Nutrient Content of Squawroot 153 



STUDY AREA 



The study was conducted on the Harmon Den Bear Sanctuary, 

 Pisgah National Forest, North Carolina. The area is part of the Blue 

 Ridge Physiographic Province (Fenneman 1938). The mountains are 

 sharply dissected and the terrain is steep. Elevations range from 439 to 

 1,411 m; slopes average over 30% (Finlayson 1957). The area is described 

 as a warm-temperate rain forest (Thornwaite 1948). Vegetation is diverse 

 and changes dramatically with aspect, elevation, soil, and drainage. 

 The general area is among the most botanically diverse temperate areas 

 in the world (Whittaker 1956). 



The majority (89%) of Harmon Den is in hardwood cover types, 

 consisting of white oak (Quercus alba)-northem red oak (Q. rubra)- 

 hickory {Carya sp.) (45%), yellow poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera)- 

 white oak-northern red oak (26%), yellow poplar (10%), scarlet oak 

 (Q. coccinea) (5%), and chestnut oak (Q. prinus) (3%) (U.S. Forest 

 Service 1988). 



METHODS 



Whole plants of squawroot (20-30 plants) were collected weekly 

 from 25 April to 4 July 1987 at elevations ranging from 946 to 1,068 

 m. Quantities of 639 to 1,123 g were obtained each week; samples 

 were composited, therefore no statistical analysis could be performed. 

 Thus, the trends or differences noted in this paper may not be statistically 

 significant. Oven-dried samples were analyzed for crude protein, crude 

 fiber, nitrogen-free extract, fat (ether extract), and gross energy (Maynard 

 et al. 1979). 



Capsules and stems were analyzed separately to detect nutritional 

 differences between them because, as squawroot matured, bears were 

 observed to selectively feed on the capsule portion of the plant. Capsules 

 were difficult to separate from the stem before 30 May. 



RESULTS 



Crude Protein 



The trend for crude protein (x = 8.8%, SE = 0.51, range = 5.1- 

 12.3%) of the entire plant peaked during late May (Fig. 1). Capsules 

 (x - 7.8%, SE = 0.78, range = 5.5-13.4% contained more protein than 

 stems (x = 5.5%, SE = 0.58, range = 3.6-10.2) throughout the study. 

 The highest percentage of protein occurred in the capsules collected 30 

 May. However, much of this protein may have been in the seeds (Wainio 

 and Forbes 1941) and unavailable because bears do not crack or digest 

 the seed coat (Eagle and Pelton 1983). 



