Search for new and rare vascular plants and lichens in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Search for new and rare vascular plants and lichens in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Since 1999, botanists from the Illinois Natural History Survey have participated in the All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP). Inventories have been done on a watershed basis and a total of ten new and two historic plant records have been discovered for GSMNP. In 2003, a grant was received from Discover Life in America (DLIA) to conduct plant surveys in areas north of Fontana Lake . These areas are relatively inaccessible and have some unique geological features. Great success was achieved and 74 specimens of 43 park-listed rare taxa were collected (as well as specimens of 3 new species). This area; however, has only received a good preliminary examination. Very few collections were made at mid to high elevation levels. These areas are even more remote and more difficult to access and continued grant support is needed to further inventory this region of the park.
In 2004 botanists from the Illinois Natural History Survey (INHS) made three week-long trips to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP) to collect vascular plants and lichens. Collecting trips were conducted in April, July, and October to maximize the number of different species encountered. Once again in 2004, we concentrated our search efforts to the watersheds above Fontana Lake. We collected a total of 941 vascular plant and ~60 lichen specimens. Tentatively eight vascular plants and one lichen new to the park have been found in this area (Two vascular plant species still pending verification). Also, 77 collections of 44 vascular plant species listed as park-rare were vouchered. Voucher specimens of all vascular plant species were collected and will be deposited at ILLS and TENN. Specimens of new park records will also deposited at the GSMNP herbarium located at the Sugarlands Visitor Center. Label data is entered into the INHS herbarium's electronic database and is sent to park personnel and Discover Life in America (DLIA). The INHS herbarium's electronic database is searchable at: http://ellipse. inhs.uiuc.edu:591/INHSCollections/plantsearch.html. Additional lichen specimens are in the process of being identified, labeled, and databased. Specimens and database information will be distributed when completed.
