Welcome to an engaging discussion with Robb, the Calumet outreach coordinator, who is deeply involved in habitat restoration in the Calumet area. This region is unique because it brings together various ecosystems and is densely populated. Robb’s passion for plants is evident, even though he isn’t a trained botanist. His journey into the world of plants and conservation is quite fascinating.
Robb’s background is in performance poetry, which might seem unrelated to botany at first glance. However, his interest in gardening and conservation grew from a desire to actively combat environmental destruction. One of his notable projects is the restoration of Langham Island and the Kankakee River, home to the rare Iliamna remota, or Kankakee mallow. This flower is unique to Illinois, and in 2014, plant enthusiasts embarked on a quest to find it.
The search for the Kankakee mallow was indeed a quest. Unfortunately, the flower was not found initially due to the area being overrun by invasive species like honeysuckle. These non-native plants threatened the mallow’s habitat. Interestingly, the Kankakee mallow thrives in environments where fire is present. Historically, fires were common in Illinois, started by both Native Americans and natural lightning strikes. The mallow’s seeds are adapted to recognize fire, prompting them to germinate.
Last winter, a team worked to clear invasive brush and employed a technique called “the rolling brush pile.” They used burning logs to cover the ground with fire, hoping to encourage the mallow’s return. By August, their efforts paid off, and a carpet of baby Kankakee mallows emerged, much to their delight.
Robb explains that while human intervention is crucial now, a healthy ecosystem will eventually sustain itself with natural fires. The goal is to reach a point where prescribed burns every few years will suffice, making maintenance less labor-intensive. A thriving ecosystem is much easier to manage than one struggling to support rare plants.
Robb is also involved in efforts to reintroduce other Illinois species. The herbarium, with its vast collection of about three million specimens, plays a crucial role. Among these is the leafy prairie clover, a federally endangered legume. Remarkably, seeds from this plant, preserved for 130 years, might still be viable. If successful, germinating these seeds would be a significant achievement for conservation.
For those interested in conservation but lacking a formal botany background, Robb offers encouraging advice. Every region has unique species that need protection, and anyone can contribute to their preservation. It involves monitoring rare plants and animals and removing invasive species. Native habitats, shaped over millennia, are irreplaceable, and helping them thrive is a rewarding endeavor. Participation requires empathy and an understanding of the intrinsic value of all species.
Robb’s work is inspiring, and he encourages anyone interested to volunteer and make a difference. Conservation is a collective effort, and every contribution counts. Feel free to reach out and join the cause!
Explore the intersection of poetry and botany by writing a poem inspired by the Kankakee mallow or another native plant. Share your poem with the class and discuss how creative expression can raise awareness about conservation efforts.
Participate in a simulation where you plan a habitat restoration project. Consider factors like invasive species removal, fire management, and native plant reintroduction. Present your plan to the class and discuss the challenges and strategies for successful restoration.
Engage in a debate about the role of fire in ecosystem management. Research the benefits and risks of using fire as a conservation tool, and present your arguments. This will help you understand the complexities of ecological interventions.
Visit a local herbarium or explore an online herbarium database. Identify and research a rare or endangered plant species. Present your findings, including the plant’s ecological role and conservation status, to the class.
Participate in a local conservation project, such as invasive species removal or native plant planting. Reflect on your experience and share insights with your peers about the impact of hands-on conservation work.
**Sanitized Transcript:**
Hey, we’re here with Robb in the economic botany collection talking about plants. Robb, what do you do here? I am the Calumet outreach coordinator, and I organize habitat restoration in the Calumet area. It’s where you have different ecosystems coming together, and it’s one of the more populous places in our country.
So you obviously care a lot about plants.
I do. Plants are important to me, but I’m not a trained botanist.
What is your background?
My background is in performance poetry.
Poetry? How did you get interested in plants and conservation?
I started gardening and getting into conservation as a necessary extension of my desire to take action and change the course of environmental destruction. One of the restoration projects I’m working on is the restoration of Langham Island and the Kankakee River, which is home to the only known flower that originates solely from Illinois. This flower is called Iliamna remota, or the Kankakee mallow. In 2014, plant enthusiasts went out to the island looking for this rare flower.
It sounds like a quest!
It was definitely a quest. They searched for it but found none growing there because the area was overrun with non-native honeysuckle and other invasive species that choke out the habitat the mallow needs.
Exactly. The mallow, in particular, thrives with fire. In Illinois, fire was a regular part of life. Native Americans would routinely burn large stretches of prairie, and lightning would often start prairie fires. One interesting thing about the Kankakee mallow and a few other seeds is that if they are touched by fire, the seeds recognize that fire has passed overhead. They know it’s time to open up and germinate.
Last winter, some folks went out and cut down as much invasive brush as possible and conducted a technique called “the rolling brush pile.” They lit a fire with logs and rolled the burning logs across the ground to cover as much area as possible with fire. We held our breath and waited to see if the flower would return. When we returned in August, we found a carpet of baby Kankakee mallows.
Oh my gosh!
They had germinated because of our efforts. We were thrilled.
It seems like without human involvement, the Kankakee mallow might not survive. Unless people are sent out every year to conduct these rolling brush fires, does it have a chance?
A healthy ecosystem will produce enough fuel for regular fires, so we won’t have to meticulously manage it every year. We need to do a lot of work now, but eventually, we can conduct prescribed burns every few years, which is less labor-intensive than rolling logs. A healthy ecosystem is easier to maintain than a degraded one, where you’re struggling to keep rare plants alive.
I also wanted to ask about your other project. You’re trying to bring back other Illinois species. How does that work if there’s no place to introduce them?
We have a large collection of plants from around the world, with about three million specimens in our herbarium. While looking through our digital collections, we noticed that the leafy prairie clover, which is federally endangered, had seeds that were still viable. Leafy prairie clover is a legume, similar to beans, and has a protective waxy coating that helps preserve its seeds. Even though the seeds in our collection are 130 years old, there’s a chance we can germinate them, which would be a significant step for this rare plant.
If we don’t succeed with these seeds, that’s okay. We’ll ensure that we establish as many of its associated plants as possible on the island. Even if the old seeds don’t work, we can still reintroduce leafy prairie clover to the location. Our goal is to reconstruct our understanding of these ecosystems, which can guide restoration efforts elsewhere.
What advice do you have for people who didn’t study botany but want to get involved in local conservation work?
Every place has its own unique species that need protection. Rare plants, animals, and ecosystems require monitoring and sometimes the removal of invasive species. A native habitat, which has evolved over millennia, is a special place that is alive in a way that can’t be replicated. The work you can do is to help that place thrive and be itself. Anyone can participate; it just requires empathy and the understanding that all species deserve to exist.
That’s a nice sentiment.
I think so. It motivates me every day.
I think what you do is pretty cool.
Me too.
Anyone can volunteer anytime. Feel free to reach out!
Economic Botany – The study of the relationship between people and plants, focusing on how plants are used for economic purposes. – Economic botany explores how indigenous communities utilize local plant species for medicinal and nutritional purposes.
Habitat Restoration – The process of returning a natural environment to its original condition after it has been damaged or degraded. – Habitat restoration efforts in the wetlands have led to the return of several native bird species.
Conservation – The protection and management of biodiversity to ensure natural resources are available for future generations. – Conservation strategies are essential to maintain the delicate balance of marine ecosystems.
Invasive Species – Non-native organisms that spread rapidly in a new environment, often causing harm to native species and ecosystems. – The introduction of invasive species like the zebra mussel has disrupted local aquatic ecosystems.
Ecosystems – Communities of living organisms interacting with their physical environment, functioning as a unit. – Tropical rainforests are among the most diverse ecosystems on the planet, supporting a wide range of species.
Germinate – The process by which a seed begins to grow and develop into a new plant. – For seeds to germinate successfully, they require the right combination of moisture, temperature, and light.
Native Habitats – Natural environments where a particular species has evolved and adapted over time. – Protecting native habitats is crucial for the survival of endemic species that cannot thrive elsewhere.
Preservation – The maintenance of natural resources in their present condition, with as little human impact as possible. – Preservation of ancient forests is vital to protect biodiversity and combat climate change.
Biodiversity – The variety of life in a particular habitat or ecosystem, including the diversity of species, genes, and ecosystems. – High levels of biodiversity contribute to the resilience of ecosystems against environmental changes.
Restoration – The act of repairing and renewing ecosystems and habitats that have been degraded or destroyed. – Restoration projects aim to reestablish native vegetation and improve soil health in deforested areas.
