Appalachian Jacob's-ladder in Vermont

Here are some notes on Appalachian Jacob's-ladder (Polemonium vanbruntiae), also known as Van Brunt's Jacob's-ladder or Bog Jacob's-ladder.

In June 2023, I found Polemonium vanbruntiae in the vicinity of Abbey Pond in the Green Mountain National Forest in the town of Ripton (Addison County), Vermont. The plants were growing in an open area between the pond's edge and the surrounding forest where the soil was moist but not wet. I observed two clusters of plants about 700 feet apart (but no plants were found in the intervening space). Each cluster consisted of more than 20 stems, all of which had flower buds. The plants were healthy and thriving.

About a week later, I found Polemonium vanbruntiae in two separate areas off Duclos Road (Forest Road 298) in the Green Mountain National Forest in the town of Lincoln (also in Addison County). The first area was a wetland dominated by sensitive ferns (Onoclea), marsh marigolds (Caltha), and a tall horsetail species. The second area was a moist (not wet) meadow near a small beaver pond. There were more than 100 stems in the meadow. The plants in both areas had begun to flower.

The populations of Polemonium vanbruntiae at Abbey Pond and Duclos Road are well known. Besides Ripton and Lincoln, the species is also known to occur in the towns of Leicester and Cornwall in Addison County.

The global conservation status of Polemonium vanbruntiae is Vulnerable (G3G4). In Vermont, it is Imperiled (S2) and Threatened (T), and therefore protected by law.

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