TENNESSEE (continued):

IDEC (SNA)

TDF and j50.000 11993 17c.

Marion County (Hicks Gap) for management.

Lack of information Key to acrnnvm~ under Owri~rshin column

• 1~

National Park Service

- State Natural Area

- Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation

- Tennessee Division of Forestry

- The Nature Conservancy

- Tennessee River Gorge Trust

- Tennessee Valley Authority NPS SNA TDEC TDF INC IRGI IVA

may be due to climatic factors, butthe low rate needs to be studied. Observations over several years are necessary before the factors affecting flowering and seed set can be determined.

Predation, Competition, and Disease. Predation of mature plants prior to seed set may reduce the reproductive capacity on a site. Plants have been observed that have been eaten to within inches ofthe ground (Woster, Chattahoochee National Forest, personal communication, 1993; McKerrow, personal observation, 1993). This damage was most likely caused by deer. In addition, Desmodium sp. and vines have been seen growing on Scutellaria montana, causing the plant to lose some of its flowers prior to seed set (McKerrow, personal observation, 1993). Some individual plants have been affected by disease, but this appears to affect only a few individuals and not be a significant threat to the species.

Invasive species, such as Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicerajaponica) and privet (Ligustrum vulgare), are currently a problem for some populations ofScutellaria montana. These species are likely to continue to be a problem where disturbance allows these species to become established, such as on some smaller public areas and on privately owned sites.

Conservation Measures The most effective conservation measure to date has been the protection ofhabitat. This has been accomplished in large part through land acquisition (Kellys Ferry Slopes, Marshall Forest) and the management of public land as natural areas (Hicks Gap, Bill McNabb Gulf, Chickamauga Reservoir, Booker T. Washington, and Lookout Mountain).

Continued success (i.e., the ability to sustain populations of Scutellaria montana) depends on the size ofthe populations, the degree ofisolation of the site, and future management practices. Several populations on public land are islands surrounded by water and residential development.

Hicks Gap was designated a Class II State Natural-Scientific Area in 1989 (Tennessee Natural Heritage Program, no date). Management activities other than hunting are being delayed until guidelines for the management of the area are developed in cooperation with the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (Division ofEcological Services) and the Tennessee River Gorge Trust (Tennessee Division ofForestry 1990).

In addition to habitat protection, intensive surveys of the Marion County, Marshall Forest, and Lookout Mountain sites have been conducted (Faulkner 1993, McKerrow and Pyne 1993, Kemp 1983). At all three of these sites, long-term monitoring has been proposed (Rob Sutter, TheNature Conservancy, Southeast Regional Office, personal communication, 1993; Faulkner 1993; Kemp 1983).

9

In Georgia, plants have been successfully transplanted from a site slated for development and have been relocated to two sites in the Chattahoochee National Forest (Woster, personal communication, 1993). The plants were collected while they were flowering and were held by the Atlanta Botanical Garden over the winter. They were placed on slopes facing both east and west, where they have been monitored for two field seasons.

Recovery Strategy Long-term monitoring ofScutellaria montana on protected land is an important strategy for the recovery of the species. Monitoring should include permanent plots on areas with different management histories and forest compositions. By following individual plants and plots through several years, trends in recruitment, mortality, and reproductive capacity can be determined. With plots in a variety of forest types and management histories, the effects ofdisturbance and management activities on reproductive capacity can be followed.

Life history studies, including studies ofpollination and germination requirements, phenology, and seed dispersal, could be a component ofa monitoring program.

Determination ofgermination requirements will require laboratory studies.

The Tennessee River Gorge, Hicks Gap, and Marshall Forest sites offer the greatest potential for gains in studying this species over a range ofconditions. Lookout Mountain would be another important site for study; it provides a fairly large and relatively undisturbed area, where monitoring would be useful.

The protection of sizeable populations that occur on private land is another important component ofthe recovery of Scutellaria montana. Currently, the second and third largest populations occur on private land. These sites support populations considerably larger than several publicly owned and protected sites.

A search for additional populations of Scutellaria montana throughout southeastern Tennessee, northwestern Georgia, and northeastern Alabama will also be conducted to try to increase the number ofknown extant populations.

Management plans should be developed for public land that is managed for recreation.

The plans should include limiting access to areas ofhabitat for Scutellaria montana and the removal ofinvasive plant species that threaten populations on those sites. Additional management needs should be incorporated into the management plans as the needs are identified.

Propagation methods should be tested, and seeds should be placed in long-term storage.

Propagation from cuttings has shown some success and should be investigated further (Patrick, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Freshwater Wetlands Heritage Inventory, personal communication, 1993).

10

PART II RECOVERY A. Recovery Objectives Scutellaria montana (large-flowered skullcap) will be considered for delisting when there are 15 adequately protected and managed self-sustaining populations. Populations must be distributed throughout the range and must be maintained for 10 years. A population will be considered adequately protected when it is legally protected and all needed active management is provided. A population will be considered self-sustaining ifmonitoring data support the conclusion that it is reproducing successfully and is stable or increasing in size. The minimum number of individuals necessary for a self-sustaining population should be considered to be at least 100 until otherwise determined by demographic studies. Ifnumbers ofdiscrete populations increase to 25 (because ofthe discovery/establishmentof additional populations) or the number ofprotected and managed self-sustaining populations becomes 10 or more (distributed throughout the known geographic range), the species will be considered for downlisting to threatened status.

11

B. Narrative Outline 1.Search for additional populations of Scutellaria montana and prioritize sites for

~tQI~IQn. Since the species was listed, several additional populations have been discovered through thorough inventories of specific areas. Withouta focused effort, the potential for increasing the known number ofpopulations is slim. The ability to prioritize and protect the highest-quality sites will depend on having complete information on extant populations ofthe species.

1.1 Search for additional populations. A search should be conducted in southeastern Tennessee, northwestern Georgia, and the northeastern corner of Alabama, where the physiographic characteristics are consistent with the known habitat for S. montana. The short flowering season for the species may mean this search will need to be conducted over two field seasons orthat the search area will need to be divided among individuals.

12 Conduct status survey. Since the time oflisting, information has become available on additional populations and field observations have been made by many individuals. In conjunction with a search for additional populations, a status survey report should be written to synthesize new information.

1.3

~iiIj~~j~.

Privately owned sites should be ranked according to population size, plant vigor, and habitat condition. High-priority sites should be protected.

New information from the search for additional populations and the status survey report should be incorporated as it becomes available. Genetically diverse populations should be given priority over those with low diversity (see Task 5).

2.

Protect known populations. Of the 17 populations currently known, eight are protected though public ownership or by the Tennessee River Gorge Trust and The Nature Conservancy. Eight populations, including the second and third largest, are privately owned. One population in Hamilton County, Tennessee, occurs on public and private land. The protected sites need management plans in order to effectively protect Scutellaria montana.

2.1 Contact landowners. Determine and provide appropriate level of protection Landowners should be contacted, informed that S. montana is on their land, and told about potential threats to the species. If possible, negotiations should begin to achieve the desired level ofprotection. Types ofprotection include management agreements, conservation easements, and acquisition. Registry as a natural area is possible, but the limitations to this type ofprotection need to be recognized--it is temporary, nonbinding protection. The cost ofthis task will vary, depending on the type ofprotection possible and the amount ofbuffer land that is necessary to adequately protect the site.

12

2.2 Develop management plans for each protected population. Management needs for S. montana need to be determined before this task can be completed (see Task 4). Preliminary plans should be developed that deal with threats (e.g.,

invasive species, trampling by unauthorized use, and incidental damage through recreational use). The sites affected by these plans need to monitored so the effectiveness of the protective measures can be determined, and management changes can be made when necessary.

3.

Conduct long-term monitoring ofknown populations. All populations should be monitored annually for the first 5 years to check the number ofindividuals and to determine threats to the populations. For the larger protected populations, this should include permanent plots (see Task 4).

4.

Determine the effects ofpotential management techniques. Observations by individuals in the field can help direct studies to document the effects of potential management techniques on populations ofS. montana. This work should incorporate knowledge about site management, disturbance history, and forest composition.

Bridges (1984b) had the following recommendation withrespect to monitoring S. montana. In small populations, every plant could be identified and followed. In larger populations, quadrats could be placed randomly or systematically throughout the population. Areas ofvarying densities, competitive differences, and microhabitats should be sampled. Measurements should include height, number of flowers, number offruit set, plant vigor and condition, cover, and competition within a radius of 1 foot. In addition, predation and disease should be noted.

4.1 Investigate the effects ofpast disturbances. Long-term trends and effects of different management and disturbance regimes need to be studied. Faulkner (1993) observed plants that had survived in an area where timbering activities had occurred and where the plants had been subjected to low-intensity fires.

Until long-term trends are measured on areas of different disturbance and management regimes, the effects ofthese factors on the survival and reproductive capacity of the species will not be known.

Permanent plots with many different management histories should be established. Each treatment should be replicated within a site and between sites when feasible. The Tennessee River Gorge TrustlHicks Gap area, Marshall Forest, and Lookout Mountain seem to be the areas where different site histories would be available for study.

13

4.2 Investigate the effects of differences in canopy cover (i.e.. light level) on the reproductive capacity ofthe species. Data on canopy cover and light reaching the forest floor should be collected from the permanent plots and tested for a correlation between light level and some measure of reproductive success.

4.3.

Determine the effects ofvarious timbering methods. Ifactive timber management is conducted on a site with S. montana, the effect on the population should be monitored through the placement ofpermanent plots prior to treatment. The plots should be revisited in subsequent blooming seasons to determine the effects oftimbering on the plants. Some common practices ofthe Tennessee Division of Forestry should be considered as possible treatments to be tested. For Prentice Cooper State Forest, these include intermediate selection, hardwood group selection, and salvage (Tennessee Division ofForestry 1990). Even-aged management and pine group selection are not likely to provide any benefit to the species and should therefore be avoided.

4.4 Test management options for controlling invasive species. Invasive species are threatening some populations ofS. montana. Manual removal seems to be the most reasonable method for the removal of invasive species that are in direct competition with S. montana. Herbicides could adversely affect S. montana, and fire is likely to increase competition from vines (Bridges 1984b). Ifthe invasive species are not in direct competition with Scutellaria but are encroaching on the site, mowing, burning, and herbicide application could be tested. The response of the population should be documented as a part ofthe long-term site monitoring.

5.

Examine genetic diversity within and between populations. A study ofthe species genetic diversity should be conducted, and populations that are genetically diverse should be identified. This information should then be used to help set priorities for the preservation ofgenetic diversity. Information on genetic variability will help determine the number ofpopulations and population size necessary to successfully maintain the species.

On the two sites where S. montana and S. pseudoserrata both occur (Lookout Mountain andthe Tennessee River Gorge), genetic studies to identify the isolating mechanisms could be pursued. This could include field observations ofphenotypic differences that make the species appear distinct to potential pollinators (character displacement), along with genetic studies that would indicate the mechanisms that could serve to maintain the distinct species.

14

6.

Maintain plants and seeds ex situ. To protect against the loss ofapopulation, attempts at propagation, using cuttings, should be attempted. In addition, seeds should be maintained at a long-term seed storage facility.

6.1 Maintain plants ex situ. Plants from several populations should be propagated, and living collections should be maintained. The Atlanta Botanical Garden has been doing some ofthis work and should therefore be a good resource for future activities.

6.2 Maintain seeds ex situ. Seed collection from distinctpopulations should be maintained in long-term storage. Viability of the seeds should be checked periodically; seeds should be replaced with fresh collections as needed.

15

C. Literature Cited and References Bridges, E. 1984a. Unpublished field dataon Scutellaria montana.

- 1984b. Element Stewardship Abstract for Scutellaria montana. Tennessee Natural Heritage Program files.

Chapman, A. W. 1878. An enumeration ofsome plants--chiefly from the semitropical regions ofFlorida--which are either new orwhich have not hitherto been recorded as belonging to the Southern States. Bot. Gaz. 3:2-6, 9-12, 17-21.

Collins, J. L. 1976. A revision ofthe annulate Scutellaria (Labiatae). Ph.D. dissertation.

Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee. 294 pp.

- Unpublished manuscript. The Taxonomy, Distribution, and Rarity ofScutellaria montana Chapm. (Lamiaceae).

Epling, C. 1942. The American species of Scutellaria. University ofCalifornia. Publ.

Bot. 20(1)1-146.

Faulkner, J. 1993. A Survey ofScutellaria montana in the Hicks Gap Area ofMarion County, Tennessee. 22 pp.

Hawks, G. 1985. Site report on Kellys Ferry Slopes. Unpublished report. Tennessee River Gorge Trust Office. 3 pp.

Kemp, A. 1983. Distribution and Habitat ofScutellaria montana in the Marshall Forest Area. Report in the Marshall Forest Room ofthe Rome, Georgia, Library. 15 pp.

Kral, R. 1983. A Report on Some Rare, Threatened, or Endangered Forest-related Vascular Plants ofthe South. Tech. Publ. R8-TP-2. USDA-Forest Service. Vol II.

Pp. 1010-1013.

Leonard, E. C. 1927. The North American species of Scutellaria. Contr. U.S. National Herbarium. 22:703-745.

Lipps, L. 1966. Plant Communities of a Portion of Floyd County, Georgia--Especially the Marshall Forest. Ph.D. Dissertation, University of Tennessee. Knoxville, Tennessee.

McKerrow, A., and M. Pyne. 1993. Survey ofScutellaria montana (Large-flowered Skullcap) on Lookout Mountain, Chickamauga-Chattanooga National Military Park. Report to the Southeast Regional Office ofThe Nature Conservancy.

13 pp.

16

Penland, C. W~ 1924. Notes on North American Scutellarias. Rhodora 26:62-79.

Stirling, B. K. 1983. Reduced reproductive capacity found in the rare mint Scutellaria montana Chapman. Abstract in Georgia Journal of Science 41:9.

Tennessee Division ofForestry. 1990. Management Plan for Prentice Cooper State Forest 1990-2000. Tennessee Department ofAgriculture (formerly in Department of Conservation). 22 pp and appendices.

Tennessee Natural Heritage Program. No date. Species and site files. Tennessee Department ofEnvironment and Conservation. Nashville, Tennessee.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1975. Notice ofreview. Federal Register 40:27824-27825.

. 1980. Notice ofreview. Federal Register 45:82480-82569.

- 1983. Notice of review supplement. Federal Register 48:53640-53670.

- 1985. Endangered and threatened wildlife and plants; proposed determination of Scutellaria montana (large-flowered skullcap) to be an endangered species.

Federal Register 50:46797-46800.

. 1986. Endangered and threatened wildlife and plants; determination of Scutellaria montana (large-flowered skullcap) to be an endangered species. FederalRegister 51:22521-22524.

11

PART III IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE Priorities in column 1 ofthe following Implementation Schedule are assigned as follows:

1. Priority 1

- An action that mu~Ibe taken to prevent extinction or to prevent the species from declining irreversibly in the f~kk future.

2. Priority 2 - An action that must be taken to prevent a significant decline in species population/habitat quality or some other significant negative impact short of extinction.

3. Priority 3 - All other actions necessary to meet the recovery objective.

Key to Acronyms Used in This Implementation Schedule ABG

- Atlanta Botanical Garden CPC Center for Plant Conservation FWS

- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service TE

- Endangered Species Division, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service NPS National Park Service SHP State Natural Heritage Programs in Tennessee, Georgia, and Alabama TDF Tennessee Division ofForestry TNC

- The Nature Conservancy TRGT - Tennessee River Gorge Trust TSP Tennessee State Parks TVA

- Tennessee Valley Authority R4

- Region 4 (Southeast Region), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 18

LARGE-FLCMERED SKULLCAP IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE Priority Task Number Task Description Task Duration Responsible Agency FWS Other Cost Estimates ($OOOs)

FYi FY?

FY3 Coninents 2

2 2

1 1

1 2 Search for additional populations.

1 year R4ITE

R4/TE SHP 13 5

3 0

Three states.

6 weeks.

Conduct status survey.

1 year SHP One person; 1 month.

2 1

3 Prioritize sites.

1 year R4/TE SHP Included in status survey (Task_1.2).

Three states; 2 weeks.

Acquisition cost not included.

2 2 1 Contact landowners.

Determine and provide appropriate level of protection.

Ongoing R4/TE SHP 4 5 4 5 4.5 2

2.2 Develop management plans.

1 year R4/TE TROT. TDF.

TNC, TSP.

SHP 4.5 Six weeks.

2 3.0 Conduct long-term monitoring.

Ongoing R4ITE TRGT, TOF.

TNC. TSP, NPS.

SHP 9.0 4.5 4.5 Set up two states--one person; 6 weeks.

2 4.1 Investigate the effects of past disturbance.

3 years R4/TE TRGT. TDF, THP 3.0 1.5 1.5 Set up-1 month.

2 4.2 Investigate the effects of differences in canopy cover.

3 years R4/TE TRGT.

TDF, THP 3.0 1.5 1.5 Set up--

1 month.

2 4.3 Determine the effects of various timbering methods.

3 years R4/TE TOF. TRGT, THP 3.0 1.5 1.5 Set up--

1 month.

2 4.4 Test management options for controlling invasive species.

3 years R4/TE TVA 1 5 1

5 1.5 Two weeks.

3 5.0 Examine genetic diversity within and between populations.

1 year R4/TE 5

0 3

6.1 Maintain plants ex situ.

Ongoing R4/TE ABG. CPC 10 3

6.2 Maintain seeds ex situ.

Ongoing R4/TE CPC 04 04 04 19

PART IV LIST OF REVIEWERS The following agencies, organizations, and individuals were mailed copies ofthis recovery plan. This does not imply that they provided comments or endorsed the contents ofthis plan.

Dr. Faith Campbell Resource Specialist Natural Resources Defense Council 1350 New York Avenue, NW.

Washington, DC 20005 Center for Plant Conservation Missouri Botanical Garden P.O. Box 299 St. Louis, Missouri 63166 Environmental Quality Staff (SPB 25228 P)

Tennessee Valley Authority Knoxville, Tennessee 37902-1499 Mr. David Hoge Alabama Forestry Commission 513 Madison Avenue Montgomery, Alabama 36130 The Alabama Conservancy 2717 Seventh Avenue, South, Suite 201 Birmingham, Alabama 35233 Mr. John W. Hodnett, Director Alabama Department ofConservation and Natural Resources 64 North Union Street Montgomery, Alabama 36130 20

Mr. Charles D. Kelley, Director Division ofGame and Fish Alabama Department ofConservation and Natural Resources 64 North Union Street Montgomery, Alabama 36130 Dr. John D. Freeman Department ofBotany and Microbiology Auburn University Auburn, Alabama 36830 The Nature Conservancy 2821 2nd Avenue, South, Number C Birmingham, Alabama 35233-2811 Mr. Scott Gunn Natural Heritage Program Alabama Department ofConservation and Natural Resources 64 North Union Street, Room 752 Montgomery, Alabama 36130

• Dr Leo Collins Forestry, Fisheries, and Wildlife Division Tennessee Valley Authority Norris, Tennessee 37828 TheNature Conservancy 2002 Richard Jones Road, Suite 304-C Cookeville, Tennessee 37215 Dr. Bob Kral Biology Department Vanderbilt University Box 1705, Station B Nashville, Tennessee 37235 Mr. Milo Pyne Tennessee Natural Heritage Program 401 Church Street 8th Floor, L&C Tower Nashville, Tennessee 37243-0447 21

Ms. Alexa McKerrow Ecological Services Division Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation 401 Church Street 8th Floor, L&C Tower Nashville, Tennessee 37243-0447

• Ms Andrea Shea Ecological Services Division Tennessee Department ofEnvironment and Conservation 401 Church Street 8th Floor, L&C Tower Nashville, Tennessee 37243-0447 Mr. Roy Jensen Division ofParks and Recreation Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation 401 Church Street 8th Floor, L&C Tower Nashville, Tennessee 37243-0447 Mr. Gary Myers, Executive Director Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency Ellington Agricultural Center P.O. Box 40747 Nashville, Tennessee 37204 Tennessee State Planning Office Attention: Mr. Keel Hunt 660 Capitol Hill Building Nashville, Tennessee 37219 Dr. Murray A. Evans Botany Department University ofTennessee Knoxville, Tennessee 37916 Mr. Edward Schell 416 Lambeth Drive Johnson City, Tennessee 3760 1-1042 22

Dr. Eugene Wofford Curator ofHerbarium Department of Botany University of Tennessee Knoxville, Tennessee 37916 Dr. Hal Salwasser Wildlife Ecologist U.S. Forest Service 3825 E. Mulberry Fort Collins, Colorado 80524 Mr. Robert Joslin Regional Forester U.S. Forest Service 1720 Peachtree Road, NW., Suite 800 Atlanta, Georgia 30367 Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc.

40 West 20th Street New York, New York 10011 New England Wildflower Society, Inc.

Garden in the Woods Hemenway Road Framington, Massachusetts 01701 Dr. Janice Coffey Swab Conservation Committee American Society ofPlant Taxonomists Meredith College Hunter Hall, 3800 Hillsborough Street Raleigh, North Carolina 27607-5298 Department ofBotany National Museum ofNatural History Smithsonian Institution Washington, DC 20560 Traffic U.S.A.

World Wildlife Fund 1250 24th Street, NW., Suite 500 Washington, DC 20037 23

The Garden Club ofAmerica 598 Madison Avenue New York, New York 10022 Dr. Susan H. Lathrop, Executive Director American Association ofBotanical Gardens and Arboreta, Inc.

786 Church Road Wayne, Pennsylvania 19087 Tennessee Native Plant Society do Department ofBotany University of Tennessee Knoxville, Tennessee 37916 Mr. Joe Jacob The Nature Conservancy P.O. Box 2267 Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27514

• Mr. Rob Sutter The Nature Conservancy P.O. Box 2267 Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27514 Mr. Robert McCartney Woodlanders 1128 Colleton Avenue Aiken, South Carolina 29801 Mr. Bob Rochelle Division ofForestry Tennessee Department ofEnvironment and Conservation 401 Church Street 8th Floor, L&C Tower Nashville, Tennessee 37243-0447 Dr. Paul Somers Division ofFisheries and Wildlife Field Headquarters Route 135 Westboro, Massachusetts 01581 24

Ms. Deborah Baker Southern Timber Purchasers Council 2900 Chamblee Tucker Road, Building 5 Atlanta, Georgia 30341 Dr. Brian R. Chapman Endangered Species Management The University ofGeorgia D. B. Warnell School ofForest Resources Athens, Georgia 30602-2152 Mr. Jim Candler Georgia Power Company 5131 Manner Road Smyrna, Georgia 30080 Dr. Kim Coder Extension Forestry University of Georgia Athens, Georgia 30602 Dr. Mike Dirr Horticulture Department University of Georgia Athens, Georgia 30602 Dr. Wayne Faircloth Department ofBiology Valdosta State College Valdosta, Georgia 31698 Director Game and Fish Division Georgia Department ofNatural Resources Floyd Towers East, Suite 1362 205 Butler Street, SE.

Atlanta, Georgia 30334 Dr. Samuel Jones Botany Department University ofGeorgia Athens, Georgia 30602 25

Dr. William H. Redmond Regional Natural Heritage Project Tennessee Valley Authority Norris, Tennessee 37828 U.S. Army Corps ofEngineers Savannah District ATTN: Steve Cabur PD-El P.O. Box 889 Savannah, Georgia 31402-0889 District Engineer U.S. Army Corps ofEngineers 668 Clifford Davis Federal Building Memphis, Tennessee 38103 Georgia Department ofNatural Resources Freshwater Wetlands and Heritage Inventory 2117 U.S. Highway 278, SE.

Social Circle, Georgia 30279 Mr. Frankie Snow South Georgia College Douglas, Georgia 31533 Dr. Lewis Lipps Shorter College Box 11 Rome, Georgia 30161 Dr. Philip Greear Shorter College Box2 Rome, Georgia 30161 Mr. Graham Hawks Tennessee River Gorge Natural Heritage Trust 735 Broad Street Suite 203, James Building Chattanooga, Tennessee 37402 26

Mr. Hamp Simpson Georgia Department of Agriculture Entomology and Pesticides Capitol Square Atlanta, Georgia 30334 Dr. Bob Cook Arnold Arboretum 125 Arborway Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts 02130 Environmental Protection Agency Hazard Evaluation Division - EEB (T5769C) 401 M Street, SW.

Washington, DC 20460 Project Manager (7507C)

Environmental Protection Agency Endangered Species Protection Program Environmental Fate and Effects Division Office ofPesticide Programs 401 M Street, SW.

Washington, DC 20460 The Nature Conservancy Eastern Regional Office 201 Devonshire Street, 5th Floor Boston, Massachusetts 02110 Mr. Rich Owings North Carolina Arboretum P.O. Box 6617 Asheville, North Carolina 28816 Mr. Rob Gardner Curator of Rare Plants North Carolina Botanical Garden University ofNorth Carolina - Chapel Hill CB# 3375, Totten Center Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-3375 27

Dr. Peter White, Director North Carolina Botanical Garden University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill CB# 3375, Totten Center Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-3375 Mr. Alan Smith P.O. Box 887 Mars Hill, North Carolina 28754 Mr. Julius T. Johnson Director ofPublic Affairs Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation P.O. Box 313 Columbia, Tennessee 38401 Lt. Col. John Whisler District Engineer U.S. Army Corps ofEngineers P.O. Box 1070 Nashville, Tennessee 37202-1070 Ms. Lonnette G. Edwards USDAFS - SEFES Department of Forestry Clemson University Clemson, South Carolina 29634-1003 U.S. Forest Service Wildlife, Fisheries, and Range 1720 Peachtree Road, NW.

Atlanta, Georgia 30367 Fish and Wildlife Reference Service 5430 Grosvenor Lane, Suite 110 Bethesda, Maryland 20814 Dr. Gary B. Blank North Carolina State University Box 8002 Raleigh, North Carolina 27695-8002 28

Ms. Juliet Mason 4700 King Street, Suite 500 Alexandria, Virginia 22302 Mr. Peter D. McKone Freese and Nichols, Inc.

4055 International Plaza, Suite 200 Fort Worth, Texas 76 109-4895 Mr. Thomas A. Wojtalik Environmental Engineer MR 5K-C Tennessee Valley Authority 1101 Market Street Chattanooga, Tennessee 37402-2801 Mr. Kirk Ewart P.O. Box 50 Boise, Idaho 83728 Mr. Don Goode Environmental Protection Agency Pesticide Section 345 Courtland Street Atlanta, Georgia 30365 Mr. Andrew Haines Roy F. Weston, Inc.

Life Systems Department Building 5-1 One Weston Way West Chester, Pennsylvania 19380-1499 Ms. Alice L. Gustin Publisher/Editor Land Use Chronicle P0. Box 468 Riverton, Wyoming 82501 The Nature Conservancy 1815 N. Lynn Street Arlington, Virginia 22209 29

Mrs. Ruby Pharr 111 York Street Morganton, North Carolina 28655 Mr. Charles P. Nicholson Tennessee Valley Authority 400 West Summit Hill Drive Knoxville, Tennessee 37902-1499 Dr. Harriet Gillett World Conservation Monitoring Centre 219 Huntingdon Road Cambridge CB3 ODL United Kingdom

• Independent Peer Reviewers 30

PART V APPENDIX The following key is provided for use in the Upland provinces of Georgia, Alabama, and southeastern Tennessee for Scutellaria with few, erect stems, leafbases truncate or tapered (never strongly cordate), and crenate or serrate leafmargins. (Key from Bridges 1 984b.)

1.Second internode belowthe base ofthe inflorescence (midstem) with at least some stipitate-glandular hairs, usually densely hairy 2

2.

Lower leafsurfaces hairy only along the veins 3

3.

Upper surfaces ofthe leaves with sessile glands (Corolla 24-33 mm long)

S. Pseudoserrata Epling 3.

Upper leaf surfaces without sessile glands, usually sparsely hairy (Corolla 14-18 mm long)

S. elliptica Muhl.

2.

Lower leaf surfaces with soft, appressed, often glandular hairs distributed over the surface, also pilose along the main veins (Corolla 26-35 mm long)

S. montana Chapm.

1.Second internode below the base of the inflorescence (midstem) hairy or glabrous, but with no stipitate-glandular hairs 4

4.

Lower leafsurfaces evenly pubescent with short curled or spreading hairs S. incana Biehier var. incana 4.

Lower leaf surfaces glabrous, or pilose only along the main veins 5

5.

Stems glabrous or glabrate; leaves sparsely hairy or glabrous 6

6.

Upper leafblades largest, only 4-6 pairs ofrelatively thin leaves belowthe inflorescence, (corolla> 21 mm long)

S. serrata Andr.

6.

Median leafblades largest, usually 8-15 pairs belowthe base ofthe inflorescence (corolla < 21 mm long)

S. incana Biehlervar. punctata (Chapm.) Mohr 7.

Base ofstems with stipitate-glandularhairs

£ alabamensis Alex.

7.

Base of stem hairy, but without stipitate-glandular hairs 8

8.

Stem hairs relatively short and curving S. elliptica Muhl. var. elliptica 8.

Stem hairs 1-2 mm long, spreading

£ ellipica MuhI. var. hirsuta (Short) Fern.

31