Document: SUZ-3-37-17

Distribution and abundance of two wild, harvested species in the central Appalachians.

SANDERS, S.M.* and J.B.MCGRAW

West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506-6057 ¹

Abstract:
As demand for goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis) and ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) intensifies due to the herbal plant trade, basic information about distribution and abundance is needed to inform management strategies. We surveyed 13 sites in West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Ohio, and Maryland to determine H. canadensis and P. quinquefolius presence and abundance. At each site, two to five large plots, chosen to include a range of aspect and elevation, were intensively searched. Abundance of P. quinquefolius was greater on east and west facing slopes, but was not affected by elevation. H. canadensis abundance was not affected by aspect or elevation. Both H. canadensis and P. quinquefolius were more likely to be found at lower elevations. Presence of both species was also affected by aspect with both species being encountered more frequently on east facing slopes. H. canadensis grows in dense patches which may be separated by extreme distances and appears to have rather specific habitat requirements; P. quinquefolius grows in small patches or singly, often separated by only a few meters and is more broadly distributed, although nowhere is it abundant. The contrasting dispersion patterns of these two rare, harvested species have important implications for apparency to harvesters. Ginseng is less likely to be completely harvested in any one harvest event, but more likely to be encountered by a single harvester. Goldenseal, however, is more likely to be completely harvested when found, however, it will be encountered less frequently in a random walk across the landscape.

Keywords: Hydrastis canadensis, Panax quinquefolius, wild harvested plants, rare plants

This abstract is being presented at: 2:00 PM in session:
Oral Session #33: Plant Demography.