Vijoining
N^irive fidSit
Socierij

Vol. 13 # 2
May 1994

Why Save Rare Plants?

By Bobert Dorn and Tim W. Clark

Above: Payson’s milfcvelch (/Istrago/us
pctvso/iiij, a regional endemic of the mountains
of western Wyoming and north-central and east-
ern Idaho. This rare plant occurs naturally on
disturbed sit^ created by forest fires and blow-
downs. Today, it is found primarily on recover-
ing dear-cuts and road cuts. The species shows
excellent potential for use in reseeding disturbed
lands (with the added bonus of being a Nitrogen
fixer). 111. by Jane Dorn.

I t is estimated that by the year 2000 we
will be lasing throughout the world
about one species per hour to human
caused extinction! And between now
and then, if trends are not reversed,
500,000 to 1,000,000 species will become
extinct (Eckholm 1978J, This is many
more than those that became extinct in
the previous million years. This huge
number translates into a loss of global
biological diversity of at least one-sixth.
Such a massive loss would constitute
a basic and irreversible alteration in the
biosphere. Hntchinson [1978) expressed
the fear that long before we have reached
even an elementary knowledge of the distri-
bution of the kinds of ecological phenome-
na, they may disappear owing to the con-

tinual erosion of nature that is characteris-
tic of OUT era. Aldo Leopold (1966) stated
the problem more blimtly: “The last word
in ignorance is the man who says of an ani-
mal or plant ‘what good is it?' If the laud
mechanism as a whole is good, then every
part is good, whether we understand it or
not. If the biota, in the course of aeons, has
built something we like but do not under-
stand, then who but a fool would discard
seemingly useless parts? To keep every cog
and wheel is the first precaution of intelli-
gent tinkering.” The consequence of our
failure to prevent extinctions is clear: “bio-
logical impoverishment and human impov-
erishment are inextricably intertwined”
(Eckholm 1978).

iJOVibiJLetJ on page 4

WNPS NEWS

EliEctions; Nominees for Society officers
are: President -Barbara Ami don (Rock
Springs}, Vice President - Mary Neighbors
(Laiamie), Secretary/TTeasurer - Walt Fertig
(Laramie), Board Member - Diana Osuna
(Kelly). )eimifer W^hipple (Yellowstone NP)
is the carry-over Board Member,
Additional write-in candidates are wel-
come.

Scholarship Winner; The Board received
six outstanding applications for the annual
scholarship (a new record!). At its March
meeting, the Board voted to award one
scholarship of S300 to Sandy Floyd, a
Master's candidate from the University of
Colorado. Sandy is completing a three year
study of the Colorado butterfly plant
[Gaura neomexicana ssp. coJoradensis), a
US Fish and Wildlife Service candidate
Threatened species restricted to southeast-
ern Wyoming and adjacent Colorado and
Nebraska. Her research on F. E. Warren Air
Force Base is addressing population size
and demographic questions that are critical
for the development of a management plan
for the species. We look forward to learn-
ing more about Sandy’s results in a future
issue of the newsletter.

Name CoHlest: Twelve nominations were
received for the “Name the Newsletter
Contest", Of these, the Board selected five
finalists at its annual meeting. Members
are asked to vote for their favorite among
the fallowing nominees on the enclosed
ballot/renewal form: 1] Artemisia, 2)
Boutehua, 3) CastiUeja, 4] Wyoming Native
Plant Society' Newsletter (for those opposed
to change) & 5) Yermo.

Proposed Amendments to the Society By-
Laws: At the March Board meeting, a rec-
ommendation w'as made to increase the
basic membership rate from the current rate
of S3. 00 to S5.00 annually. In addition, the
initial membership rate of S7.00 would be
abolished, as would other membership cat-
egories (senior & student rates). This
increase is being sought to cover anticipat-
ed increases in the cost of First Class
postage and to allow the Society' to increase
the number of newsletters from 3 to 4 each
year. It was also proposed to amend the
By-la w's to allow the date of the annual
meeting to he determined by the Board and
to allow' voting by proxy at Board meetings,
These changes require approval by tw'o-

thirds vote of the membership in order to
be enacted. Please cast your vote on these
amendments on the enclosed ballot.

Membership Renewal Time; A member-
ship renewal form is enclosed with the bal-
lot in this issue. Members with a 94 on
their mailing label need to renew now to
remain in good standing. (Members with a
95 are paid through this year).

Piecse note the new address /or fhe Society
in sen ding in your ballot/ membership form.

Teton Chapter News; Jim Ozenberger, ecol-
ogist on the Bridger-Teton National Forest
is organizing a group to look for Sensitive
and rare plants on the Forest this summer.
Anyone interested in participating should
contact Jim at Bridger-Teton NF (739-5500)
or leaders of the Teton Chapter.
Adopt-A'Rare-Planl Program: Several
members have agreed to adopt the
Hyattville miikvetch, Laramie false sage-
brush, and plants of the Red Canyon
Preserve. If you are interested in adopting
a plant of your own (see February' newslet-
ter for more details), contact Walt Fertig
(745-5026).

New Members: Please welcome the follow-
ing new members of WNPS: Frank
Blomquist (Raw'Iins), Thomas & Claire
Brooks [Saratoga), Mike Bynum [Riverton),
Tim Chumley & Irene Thien [Laramie),
Deborah Deslaurier (Jackson), Norman Hall
[Columbus, OH), Lynn Kinter (Dubois),
Judy Kowrach (Cheyenne), Steve Laster
[Pinedale], Peggy Lyon [Laramie], Isobei
Nichols [Laramie], Mary' Rogers [Dubois],
Sherry Shelley (Riverton], Judy Straw
[Laramie), Rick Studenmund (Lander], Mrs.
D. E. Wilbert [Riverton], Kim Wilbert
(Riverton), Cherie Winner [Laramie],

Treasurer’s Report: Balance as of 26 April,
1994: General Fund S431.06; 1994-95
Scholarship Fund S 0,00, Total Funds;
S431.06.

Attention WNPS Members: Your articles
about Wyoming native plants or art work
are welcome in the newsletter! Deadline
for the September issue is 1 September
1994,

Vtjommg j
NdTive Ptanr

Wyoming Native Plant
Society

President: Phil White
Vice President: Barbara Amldon
Secretary /Treasurer: Walt Fertig
Board Members: George Jones
Jennifer Whipple
Newsletter Editor: Walt Fertig
Layout/Design: Irene Thien

Contributors to this issue: John Baxter, Jim
Borland, Tim Clark, Carolyn Crawford, Jane
Dorn, Robert Dorn, Waiter Fertig (WF),
Isobei Nichols, Judy von Ahlefeldt QV).

In This Issue:

Why Save Rare Plants ? 1

WNPS News 2

Spiranihes diluvialis (Ute Lady’s Tresses),
Wyoming's First Listed Threatened
Plant Species.. 3

The Botany 130 Song Book 5

Horticultural Notes: Golden currant 6

What's in a Name: Soussiireo weheri 6

Summer Field Trips 7

2

Spiranthes diluvialis {Gte Lady’s Tresses)

Wyoming’s First Listed Threatened Plant Species

By Waiter Fertig

W yoming now has its first feder*
ally listed Threatened plant
under the Endangered Species
Act, thanks to the efforts of Ernie Nelson,
Manager of the Rocky Mountain
Herbarium (RM).

Last August, Emie was botanizing
on a piece of state land in southwest
Goshen County when he discovered a small
population of lady’s tresses orchids (genus
Spiranthes). Ernie collected a voucher
specimen for the herbarium, and moved on,
Initially he thought it was S.
romanzoffiana, a species more typical of
mountainous areas, or possibly a Plains
species new to Wyoming,

It was not until this spring that
Emie took another look at his specimen.
“When 1 studied it closely, 1 realized it was
odd for Spiranthes romanzoffiana” said
Nelson. “I keyed it in the Flora of the Great
Plains, thinking it might be a Plains species,
but couldn’t get it to fit. Someone suggested
I look at Spiranthes diJuvialis, and that’s
what it keyed out to." Other botanists,
including Colorado orchid expert Bill
Jennings, agreed with Ernie’s determination,

Spiranthes diiuviaijs, commonly
called Ute lady's tresses, was first described
as a new' species by Charles Sbeviak in
19B4. At that time, it was known from only
a few' scattered locations on the east slope
in Colorado and in northern Utah and east'
em Nevada. Several of these populations
were suspected to be extirpated, while otli-
ers were thought to be potentially vulnera-
ble due to development of their habitat.
Although additional populations were sub-
sequently found in western Colorado and
Utah (the single Nevada station is believed
to be lost], tlie species was proposed for
federal protection under the Endangered
Species Act and was formally listed as
Threatened in 1992.

Ute lady's tresses is a perennial herb
with glandular-pubescent stems &-14 inch-
es tall (20-50 cm). Its inflorescence is a
loose spike of numerous small, irregular,
white flowers arranged in a gradual spiral.
With some imagination, this inflorescence
resembles the braids of a woman’s hair,
accounting for its common name, The lip

petal is oval to lance shaped, slightly nar-
rowed near the middle, and has crispy-
wavy margins,

Spiranthes diluvialis is morphologi-
cally intermediate between S. romanzoffi-
ana and S. ma^icamporum, a Great Plains
species not known from Wyoming. S.
romanzoffiana differs in having a more
densely congested spike and deeply con-
stricted lip petals, S. mog/ifcamporuin has
strap -shaped lip petals with crisp ed-mar-
gins and lacks leaves at floweiing time (S,
diluvialis retains its leaves when flowering
in late summer and early fall).

Ute Lady's Tresses. Ulus, by Carolyn Crawford
[reprinted from Aquilegia, the Newsletter of the
Colorado Native Plant Society},

Cytological and genetic studies by
Anna Arft, a graduate student at the
University of Colorado, suggest that S. dilu-
vialis evolved as a hybrid between these
two species, Reproductive barriers maintain
these three species as distinct today,

Ute lady's tresses is found on moist
streambanks, wet meadows, and abandoned
stream channels at elevations below 60Q0
feel. It is mostly found on sub-irrigated
alluvial soils in full sun, Sheviak suggests

that this species was more widespread dur-
ing wetter times in the last Pleistocene, but
became restricted to scattered, locally moist
areas as the climate became progressively
drier.

Much of the habitat of Spironfhes
dfjnviaiis in Colorado and Utah has been
altered by agricultural activity in the past
century' and a half. Recent studies, howev-
er, suggest that some of these activities may
be potentially beneficial to the plant.
According to Tamara Naumann, botanist
with the city of Boulder, CO, winter and
early spring grazing by' cattle can stimulate
S. diiuviaUs populations by creating open
canopies and reducing competing vegeta-
tion, particularly aggressive alien weeds
such as Canada thistle [Cirsium arvense).
Haying and irrigating may also be benefi-
cial for seed dispersal and in eliminating
competing species, Ute lady’s tresses prob-
ably evolved as an early successional
species in riparian habitats and was main-
tained in the past be periodic flooding
events or disturbances created by large
ungulates.

Additional populations of Spimnthej
diluvialis may occur on adjacent private
farms and rangeland in southeast
Wyoming, or possibly in suitable riparian
habitat in southwest Wyoming (several
populations are known in. the Green River
Basin south of the Wyoming border).

Legally, the Ute lady’s tresses is now
protected in Wyoming under the auspices
of the Endangered Species Act. Protection
for plants under the Act is limited almost
entirely to federally managed lands.
Populations on private lands are only pro-
tected from malicious harm by trespassers.
Chuck Davis, field supervisor for the US
Fish and Wildlife Service in Cheyenne does
not expect the discovery of this plant to
affect land uses in the area, “Federal agen-
cies will have to consult with us before
undertaking projects in the vicinity of the
plant to help ensure that their actions don’t
harm the species" says Davis. “We may be
interested in pursuing cooperative agree-
ments with other agencies and individual
landowners, but we otherwise don't expect
landowners to be affected.”

More information is needed to deter-
mine the biological and management
requirements of Spiranfhes diluvialis in
Wyoming, With luck, good science-based
management will ensure that our newest
member of the flora of Wyoming will flour-
ish in tlie state for many seasons to come.

3

Why Save Rare Plants ? contjnuecf from pg. 1

The values attributed to endangered
and rare species are diverse. Ehrenfeld
(1976) condensed these into a list and
noted that the following nine values can be
assigned a monetary' value and thus become
commensurable with ordinary goods and
services, although in some cases it would
require a good deal of ingenuity to do so.
They are: 1) recreational and aesthetic
values, 2) undiscovered or undeveloped
values, 3) ecosystem stability values, 4)
examples of survival, 5) environmental
baseline and monitoring values, 6) scien-
tific values, 7) teaching values, 8] habitat
reconstruction values, and 9] conserva-
tive values: avoidance of irreversible
change. The specter of irreversibility is
the most powerful reason for preserving
these species.

We should be able to perceive that
that which is irreplaceable is priceless. Let
us use an endangered plant as an example.
Laramie false sagebrush (SpJiaeromerio
simplex) was relocated in 1978, 71 years
after the last collection on record. Certain
chemical compounds which inhibit cell
division have been isolated from another
species in the same genus. The compounds
are of interest in the search for drugs to
treat cancer. Could this rare species have a
cancer cure? We do not know, but the
chances are much better than average. If
we are lucky, it will survive long enough
for someone to take a look. What other
unknown compounds might it contain ?
We know we should look for a cancer cure,
but we do not know what other compounds
to look for because we have no hints like
we do for the possible cancer compound.

Evolution will continue without
these species, but the processes of evolu-
tion, as \vG know them, will not put extinct
species together again on this planet. The
trend of evolution has been one of organ-
isms evolving to exploit more and more
hostile environments generally characteris-
tic of extremes on environmental gradients.
In both plants and animals there has been a
trend toward more ''independence” from
the environment in the following sense.
The mode of reproduction has evolved
from external in the aquatic environment to
completely or nearly completely internal.
In flowering plants the game top hyte is no
longer independent of the sporophyte, In
placental mammals the embryo develops
completely in the body of tlie mother and

there is postnatal care by at least one adult.
This intemalization in both plants and ani-
mals is more than parallel evolution in the
usual sense. It is deteiminate evolution, a
logical sequence to fill previously unoccu-
pied euvirouments. In a s imi lar fashion the
problem of coping with a cold or extremely
dry' season has been solved by specialized
adaptations including dormancy in plants
and homeostasis or hibernation in animals.
These are obvious adaptations. How' many
subtle ones exist that we do not yet recog-
nize, we cannot even guess.

As the human population puts more
and more pressure on existing en\''iron-
ments and looks for ways to expand into
more hostile ones, the very key to learning
how to utilize these rigorous environments
in ways productive to ourselves may be
destroyed through extinctions. In some of
these rare species may be our answers to

arid-land forming, cold-climate farming,
efficient energy utilization, and many other
challenges.

One aspect which the endangered
species programs seldom emphasize is the
fact that various species are endangered for
different reasons, It is perfectly natural that
less efficient organisms will be replaced by
more efficient ones through extinction.
Some species are evoiutionarily old and
were well on their way to extinction with-
out man’s help. It is difficult to justify giv-
ing these high priority and special consid-
eration, especially if substantial cost is
involved. On the other hand, recently
evolved species are usually colonizing a
hostile habitat or one previously unoccu-
pied. The greatest potential values are in
this group. These deserve top priority in
situations where oui resources are limited.
Many endangered species have not been

Above: Laramie false sagebrush {Sphaeromeria simplex}, a plant that may possess chemical compounds
useful for treating cancer. This specliis is known from less than 5 sites worldwide, all in southeastern
Wyoming. III. by )ane Dorn.

4

studied because of their rarity, so it may be
quite some time before their evolutionary
age can be determined.

It has been repeatedly pointed out
that the biggest single cause of extinctions
in modern times is destruction of habitat.
We must protect the habitats if we hope to
protect the speciesl This is a land manage-
ment problem. It seems rather strange that
a Christian nation has such a poor record in
its stewardship of the land. Aldo Leopold
(19665. in reflecting on the evolution of
ethics, commented that “obligations have
no meaning without conscience, and the
problem we face is the extension of the
social conscience from people to land,” It
should be obvious to anyone giving it half a
thought that future generations will be
dependent on the land we pass on to them.
This is the ultimate resource (except for the

sim) for supporting ail life including peo-
ple. Have we been good stewards of this
land? In most cases we have not, since
short-term economics is still the primary
factor determining what is done with man's
relation to land.

Our goal is clear. We need an “ethic
dealing with man's relation to land and to
the animals and plants which grow upon
it” (Leopold 1966). It remains to be seen
whether we will be able to achieve this goal
in time to save the essential “cogs and
wheels” which keep the biosphere running
smoothly. In Wyoming w'e have relatively
few species to protect. Hopefully we can
fulfill our obligations to future generations.

References;

Eckholm, E. 1970. Disappearing species: the
social challenge, Worldwatch Institute,
Washington DC.

Ehrenfeld, D. W, 1976. The conservation of
non-resources. Amer. Scientist 64: 648-656.

Hutchinson, G. E. 1978, An introduction to
population dynamics. Aria da Capo and
Quodlibet. Yale Univ. Press, New Haven, CT.

Leopold, A. 1966. A Sand County Almanac
with other essays on conservation from the
Round River. Oxford Univ. Press, NY.

Reprinted from "Rare and Endangered Vascular

Plants and Vertebrates of Wyoming" edited by

Tim Clark and Robert Dom, 1981,

Left: Contracted Indian rioegrass [Oryzopsis con-
fracfa) is a regional endemic of the b^in country
of Wyoming. Montmia, and Colorado. It is close-
ly related to Indian ricegrass [Oryzopsis
hymenoides), a species that is considered one of
the most valuable native forage species for
wildlife and livestock. Because it is adapted to
cold, dry environments and tolerates distur-
bance, Contracted Indian ricegrass has excellent
potential for greater use in abandoned land
recovery, road side planting, and range improve-
ment, III. by Esobel Nichols.

The Botany 130
Song Book

Sy )ohn "Barney" Baxter

A t the University of Wisconsiu-
Milwaukee each member of the
botany department was assigned
a certain number of laboratory sections in
Botany 130, the introductory botany
course. The following songs describe
some of the trials and tribulations in the
life of a Botany 130 lab instructor,

Potometer
[Tune; Oh Taimenbaum)

Potometer,

Potometer,

Oh source of much frustration.

So widely used in botany labs
To measure transpiiation.

Oh gadget that so rarely works,

Who can predict your crazy quirks?
You make instructors get the jerks
And nervous perspiration.

Potometer,

Potometer,

Why have you ceased to function?
Perhaps a stopcock open T,vide
At some important junction,

Our bubble trouble’s getting worse,

Just hear our lab instructor curse,

I think he’s going to need a nurse
Or even extreme unction.

Three- Year-Old Basswood
(Tune: Winchester Cathedral)

Oh 3-year-old basswood
You're breaking me down,

The students are laughing,

I feel like a clown,

They asked me a question,

I had no reply,

I feel so embarrassed,

I’m ready to cry.

I should have boned up before coming
into this class,

If I took a test on this stuff I don’t
think that Fd be able to pass.

I’ll get a hatchet.

And all through the town.

When I see a basswood
I'll chop it right down.

Oh no de oh do,

I hate em all so,

Those Tilia trees
have to go

5

HORTICULTURAL NOTES

Golden Currant

{Ribes aureum)

By lim BorJand

(Repriptsd from AquHegia,

Ihe Newsletter of the Colorado Native Plant Society)

A lthough the scientific community
seems perplexed about whether to
assign all /lihes to the Saxifrage
{SaxifragaceaeJ or to the gooseberry family
(Grossulariaceae), the horticultural commu-
nity continues to use them for both aesthetic
value and food.

/i/hes aureum has many common
names, all of which describe some favorable
features of the species. These include the
golden currant, buffalo currant, Missouri cur-
rant, flowering currant, fragrant currajit, and
slender golden currant, as well as clove bush.

Native to a large portion of the western
U.S., golden currant can be found growing
with many other native shrubs and trees
from the Plains into the Rocky Mountains
[zone 2). Although this shrub is more com-
mon to creek and riverside habitats, it has

Saussureo weberi (111. by W, Fertig)

proved adaptable to drier sites and poorer
soils.

Generally, golden currant’s native soil
is coarse to medium in texture, shallow or
deep, well-drained and fertile with a pH of
6.5 to 7.0. Nursery' container soils and gar-
den soils that are either more acidic or alka-
line generally result in excellent growth as
well.

In May, golden cnnant produces
many racemes of 3/4-1 inch long yellow,
tubular flowers that are usually tipped with
red and emit a wonderful clove or spicy
odor. These flowers are coupled with bright
green, 2 inch wide leaves attractively dis-
played on a 3 to 9 foot tall upright, branch-
ing, spineless shrub. The leaves’ shape
resembles that of gooseberry leaves.

Golden currant’s fruits are unusually
large for a wild currant (up to 1/2 inch in
diameter) and are either red, yellow, or
black. These edible berries are excellent for
people and animals.

While this shrub tolerates some
shade, its growth is more compact and it
produces more flowers in full sun.
Furthermore, its foliage turns to burnished
yellows, reds, and oranges in sunny loca-
tions in fall.

Golden currant propagates itself
through underground root suckers, which
indicates that additional plants can be propa-
gated by division or by planting root pieces.
Softwood and hardwood cuttings taken near-
ly any time of the year will also root through
mist propagation or in outdoor beds. In the
nursery, this plant can be propagated by
exposing the seeds to moist, cold (41 degrees
F.) conditions for 60 to 90 days and then ger-
minating them at 70 degrees F. A germina-
tion rate of 60 to 90 % can be expected from
sound seed. Golden currant grows rapidly
both in the nursery' and landscape.

Due to its affmity to moist habitats, it
is difficult to assign a definitive moisture
requirement for this species. However, 15 to
20 inches of annual precipitation should
ensure good growth. In full sun, additional
moisture usually results in a larger, faster-
growing shrub that does not become unruly
or top-heavy'. If pruning becomes necessary,
periodically remove the canes entirely to the
plant’s base.

Although I have noted aphid infesta-
tions (among other gooseberry maladies) on
golden currant, serious consequences are
uncommon in the vrild.

What’s in a Name?

W ith this issue, we begin a new
series highlighting once famous
hut now little-known individuals
immortalized in plant genus and species
names.

Sanssunea wefteri (Weber's Saw-wort]
The genus Saussurea in the
Asteraceae (sunflower family') contains
approximately 300 species, most of which
are confined to Eurasia. Saussureo is close-
ly related to the thistles, but differs in lack-
ing spiny leaves and stems. Several Asian
species are gro’ivn as ornamentals, and one
particularly odoriferous species (S. hppa]
is used for medicines and scents,

De Candolle named the genus in
honor of Swiss naturalist Horace de
Sans sure and his son, Theodore. Theodore
Saussure (1767-1845) was one of the leading
plant physiologists of his era and his ele-
gantly designed experiments resulted in the
discovery of many principles of photosyn-
thesis and mineral nutrition. In his book
"Chemical Researches on Vegetation"

Saussure proved that increases in the dry
weight of plants came from Carbon derived
from atmospheric Carbon dioxide and water
from the ground. Plants showed an increase
in Carbon only when they were exposed to
light. He also showed that plants required
minerals for growth (particularly Nitrogen)
and that these minerals were derived from
the soil rather than the air.

Saussure never saw one of his name-
sakes, Soussureo weberi, a regional endeiuic
of the Rocky Mountains first described by
Hulten in 1959. Weber’s saw-wort occurs on
alpine limestone talus and rocky grasslands.
It has an unusual distribution pattern, being
found in only three isolated areas in the
Rockies in southwestern Montana,
Wyoming’s Wind River Range, and central
Colorado. Due to its limited distribution
and abundance, the species is designated as
Sensitive by the US Forest Service.

The specific epithet of Saussurea
weberi honors Dr. William Weber, longtime
dean of Colorado botany and author of sev-
eral popular floras of the Rockies and
Colorado. WF

6

Summer Field Trips

Explore the Ashenfelder Basin

Saturday, }une 18, 1994

T he Ashenfelder Basin consists of
several deep canyons on the north-
east side of Laramie Peak.
Elevations range from about 6000 feet
near the Medicine Bow National Forest
boundary, to 10,200 feet at the summit of
Laramie Peah. The entire basin is forest-
ed, with lodgepole pine and subalpine fir
at higher elevations and ponderosa pine
at lower elevations. Engelmann spruce
can be found along streams at mid-eleva-

tions.

Aven Nelson collected plants in the
basin at least twice in the late IBOOs. The
endemic Laramie columbine {Aquilegia
laramiensis] is known from the basin and
other unusual species have been document-
ed here. These include Pyrola picta, Carex
tenera, and AspJenium septentnonale.

The area is best knowm for its virgin
stands of ponderosa pine, mth some indi-
viduals 400 years old. Between 1988 and
1992 a severe infestation of pine beetles has
killed many trees of all age classes.

The Ashenfelder Basin has been pro-
posed as a Research Natural Area and the
Environmental Assessment is currently

under revision on the Douglas Ranger
District. The flora of the Basin is only par-
tially knoivn, end it is hoped that our field
trip will add new species to the list being
compiled for the area by the Forest Service.

The field trip will involve about 6-8
miles of hiking at 6000-7000 feet elevation
with some moderate hills on good trails.
Be sine to pack a lunch and bring water.
Meet at the Hams Park Boy Scout Camp at
8:30 AM. Take the El Rancho Road exit
[exit # 94) off 1-25 north of Wheatland. Take
the County road to the west (not the El
Rancho Rd) and follow the signs to the Boy
Scout Camp. Where there are choices, take
right turns. JV

7

Annual Meeting/Field Trip

Grand Teton National Park

July 9-10, 1994

The Society’s annual meeting and
field trip will be held in Grand Teton
National Park this summer. Plan to meet
Saturday, July 9, at 9:00 AM at the Colter
Bay Visitor Center parking lot [see map). A
brief (?) business meeting will be held in the
parking area at which time the Saturday
field trip itinerary will be decided. More
than one hike may be scheduled depending
on the number and interests of the attendees.
On Sunday, a trip is planned on the ski tram
to visit alpine areas at the summit of the
range. Participants may chose to take the
tram back or hike down from the suimnit.

\VNPS has reserved a group camp site
for the weekend at Colter Bay. Cost will be
S2 per person for the campsite. Additional
camping is available elsewhere in the park
and in the adjacent National Forests.
Unfortunately, the Society was unable to
receive a fee-waiver for entrance to the Park*
Costs are SIO per vehicle, but passes are
good for at least a week. As of late April, it
appears we will receive an educational dis-
count for the alpine tram. Cost for the tram
is S5 per person. We regret that this year's
meeting will be more costly than those in
the past, but we hope many of you ^vill still
find it worthwhile to enjoy the spectacular
scenery of the Tetons in the company of fel-
low plant lovers, WF

Colter Bay Complex

Vtjomms
IVlnrive Pbanr
Sociera

cary'i

Walter Fertig 94

507 Fetterman St.

La ramie/ WY S2070

Wyoming native plant sociftv

1604 Grand Aii^enue
Laramie, WT 82070