. . dedicated to the appreciation and conservation of the Colorado native flora” Volume 13, Number 5 September/October 1989 Rare Plant Publication Now Available Elizabeth Otto Colorado can now bc^st erf Its own puWIc^atlon displaying many of the rare frfants found throughout the state. The Colorado Native Plant Society has completed a three-year project, producing Rare Plants of Colorado, a volume both attractive and Informative. Eleanor von Bargen. presWent, observes in the inlroduc- "In recent years we have come to understand the Im- portarvje of biological diversity - now we must realize that loss of diversity Is not just a process occurring as the Amazon rainforest Is cleared, but that a similar process Is cKxurring right here at home." Rare Plants of Colorado should open the eyes erf land managers, policy makers, mnd the general puirfio. It dis- plays many treasures of nature often overiooked, oc- casionally even neglected, by botanists. The preservation of such beautiful rare plants Is a particular concern of Society members. The volume describes 92 rare aixf endangered species. Only a paltry f^ of these are listed for protection under the federal Endangered Species Act. Many are Wentlfied by the Cdorado Natural Areas Program as "Plant Species of Sp^lal Concern". The species are predated by natural habitats, Including the alpine tundra, barrens, cliffs ami canyons, forests, grasslands, shrublands, wetlarKis, and woodlands. Each of these eight chapters includes a general description of the habitat, with Information on geology, hydrdlogy, plant communities, and history. Each species description is accompanied by either a color photograph or line drawing and a county location map. The descriptions are cl^r, interesting and informative, giving habitat information, historical data on the discovery and naming of the species, and, too often, the specific threat(s) under which it now exists, in fact. In several cases, the species descril:^ can no longer be found. All we have are historical records and hertorium specimens as evidence the plant was once found greying in Colorado. Calendar Overview Additional information about calendar Items will be found throughout this issue. October 28 CONPS Annual Meeting at Colorado School of Mines Page 3 Fall Workshops November 4th Genus Juncus Leader: Dr. David Cooper December 9th Herbarium Specimens Leaden Dr. William Weber Other Events Chapter Activities Page 2 October 14th Bioreglonal Conference in Boulder, CU Campus Page 2 Aquilegia Volume 13 Chapter News New Chapters Organize At their September meeting, Board members accepted petitions for two new chapters. Per by-laws, each chapter held a meeting and at least six members signed the peti- tion for formation of a local chapter. Membership In a local chapter provides Interesting activities for Society members in that area. The Yamparika Chapter in northwest Colorado will be under the direction of chapter president Reed Kelley. If you are interested In more information on this new chapter, and weren’t able to make the organizational meeting in August, contact Hartley Bloomfield (878-5424 or 878-3508) or Reed Kelley (878-4666 or 878-5929). The San Juan Chapter has elected Peggy Lyon as its first president. It will serve as a c(X)rdlnating point for members in southwestern Colorado. Contact Peggy at 303/626-5526 for further information. Please Join us in welcoming our newest chapters! We wish you the best in your local efforts to preserve and enjoy Colorado’s native flora. Fort Collins Chapter October 3: Robert Woodmansee, systems ecologist at the Natural Resources Ecology Lab and director of CADRE (a new research group studying the effects of global change on the environment), will speak on "Global Change". November 2: David Steingraeber, CSU professor of botany, will speak on "Carnivorous Plants". December 5: Kathy Warren, CSU biology graduate stu- dent, will discuss "Germination studies on the seeds of rare plants and a progress report on research on the North Park Phacafia." Her research is partially supported by CONPS. Meetings begin at 7:30 PM in Room El 12 (note new loca- tion!) of the Anatomy/Zoology building on the CSU Cam- pus. Refreshments will be served. Contact Jennifer Crane (493-2142 or 484-0402) or Brian Geils (482-8607) if you have questions. Other chapter activities include work on the revegetation phase of our project at the Gustav Swanson Nature Area. Volunteers are always welcome for work days on the after- noons of Tuesdays October 3rd aixi October 17th from 4:30 to 6:30. Contact Jennifer Crane for more information on getting Involved In this community project. Boulder Chapter Meetings Tuesday October 10th: "Growing Colorado’s Rare Rora" Carol Dawson is coordinator of the Center for Plant Con- servation at the Denver Botanic Gardens. As part of a na- tional program, her mission is to attempt to establish a living collection of Colorado rare species for research and display. Her talk and slides will cover her efforts on seed collection, propagation and first generaticn results. Time 7:30 PM Place: Foothills Natur.e Center, 4201 No. Broad- way, Boulder. Tuesday, November 14th: Warren Keammerer, environ- mental consultant, will be the speaker. His topic will be an- nounced in a separate maWing. Cali Nan Lederer (447-1899) or Margie Wortzman (494- 1640) for additional information on chapter activities. Denver Chapter Activities October 25th: Fred Athearn, cultural resources program manager with the Bureau of Land Management, will speak on "Vegetation changes in the White River Valley." November 15th: Jane Bock, University of Colorado, will present a program on her research in the alpine tundra: "Comparison of the tundra in Colorado (USA) and Georgia (USSR). Please note this meeting will be held on the 3rd instead of the 4th Wednesday (for this month only). The Denver Chapter usually meets on the fourth Wednes- day of the ^ch month at the Denver Botanic Gardens (Classroom A or C) at 7:30 PM. Lists of speakers for future meetings will be available at each meeting beginning with the September meeting. Contact Carol Dawson (722-6758) for Information on chapter activities. Number 5 AquHegia Pages Saving Colorado’s Native Flora on Public Lands 1989 Annual Meeting Saturday October 28th Petroleum Hall Green Center at Colorado School of Mines Campus Schedule: 8:15AM: Registration begins 9:00 AM: Keynote speaker. r Faith Campbell of the Natural Resources Defense Council “Public lands agencies: Efforts to persuade them to protect plants." Morning session presentations by: Craig Whittekind, Acting Director of Range, Wiidiife, Fisheries and Ecology, U, S. Forest Service Region 2 Michelle Gerard, Ecologist. U.S. Forest Service, Bighorn National Forest Joe Cappodice, Wiidiife Biologist, BLM Gunnison Resource Area Denny Huffman, Superintendent, Dinosaur National Monument 12 to 1:30 PM; LUNCH On your own or bring bag lunch to view slides of CONPS Yampa River field trip on June 20-23. Afternoon session: Panel discussion - Preservation in Action Moderator: Tamara Naumann, Botanist, Colorado Natural Areas Program Panel includes individuals active in conservation throughout Colorado. Final notice with map and schedule will be mailed to you. Please plan to attend! Page 4 Aquit0gla Volume 13 CONPS Workshops for Fall Bill Jennings The Colorado Native Plant Society workshop series was established with the objective of having something to do during the winter when field trips are impossible. Since the first workshop in January 1985, thirty-five have been held. Our concept of a workshop means bringing together |:^ant lovers and a well-informed instructor who has photographs, herbarium specimens and live plants for the attendees to study hands-on, with opportunities for one- on-one interaction with the instructor as well as lectures to the group as a whole. No special skills or requirements, other than a love of plants and a desire to learn, are neces- sary for attending a workshop. Even though the descrip- tions may make tt^se workshops sound highly technical, the case is ^cactly the opposite. The objective is to demys- tify plant identification and to allow the confused but sin- cere plant lover to better enjoy and understand our native plants. Rediscovering Home: Colorado’s Bioregions Workshops, circle groups, and speeches are only part of the format for this Colorado-area bioregional conference to be held October 14th on the CU Campus in Boulder. The conference also offers opportunities to explore and develop constructive approaches to healthy human com- munities while maintaining ecological integrity of the bloregion. Topics to be addressed in workshops include Permaculture, Carrying Capacity, Urten Ecology, Prairie Ecdlogy arxl Mythology. Sustainable Energy, Harmless Economies. Herbal Medicines and Bioregional Spirituality, among many others. Sunday event of- ferings include hikes, tours and other field ses- sions. If you don't know what the growing bioregional movement is about, this is a great opportunity to spend one day, and only $10 (m^ls not in- cluded), finding out. Or contact the CU Environ- mental Center at 492-8308 (1 1 AM to 3 PM) for more information. Rushes: genus Juncus Saturday, November 4, 1989 Leader: Dr. David Cooper The grassiike monocots (grasses, sedges and rushes) are usually avokfed by wlldflower lovers because kJentificatlon is thought to be difficult or because the floral parts are not photogenic. In this workshop, you will have the opportunity to get over your fear of this important genus. We will learn the characteristic features of genus Juncus, key a number of specimens, and become familiar with the major regional species. An important follow-up to Dr. Cooper’s 1988 workshop on Carex. To be held at the Colorado School of Mines, Golden. Numbers Aquilegia Pages Preparation and Care of Herbarium Specimens Saturday, Dec. 9, 1989 Leader; Dr, William A. Weber Have you ever pressed a specimen in the field, only to fiixt it ugly and brown when you got home? Have you wondered Just what is the method for nrmking and caring for good specimens that you and later generations can use for m^nlngful botanical research? In this hatf-day (9 AM to 12) workshop, Dr. Weber, long-time curator of the University of Colorado herbarium, will explain the tech- niques used by professiona) botanists for preservation of good plant specimens. To be held in the her- barium of the University of Colorado, Boulder. Devil’s Head Judy von Ahlefeldt Six species of ferns were found on DeviPs Head and In the vicinity of the Indian Creek Work Center during this fi^d trip August 5th, The ferns are: Mpfenlum septentrlonale, Athyrium filix-femina, Cystopteris fragUls, Dryopteris fUbc- mas, Pteridfum aquHinum and Woodsia oregana. A high- light of the field trip was hiking the trai to the fire lookout on Devil's Head, which provided an exerting view of an ap- proaching thunderstorm. Although no rare ferns were lo- cated, other interesting plants were seen including red and white forms of baneberry Acfaea rubra, growing together, and Chimaphlla umbefiata. Peter Root has been commis- sioned by the Forest Service to do an expert search for rare ^/^rns and several sensitive species of flowering plants In .,ie same area during August and September, Registration for Workshops Enrollment In workshops is always limited, usually due to room constraints, so you must register In advance. Con- tact CONPS workshop coordinator for registration and workshop information: BUI Jennings, P.O. Box 9S2, Louisville, 80027, phone 303/^6-8348. Be sure to in- clude your mailing address ami phone number if you mall in your registration. Registrants will be notified by mail aboul two weeks prior to the workshop regarding final loca- tion, time, lunch, suggested references, etc. Please register promptly, as workshops tend to fill up fast. However, can- cellations sometimes create openings, so you might want to check with Bill up to the night before the workshop if you want to try to register at the last minute. Unless otherwise noted, the f^ for each full-day worksfKsp is $8 for members and $16 for non-members. Half-day workshops are $5 and $10, respectively. Unless the workshop notice specifies, workshops are full-day and lunch is on your own. If you plan to attend more than one workshop per year as a non-member, It is cheaper to join CONPS as an individual member ($8 per year) and come to workshops as a member. Please hold f^yments until the day of the workshop. It fakes considerable time and effort for the instructors to plan and d^^op workshops and field trips. Please let us know how you like the workshops and field trips offered by CONPS. We need your suggestions for other workshops and trips, as well as your feedback on whether you found them informative and exciting or dull and uninteresting. We need to know whether we are serving you, our members, the way you wish. Pages Aquiiegla Volume 13 Eustoma grandiflorum News Jim Borland The new county plant record made by participants on the July 8th Arkansas Valley field trip was even more significant because it involved one of Colorado’s special, and arguab- ly most beautiful, plants. During our visit to the Portland cement plant site, ostensib- ly to view Oxybaphus rotundifoiius and Bolophyta tatraneuris, tour members were guided to Bear Creek where at least one member immersed herself to the waist and others satisfied themselves with merely wading in the stream. In fact, if It had not been for the time spent by gathered group enjoying the aqiMtic antics of the youngest member, no one would have spotted the solitary plant of Eustoma grandiflorum (Tulip or Prairie Gentian) amongst the grasses lining the creek. This discovery led to a search of the immediate creek banks for more specimens, but only a handful were lo- cated. Aside from Its proximity to two other spectel and rare plants and the addition of another county to the less than half-dozen currently represented, this location is more than 100 air miles south of any other known Colorado popula- tion of Prairie Gentian, according to the Colomdo Natural Ar^s Program. Other Colorado populations are known from low meadow-like sites and not from the sides of streams meandering through selenium-bearing sfmie for- maitons, which abound in the Portland area. Another rmam Eustoma grandiflorum find pushes the elevation limits of the species almost as much as it stretches the credibility of everything ever written about it. On a ^ight west-facing incline at the edge of an aspen and Engelmann spruce forest, a single plant of the Prairie Gen- tian was found Wooming at 8880 fert in Boulder Co. Other populations are normally found in the 4000 to SOOO-foot elevation range, growing near streams In often alkaline and somewhat salty soils. This lone plant was not found along a stream, or in especially moist soil, but In a humusy soil typical of forest edges in the mountains. Although a quick search was made throughout portions of the grazed meadow, no other plants were found. A more thorough search will be complicated by the similarity of Eustoma* s foltege to that of Gdden Banner in color and texture, un- less the plants are in bloom. There exists some possiblity that this lone plant is an introduction to this m^dow as a result of a grass reseeding program carried out some years ago, or that this cx^currence Is not all that unusual, and ad- ditional searches in sirnilar locations wllll rev^l other populations. Those Interested in viewing Eustoma grandiflorum In its natural habitat on public ground can easily visit the nature trail along the Poudre River north of Prospect St. between Fort Collins ami 1-25. During a recent visit, we found thousands of plants, some actually in the parking lot. As of this writing, it is unknown what the flower color of the small population at Porttand Is, but likely the petals are the usual blue-purple with a darker center. This color combina- tion and orientation has been designated forma gran- diflorum by some botanist, although this and other designations of flower color are probably more important to the horticulturist. The other color variations not^ in the literature include forma fisheri (white), fwnna bicolor (white - with purple- tinged lobes), and forma roseum (pink). These were first described in Texas, but have since been seen in other populations as w^l. The forma flavlflorum is an un- usual yellow vartetlon first described in 1914 from "some- where near Denvef Of these color varfetions only yellow Is not currently being grown or bred by horticulturists throughout the world. The "somewhere near Denver population erf yellow flewers has probably been destroyed much like the |:opu}ation recentl- ly known from near the Intersection of 1-70 and KIpjlIng St. in the Denver metropolitan area. This newly discovered population at Portland may face the same fate, as it and the other two rare plants in the area are growing In soils derived from Niobrara Shale — an important source of raw materials for cement production. A curious thing about this population is that during the early part of August, plants were found In all stages of growth. The existence erf all stages from very small seedlings through those already finished blooming comp)licates the assignment of Eustoma to an annual, biennia! or f^rennial life form. Although a terrific amount of effort has been expended In- vestigating the rare or special plants of Colorado, much remains to be accomplished. Why not adopt a special plant for your own Investigations and assist In this effort by repx^ing your findings to a local herbarium, the Colorado Natural Areas Program, The Nature Conservancy, or this newsletter? E pt sp. Vc^i^ sUncfcr Numl^r 5 Aquiiegia Page? TO SQUASH OR NOT TO SQUASH... inn C Cooper The only sure way to identify a plant is to have a specimen of the j^ant in hand as you toil through the key. This sf^cimen should be complete. That means digging up (that’s destroying) the plant In question to get rcKrts, and probably going back later in the ^a^n to get samples of the plant in fruit. This Is all very well for professional botanists who have the justification (and permission) to collect. But for many interested amateurs collecting Is not an option except on the occasions they can link up with a project like the Colorado Native Plant Society Rorlssant collection. SupFK)se you do cdlect, there are many places that are off limits to plant varxialism of this type. Even If your goal Is to try and remember the most common of the wild flowers, and you have vowed not to dig and squash anything rare, you are limited to collecting on private land (with permis- sion) or the occasional roadside. Keep your acquisitive hands firmly in your pockets as you walk through nation- al, state, county, and city parks and wildlife areas! This dilemma is compounded when you try to learn some- one else’s natives. Outside of the United Stales cdlecting is extremely difficult for an amateur, from the point of view ^^,^f customs and immigration if nothing else. So, what can you do to first identify and then remember the plants you learn? I resort to carting a library of books with me. I often sit and identify the plants where they grow. If the key wants to know about roots, I rely on inspired guesswork! Once I’ve managed to put a name to a prfant, I use a combination of photography and sketching to impress tt^ detail on my for- getful botany-brain. Photography has its pitfalls. You can put that cent, or pen, or rule in as a scale. But if you do, that slide or print will be worthless if you fancy entering any contests for pretty-pics. Various techniques can enhance the pictorial quality of your work, but they may not improve your chances of s^ing the features that differentiate that ]:^ant from other similar species. For me, the best combination of slides by which to remember a flower IncliKles a frjil-plant picture to show growth form and one or two close-ups to show the features used in keying. I swear by my 35 mm wide angle and 50 mm macro lens. It is hard to avoid clutter in flower pictures. Even with a lit- tle judicious ’’gardening" of litter and grass stems around your subject, green will merge with green. Creative llght- ^ ig will often help. Try back-light, or two fill-in flashes, or a crardboard or foil backing to bounce light. Creative angles will improve the balance of flower to background. Belly- photography can produce shots of flowers against a vivid, Kodacolor sky, though this may make a two-foot Phacelia tcwver like a tree! If you have a choice, choose the dump of flowers that Is backed by a rock angle, or different colored substrate. Select flowers that grow next to con- trasting color-early fall reds or bronzes, or silvery sage. Sketching also has its pitfalls, not least a total lack of art training in my case! But never mind, it’s worth a try, and can convey different information about the plant under study. The single, most valuable thing about sketching a plant, however simple the results may be, is that you are forced to look at It very carefully. My self-imposed rule Is nof£^g/ngl You cannot draw what you cannot see! This becomes an excellent aide-memoir. By the time you have painfully and laboriously inked a plant portrait, you know that plant intimately. I would be interested and grateful to hear how other people overcome the dilemma of learning and remembering a lot of new Frants in a short time, especially In a totally new en- vironment. without resorting to squashing. Sketches here are of New Zealand plants. Of some 1800 indigenous flowering plants in New Zealand, 84% are en- demic. It’s a challenge for a botanizing touristf Officm President Elinor Von Bargen 756-1400 Vice-President Beth Painter 482-2283 Secretary Meg Van N^s 279-26^ Treasurer Myrna P. Steinkamp Board of Directcx^ 2^^71 Betsy Ne^y (90) Boulder 443-8(m Jim Borland (90) Denver 329-9198 Boyce Drummond (89) Roris^nt 689-2025 Brian W.Qeils (90) Fort Cdllns 482-8^)7 Tina Jones (89) Denver 759-9701 Neal Osborn (89) Pueblo 546-0319 Elizabeth Otto (^) Idaho S^Mlngs 567-2384 Velma Richards (90) Englewood 794-5432 Eleanor Von Bargen (89) Denver 756-1400 Gayle Weinstein (^) Denver 333-3024 Chapter Presidents (Members of Board) Boulder Margie Wortzman 494-1640 Denver Metro C^rol Dawson 722-6758 Ft, Collins Jennifer Crane Committees ^-2142 Conservation Sue Martin 226-3371 Editorial Peter Root 433-^40 Education Miriam Denham 442-1020 Field Trips Jeff Dawson 722-6758 Rorissant Mary Edwards 233-8133 Horticulture/Rehabiiitation Dorothy Udall 482-9826 Membership Myma Steinkamp 226-3371 PuWicity Tina Jones 759-9701 Workshops Bill Jennings 666-8348 Sohedule of Membmhip Fees Life $250.00 Family or Dual $12.00 Supportino 50.00 Individual 8.00 Organization 25,00 Stwlenl or Senior 4,00 Membership Renewals and Information Please dir^t all membership applications, renewals and addr^s ctenges to the MEMBERSHIP chairperson, in care of the Society’s mailing address. Please direct all other inqulri^ regarding the ScKilety tothe SECRETARY in care of the Society’s mailing address. Newsletter Contributions Please dlr^t all contributions to the newsletter to: Peter Root 4015 West 3lsl Avenue Denver, CO 80212 Deadlines for newsletter materials are February 16, April 15, June 15, Augu^ 15, October 15 and December 15. There is a special need for short items such as unusual in- formation alK)ut a plant, a llWe known botanical term, etc. Please include author’s name and addr^, although items will be printed anonymously if requested. , RETURN AND MAILING ADDRESS Colorado Native Plant Society P.O.BoxaX) Fort Collins, Colorado 80522 Non-profit Organiiation U.S. Postage PAJD Permit #147S Denver, Colorado Time Value Material - Mailed on or about September 30