Diario del proyecto Aquatic Plants of Minnesota

Thanks again to everyone who's been out there observing Minnesota's aquatic flora. We are almost at 15,000 observations! I'll be working to try to get through some of the unknowns this winter. Meanwhile, it sounds like we have a few more days of warm weather if you want to try to be the Naturalist who makes observation #15,000!

Are you a college student interested in field botany? Minnesota DNR is looking for a student to assist with summer 2022 field surveys of lakes and wetlands in search of stoneworts (macroalgae in the Characeae family). We are excited about this new project to find and identify new locations and possibly new species in this group. We are looking for a student who likes outdoor work and is specifically interested in botany. The student will work as part of a small team to search for stoneworts and to collect data on their associated habitat. This will be an opportunity to learn field biology skills and to gain experience in plant identification.

This position will be based out of the Brainerd DNR office but we will be travelling throughout the state. Fieldwork will begin around mid to late May and continue through August. Housing is not provided in Brainerd but overnight travel expenses will be covered by DNR.

If you are interested, please check out the posting on the State of Minnesota jobs website:
https://mn.gov/mmb/careers/
Job ID 52003

https://hub.selfservice.systems.state.mn.us/psp/hubss/SELFSERVICE/SSHR/c/HRS_HRAM_FL.HRS_CG_SEARCH_FL.GBL?Page=HRS_APP_JBPST_FL&Action=U&SiteId=1&FOCUS=Applicant&JobOpeningId=52003&PostingSeq=1

Applications are due Tuesday, February 15, 2022

For more information, email Donna Perleberg at: donna.perleberg@state.mn.us

As you head outside to enjoy the last warm days of autumn, arrowheads (Sagittaria) may be one of the plants you find. There are 6 species of Sagittaria documented in Minnesota and it’s helpful to have photos of leaves, flowers and/or fruits to distinguish them.

Keep an eye out for this rare species:

Hooded arrowhead (Sagittaria calycina var. calycina) is a Threatened Species in Minnesota. It has been found in mucky river and lake floodplains and with low water levels, this is a great year to search for it.

Leaves range from egg shaped to arrow-shaped and may look similar to other Sagittaria species. Several species may grow together at the same site and flowers and fruits can help distinguish species. Look for these features:

1. Hooded arrowhead leaf blades are usually held horizontal to the ground, not vertical like the other species.
2. Flowers may still be present in the fall and are the lower flowers are unique – with a ring of yellow stamens surrounding a bulbous yellow-green center of tiny carpels.
3. Fruits are quite distinctive with thick stalks that curve downward.

If you think you’ve found this species, note that iNaturalist uses this synonym: Sagittaria montevidensis ssp. calycina

For more information on how to identify this plant, see these websites:

MN DNR Rare Species Guide:
https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/rsg/profile.html?action=elementDetail&selectedElement=PMALI04040

Minnesota Wildflowers website:
https://www.minnesotawildflowers.info/flower/hooded-arrowhead

Please message mndnr-aquatic-plants if you have any questions about this species.

Congrats to kemerso21 for posting the 10,000th observation of an aquatic plant in Minnesota! And thanks to everyone who has waded out into the wetlands and waters of our state to photograph and share your aquatic plant observations.

More than 2,500 observers have posted 143 different species - from Minnesota's smallest flowering plants (Wolffia) to our largest flowering plant (Nelumbo lutea). Thanks for appreciating these wonderful plants and for sharing your findings with others.

We are 16 observations away from having 10,000 aquatic plant posts in Minnesota! If you get out in the next few days - your next aquatic plant post may be number 10,000!

Congrats to @bogwalker who has logged more than 500 observations of aquatic plants in Minnesota (the most observations to date!) Thanks for wading in and adding a suite of northern species and fantastic photos.

Congratulations to @matthewt6416 on the most aquatic plant observations to date!

Minnesota Wildflowers is a fantastic resource for wild plant enthusiasts.

https://www.minnesotawildflowers.info/page/aquatics

For most plants that have been documented in the state the site includes:

• scientific and common names
• short description of the vegetative and floral characteristics
• fantastic, detailed photographs
• state of MN distribution maps

Check out their new page dedicated to aquatics!

https://www.minnesotawildflowers.info/page/aquatics