Aquilegia Newsletter of the Colorado Native Plant Society . . dedicated to the appreciation and conservation of the Colorado native flora” Updated generic keys of Poaceae for Southern Rocky Mountain Region, Part 2: Poa L. by Neil Snow ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This is the second in a series of articles that provides updat- ed dichotomous keys for some of the larger and more ecolog- ically common genera of grasses in the Southern Rocky Mountain Region. Comprehensive keys and descriptions of Poa were published recently in Flora of North America (Vol. 24). The ENA treatment was written by Dr. Robert J. Soreng of the United States National Herbarium (Smithsonian Institution), who has extensive experience with the genus in North America and other parts of the world. The following dichotomous key, based largely on Soreng’s treat- ment in ENA, separates the 25 known species for our region, which include several subspecies, and one species expected to be found in our region {P. bolanderi). Its preparation was necessary to re-key material at the University of Northern Colorado Herbari- um (GREE) for the production of an interactive key to Poaceae (Snow, in prep.). Keys for taxa occurring in Wyoming (Dorn 2001) were also consulted for this treatment. This key requires that the user not confuse hairs arising from the callus — the thickened tissue upon which the floret is borne — with those on the base of the lemma. All measurements refer to length, unless indicated otherwise. Eemmatal lengths always refer to the lowermost lemma. As with nearly all keys that include grasses, users must correctly determine the presence or absence of rhi- zomes. To help assure this, grasses always should be collected with plenty of material from the base and root crown, as rhizomes of some species can be short or relatively inconspicuous. I thank Rob Soreng for annotating many GREE Poa specimens in 1999. Many Poa specimens at GREE were gifts from Ron Hartman (RM). Support to work on Poaceae in summer of 2007 was provid- ed by the National Science Eoundation (DBI-0237149) to N. Snow. EITERATURE CITED Dorn, R. D. 2001. Vascular Plants of Wyoming. Third Edition. Mountain West Publishing, Cheyenne. Soreng, R. 2007. Poa E. In: Flora of North America (Vol. 24); Magniophyta: Commelinidae (in part): Poaceae, part 1 (pp. 486-601). Editors: M. E. Barkworth, K. M. Capels, S. Eong, E. K. Anderton, M. B. Piep. Oxford University Press: New York, Oxford. Snow, N. 2007 (October). Checklist of Vascular Plants of the South- ern Rocky Mountain Region (Version 2). http://www.southem- rockiesflora.org/checklist/SRMRChecklist_2007_Version2_Pi nal.pdf or http://www.conps.org/pdf/Plant%20Eists/SRM- RChecklist_2007_Version2_Pinal.pdf “Poaceae” continues on page 2 Contents Articles 1-3,11,14-16 Pield trips 4-5 Who’s in the Name? 8-9 Conservation Corner 10-11 Branching Out 9-11 Book Review 7,18 Announcements 12,13,14,17 About the Society 19 Volume 32 Number 1 Spring 2008 Key to Species of Poa 1. Plants annual 2 I. Plants perennial 5 2. Culms bulbous at base; spikelets often viviparous Poa biilbosa L. 2. Culms lacking bulbs at base; spikelets not viviparous 3 3. Callus glabrous, lacking arachnose hairs P. annua L. 3. Callus at least sparsely webbed 4 4. Lower glume much shorter than upper glume P. bolanderi Vasey (expected to enter southwestern CO from UT) 4. Glumes subequal P. bigelovii Vasey & Scribn. 5. Rhizomes present (often inconspicuous in P. tracyi and P fendleriana) 6 5. Rhizomes absent 19 6. Culms strongly flattened P. compressa L. 6. Culms more or less round 7 7. Plants shortly rhizomatous, rhizomes inconspicuous or easily overlooked (sometimes not evident on herbarium specimens) 8 7. Plants with prominent rhizomes (although they may be slender or infrequent) 10 8. Callus webbed with arachnose hairs P. tracyi Vasey 8. Callus glabrous 9 9. Ligules of middle stem leaves 0.2-1. 2(1.5) mm, apex truncate to obtuse P fendleriana (Steud.) Vasey ferulleriana 9. Ligules of middle stem leaves ( 1 .5)1.8-18 mm, apex obtuse to acuminate P fendleriana subsp. longiligula (Scribn. & Williams) Soreng 10 (7). Callus glabrous (or rarely webbed in P. arida) 11 10. Callus hairy (sometimes scantily so) 15 II. Lower leaf sheaths with minute, retrorse (downward pointing) hairs P. wheeleri Vasey 11. Lower leaf sheaths glabrous to hairy but lacking minute, retrorse hairs 12 12. Panicle branches contracted, mostly steeply ascending to erect P arida Vasey 12. Panicle branches divergent to ascending, but not all (or nearly all) steeply ascending to erect 13 13. Branches at base of panicle 1/4 - 1/2 the length of panicle; panicles erect, branches relatively stout; palea sometimes glabrous P arctica R. Br. subsp. aperta (Scribn. & Merr.) Soreng 13. Branches at base of panicle 2/5 - 3/5 the length of panicle; panicles lax to erect, branches slender, flexuous to somewhat stout and straight; palea always haiiy 14 14. Ligules (1)2-4 mm; callus glabrous (do not confuse with base of lemma) P arctica subsp. arctica 14. Ligules (2)3-7 mm; callus webbed P arctica subsp. grayana (Vasey) A. Love, D. Love & B. M. Kapoor 15 (10). Intercostal region (area between nerves) of palea narrow, glabrous or sparsely hispidulous; ligules mostly shorter than 2 mm; glumes naiTowly ovate to ovate; lateral veins of lemma (between midvein and marginal veins) usually glabrous 16 15. Intercostal region of palea broad, usually at least sparsely pubemlent (rai'ely glabrous); ligules mostly longer than 2 mm; glumes ovate to broadly ovate; lateral veins of lemma usually hairy (witli hairs typically shorter than those of midvein and marginal veins) 18 16. Panicle branches more or less scabrous P. pratensis L. subsp. pratensis 16. Panicle branches more or less smooth 1 7 17. Upper surface of leaf blades often at least sparsely hairy; plants occurring to upper montane (below subalpine or higher) P. pratensis subsp. agassizensis (B. Boivin & D. Love) Roy L. Taylor & MacBryde 17. Upper surface of leaf blades usually glabrous; plants of alpine regions P pratensis subsp. alpigena (Lindm. ) Hiitonen 18 (15). Callus webbed, often copiously P. arctica subsp. arctica 18. Callus glabrous, or if webbed then hairs less than 1/4 length of lemma P. arctica subsp. aperta 19 (5). Arachnose hairs present on callus or base of lemma (sometimes sparsely so in P. interior and P. abbreviata) 20 19. Ai'achnose haks absent, although lemma or callus sometimes hairy 29 20. Lower leaf sheaths with short, retrorse (downward pointing) hairs 21 20. Lower leaf sheaths glabrous or hairy but lacking short retrorse hairs 22 Page 2 Aquilegia Volume 32 Number 1 21. Spikelets 3.5 mm or shorter; anthers 1.3-2 mm P. trivialis L. 21 . Spikelets mostly 4 mm or longer; anthers 0.3-1 mm P. occidentalis Vasey 22. Panicle apex nodding; branches open, flexuous 23 22. Panicle apex mostly erect; branches open or closed but not flexuous 25 23. Lower panicle branches distinctly rellexed; lemmas ovate P reflexa Vasey & Scribn. 23. Lower panicle branches spreading but not reflexed; lemmas ovate to narrowly ovate 24 24. Panicles 5-15 cm, branches 1-3(5) per node; florets 3-7 P. leptocoma Trim 24. Panicles (6)12-40 cm, branches 2-7 per node; florets 2-5 P occidentalis Vasey 25 (22). Spikelets flattened (glumes and leimuas with distinct keels); plants of alpine or subalpine 26 25. Spikelets more or less rounded on back; plants mostly lower than subalpine 27 26. Lemma apex beveled to somewhat truncate; culms 8-35 cm; panicle branches 1.5 cm or less; leaf sheaths closed for less than 1/3 of their length; basal branching mostly all or mainly intravaginal P. abbreviata subsp. pattersonii (Vasey) A. Love, D. Love, & B. M. Kapoor 26. Lemma apex acute; culms 5-15(20) cm; panicle branches 1-3(4) cm; leaf sheaths closed for more than 1/3 of their length; basal branching mostly extravaginal or mostly pseudovaginal (not easily distinguished from the previous taxon) P. laxa Haenke subsp. banjfiana Soreng 27 (25). Spikelets 6-10 mm; lemmas 4-6 mm; rachiUa internodes 1.2-2 mm P. stenantha Trin. 27. Spikelets 3-6 mm; lemmas 2-4 mm; rachilla intemodes less than 1 mm 28 28. Plants cespitose, 5-50(80) cm; ligule 0.5- 1.5 mm; lemma 2.4-4 mm; callus hairs normally less than half the length of lemma P interior Rydb. 28. Plants frequently stoloniferous, 25-120 cm; ligule 1.5-6 mm; lemma 2-3 mm; callus hairs normally at least half the length of lemma P. palustris L. 29 (19). Lemmas glabrous, or sometimes unifomily puberulent (short-hairy) 30 29. Lemmas conspicuously hairy on marginal nerves and/or midvein; if pubescent between veins then hairs shorter than those on nerves..34 30. Culms mostly 10 cm or less (will apply also to alpine specimens of P. glauca subsp. rupicola)’, lemmas 2.5-3 mm P. lettennanii Vasey 30. Culms mostly 10 cm or more; lemmas 3 mm or longer 3 1 31. Spikelets rounded 32 31. Spikelets distinctly compressed (distal portions of glumes and or lemmas keeled) 33 32. Lemmas mostly glabrous or the veins sometimes sparsely hairy neai‘ base; leaves firm to slightly lax P. secunda J. Presl var, juncifo I ia (Scribn.) Soreng 32. Lemmas sparsely to densely hairy in basal 2/3; leaves withering with age P. secunda subsp. secunda 33. Panicle branches glabrous to slightly scabrous; stem blades more than 1.5 imn wide, often flat; lemma and caUus sometimes sparse- ly short-hairy; flowers pistillate P. cusickii subsp. epilis (Scribn.) C. L. Hitchc. 33. Panicle branches moderately to strongly scabrous; stem blades less than 1.5 mm wide, usually involute; lemma and callus glabrous; flowers bisexual P. cusickii subsp. pallida (Soreng) Dorn 34 (29). Callus with arachnose hairs 35 34. Callus glabrous 36 35. Plants mostly less than 15 cm; ligules sparsely to densely scabrous; anthers 1.2-2. 5 mm P. glauca Vahl subsp. glauca 35. Plants mostly greater than 15 cm; ligules glabrous; anthers 0.6-1. 2(1. 8) mm P. abbreviata subsp. pattersonii 36. Panicle broad at base, some branches divergent to reflexed P. alpina L. 36. Panicle narrow at base, all (or most) branches ascending to nearly erect 37 37. Lenmias 4-6 mm; anthers mostly 0. 1-0.2 mm (rarely 2-3 mm); plants green; basal branching intravaginal; sheaths closed for 1/4 to 3/4 of their length; blades mostly less than 1 mm wide when fresh P. x nematophylla Rydb. 37. Lemmas 2.5-4 mm; anthers 1. 2-2.5 mm; plants usually glaucous; basal branching all (or nearly so) extravaginal; sheaths closed for 1/10 to 1/5 of their length; blades mostly > 1 mm wide when fresh P. glauca subsp. rupicola (Nash) W. A. Weber Neil Snow is a research botanist at Bishop Museum, 1525 Bernice Street, Honolulu, HI 9681 7 or neil.snow@bishopmuseum.org. Volume 32 Number 1 Aquilegia Pages 2008 Field Trips Denver Botanic Gardens Saturday, May 17, 2008 Last summer a handful of CoNPS members strolled through Den- ver Botanic Gardens (DBG) at the tail end of the spring flowering season. The variety of native plants habitats and gardens were so various and appealing that many expressed an interest in the Gar- dens earlier in the season: here is YOUR chance to see the largest variety of Rocky Mountain and Great Plains’ plants in cultivation anywhere (we think!) at their height of spring bloom. Panayoti Kelaidis, Director of Outreach at DBG, will lead us through dozens of outstanding gardens, many of which feature Colorado native plants to exclusion: expect to see a wide spectrum of pen- stemons and columbines, of course, but there is likely to be every- thing from broomrape (Orobanche) in a trough garden to obscure Astragalus in the native dryland gardens. This is a magical time of year at the Gardens... don't miss this walk! Contact: Panayoti Kelaidis at KelaidiP(a)botanicgardens.org, or 720-865-3604. Diversity of Lichens Under Foot and Overhead Sunday, May 18, 2008 9:00 AM Ann Henson will lead this field trip exploring a small world of wonderful colors and textures that is often noticed, but not “seen”! We will find the basic types of lichens in several different environments. Learn a little about the life styles of the likable lichens, including sex and the single lichen. Your next brown bag consumed while perched on a rock will be just a little more inter- esting. Expect moderate walking at multiple sites. Bring hand lens and lunch, we will be out all day. Meet in Lyons (15 minutes north of Boulder) at Bohn Park, located off of 2nd Avenue south of Hwy. 36 ( Main St.). We will then carpool. This is limited to 12 people. Please contact Ann Henson at 2henson(a)kwabena.us or 303-772-8962. Discover a living, green pharmacy up North Crestone Canyon Sunday, June 8, 2008 10:00 AM Anti-biotics, anti-microbials, anti-virals, all without the side effects of prescription medication, are to be found all around you. Ethnob- otany is the way different cultures use plants, whether for medici- nals, tools, or food. Eind out about the wealth we have in our own back yards. Meet at the North Crestone trailhead, where we should return around 1 :00 pm. Bring water, bug repellent, and a sack lunch. Eor more information or directions to the North Crestone trailhead, call Linda Spade at 719-256-5083 or biscuit_root(a)yahoo.com. Two Buttes, Prowers County Saturday, June 28, 2008 Colorado Natural Areas Program (CNAP) staff will lead a trip to Two Buttes, a distinct landform on the eastern slope. Two Buttes has a population of the rare Frasera coloradensis (Colorado Gen- tian). This area was partially surveyed in 2007, when several occurrences were found. However, before designating this private property a state Natural Area, CNAP needs complete rare plant mapping to assure protection of this rare wildflower. Help map this beautiful Colorado endemic and check out the flora in this rarely visited part of the state. Contact Brian Kurzel at 303-866- 3203 ext. 301 orbrian.kurzel(a)state.co.us. Mount Goliath Natural Area Service Day & Tour Eriday, July 11, 2008 Join Denver Botanic Gardens staff as they continue their efforts to revegetate and restore high altitude ecosystems at the Dos Chappel Nature Center on Mt. Goliath. This is an opportunity to spend some time in beau- tiful subalpine and alpine environments, while providing much-needed service to restore the pris- tine nature of this site. Included in this trip will be a tour of the Nature Center and a guided hike along the interpretive trail. Contact Mark Fusco at fuscom(a)botanicgardens.org, or 720-865-3586. Akene (http://etc.usf.edu/clipart) Fens of South Park, Park County Saturday, July 12 Join Steve Yarbrough for another full day of exploring fen wet- lands of South Park. The trip will begin with a hoped for stop at Eremont Een, if permission is granted by the landowner. We will spend much of the rest of the day in and around High Creek Een, an important Colorado Natural Area and Nature Conservancy property. The day will feature many rare plants including Primula egaliksensis, Carex scirpoidea, Carex livida, Trichophorum pumil- ium, Packera pauciflora, Ptilagrostis porteri, Sisyrinchium pal- lidum, and Salix Candida. There will be discussion of fen hydroge- ology, soils, chemistry, and conservation issues. Additional fens may be visited in the area if time allows and if there is significant interest. To register, contact Steve Yarbrough at 303-250-5542 or westernecological(a)msn.com. Page 4 Aquilegia Volume 32 Number 1 2008 Field Trips Rocky Mountain National Park Saturday, August 2, 2008 We will meet at the Rocky Mountain National Park Visitor Center west of Estes Park (Hwy. 36), on the east slope of the Park. This trip, led by Steve Yarborough, will be similar to a trip CONPS sponsored in July 2006. We will work with a Rocky Mountain National Park Service restoration biologist to assist the park in a restoration project involving native plants. The trip will also offer a chance to see the Park’s greenhouse, and nursery, and discuss the exotic plant program. More information and details about this trip can be obtained from Steve Yarbrough at 303-250-5542 or west- ernecological@msn.com. Geneva Basin Iron Fen Saturday, August 9, 2008 7 :00 AM Geneva Basin Iron Fen is a Colorado Natural Area, preserved for its rare community type (an iron fen), unusual geologic processes (formation of limonite), and rare plant species {Sphagnum girgon- sohnia). It is located near the continental divide west of Guanella Pass, two hours from Denver. The last five miles are 4-wheel drive road. There are six separate fen sites, but all are located within a mile. In the iron fens, there is mostly sphagnum moss, with other mosses and sedges. There are many small, braided, shallow stream channels. The elevation is 11,000 feet, so it is common to have afternoon shower storms. This trip is limited to 12. Please bring waterproof boots that can take walking in 4” to 6” of water, jacket and raincoat. Meet in the REI parking lot at 5375 S. Wadsworth Blvd, about 1/2 block south of Belleview Ave., on the west side of Wadsworth in Eakewood. For more information, contact Dave Bathke at 303-232-1865 or dibathke@juno.com. Rough Creek Iron Fen Research August 16th - 17th, 2008 Janet Potter and Gay Austin will lead a backpacking trip five miles into the Rough Creek Iron Fen in the FaGarita Wilderness to look for rare plants, mosses, and lichens! Contact Janet Potter at potter5231ake@yahoo.com or Gay Austin at austinaceae@fron- tier.net or 970-641-6264 for more information and registration. Native Seed Collections with Wildlands Restoration Volunteers (WRV) Multiple dates and times to be announced. Many land restoration projects depend on precious hand collected native seed because purchased seeds are either unavailable, too expensive, or not an acceptable match to the local native species ecotypes. WRV will collect native seed on at least nine dates between June and October: eight evening projects and one full-day project are planned. During these seed collection sessions, volun- teers will hand collect a variety of species, including grasses, sedges, and some wildflowers and other forbs. These seeds will be multiplied agriculturally by an inter-government agency partner- ship. This process increases (100 or 1000 fold) the amount of locally adapted grass seed that is available for revegetation pro- jects on local public lands. Seed collection is more than a series of volunteer projects. It’s a program to develop a pipeline for gather- ing, multiplying, and distributing native seed for important restora- tion projects. Between 25 and 40 volunteers are needed per event. Please check conps/boulder.org and wlrv.org for updates. Contact John Giordanengo (Projects Director) atjohn@wlrv.org or 303- 543-1411; let him know you are with CONPS. More field trips may be organized, so check www.conps.org for updates. Poa arida USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database/ Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. An illustrated flora of the northern United States, Canada and the British Possessions. Vol. 1 : 260. Volume 32 Number 1 Aquilegia Page 5 Branching Out Phyllotaxis by Dick Yeatts Upon reading the interesting and timely article by Leo Bruederle (Vol. 31 No. 4 Aquilegia Winter 2007) his use of the words “phyllotaxis,” “alternate,” and “opposite” in the same sentence caught my attention. Phyllotaxis (literally “leaf arrangement”) has come to refer to the full three-dimensional description of the struc- tural morphology of plants, from root tip to flowering stalk. The terms “alternate” and “opposite” come from viewing a plant on a herbarium sheet. Taxonomists, it seems, tend to describe plants more superficially. In temperate climes, branching (of leaves, stems, etc.) is usually one of two types: spi- ral or decussate. In spiral phyllotaxis (usu- ally described as alternate) branching fol- lows a helical pattern with an approximate- ly constant angle (divergence) between successive branches. For a remarkable number of taxa (close to 90 percent), the divergence is close to the “golden angle,” approximately 137.5°. In decussate phyl- lotaxis, (usually described as opposite), two branches occur at a node, across the stem from one another, with successive pairs at a right angle to one another. Think of Penste- mon or Sheperdia. (Decussate, literally “cross-shaped,” refers to the appearance of the branches when viewed down the stem.) As Leo points out, “phyllotaxis provides one of the most useful characters for the identification of plants,...”. Decussate phyllotaxis is easily noted, thus particular- ly diagnostic. But the specifics of spiral phyllotaxis can also be important. To develop this point I must digress... For those of us who are interested in the mathematics, it is important to realize that phyllotaxis is born of Fibonacci numbers and bred of simple arithmetic. (Fibonacci Fibonacci numbers in plant branching. (www.goldennumber.net) numbers form the sequence 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, etc. in which each number is the sum of the preceding two numbers, starting with the pair of ones.) What is amazing is that most divergences are related to the frac- tions formed of alternate Fibonacci num- bers: that is 1/2, 1/3, 2/5, 3/8, 5/13, etc. Now, 1/2 implies a divergence of 180°, with branches occurring in a plane alter- nately across the stem; distichous is the technical term. For example, consider the leaflets relative to the rachis on Fabaceae. And 1/3 implies an angle of 120°; consider the three-fold symmetry of Liliaceae. In the field, it’s easy to determine the divergence. Select two branches (or two leaves along a branch or two leaflets along a rachis) growing in the same direction. Count the number of branches from one to the other (skipping the starting branch), call that number N; also note the number of revolutions around the stem from start to finish, call this M. The fraction is M/N (called the phyllotactic ratio) times 360° is the divergence. The higher Fibonacci fractions 2/5, 3/8, 5/13, etc. can also be diagnostic. Most Rosaceae, for example, are characterized by the fraction 2/5; many Salicaceae by 3/8. Such fractions must be thought of as population averages and not individual characters. From my experience, phyllotac- tic ratios greater than 3/8 cannot be reliably measured in the field. In general, one must always seek new growth for measurement, because environmental effects quickly con- found genetic tendencies. Indeed, micro- scopic examination of plant initials (newly differentiated plant parts containing just a few cells) exhibit incipient branching at near mathematical precision. It is important to understand that as the phyllotactic ratios get higher and higher, their values gets closer and closer to the golden ratio. For comparison, the phyllotac- tic ratio 3/8 corresponds to a divergence of 3/8x360°=135°, and 5/13x360°=138.5°. Golden Ratio (3-V5)/2! Golden angle (3W5)/2x360‘’=!l37.5‘’ The observant reader may have noted that decussate branching implies a diver- gence of 90°, thus the phyllotactic ratio 1/4. But 4 is not a Fibonacci number. Indeed, many non-Fibonaccian phyllotax- es have been observed. Tropical plants, in particular, are extremely variable. Generally speaking, the term for “number of branches at a node” is jugacy, a word derived from “paired at a yoke, like oxen.” Decussate branching is called dijugate; three branches at anode is trijugate. Galium triflorum, for example, is hexajugate. My own studies find that in many species (e.g. Yucca glauca and Verbascum thapus), the divergence is preserved throughout all above-ground parts up through the inflores- cence. One can argue that golden angle phyllotaxis is favored, evolutionarily. Page 6 Aquilegia Volume 32 Numberl because that divergence offers maximum separa- tion of branches; the evolutionary truth of this is not proven. Furthermore, no evolutionary advan- tage has been proposed for decussate branching. It must be realized that any particular character need not provide survival selective advantage, but be merely an artifact of other characters that do offer evolutionary advantage. For field identification, phyllotaxis must be considered just another tool. For those of us with a mathematical bend, looking at the quantitative aspects of plant morphology, especially the three-dimensional structure of plants, provides an exciting prospect, or at least another way to Fibonacci num- bers are also noticable in flowers, (www.golden- numbers.net) enjoy plants. For those who want more... The text Phyllotaxis by Roger V. Jean, Cambridge University Press, 1994, is the bible; albeit heavy on the math. On Growth and Form by d’Arcy W. Thompson, Dover Publications, 1992, (originally published by Cambridge Press, 1942) is a classic, but somewhat out-dated. Chapters on phyllotaxis can be found in nearly every book devoted to Fibonacci numbers and the golden ratio; there are many, many of these; check any library, the inter- net, or Amazon.com. Fascinating Fibonaccis by Trudi H. Garland, Dale Seymour Publications, 1987, is written for school kids, but covers all aspects of “Fibonacci” in an easily accessible manner. Plant Form by Adrian D. Bell, Oxford University Press, 1991, is an excellent illustrated guide to flowering plant morphology. Dick Yeatts is a CONPS member. He can be con- tacted at 1395 Nile Street, Golden, CO 80401. BOOK REVIEW by Jan Loechell Turner Bringing Nature Home: How Native Plants Sustain Wildlife in Our Gardens. By Douglas Tallamy. Portland, OR: Timber Press, 2007. Although written by a scientist (Tallamy is Professor and Chair of the Depart- ment of Entomology at the University of Delaware, Newark), Bringing Nature Home is written in a popular style that will appeal to both gardeners and scientists. This is an ideal book for native plant lovers who value interesting facts and sta- tistics to support their arguments for the importance of native plants in the gar- den. Tallamy demonstrates the impact our gardening choices can have on the survival of insects and wildlife. He is a strong advocate for the important role our yards can play in sustaining biodiversity and creating important habitats for native plants and animals. Although this book is not specifically about native plants in Colorado, the message in this book is applicable anywhere. Tallamy warns that unless we restore our yards to a more native-friendly and nature- friendly environment, the future of biodiversity in our country is bleak. Topics covered in the book include the importance of suburban gardens to the ecosystem, why insects can’t eat alien plants, and the native gardening needs of birds, butterflies, and other wildlife. Although the book is geared to gardeners of the mid- Atlantic region, the concepts addressed apply to all gardeners and some of the plant genera discussed occur in our region. One chapter, “What does bird food look like?,” is devoted to insects representing a number of different orders and families and contains a large collection of color photographs of the insects. A fascinating table in the book, “Hosting capacity of alien plants introduced to North America,” contrasts the number of herbivores supported in the land of ori- gin or homeland to those supported in North America. Examples include Clema- tis vitalba (40 species in its homeland, one species in North America), Opuntia ficus-indica (16 in its homeland, no species in North America), and Phragmites australis (170 in its homeland and only five species in North America). Tallamy ’s philosophy is that by understanding nature, we can better appreciate it and the interconnections of plants, animals, and the environment. Bringing Nature Home is based on scientific research and contains an extensive list of references. Jan Loechell Turner works at Regis University and is the CONPS Research Grants Committee Chair and Co-President. Jan is also our source for great book reviews. Do you buy from Amazon? Don’t forget that the Colorado Native Plant Society will receive 7% of your purchase price IF YOU ENTER AMAZON THROUGH THE CoNPS WEB SITE BOOKSTORE: www.conps.org/bookstore.html . Volume 32 Number 1 Aquilegia Page 7 WHO ’S IN THAT NAME? William Weber by Al Schneider Throughout 2008, Aquilegia will publish “A Discussion with Dr. William Weber.” If you have further questions, contact Al Schneider at webmaster(a)conps.org. Dr. Weber will answer your questions on the CoNPS website Botanical News page. Dr. Weber, why did you choose botany rather than history or zoology, for example, as your field of greatest interest? I became a naturalist at the age of four or five, when, as a sickly child suffering from an enlarged heart, rheumatic fever, la grippe, lice, and prone to accidents, I was restricted to playing indoors on the floor with Lin- coln Logs and tin soldiers. I had as my chief reading the wonderful Book of Knowledge bookshelf. Seeing I was in trouble, my cousin F. Martin Brown, a self-made naturalist who eventually became a specialist in butterflies and professor at Fountain Valley School near Colorado Springs, gave me a small German tubular microscope and showed me how to make hay infusions to study submicroscopic aquatic ani- mals, and he gave me some of his micro- scope slides of insect structures. In the early thirties I was introduced simul- taneously to ornithology and botany. The advent of field study of birds brought lasting friendships with a young Roger Peterson and other members of the Bronx County Bird Club, coinciding with my introduction to botany by a Venezuelan friend, Jose Antonio Jove (trees and shrubs in winter condition) and a mentor, Helene Lunt, of the New York Botanical Garden, plus the unwit- ting gift of a Gray's Manual of Botany by a high school teacher, Mr. Mortenson, who had to buy the book in college, but never cracked it. I chose botany because I could not afford to go to Cornell, the only univer- sity that featured ornithology. I had lots of mentors. They included my high school teachers, Grace Esternaux and Alma Ericson. Mrs. Ethel Timonier, who lived in a next-door apartment, took me to Photo by Jan Turner Beaded lanyard by Betty Schneider Knowing smile by Bill Weber the American Museum on Saturdays where I had the run of the place. Years later I learned that she was editor of the Museum Novitates. I was also invited to meetings of the New York Einnean Society, and got to know and to listen to lectures from all of the famous zoological personalities of the time, especially Ernst Mayr and Bill Vogt. I started the Sialis Bird Club in 1931; there are four of us left, all still avid birders! We were mentors to each other! What do you feel were the seminal moments in your life? Of course, meet- ing Sammie in a bird study class at Iowa State in 1938. Everything else developed through the course of our marriage of over 50 years, and our children have been a real blessing. The really seminal moment, apart from all of the mentors that provided others, was the day when my high school German teacher, Eraulein Stamm, assigned me a pen pal in Holstein. We were matched because our fathers were both phar- macists. He belonged to the Hitler Jugend, but this was never dis- cussed, since at the time it was regarded as a sort of Boy Scouts. My knowledge of reading and writing the old German Script led directly to my graduate work at Pullman, Wash- ington, where my job was to tran- scribe, decipher the field notebooks, and type labels of about 40,000 specimens of Wilhelm N. Suksdorf, the most important of all plant col- lectors in Washington. [Editor's Note: The following is from a biography of Suksdorf published in 1998 by Rhoda Eove and presently being reprinted in the Botanical Electronic Newsletter (http://www.ou.edu/cas /botany- micro/ben/)] “In the early 1940s [a young Masters stu- dent, William A. Weber, was assigned] the task of determining Suksdorf s [collecting] sites and itineraries. Weber did a splendid job which should be applauded now and for- ever by anyone concerned with the flora of Washington. [He] combined the skills of a Page 8 Aquilegia Volume 32 Number 1 detective [and] cryptographer.... The result is that we now know the locations of virtual- ly all of Suksdorf’s sites. . . . Weber provided a chronological day by day itinerary of all of Suksdorf s collecting forays in Iowa, Cali- fornia, Washington, Oregon, and Mon- tana... from 1872 to 1929. Weber's was a singular and very important achievement”. How has your understanding of Col- orado botany been influenced by your studies of world botany? When I began to study lichens, I recognized that many of our species seemed to be identical to those collected in the Gobi Desert by the great explorer Sven Hedin. My need to compare these with his collections at Uppsala took me to Europe in 1957. There I got to know Professors Hulten, Rolf Santesson, Hugo Magnusson, and Einar DuRietz, all of whom influenced my world view of flow- ering plant, lichen, and bryophyte distribu- tion. My transfer in 1962 from the Biology Department to the Museum freed me to travel to many parts of the world, where I was invited by scientists who needed my expertise. And of course, my rediscovery of the Middle Asiatic Colorado floristic elements noted by J.D. Hooker in 1877 led to two field seasons in the Altai Mountains of southern Siberia. [See Bill Weber’s “Middle Asian Element in the Southern Rocky Mountain Elora of the Western United States” on-line at http://spot.col- orado.edu/~weberw/phyto.pdf ] [As I had recognized the similarities among world populations of lichen, so] I had similar experiences with the vascular flora. Stellaria irrigua, common on talus slopes in southwestern Colorado and northern New Mexico, was described from the Altai Mountains of southern Siberia (and is still known from there only by the type collection!). The genus Ptilagrostis, in South Park, was represented in Altai as well, by our own species, P. porteri. I spent two summers in the Altai collect- ing with Russian botanists and made many more discoveries. Our own common Artemisia frigida is the most common species in Altai, and we share many species of Carex with the Russians. Angelica ampla, a southern Rocky Mountain endem- ic, is in the Altai under the name of Angeli- ca decurrens. Claytonia megarhiza has a counterpart in Altai, Claytonia joanneana\ Primula parryi has a counterpart there. Primula altaica. Eriophorum altaicum of the Altai occurs in the San Juans. And Thal- ictrum heliophilum, described as a new species from Anvkil Point, is the Einnean species, Thalictrum foetidum, which is common in the Altai on limestone talus. If you look up the species on Google images you can see the actual specimen described by Einnaeus. But this Thalictrum is not an introduced weed, but a Tertiary relict! Among the mosses, Oreas martiana is common in the Indian Peaks area, but extremely rare and scattered in Alaska, Greenland, and the Alps. Catascopium nigritum is mostly Arctic, but reaches its southern limits on both continents, jump- ing to Colorado and western China. Anoectangium handelii was described in 1913 from Turkish Kurdistan. Didy- modon anserinocapitatus was described only recently in 1981 from Yunnan, China. Both occur in the Hall Ranch Open Space. Orthotrichum hallii, described from Colorado, occurs in the Tien Shan. The lichens have a simi- lar history, with species too numerous to mention. Can- delariella spraguei was thought to be a Colorado endemic, but has now been found in Tien Shan. Gypso- placa macrophylla is restricted to gyp- sum in western Colorado and Utah, but was described from China. And Alloce- traria stracheyi, extremely rare in our alpine areas, was first described from the Himalaya. Incidentally, Mr. Strachey visited Colorado in 1887 with Gray and J.D. Hooker! In short, our Middle Asiatic element is simply a high altitude and desert compo- nent of the famous Arcto-Tertiary Elora introduced by Asa Gray himself. But he did not know about this component, while Hooker, who was here with Gray for five days, was overwhelmed by the “Asian- ness,” since he knew the Middle Asian flora intimately! Bill is revising his Colorado Floras and welcomes comments on past editions. Send to bill.weber@colorado.edu. Primula parryi Margaret Williams @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database Volume 32 Number 1 Aquilegia Page 9 “Rare Plant Initiative: Saving Colorado’s Wildflowers” Taking Plant Conservation to a New Level The Colorado Rare Plant Initiative (RPI), a partnership with rep- resentatives from 14 federal and state agencies, institutions, and non-profit organizations, has been formed to take conseiwation of native rare plants in Colorado to a new level. The formation of this initiative will help in reducing redundancy of efforts by vari- ous agencies by developing a coordinated strategy, prioritizing needs, and taking action to address increasing threats to native rare plants. This project will focus on long-term on-the-ground conservation of the most imperiled plant species on both private and public lands across Colorado. Over 75% of Colorado’s imperiled species are plants. The Col- orado Natural Heritage Program (CNHP) tracks over 500 plant species. At least 115 plant species are critically imperiled or imperiled in Colorado (G1-G2), and another 109 are vulnerable to extinction (G3). The majority of these species are poorly con- served. Fifty-three of these are endemic to the state, occurring nowhere else in the world. The graph below (provided by CNHP) shows a comparison of listed and unlisted globally imperiled species in Colorado. Threats to Colorado’s rare plant species are at an all time high. Fragmentation and loss of habitat is one of the primary threats to plant species and their habitats; Colorado's natural ecosystems ai'e being developed at a rapid rate. Imminent threats, such as residen- tial and commercial development, energy development, motor- ■ F^rally listed □ Unlisted Over 75% of Colorado’s imperiled species are plants. ized recreation, and invasive species, are increasingly impacting Colorado's native plant species. Climate change poses an even greater threat. The Colorado Rare Plant Initiative was formed to address these conservation needs. The vision of the RPI is to conserve Colorado’s most imperiled native plant species and their habitats for future generations’ enjoyment, and benefit thiough a collaborative partnership effort with public and private landowners. Specific goals are to: 1 . establish a coordinated statewide plant conservation program supported by a broad group of partners and decision-makers; 2. work with land management agencies to secure on-the- ground protection for rare plant species and their habitats through education, analysis of threats, and development of solutions to accommodate multiple land use objectives; 3. work with willing private landowners to secure on-the- ground protection for rare plant species and their habitats thi'ough cooperative, voluntai'y, and incentive-based actions; 4. create and maintain long-term funding mechanisms that sup- port rare plant conservation and reseai'ch. With the help of funding from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) and matching grants from the Colorado Native Plant Society and other partner organizations the following work plan has been formed to achieve the goals of this initiative. Phase 1 : Strategy and Prioritization o Develop collaborative statewide plant conservation strategy with partners. o Develop methods and products to prioritize plants needing conservation action. 0 Develop statewide list of priority species/sites needing con- servation action. o Initiate development of best management practices. Phase 2: Action Plans and Initiate Protection o Develop five rapid action plans for priority landscapes sup- porting imperiled plants with partners, o Gather information for priority pai'cels . o Initiate protection for 3-5 highest priority species on private lands needing conservation action, o Develop template for best management practices. Page 10 Aquilegia Volume 32 Number 1 Phase 3: Best Management Practices and Outreach o Develop best management practices for two imper- iled plants near Debeque. o Develop outreach plan and materials, o Disseminate materials and obtain external support for statewide plant conservation, o Complete NFWF final report. Initiative partners met October 26, 2007 to address team structure and priority actions, and identify next steps. Strategy and priority action teams have been formed. The strategy team will develop a statewide plant conservation strategy to conserve Colorado’s imperiled plant species, addressing methods to reach key audi- ences, particularly decision makers, and address legisla- tive and funding needs. The priority action team will identify plant species conservation needs and prioritize future work. The next meeting is scheduled for April 16. The key partners of this initiative are: Betty Ford Alpine Gardens, Bureau of Land Management, Center for Native Ecosystems, Colorado Department of Agri- culture, Colorado Department of Transportation, Col- orado Natural Areas Program, Colorado Natural Her- itage Program, Colorado Native Plant Society, Colorado Open Lands, Denver Botanic Gardens, The Nature Con- servancy, University of Colorado Denver Biology Department, University of Colorado Herbarium, US Fish and Wildlife Service, and US Forest Service. Other groups are welcome and encouraged to participate in this important and exciting effort! For more information about the Colorado Rare Plant Initiative, please contact Betsy Neely (Senior Conserva- tion Planner, The Nature Conservancy) at bneeiy(a)tnc.org or 720-974-7015 or Susan Spackman Panjabi (Botanist, Colorado Natural Heritage Program) at spack(a) lamar.colostate.edu or 970-491-2992. CONPS Members’ Survey: Preliminary Results by Charlie and Jan Turner In December and eaily January, paper copies of the CONPS members’ survey were mailed to members and an online version was made available on the CONPS website (www.conps.org), with a link to the survey at the top of the home page. The response has been outstanding. Over 30% of members had responded by mid- January, which is high. We would like to shai'e with Society members a summary of the initial results of the survey. Opportunities to learn about native plants and field trips are especially valued by members. Friendship with people of similar interests, local and state meetings that include speakers and presentations, and opportunities to learn about gardening with native plants are also considered important. The Aquilegia newsletter is highly valued, with 98% of members read- ing it. Features of the newsletter that are most enjoyed by its readers are articles, scheduling of upcoming chapter events, and book reviews. Over 66% of members use the web site, with chapter activities and infonnation about native plants being most valued. Plant lists, Colorado botanical news, and the online bookstore were also popular. In describing their interest in native plants, the highest percentage of members (85%) responded that they are interested in the relation- ship of plants, animals, insects, and the environment. A high per- centage of CONPS members are hikers, a large number like to read about native plants, and many consider themselves environmental- ists and conservationists. Seventy-five percent of members want CONPS to offer guides to gar- dening witli local native plants and 52% would like to have plant sales. Many survey participants filled out the comments sections and sugges- tions included requests for more field trips, gai'den tours, less technical workshops and field trips, and more native plant gardening information. Although 86% of members felt that they were welcomed into the Soci- ety, 14% did not. There were some excellent suggestions to improve this including introductions at meetings, name tags, a welcome gift (flower photo), list of people in their area, and mentors. One of our top priorities will be to make sure everyone feels welcomed. Survey results are providing valuable information that will help the Directors, Chapter Presidents, and Committee Chairs to make decisions in accord with the opinions expressed by members. Thank you to everyone who has taken time to complete the survey. A more comprehensive sum- mary of the survey results will be published in the next issue of Aquilegia. Charlie and Jan Turner are Co-Presidents of the CONPS. Volume 32 Number 1 Aquilegia Page 11 Society Announcements Education and Outreach Opportunity Echter's Greenhouse, Garden Center, Nursery and Patio and the CONPS Education and Outreach Committee invite members to attend Echter's 12th Annual Spring Gardening Echxpo on March 7-9, 2008. Echter's Echxpo, the largest gardening event of its kind in Colorado, is designed to educate and entertain the entire fami- ly! Seminars and demonstrations provide a wealth of gardening “know-how,” information and inspiration from experts in all areas of gardening. CONPS will again be on-hand to educate Echter’s customers on Col- orado’s native flora and our society. This is a great opportunity to share your passion by enlightening others on the wonders of native plants. Please contact Megan Bowes at 303-561-4883 or bowesm@boulder- colorado.gov if you'd like to volunteer for the CONPS booth ... or just stop by and enjoy the se min ars and demonstrations! 2008 Annual Meeting Montrose, Colorado Reserve September 5-7, 2008 to attend the Annual Meeting of the Society. Friday the 5th is the rare plants day, Friday evening will be a welcome reception, Saturday the 6th will be presentations focusing on the meeting theme of “Flora of the Adobe Hills.” Sunday will be devoted to field trips. Meeting details will be in the next Aquilegia and will be adapted on the CONPS web page as they become available. CONPS Needs Computers, printers, monitors, or scanners. If someone has one of the above items to donate, please contact Jan or Charlie Turner at turner@rabbitbrushpublishing.com or 720-497-1093. Key to the Potentillas of Colorado Oftentimes m the course of prepaiing workshops, the presenters develop their own keys for the particular plant group. The key developed by Richard Scully for the recent Potentilla workshop is now posted as a pdf file on the CONPS web site. A link to the key can be found in several places: “Whafs New,” “Plant Lists and Keys,” or “Workshops.” Research Grants Committee is pleased to announce the grant recipients for 2007 STEINKAMP AWARDS Carol English, University of Colorado Denver. Pollination biolo- gy and population genetics study of the rare Colorado endem- ic, Penstemon degeneri. Steinkamp $1,000. Denise Wilson, University of Colorado at Denver, Epipactis gigantea - a pollination study. Steinkamp $500 MARK AWARDS Diana Jolles, Ohio State University, Columbus. The biogeogra- phy and phylogenetics of the Pyrola picta species complex. Marr $800. Katie M. Becklin, University of Missouri Columbia. Do mycor- rhizal associations affect the invasibility of alpine willow com- munities? Marr $1,000. Web Site Be sure to check the “Botanical News” page at www.conps.org for daily news, information and updates about botanical research, jobs, new books, conferences, endangered species actions, etc. Chapter activities are also listed on each chapter’s web page. Webmaster, A1 Schneider, is soliciting volunteer(s) to give a few hours a year adding to lists of botanical books to the “Bookstore” web page, submitting botanical news for posting on the “Botani- cal News” page, and sending in their favorite botanical links for publication on the “Links” page. Contact A1 at 970-882-4647 or webmaster@conps.org for details. Society Award Nominations The Board of Directors of the Colorado Native Plant Society presents awards to those who have contributed to Colorado botany and to the Colorado Native Plant Society. The Board of Directors is now soliciting additional nominations for these awards. See details about the awards on our web site at; www.conps.org/botanical_news.html. Email nominations to Vice- President A1 Schneider at webmaster@conps.org. Eighteenth High Altitude Revegetation Workshop Fort Collins March 4-6, 2008 sponsored by CSU and High Altitude Re vegetation Committee More informa- tion call 970 491-7501 or http://www.highaltitudereveg.org/ Page 12 Aquilegia Volume 32 Number 1 2007 Donors Annette Miller Barry Levene Betsy Neeley Bruce Bosley Candace Galen Charles Baker Cheryl Brooks Crystal Yates-White D.W. Bench Dale Sutherland Dana Price David Buckner David Steingraeber Denise Culver Denise Larson Dina Claik Donald Parker Donna Emmons Elaine Hill Eleanor VonBargen Elizabeth Otto Ellen Bauder Ellen Mayo Emily Haitman Eric Rechel Ernest Marx Frances Fraser Gay Austin Gillian Collins Hazel Tuttle Herbert Probasco Ivo Lindauer Jackson Dennis James Dryer James Tranunell Jan Turner Janet Klemperer Jeffrey Uhlich Jennifer Ramp-Neale Joan Sapp Joe Cahn John Brink John Webb Julia Auckland Lawrence Howard Robins Leo P. Bi-uederle M J Renth Mary Lou Rottman Matt Schweich Melissa Landon Michael Mayer Nancy Phillips Neal Osborn Pat Ploegsma Patricia Saito Peter Root Priscilla Spears Randall Lentz Richard Beidleman Richard Scully Robert Parish Ronald Bice Rosalind Reed Assoc RVT Davenport Sandy Righter Sarada Krishnan Sue Kamal Sue Martin Tamara Naumann Tim Hogan Trudy Joy Eldridge Warren Hern 2007 Donations John Marr Fund Myma P. Steinkamp Fund General Contributions Fund Total $1,177.00 $5,275.00 $698.00 $7,150.00 Chapter Announcements Boulder Chapter Boulder Chapter meetings are typically held on the second Thursday of each month (Autumn through Spring) at 7:00 PM. Meet at the Community Room in the center of the REl Store at 1789 28th Street, between Canyon and Pearl, in Boulder. For more information, visit www.conps.org or contact Chapter President Deby Stabler at 303-902-4679 or debystabler@yahoo.com. Help make 2008 zero waste and brmg your own cup and plate. March 13 Ten Years of Restoring Boulder's Wildlands April 10 Rare Plant Initiative: Saving Colorado's Wildflowers May 8 Native Plant Hike and Picnic Metro-Denver Chapter Monthly meetings of the Metro-Denver Chapter are typically held on the fourth Tuesday of the month (October through May) at 7:00 PM. Meet in the Waring House, just south of the main entrance to the Denver Botanic Garden. For more information, visit www.conps.org or contact Chapter Co- Presidents Megan Bowes and Vickey Trammell at vickey4conps@hot- mail.com or 303-795-5843. February 26 Colorado Native Plant Master Program March 25 Successes & Challenges of High Altitude Revegetation April 22 Colorado’s High Botanical Peaks May 27 Chapter Field Trip Northern Colorado Chapter Northern Chapter meetings are typically held the first Wednesday of the month (Oct- April) at 7:00 PM. Meet at the Gardens on Spring Creek, 2145 Centre Ave., Fort Collins Prior to meetings, members meet at 5:30 PM for dinner with the speaker at Cafe Vino, 1200 S College Ave. Please join us. For more information, visit www.conps.org or contact Chapter President Denise Culver at 970-491-2998 or Denise.Culver@colostate.edu. March 13* Colorado Bark Beetle Interactions with Their Host Trees and Birds (^Thursday) April 2 America's Lost Landscape: The Tallgrass Prairie Southeast Chapter Activities for the Southeast Chapter are scheduled throughout the year and are often held in Colorado Springs at the Beidleman Environmental Center on Caramillo Street, north of Uintah, off Chestnut. For more information, visit www.conps.org; or contact Liz Klein at 719-635-5927 or elizaklein@gmail.com, Elsie Pope at 719-596-4901, or Doris Drisgill at 719-578-1091 or 719-322-3902. The Chapter is recruiting for the office of President. “Chapter Announcements” continues on page 17 Volume 32 Number 1 Aquilegia Page 13 A Fifteen Year Inventory of Vascular Plants in Golden Gate Canyon State By Stanley Smookler and Linda Senser GGCSP lies within the Front Range, 13 miles west of Golden via Golden Gate Canyon Road. With an area greater than 1 4,000 acres, GGCSP is the second largest park in the Colorado State Park sys- tem. The Park straddles two counties, Jefferson and Gilpin. From 1991 to 2006, Stephen B. Austin,* the authors, and others have been conducting a vascular-plant survey of Golden Gate Canyon State Park (GGCSP). Surveys were run along park trails, roads, drainages, and occasionally cross-country using map and compass. Initially we documented plant-collection site locations by township, range and section, and later (after 2004), recorded UTM coordinates at each site, using a GPS recorder. In 1994, the Green Ranch extension was added to the park and the plant sur- veys were extended there. However, we confine our discussion to survey results documented within the original borders of GGCSP. Collected plant specimens were pressed, dried, labeled, and stored in an herbarium established at the Park Visitors Center. Duplicate collections were deposited in the Kathryn Kalmbach Herbarium (KHD) at the Denver Botanic Gardens. Occasionally, unusual specimens were placed at the University of Colorado Herbarium (COLO). Nomenclature followed Weber and Wittman ( 2001 ). Thi-ough 2006, 593 species representing 338 genera and 85 fam- ilies were collected in both GGCSP and in its Green Ranch exten- sion. The most well represented plant families included: Aster- aceae with 100 species and 50 genera, Poaceae with 78 species and 39 genera, Brassicaceae with 32 species and 24 genera, Scro- phulaiiaceae with 26 species and nine genera, and Fabaceae with 25 species and 1 1 genera. Geography (GGCSP, 1996) GGCSP lies within the southwest section of the South Platte River watershed. Ralston Creek flows east through the Park from its source, three miles west of the Park on Fairburn Mountain. Tributaries to Ralston Creek, which lie within the borders of GGCSP include Deer Creek confined to the northeast tier of the Park and the intermittent Nott Creek, draining the northeast sec- tion from Forgotten Valley Pond to Windy Peak. The north-facing slopes of Centralia Mountain south of Ralston Creek are drained intermittently by Sawmill Gulch. In the western section of the Park, drainage from Tremont Mountain and Dude’s Fishing Hole flows southward into Ralston Creek (See map next page). Park elevations vary from less than 7600 ft. in the eastern sec- tion to 10,388 ft. atop Tremont Mountain. Other high areas in the Park include the lower slopes of Thorodin Mountain (10,000 ft.) along the northwest-Park border, Centralia Mountain at 9795 ft., Ralston Roost at 9339 ft. Promontory Ridge with an average ele- vation of 9500 ft, and City Lights Ridge at 8680 ft. Geology (GGCSP, 1996) The Precambrian-aged Boulder Creek batholith intrusion is the major rock unit in the Park. Consisting largely of granodiorite, it is exposed in northwestern, western, and southern sections of the Park. Another intrusion from the Cretaceous era deposited quartz monzonite in a nan*ow belt running through the center of the Park, directed northeast to southwest into the upper reaches of the Green Ranch. The remaining surface rocks are metamorphosed gneisses and quartzite, mainly concentrated in the eastern end of the Park and in the Green Ranch. Botany The floristic patterns within the Park are related to the elevation range, vegetative zones, and geography. We summarize the botany of GGCSP by examining eight geographic zones. North-facing slopes of Centralia Mountain in the southern section of the Park. These slopes bear the montane communities of lodgepole pine and douglas fir, with Engelmann spruce occur- ring at elevations above 9000 ft. Along the gulches draining the slopes, we found night enchantress (Circaea alpinum) and lady fern {Anthyrium fdix-femma var. cydosponim). East-end of the Park north of Ralston Creek, where elevations range from less than 7600 ft to greater than 7900 ft. Many of the plants here belong to the Foothill zone: Amelanchier alnifblia, Popidus deltoides, Cercocarpus montanus, Rhus aromatica subsp. trilobata. Populus deltoides was discovered in the Park in 1 998 and collected in 1999. Only two were known to exist within the Park, and these were winter killed in 2003. The specimens col- lected for the Park herbarium are missing, but duplicate speci- mens are available at KHD . Hills lying North of Ralston Creek within the montane zone (above 8000 ft) . South-facing slopes comprised ponderosa pine, Rocky Mountain juniper, and common juniper, with the usual Page 14 Aquilegia Volume 32 Number 1 Sketch Map of Golden Gate Canyon State Park montane flowering species, i.e., Erigeron vetensis, Geranium cae- spitosum, Senecio integerrimus, Erysimus capitatum, Lupinus argenteus, and Thermopsis divaricarpum. North-facing slopes were dominated by dense stands of Pinus contorta (lodgepole pine), with the ground beneath usually bar- ren. But in more open areas, clearings, and along trails associated with these stands, we found the orchids Calypso bulbosa and Corallorhiza maculata, and the composites Arnica cordifolia and Packera werneriifolia. Riparian zones along intermittent drainages include the follow- ing species: Alnus incana, Dodecatheon pulchellum, Heracleum sphondylium subsp. montanum, Coeloglossum viride, Epilobium ciliata, and Mertensia ciliata. Northeast corner of the Park drained by Deer Creek. The riparian ecosystem along Deer Creek features plants found nowhere else in the Park. Herbaceous plants include: Agrimonia striata, Lactuca biennis, Aralia nudicaulus, and Pteridium aquil- inum subsp. lanuginosum. Trees and shrubs include: Corylus cor- nuta, Crataegus ethrypoda, and Populus balsamifera. NOTE: P. balsamifera was recently discovered growing near Nott Creek. Ponds: Kriley Pond. Elalapestes cymbalaria and Limosella aquatica were found in aquatic- and wet-pond shores. Oenothera nutallii was found along the dry-pond shores. Forgotten Valley Pond. Batrichium trichophyllum, Spiranthes romanzojfiana, Hip- puris vulgaris, and Arnica rydbergii were documented in aquatic habitat and mesic-pond shores. Dude's Fishing Hole Area. This aquatic habitat include Batrichium circinatum, and Ranunculus hyperboreus subsp. intertextus. Kriley Pond-Ralston Creek- Slough Pond Complex. Astragalus eucosmus, and Epilobium leptophyllum was found in the riparian habitat. Montane wetlands above 9000 ft in the west section of GGCSP. Forbs include: Bistorta bistortoides. Ranunculus eschscholtzii, Clementsia rhodantha, and Ranunculus reptans. Shrubs include: Betula glandulosa, Salix brachycarpa, and Salix planifolia. Drainage on northwest slope of Tremont Mountain from Gap Road northward. Along this drainage we found orchid Lysiella obtusata, Thimbleberry (Rubacer parviflorum), and Rhubarb {Rheum rhaponiticum). “Golden Gate” continued on page 16 Volume 32 Number 1 Aquilegia Page 15 “Golden Gate” continued from page 15 Mesic-Hilly area north of Kriley Pond. This geographic zone is of special interest, as several populations of unusual species occur in close proximity to the Blue Grouse trail: Besseya plantaginea, Eriogonum flavum subsp. chloranthum, and Aster alpinus var. vierhapperri. Examination of COLO records shows that B. plan- taginea occurs in scattered locations on the eastern slope from the plains bordering the foothills into the mountain areas. It ranges from Larimer County in the north to Las Animas and Huerfano counties to the south. The nearest population to that of GGCSP occurs in Jefferson and Boulder Counties at the base of the foothills between Coal Creek Canyon and El Dorado Springs. The nearest mountain location is in the Tarryall Mountains 50 miles southwest of Denver. Eriogonum flavum subsp. chloranthum is heretofore known mainly from the northeast plains and on the con- tinental divide in Colorado (Weber and Wittman, 2001). Aster alpinus var. vierhapperri is very rare in Colorado. Lour previous Colorado collections were made from populations above treeline (Moore& Lriedly, n.d.). Those plants grow on open tundra and are dwarfed . In contrast the GGCSP population occurs at an elevation of 8500 ft, and the plant habit is a robust 8-10 inches high. Lurther- more, there is a sharp difference in habitat, with the GGCSP plants growing beneath stands of aspen and ponderosa pine. Linally, we note some additional observations concerning the flora in GGCSP: There are 25 species and subspecies of willows that are native to Colorado, and eleven of those have been found in GGCSP. We have already noted the presence of two willows, Salix brachy- carpa and S. planifolia in the upper montane wetlands of GGCSP. A third willow species occurring in the Park is S. scouleriana, a dry-land willow. The eight remaining species grow along the riparian zone bordering Ralston Creek: Salix amygdeloides, S. exigua, S. lucida subsp. caudata, S. bebbiana, S. irrorata, S. mon- ticola, S. drummondiana, and S. ligulifolia. White monkshood (Aconitum columbianum forma ochroleu- cus), an anomoly according to Weber and Whittman (2001), occurs as a sporadic mutant in normal populations of the blue monkshood. The latter typically has dark blue purple flowers; however, we found that the white form is more common in the Park than the blue. Lurthermore, when the blue monkshood is found, its flowers are lighter and softer blue in color. Indeed, in one drainage area on Centralia Mountain, we found significantly more blue monkshood growing with the white. Coexisting with this population were apparently hybrid forms bearing flowers with many intermediate color variations . An unusual flowering event in 1999 was the sudden appearance of Bidens tenuisecta (beggar’s tick). It was found in abundance on dry roadside from Nott Creek to one mile eastward along Ralston Road. Prior to 1999 and since 2000, it had not been seen. Prom our 15-year inventory in GGCSP, we have been aston- ished by the diverse ecosystems and the incredible number of, and sometimes unusual, plant species found there. And yet the Green Ranch displays a different set of diverse habitats that have yielded plant species that so far have not been duplicated in GGCSP. The following species have only been found at the Green Ranch: Arnica chamissonis, Chondrophylla prostrata, Packera pseudau- rea, Stellaria crassifolia. Aster foliaceous, Cylactis pubescens, Poa glauca subsp. rupicola, Symphocarpus rotundifolius , Cam- panula Parryi, Gnaphalium palustre, Physallis hederifolia, Tri- morpha lonchophylla, Cardamine cordifolia, Ligusticum tenuifolium. Pseudo gnaphalium viscosum, Carex aquatilis, Lomatogonum rotatum, Schizachne purpurascens, Carex bella, Opuntia polycantha, and Stellaria calycanthum. REPERENCES Weber, W. A., and R. 2001. Whittman. Colorado Elora: Eastern Slope, 3rd Edition. Golden Gate Canyon State Park Management Plan - Draft, July 1996. Moore, L., and S. Priedly. 2006. Aster alpinus var vierhapperi, A Technical Conservation Assessment, USDA Porest Service, Rocky Mountain Region, Species Conservation Project. Stanley Smookler and Linda Sensor are members of the Colorado Native Plant Society. Thanks to Steve Austin who retired in 1995 but continued to maintain the computerized plant list of GGCSP until 2004. Samara of American elm Asa Gray, The Elements of Botany for Beginners and for Schools (New York, Cincin- nati, Chicago: American Book Co., 1887). Clipart courtesy FCIT, http://etc.usf.edu/clipart Page 16 Aquilegia Volume 32 Number 1 Chapter Announcements Plateau Chapter Chapter activities are scheduled throughout the year. For more information, visit www.conps.org or contact Chapter President Jeanne Wenger at 970-256-9227 or stweandjaw@acsol.net. The Chapter is recruiting for the office of President. March 29 Likeable, Loveable Lichens Field Trip April 19-20 Wildflower Identification May 10-11 Gateway/Sinbad Valley June 28 Sheep Mountain from Cimmaron Creek Field Trip July TEA date Draba Field Trip Aug 23 Grand Mesa Fens from Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah. For more infor- mation, visit www.conps.org or contact Chapter President A1 Schneider at 970-882-4647 or webmaster@conps.org. April 19-20 Introduction to Wildflower Identification Joint Events with the Plateau Chapter May 4 Field trip to El Malpais May 7 Wildflower slide show June 20-21 Introduction to Wildflower Identification Workshop July 27 Riparian, alpine, revegetation, Summitville San Luis Valley Chapter Chapter activities are scheduled throughout the year. For more information, visit www.conps.org or contact Chapter President Cindy (Chinle) Beaver at 719-256-5291 or beaver@fairpoint.net March 9 TEA June 8 North Crestone Canyon Field Trip June 28 Wolf Creak Pass to San Luis Valley Field Trip July 27 Alamosa Canyon and Summitville Field Trip August 16 Sedges Educational Program Southwest Chapter The Southwest Chapter explores, preserves, and enjoys the flora of the Four Corners area through activities that are scheduled throughout the year. We welcome new ideas for field trips, activi- ties, and programs, and we especially welcome new members Chapter Correspondence For email notification of chapter activities, contact your chapter president. Carex capillaris USDA-NRCS PLANTS Data- base / USDA NRCS. Wetland flora: Field office illustrated guide to plant species. USDA Natural Resources Conser- vation Service. Welcome New Members Maureen Arthur Michael Gellner Marilyn Loser Mike Schiebolt Michele Bailey Kim & Rick Heiss Terry Lukas Linda Schmidt Lauren Barringer Courtney James Becky Macknight Dave Scott Glen Bean Dan Johnson Carron Meaney Paul Selby Martha Beck Mike Britten & Therese Johnson Linda E. O'Banion Steve Setzer Danielle Cassidy Panayoti Kelaidis Maureen O'Shea Stone Rick Shory Donna Clark Mike Kirkpatrick Patricia M. Ploegsma Jean Stevenson Bill Daniels Peter D. Kleinman Jacalyn Raehl Lynn Strosburg Amber Davis Bernadette Kuhn Pamela L. Regensberg Genevieve Walden Susan J. Dunn Frank Morse & Daniela Kuper Maria Richmond Robert Weaver Lise Mahnke & Mary Fairbanks Martha J. Long Lawrence H. Robins Crystal Yates-White Volume 32 Number 1 Aquilegia Page 17 BOOK REVIEW by Jan Loechell Turner Northern Colorado Plants: A Field Guide to the Flora of the Northern Front Range Urban Corridor by Alix Gadd. Windsor, CO: Traventine Press, 2007. With the proliferation of independently published books, readers are provided with a variety from which to choose. If the author is not a noted botanist, such as William Weber, it is important that the author has the plant identifications verified by an authoritative source, such as botanists at the University of Colorado or Denver Botanic Gardens. Tim Hogan and Nan Lederer of the CU Herbari- um and Dave Steingraeber of Colorado State University Biology Department verified identifications in Gadd's book. Scientific names are from Weber and Wittman’s Colorado Flora: Eastern Slope 3rd edition. Northern Colorado Plants is a non-technical photographic guide that will be of interest to plant lovers in the Greeley-Fort Collins-Loveland area. Books that cover a limited geographic area serve an important purpose for beginning botanists and non- botanists, since they narrow the number of possible plant identifi- cation choices that confront the user, making the process less overwhelming. In Gadd’s book, plants are grouped into three sections: horse- tails, grasses, and grass-like plants; herbaceous plants with col- ored flowers; trees and shrubs. Within each section, plants are arranged alphabetically by family, genus, and species, except the herbaceous plants, which are grouped first by flower color, and then by family, genus, and species. Many books ignore grasses, so it is a real plus that they are included in this book. Color photographs (3.25" x 2") of four plants are found on a page, with written information about the plants on the facing page. One color photo of each plant is included, so for plum there is a photo of a branch with flowers, but no photo of the entire tree. Entries for each plant include: common and scientific name, fami- ly, native or introduced, annual or perennial, and bloom season. Some descriptive information is included and the habitat is noted. The size of the plant/flower is not always given. Gadd, who lives in Windsor, Colorado, is a person who is passion- ate about the plants of her area. She has observed development that is eliminating areas with native plants and indicates prominently whether each plant is native or introduced. Alix Gadd has a B.A. in biology from Colorado College and a M.S. in ecology from Col- orado State University. The book is available from Barnes and Noble Bookstores and from Travertine Press mail(a)travertine- press.com (the website is www.travertinepress.com). Jan Loechell Turner is at Regis University and is the CONPS Research Grants Committee Chair and Co-President. Jan is also our source for great book reviews. Aquilegia Newsletter of the Colorado Native Plant Society Aquilegia is published four or more times per year by the Col- orado Native Plant Society. This newsletter is available to mem- bers of the Society and to others with an interest in native plants. Articles for Aquilegia may be used by other native plant soci- eties or non-profit groups, if fully cited to author and attributed to Aquilegia. Articles from 500 to 2000 words in length are welcome. Previ- ously published articles submitted for reprinting require permis- sion. Digital photographs or line drawings are also solicited. Please include author’s name and address, although anonymity may be requested. Articles must be submitted electronically. Articles and other contributions may be edited. Please direct all contributions to the newsletter to: Leo P. Bruederle leo . bruederle (3) cuden ver. edu University of Colorado Denver Page 18 Aquilegia Volume 32 Number 1 Colorado Native Plant Society The Colorado Native Plant Society is a non-profit organization dedicated to the appreciation and conservation of the Colorado native flora. Membership is open to all with an interest in our native plants, and is composed of plant enthusiasts both professional and non-professional. Please join us in helping to encourage interest in enjoying and protecting Colorado’s native plants. The Society sponsors field trips, workshops, and other activities through local chapters and statewide. Contact the Society, a chapter representative, or committee chair for more information. OFFICERS Co-Presidents Jan Turner j Itumer @regis . edu 303-458-4262 Charlie Turner turner@ rabbitbrushpublishing.com Vice President A1 Schneider webmaster@conps.org 970-882-4647 Vice President - Pres. Elect Boyce Drummond bdrummond3 @msn.com 970-690-7455 Treasurer Denise Culver Denise.Culver@ColoState.edu 970-686-7428 Secretary Ann Henson 2henson@kwabena.us 303-772-8962 CHAPTER PRESIDENTS San Luis Valley Laurel Potts (09) Horticulture & Restoration Boulder Cindy Beaver kalmia 1 27 @earthlink.net Eaural Potts Deby Stabler debystabler@yahoo.com beaver@fairpoint.net 970-524-3377 kalmia 1 27 @earthlink.net 970-524-3377 303-902-4679 BOARD OP DIRECTORS Jenny Neale (10) Boyce Drummond (08) NealeJR@gmail.com Media Northern Colorado bdrummond3@msn.com 720-865-3562 Boyce Drummond Denise Culver 970-690-7455 bdrummond3 @msn.com Denise.Culver@ColoState.edu Brian Kurzel (10) 970-690-7455 970-686-7428 Peggy Lyon (08) Brian.Kurzel@state.co.us peggylyon@ouraynet.com 303-866-3203 ex 301 Membership Metro-Denver 970-626-3195 Eric Pane Vickey Trammell STANDING COMMITTEES eric . lane @ ag . state, co .us vickey4conps@hotmail.com Steve Yarborough (08) Conservation 303-239-4182 303-795-5843 steveandkenna@msn.com Sarada Krishnan 303-233-6345 krishnas @botanicgardens .org Research Grants Plateau 303-465-4274 Jan Turner Jeanne Wenger Leo Bruederle (09) j Itumer @regis .edu stweandjaw@acsol.net leo.bruederle@cudenver.edu Education & Outreach 303-458-4262 970-256-9227 303-556-3419 Megan Bowes bowesm@ Sales Southeast John Giordanengo (09) bouldercolorado .gov Denise Wilson Eiz Klein john@wlrv.org 303-561-4883 denisewil@aol.com eklein@ kio waengineeringc s . com 303-996-260 Field Studies 303-642-0510 719- 630-7342 Sarada Krishnan (09) Steve Popovich Workshops Southwest krishnas @botanicgardens . org 303-465-4274 sjpopovich@fs.fed.us Vacant A1 Schneider Field Trips Rare Plant Monograph webmaster@conps.org Jan Turner (09) Brian Kurzel Eleanor VonBargen 970-882-4647 j Itumer @regis . edu 303-45-4262 Brian.Kurzel@state.co.us 303-866-3203 ex 301 303-756-1400 MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION AND RENEWAL EORM Name(s) Address City Phone Chapter: . State Zip E-mail Boulder Metro-Denver Northern Plateau . San Luis Valley Southeast Southwest DONATION General Eund MEMBERSHIP CLASS Dues cover a 12-month period Individual, $20.00 Eamily/dual, $30.00 Senior, $12.00 Student, $12.00 Organization, $30.00 Supporting, $50.00 Lifetime, $300.00 Endowments in support of small grants-in-aid of research: $ John Marr Eund: research on the biology and natural history of Colorado native plants. $ Myrna P. Steinkamp Memorial Eund: research and other activities that will benefit the rare plants of Colorado. Mail to: Eric Lane, PO Box 200, Et. Collins, CO 80522 DUES AND CONTRIBUTIONS ARE TAX-DEDUCTIBLE J Volume 32 Number 1 Aquilegia Page 19. CALENDAR 2008 SOCIETY FIELD TRIPS BOARD MEETINGS May 17 Denver Botanic Gardens February 9 9:00 AM Boulder Open Space Office May 18 Diversity of Lichens April 5 9:00 AM TBA June 8 North Crestone Canyon July 19 9:00 AM TBA June 28 Wolf Creek Pass to San Luis Valley Floor Sept 5 6:00 PM Montrose June 28 Two Buttes Nov. 15 9:00 AM TBA July 1 1 Mount Goliath Natural Area July 12 Fens of South Park See http://www.conps.org/conps.html for details. August 2 Rocky Mountain National Park August 9 Geneva Basin Iron Fen August 16-17 Rough Creek Iron Fen SOCIETY WORKSHOPS February 9, 10 April 12, 13 May 3, 4 June 27, 28, 29 Mints of Colorado Penstemon Plant Terminology Carex nvmaiVIAI 3A\1\SH3S aiAlll §jo-sduoD-MMM//:dpq ZZ 90 ^ opmopo ‘suin 03 jjoj ooz xoa od A-/' ;uB|j opejo|o*j