Cherokee County Research Articles

Identification and Characterization of Mining Waste Using Landsat Thematic Mapper Imagery, Cherokee County, Kansas

Mining wastes and tailings are present throughout much of the world and United States including the Tri-State lead and zinc mining district in southeastern Kansas, southwestern Missouri, and northeastern Oklahoma. These wastes and tailings are often associated with heavy metals, acid mine drainage, and other physical hazards. Many tools have been utilized and proposed for the rapid inventory and characterization of these wastes including the use of Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) images. A Landsat TM image of the Cherokee County, Kansas portion of the Tri-State mining district was evaluated in an attempt to inventory mining waste and tailings in the county, and characterize the gross mineralogy of these wastes. False color TM composites were used to perform supervised and unsupervised landcover classifications of Cherokee County to identify the locations of mining waste and tailings. In addition, several TM band combinations (mineral indices) were used to characterize the mineralogy of these wastes. The accuracy of the classifications in identifying mining wastes from other land types was less than 60 percent. However, false color composites of Landsat TM bands were a useful tool in identifying these wastes, and determining their gross mineralogy.

First Report of Stigmina lautii in the United States.

In June 1999, a specimen of blue spruce (Picea pungens) from Avery County, North Carolina, exhibiting symptoms of needle blight was submitted to the Plant Disease and Insect Clinic at North Carolina State University. A fungus sporulating profusely on symptomatic needles was identified as Stigmina lautii. Since then, three additional specimens have been received-on blue spruce from Ashe County, on Norway spruce (P. abies) from Avery County, and on Picea sp. from Cherokee County. These counties are all in western North Carolina but are not contiguous, indicating that the fungus is probably widespread in the western part of the state. S. lautii was described by Sutton (2) in 1973 on black spruce (P. mariana) and white spruce (P. glauca) collected from various locations in Manitoba and Saskatchewan, Canada. The only other reference found to the fungus is a specimen collected in British Columbia, Canada, on P. glauca in 1972 (2). The morphology of the North Carolina specimens of S. lautii is essentially as described by Sutton. The dark brown, superficial, flattened sporodochia are developed only through stomata. Sporodochia are found both on symptomatic needles as well as on adjacent green needles. Conidiophores arise only laterally from the lower, outer cells of the sporodochium, and are macronematous, mononematous, brown, smooth, unbranched, 1 to 2 septate, and 10 to 20 × 4 to 6 μm. Conidiogenous cells are brown, monoblastic, integrated, terminal, percurrent with 3 to 4 annelations, and 6 to 12 × 4 to 5 μm. Conidia are pale brown, cylindrical to fusiform, often curved, thick walled, verrucose, 5 to 8 distoseptate, and 25 to 45 × 5 to 6 μm. Superficially, the sporodochia of S. lautii might be confused with pycnidia of Rhizosphaera kalkhoffii, which also arise through stomata. The latter fungus also is associated with a needle blight of Picea spp. in western North Carolina. Both fungi were present on one specimen examined. Currently, no information is available on the pathogenicity of S. lautii, but its association with typical needle blight symptoms and the known pathogenicity of other Stigmina spp. on conifers make it likely that the fungus is pathogenic to spruce. To my knowledge, this is the first report of S. lautii in the United States, and P. pungens and P. abies represent new host records for the fungus. Specimens BPI 747910 and 840959, have been deposited in the herbarium of the National Fungus Collections, Beltsville, MD.

Consumption Value Theory and the Marketing of Public Health

Contemporary public health requires the support and participation of its constituency. This study assesses the capacity of consumption value theory to identify the basis of this support. A telephone survey design used simple random sampling of adult residents of Cherokee County, Oklahoma. Factor analysis and stepwise discriminant analysis was used to identify and classify personal and societal level support variables. Most residents base societal level support on epistemic values. Direct services clientele base their support on positive emotional values derived from personal contact and attractive programs. Residents are curious about public health and want to know more about the health department. Where marketing the effectiveness of public health programs would yield relatively little support, marketing health promotion activities may attract public opposition. This formative research tool suggests a marketing strategy for public health practitioners.

Temporal and Taxonomic Patterns of Mouthpart Deformities in Larval Midges (Diptera: Chironomidae) in Relation to Sediment Chemistry

Entire benthic communities of larval chironomids were sampled in the spring and fall of 1987 from the trace metals-impacted Empire Lake reservoir system, Cherokee County, Kansas. The frequency and severity of mouthpart deformities were calculated for each sample date at the subfamily level and analyzed for correlation with zinc, cadmium and lead concentrations in sediments of the lake. None of the trace metals was significantly predictive of mouthpart deformation, nor was location within the watershed. However, significant taxonomic and temporal patterns in deformation were observed independent of individual trace metals and sampling location. Larval mouthparts were approximately five times as likely to be deformed and three times as severely deformed in the subfamily Chironominae relative to larvae of the subfamily Tanypodinae (frequency = 14.9% vs. 3.1%; Mouthpart Deformity Score, MDS = 30.2 vs. 9.9) (p < 0.01). Similarly and regardless of taxon, the mouthparts of midge larvae present in the sediments for the greatest duration (i.e., overwintering generations) were more frequently (10.7% vs 2.4%) and severely (MDS = 22.2 vs. 1.8) deformed than summer populations (p < 0.01). These levels of frequency and severity are far above those found in unimpacted habitats elsewhere indicating that while individual metal concentrations were not predictive of either the frequency or severity of deformities, clearly the Empire Lake watershed is impacted by some toxicant. Furthermore, the differential temporal and taxonomic responses suggest that both the frequency and severity of mouthpart deformities at the subfamily level can be successful bioindictor tools and more work needs to be done to elucidate their value.

The Politics of Southern Draft Resistance, 1917-1918: Class, Race, and Conscription in the Rural South

In the darkness of an early summer morning in 1918, a truck loaded with fifty soldiers lumbered up into the hills north of Atlanta, Georgia, part of a federal-state expedition into rural Cherokee County, a reported center of resistance to the World War I draft. After interrogating suspected deserters' families and intimidating a local antidraft activist, troops and law enforcement agents loaded up again and drove even deeper into the hills, in search of another deserter's home. At this point, what had been a successful raid took an unexpected turn. To reach the next target, the convoy had to pass over a wooden bridge spanning the Etowah River. The heavy truck carrying the soldiers crashed through the bridge and fell into the river below, killing three soldiers and seriously injuring eight. At the scene of the crash, an agent from the Justice Department's Bureau of Investigation noted that farmers seemed to appear from nowhere to rescue the injured men. Suspicious, he investigated the timbers supporting the bridge and found that they had been sawed almost through. When he asked an elderly man at the scene about the bridge's condition, he was told that the timbers had been damaged during the Civil War. The agent discounted this possibility and recorded his suspicion of sabotage. 1 The agent's report wound up in the files of the Bureau of Investigation, one of scores of reports on draft resistance in the rural South. Those files, combined with information from the records of other agencies involved in World War I mobiliza-

Preliminary Report on Cherokee County, Oklahoma Archeology

Cherokee County is the latest in the state to have its prehistoric conditions investigated by the Department of Anthropology at the University of Oklahoma, in conjunction with the Federal Works Projects Administration. The preliminary survey located several likely sites. Work was begun in July 1939 on a village site and mound located at the junction of Barren Fork Creek and the Illinois River, on a farm owned by M.L. Brackett. It is located in the southwest quarter of Section 18, Township 16 North, Range 23 East. The symbol for this site is Ck. Bk. 1 (Cherokee County, Brackett site.

WATERSHED AND WATER QUALITY MODELING AS PART OF A WATERSHED PROTECTION PLAN FOR CHEROKEE COUNTY, GEORGIA

WATERSHED AND WATER QUALITY MODELING AS PART OF A WATERSHED PROTECTION PLAN FOR CHEROKEE COUNTY, GEORGIAThe Georgia Department of Natural Resources Environmental Protection Division (DNR/EPD) requires local communities to perform watershed assessments as a condition of receiving new water-related State permits. To fulfill the water quality modeling portion of the State-required watershed assessment and watershed protection plan, a linked watershed and water quality model was developed and applied to...Author(s)P.E. MoskusD.W. DilksD.S. SchechterT.A.D. SlaweckiC.T. TheismannA. PellicciaSourceProceedings of the Water Environment FederationSubjectSession 29 - Surface Water Quality and Ecology Symposium: Watersheds–Assessment, Source Water and Nonpoint BMPsDocument typeConference PaperPublisherWater Environment FederationPrint publication date Jan, 2001ISSN1938-6478SICI1938-6478(20010101)2001:14L.824;1-DOI10.2175/193864701802779279Volume / Issue2001 / 14Content sourceWEFTECFirst / last page(s)824 - 843Copyright2001Word count167

Evaluation of three smoke detector promotion programs

Context: Seventy percent of U.S. residential fire deaths occur in homes without a working smoke detector. To help prevent residential fire deaths, many programs have distributed or installed detectors in unprotected homes. Because persons receiving a detector may not install it and because detector batteries require annual replacement, the enduring effectiveness of these programs may be questioned. Objective: We evaluated the long-term functional status of smoke detectors distributed to high-risk households in eight areas of Minnesota, Cherokee County (North Carolina), and Oklahoma City (Oklahoma). Design: Cross-sectional. Setting: Home visits were made to check the detectors that were distributed 3 to 4 years earlier. Participants: Randomly selected households from the three detector promotion programs. Main Out-come Measure: At least one working smoke detector. Results: Participation rates ranged from 72% to 82%. The percentage of evaluation households with at least one working detector ranged from 58% in Oklahoma to 73% in North Carolina. In 76% of households with nonworking detectors, the batteries were either missing or disconnected. When batteries in nonworking detectors were replaced, 83% of the detectors regained function. Conclusions: Future programs should consider distributing detectors that do not require annual battery changes or find effective ways to ensure that batteries are routinely replaced. Programs should also provide each household with the number of detectors needed to meet the most current recommended standard of the National Fire Protection Agency. The evaluation’s participation rates support the practicality of unannounced home visits to evaluate home injury prevention programs in high-risk groups.

An Annotated List of the Crayfishes of Kansas with First Records of Orconectes macrus and Procambarus acutus in Kansas

Williams and Leonard (1952) published the only comprehensive work on Kansas crayfishes (Cambaridae) and listed seven species in the state. However, research completed since 1952 has added to our knowledge of the natural history of Kansas crayfishes and increased the number of species known in the state to eight (Metcalf and Distler, 1963). My recent examination of collections from the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP), specimens housed at the Kansas Biological Survey, and incidental crayfish specimens present in fish collections at the University of Kansas Natural History Museum and the Fort Hayes State Sternburg Museum of Natural History provides new data on the distribution and natural history of Kansas crayfishes. Specimens for all new records are housed at the University of Kansas Natural History Museum, Division of Invertebrate Zoology except for the specimens of Orconectes macrus collected by A. Slater which are housed at the Kansas Biological Survey. Currently, none of the specimens mentioned have catalog numbers. I confirm the addition of two species of crayfish to the fauna of Kansas and provide an annotated list of the crayfishes of Kansas to supplement Williams and Leonard (1952). The Neosho midget crayfish, Orconectes macrus, was known previously only from the Spring River basin in Missouri and Arkansas (Williams, 1954b; Pflieger, 1996). Pflieger (1996) suggested that Orconectes macrus should occur in the Spring River basin in Kansas and Oklahoma. Four specimens of this species were collected in the Spring River in Cherokee County, Kansas (SW sec. 11, T33S, R25E) by A. Slater on 17 May 1979 and three more specimens of this species were collected by the KDWP Neosho River Basin sampling crew on 7 August 1996 at the same site. Because of its restricted distribution in Missouri and Arkansas, it is likely that Orconectes macrus is restricted to the Spring River drainage in Kansas. The White River crayfish, Procambarus acutus, is a wide-ranging crayfish present along the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts as well as the central Mississippi River drainage north to the Great Lakes. Procambarus acutus occurs in the Arkansas River drainage in Oklahoma (Creaser and Ortenburger, 1933; Reimer, 1967). Creaser and Ortenburger (1933) mentioned that the species probably occurred in Kansas as well. However, Williams and Leonard (1952)

Physiological Responses of Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) to Organic and Inorganic Amended Heavy-Metal Contaminated Chat Tailings

Study plots established at the Galena subsite of the Cherokee County Superfund Site in southeastern Kansas by the U.S. Bureau of Mines in 1990 were examined during the summer of 1996 to determine whether physiological criteria could be used to determine suitability of switchgrass for remediation of heavy-metal contaminated substrates. Switchgrass was chosen because it was the most frequently encountered species on these plots. Treatment plots included a treatment control, an organic residue treatment of 89.6 Mg ha-1 composted cattle manure, and two inorganic fertilizer treatments recommended for either native grass or grass/legume mixtures. Plant response variables were photosynthetic rate, leaf conductance to water vapor, internal concentration of carbon dioxide in leaves, foliar transpiration rate, leaf water-use efficiency, predawn leaf xylem water potential, and midday leaf xylem water potential. Predawn and midday xylem water potentials were higher for grass/legume inorganic treatment than for the other inorganic treatments. Leaf conductances were lower for organically treated plots than those plots not organically amended and both photosynthesis and transpiration were lower for organically treated plots. Leaf conductances and transpiration were higher for grass/legume treated plots than for plots lacking inorganic treatment. Water-use-efficiency was higher for native grass-treated plots than for other inorganic treatments. Grass/legume inorganic treatment in absence of organic treatment increased predawn and midday xylem water potential, leaf conductance, photosynthesis, and transpiration. Organic amendment in absence of inorganic amendment increased predawn and midday xylem water potential.

Chemical Analyses of Middle and Upper Pennsylvanian Coals from Southeastern Kansas

Elemental and chemical analyses and physical tests were conducted on 36 samples of Middle and Upper Pennsylvanian coals from southeastern Kansas. Concentrations of 35 minor and trace elements in these coals were statistically compared with concentrations in coals of similar rank and age from other areas in the western region of the Interior Coal Province, showing that Kansas coals have significantly higher concentrations of copper, arsenic, and lead. The zinc content in Kansas coal samples ranges from 160 to 51,000 ppm (whole-coal basis), the maximum value being the highest zinc value reported for U.S. coals. Cadmium content also has an extreme range, from less than 1.0 to 160 ppm (whole-coal basis), the maximum value being one of the highest cadmium values reported in U.S. coals. The apparent ranks of these coal samples range from high-volatile B to high-volatile A bituminous coal. Most samples of Middle Pennsylvanian coals from the major coal-mining area in Bourbon, Crawford, and Cherokee counties are high-volatile A bituminous coal. Arithmetic mean values for proximate analyses of coals (as-received basis; n = 25) show these coals to be 15.5% ash, 35.3% volatile matter, 45.9% fixed carbon, and 3.3% moisture and to have a heat of combustion of 11,910 Btu/lb. Arithmetic mean values for ultimate analyses of the coals show these coals to be 4.9% hydrogen, 65.3% carbon, 1.2% nitrogen, 5.5% sulfur, and 7.7% oxygen. The geometric mean values of these Kansas coals are 3.03% pyritic sulfur, 1.25% organic sulfur, and 0.2% sulfate sulfur.

The Caddoan Occupation of the Attoyac and Angelina River Basins in the Middle Caddoan Period

The Angelina River basin, including the drainage of its largest tributary, the Attoyac Bayou, encompasses all of Nacogdoches County and portions of Cherokee, Rusk, Angelina, San Augustine, Shelby, and Sabine counties in deep East Texas. Archaeological studies in the region that have illuminated our understanding of Caddoan developments have been meager and spotty at best. There is no archaeological evidence in the Angelina River basin of extensive Caddoan occupation during the Early Caddoan period (ca. A.D. 1000-1200). Jelks presented the results of the largest archaeological project conducted in the area in his dissertation dealing with the archaeology of the McGee Bend Reservoir (Lake Sam Rayburn) by reviewing 13 sites excavated between 1956 and 1962. Every site excavated was multicomponent, and included at least some Archaic dart points, Early Ceramic period sandy paste sherds, and grog-tempered Caddoan ceramics. Jelks has been the other archaeologist to propose an archaeological taxonomic unit for the Caddoan sites based on work in the basin with his formulation of the "Angelina focus." This broad unit appears to include sites that date from ca. A.D. 1200 until historic Caddoan times, and was based, in part, upon the presence of Broaddus Brushed and Pineland Punctated-Incised ceramics at the sites.

County Records for Fishes in the Neosho River Basin in Kansas

county records and provided new information on the distribution of nine fish species and one hybrid darter in the state. The occurrence of Catostomus commersoni in Cherokee County was verified and a range extension for Etheostoma whipplei in the United States was documented. Fishes were collected in the summer of 1995 during a survey of the basin's tributary streams conducted by the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks.

Ecological Risk Assessment Case Study: Impacts to Aquatic Receptors at a Former Metals Mining Superfund Site

An ecological risk assessment (ERA) was conducted as part of the Baseline Risk Assessment of the Remedial Investigation (RI) for the Baxter Springs/Treece subsites, Cherokee County, Kansas Superfund site, a former metals mining site. Chemicals of potential concern were heavy metals associated with mine wastes and with base metal ore deposits that were characteristic of this area. An EPA‐approved method was used to developed site‐specific ambient water quality criteria. Ecological impacts were assessed using three complimentary approaches. First, potential chronic impacts were assessed by applying the toxicity quotient approach (i.e., a comparison of the measured concentration of site‐related metals in surface water with calculated site‐specific health‐based criteria). Secondly, semi‐quantitative comparative ecology data were used to provide a direct measure of impacts to key species. Finally, data on other factors (e.g., acclimation and tolerance evolution) that may affect the bioavailability and toxicity of site‐related metals were also considered. Information from these three sources were used to obtain a realistic picture of actual and potential population‐ and community‐level effects associated with exposure to mining‐related metals.

Crayfish Species from Creeks and Rivers of Cherokee County, Kansas

Crayfish Species from Creeks and Rivers of Cherokee County, Kansas

Additional Specimens of the Western Cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus leucostoma, Reptilia: Squamata) from Kansas

The collection of two Western Cottonmouths (Agkistrodon piscivorus leucostoma) from Cherokee County in 1991 is reported. The history of this taxon in Kansas is discussed and previous records are discredited. The collection of the latest specimens confirms the presence of this taxon in extreme east-central Cherokee County. The history of Agkistrodon piscivorus leucostoma in Kansas is a curious one. Although the taxon had been reported from the state as early as 1937 (Hall and Smith, 1947) and as recently as 1977 (Collins, 1977; Perry, 1977; Rundquist et al., 1978), no undoubtedly valid specimens have been collected from Kansas (Collins, 1982). We herein report on two specimens of A. p. leucostoma collected in 1991 that establish this species' existence in Kansas. On 14 September 1991, an adult male A. p. leucostoma (KU 218677) was taken by Shane Eckhardt at ca. 4.8 km E of the jct. of U.S. route 69 and Kansas route 160, Cherokee County, extreme southeastern Kansas. The animal was found in late afternoon at a litter-strewn parking area approximately 125 m W of the Spring River. Associated habitat is mixed hardwood deciduous forest (primarily Quercus and hickory) in the Spring River floodplain in the Cherokee Plain physiographic province (Kiichler, 1974). The specimen (KU 218677) is an adult male with an SV of 778 mm, TL 925 mm. Meristic characters are as follows: ventrals133, subcaudals-45, undivided subcaudals -24, supralabials-8-undet. (damaged), infralabials 9-10, scale row formula--23-25-21. The dorsal pattern is normal for A. p. leucostoma, as is the ventral pattern. There is damage to the right mandible and a portion of the venter in the anterior quarter of the specimen. As a consequence of news media publicity connected with KU 218677, This content downloaded from 157.55.39.208 on Fri, 14 Oct 2016 04:07:07 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms VOLUME 96, NUMBERS 1-2 149 another specimen found earlier was reported to us by Mr. Eckhardt. On 29 August 1991, an adult male A. p. leucostoma (KU 218780) was collected at 1.6 km S, 3.4 km E of the junction of U.S. route 69 and Kansas route 160, Cherokee County, Kansas, by Ken Outt. The animal was found near a small concrete culvert that runs under a gravel road. Associated habitat was cultivated fields to the north of the road and mixed hardwood deciduous secondary growth forest immediately to the south. While recovering this snake, Mr. Outt was bitten by it on the first phalange of his right index finger and was mildly envenomated. This second specimen is an adult male with an SV of 600 mm, TL 705 mm. Meristic characters are as follows: ventrals136, subcaudals-43, undivided subcaudals--17, supralabials--8-8, infralabials11-11, scale row formula 24-24-2 1. The dorsal pattern is somewhat more distinct than normally seen in living adult A. p. leucostoma, but this may be an artifact of preservation. The ventral pattern is normal. The specimen has sustained severe midbody trauma, apparently after having been run over by a vehicle. In addition, there are three major dislocating fractures of the vertebral column anterior to the midbody trauma.

Nitrogen and Foliar Fungicide Effects on Winter Wheats

In the eastern region of the Great Plains, yield and seed quality of wheat could potentially be increased by applying additional N and foliar fungicide. Field studies were conducted at two locations in southeastern Kansas from 1987 through 1990 on a Parsons silt loam soil (fine, mixed, thermic, Mollic Albaqualf) to evaluate responsiveness of selected cultivars of hard and soft winter wheat to conventional N (75 lb N/acre, fall-applied) and high N (75 lb N/acre, fall-applied followed by 50 lb N/acre topdressed in late winter) fertilizer applications, with and without foliar fungicide (propiconazole — 1[[2-(2,4-dichlorophenyl) -4-propyl-1,3-dioxolan-2-yl]methyl]-1H-l,2,4-triazole). Nitrogen level and foliar fungicide responses varied significantly among cultivars, locations, and years. Grain yield, test weight, kernel weight, and heads per square foot were significantly reduced with the higher N level in 3 of 4 yr at one location; however, at the second location, the high N application significantly increased grain yield compared with the conventional N level. Applying additional topdress N significantly increased grain protein at both sites, but foliar fungicide had no effect on grain protein. Yield response to foliar fungicide was dependent upon leaf rust (Puccinia recondita Rob. ex. Desm. f. sp. tritici] seventy and cultivar disease resistance. Significant N level × fungicide interactions for grain yield occurred in seven of the eight site-years. Results indicate that decisions to use higher N levels and foliar fungicide should be based upon specific environmental conditions and cultivar selection. Research Question Considerable interest has developed in intensive cereal management (ICM) systems for producing higher grain yields. Two important components of these proposed systems are increased N levels and foliar fungicides. Research is lacking on the effectiveness of higher N fertilization and foliar fungicide use in the eastern portion of the Great Plains, where both hard and soft winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars are commonly grown. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of two N levels (conventional N = fall-applied and high N = fall-applied followed by late winter topdress), with or without a foliar fungicide on yield, test weight, yield components, grain protein, and flag-leaf N concentration for selected cultivars of hard and soft red winter wheat. Literature Summary The ICM concept originated in Europe, where wheat yields in excess of 100 bu/acre are commonly produced. Intensive cereal management systems have been evaluated throughout the wheat growing regions of the USA to determine their adaptability and economic feasibility. Research conducted in recent years has verified that grain yields of soft red winter wheat can be increased with intensified management systems, including higher N fertilization and foliar fungicide application. Results with combined and selected components of ICM systems have been inconsistent, however, and have varied depending upon specific environmental conditions. Very little research on ICM practices has involved hard red winter wheat cultivars. Study Description The study was conducted at two locations in southeastern Kansas from 1987 through 1990. Soil: Parsons silt loam (fine, mixed, thermic Mollic Albaqualf) Main plots: Conventional N (75 lb/acre - fall, preplant incorporated) Conventional N with foliar fungicide High N (75 lb/acre - fall, preplant incorporated followed by 50 lb/acre — late winter topdress) High N with foliar fungicide Subplots: Selected hard and soft red winter wheat cultivars N source: Urea Foliar fungicide: Tilt, 4 oz/acre (Feeke's GS 8) Applied Question Did higher N levels and foliar fungicide application increase wheat yield and grain quality? Yield response to N level and foliar fungicide varied significantly at two locations (Table 1). Results indicate that yield response to higher N levels and foliar fungicide is highly dependent upon specific environmental conditions, foliar disease severity, and cultivar disease resistance. Grain protein levels were increased with additional topdress N application, whereas foliar fungicide had no effect on protein. Table 1. Effects of N level and foliar fungicide on grain yield and protein in Labette and Cherokee Counties, Kansas.† Yield Protein Labette Cherokee Labette Cherokee Treatment County County County County ------bu/acre----- -------%------- Conventional N 56.2 53.6 12.5 9.8 Conventional N with 60.9 54.7 12.4 9.7 fungicide High N 51.9 58.7 13.7 11.1 High N with fungicide 60.5 62.4 13.7 11.1 LSD (0.05) 2.7 3.1 0.3 0.3 † Data averaged over cultivars and years.

The Southern Woodfern Hybrid, Dryopteris Xaustralis (Palmer) Small, New to Maryland

The Southern Woodfern Hybrid, Dryopteris Xaustralis (Palmer) Small, New to Maryland. The Southern Woodfern hybrid, Dryopteris Xaustralis (Palmer) Small, was discovered by Edgar T. Wherry near Fortney, Cherokee County, Alabama, in 1927. It has subsequently been found at another station in Alabama and in Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, Mississippi, Arkansas, Georgia, Tennessee, and Virginia. The distributional history of this plant was detailed by Werth, Evans, and Ware (Castanea 53(4):263271, 1988). It is interesting to note that the hybrid was first discovered in the deep heart of the south and that subsequent discoveries radiated to the north, west, and east of the original station. The last of these stations was discovered in 1982 by Donna Ware near Williamsburg on the Coastal Plain of eastern Virginia. On September 23, 1989, while field researching an environmental project in Baltimore County, Maryland, I discovered a colony of what I assumed at the time to be Dryopteris celsa Small. Several specimens were pressed for an ongoing project relating to the distribution of D. celsa and its hybrids in Maryland. Sometime later, while studying the specimens, I came to realize that they were not D. celsa, but appeared to possibly be Dryopteris Xaustralis, but this seemed incredible, and this possibility was dismissed at that time.

Rediscovery of Ranunculus laxicaulis in Kansas

Among the 30 species of vascular plants which have not been collected in Kansas since 1900 (McGregor, 1987) is the annual palustrine buttercup Ranunculus laxicaulis (T.&G.) Darby. The only known prior Kansas record is a specimen on file in the herbarium of the California Academy of Sciences collected in Miami County, Paola, Rusby s.n. in 1877. It was somewhat of a surprise, then, to find the plant in Cherokee County, SC Sec. 11, T33S, R25E, swampy woodland margin and roadside ditch, 5 May 1988, R. L. McGregor 3811 (KANU). At this locality scattered colonies were found over an area of 40 acres associated with species of Carex and other plants characteristic of southeastern Kansas swampy areas. Elsewhere the species ranges from southern Missouri and Illinois northeastward to Connecticut, and south to eastern Texas and Oklahoma.

Range Extensions for Three Species of Madtoms (Noturus: Ictaluridae) in Kansas

Collections of fishes from the Neosho River system in Kansas included apparent range extensions for three species of madtoms. On 4 September 1988, three freckled madtoms, Noturus nocturnus Jordan & Gilbert (MHP 2075; KU 22169), and one Neosho madtom, Noturus placidus Taylor (MHP 2068), were captured with a seine from a gravel riffle 0.25 mi. S and 0.5 mi. W of Dunlap, Morris County, (Sec. 14, T17S, R9E). Based upon distributional information given by Cross (1967) and by Cross and Collins (1975), both of these records represent range extensions upstream in the Neosho River from previously reported sites in Lyon County. Stonecats, Noturus flavus Rafinesque, also were collected at this site. A previously unpublished range extension for the Neosho madtom (MHP 2067; KU 21941) from Lightning Creek, a tributary of the Neosho River in Cherokee County, was obtained on 18 April 1987 by a Fort Hays State University ichthyology class from a rocky area along the downstream side of a low-water bridge 1 mi. N and 12.5 mi. W of Columbus (Sec. 11, T33S, R21E). Typically a resident of the mainstream channels of the Neosho, Spring, and Cottonwood rivers in Kansas, the two specimens collected at this site represent the first confirmed occurrence of Neosho madtoms within a smaller tributary stream based upon an assessment of previous reports presented by Moss (1981). The Neosho madtom currently is listed as a threatened species in Kansas (K.A.R. 1987 Suppl.) under the Nongame and Endangered Species Conservation Act (K.S.A. 1986). On 22 October 1988, four slender madtoms, Noturus exilis Nelson (MHP 2076; KU 22168), were collected with a seine from rock and gravel riffles in the Neosho River at the U.S. Highway 56 bridge in Council Grove, Morris County (Sec. 14, T16S, R8E), and a single specimen (MHP 2077) was taken the same day from a riffle in the Neosho River 3 mi. S and 2.5 mi. E of Council Grove (Sec. 31, T16S, R9E). Cross and Collins (1975) stated that the slender madtom previously had been found within the upper Neosho River system only in Rock Creek, Wabaunsee County, but they showed a