Sampling was conducted at three sites located in Cambria County, Pennsylvania. One population was on private property and located on a sloped forest bench. Populations two and three were located on public lands on upland ridge tops. All populations originated as wild plants, but one was managed for about 10 years as a forest farm.
Based on this study’s results, one way to promote ramp conservation is to delay ramp harvests until about 30 days after emergence in the spring to ensure that the maximum bulb size has been reached.
It can take many years for plant populations in ramp patches like this to rebound from even modest harvests, researchers warn. With the increased interest and demand for ramps, they want to learn and promote how to best steward wild populations of the forest herb.
Lead researcher Sarah Nilson, assistant professor of biology at Penn State Beaver, shows a ramp. Ramps are valued for their strong garlic-like aroma and delicious onion-like flavor.
Early spring enthusiasm for ramps — also known as wild leeks — may be causing lower plant yields and threatening communities of the forest herb, according to Penn State researchers.
Penn State students, faculty and staff with older versions of the id+ card are being asked to submit new photos ahead of re-carding events that will be held University-wide during the spring 2023 semester. There are multiple ways to submit a photo, and photos will be accepted from Nov. 7 through Nov. 23.
The biology lab at Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, Sweden is where Penn State Beaver senior Alyssa Lucas spent her summer participating in a study abroad program.
