Eryngium Yuccifolium Research Articles

Assessing the attractiveness of native wildflower species to bees (Hymenoptera: Anthophila) in the southeastern United States

Abstract Habitat loss, agricultural intensification, pesticide use, disease and climate change have contributed to the decline of numerous insect groups. Recent government initiatives have recognized the importance of supplementary wildflower plantings to support native bee populations, yet little information exists on the attractiveness of recommended plant species to bees. With the use of network analysis and generalized linear mixed models, we evaluated the attractiveness of 18 wildflower species belonging to 6 families (Apiaceae, Apocynaceae, Asteraceae, Fabaceae, Lamiaceae and Verbenaceae) planted in a randomized block design by conducting timed targeted sweep netting surveys. We also evaluated the floral preferences of four bee species (Apis mellifera, Halictus poeyi/ligatus, Bombus griseocollis and Bombus impatiens) to the planted wildflower species with the use of GLMs. We found that Asclepias tuberosa, Gaillardia pulchella and Verbena hastata attracted the greatest abundance, richness and diversity of native bees compared to the other wildflower species. Collectively, Asclepias tuberosa, Gaillardia pulchella and Verbena hastata attracted 89% of all bee taxa in the study, which exemplifies the importance of including them in a wildflower mixture to attract native bees. While several wildflower species attracted low abundance, richness and diversity of native bees such as Monarda fistulosa, Symphyotrichum pilosum and Eryngium yuccifolium, they are still ecologically important for attracting uncommon or specialist bee species and should be included in seed mixes for this reason. Solution. Our results highlight that each species of native wildflower varies in the abundance, richness and diversity of native bees they attract; this could be considered in the decision‐making of landowners and land managers to promote wildflower plantings to reflect the needs of certain groups of bees of conservation interest.

The Effects of Flower Patch Density on Pollinator Visitation.

There is conflicting research regarding how conspecific plant density can affect pollinator visitation, with some studies indicating dense flower patches will receive more visitors and other studies demonstrating the opposite. This study investigated the effects of conspecific density on pollinator visitation in a restored prairie. Three plant species, Penstemon digitalis (Nutt. ex Sims) (Lamiales: Plantaginaceae), Monarda fistulosa (L.) (Lamiales: Lamiaceae), and Eryngium yuccifolium (Michx.) (Apiales: Apiaceae), were observed, with visiting pollinators recorded. Conspecific density did not have an effect on total pollinator visitation rates for any of the focal plant species. However, different groups of pollinators varied in their responses to flower density, notably with larger Bombus spp. tending to visit dense flowering patches more than did other groups of bees. This suggests that plant density may impact certain pollinators differently than others. These results also indicate a possible mechanism through which multiple pollinator species can coexist while only one flowering resource is available, with the foraging behavior of smaller bees potentially allowing them to avoid competition with larger, social bees. Furthermore, a comparison of seed weight demonstrated that E. yuccifolium plants tended to have larger seed sets in isolated individuals, suggesting that flowers in large patches may be pollinated less effectively and are competing for, rather than facilitating, pollinator visits.

Morpho-anatomical characterization of Eryngium yuccifolium ('Rattlesnake-master').

This paper provides detailed morpho-anatomical and histochemical characteristics of the leaves, peduncles, stems, and roots of Eryngium yuccifolium Michx. (Apiaceae) by bright-field light and scanning electron microscopy. Noteworthy morpho-anatomical features include the monocot-like leaves with parallel venation and distant marginal bristles, amphistomatic leaves with paracytic or anisocytic stomata and heterogenous isobilateral mesophyll, the presence of epicuticular wax crystalloids on both leaf surfaces, calcium oxalate druses and secretory canals in all the studied plant parts, presence of hypodermis, stem and peduncle with longitudinal ribs containing collenchyma, presence of aerenchyma in the peduncle and root, and absence of sclerenchyma in all the plant parts analyzed. These characteristics would aid in the taxonomy, species identification as well as quality control of the botanical.

Variation in Insect Richness on Six Prairie Plant Species

Insects play a fundamental role in ecosystem stability by providing important ecological services such as pollination, biological pest control, and nutrition for other organisms. Recent human-caused declines in insect populations mandate that we better understand how to improve and sustain insect diversity and abundance. The goal of our study was to identify the insects associated with 6 prairie plant species. We spent 248 hours over 3 months during 1 year monitoring insect visits to 10 replicates of ∼1-m2 patches each of Verbena brasiliensis (Brazilian Vervain, Verbenaceae), Pycnanthemum muticum (Blunt Mountainmint, Lamiaceae), Monarda fistulosa (Wild Bergamot, Lamiaceae), Eryngium yuccifolium (Rattlesnake Master, Apiaceae), Silphium gracile (Slender Rosinweed, Asteraceae), and Rudbeckia texana (Texas Coneflower, Asteraceae). We identified 11 bee species and 100 non-bee species representing 9 orders and 57 families. Insect richness varied widely among plant species: More taxa (n = 75) visited Blunt Mountainmint than any other plant species. Wild Bergamot had the fewest visiting taxa (n = 23). The majority of insects visited multiple plants, although we observed 2 bee species and 44 non-bee species on only 1 plant species. The number of unique insect visitors of each plant species varied from 1 to 19 taxa. Total insect richness was significantly greater in the morning than afternoon (χ2 = 3.7, P = 0.054). That plant diversity begets insect diversity is widely accepted, and our work suggests that inclusion of plants that are strong insect attractors could be integral to insect conservation and restoration initiatives.

An in vitro evaluation of the Native American ethnomedicinal plant Eryngium yuccifolium as a treatment for snakebite envenomation.

Aim:At least seven North American tribes specifically mention the use of Eryngium (typically roots) as an anti-snake venom therapy. As snake envenomation is an endemic, life-threatening medical risk, is there a scientific basis for the Native American ethnomedicine? Could this be demonstrated in an assay amenable to mechanistic evaluation and high throughput screening for later isolation and possible evaluation as a source for a lead drug?Materials and Methods:Proteases, mainly metalloproteases, are thought to be the main pathological agents in most American snake venoms. Water extracts of four plant parts of Eryngium yuccifolium were tested for enzyme inhibition in three highly sensitive in vitro protease assays, with multiple venoms.Results:Interestingly, activity was found in all plant parts, not just the roots, in the general protease assay, also in the most specific assay for collagenases, but less so for elastases where enzymatic activity was low, and against five species of American snake venoms. Inhibition spared the activity of a mammalian elastase, suggesting it has some specificity. In dose response assays, inhibitory activity in extracts of Eryngium was noticeably more effective than randomly chosen plants and comparable to some others.Conclusions:All data shown here are consistent with pharmacological inhibition of proteases in at least selected venoms of common venomous snakes by Eryngium extracts. Moreover, as the genus is widely distributed in America, the ethnological practice of using this plant as an anti-snake venom treatment is supportable, may have been common, and suggests further bioactivity and phytochemical studies are warranted.

Evaluating seed viability in prairie forbs: a test of three methods

A fundamental aspect of establishing native plant species in restorations is ensuring that the seed used is viable. We test whether seed viability estimates for wild-collected seed of 4 forb species native to prairie habitat differ when using 3 methods: 1) germination, 2) tetrazolium, and 3) X-ray. Study species include Eryngium yuccifolium Michx. (button eryngo [Apiaceae]), Lespedeza capitata Michx. (roundhead lespedeza [Fabaceae]), Liatris aspera Michx. (rough prairie blazing star [Asteraceae]), and Ratibida columnifera (Nutt.) Woot. & Standl. (upright prairie coneflower [Asteracae]); multiple populations of each species are used to compare seed collected in the same year from different populations. Additionally, we test whether seed pretreatment (gibberellic acid or scarification) could improve germination estimates of viability by overcoming seed dormancy. Results show that viability estimates do not significantly differ by testing method for 3 of our 4 study species, with the exception being E. yuccifolium . We suspect that E. yuccifolium may have yielded different results for each viability testing method because its pretreatment was not enough to break dormancy, among other factors. Pretreatment yielded significantly higher viability estimates in L. capitata and in one population of L. aspera and E. yuccifolium in the germination study. These results confirm that restoration practitioners should calculate seeding rates based on viability measures on a per-species and per-accession basis. For many species, the method used to calculate viability can be determined by available equipment and expertise, but for species with unknown dormancy requirements, or those that may lose viability when stored, multiple methods may be needed.

Revision of Entyloma (Entylomatales, Exobasidiomycetes) on Eryngium

The genus Entyloma consists of more than 160 species of smut fungi distributed worldwide on dicots, with Apiaceae being one of the main host families. This study aims to clarify the systematics and phylogeny of Entyloma on Eryngium (Apiaceae) with molecular and morphological data. Eleven species from Eryngium are discussed herein. Four of them are described as new taxa: E. carmeli sp. nov. on Eryngium falcatum, E. eryngii-cretici sp. nov. on Eryngium creticum, E. eryngii-maritimi sp. nov. on Eryngium maritimum and E. ho-chunkii sp. nov. on Eryngium yuccifolium. Analysis of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of rDNA is presented and supports the polyphyly of Entyloma on Eryngium.

Triterpenoid saponins from Eryngium yuccifolium ‘Kershaw Blue’

Phytochemical investigation on the root of Eryngium yuccifolium ‘Kershaw Blue’ resulted in the isolation and identification of two new polyhydroxyoleanene saponins, named eryngioside M and eryngioside N, together with 15 known triterpenoid saponins eryngiosides A-L, 21β-angeloyloxy-3β-[β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)]-[β-d-xylopyranosyl-(1→3)]-β-d-glucuronopyranosyloxyolean-12-ene-15α,16α,22α,28-tetrol, saniculasaponin III, and saniculasaponin II. Their structures were established by extensive spectroscopic and chemical analyses. Eryngioside M and saniculasaponin II showed week cytotoxicity against human non-small cell lung tumor cells (A549) with GI50 values of 37.5±1.59μM and 35.5±1.11μM, respectively.

Effects of Herbivory and Inflorescence Size on Insect Visitation to Eryngium yuccifolium (Apiaceae) a Prairie Plant

Herbivory and inflorescence size can influence floral visitors. Damaged inflorescences have been shown to have fewer floral visitors due to changes in floral appearance/chemistry, whereas larger inflorescences attract more pollinators because of greater pollen/nectar reward. This study examined whether floral herbivory by a moth, Coleotechnites eryngiella Bottimer (Gelechiidae), and inflorescence size have any effect on the attractiveness of Eryngium yuccifolium Michaux (Apiaceae) to floral visitors. In particular, the study seeks to determine how combined effects of inflorescence size and herbivory affect overall and main composition of floral visitors groups. Twelve plants, six with one inflorescence stalk (three with and three without herbivory) and six with three inflorescence stalks (three with and three without herbivory) were observed for floral visitors in 2004 and 2007 at four remnant tallgrass prairies located in east-central Illinois, USA. Damaged inflorescences had lower flower visitation than undamaged inflorescences. Larger floral displays attracted more floral visitors. Differences between the numbers of flies, bees and beetles visiting the flowers were not independent of herbivory and inflorescence size. This study provides additional evidence that herbivory and inflorescence size can influence insect visitation. In addition, this study provides further support to recent publications regarding the more sophisticated nature of the pollinator guild associated with members of Apiaceae. Finally, it also provides the foundation for future studies to determine how differences in the composition of floral visitors are associated with the male and female inflorescence phases of E. yuccifolium and their relation to male and female fitness.

Insect Herbivory of Ovules and Seeds in Native and Restored Prairies

Abstract Insect herbivory of ovules and seeds is known to have a negative impact on individual plant reproductive success by reducing overall seed set. Although this seed set reduction has been well documented in plant populations found in native habitats, little work has been done on populations found in restored habitats. In a 4‐year study (2001–2004), I investigated the herbivory of the Gelechiid moth (Coleotechnites eryngiella) of Eryngium yuccifolium populations in native and restored prairies. Data were collected from 20 E. yuccifolium populations (10 native prairies/10 restored prairies) in Illinois. Percent herbivory and percent seed set were determined for each population. From 2001 to 2004, percent herbivory in prairie restorations ranged from 0 to 93 and percent seed set ranged from 2 to 82. In native prairies, percent herbivory ranged from 0 to 98 and percent seed set ranged from 0 to 71. No differences were found between native and restored prairies for percent herbivory or percent seed set. However, significant differences were found among years for percent seed set. This study shows that the antagonistic effects of insect herbivory can reach similar levels in restored and native prairies.

Phenolic compounds and rare polyhydroxylated triterpenoid saponins from Eryngium yuccifolium

Phytochemical investigation on the whole plant of Eryngium yuccifolium resulted in the isolation and identification of three phenolic compounds ( 1– 3) and 12 polyhydroxylated triterpenoid saponins, named eryngiosides A–L ( 4– 15), together with four known compounds kaempferol-3- O-(2,6-di- O- trans- p-coumaroyl)-β- d-glucopyranoside ( 16), caffeic acid ( 17), 21β-angeloyloxy-3β-[β- d-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)]-[β- d-xylopyranosyl-(1→3)]-β- d-glucuronopyranosyloxyolean-12-ene-15α,16α,22α,28-tetrol ( 18), and saniculasaponin III ( 19). This study reports the isolation of these compounds and their structural elucidation by extensive spectroscopic analyses and chemical degradation.

The Kerr Canyon Textile and the Importance of Packrats(Neotoma floridana)in the Eastern Woodlands

In 1974 a section of uncarbonized textile made from rattlesnake master leaves (Eryngium yuccifolium Michx.) was recovered from an eastern woodrat (Neotoma floridana) midden in a sandstone rockshelter along Kerr Canyon in the Shawnee Hills of southern Illinois. Even though this important discovery was brought to the attention of local archaeologists, the textile went unreported and unanalyzed until its recent rediscovery. A radiocarbon assay of fibers removed directly from the textile produced a late Middle Archaic date (4500 B.P.). The Kerr Canyon Textile is significant because it is the earliest reported uncarbonized textile from Illinois and because it adds new information to the meager list of Archaic period textiles from the Midcontinent.

Impact of floral herbivory by Coleotechnites eryngiella Bottimer (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) on the reproductive output of Eryngium yuccifolium Michaux (Apiaceae): a test of the reserve ovary model

The reserve ovary model is a key hypothesis proposed to explain why plants produce surplus flowers and posits that plants may utilize surplus flowers to compensate for losses from floral herbivory. We tested this hypothesis in the prairie plant Eryngium yuccifolium and its floral herbivore Coleotechnites eryngiella. At five Illinois tallgrass prairie sites, we collected central, primary lateral, and secondary lateral inflorescences from E. yuccifolium to determine whether damage by the larvae of C. eryngiella to the flowers in earlier developing inflorescences would be compensated for in later developing inflorescences. Coleotechnites eryngiella does extensive damage to the central and primary inflorescences and little damage to the secondary inflorescences. Later maturing inflorescences did not compensate for early damage by increasing seed production in later inflorescences. The secondary inflorescences of E. yuccifolium may only compensate for catastrophic damage done to the central and primary inflorescences early on in development, serve as additional advertisements for pollinators, act as pollen donors, or allow the plant to take advantage of “ecological windows” of high pollinator and low herbivore abundance. Our findings were spatially and temporally consistent and did not support the predictions of the reserve ovary model in the E. yuccifolium–C. eryngiella system suggesting that in this system, alternate, proximate, and ultimate causes need to be explored for the production of surplus flowers.

Derivations and Current Uses

The Eclectics, a group of American physicians who practiced from the mid-1800s through the 1930s, primarily used botanical medicines to treat their patients. This article discusses the history of the Eclectics as well as the cause of their demise and presents several clinical cases for which botanicals were used based on Eclectic information on their usefulness. Sweet sumach (Rhus aromatica), Western anemone (Pulsatilla occidentalis), desert anemone (P. tuberosa), rattlesnake master (Eryngium yuccifolium), and echinacea (Echinacea angustifolia) are covered.

Essential oils and a novel polyacetylene from Eryngium yuccifolium Michaux. (Apiaceae)

AbstractThe essential oils of Eryngium yuccifolium Michaux. (Apiaceae) were isolated from the leaves, stalks and roots by hydrodistillation. Analysis of the oils by GC and GC–MS revealed that the leaves oil contained 49 compounds, of which germacrene D (18.3%), terpinolene (17.8%), bicyclogermacrene (8.8%), α‐pinene (7.6%), ß‐caryophyllene (6.2%) and falcarinol (9.6%) were found to be the major constituents. In addition, 40 compounds were identified from the stalk oil, among which, germacrene D (38.4%), γ‐amorphene (12.2%), bicyclogermacrene (10.1%), bicyclosesquiphellandrene (3.4%) and falcarinol (3.2%) were the major components. The roots oil was found to contain 25 compounds, of which, terpinolene (25.8%), trans‐β‐bergamotene (18.6%) and the benzaldehyde 2,3,6‐trimethylbenzaldehyde (13.9%), were the major constituents. Yuccifolol (nonadeca‐1,11‐diene‐4,6,8‐triyne‐3,10‐diol), a novel polyacetylene, was isolated and identified from the hexane:ether extract of the aerial parts, together with the known polyacetylenes, falcarinone [heptadeca‐1,9‐(Z)‐dien‐4,6‐diyn‐3‐one], falcarinol (heptadeca‐1,9‐dien‐4,6‐diyn‐3‐ol) and heptadeca‐1,8‐diene‐4,6‐diyne‐3,9‐diol. The chemical structures of these constituents were established by NMR (DEPT, COSY, HMQC and HMBC) as well as HRESI–MS analysis. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

First Report of Cucumber mosaic virus in Eryngium yuccifolium (Rattlesnake Master) in Ohio.

Rattlesnake master (Eryngium yuccifolium) is a wildflower that is native to Ohio. In recent years, native wildflowers have become very popular with home gardeners, and conservationists have begun to reestablish these plants in their native ranges. As native perennial wildflowers become more common, it is important to determine if they might serve as possible perennial reservoirs of viruses. A plot of 20 species native to Ohio was established on the Waterman Agricultural and Natural Resources Laboratory, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio. In the summers of 1999 and 2001, random samples were collected from established plantings. Some sampled plants did not show symptoms of virus infection; however, all samples of E. yuccifolium appeared chlorotic, slightly mottled, and stunted. Using double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) analysis (1), these plants were assayed for viral infection. dsRNA profiles obtained from symptomatic E. yuccifolium resembled that of Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV). These results were confirmed with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA; Agdia Inc., Elkhart, IN) for CMV. dsRNA-containing samples of E. yuccifolium produced ELISA absorbance values (A405) of 0.231 to 0.713 when compared with the negative control. All 14 samples of E. yuccifolium tested positive for CMV. To our knowledge, this is the first report of CMV in E. yuccifolium, which should serve as the basis for a more extensive survey, since CMV can potentially infect a wide variety of ornamental and nonornamental hosts. Reference: (1) R. Valverde et al. Plant Dis. 74:255, 1990.

Reproductive Biology of Eryngium yuccifolium (Apiaceae), a Prairie Species

MOLANO-FLORES, B. (Illinois Natural History Survey-Center for Biodiversity, 607 E. Peabody Drive, Champaign, IL 61820). Reproductive biology of Eryngium yuccifolium (Apiaceae), a prairie species. J. Torrey Bot. Soc. 128:1-6. 2001. Temporal dioecism is a synchronized flowering sequence with minimal overlap between the pistillate and staminate phases of an individual plant. This strategy allows pollen to be shed before stigmas become receptive, minimizing geitonogamous pollinations and maximizing outcrossing. I studied this condition using Eryngium yuccifolium Michx., a tallgrass prairie perennial species. As a temporaly dioecious species, E. yuccifolium exhibits the following characteristics: 1) an extended pistillate phase, with stigmas becoming receptive only after the anthers have shed pollen and dehisced, 2) synchronized flower heads, 3) numerous flower heads visited by generalist pollinators, and 4) some degree of self-compatibility as indicated by hand pollinations. Finally, results from open and bagged pollinations and high pollen-ovule ratios indicated that the species is xenogamous. This study also found high fruit and seed sets (close to 90%) for E. yuccifolium. However, intense herbivory by the larva of a Gelechiidae moth significantly reduced the reproductive output of the species by destroying 40-60% of flowers and fruits. The results of this study indicate that temporal dioecism can enhance outcrossing and potentially can explain the high fruit and seed set for E. yuccifolium.

Light Microscopy and Determination of Eryngium yuccifolium Michaux Leaf Material in Twined Slippers from Salts Cave, Kentucky

Fourteen samples of slippers composed of twined botanical fibres were recovered from Salts Cave, Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky. They were investigated by light microscopy methods for species identification. Specimens were hydrated, sometimes cleared, dissected, and subjected to dyes which allowed identification of histological features. Comparisons were made with several botanical species considered likely candidates for identification. In archaeological samples with sufficient preservation, all were determined to be Eryngium yuccifolium Michx. (rattlesnake master) Apiaceae, a common component of the tallgrass prairie. Identification was made on the basis of shared anatomical characteristics, including paracytic stomata, marginal bristle-like teeth, and parallel venation.

Photosynthetic symmetry of sun and shade leaves of different orientations.

The photosynthetic responses to light of leaves irradiated on the adaxial or abaxial surfaces, were measured for plants with contrasting leaf orientations. For vertical-leaf species of open habitats (Eryngium yuccifolium and Silphium terebinthinaceum), photosynthetic rates were identical when irradiated on either surface. However, for horizontal-leaf species of open habitats (Ambrosia trifida and Solidago canadensis), light-saturated rates of photosynthesis for adaxial irradiation were 19 to 37% higher than rates for abaxial irradiation. Leaves of understory plants (Asarum canadense and Hydrophyllum canadense) were functionally symmetrical although they had horizontal orientation. Photosynthetic rates were measured at saturating CO2, thus differences in the response to incident irradiance presumably resulted from complex interactions of light and leaf optical properties rather than from stomatal effects. Differences in absorptance (400-700 nm) among leaf surfaces were evident for horizontal-leaf species but the primary determinant of functional symmetry was leaf anatomy. Functionally symmetrical leaves had upper and lower palisade layers of equal thickness (vertical leaves of open habitats) or were composed primarily of a single layer of photosynthetic cells (horizontal leaves of understory habitats). Photosynthetic symmetry of vertical-leaf species may be an adaptation to maximize daily integrated carbon gain and water-use efficiency, whereas asymmetry of horizontal-leaf species may be an adaptation to maximize daily integrated carbon gain and photosynthetic nutrient-use efficiency.

The Seed Bank of a Tallgrass Prairie in Illinois

Number and species identity of seeds in the seed bank of a remnant tallgrass prairie were determined by collecting 50 soil cores (10 cm diam and 10 cm deep), spreading them in greenhouse flats and counting and identifying emerging seedlings. Number of seeds was estimated to be 2019 seeds/M2 and most (66.5%) were in the upper 2 cm of soil. Seeds of most species were aggregated. Dominant species in the seed bank were Eryngium yuccifolium and Aster pilosus, and dominant plant species in the aboveground vegetation were Sporobolus heterolepis and Amorpha canescens. There was a weak positive correlation (r2 = +0.23, p<0.001) between abundance of species in the seed bank and in aboveground vegetation. Plant species considered to be aggressive or weedy had more seeds in the seed bank than would be expected from their abundance in the vegetation.