The vascular flora and vegetational communities of the wetland complex on the IMI property in Henry County, near Luray, Indiana

• Published in: Proceedings of the Indiana Academy of Science Vol. 117; no. 2; pp. 142 - 158
• Main Authors: Ruch, Donald G, Torke, Byron G, Hess, Benjamin R, Badger, Kemuel S, Rothrock, Paul E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Indiana Academy of Science 31.12.2008
• Subjects: Apiaceae; Carex leptalea; Cyperaceae; Fabaceae; Hydrastis canadensis; Poaceae; Rosaceae; Scrophulariaceae; Wetland flora
• ISSN: 0073-6767; 2380-7717

An inventory of the vascular flora occurring in the IMI wetland complex near Luray, Indiana, reveals 287 species and varieties representing 180 genera in 79 families. The 12 families containing 58% of the species are Asteraceae, Poaceae, Cyperaceae, Rosaceae, Apiaceae, Fabaceae, Lamiaceae, Polygonaceae, Caprifoliaceae, Liliaceae, Ranunculaceae, and Scrophulariaceae. Of the documented flora, 246 are native, 41 are adventives, and 20 represent Henry County records. Of the 287 species, 63 are woody, 162 are herbaceous forbs and vines, 55 are grasses and sedges, and 7 are ferns and their allies. The Floristic Quality Index for the native species is 61.9 and for all species, native plus exotics, is 57.3. The mean Coefficient of Conservatism for the native species is 3.9 and for all species, native plus exotics, is 3.4. These numbers suggest that the site is of nature preserve quality and that the site contains noteworthy remnants of the region's natural heritage. The numbers also suggest that the adventives are having a minimal negative impact on the native flora. The flora includes two rare species (Spiranthes lucida and Triglochin palustre) and four species on the watch list (Carex leptalea, Filipendula rubra, Hydrastis canadensis, and Selaginella apoda). Based on hydrology and topography, the major community types (dry border and field, sedge meadows, fens, mesic woodlands, dry woodlands, wet meadow, and creek and creek bank) are described.