"■ ■ ■ dedicated to the appreciation and conservation of the Colorado native flora" Volume 12, Number 3 May/ June 1988 Rare Plant Monograph Update The cover art work for the “Rare Plant Monograph" and four other pieces, color renderings of Braya humilis, Penstemon grahamii, Mimutus gemmiparus, and Bmtoma grandiflorum, have been completed by artist Carolyn Crawford. Three of these pieces were exhibited earlier this year in London and won the Royal Horticultural Society Grenfell Silver Medal. All five pieces wll be on exhibit at the Spring Meeting on May 14. 1988. They will be auctioned after the puWIcatbn of the Monograph. As of February 1st, the Colorado Native Plant Society as- sumed the full responsibility for raising funds needed for the publication of the Monograph. Since our last report, a donation of $3000 was received from the Denver Water Board. This makes a total of $17,700 which has been raised. Many of our members have contributed to this project and we thank them for their support. We ask for your patience and continued support as we work to com- plete the Monograph. Calendar Overview Additional information about calendar items will be found throughout this issue. May 28«30 Uncompahgre Plateau Trip Leader; Elizabeth Neese June 18-19 Roan Cliffs Field Trip Leader: John Anderson June 25 Pikes Peak Mistletoe Trip Leader; Frank Hawksworth July 16 Florissant/Photo Trip Leaders; Mary Edwards, Bill Jennings If you would like to assist in any way with the fund-raising effort, please contact Eleanor Von Bargen (756-1400). A contribution of $25 or more entitles a CONPS member to a complimentary copy of the Monograph. If you would like to make a contribution, please send a check made out to CONPS (note "Rare Plant Monograph" on the check) to: Colorado Native Plant Society PO Box 200 Ft. Collins, CO 80522 July 23-24 Hoosier Ridge Trip Leader; Tamara Naumann Sept. 10 Edible/Medicinal Plants Leader; Tina Jones Sept. 24 Aquatic Plants Workshop Leader; Dr. Richard G. Walter Nov. 5 Penstemon Workshop Leader: Gwen Kelaldis Dec. 10 Carex Workshop Leader; Dr. David Cooper Page 2 Aquilegia Volume 12 ANNOUNCEMENTS CONPS Slide Show Four sets of the CONPS slide show A Brief Visit to Colorado Life Zones are still unsold. The cost Is $44.50 for 80 slides, a tape cassette and a text book- let. If you are interested in purchasing a set or know of someone who would be, please contact Virginia Dionigi, PO Box 97, Hygiene, CO 80533, Telephone: 776-2609. Workshop Information Upcoming workshops are listed on page 3, op- posite. General information on workshops is provided on page 10. Contact Bill Jennings for workshop registration or information. Please share your suggestions for future workshops with us, as well as your comments on workshops you have attended. This Issue also contains summary reports on workshops held early in 1988; see pages 4 and 10. winter Workshops For the winter (1988-1989), we have already received tentative commitments from instructors for workshops on the following topics: Pre-settle* ment/Post-settlement Vegetation in the Arkansas Valley; Grasses; Alpine Plants; Pollination Ecology, Watch for announcements starting in September. Board Meeting Highlights The Society’s Board of Directors met on March 1 9th at the home of Tina Jones in Denver. The Board discussed the need for liability coverage for CONPS field trips and other activ'rties. The spring meeting in Fort Collins and the rare plant publication were also discussed. Jim Borland reported on a Colorado Environmental Coalition meeting he attended. Tina Jones will be taking on the activities of the long dormant Publicity Committee. An annual meeting erf the Society Is being planned for October in Boulder. Board meetings are open to the public and all members are invited to attend. The next meeting will be at the home of Myrna Steinkamp, 4700 Venturi Lane, Fort Collins, fol- lowing the spring meeting on May 14th. Roxborough Park Butterfly Seminar If you’ve ever wondered about our most beautiful insects, the butterflies, come to Roxborough State Park’s "Butter- fly Watching for Beginners". Participants will learn to watch, photograph, net and handle butterflies with no damage to the subjects. Emphasis will be on butterfly behavior, ecol- ogy and biogeography. In two sessions, Tuesday June 28th (7 to 9:30 p.m.) and Wednesday June 29th (9 a m. to noon), noted author and lecturing consultant Dr. Robert Michael Pyle will offer in- sight into our local lepidoptera population. Seminar cost is $40 which includes Instruction and a morning snack; the remainder goes to further educational activities at Rox- borough State Park. For more Information call 973-3959. Pre-registration is required. Be a Volunteer Naturalist Roxborough State Park will be starting training for volun- teer naturalists during the second week of July, Naturalists guide visitors and interpret the Park’s features. You may , 011 ^ find this a rewarding and educational activity. Persons with knowledge of plants and other nature subjects are espe- cially needed. If you are interested, call the Park at (303)973-3959. Volume 12 Aqwlegia Page 3 Fall Workshops for 1988 Edible and Medicinal Plants Saturday, September 10 Leader: Tina Jones Participants wili enhance their knowledge of Colorado’s edible and medicinal plants in this half-day workshop. Wild and native plants, in addition to naturallz^ plants brought to the U,S, from other countries, will be discussed. Topics will include edible plant parts such as leaf, root, stem, flower and fruit structures; North American Indian uses and folk medicine in conjunction with therapeutic actions; and wild plant recipes and teas. Registrants wili cook, prepare and eat previously collected plants and have an oppor- tunity to see slides and plant specimens. Location to be announced. Aquatic Plants September 24 Saturday, September 24 Dr. Richard G. Walter We have had workshops on plants of barren lands and on wetlands, now we go even further with aquatic plants. The identification and taxonomy of plants that float or are sub- merged during part or all of their life cycle will be covered in this unique workshop. In addition to pressed herbarium specimens, Dr. Walter will have fresh aquatic plants to study. To be held at Colorado State University, Fort Col- lins. Penstemons November 5 Saturday, November 5 Gwen Kelaldis The intermountain region is a major center for Penstemon species. Though beautiful and often highly prized for hor- ticultural purposes, the many species of Penstemons rep- resented make identification difficult. The primary purpose of this workshop is to enable the botanist to identify the dif- ferent sections within gems Penstemon. Once the charac- teristics differentiating the sections are understood, keying from there to species is usually straightforward. To be held at the Foothills Nature Center, Boulder. Carex December 10 Saturday, December 10 Dr. David Cooper The grasslike monocots (grasses, rushes and sedges) are usually avoided by wildflower lovers because identification 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 one important genus, Carex. We will learn the characteristic features of sedges, key a num- ber of species, and become familiar with the major regional species. To be held at the Colorado School of Mines in Golden. Illustration by Barbara Bash, used by permission of Cloud Ridge Naturalists. Page 4 Aquilegia Volume 12 Workshop Summary Reports Rare Plants in Wyoming? Northern Colorado Deciduous Trees Hollis Marriott, botanist for The Nature Conservancy In Wyoming, led this highly interesting and informative workshop on January 30th at the Foothills Nature Center in Boulder. Hollis' presentation concentrated on a number of rare Wyoming endemics. Although there may be many in- dividual plants of these species in a certain locale, the species are not widely distributed. Hollis used the term 'sensitive species' to describe these plants since the term ’rare’ can be confusing (especially to the non-botanists whose cooperation Is often needed to protect them). In the areas where these plants occur they may be quite com- mon, but they are sensitive to management practices and could become seriously threatened because of their limits ranges. The 30 species of narrow endemics in Wyoming constitute about 1% of the flora of Wyoming. They often occur in harsh, scarcely vegetated areas such as exposed ridge tops or outcrops and often have matted, caespitose forms. We focused on 1 2 species occurring in or near Colorado. Hollis generously furnished us with Information, site loca- tions and maps for each plant discussed, and provided specimens for examination. Among the plants discussed were Trifolium barnebeyi, which has a total known range of nine airmiles in Red Canyon near Lander, Sphaeromeria simplex, known from one site, a privately owned cement quarry, and the yellow spring beauty, Cla^onia lanceolata var. flava, which occurs in several sites along with the white variety. Four species known from Colorado (Penstemon acaulis, Penstemon gibbensii, Gaura neomexicana var. coloradensis, and Aquilegia laramiensk ) were also dis- cussed. The second part of the presentation dealt with manage- ment practices used to protect rare plants. The Nature Conservancy, which formerly relied on land acquisitions as its sole method of protection, has more recently expanded its management options to include a greater variety of practices including greater emphasis on public education and cooperative management with private land owners, and long-term monitoring of plant populations on private lands. The Natural Heritage Inventory Program begun in 1974 has become an important tool in management plan- ning for the protection of rare, endangered and sensitive species. Hollis’ timely presentation and lovely slides of beautiful and infrequently visited areas left many of us eager to plan our next trips to Wyoming to make our own rare plant sear- ches. Summary by Kathy Carsey Dr, Gilbert Fechner, professor of forest genetics at Colorado State University, conducted this workshop on the CSU campus, February 20th. The workshop focused on native species in the genera Acer, Alnus, Betula, Celtis, Crataegus, Populus, Prunus and Quercus. We began with a review of the vegetative and floral mor- phology of angiosperms. The discussion emphasized vegetative shoot features that can be useful in field iden- tification. These include leaves and leaf scars, stipules and stipule scars, lenttcels, surface hairs and waxes, pith shape and composition, and buds. Shoot symmetry and bud and pith characteristics are particularly helpful in identification. Dr. Fechner provided very detailed identification sum- maries, including notes on the ecology and distribution in Colorado, for each genus discussed during the workshop. Those interested in pursuing this topic Independently are referred to the following texts: Harlow, William M., etal. Textbook of Dendrology, 6th edi- tion. McGraw-Hill, New York. McKean, William T., ed. Winter Guide to Central Rocky Mountain Shrubs (with Summer Key), 2nd edition. State of Colorado. Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife, Denver. ($3.50) Summary by Marguerite Flanagan Workshop reports continued on page 10 . . . Volume 12 Aquilegia Pages Asperugo, the reluctant weed f^^Asperugo procumbem is an introduced weedy borage ^ that occurs sporadically in Colorado, never common and often coming and going so that one tends to find It In a place once and perhaps not again. In Sweden, Asperugo Is called “paddfoten“, *toad*foot’'. because of the way the calyx flattens out in that shape. Evidently in Sweden it be- Imves somewhat in the same way. An Interesting paper on its autecology has been recently published by R. Svensson and M. Wigren in Svensk Bot. Tidskrift 81 :321 -331 . Besides being an Interesting and enlightening story, it Illustrates how there are thousands of topics for amateur botanists to tackle in Cdorado botany, that don’t require a college de- gree or a professorial position. Botanicai research shouid extend to the unsalaried, just as It does in ornithology. I well remember when I was in high school and a budding ornithologist, I attended a meeting of the New York Linnean Society and heard Margaret Morse Nice talk about the song sparrows she had been watching out her kitchen window. Mrs. Morse started the movement of amateur contributions to serious ornithology which flourishes now all over the world. So by way of the Asperugo story I would hope to indicate that in some of the smallest areas of plant study fine scientific contribu- tions can be made by amateurs. The fc^lowing is simply the abstract of this paper. An illustration of the plant can be ^pi^seen in Colorado Flora: Western Slope, Figure 25f. '"Asperugo procumbens was formerly a relatively fre- quent village weed In Sweden. During recent decades it has declined, In Sweden as well as in many other European countries, and It Is considered to be threatened or vulnerable. The fruits may preserve their viability In the soli for about three years, In the open air for at least nine years. The germination is very capri- cious, hardly occurring in soil with low nutrient content or In clos^ sward. species can yield very interesting and often startling results. Through it I learned, for example, why Asperugo is so sporadic and unpredictable in Colorado, where its habitats are infrequent, at least where botanists go. Would we find it common around cattle holding pens? Other ques- tions come to mind- Let’s open our eyes and look farther than merely the recognition of the plant and a very rough approximation of its habitat. Colorado Plant Puzzles Here are a couple of other puzzles that I have seen in Colorado. The monument plant, Frasera speciosa, is very long-lived, and papers have been published about this. It may wait until it is 30 to 60 years old to blossom, and then, like Agave, flowers and dies. All this is very exciting, but once I was showing a foreign visitor this plant and did not know this habit of the plant. I assumed that if i dug into the heart of the rosette 1 would find the buds of the flowering stalk. Instead, in many rosettes I found the head Inhabited by a big white grub. No one has ever been able to tell me what this animal is or what it turns into. Somebody in the CONPS who likes to play with butterfly, moth or what-not larvae might try to find out and tell me. 'The seedlings can only develop in open soil. The flowers develop successively In the top of the branches and are open one at a time. Each flower is open 1 -1 .5 days and is self-pollinated. The nutlets are heavy and fall to the ground, but may also be epizoically dispersed over long distances since fruits and branches may become at- tached to animals by stiff hooks. In nature, Asperugo procumbens often occurs 2-3 years on the same locality, and then disappears, especially if the habitat is over- grown by grass and other competitive species. It flourishes around dung-heaps and in wood-yards, habitats that are becoming Increasingly rare today. In such habitats an average specimen may produce about 270 flowers and 1,000 nutlets." ^f^The authors are professionals at Uppsala University, and the rest of the paper (in Swedish) is appropriately compli- cated. However, the abstract shows how simple observa- tions made over a period of a few years on one plant Sand lilies, Leucocrinum montanum, are very abundant here In early spring. How do they propagate? The floral tube is very long and mostly underground. The ovary is several inches below the surface of the ground. How do the seeds reach the surface of the ground? Are they squeezed out in some way? How are they spread around? A nice little problem. Who will solve it? Mignonette, Reseda futea, has grown as a weed along the Pierre and Niobrara shale ridges north of Boulder just south of Left Hand Canyon mouth since at least 1917. Why has it never spread any farther? Why does it maintain onily a presence, and never overrun the landscape? Will it grow in only that soil? Who’d like to try potting it in different soils and see what happens? William A. Weber Professor Emeritus University of Colorado Museum Page 6 Aquilegia Volume 12 CONPS Field Trip Policies The Society wishes to remind field trip participants of the guidelines for participation in Society trips. By Joining a CONPS field trip you indicate acceptance of the policies, printed in full In the April/May Issue. 1 . Plant collecting is forbidden on CONPS field trips, with two exceptions: (1) Collecting is permissible for scientific study (with the appropriate collecting permit, If required). (2) A trip leader or other responsible person may collect Frants for Immediate instructional use. However, collect- ing of rare, threatened, endangered or sensitive species should never be done for instructional purposes. 2. Rides and Cost-Sharing Policy: Car-pooling and ride- sharing are encouraged on CONPS trips. Ail drivers who provide rides to others will graciously accept payment ac- cording to the scale listed in the March/April 1988 issue. 3. Pets are not permitted on CONPS field trips. 4. Field trips are designed primarily for adults, unless the trip description specifically states otherwise. 5. CONPS's expressed purpose Is to promote appreciation and preservation of our flora. Use it lightly. Upcoming Fiefd Trips Details on the field trips listed below were printed In the March/AprB Issue of Aquilegia, Call Jeff Dawson at 722- 6758 for reservations or additional information. Uncompahgre Plateau May 28--30 Elizabeth Neese will lead this trip exploring the relationship of endemism and geology in the lower elevation badlands. We expect to see a number of rare and sensitive western Colorado species. We will meet at 9 a.m. on Saturday May 28 at the Visitor Center In Colorado National Monument. The Roan Cliffs June 18-19 John Anderson leads this field trip to opportunities to see a State Natural Area, a new species arxl a double waterfall. We will begin at 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 18 at the Rifle Gap State Park campground. Pikes Peak Mistletoe June 25 Our tour, led by Frank Hawksworth of the Forest Service, will go south on the old Gold Camp Road for a short dis- tance, back to the Springs, then up the Rampart Range road, to Woodland Park arxf return to the Springs (probab- ly by 3 p.m. or so). Summer Field Trips Florissant Wildflower Photography July 16 Leaders: Mary Edvt^rds, Bill Jennings Bring your camera and help us add to the photographic record of CONPS’ herbarium project at Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument. On Saturday July I6th the wildflower display should be spectacular! The Florissant committee does not have a good collection of slides of plants or special habitats, and we particularly need scenic shots such as a bird’s-eye view of the Monument from the top of the Eagle’s Roost, Monument buildings, and habitats such as the bristle-cone pine stand. We also hope to fill in any gaps the Monument might have in its collection. Keep track of the cost to you of film and processing for slides (or cc43ies) that you wish to donate, and CONPS will reim- burse you. More plant collecting needs to be done as well. Certain species need to be re-coliected this year, and on every trip we are still finding a few new species! Bring lunch, water, rain gear (just in case!), cameras or col- lecting equipment (or both). We will meet at the Visitors’ Center the Monument 1 mile south of the town of Floris- sant at 9:15 a.m, Rorlssant is 35 miles west of Colorado Springs ~ take U.S. 24 off 1-25. Please register with Jeff Dawson (722-6758). There is no limit on participants. Call Mary Edwards (233- 8133) if you need more Information. Volume 12 Aquilegia Page 7 Hoosier Rfdge July 23-24 4^ader: Tamara Naumann The focus of this field trip will be a search for Eutrema peniandii (a.k.a. EiMrama miwardsii ssp. penlandii). Searches con- ducted in 1986 for previously known occurrences were unsucc^sful — an indication that the number of populations may be declining. This will be a working fi^d trip, beginning with an orientation in mapping and recording methodology, developing a habitat search-image, and (hopefully) a visit to an extant locality. Trip participants will have an opportunity to participate in an inventory-ln-progress after week number 1 of a 3-week field search. We will meet at the Hoosier Pass rest area at 10 a.m. on Saturday, July 23rd, Hoosier Pass Is on Colo. Hwy. 9, be- tween Breckenridge and Fairplay (ap- prox. 10 mi. south of Breckenridge). Precise plans will be made on the spot, based on results of field work conducted the several days prior to the trip. Some hiking In steep terrain is likely. We will very likdy split Into groups so the hiking distance can be varied to suit Individual preference. Expect a range of 1/4 mile to 1 mile (I can arrange longer distances if there Is interest). Be prepared for rain and cold mornings (Hoosier Pass Is 1 1 ,539 ft.), and bring a ^,^lunch in a day-pack. If high-clearance f vehicles are required for a portion of the work, we will work out ferry arrange- ments among ourselves. There are several campgrounds In the area (lOte Lake and Beaver Creek campgrounds on the Pike National Forest), and mot^s In Breckenridge and Fairplay for non- campers. Tentative plans are to camp in the ICite Lake campground on Saturday night. We will arrange a meeting place for Sun- day morning before quitting time on Saturday. Sunday will be work or a leisurely search for interesting f^ants, depending on the wishes of the group. The Mosquito Range harbors a number of Pleistocene relict plant species of spe- clai interest Including Ipomopsis globularls, Braya humiils, Braya glabet- fa, Saussurea weberl, Draba borealis, Armaria scabra s^. siberica, Ranurh cuius geildus, and Ptliagrostis porterL \ ■ ■ We will quit early Sunday afternoon. Bring Weber’s Colorado Flora: Western Slope and Rocky Mountain Flora, and a Pike National Forest map if you have one. A compass would be helpful. Reservations are required: 15 person limit. Call Jeff Daw- son, 722-6758, evenings. Page 8 AquHegia Volume 12 San Luis Valley RMP Sue Martin The Bureau of Land. Management (BLM) ts drafting a Resource Management Plan (RMP) for the San Luis Valley in south’Cenlral Colorado. RMPs are important because they provide the management "rules'* for an area for at least the next ten years. Recently, representatives of several or- ganizations met with BLM staffers to discuss sites within the San Luis Resource Area that are important for their botanical, geologic, cultural or wildlife values. This Workgroup provided information to help BLM determine what sites to propose for protection as Areas of Critical En- vironmental Concern (ACECs). CONPS is particularly sup- portive of ACECs that would Include Neoparrya llthophlla (Apiaceae), and additional survey and protection for Cleome muiticauffs (Capparaceae; ’little beeplant’) and Astragalus rlpfeyf (Fabaceae). Some of our members may have special knowledge of the San Luis Valley; if so, the Conservation Committee would appreciate any information on San Luis Valley sites (plant. ar*imal, cultural or scenic) that seem worthy of protection. Because few BLM sites are known for Cleome multicaulis, a wetland species that may be severely affected as a result of water use patterns and trampling by grazing animals, the Conservation Committee hopes to sponsor a weekend "plant hunt" in the San Luis Valley to search for additional populations. T entative plans are for a July weekend; watch 0 ^ later information or contact Conservation Chair Sue X'.a'tin, Newsletter Changes During the past two years much of the improved ap- pearance of this newsletter has been due to the ef- forts of Elizabeth Otto. She has been very generous in giving her time and talents In word processing, layout and many other tasks necessary in getting AquHegia to you. Elizabeth has relinquished some of her involvement with newsletter production, but continues to serve on the Board of Directors. We are very grateful to her for her contributions. As of the March/April issue, Sally White has joined the Editorial Committee to take over several tasks which Elizabeth had been doing. We are confident that she will continue the high standards of quality which you have come to expect In your newsletter. We are always looking for interesting plant notes and artistic contributions. Please keep your submit- tals as concise and informative as possible to allow a diversity of articles. As many newsletter contributions are apparently being prepared on word processors, please note that we welcome materials submitted on diskette, especially for longer articles. IBM-compatible for- mat is required; 5 1/4 inch DS/DD diskettes using Wordstar^" are preferred. We can also handle text prepared with Word Perfect, MS Word, and many other programs. Keep word processor formatting to a minimum (e.g. no justification, no hyphens, etc.) If you would like to submit diskettes to save retyp- ing, please contact Sally at 697-5439 evenings for details. Label diskettes with your name and address; they will be returned for your next contribution. Volume 12 Aquiiegia Page 9 Spring at Red Rocks Park Peter Root Most of us think of this park as a place for noisy concerts and rock climbing accidents involving intoxicated park visitors. In spite of these activities, Red Rocks is still a good, accessible place to see eariy spring wMdflowers and other interesting piants. The massive outcrops of the Fountain formation which give the park its name aiso provide a mosaic of microhabitats which support a very diverse flora. The best place to observe plants is near the small parking area at the north end of the park. Above the parking area there is a large Douglas-fir which apparently benefits from water draining off a large sandstone outcrop above it. Near it is a Rocky Mountain maple which is also growing well. In the early spring, Oregon grape holly and spring beauties are quite visible on the rocky slopes here. If you follow the eroded trail up among the rocks you will see a small group of aspens along the north-facing base of a rock formation. These are among the lowest elevation naturally occurring aspens In the state, A few scrub oaks on this slope are also a surprise. Is this the northern limit of their range? Heading down the slope toward a small creek we can find sagebrush buttercups and Easter daisies among the mountain mahogany shrubs. At the base of the slope the fragile fern grows around some of the rocks. A few moun- tain ball cactus still grow near here. The snowball saxifrage and pasque flower can be found after some searching. This area can be easily visited from the Denver area and you do not have to be a seasoned hiker to enjoy it. It is hoped that future management of the park will try to preserve its remaining natural values. Page 10 Aquifegia Volume 12 About CON PS Workshops Enroilment 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: Bill Jennings, 360 Martin Dr., Boulder, 60303, 494-5159. Be sure to include your mail- ing address and phone number if you mail in your registra- tion. Registrants will be notified by mail about two weeks prior to the workshop regarding final location, time, lunch, sugge^ed references, etc. Please register promptly, as workshops tend to fill up fast. However, cancellations 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. The fee for each workshop is $8 for members and $16 for non-members, 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 payments until the day of the workshop. NOTE: The fee for the "Edible and Medicinal Plants' workshop (see p. 3) will be $5 members and $10 non- members. It takes considerable time and effort for the instructors to plan and develop 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. Cryptantha Workshop Summary Dr. Walt Kelley of Mesa College, Grand Junction, recently shared his knowledge of Cryptantha with an interested group of CONPS members. The April 2nd session was devoted to Section Oreocarya, the perennial Orypmntha species (genus Oreocarya in Weber’s Colorado Flora: Western Slope). The group learned some important field characteristics to note about a Cryptantha population of interest, such as the size and appearance of typical and of "ofdest-looking" plants, substrate type, corolla tube length in comparison with calyx length, and petal shape. Prof. Kel- ley also presented detailed information on each Colorado taxon, complete with excellent slides. Then we quickly got down to the "nutty-gritty" of the sub- ject; nutlet morphology, and the sometimes arcane ter- minology used to describe nutlet characteristics. The genus Cryptantha, like others in the family Boraginaceae. is (as we mostly remembered) characterized by fruits com- prised of four distinct nutlets. We were provided excellent specimens, numbered but unlabeled as to species, and got to practice dissecting fruits, examining nutlet characteris- tics, and using the various keys covering the perennial Colorado Cryptantha (including an unpublished one by Dr. Kelley). Our identification could then be checked against the correct name on a coded list. Mumbles of .. would you say this nutlet is muricate, or tuberculate-rugose??", or "...look, this one has an open/tri- angular scar!!" or "Don’t you agree those leaves are con- spicuously pusticulate...?" filled the room as we worked individually or in small groups. Everyone had an oppor- tunity to study each specimen, making it possible to gain an understanding of the range of calyx/corolla, leaf pubes- cence and nutlet characters used in the keys. Participants went away knowing we couldn't recognize each Cryptantha on sight, but much better equipped to key them. Thanks to Walt Kelley for such an informative workshop. On with the search for the elusive Ctyptantha aperta 1 Summary by Sue Martin Volume 12 Aquilegia Page 1 1 An Early Trip to Mt. Goliath Peter Root n- .M. Goliath, a small park In the Mt. Evans complex, Is well known as a place to observe alpine plants In the summer. A nature trail there is much used by visitors driving on the Mt Evans highway. In the fall after the highway is closed, many of us would think this area becomes inaccessible until very late spring. Recently I tried to walk from Echo Lake to Mt. Goliath and was surprised to find that the road has been kept plowed enough to be walked on. Quite a few people had evWent- ly walked and skied on it. The only difficult spots were found where snow had drifted over the road. Fortunately, it was possible to go around them. The road was completely blocked near Mt. Goliath, but it was possible to climb a short distance and reach the tundra. The wind keeps the tundra slopes nearly clear of snow and many of the alpine plants were recognizable in their dor- mant state. A large flock of rosy finches were feeding along the road, but the biggest surprise for me was to see a flick- er! This woodpecker which we see often in the suburbs and foothills was searching for food in the stumps of large bristlecone pines which once grew here. The tracks of ptar- migans and snowshoe hares were the only other signs of animal life. Visiting the subalpine and tundra zones in the winter gives us a better appreciation of the conditions to which plants have adapted in order to live there. If you know of other in- teresting, accessible areas, please share them with us In Aquilegia. Old Mm of tht Mountainf Tlt^dbergia gmndiflora Officers Schedule of Membership Fees President Eleanor Von Bargen 756-1400 Vice-President Tamara Naumann 440-8933 Secretary Meg Van Ness 279-2569 Treasurer Myrna P. Steinkamp Board of Directors 226-3371 Lee Barzee (88) Colo. Spgs. 634-4715 Jim Borland (88) Denver 329-9198 Boyce Drummond (89) Florissant 689-2025 Mark Galatowitsch (88) Berthoud 532-4635 Tina Jones (89) Denver 759-9701 Neal Osborn (89) Pueblo 546-0319 Elizabeth Otto (88) Idaho Springs 567-2384 Velma Richards (88) Englewood 794-5432 Eleanor Von Bargen (89) Denver 756-1400 Gayle Weinstein (89) Denver 333-3024 Chapter Presidents (Members of Board) Boulder Virginia Crosby 666-5303 Denver Metro Carol Dawson 722-6758 Ft. Collins Derek Marchi Committees 224-3324 Conservation Sue Martin 226-3371 Editorial Peter Root 433-9340 Education Miriam Denham 442-1020 Field Trips Jeff Dawson 722-6758 Florissant Mary Edwards 233-8133 Hofticulture/Rehabilitatlon Dorothy Udall 482-9826 Membership Myrna Steinkamp 226-3371 Publicity Tina Jones 759-9701 Workshops Bill Jennings 494-5159 Life $250.00 Family or Dual $12.00 Supporting 50.00 Individual 8.00 Organization 25.00 Student or Senior 4.no ^ Newsletter Contributions Please direct all contributions to the newsletter to: Peter Root 4915 West 31st Avenue Denver, CO 80212 Deadlines for newsletter 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 about a plant, a little known botanical term, etc. Please include author’s name and address, although items will be printed anonymously if requested. 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 address. RETURN AND MAILING ADDRESS Colorado Native Plant Society P.O.Box 200 Fort Collins, Colorado 80522 Non-profit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Permit #1475 Denver, Colorado Time Value Material - Mailed on or about May 2®