Endangered Species Found at Ricketts Glen State Park


Polemonium vanbruntiae (Bog Jacob's Ladder
 or Appalachian Jacob's-Ladder)
Dr. George Chamuris, Professor in BAHS, is currently working on a preliminary inventory of the vascular plant species at Ricketts Glen State Park. To date 345 species (not including grasses) have been documented.  This summer a species considered critically imperiled in Pennsylvania was encountered in the Park. Dr. Doug Gross, retired PA Game Commission ornithologist informed Dr. Chamuris of his encounter with the species, who then confirmed the identification and documented the occurrence with photographs.

Polemonium vanbruntiae, Bog Jacob’s-Ladder or Appalachian Jacob’s-Ladder, is a member of the Polemoniaceae (Phlox family). It is considered globally vulnerable with a moderate risk of extinction. The species is critically imperiled in New Brunswick, Maine and Pennsylvania, imperiled in Vermont, Maryland and West Virginia, threatened in Quebec and vulnerable in New York. Historical reports from New Jersey exist, however no living plants have been located so the species is presumed to be extirpated in that state.

The occurrence of P. vanbruntiae in Pennsylvania is difficult to track, with reports varying from source to source, however it is clear that some reports are historical with no recent verification. Depending on the source, the species currently exists in as few as two and as many as five counties. Ricketts Glen State Park lies mostly in Luzerne and Sullivan counties, with most sources agreeing on the species occurrence in Sullivan County but disagreeing on Luzerne County. The species was seen this summer in Sullivan County, near the Luzerne County border.

For more information:
King, W. 2018. Status of Appalachian Jacob’s-Ladder in Vermont. Rhodora 120:42-51.
NatureServe. 2007. NatureServe Explorer: An online encyclopedia of life [web application]. Version
6.2. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available http://www.natureserve.org/explorer. 22 August 2018.
Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program. 2018. Available at: www.naturalheritage.state.pa.us/factsheets/14349.pdf. Accessed 22 August 2018.



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