Gloriana!

The arbutus is thriving

IU biologist Keith Clay, who directs the preserve, and Roger Beckman, head of the IU Life Sciences Library, have found several trailing arbutus plants at the Moore’s Creek preserve, a 261-acre site in southern Monroe County adjoining Lake Monroe.

“This uncommon plant, scientifically named Epigaea repens, is found in only a few locations in Monroe County and is in danger of local extinction because of off-road vehicle activity and habitat changes,” Clay explained. “It is one of the very first wild flowers to bloom in the spring and is strictly protected from harvesting in many states.” He said the trailing arbutus, also known as the mayflower, is the state flower for Massachusetts and the provincial flower of Nova Scotia. The flower has a prominent role in IU history. In addition to its designation as the official flower, it gave the Arbutus, the IU yearbook, its name. Clay said it provided the artistic inspiration for the President’s Medal and other IU imagery.

A century ago, a popular destination for students was Arbutus Hill, just east of town. It was said that the plant occurred nowhere else in the state in such abundance and that the spring air was perfumed by its delicate fragrance.

A series of guided nature walks are planned at the preserve next month (the height of the arbutus flowering season) and in May. Participants may register online. Read also about how to help preserve the trailing arbutus in its southern Indiana habitat.

http://www.indiana.edu/~preserve/events/index.html