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Saturday - May 30, 2009

From: Ford City, PA
Region: Mid-Atlantic
Topic: Rare or Endangered Plants
Title: Conservation status of Lathyrus venosus (Veiny pea)
Answered by: Nan Hampton

QUESTION:

The Wild Pea (Lathyrus Venosus Muhl) 1) What's being done to preserve them 2) When were they placed on the endangered species list 3) How many are left

ANSWER:

First of all, Lathyrus venosus (veiny pea) is not on the Federal Endangered Species list but it is listed as 'Endangered' on the state lists in New Jersey, New York, and Ohio; as 'Threatened' on the state list in Indiana; and as 'Special Concern' on the state list in Kentucky. Since its protection and status is under the control of individual states, you will find the information you are seeking from the responsible authority in each state. Some, but not all, of this information is available on line but for the rest of the information you will need to contact the appropriate authority in each of the 5 states. Here is information about the status and conservation efforts for each of the five states:

1) You can read about the Special Plants of New Jersey from the Division of Parks and Forestry, Department of Environmental Protection, State of New Jersey. According to this webpage "The Endangered Plant Species List was adopted on June 4, 1990 and most recently revised January 17, 1995." The List of Endangered Plant Species and Plant Species of Concern has February, 2009 as its date. The status ranking for L. venosus on this list will give you an idea of the number of plants to be found in New Jersey. You can find the definitions of status rankings from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Parks and Forestry, Special Plants of NJ - Appendix I - Categories & Definitions. Contact the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Parks and Forestry for more information.

2) New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Regulations, Sec. 193.3: Protected native plants., which lists L. venosus, was filed March 17, 1975, repealed and filed anew May 22, 1989. It is noted that for plants on this list:

"It is a violation for any person, anywhere in the State, to pick, pluck, sever, remove, damage by the application of herbicides or defoliants, or carry away, without the consent of the owner, any protected plant. Each protected plant so picked, plucked, severed, removed, damaged or carried away shall constitute a separate violation."

The web site also gives more information about enforcing environmental regulations:

"When a violation occurs, DEC enforcement and legal personnel develop the case and order compliance, in many cases also imposing penalties against the violator. Some violations lead to enforcement hearings, which are recorded and a written hearing officer's ruling and Commissioner decision issued. When the permit review process triggers formal hearings, the DEC Commissioner issues a written decision that either approves the permit, approves with conditions, or denies the permit."

For the list L. venosus is listed as 'Endangered' and the 'Endangered' status is explained as follows:

"The following are endangered native plants in danger of extirpation throughout all or a significant portion of their ranges within the state and requiring remedial action to prevent such extinction. Listed plants are those with five or fewer extant sites, or fewer than 1,000 individuals, or restricted to fewer than four U.S.G.S. 7 1/2 minute series maps, or species listed as endangered by the United States Department of Interior in the Code of Federal Regulations."

Contact the New York Department of Environmental Conservation for more information.

3) L. venosus is listed on the Ohio Division of Natural Resources, Division of Natural Areas and Preserves—Rare Plants. According to Endangered from Lake Metro Parks.com, the first endangered plants list from Ohio was published in 1980. Contact the Ohio Division of Natural Resource, Division of Natural Resources for more information.

4) You can see the list of Endangered, Threatened, Rare or Expirgated Plants of indiana and their rankings from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. Contact the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Division of Nature Preserves for more information.

5) Kentucky has a Federally Listed Species and Candidates for Federal Listing link but since L. venosus has only a 'Special Concern' ranking on the state list in Kentucky, it isn't on this list. It does occur on the USDA Plant Database list linked above. Please contact the Kentucky State Nature Preserves Commission for more information.