Date of Award

January 2015

Degree Type

Open Access Thesis

Document Type

Master Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Biological Sciences

First Advisor

Ronald L. Jones

Department Affiliation

Biological Sciences

Second Advisor

Charles L. Elliott

Department Affiliation

Biological Sciences

Third Advisor

Brad R. Ruhfel

Department Affiliation

Biological Sciences

Abstract

The vascular flora of Boyle County, Kentucky, was conducted from March 2013 to March 2015. Boyle County is located in central Kentucky and is part of the Bluegrass Physiographic Section. A total of 127 families, 392 genera, and 722 species, varieties, and subspecies were documented from Boyle County. Twelve plant communities were described: acidic mesophytic forest, acidic sub-xeric forest, acidic xeric forest, Bluegrass woodland, bottomland ridge/terrace forest, calcareous mesophytic forest, calcareous sub-xeric forest, depression pond/mudflat, dry limestone cliff/outcrops, riparian forest, wet prairie/meadow, and one rare state-listed plant community, the shale/siltstone glade. Five rare species with state rankings were discussed: American chestnut (Castanea dentata), eastern eulophus (Perideridia americana), grass pink (Calopogon tuberosus), softleaf arrowwood (Viburnum molle), and yellow lady-slipper (Cypripedium parviflorum). Seventeen other species that are rare, infrequent, or of special interest are also discussed. There were 156 non-native species (22% of the flora), and 80 of these species are considered invasive in Kentucky.

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