VT Conservation Status: extremely rare (S1)

 Rhexia Virginicia - Virginia Meadow-beauty

S1. Critically imperiled at very high risk of extirpation the jurisdiction due to very restricted range very few populations or occurrences, very steep declines, severe threats, or other factors.

-Nature Serve Global Conservation Status Definitions

Virginia meadow- beauty has a "distinctive urn-shaped fruit that Thoreau once compared to a tiny cream pitcher." - Go Botany 

When thinking about natural communities, wildlife and conservation status, I typically fall into the trap of thinking about animals and insects. However, natural communities, wildlife and conservation status also refers to plants. In Vernon, this is often the case.

 Inventory Map: Natural Resources Town of Vernon, VT, May 2018, produced by Windham Regional Commission. The Key includes: streams, river, pond; significant natural communities; natural heritage occurrence; deer wintering area; conservation land public and privately owned

The above linked map is the best that I can do when intentionally informing you of where S1 or S2 wildlife is present in Vernon. In fact, I waited to post my photographs of this community of Virginia Meadow Beauty until some time had passed between my last visit and this post. I did this in an effort to limit their disturbance and poaching. 

So why mention their presence at all? Because as odd as it seems, not knowing about the areas of Vernon where there are significant communities of concern can be as detrimental to their survival as knowing. 

While in practice, the identities and specific locations of S1 and S2 communities are not publicly posted, it's still important to be aware of the general arears in Vernon where these communities have somehow found respite. By doing so, we are better able to understand the need to tread lightly there. 

"All of the pieces of an ecosystem are important to its functioning" -Vermont Biodiversity Project

-Norma Manning