The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service seeks public comment on the Technical Agency Draft Recovery Plan for the Pyne's ground-plum , a federally listed, endangered plant. Written public comments will be accepted on this draft recovery plan until June 1, 2010.
Found in middle Tennessee, this rare plant exists on the edges of limestone cedar clearings and in the open areas of surrounding cedar woodlands in full to moderate light. A member of the pea family, the Pyne’s ground-plum is a perennial, a plant which survives for more than two growing seasons.
There are eight known locations where the plant is found; all are within a short distance of the rapidly growing city of Murfreesboro. Five of the occurrences are located on public lands and are protected. However, the three remaining places where the plant is found are located on private lands where development pressures are increasing.
All of the known Pyne's ground-plum occurrences are threatened by the encroachment of more competitive vegetation and/or trees, such as the eastern red cedar, that produce shade and compete for limited water and nutrients. Active management to reduce or eliminate this encroachment is required to ensure that the species continues to survive at all the sites.
The Technical Agency Draft Recovery Plan for the Pyne's ground-plum describes actions considered necessary for the plant’s recovery, establishes criteria for downlisting and delisting the species, and estimates the time and cost for implementing the needed measures.
To view the draft recovery plan on the web, visit www.fws.gov/cookeville Click on the icon entitled Technical Agency Draft Pyne's Ground-plum Recovery Plan.
To obtain a copy of the draft recovery plan or send written comments, please write the Tennessee Ecological Services Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 446 Neal Street, Cookeville, Tennessee, 38501. A copy of the draft plan also can be obtained by contacting the field office at 931-528-6481.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting, and enhancing fish and wildlife and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people.
