Veronicastrum virginicum

Widespread, generally accepted species.

Species is common, abundant, and widespread in parts of its range in the U.S. In other parts of its range, however, populations are very low. Activities such as habitat conversion to agricultural use, clearing of wooded areas, and drainage/alteration of wet or moist prairies threaten its long term survival, and thus may result in the extirpation of native plants of this species in these areas. In addition, the species is reported to be declining even in states in its core range.

South-eastern Manitoba and south-western Ontario to Maine, south to Florida and Texas (Scoggan 1978-9, Kartesz 1999). Species is recorded in the following provinces and states: Manitoba, Ontario, Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.

More detailed range information was available for the following provinces and states.

Manitoba: occurs in the South-Eastern Lake Terrace region (Glacial lake Agassiz Beaches, between the Red River Valley and the Precambrian Shield) from the Manitoba-Minnesota border north to the Kleefeld area (<1% of the area of the province) (E. Punter pers. comm.).

Ontario: native only in southwestern Ontario (Essex, Kent, and Lambton counties) (M. Oldham pers. comm.).

Delaware: occurs in the piedmont and coastal plain (B. McAvoy pers. comm.).

Florida: occurs in the most north-western county in the state (Wunderlin et al. 1995).

Georgia: reported in 2 counties in northern part of the state (USDA, NRCS 1999).

Iowa: infrequent in north-west of state, common elsewhere (J. Peason pers. comm.).

Kansas: largely restricted to the eastern 1/5 of Kansas (eastern 3 tiers of counties) (C. Freeman pers. comm.).

Kentucky: reported in 33 counties scattered throughout the state (USDA, NRCS 1999).

Indiana: occurs in remnants mostly in the northern half of the state but also occurs in the far southern part of the state (Indiana Natural Heritage Data Center).

Massachusetts: occurs in 4 counties in western half of the state (USDA, NRCS 1999).

Maine: apparently introduced to Maine (Haines and Vining 1998), known to occur only in York county (Maine Natural Areas Program).

Michigan: common in southern Lower Michigan (Voss 1985, Voss 1996, Michigan Natural Features Inventory).

Minnesota: occurs in half the state (Minnesota Natural Heritage Program).

Missouri: occurs statewide (Steyermark 1963, M. McHale pers. comm., T. Smith pers. comm.).

North Carolina: recorded in 10 counties in the mountains and piedmont (Radford et al. 1968, J. Amoroso, pers. comm)

Ohio: occurs throughout Ohio, more frequent in the eastern half of the state (A. Cusick pers. comm.).

South Carolina: reported in two counties in the north-west corner and north-central portions of the state (Boyle et al. n.d.).

South Dakota: restricted to southeastern part of state, documented in three counties: Lincoln, Minnehaha, and Moody. Historically it probably occurred in eight counties (D. Ode pers. comm.).

Tennessee: known to occur in 22 counties in Tennessee (APSU Center for Field Biology and University of Tennessee Herbarium 1999).

Virginia: reported in 28 counties mostly in western 2/3 of the state (USDA, NRCS 1999).

Vermont: one current site in the town of Essex, Cittenden County. One historical record last observed in a vacant lot in the City of Rutland. These records may both be garden escapes (R. Popp pers. comm.).

West Virginia: occurs in 18 counties throughout the state (USDA, NRCS 1999).

Wisconsin: occurs in all but the northern-most tier of counties in Wisconsin (K. Westad pers. comm.).

Confirmation was received that the species does not occur in Alberta (Alberta Natural Heritage Information Centre), British Columbia (British Columbia Conservation Data Centre), Quebec (Quebec Service de la Conservation des Especes Menacees), Saskatchewan (Saskatchewan Conservation Data Centre), Alaska (Alaska Natural Heritage Program), Arizona (Arizona Natural Heritage Program), California (California Natural Diversity Database), Montana (Montana Natural Heritage Program), Nevada (Nevada Natural Heritage Program), New Mexico (New Mexico Natural Heritage Program), Utah (Welsh et al. 1993, Utah Natural Heritage Program), Washington (Washington Natural Heritage Program), and Wyoming (Wyoming Natural Diversity Database).

1000's. Manitoba: 12 (E. Punter pers. comm.); Ontario: ~ 15 (M. Oldham pers. comm.); Delaware: 2 (B. McAvoy pers. comm.); Florida: at least 1* (Wunderlin et al. 1995); Georgia: at least 2* (USDA, NRCS 1999); Kansas: 100's (C. Freeman pers. comm.); Kentucky: at least 33* (USDA, NRCS 1999); Missouri: 1000's (T. Smith pers. comm.); Ohio: probably 1000's (A. Cusick pers. comm.); South Dakota: 3+ (D. Ode pers. comm.); Tennessee: at least 22* (APSU Center for Field Biology and University of Tennessee Herbarium 1999); Virginia: at least 28* (USDA, NRCS 1999); Vermont: 1? (R. Popp pers. comm.); Washington: at least 18* (USDA, NRCS 1999); Wisconsin: 1000's? (K. Westad pers. comm.). * signifies a minimum number of populations based on the number of counties for which the species is recorded according to state distribution maps.

It is difficult to distinguish between native and introduced occurrences (W. Moorhead pers. comm.).

Occurences in or near native prairie habitat and away from houses, within its known geographic range, can likely be considered native (B. Ford pers. comm.).

Delaware: there are few populations due to loss of habitat (B. McAvoy pers. comm.).

Louisiana: there are two historic records of this species. It is not known whether these populations have become extirpated (D. Brunet pers. comm.).

North Carolina: this species is on the Natural Heritage Program Watch list because it is rare and poorly known (J. Amoroso pers. comm.).

South Dakota: Ninety percent of its habitat has been destroyed. There may be a few more populations, but there has not been any systematic survey for this species. The number of sites would certainly not total more than 20 (D. Ode pers. comm.).

Vermont: The only extant population was first observed in 1962. In 1982 there were about 20 individuals. In 1991 there were 7 clumps consisting of about 20 stems. In 1999 no plants were observed.

Species is ranked S1 in Manitoba because there are few occurrences known in a small area of the province. Species is being considered for the Endangered Species List in Manitoba (J. Greenall pers. comm.).

There is both direct and indirect evidence of wild-collection of this species for the plant trade, from Manitoba, Missouri, and Wisconsin.

Manitoba: direct evidence of collecting from the wild observed. Seed or plants must have been taken from the Manitoba Tall Grass Prairie Preserve, since that was the only known population at the time. Two native plant nurseries in Manitoba sell V. virginicum plants which were derived from seed. Probably no rhizomes are collected, since they appear to have dubious medicinal qualities. There is no evidence that this plant is collected from the wild for medicinal purposes. There is no regulation or licensing for wild plant collecting in Manitoba, so no statistics are available (E. Punter pers. comm.)

Missouri: indirect evidence of collecting from the wild. There is a market for the roots but whether it is collected from the wild is unknown. If it is being collected it is not affecting wild populations to any great degree (T. Smith pers. comm.).

Wisconsin: indirect evidence of collecting from the wild (K. Westad pers. comm.).

The plant receives minor but continual usage for medicinal purposes, and it is estimated that 1000-2000 lb/yr were in U.S. trade in the early 1990s (M. McGuffin pers. comm.). The root is used, so harvest is deadly to the plant.

Seed and potted plants of the native form of this species (supposedly) is sold for prairie restoration or native prairie gardening. Plant material is known to have been collected from the wild for this purpose in Manitoba, but the origin of this material in other areas is unknown.

Across its range, Veronicastrum virginicum is reported to be threatened by the following activities:

Conversion of prairie habitat to agricultural use and urban development (A. Cusick pers. comm., B. McAvoy pers. comm., M. Oldham pers. comm.).

Agricultural activities, i.e., pesticide application (E. Punter pers. comm.).

Alteration of hydrology in wet or moist prairie (M. McHale pers. comm.).

Clearing of woodlots (E. Punter pers. comm.).

Road maintenance activities including grading, herbiciding (E. Punter pers. comm.).

Grazing by cattle and white-tail deer (E. Punter pers. comm.).

Removal of shrubs along fence lines and shelterbelts (E. Punter pers. comm.).

Impact of cultivars on native genetic integrity (E. Punter pers. comm.).

Effect of herbicides/insecticides on pollinators (E. Punter pers. comm.).

Low seed production (Lakela 1960, E. Punter pers. comm.).

Loss of open habitat to invasive weeds and pasture grasses (D. Ode, pers.com.), intensive management, and/or reforestation (W. Moorhead pers. comm.).

Encroachment of woody vegetation due to suppression of fires (C. Freeman pers. comm., M. McHale pers. comm.).

Conversion of bogs to wet meadows (J. Amoroso pers. comm.)