Table Of Content“...dedicated to the appreciation and conservation of the Coiorado native fiora”
Volume 16 Numbers September/October 1992
Hoosier Ridge Research Natural Area in Jeopardy
Nina Williams Establishmentofthe HoosierRidgeRNA glow. On themore xeric windblown ridges
Colorado Natural Areas Program would protect an incredible wealth of and sites of early snowmelt, Kobresia
botanical diversity, including several of myosuroidestakesroot. SalixglaucaandS.
Colorado’s rarest alpine plants. The brachycarpa characterize the alpine scrub
When word came from Washington in celebrationendedabruptly,however,when communities.
Octoberof1991thatthedecisiontodesignate lessthan threemonthsafterpublicationof
aResearchNaturalArea(RNA)atHoosier thedecision, U.S.ForestServiceChief,F. While these tundra communities are fairly
Ridge had been made by the U.S. Forest DaleRobertson, withdrew the action. His common in thesouthernRockyMountains,
Service, Colorado Natural Areas Program reason? Appeals from the mining theassemblageofrare,endemicanddisjunct
staffandthebotanicalcommunitybeganto community. species found on Hoosier Ridge is unique.
celebrate. After more than a decade of Saussarea weberi is known only from the
work, Colorado could finally designate its StraddlingtheContinentalDivideincentral Hoosier Ridge area, Montana’s Belt
forty-seventh state natural area in Colorado’sMosquitoRange,HoosierRidge Mountains, andtheBeartoothMountainsin
cooperation with the U.S. Forest Service. haslongbeenknownforitsdiversityofrare northwesternWyoming;itsclosestrelative,
plants and high quality examples of S. viscida var. yukonensis, occurs in
Colorado alpineplantcommunities. Saskatchewan.Armeriascabrassp.sibirica
is another extremely rare arctic disjunct,
Deschampsia caespitosa Acomastylis foundagain inMongoliaandtheNorthwest
rossii ssp. turbinata dominate the north- Territories.Ipomopsisglobularisisendemic
facing mesic alpine meadows; the alpine to the Mosquito Range. Astragalus
avenscreatestheautumntundra’sdeepred molybdenus, Braya humilis ssp. ventosa,
- continuedonpage 4
Contents
President's Report 2 Field Trip Report 9
Announcements 3 News From Florissant 10
Letters to the Editor 3 Chapter Activities 10
Winter-Spring Book Review 11
Workshops 6-7 For Your Library 11
Field Notes 8 Calendar 12
1
Page 2 Aquilegia Volume 16
President’s Report
Carol Dawson
If you were able to attend the Annual Natural Heritage Program, Tom Ranker, BoulderChapterpresident),RobUdall,Sally
MeetingoftheColoradoNativePlantSociety Curator of the University of Colorado White (who will continue as conservation
onOctober3'**, I’m sureyouwillagreethat Boulder Herbarium (COLO) at Boulder, committeechair), andJanetWingate. Your
itwas one ofthe most successful meetings Velma Richards, Volunteer in the committment to tlie goals of the Colorado
ever! Comments from attendees indicate HerbariumattheDenverBotanicGardens, NativePlantSocietyissincerelyappreciated.
thattheprogramwasboth informativeand and Nina Williams, Botanist with the
exciting. Tina Jones, who served as our ColoradoNatural Areas Program,
1991-92 vice president and program
committee chair, deserves special thanks At the board of Directors meeting, the
forherincredibleeffortincoordinatingthis following officers wereelected:
conference. TamaraNaumannasvicepresident,Myma
Steinkampastreasurer,andMarkGershman Aquilegia
Iwouldliketowelcomethefollowingnew as secretary.
BoardMembers:
Mark Gershman, Wetlands and Wildlife Finally, Iwouldliketothankthefollowing
Coordinator with the City of Boulder retiringBoardmembersfortheirhardwork is printed on
Planning and Open Space Departments, during the last two years: Peter Henson, 100% recycled paper
ChrisPague, CoordinatorfortheColorado Tina Jones, Betsy Neely (who is the new
Schedule ofMembershipFees Officers
Aquilegia
President CarolDawson 722-6758
Life $250 Vice-President TamaraNaumann ...440-8933
Supporting $ 50 Secretary MarkGershman 443-9365
Organization $ 30 Treasurer MyrnaSteinkamp ...226-337
FamilyorDual $ 15
Individual $ 12 Board ofDirectors
StudentorSenior $ 8
JeffDawson(93) Denver 722-6758
GaryFinstad(93) Denver 791-3790
Membership Renewal/Information
Aquilegia ispublished sixtimes ayearbythe MarkGershman(94) Boulder 443-9365
ColoradoNativePlantSociety Thisnewsletter Pleasedirectallmembershipapplications,renewals BillJennings(93) Louisville 666-8348
iosthaevrasilwaibtlheatnoimnteemrebsetrisnnoaftitvhee.pSloanctise.tyCoanntdactto aailnnldcoatarhdeedrroifenstqsuhiecrhSioaecsnigreeetgsya'trsodmitanhigeltMihenegmvbSaoedcdrirseethsyist.poPtchlheeaaSiserecprederitsraoerncy,t TTChaormmiasrRPaaanNgkuaeeurm((9a94n4))n(93) ..LBBoyouuollnddseerr 447499024---845974313392
the Society forsubscription information. incareoftheSociety'smailingaddress. VelmaRichards(94) Englewood 794-5432
VickyTrammell(93) Littleton 795-5843
ArticlesfromAquilegiamay beusedbyother Newsletter Contributions NinaWilliams(94) GoldHill 443-8079
native plant societies or non-profit groups if
fullycitedtoauthorandattributedtoAquilegia. Pleasedirectallcontributionstothenewsletter Chapter Presidents
to:
The Colorado Native Plant Society is a non- T94a0maQruainNnaSutmreaentn BDoeunlvdeerr-Metro BReotnsyAbNbeoetlty 434333--68105914
profitorganizationdedicatedtotheappreciation Boulder, CO 80303 FortCollins MikeScott 490-1788
andconservationoftheColoradonativeflora. Yamparika ReedKelley 878-4666
Moeunertmhbnueasrtiisavhsetispplaibnsotost,pheanpnrtdoofiasellscswoiimotpnhaoalsnedainntodefrepnsltoanni-nt DAepardilli1n5e,sJufnoer1n5,ewAsulgeutstter15m,aOtcetrioablesra1r5e,aFnedbDreucareymb1e5r, SanJuan CPoemgmgiytLtyeoens 626-5526
15.
professional.
Shortitemssuchasunusualinformationaboutaplant, Conservation SallyWhite 697-5439
Pleasejoin us inhelping toencourageinterest a little known botanical term, etc. are especially Editorial TamaraNaumann ...440-8933
in enjoying and protecting Colorado's native welcome. Camera-readylineartorotherillustrations Education GaryFinstad 791-3790
plants. The Society sponsors field trips, arealsosolicited. FieldTrips JeffDawson ;...722-6758
FieldStudies MaryEdwards 233-8133
workshops and other activities through local Please include author's name and address, although Hort/Restoration ....DorothyUdall 482-9826
chaptersandstatewide. ContacttheSociety,a items will be printed anonymously, if requested. Membership MyrnaSteinkamp ...226-3371
chapterrepresentative, orcommitteechairfor Articles submitted on disks (IBM or Mac) are Publicity JuliaCarlson ...752-2738
more information. appreciated.Pleaseindicatewordprocessingsoftware Workshops BillJennings 666-8348
andversion.
Number 5 Aquilegia Page 3
ANNOUNCEMENTS
W
erecentlyreceivedasin.^1 butsignificant Chapters Getting Organized After the Summer Field Season...
,
contributionj^gjpe,iiewsil!|tter. Artist Jan
North::.Bishop g=ent us a tfcawing of an TheBoulderChapterheldanorganizationalpotluckinOctober.Thefoodwasgreat
Aqiiil^gia fip\^er topii#^ii®|^^pu know and the company was even better. New officers "volunteered." Betsy Neely is
when youVe reachedthe endof article. president;ElaineHillisvicepresident;AnneMaleyandElaineSmitharerefreshment
Heroi^piish coordinators; andLynnRiedelhandlespublicity. It's arealteam effort!
youse||^ebai^^^3here/dur.i®sii(lent
ConipilprWizard^Mai^G$ralmiaa*sc TheMetro-DenverChapterisup-and-nmning!RonAbbottwasre-electedpresident;
Jan’sirpageinto^ecomputeandweshrunk Chris Hartung is vice president; Virginia Knowlton is secretary-treasurer.
itdown so itloiofc^like this,,.,..... Congratulationsto the Metro-Denverteam!
Thanks Jan' Weplan,to use
alotofthese little col^bines. We'll look fornews from FortCollins, SanJuan, andYamparikanexttime!
LETTERS to the EPITOR
COLLECTING ETHICS
fromthequestionofcollectingtruevoucher andlasting. Parkrangershavegoodreason
Okay, maybegetting one’sintroduction to specimens (when appropriate and forpromoting astrongerethic.
Colorado botany in Rocky Mountain necessary), they raised the concern of
NationalParkisn’tthebestapproach.Butif gratuitous plucking and its effects. The Times have changed, thank goodness.
it warped me for life, it also taught me “scientific” fraction of my brain quickly Collecting an armful ofwildflowers is no
V respectfortheplantsandenvironmentswe pointedoutthatmostplantsaren’tseriously longer in vogue. Times have changed for
'^a study. Twenty-odd years later, I still can’t damaged by such minor losses, but that’s botanists,too.We’renolongerdocumenting
cross the tundra without tip-toeing. Our notthepoint.Evenifnolastingharmisdone an entirely new flora, as Nuttall, Grayand
stateand localparks go to greatlengths to toaplant,aharmfulmessageissent: Those otherswere. We, too, havegoodreasonfor
indoctrinatevisitorswith thesameethicas who know, and presumably appreciate promoting strongerethics.
donationalparks:Takeonlypictures.Can plants best, find this practice acceptable
weaffordadifferentstandardfortheSociety? beyond question - or even notice. Those I’m writing this inhopes ofcorrecting any
whooughttobesettingthebestexamplefor role I may have played in giving a bad
One reason for carefully evaluating our othersareinfactsettingtheworstexample, impression ofthe Society, because Iknow
stance on this question is the fundamental andare undermining the goodresultspark thisisagoodgroupofpeople. Ihopethose
difficultyofmmntainingadoublestandard. naturalistseverywherearetryingtoachieve. whoaredoingformalplantcollectionswill
To do so, we must establish that we, as read and follow tlie Society’s Guidelines
botanistsorSocietymembers,aresomehow Thenumberofpeopleoutonourdwindling (Vol. 16, No. 3, pages9-11) andtheirown
different and more privileged than other natural lands hasbecome far too large for consciences. Ihopetherestofuswillthink
people interested in plants, whether thecumulativeeffectsofminordamagesto more conscientiously about whether the
wildflower lovers, herbalists, interior remain unnoticeable. Most folks perhaps casualsnippingwearedoing isthethingto
decorators, or home gardeners, whose have good intentions but short attention do, whether we are willing to have others
depredationsonlocalflorasweoftenlament. spans. We’ve all had the experience of witness us doing it—and whether we’d be
Whenweareoutwithplantenthusiastswho finding wilted flowers discarded on the willingtohaveothers(especiallythosewith
have absorbed park standards, their ethics trail. How is our thoughtless grazing any lessabilitytodistinguishrarefromcommon
regarding casually pulling, picking, or different?Weneedtolearntorecognizeand plants) imitate ourbehavior. Read the line
snipping plants or plant parts for more correctthedestructivesideofourinterestin onpageoneundertheSociety’slogoagain.
convenientobservatioiifarexceedours-in plants. As members, we claim a special
fact, they’re apt to be horrified at our responsibilitytoColorado’sflora.Weneed
behavior. I’m reminded of the tum-of-the-century to cultivate betterfieldhabits.
expeditionstowhatisnowRockyMountain
I’mnotcomfortableinthefieldwithpeople National Park, and thefolkswhocollected Sally White
whoarehorrifiedatmybehaviororthatof wildflowersliterallybythebusheltoadorn CONPS Conservation Committee
my companions, and I was chagrined their dark Victorian parlors in Denver. A
recently to have the discrepancy in our plantdoesn’tneedtoberareto succumbto
ethical stance pointed out to me by sorne such treatment, and the effects ofhistoric
folks with whom I was botanizing. Apart wildflowerpickingonparkecologyarereal
s s s s s
Page 4 AquHegia Volume 16
Sibbaldiaprbcumbens
Hoosier Ridge, continuedfromfrontpage
Artist:JanetWingate
Draba borealis, D. porsildii, Papaver and status report Mining issuesform thebasisoftheappeals
kluanense,Phippsiaalgida,andTownsendia recommended threatened resulting in the withdrawal of the Hoosier
rothrockiiarerareplantsalsogrowinginthe status.Followingthisrecommendation,the Ridge RNA. Appellants accuse the Forest
HoosierRidge area. U.S.FishandWildlifeServicepublishedits Serviceoffailing to assess thearea’s high
intentiontohstEutremainOctoberof1990. mineral content and list the seven active
The main source of controversy between Two years later, the fen mustard remains (patented) mining claims within the RNA
the mining and conservation communities unlisted,placingtheServiceinviolationof boundaries. Thissummertheentirenatural
is the endeniic Pleistocene relict, Eutrema theEndangeredSpeciesAct,whichrequires areawas found stakedin whatappeared to
penlandii (syn. = Eutrema edwardsii ssp. a listing action on species within 365 days be mining claim patterns.
penlandii). First collected in 1935 near following publication ofintent.
Hoosier Pass by C. William T. Penland, Oneappealcitesthe 1991 AlmaAmerican
Penland’salpinefenmustardisknownonly Factors influencing the decision to list MiningCorporationstudythatdocumented
fromfourteen scatteredpopulationswithin Eutremaincludethe“highdegreeofhabitat anincreaseinthenumberofknownEutrema
itsnarrowrange, approximately seventeen specificity”ofthespecies(evidencedbyits individualsfromapproximately6,000plants
miles long and one mile wide, along the absence from seemingly suitable habitat to 16,000. Mr. Gregory Hahn, Vice-
crest of the Mosquito Range. Numerous elsewhere in the Rocky Mountains), the PresidentofSt.Mary’sMineralsandauthor
searches have failedto extendthe species’ fragile and critical hydrologic regime in oftlieappeal,concludesfromthis“evidence”
range. Eutrema’ closestrelative, andonly which the species is found, and multiple that Eutrema does not warrant threatened
otherNorthAmericanmemberofthegenus threats to the species’ habitat. status. Hahn fails to acknowledge that the
isEutremaedwardsii,acircumborealspecies Almareportdidnotsignificantlyextendthe
ofarctic North Americaand Siberia. Alpine ecosystems are extremely rangeofthediminutivemustard.JanetColes,
susceptible toprolonged trampling and ColoradoNaturalAreasProgramecologist,
Penland’seutremaisverynarrowlyrestricted disturbance. Annualburro races iswaryofusingannualpopulationnumbers
to certain perennially saturated moss- ^ from Fairplay to Leadville to predict species status. “Viability ofthe
covered peatlands above 12,000 feet. follow aroute over Mosquito species can not be judged accurately by
Permanent snowfields provide the Passthrough apopulation of population number counts because of the
continuous water source for substrate Eutrema. Off-road vehicle use widefluctuationofindividualsfromyearto
saturation. Field reports from this summer is popularin this area. Proponents year,” she says.
reveal a tendency for Eutrema to grow ofthe Colorado DivideTrail
alongeutrophicwaters, oftenevidencedby (CDT) wantthe trail to bisect AppellantsalsoarguethattheForestService
RNA
filamentous blue-green algae. Additional thenatural area, which straddles established the for preservation of
questionsremainunansweredabouttherole the Continental Divide. Routing rare plants, and not for research. They
of geologic substrate, soil pH, and water the CDT on thedivide through quote the following federal regulations:
quality in defining Eutrema’ distribution. the natural area was abandoned “Whenappropriate,theChiefshallestablish
^ U
as asuitable alternative when aseriesofresearchnaturalareas^..toillustrate
\jtr RNA establishmentappeared adequately or typify for research or
Eutrema is tiny Rhodiolaintegrifolia imminent. Since ChiefRobertson’s educational purposes, the important forest
Artist:JanetWingate
and easily overlooked. withdrawal, however, rumors suggest and range types in each forest region, as
It is a glabrous, tap-rooted perennial with tliatthe HoosierRidgeroute isback well as otherplant communities that have
inflorescences sometimes reaching 7 on thedrawingtable. Natureherselfmight specialoruniquecharacteristicsofscientific
centimeters in height. Its ovate to cordate, proveEutrema’ bestally; thissummerthe interestorimportance.”TheForestService
long-petioled basal leaves range from 5 to Forest Service indicated that lightning- Manual, however, lists preservation of
10 millimeters in length, although moss related safety issuesmay force tlie trail off pristinerepresentativealpine habitats with
sometimes obscures the petioles, giving the divide. uniqueattributesandpreservationofgenetic
RNA
them a false sessile appearance. Cauline diversity as valid objectives of
leavesaresessileandnarrowlyoblong.The Eutrema’ worst enemy is tiie mining tliat establishment.Finally,theappellants object
microscopicwhitepetalsmeasurelessthan madeLeadvilleandAlmafamous.Ditching to withdrawing the 695 acre parcel from
1 millimeter wide, 2-3.5 millimeter long associatedwitlimining activitiesalters the multiple use, a withdrawal that was .
and the quadrangular siliques are strongly hydrology and can desiccate peat habitat. “entlmsiastically endorsed” by the Park
ribbed. Rowering occurs in early to mid Acid run-off may alter tlie water quality County Commissioners in 1988. Unlike j
July, and fruiting lasts through August. beyond tlie range of Eutrema’ tolerance. these appeals from mining interests, most
Exotic species used in state-required conservation-based appeals of federal
Eutrema penlandii was proposed for reclamation could presentanew source of actions are routinely denied, and rarely
endangeredspeciesstatusin 1975and 1976. potentiallydetrimentalcompetition fortlie cause adecision to be rescinded.
Itwasnotuntil 1988tliatadetailedinventory native flora.
Number 5 Aquilegia Page 5
,
Hoosier Ridge, continuedfrompage 4
Thefate ofHoosierRidgeremains unclearand I am certainlynotoptimistic. TheWhite
Riverand Pike-San Isabel National Forestsjointlymanagetheareaandarereevaluating
tlieRNAin lightoftherecentappeals. ABotanical SpecialManagementAreawouldbe
a weak compromise, affording no protection from development. If proposed mining
activitiesinvolvefillingwetlands,projectscouldbepostponedordeniedunderSection404
ofthe Clean Water Act. The U.S. Army Corps ofEngineers, Environmental Protection
Agency, U.S.FishandWildlifeService, andU.S.ForestServicewouldallbeinvolvedin
the decision-making. Listing Eutremapenlandii as threatened would provide the most
protection foritshabitat,butwillnotdirectlyaffectotherrarespeciesandcommunities.
NoalternativeactioncanduplicatethelevelofprotectionaffordedEutremaanditsfragile
ecosystem.Researchopportunitiesintheuniqueandrichlydiversebotanicalhabitatfound
on HoosierRidge couldbe forever lost.
What You Can Do
1. WritetoRegionalForester, ElizabethEstill; expressyourconcernsoropinionsabout
managementofHoosierRidge. Askhertocontinuetowork towarddesignationofthis
outstandingResearchNaturalArea. EncourageplacementoftheContinentalDivide
Trail outsidetheboundariesoftheproposedRNA. Suggestplacementofinterpretive
signsneartheRNAboundaryto infonnhikersofitsimportantbotanical value, andof
thefragilenature ofthehabitat.
ElizabethEstill,RegionalForester
U.S.D.A. ForestService
RockyMountainRegionalOffice
P.O. Box25127
Lakewood, Colorado 80225
2. Sendcopies ofyourlettertotheForestSupervisorsonthePike-San Isabel (south slope
ofHoosierRidge)andWhiteRiver(northslope)NationalForests.
ForestSupervisor ForestSupervisor
Pike-SanIsabelNationalForest WhiteRiverNational Forest
1920 ValleyDrive P.O. Box 948
Pueblo, Colorado 81008 Glenwood Springs, Colorado 81602 Botanical Esoterica
3. Write to theRegional Directorofthe U.S. Fish andWildlife Servicerequesting or[ifctleknownfactsaboutplants...
immediate action on theproposed listing ofEutremapenlandii as athreatened species.
Did you know that wasabi
Regional Director (Japanese horseradish) is
U.S. Fish andWildlifeService actually a speaes of Eutrema
.
P.O. 25486 and thus related to one ofour
DenverFederalCenter rarest native cruafers^ (See
Denver, Colorado 80225 Nina \A/illiams' articleonpage1.)
Think aboutthatthenexttime
4. Send acopy ofyourletterto the Colorado StateOffice Supervisor, U.S. Fish and
you eat sushi!
Wildlife Service.
Supervisor, Colorado StateOffice
U.S'. Fish andWildlife Service
730 Simms Street, Room292
Golden, Colorado 80401
Page 6 AquHegia Volume 16
&
Workshops Winter 1992 Spring 1993
-
The Colorado Native Plant Society workshop series was established in 1985 to COLORADO CONIFERS
provide members with winter-time activities when field trips are impossible.
CONPSmembershaveattendedmorethan79workshopsovertheyears.Workshops leader; Vickey Trammell
bringnativeplantlovers togetherwithawell-informedinstructorwhomayhave location; Arapahoe Community College,
photographs, herbarium specimens, live plants, or other materials for hands-on
Littleton
study.Theopportunitytoreceiveone-on-oneinstructionandinformativelectures, firstsession; Saturday, January 16, 1993
has made the workshop series one of the most popular Native Plant Society second session: Sunday, January 17, 1993
programs. Attendeesneednospecial skills orbackground; aloveofplants anda
desire to learn are tlie only prerequisites. The goal is to demystify plant
identification and to enhance in all of us our enjoyment and understanding of Isa Douglas-fir treeafirtree?Is SpruceTree
Colorado'snative flora. House at Mesa Verde National Park named
becauseofthesprucetreesgrowingthere?Are
PleasemailyourregistrationtoBillJennings,P.O.Box952,Louisville,CO80027. there cedar trees in Colorado? Learning to
Indicate the workshops for which you would like to register, and include your recognize thenativeconifertreesofColorado
name, address, and telephone number. Phone registrations will alsobe accepted willbethesubjectofthisworkshop.Participants
(666-8348). Registerpromptly, asworkshops tend to fill upquickly. The fee for will leani simple field characteristics of the
eachfull-dayworkshopis$10forCONPSmembersand$22fornon-members($10 leaves (needles) and the cones to aid in tree
fortheworkshop and$12tojointheSociety). Paymentismadeonthedayofthe identification. Interesting facts and stories of
workshop. About two weeks prior to tlie workshop, registrants will receive the natural history ofnative conifertrees will
information by mail about location, time, lunch, and suggested references or
alsobediscussed. Thiswillbeahalf-dayclass
materials tobring to the workshop. (10 a.m. - 2 p.m.) at Arapahoe Community
CollegeinLittletonwithafieldtripafterward
It takes considerable time and effort for the instructors to plan and develop to see tfees at Chatfield Arboretum, weather
workshopsand field trips. Pleaselet usknow how you like the activitiesoffered permitting.
by CONPS. We need your suggestions for future workshops and trips. We also
appreciate feedback on whether you find them informative and exciting ordull
and uninteresting. We'd like your opinion on how well we are serving you, our
membership.
MONTANE and SUBALPINE GRASSES
Location; Foothills Nature Center, Boulder Ptilagrostisporteri
Artist:SueGalatowitsch
First Session: Saturday December 5, 1992
Leader; Dr. Alan Carpenter
Second Session: Sunday, December 6, 1992
Leader; Dr. David Buckner
Drs. CarpenterandBucknerwill take us tliroughtlie fascinating and
confusing world ofthe grassesofthe mountains. Aftercovering tlie
terminology necessary to study the grasses, tliey will distribute
numerous specimens for us to dissect and identify. This will be an
uniqueandrewardingworkshop,continuingourseriesonidentification
of this important group. Every Colorado botanist should have a
working knowledge ofthe grasses.
Number 5
Aquilegia
Page 7
CENTURY PLANTS (AGAVES) WEEDS COLORADO
of
of the SOUTHWEST
Leader: Dr. Wendy Hodgson Leader: Dr. Richard Old
Location: University ofColorado, Boulder Location: Univ. ofColorado, Boulder
SFeircsotnsdessseisosni:onS:aStuunrddaayy,,FFeebbrruuaarryy67,, 11999933 SFeircsotndsessseisosni:onS:aStuunrddaayy,,FFeebbrruuaarryy2278,, 11999933
ANhopAazefeltltrttpiesuhvocbboenuuuultwgAsanehmhroseoCtfroilohifcolacewaosaegtrrntahasresvdaseaovuesneshsldaetalrdrseteidhtknmelitoieonhegnntsutaeshgtieupeicoldvcnraeeuonselstesdeesrptntieitntscneipotaeolhfasfetvnsohatDpersfe,iiSngenwoevteiunye-ttutrhohisfpwtMAphewugeesaadsttyvaelslceelu,a,asnmvtaaneannosold.fytk FsbasAireeaggsordgntinrihotefeuwistshcisReaciabnrvtodneeltigysapeanuldsiraitcbnesaatrtlUsnsurirtapzbblsraieaaotdwtnbieclotlirenlCi.moeo,wraTndranhitndeoduourotwtaarlge.ttreohvideecFmguonselealittnttlautuutorriaiawatoolilinnon,vnpgeersigacsuecaoctptnhaaiotrtcatihmesioosicnrcuionlhaauaradrgevnilhedeya
DuNteaatnhuverenarslisHBioiststawonirinyct’esrGcahurardrredenyn’tisnAzCRtooelccokreaxd&hoibaAintl.dpihTnahesebGslaporedoceminee.sdAiSngoatmvheee NviCn^oidlxolicbtoeruisnianttWiroeondeuodcfed“LWithsota.ttheiBsisoapelWcoiegeeisdca?clu,r”raewnnotdrlyksiodhneonptthipefairCctoialctioiproaanndatlos
DlNseeamdsatelibrlvyteerBDPorlst.apanenWtciieScenoascldiayGerateHryodsideusingptislanoebnalP,esheoacdesuntriohaxtop.ourrDesrseo.efnHptltoahtdneltgiishss.eowrnTobhrwaekirlsilhCufoomolpcoauttrsoatoldbinoee wRScthieaacetrhdeaacrptUdernroiiOvbsleltdriescmiissstoyaafllitwnleoiveePseduerlasltnpmhdeaecnaiW,aeflseiWtswat.sohatfihfneigrlstiaowtnie,ldlwwbiehtohdiWsccaounssshsuielndtg.stDoornn
identificationofthefewerthantwodozenspeciesnativenorth
loafctohmepMleexxigceannusb.orderandontheproblemsofspecieslimitsin lIencatudrdeitFiroindatyontihgeht,woFrekbsrhuoaprsy.26D,r.onOcludrrweinltlmpertehsoednotloagsipeescifaolr
FDrr.idHayodegvesnoinngw,ilFlebrguiavreya5,sppeocsisailbllyecitnurceonojnunccetnitounrwyitphlatnhtes dvcieorsmttpuiuanlteledyrtailozlerbdeopitldaaencnietciatflliicemaadtniiuocnahloosft.polmaonutss,kaetyeschcunrorleongtylythiantsuseeemisn
AmericanRockGardenSocietyandtheCactusandSucculent
Society,
ASTRAGALI of the COLORADO FRONT RANGE
Leader: Loraine Yeatts
Location: LookoutMountainNature Center, Golden (tentative)
Saturday, March 20, 1993
The milkvetches (genusAstragalus) comprise a very large group ofplants in alarge
family (Fabaceae). WiUi such a large numberofspecies, many ofwhich are
differentiated on technical characteristics, idenUficatibn can be daunUng
fordie wildflowerlover. Many ofthese species are showyandattract
attention at roadside in the spring and summer. Loraine Yeatts
has agreed to tackle the FrontRange species and will present
her observations in tliis workshop. You will learn
tlie importantparts oftlie pea family flower
and how to key tlie FrontRange species.
Astragalusshortianus
Artist:AnnCooper
Page 8 AquHegia Volume 16
NOTES
FIELP
William A. Weber and Ronald C. Wittman
University of Colorado Herbarium
Dicentra uniflora: InAquHegia 15, No. 2, When we reported our bad luck to Mr. Monument, where access to the high
p. 11, Michael L. Peterson, a retired Soil Peterson,hetoldusthatthe 1974-75winter sagebrush meadowsmightbe abitearlier.
Conservation Service employee, reported wasoneofthewettestsnowwintersthatthe
finding and photographing this species in Soil Conservation Service has ever Learning about the behavior of Dicentra
Garfield,Mesa,andRioBlancocounties.In measured. Therefore, tlie season had to uniflora raises our hopes of finding
correspondence with Mr. Peterson we havebeen greatlydelayed. Whenhefound Hesperochironpurnilum(Hydrophyllaceae)
learned that he saw the plant at three Dicentra,theearly-floweringPhloxhoodii, in similar sites. This little, extremely early
localities: GARFIELD CO.: West Divide Hydrophyllum capitatum, and Pulsatilla springflowerhasafewoblongbasalleaves
Creekdrainage, offroadtoUncleBobMt., were already almost finished blooming. If and a single waxy white flower about an
before USFS boundary, T7S R91W S32, wewanttofindDicentraweneedtogetup inch in diameter, the whole plant hardly
Gibson Gulch Quad., 7 May 1975; under intothemountainsagebrushjustassoonas getting more than a centimeter above the
sagebrush,gravellysurface,insoilsderived tliesnowleaves,andlookbeneatlisheltering ground. Thecollectorwasanonymous, but
from aeolian loess mixed with basaltic sagebrush plants. This means abandoning thelocalityisknown: MontezumaNational
stones, slope 12-15%; plants 5 cm tall. vehicles tliat can’t mitke it through tlie Forest; MilkRanch, 7,000 ft. alt., 28 April
GARFIELDCO.: NorthwestCreekareaon greasy mud, and going on foot as far as 1914,associatedwitlisagebrushandweeds,
NavalOilShaleReserveonBLMproperty, necessary. westslope, dry soil. I saw this specimen in
15SR94WS7,AnvilPointsandRioBianco the Forest Service Range Management
Quads, (access is shown on Anvil Points I would urge Western Slope CONPS Herbarium. In 1955 I was able to find tlie
Quad.), E-facing slope 6%, soilsdeep silty memberstoestablishthisplantasapriority, localityoftheso-calledMilkRanch.Itwas
loess, 16May 1975.MESACO.:T8SR91W foruntilwehave voucherspecimensin tlie in Montezuma County, on House Creek,
S20, Flatiron Mountain Quad., S-facing herbariumtlierecordwillremainunofficial, T38N R15W S28. Like Dicentra, the
slope, 10%,in sagebrush; soilsloesswitha despitetliecolorphotograph.Sincetliisisa Hesperochiron grows in the same places,
few gravels, over basalt, some Mahonia speciestliatis common in thearid areasof blossoms atthe same time, anddisappears
nearby,15May1975.Mr.Petersonfurnished the Pacific Nortliwest, east ofthe Cascade verysoonafterblooming.Thesetwoplants
theherbariumwithasplendidcolorprintof Range, itislikely thatwe shouldfinditon shouldbesoughtafterbyourWesternSlope
the plant. the plateaus of Dinosaur National members.
Ron Wittmann and I visited the first two
localities on 9-11 May 1992 in hopes of
finding and collecting voucher herbarium
specimens. The Uncle Bob locality is
accessiblebydrivingtheDryHollowRoad
south from Silt. We found the road heavy
going with deep mud and had to walk the
last few miles, but although this date was
closetotheanniversaryofthefirstdiscovery,
we foundnoplants. In fact, theseason was
very far along and such an early bloomer
surely had withered and disappeared. One
ofthefine surprises was forus to seegreat
stands of Pedicularis centranthera
everywhereunderthepinonandjuniper.The
AnvilPointslocalitywasreachedbywayof
theCowCreekroadoutofPiceanceCreek.
Herewewerestoppedbysnowdriftsin the
small forestedpatches along the crest, and
here, too, the season was much too far
advanced to find Dicentra.
.
Number 5 Aquilegia Page 9
w Field Trip Report
Aiken Canyon: A Place of Beauty and Botanical Interest
led by Alan Carpenter
Report by Ron Abbott
The sky may have been gray and gloomy sites, Chondrosumgracile,forinstance,are
justsouthofColoradoSpringsonJune6th, warm-season speciesandwere stillmostly Alan Carpenterexplained thatThe Nature
but the spirits of participants were bright in ^a less conspicuous vegetative growth Conservancy’s plans for management of
during the CONPS field trip to Aiken phase. AikenCanyon,willexpressvariousaspects
Canyon, oneofTheNature Conservancy’s oftheconservationphilosophypracticedby
newest and largest preserves in Colorado AsoftenhappensonCONPSfieldtrips,our TNC. The preserve will eventually have a
and perhaps the finest remaining example rapidtraverseofthecountrysidewasinitially developed trail system — an acknowledge-
ofarelativelyundisturbedfoothillscanyon sacrificedtoanengrossing,meter-by-meter ment of man as part of nature, if only as
along the FrontRange. Spanning the high identification ofplantspecies atthe site of visitor.Twoknowninfestationsofponderosa
plains/lower montane ecotone, Aiken themoment. Consequently, we spentmost pine mistletoe will be isolated from
Canyon includes vegetation types of our time in the scrub oak/open grass surrounding healthy trees by selective
characterizedbyshortgrasses,Gambeloak, mosaic closer to the preserve’s southeast cutting, yet allowed to develop in orderto
mountain-mahogany and coniferous trees. entrancewithonlyaquick-strikepenetration eventuallyprovidehabitat forprimaryand
afterlunchoftheconiferousvegetationup- secondary tree cavity dwellers. Preserve
Quercusgambelii is most prevalent at the canyon to the west. Short though our management strategies attempt to include
preserve, its late-spring growth appearing westward trek was, itwas worth making if andencourage tliewidestpossiblerangeof
especiallyverdantunderovercastskiesthe onlyto experiencethe dramaticallyabrupt natural processes in this unique canyon
^^aday of our visit. Alan Carpenter, TNC’s transition to amore montane setting. ecosystem.Oneormoregrassyareaswillbe
Colorado land steward and our trip guide, selectively burned to quell invasion by
explainedthattheextensiveGambeloakis juniperandincreasepopulationsofbigand
responsible for an abundant megafauna at little bluestem, sand dropseed, and other
Aiken canyon, notablymule deer, elk, and representativesofmid-andtail-grassrelict
blackbear; thescatofallthreewas, infact, communities,tomaintaindiversityofplant
found andidentifiedduring the dayby our community typesandrestoreaspeciesmix
widely-versedleader.Wherewell-fed,large thoughttohaveprecededdomesticlivestock
herbivoreslive,oneexpectsfelinepredators, grazing and fire suppression.
and mountain lion footprints have been
foundearlierthisyearwithin theboundsof Perhapsmostpromisingofallisthepotential
the preserve. And in addition to large Once penetrated, tlie area revealed many for Aiken Canyon Preserve to serve as a
mammals, the dense oak thickets support expected shrub and herbaceous species: keystone forpreservation overawide area
numerousbirds,especiallytherufous^sided Oreobatus deliciosus, Physocarpus at the ecosystem level. IfTNC can secure
towheewhosecallsaccompaniedourhiking monogynus, Jamesia americana, Rosa certain acreage surrounding the preserve,
all day long. woodsii, Campanularotundifolia,Monarda tliecanyonwillthenfunctionasaconnecting
fistulosa, etc. Found nestled among the corridor between BLM’s Beaver Creek
While' undeniably important to animals, Boulderraspberryandninebarkbyourever- Wilderness Study Area to tlie westandthe
scrub oak vegetation is rather uniform, enthusiastic Linda Senser, was a crenate- expanse of Fort Carson to tlie east, an
offering fewopportunitiesfordiscovery to leavedshrubthatnoonepresentwasableto accomplishmenttliatwouldprotecttheentire
curious botanists. Of greater interest are identify - maybesometliing unusual? [Dr. drainage.
open, grassy areas within the scrub where WebersuggestsHolodiscustisapossibility.]
tliegreaterspeciesdiversity includesafew Twonotableplantsencounteredatthis site Altogetlier,itisaprivilegetohaveexplored
herbaceousplants. Thelespermafilifolium, were handsome representatives of species thisrelativelyundisturbedfootliillsregion,
Erigeron flagellaris, Echinocereus near tlieir nortliemmost extensions along andIam certainthatwealllookforwardto
viridiflorus, Aphyllon fasciculatum, theFrontRange:alargesaplingofwhitefir, the possibility of future visits, and to its
Pensternon secundiflorus, and Castilleja Abiesconcolor,nearlyperfectlysymmetrical continued preservation under wise
Integravirtuallycarpetedtlieseareas,while andalmostglisteningagainstabackground management.
the marvelous sage fragrance ofArtemisia of darker green, and an equally attractive
frigida perfumed the damp air - heady stand of fragrant shiny-leaved hoptree,
stuff! The most common grasses at these Ptelea trifoliata.
Page 10 Aquilegia Volume 16
New Information on a Florissant Fossil Plant
Chapter News
Sue Martin
AddtoyourstoreofinformationonColorado Features of Florissantia flowers suggest Boulder Chapter
plants this tidbit: there is a fossil plant theywereinsectorbirdpollinated, andthe
known as Florissantial You probably can samara-like fruits probably were wind- December 8: Yampa River Preserve
guess the origin ofthe name (and some of dispersed. Manchester describes three HollyRichter,fromtheCSURangeScience
thefossils): theFlorissantfossilbeds. Ina species of Florissantia, of which the Department, will discuss her efforts to
recentpaper, Dr. StevenManchesterofthe Colorado species is Florissantia speiriv, develop an ecological model for preserve
Florida Museum of Natural History, fossils of this species also come from selection,design,andstewardshipplanning
University of Rorida, explores details of Wyoming, Montana, and Oregon. He for one of the last relatively unregulated
thisgenus. OnceplacedinthegenusPorana believesthegenus,knownonlyfromwestern tributaries in the ColoradoRiversystem.
(Convolvulaceae), then in Holmskioldia NorthAmerica(centralColoradotosouthern
(Verbenaceae), Florissantia, according to Alaska), was an important component of January 12: U.S. Forest ServiceReport
Manchester’s research and interpretation, lakeside vegetation in volcanic areas. JoanFriedlander,CoordinatorforSensitive
is an extinctgenus thathad features found Species in the Region 2 office of the U.S.
today in the Tiliaceae, Bombacaceae, and To learn more about this interesting Forest Service, will report on Sensitive
Sterculiaceae,familiesintheorderMalvales. Coloradofossilplant,visityourlibraryand Species and Ecosystem Management
Tentatively,ManchesterplacesFlorissantia read Manchester’s article [American Initiatives in theRocky MountainRegion.
intheSterculiaceae. (Here’satestforyou: JoumalofBotany79(9): 996-1008(1992)],
do we have any members of this plant whichhasbeautifulphotographsofthefossils MonthlymeetingsareheldfromSeptember
family in the floraofColorado today??) andanartist’sreconstructionoftheflower. through April on the 2nd Tuesday of the
month at 7:15 p.m. in the Boulder Public
Librarymeetingroom, 11thandArapahoe,
unless otherwise noted. For information,
callBetsyNeelyat443-8094orElaineHil]
j
at494-7873.
Denver Chapter
December 9; Colorado RiparianAreas
Gwen Kittel, riparian ecologist with The
NatureConservancy, willpresentherwork
onclassificationandmodelingofColorado's
riparian plant communities. Note: this
combined November/December meeting
will be held on the 2nd Wednesday of
December in the Morrison Center at the
DenverBotanic Gardens (DBG).
January 27: Alpine Tundra Plants of
Horseshoe Cirque
BarbaraSiemswillpresentaprogramonthe
alpinetundraplantsoftheHorseshoeCirique
basinin theMosquitoRange. Whetheryou
attendedthe fieldtripto HorseshoeCirque
or not, you will enjoy this program! The
meetingwillbeheldintheMorrisonCenter
atDBG.
Monthlymeetingsareheld fromSeptember
through May on the4th Wednesdayofthe!^^
Goodyerarepens (rattlesnakeplantain) month at7:30p.m. atthe DenverBotanic
Artist:CarolynCrawford Gardens,909YorkStreet,unlessotherwise
noted. Forinformation, call Ron Abbottat
333-6151.
