Aquilegia

. . dedicated to the appreciation and conservation of the Colorado native fiora”

Voiume 13, Number 4 July/August 1989

Search for Species of Concern
Pike and San Isabel National Forests

As part of the continuing development of the Ecdc^y
Program for the USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain
Region 2, an ecologist has been added to the Pike-San
Isabel Staff in Pueblo, CO. One of the Important objectives
of this program is to locate populations of Colorado plant
species of special concern which may occur on National
Forest lands or on National Grasslands as per the Plant
Species of Special Concern list published by the Colorado
/-'^Natural Areas Program. The assistance of the members of
the Colorado Native Plant Society Is requested to report
new locations of the spiles listed fc^low, for the Pike and
San Isabel National Forests or the Comanche National
Grasslands. Please send a memo with any Information on
these species to:

Judy von Ahlefeldt, Ecologist
Pike-San Isabel National Forest
1920 Valley Drive
Pueblo, CO 81008

Sf^cies for which n®w location inforrrotion is desired for
the Pike-San Isab^ National Forests and Comanche Na-
tional Grasslands:

Armeria scabra ssp.
siberica

Braya humills ssp. ventosa
Braya glabella
Crepis nana
Eriogonum brandegei
Eutrema penlandli
Frasera coloradense
Goodyeara repens
Heuchera richardsonll
^jypoxis hirsuta
^^^pomopsis globularis
Liatris ligulistylis
Llllum phlladelphicum

Caiendar Overview

Additional information atx^ut calendar items will be found
throughout this issue.

Workshops and Meetings
September 16 Board meeting

at Elizabeth Otto’a, Idaho Springe

October 28 CONPS Annuai Meeting

at Colorado School of Mines

Fieid Trips

Juiy 22-23 Yankee Boy Basin

Leader: Peggy Lyon

Juiy 30 Mountain Mushrooms

Leader: LInnea Gillman, for Bldr. Chp.

August 5 Devii’s Head

Leaders: Denny Bohon, Judy von Ahlefeldt

August 12 Rocky Mtn. Nati. Park

Leaden Dorothy Udall

August 19 Diamond Lake Hike

Leaders: Nan Lederer, Mike Figgs, for Bldr. Chp.

Mentzelia densa
Mimulus gemmlparus
Pellaea atropurpurm
Penstemon degeneri
Phippsla aigida
Ptilagrostis ported
Ranunculus gelidus
Salixianata ssp. callcola
Sapindus drummondii
Scirpus pumllus
Solidago ptarmicoides
Spiranthes dlluvialls
Viola pedatifida
Woodsia mexicana

Page 2

Aquilegia

Volume 13

ANNOUNCEMENTS

CONPS Annual Meeting
October 28 th

Colorado School of Mines
Petroleum Hall

The theme of this year’s meeting is Savii^ Colorado's Na-
tive Flora on Public L4inds. Faith Campbelt of the Natural
Resources Defense Council Is the keynote speaker and
one of many feature speakers on this critical topic. Start
planning to attend, and watch for complete information to
te announced in the next issue of Aquilegia.

Boulder Chapter
Summer Field Trips

Sunday July 30th MUSHROOM HIKE A joint field trip
with the Colorado Mycologlcal Society. Mycologist Linnea
Gillman will lead this half-day mushroom foray into the
mountains west of Boulder. Meet at 10 AM at the RTD Park-
n-Rlde at the Table Mesa exit off the Boulder Turnpike
(Hwy. 36) In Boulder. We plan to return at approximately 1
PM. Be sure to wear sturdy hiking shoes or boots, and
bring drinking water and raingear. You may also want to
bring a camera and a picnic lunch. For more information,
call 494-1640.

Saturday August 19th DIAMOND LAKE HIKE A joint
field trip with the Boulder Co. Nature Association. Nan
Lederer and Mike Figgs will lead this all-day hike to the sub-
alpine ecosystem and cirque headwalls near Diamond
Lake (west of Nederland) to look for such uncommon
plants as Gaultheria humifusa (creeping wintergreen),
Athyrium dtstentifoHum (alpine lady fern), Lycopodium an-
notinum (stiff club-moss), Huperzia selago (fir club-moss)
and many others. Meet for carpooling at 8 AM at the city
employee parking lot off Arapahoe Ave. near the New^^""”’*^
Britain Building, directly across the street from Alfalfa’s
Market in Boulder. The hike will cover about five fairly
strenuous miles round-trip, with a 1(K)0 ft. elevation gain
and some bushwhacking. Wear sturdy hiking shoes or
boots, and bring raingear, drinking water and lunch. Also
camera, hand lens, floras, If desired. We plan to return to
Boulder at approximately 5 PM. For more information call
447-1899.

Denver Chapter Activities
First Fall Meeting

Wednesday, September 27, 7:30 PM Getting acquainted
and re- acquainted in Clas$rcK>m A at the Denver Botanic
Gardens. Bring a few slides of your summer at the frontiers
of botanic discovery, and a dessert to share, as we plan
another year of chapter activities.

The Denver Chapter meets on the fourth Wednesday of
each month (except summer). Contact Carol Dawson
(722-6758) for Information on chapter activities.

Number 4

Aquilegia

Pages

Potiuck in the Park

Date; Saturday, August 12, 1989

Place; VIP house in Rocky Mountain National Park
715 High Drive, Estes Park (see map;

It’s 1 .6 miles from Quik Stop grocery to house)

Bring; Potiuck dish of your choice

(drinks and utensils will be provided)

Activities;

10 AM to 12 Noon Short hike to the
study site to see Restoration Research Project
that CONPS members are involved in this
summer in cooperation with research
ecoiogists at RMNP.

12 to 1 PM Potiuck lunch

1 PM to ?? Field trip to Cabin Lake site (near
Sprague Lake) to visit a naturally restored area
whose interesting history can be ‘read” in its
topography and vegetation.

Call: By August 1 0th If you plan to attend :

Udalls in Fort Collins at 482-9826 or
Diana Mulllneaux at 237-5794 or
Velma Richards In Metro-Dnv at 794-5632

If you find you can come at the last minute, please do so
even if you haven’t called. Car-pooling is recommended as
parking space is limited.

WEST

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To

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NORTH

Board Notes

Meg Van Ness

The CONPS Board of Directors met on 13 May 1989 at
Gayle Weinstein’s home in Denver, the same day that
CONPS volunteers began research activities in Rocky
Mountain National Park. This Partners in Parks project
started with collection of voucher specimens and se^s.
Among other discussion items:

• Vol unteer needed to represent CONPS at board
meetings of Colorado Environmental Coalition

• Publication of the rare p4ant monograph ex-
pected in June

• Letters thanking CONPS for $50 donations
received from the Natural Resources Defense
Council and The Nature Conservancy

• Request for Information on sources of native
plants (e.g. nurseries and seed companies) by
Velma Richards

• Offering authors reprints of Ago/V^/a articles

• Creation of archive for Aquiiegia and CONPS
records, possibly at Botanic Gardens

• Support needed for new visitor center at Floris-
sant; write congressional representatives

m Review of landscaping plans for new airport

In addition, Beth Painter and Brian Geils were appointed to
nominate members for Board openings for the election this
fell. The Board agreed to provide $200 furxiing for a re-
search proposal by l^tharine Warren (CSU student) for a
project comparing reproduction of rare and common
species of Phacelia.

The next board meeting will be held in Idaho Springs at
Elizabeth Otto’s home September 1 6th. There will be a pot-
luck supper following the meeting.

Page 4

Aquilegia

Volume 13

New Field Trip

Devil’s Head. Saturday, August 5th

Leaders: Denny Bohon and Judy von Ahlefeldt

A search for relict plants and rare species is the subject of
this field trip to Devil’s Head on the Pike National Forest,
west of Castle Rock. The Pike National Forest Is expand-
ing its program for location of rare, unusual, threatened and
endangered species. This trip will be conducted in
cooperation with the Pike National Forest South Platte
Ranger District to search for relict ferns and several other
species which may occur in spectolteed habitats on the
Front Range.

Participants will form teams to search in the vicinity of
Devil’s Head and from access points along Jackson Creek
road. Search areas will be on forested slopes with rocky
outcrops. Meeting time Is 9 AM at the Devil’s H^d trail -
head below the fire lookout off the Rampart Range road.
Bring a lunch, water and raingear. An evening cookout will
be provided after the search. Rain date is August 12th. Trip
reservations are required - piease call Denny Bohon at
the South Platte Ranger District during business hours at
(303)236-5366.

Terra Infirma: Uneasy Listening?

Paul Klite, Adeline McConnell

TERRA INFIRMA, a new radio program designed to help
people confront environmental problems, airs the second
Tuesday of each month at 1 0:30 AM on KGNU Community
Radio in Boulder (at 88.5 FM). The show, produced by
composer Bruce Odiand and environmental activist Eric
Holle, both of Boulder, artist Paul Klite and writer Adeline
McConnell of Denver, will tap the listening audience for in-
formation and ideas on ways ordinary people can affect
the future of the environment. The best ideas, collected on
tape by phone, will be aired the following week.

"People are the cause of environmental problems," Klite
said, "and people will have to solve them, since Institution-
al methods are not doing the job and there’s not much time
left. Most of us feel overwhelmed by the number and com-
plexity of the threats- As a result we retreat into a protec-
tive shell while the problems escalate. This show will
develop the potential for radio networklr^ and will em-
power people to take more effective action."

The program emphasizes changes people can make in
their personal lives - simple ways of practicing conserva-
tion, for example - ard describes efforts that have been
successful elsewhere. It offers suggestions as to where
people can best put their money and energy and informs
them of current environmental actions with which they may
want to coordinate their efforts. "Even though the subject
is ominous, we hope to bring music, creativity and humor
to the show," Klite said. '*We want it to be positive and op-^^
timistic."

Number 4

Aquilegia

Pages

Natives In the Garden:
Littleleaf Mountain Mahogany

Jim Borland

It is probably something of a str^ch to consider that a plant
whc^ leaves are only OJ to 0.7 inches long and half that
wWe could be a substitute for the broadfeaf evergreens
common to other parts of the country, but Litllel^f Moun-
tain Mahogany (Cercocarpus Intricatus) exemplifies some
of the botanical adaptations necessary for a broadleaved
plant to survive in high, cold and dry climates.

Other dimatic features which severely limit the number of
available and successful broadleaf evergreens one can
reliably use in a dryland landscape include arid conditions,
bright winter sun, year-round low relative humidity, low
winter temperertures and high soil pH. Any one of these
conditions can be severe enough to preclude the use of
most common broadleaf evergreens.

Because few of our watered land^pes and none of our
dryland larxiscapes will be graced with rhododendrons,
azaleas and mountain laurel, it is time we begin looking at
broadleaf evergreens that can supply green color In the
winter landscape, regardless of the size of their leaves. Lit-
tie-leaf Mountain Mahogany Is one of several western U.S.
broadleaved evergreens that can fill the bill.

Growing almost exclusively in cracks and soil pockets of
horizontally to vertically inclined sandstones. Little-leaf
Mountain Mahogany Is afforded little protection from either
the harshness of a cold (-20 ®F) desert winter or the Intense
reflected light and heat of the summer sun. To survive in
this environrwnt, evolution has endowed this shrub with
small thick and leathery leaves made even more durable
by an in-rolling of the leaf edges. Like conifers, this mem-
ber of the Rose family compensates for its diminutive leaf
size by leaf numbers which almost completely cover its in-
tricately packed silvery branches. Late spring frosts, typi-
cal in Its Great Basin home, often damage the small flowers
and reduce or prevent the production of its curly-tailed,
feathery achenes.

Little success has been found in the rooting of its stems,
and all current propagation for market is from seed. Prior
to germination, seed must be treated to one to three
months of cod (35*41 ®F) temperatures and moist condi-
tions. Although few problems are encountered when grow-
ing it in containers, growers may firwi that increased soil
aeration produces better growth and less incidence d root
disease. Alkaline soils of a pH of 7.4 and above are easily
tolerated in the landscape, but lower pH soils typical in con-
talners present no growth problems. Its slow growth may
prove a detriment to commercial growers who are used to
plants quickly filling a one to five gallon container, but the
end user who desires a shrub which will not quickly out-
grow its place In the landscape will find this factor a benefit.

Little-leaf Mountain Mahogany is native to the Great Basin
and its periphery where It forms a dense, round-shaped
shrub with heights and widths varying from one to six feet.
The general size aixl shape will be determined by the
parent plants from which seed Is taken. A full sun location
produces the densest plant habit. Because Its cousin, Cer-
cQcarpus ledifollm (Curileaf Mountain Mahogany) adapts
readily to hedging, it is probable that this species would
adapt as well. In my opinion, however, this would be a form
of desecration.

Most of tf^ natural habitat of this species receives as little
as 8 to 12 inches of annual precipitation. Specimens
planted In landscapes naturally receiving this amount or
slightly more may never have to be v^tered once they are
established.

Little-leaf Mountain Mahogany is only sporadically carried
by nurseries across the state. Both growers aixJ potential
customers may find that plants comparable In size and full-
ness to other common nursery plants cost more. Although
slow growth will ultimately be beneficial in the landscape,
both parties should be aware that the open structure of
young plants Is only temporary. Subsequent growth will
become more compact.

Cfrco n farm ^

Page 6

Aquilegia

FLORAL TRIBUTES

AnnCooper

Atom this time of the year many newspapers print sugges-
tions of reading irotter to take along on vacation. The lists
vary from who-done-lts to classics you never quite had time
to read. On the assumption that CONPS-foik m^ht like to
delve Into more floral literature, while relaxing at the end of
a day’s botanizing, may I offer the flower-lovers list.

I Include no fi^ guides in the list Whether you fevor a
complete, dichmornous key with full plant descriptions or
pr^er something a little more pictorial, the field guides
belor^ with identification. They are not often books for
browsing, though It can be very satisfying to finally meet a
plant that you had previously known only from skimming
through a field guide. Perhaps In the field you Instantly
recognize a species with an obscure feature tNit sits at a
well-thumbed junction in the key. That was my experience
when I found my first Botxychium a few years ago.

This is no biUtography, but a book-list of personal favorites.
Some will be far too "lay for the specialist The informa-
tion may be simplified enough in some Instances to make
an expert cringe. But they offer new slants on plants. They
are in random order, as holiday riding often seems to to.

A Guide to Enjoying Wildflowers by Donald and Lilian
Stokes, (Little, Brown and Company. 1985), is written for
the east, but indudes many genera that are present In
Colorado. The Illustrations are charming. The text offers
a smattering of folk lore and gossip about garden relatives
of each plant. Under the heading "What You Can Observe"
come tidbits on special futures, on insect Interactions, on
dispersal mechanisms, and anything else that takes the
authors’ fancy.

Plants of the Alpine Tundra by Nic and Helen Marinas,
(Rocky Mountain Nature Association, 1981), Is more than
a catalogue. It explains some of the forces at work that
make the tundra what It Is. It zooms in to look at detail and
in very simple terms makes sense of plant adapteitlons.
The calligraj^y makes this a very friendly little book... and
a perfedt gift to send a budding plant-lover friend.

Wild Flower Name Tales by Berta Anderson, (Century
One Press, 1976), links wildflower names and the history
of their discovery and naming In a delightful blend. The
book is full of anecdotes atout such stars arKi reentries
as Parry, Douglas, Pursh, and Nuttall, The book provides
a tantalizing taste of ^rfy botanical meliorations. Then it
entices the reader to delve further with a bibliography that
could keep one reading for years.

Pasture and Range Plants, produced by Phillips
Petroleum Company in 1963, deserves mention for two
reasons. First, it Is visually pl^sing-in fact almost a "cof-
fee table" book-wlth its flower portraits on black back-
grounds. SecorxJ, it is nice to see an energy company
sponsor a project like this. It is certainly more positive than
Exxon-Valdez!

Flowerir^ Plants of the World (editor V. H. Heywood,
Mayflower Press, 1978) was offered at a local bookstore
remainder table at a rkficulously low price. I couldn’t resist!
It gives Infornmtion on worldwide plant families, with maps
of their distribution. At a glance you can find ttose elusive
facts atout genera and species in the family aixl a little
atout economic values, too. Every plant is a native some-
where. This book helps the layman to find out where. It Is
also perfect for answering kids questions, such as "what is
cinnamon?"

These books will never make the New York Times List of
Vacation Reading, but I hope they will offer you diversion
this summer when you return from the great outdoors.

Number 4

Aquilegia

Page?

^ ^ Field Trip Report

Southeast Prairies in May

Marian Brandanburg

On May 20th, our group met about 40 mites east of T rinkJad
to begin a two-day trip through prairie areas in southeast
Colorado, led by Rick Brune. Our arrival disturbed a num-
ber of kiiideer and their alarmed cries continued until we
left their pond area. After a 13-miIe drive north on a rough
dirt road, we walked slowly southeast over hilly terrain
covered with juniper and pinon pine, stopping often to
I amine plants.

Atop a rkJge, we could look down Into a canyon and saw
a large pond at the base of aspen trees. Working our way
slowly down a steep boulder-scattered gully and across
slopes covered with chokecherry, wild grape and other
growth, we arrived at the bottom of Periy Canyon, which is
protected on three sides by sandstone cliffs. Water seeped
from under a cave-like ledge where red and yellow colum-
bines and llly-of- the-valley bloomed. The scene inspired
photographers and artists as well as kneeling botanists.
Many scrambled out on rocks in the pcx>l to see the
pondweed aixl water lilies. Others climbed back to the top
and circled the canyon to the drainage atKDve, where an ar-
royo empties over a cliff Into the pool. There a stagnant
' pond was laced with strings of frog eggs.

Reluctantly leaving this relict area, we drove west then
northeast past Fisher Peak and Spanish Peaks, through a
lush farming area to the cantonment area of the PInyon
Canyon Maneuver Site, After a hasty lunch in the parking
lot by ttte Headquarters Building, we obtained passes for
our cars and proceeded to a long hogback along the Van
Bremer arroyo. A steep hike to the basaltic ridge brought
us past early Indian stone rings. We proceeded slowly
along the south slope, examining plants, rocks and animal
tracks. We could see the origin of this volcanic dike, the
Spanish Peaks, far to the southwest The Cuena Verde
(Greenhorn) block was faintly visible to the northwest.

Crossing over to the north slope, we descended to the ar-
royo and watched a variety of tiny fish In the flowing cop-
per-colored water. After being checked by a guard, we left
the area and drove east across open land to a pifion pine-
juniper woodland along the western rim of the Purgatoire
River, where we made camp for the night. The river was
hundreds of feet below us. After hikes to various points
overlooking both Taylor Arroyo and the river, we gathered
after supper around a warm fire until the full moon rose over
an eastern cloud bank. The wind came up and Increased
in velocity, shaking tents and cars intensely so that no one
slept until after it decr^sed about 12:30 AM.

Early morn was greeted by various bird calls, particularly
many mockingbirds. After breakfast, we drove back to the
cantonment area, then on to Trinidad and rendezvous at
Kim. From there we drove through sandhills and past fl^ds
and farmhouses, stopping frequently at previously scouted
spots to examine flora on either side. At an outcrop of
Greenhorn Sandstone, we found individuals of rare Frasera
coloradense. We next stopped to investigate an aban-
doned WPA-built stone schc^house (ca. 1938).

Arriving in Cottonwood Canyon after noon, we stopped for
a picnic lunch on the grass under large cottonwood trees
near the old Dodge ranch and Its flowing spring. Many
needed to start for home, but five of us continued on to ex-
plore a part of Picture Canyon. We saw pictographs and
petroglyphs of early man, including the "birthing rock" and
"Crack Cave," Driving out of the canyon, we were rewarded
with a glimpse of a very large roadrunner quickly crossing
our path and stopping on the slopes above us.

During the two days we saw many antelope, a few deer, a
coyote, ground squirrels, cock pheasants, curlew, kiiideer,
a Lewis woodpecker, pinon jays, blackbirds, crows, robins,
mockingbirds, Say’s phoebe, eastern kingbirds,
meadowlarks, horned larks, lark buntings, sparrows, star-
lings, a mountain bluebird, a roadrunner, red-tailed hawks,
turkey vultures, and possibly a golden eagle.

Among our group were archeologists (one a primitive his-
torian), several teachers, a therapist, several artists and
physicists, a chemist, an author ("Short Grass Prairie"), a
nutritionist and sculpturess. an optical engineer, and many
knowledgeable botanists. As advertised, the trip offered
something for everyone. Rick Brune did an outstonding job
in planning and leading this trip and gave us an enjoyable
and informative experience in this little-known part of
Colorado.

ornom

President

Eleanor Von Bargen

756-1400

Vice-President

Beth Painter

482-2283

Secretary

Meg Van Ness

279-2^

Treasurer

Myrna P. Steinkamp

226^71

Board of Directors

Betsy Neely (90)

Boulder

443-8094

Jim Borland (90)

Denver

329-9198

Boyce Drummond

(89) Rorlssant

6^-2025

Brian W.Gells (90)

Fort Collins

482-8607

Tina Jones (89)

Denver

759-9701

Neal Osborn (m)

Pueblo

546-0319

Elizabeth Otto (90)

Idaho Springs

567-2384

Velma Richards (90) Englewood 794^5432

Eleanor Von Bargen (89) Denver 756-1400

Gayle Weinstein (^) Denver 333-3024

Qfmpter Presidents (Members of B<^rd)

Boulder

Margie Wortzman

494-1640

Denver Metro

Carol Dawson

722-6758

Ft. Collins

Jennifer Crane

Committees

493-2142

Conservation

Sue Martin

226.3371

Editorial

Peter Root

433-9340

Education

Miriam Denhem

442-1020

Field Trips

Jeff Dawson

722.6758

Florissant

Mary Edwards

233-8133

Horticulture/Rehabilitation Dorothy Udall

482-9826

Membership

Myrna Steinkamp

2^-3371

Publicity

Tina Jones

759-9701

Workshops

BHI Jennings

494-5159

RETURN AND MAILING ADDRIKSS
Colorado Native Plant Society
RO* Box 200

Fort Collins, Colorado 80522

Schedule of Membership Fees
Ufe $250.00 Family or Dual $12.00

Supporting 50.00 Individual 8.00

C^ganization 25.00 Student or Senior 4.00

Membership Renewals and Information

Please direct all membership applications, renewals and
address changes to the MEMBERSHIP chairperson, in
care of the Society's mailing address.

Please direct all other Inquiries regarding the Society to the
SECRETARY In care of the Society's mailing addre^.

Newsletter Contributions
Please direct all contributions to the newsletter to:

Peter Root

4915 West 31st Avenue
Denver, CO 80212

Deadlines for new^etter materials are February 15, April
15, June 15, August 15, October 15 and December 15.

There is a special need for short items such as unusual in-
formation liiout a plant, a little known botanical term, etc.
Please indude author’s name and address, although items
will be printed anonymously If requested,

Istort-profit
Or 9 anizalion
U.S. Postage
PAID

Permit #1475
Denver, Colorado

Time Value Material - Mailed on or about July 20