Diario del proyecto Tribal Nations Botanical Research Collaborative

Happy Friday TNBRC (Tribal Nations Botanical Research Collaborative) members!

During the winter, your iNaturalist activity may drop off, but there are still cool plants out there to observe! Last weekend, I visited the Sedona area and Rhus ovata was in flower! Rhus ovata, or sugar bush, is related to lemonade berry (Rhus trilobata) and, like lemonade berry, produces edible berries. According to information about this species provided by iNaturalist, Rhus ovata has been used to treat respiratory viruses and ease childbirth. Stay warm & happy winter iNaturalisting!

Happy TGIF TNBRC,

For some species in Arizona, spring is on the way! I recently checked the status of plant development in Arizona by querying the National Phenology Network, a citizen science-based data repository that provides information on the timing of plant life events (e.g., leaf out, flowering, and seed set). Buffelgrass, an invasive grass, is predicted to emerge throughout central Arizona over the next two weeks. Several invasive plants, including the notorious annual grass, cheatgrass, emerge early in the growing season to take up soil nutrients, water, space, and other resources prior to the emergence of native plant species. Understanding the distribution and spatial dynamics of such species can help researchers and land managers develop strategies to control invasive plant populations and protect our native communities. While iNaturalisting over the next couple of weeks (in central and southern AZ at least!), take note of which species are emerging and consider making an observation to add to our overall knowledge of AZ plant dynamics!

--Sara

Hi TNBRC:

Take a look at this story board documenting wild-harvested plants in the northwest US:
https://www.fs.usda.gov/pnw/science-stories/northwest-huckleberry-and-other-nuts-and-berries

The USFS in that region is interested in conserving and restoring traditionally used plants, like huckleberry, salal, and hazelnut, to provide harvest opportunities for Native American tribes and local businesses, as well as provide forage for native pollinators and other species that depend on these food sources!

The TNBRC is taking a first step towards such an initiative by documenting where and with what frequency traditionally used plant species occur on federal lands in Arizona. With this knowledge, we can target species or regions for conservation and restoration projects in order to ensure that these resources persist for future generations. You are a part of that amazing effort - Thank you!!!

--Sara