The Newsletter
of the Wyoming
Native Plant Society

March 2000
Volume 19, No. 1

In this issue:

WNPSNews 2

Botany Briefs

Arabis pusilla Dropped from Candidate List . . 2

C.L Porter 2

New Research Natural Areas 3

Revolutionary New Taxonomy 3

On the Germination and Viability of Yermo

xanthocephalus akenes 4

Noteworthy Discoveries 7

Quotes (John C. Fremont) 8

Bighorn Native Plant Society 8

Moon wort {Botrychium lunaria) is one of nearly
a dozen species of Botrychium known or reported
for Wyoming. It can be recognized by its
overlapping, fan-shaped fleshy leaflets and bead-
like fertile leaf segments. In Wyoming, moonwort is
uncommonly seen in moist meadows forest edges,
and alpine scree slopes in the Absaroka, Gros
Ventre, Wind River, Bighorn, and Medicine Bow
ranges.

Moonworts were a specialty of the late Dr.
Warren “Herb” Wagner of the University of
Michigan, who described 13 of the 30 taxa
recognized in the 1993 treatment of the genus in
the Flora of North America. Wagner was also
famous for unraveling many of the intricacies of
hybridization and reticulate evolution in Asplenium
and other plants and for conceptual advances in
systematics, such as the “Wagner Groundplan-
Divergence” method of assessing phylogenetic
relationships. Wagner passed away in January at
the age of 79. Illustration by Walter Fertig.

WNPS NEWS

Scholarship Winners : The WNPS Board is pleased to
announce that three University of Wyoming botany
graduate students have been awarded scholarships for
the 1999-2000 academic year. Mark Lyford of Laramie
was awarded the top prize of $300 for his proposal on
“Holocene migration of Utah juniper {Juniperus
osteosperma) in Wyoming". Stephen Gray of Laramie
and Jodi Norris of Cheyenne split the second-place prize
($280 apiece). Stephen is studying “Tree-ring based
reconstructions of climate variability in the eastern
Greater Yellowstone region" and Jodi is working on
“Ponderosa pine biogeography”. The WNPS annual
scholarship is completely funded through the generous
donations of members of the Society. Thanks to all who
have contributed in the past year.

2000 WNPS Field Trips: The Society’s annual
meeting is scheduled for the weekend of June 17-18 in
the Shirley Basin and surrounding mountains of central
Wyoming. Plan to meet at the state rest area near the
junction of highways 487 and 77 on Saturday morning
(June 17) at 8:30 AM for a brief business meeting in the
parking area. From here, we will proceed to Chalk
Mountain to observe a variety of unusual cushion plant
species, including the state endemic Sphaeromeria
simplex (Laramie false sagebrush) and showy
wildflowers. We also plan to explore the Agate Flats area
for spring cushion plants and Shirley Mountain (weather
permitting). For those who wish to continue on Sunday,
we will be camping out Saturday night on Chalk Mountain
or Shirley Mountain.

I n July, WNPS will be holding a joint field trip with the
Great Plains Wildflower Society to explore the Black Hills
of South Dakota and NE Wyoming. There will be more
details on this outing in the May newsletter, which will be
a special theme issue addressing the Black Hills region.

WNPS Elections : Once again, it is time to find
interested people willing to serve on the WNPS board. If
you are interested, or know of someone who should run,
please contact the Secretary-Treasurer. A ballot and
renewal notice will appear in the May issue.

New Mailing Address: Please note that the Society
has changed its mailing address to PO Box 3452, Laramie
WY, 82071.

New Members ! Please welcome the following new
members of WNPS: Linda Anderson (Chugwater), Peter
Guernsey (Laramie), Lois Hansen (Cheyenne), Renee
Meador (Sheridan), and Katherine Nelson (Cody).

WeYe looking for new members : Do you know
someone who would be interested in joining WNPS?

Send their name or encourage them to contact the
Society for a complimentary newsletter.

Attention Readers : We are always looking for
articles and illustrations for the newsletter. Items for the
May issue are needed by 6 May 2000.

Treasurer’s Report : Balance as of 26 March 2000:
General Fund $615.74; 2000-2001 Student Scholarship
Fund $0.00; Total funds: 615.74

Wyoming Native Plant Society
PO Box 3452, Laramie, WY 82071

President: Jim Ozenberger (Jackson)

Vice President: Amy Roderick (Laramie)
Secretary-Treasurer: Laura Welp (Laramie)

Board Members: Nina Haas (Cheyenne)

Steve Laster (Pinedale)

Newsletter Editor: Walter Fertig (307) 766-3020 (wk)/e-
mail: clyde@uwyo.edu .

Teton Chapter: PO Box 82, Wilson, WY 83014 (Joan
Lucas, Treasurer).

Contributors to this issue: Dave Culp, Jean Daly (JD),

Jane Dorn, Robert Dorn, Walter Fertig (WF), Brandi
Hoster, Isobel Nichols, and Richard Scott.

Botany Briefs

Arabis pusilla Dropped from Candidate List : The
us Fish and Wildlife Service issued its latest list of
candidate species for potential listing under the
Endangered Species Act on 25 October 1999. Missing
from the list was Arabis pusilla (Small rockcress), which
had been a candidate since 1985. Small rockcress is a
localized endemic restricted to outcrops of pegmatitic
granite near South Pass, Wyoming. Barbara Amidon
(formerly of the Rock Springs BLM and a past president
of WNPS) initiated a Habitat Management Plan for this
species on BLM lands in 1994 and helped secure a
mineral withdrawal for the site and ACEC designation for
its limited range in 1997 (see Castilleja, December 1997).
Due to these management steps, the USFWS determined
that Small rockcress was no longer in need of listing
under the Endangered Species Act. WF

C.L. Porter : Cedric L. Porter, longtime curator and
successor of Aven Nelson at the Rocky Mountain
Herbarium (RM), passed away on 8 January 2000. Porter
was born into a missionary family in present-day Pakistan
in 1905. He earned degrees in Botany from the

2

University of Michigan and University of Washington,
where he initially specialized in the taxonomy of
bryophytes, but broadened his academic interests to
vascular plants when he accepted the position of curator
of the RM in 1942. Porter is perhaps best known as the
author of Taxonomy of Flowering Plants, a popular
systematics text in the 1960s and for initiating the Flora
of Wyoming pamphlet series in 1962. He is also well-
known for traversing the state in an air-stream trailer to
collect plants for the herbarium and documented several
new state records (mostly in the Black Hills and among
Wyoming’s aquatic flora). One of Porter's most
interesting discoveries was an endemic sagebrush from
the Wind River Basin named Artemisia porterim his
honor by Arthur Cronquist in 1951. Porter and his
collecting partner/wife Marjorie retired to Arizona in 1968.
Sadly, Marjorie Porter herself passed away in March. WF

Six Research Natural Areas and Special Interest
Areas Designated on Bridaer-Teton National
Forest : After several years of study and review,
Bridger-Teton National Forest officially designated 4 new
Research Natural Areas (RNAs) and 2 new Special
Interest Areas (SI As) in December 1999. RNAs and SI As
are sites of unusually important biological significance or
good examples of common vegetation types that are
managed in a largely undisturbed condition in order to
provide reference areas for long-term scientific studies.
These sites remain open to most recreational activities
and other resource uses that are compatible with the
biological management goals for the area. The new
RNAs and SI As are:

Afton Front RNA (located in the Salt River Range just east of
Afton)

Gros Ventre RNA (located in the Gros Ventre Range SE of
Jackson)

Osborn Mountain RNA (located in the Wind River Range and
visited during WNPS’ 1998 annual field trip)

Swift Creek RNA (located in the Salt River Range east of Afton
and featured in the December 1994 Castilleja)

Big Fall Creek SI A (Wyoming Range west of La Barge and
featured in the December 1997 Castilleja)

Kendall Warm Springs SI A (along the Green River NW of
Rnedale and featured in the October 1995 Castilleja). WF

Revolutionary New Taxonomy Sheds Light
on Plant Kingdom

Will Enhance Photosynthesis and Cure Greenhouse Effect
By Dave Culp

With all due apologies to Arthur Cronquist, the current
method of plant classification used in most modern
herbaria is cumbersome at best. After working in the
Rocky Mountain Herbarium (number 17 and growing!) I

have developed a simplified method of plant classification
to be known as the Culp Method of Filing Plant Corpses.

The main problem with Art’s system lies in the
families; there are too many of them. The Culp Method
of Filing Plant Corpses utilizes only seven families.

In keeping with Art’s tradition, we start first with
primitive plants. The first family is the Mossiaceae.

Plants in the Mossiaceae family are characterized by
being short, slimy, and generally gross. Members of this
family are also readily identifiable by using the Animal
Method: If it looks like something the cat drug in, and the
dog was afraid to drag back out, its in the Mossiaceae.

Our second family is the Ferniaceae. There is only
one criteria for membership in this family: If it hangs in A
fern bar it’s a Ferniaceae. Ferniaceae is probably one of
the most fun families to study because of its habitat.

Moving up the evolutionary ladder, we come to the
Grassiaceae. These plants are very easily identified. If it
has long, very thin leaves, tries to cover as much ground
as possible, and survives after being run over by
machines with whirling blades and the name “Toro”
painted on them, it belongs in the Grassiaceae.

The next family is the largest. It is the Floweriaceae.
This family includes any plant that exists to produce a
flower. By flower, we mean a showy plant part that,
when presented to your spouse, will probably win you
forgiveness for an all night session at the fern bar.

The larger plants of the world fall into one of two
families. These families are the Bushiaceae and the
Treeiaceae. Both of these families have members that
grow tall. Members of the Bushiaceae, however, have
branches very low to the ground and are often found
around foundations of buildings. Plants of the Tree-
iaceae don’t have low branches and generally live further
away from buildings.

Our final family is the most painful and dangerous to
study. It is the Cockleburriaceae. Members of this family
can be placed into one of two subfamilies: Dog Hair
Cloggus or Bicycle Tire Eatus. Members of the
Cockleburriaceae are identified by their spins, thorns, and
other lethal projections. If you pick up a plant and say
“ouch,” it’s probably a member of the Cockleburriaceae.
Placement into the two subfamilies is easy: throw it at
your dog. If it gets stuck in its hair, it’s a Dog Hair
Cloggus. The next test involves a bicycle. If it causes a
flat tire after being run over by the bicycle, it goes into
the Bicycle Tire Eatus subfamily.

Use of the Culp Method of Filing Plant Corpses will
help most herbaria overcome their difficulties in filing
specimens. It should also create lots of debate and
frantic research among plant taxonomists. This will
create hordes of jobs, stimulate the economy, help
establish a new world order, and bring peace to the
world. At the very least, it will make working in an
herbarium a whole lot easier.

Editor’s Note: The author formerly worked at the Rocky Mountain
Herbarium at the University of Wyoming. He was fired after refiling the
entire collection using the Culp Method.

3

On the Germination and Viability of
Yermo xanthocephalus Akenes

By Richard Scott and Brandi Hoster
Central Wyoming College, Riverton, WY

In this report we present a technique for germinating
the akenes of Yermo xanthocephalus Dorn, the Desert
Yellowhead. This taxon was only recently described as a
new species and genus in the tribe Senecioneae, possibly
allied with the genus Cacalia L, section Conophora, by
Dorn (1991). At the time, Dorn noted a history of
disagreement as to the status of Cacalia and other
cacalioid genera. Most recently, in preparation for the
Flora of North America North of Mexico, the genus has
been included in the subtribe Tussilagininae (Cass.)
Dumort. along with other segregate genera, some of
which represent the now- rejected Cacalia L (Barkley
1999). Yermo and other members of its subtribe are now
appropriately referred to as the “tussilaginoids”.

The species has an extremely restricted distribution
pattern, occurring on a 2.4 ha (< 6 acre) site in eastern
Fremont County, Wyoming at 6730 ft. The population
has fluctuated from 9293 plants to 12099 plants in the
census years between 1995- 1999. The species was
proposed for listing as Threatened by the U. S. Fish and
Wildlife Service (USDI 1998) in December 1998 and is the
subject of a comprehensive management plan by the
Bureau of Land Management (Breckenridge 1999). As
might be expected, the listing and proposed management
activities have been met with a certain amount of
controversy (Hafner 1999, 2000).

In view of the small population size, and as part of an
ongoing study on the population dynamics, habitat
requirements, and community associates of Yermo
xanthocephalus, we undertook a series of germination
experiments to determine the viability of Yermo akenes.
The results will eventually be used in a population growth
model. It had been noted much earlier in our work that
only a few akenes per head developed and had the
appearance of viability. The remainder were considered
non-fertile. We now know there is a distinct size and
weight difference between the fertile and non-fertile
akenes (Table 1). For this report, fertile akenes were
collected at the Yermo site as maturation occurred in late
August and early September 1998 and 1999. The akenes
were then germinated in the laboratory in order to
examine seed viability.

The experimental procedure was a technique used in
cytogenetics, based on that of Brown (1998), in which air
is bubbled through water-filled flasks containing the
akenes. The flasks were aerated with a multi- outlet
aquarium pump and valve system so that equal amounts
of air were delivered to each flask. For each run, two
temperature dataloggers measured average water
temperature at ten-minute intervals in two of the flasks.
The experimental apparatus was housed in a Biotronette
Mark III Environmental Chamber set for a 12-hour

Table I

Akene Characteristics
Viable

Length (mm)

Width (mm)

Weight (g)

Maximum

7.5

2.5

0.014

Minimum

5.5

1.5

0.002

Average

6.725

2.15

0.083

Nonviable

Length (mm)

Width (mm)

Weight (g)

Maximum

4.0

1.5

Minimum

3.0

1.0

Average

3.4

1.1

0.003

photoperiod. Three runs were conducted during the
period of September to December, 1999. Duration of the
runs was either 24 or 25 days. The runs were set up as
follows:

Run 1: Eight 250ml flasks were each filled with 150ml
of distilled water, and bubble stones were inserted to
provide aeration. Four of these flasks contained 1998
akenes and the other four contained 1999 akenes. Ten
akenes were placed in each flask. The 250ml flasks
proved to be too big to allow vigorous aeration of the
akenes, so were replaced with 50ml flasks, and the
bubble stones were removed. Water in the smaller flasks
quickly evaporated, so these were replaced with 125ml
flasks filled with 100ml of distilled water. This size was
satisfactory, although water had to be added every three
days to maintain 100ml. Eventually the water was totally
replaced with fresh water at these times to retard
microbial contamination. Toward the end of the run,
1:720 Natriphene (sodium o-phenylphenate) was sprayed
into the flasks to help retard microbial growth. Run 1
was terminated after 24 days due to lack of further
germination activity. Run 2: The experimental setup was
the same as the final setup for Run 1 . All flasks were
initially sprayed with Natriphene for microbial control.

Due to evaporation, the flasks were brought up to 100ml
every three days and sprayed with Natriphene. The
length of Run 2 was 25 days. Run 3: The experimental
setup was the same as Run 2. The length of Run 3 was
24 days.

Results

Due to the 12-hour photoperiodic regime,
temperatures fluctuated approximately 4-6°C on a 24-hr
basis. High temperatures were in the 20- 22°C range,
while low temperatures varied between 15-17°C.

Average temperature in all runs varied between 19.53°C
and 18.26°C, a maximum difference of only 1.27°Cover a
23- day measurement period for all runs. Since one
datalogger recorded temperatures for 1999 runs and the
other recorded 1998 runs, we have concluded that
temperature has not played a significant role in

4

germination differences noted between flasks during each
of the three runs (Table II).

Table 1 1

Germination Water Temperatures (°C)

Run 1

Run 2

Run 3

1999

1999

1999

Max

21

20.27

20.28

Min

17.07

16.37

16.19

Mean

19.06

18.26

18.26

Run 1

Run 2

Run 3

1998

1998

1998

Max

20.62

20.71

21.85

Min

16.6

16.9

17.65

Mean

18.65

18.75

19.53

In all runs, more akenes germinated from the 1999
sample than the 1998 sample (Figure 2a, 2b). As a result
of all runs, we were able to germinate 55% of the 1999
akenes (66 of 120) and 44% of 1998 akenes (53 of 120).

We used the first appearance of a white, inferior
bump as evidence the radicle was erupting through the
akene wall and it was thus interpreted as the first sign of
germination. In a few akenes this occurred one day into
the run. In others it took as long as eight days, after
which the primary root began elongation. Following
elongation and curvature, the akene coat was shed and
the cotyledons of the young seedling were visible. Figure
1 shows development of Yermo akenes to the young
seedling stage. We grouped this development into three
stages, the first eruption of the radicle, development of
the primary root and hooked curvature, and appearance
of green cotyledons. These are identified as Stage I (1-9
days). Stage II (10-20 days), and Stage III (21 h- days).

Figures 2a (above) and 2b (below). The number of 1998
and 1999 akenes germinated.

^ an

■a'

w35

Iso

a1D

I ^

I n

t Run I 4 Run i 1 . Run ^

.. 4

* ■

* '■

^

1 2 3 J

8 Days 9 Days 1 0 Days 1 1 Day;

Figure 1. Development of Yermo xanthocephalus aiXer
akene germination. Three groups are recognized: Stage
I (1-9 days); Stage II (10-20 days); Stage III (21+ days).

Mortality occurred in many akenes early in the
germination process so that 33 of all those 1999 akenes
and 31 of all those 1998 akenes at Stage I died. As a
result, 33 from 1999 and 22 from 1998 reached Stage II,
while only 9 from 1999 and 7 from 1998 reached Stage III
(Figures 3a, and 3b). This pattern produced 50 %
mortality in the germinated 1999 akenes and 58 %
mortality in the germinated 1998 akenes. Overall,

27 % of the total 1999 sample and 18 % of the total
1998 sample reached Stage II in the germination
process.

We’ve attributed at least a portion of this high
mortality to microbial (probably fungal) infection, which
occurred in spite of antibiotic treatment. The mortality
may be at least partially alleviated by transplanting Stage
I plants to a soil medium. For the present we have only
attempted to transplant Stage III plants, and this has
been successful.

5

Summary

We have developed a relatively easy way to check
Yermo akenes for viability and at the same time supply a
source of seedlings for transplant. The advantage of
using this method is that seedlings are readily produced
and are ready for potting and continued growth. The
disadvantage is high mortality in the early stages of
germination. This mortality is presumably due, in large
part, to microbial activity. Further use and refinement of
our technique will hopefully yield greater survivorship of
seedlings.

Figures 3a (above), and 3b (below). Number of 1998
and 1999 akenes in the three stages of development.

05

05

05

05

05

C

05

05

05

E

Day

Above: Desert yellowhead {Yermo xanthocephalus) has
been proposed for listing as Threatened under the
Endangered Species Act. The BLM Lander Field Office
proposed withdrawing 3750 acres of potential Yermo
habitat from locatable mineral leasing in August 1999 and
is currently developing a Conservation Agreement and
Strategy for this species. Illustration by Jane Dorn.

Literature Cited

Barkley, T.M. 1999. The segregates of Senecio, s.l., and
Cacalia, s.l., in the Flora of North America North of
Mexico. Sida 18:661-672.

Breckenridge, C. 1999. Conservation agreement,

assessment and strategy (draft). USDI Bureau of Land
Management and US Fish and Wildlife Service.

Dorn, R. 1991. Yermo xanthocephalus {Aster aceae:
Senecioneae): a new genus and species from
Wyoming. Madrono 38:198-201.

Hafner, J. 1999. How to best protect rare plant? The
Sunday Ranger (Sunday, 24 October 1999).

Hafner, J. 2000. Plant protection worries ranchers. The
Riverton Ranger (Friday, 7 January 2000).

USDI Fish and Wildlife Service. 1998. Endangered and
Threatened wildlife and plants: Proposed Threatened
status for the plant Yermo xanthocephalus. Federal
Register 63(245): 70745-70751.

6

Noteworthy Discoveries

Stephanomeria fluminea, a New Species Endemic
to Wyoming: Aven Nelson discovered hundreds of new
plant species from Wyoming and the west during his
distinguished career at the University of Wyoming. But in
August 1894, he collected an unusually broad-leaved
specimen of Stephanomeria tenuifolia along Bacon Creek
in the northeastern Gros Ventre Mountains which would
remain unrecognized as a new species for over a century.
Nelson’s plant has just been described by Dr. Leslie
Gottlieb of the University of California at Davis as the new
taxon Stephanomeria fiuminea (Teton wire-lettuce).

Gottlieb, an authority on the genus Stephanomeria
(commonly called the wire-lettuces, due to their skinny
leaves and lettuce-like flowers), published this new
species in the journal Madrono in 1999. S. fiuminea is
restricted to gravel bars and creek bottoms of the Snake,
Gros Ventre, and South Fork Shoshone rivers and their
tributaries in Northwestern Wyoming (Park, Sublette, and
Teton counties). Teton wire lettuce can be recognized by
its numerous flower heads of pinkish ray flowers, erect
multi-branched stems, and broad basal and stem leaves.

It differs from S. tenuifoiia primarily in having wider
leaves and in its habitat affinity (S. tenuifoiia is usually
found on steep, dry, rocky slopes).

Teton wire-lettuce is currently known from 5-6 extant
and 4 historical populations in the entire world. It has
tentatively been ranked G27/S2 by the Wyoming Natural
Diversity Database, pending further study. The species
occurs in Grand Teton National Park and Bridger-Teton
and Shoshone National Forests, and is likely to be found
on the National Elk Refuge. Little data currently exist on
population size. WF

Reference: Gottlieb, LD. 1999. A new species of Stephanomeria
(Asteraceae) from northwestern Wyoming. Madrono 46(1):58-60.

Mystery Wormwood Alive and Well in Utah:

Artemisia biennis var. diffusa, the so-called “Mystery
wormwood” was thought to be possibly extirpated in
1998, following a comprehensive survey of potential
playa habitat in SW Wyoming by the Wyoming Natural
Diversity Database. Thanks to the efforts of Dr. Kim
Anderson of Dixie National Forest, var. diffusa\s now
known from a small lakeshore population in southern
Utah, nearly 300 hundred miles south of the only other
reported population in Sweetwater County, WY.

Anderson first discovered the Utah colony in 1996 and
revisited the site in September 1999 to collect a voucher
specimen that he sent to Dr. Robert Dorn for positive
confirmation. Dorn discovered the Wyoming population
in August 1980 near the Jim Bridger power plant north of
Point of Rocks and described it as a new variety in 1988.
Since 1980, at least 8 expeditions to relocate the species
have failed, prompting fears that the plant might be
extirpated. Despite the discovery in Utah, Kim Anderson
reports that the species is still quite uncommon and

highly threatened. Hopefully, additional surveys will be
conducted in southern Utah to determine the range and
abundance of the taxon there and seed will be collected
to establish off-site populations. WF

Above: “Mystery wormwood” by Isobel Nichols from the
Wyoming Rare Plant Field Guide.

More new plants for Wyoming: B E. “Ernie” Nelson of
the University of Wyoming’s Rocky Mountain Herbarium
reports the following new plant species found during
explorations of eastern Wyoming in 1999:

Chenopodium incanum var. incanum (Silvery
goosefoot). Ernie discovered this annual member of the
Chenopodiaceae in a sandy blowout 4 miles east of
Springer Reservoir in Goshen County. C. incanum
resembles C. fremontii, but differs in having larger fruits
(over 1.1 mm in diameter) that are exposed by the sepals
at maturity. Var. incanum occurs widely across the Great
Plains (often in disturbed sites), but is replaced by other
varieties in the Great Basin and American Southwest.

Juncus gerardii (Blackgrass). This perennial,
rhizomatous rush was discovered in a roadside wetland
north of Rock River in Albany County. It resembles J.
compressus, but has larger flowers, longer tepals, and
longer anthers. Although native to eastern North America,
this species has probably been introduced in the interior.

Phaseolus vulgaris (Common bean). This escaped
crop plant was found along a road near Hawk Springs
Reservoir in Goshen County, several miles from the
nearest field. Common bean is originally native to
Central America, but was widely planted by Native
Americans and is one of many New World species that
was introduced to Europe as a food crop. WF

7

The Wyoming Native Plant Society, established in
1981, is a non-profit organization dedicated to
encouraging the appreciation and conservation of the
native flora and plant communities of Wyoming. The
Society promotes education and research on native plants
of the state through its newsletter, field trips, and annual
student scholarship award. Membership is open to
individuals, families, or organizations with an interest in
Wyoming’s flora. Members receive Castilleja, the
Society’s quarterly newsletter, and may take part in all of
the Society’s programs and projects, including the annual
meeting/field trip held each summer. Dues are $7.50
annually.

To join the Wyoming Native Plant Society, return the
membership form below to:

Wyoming Native Plant Society
PO Box 3452
Laramie, WY 82071

Name:

Address:

$7.50 Regular Membership
$15.00 Scholarship Supporting Member
($7.50 goes to the annual scholarship
fund)

Quotes: Periodically, we will insert quotes from the
writings of early explorers and plant collectors who visited
Wyoming. One or two plant names that commemorate
the person will also be listed. Robert Dorn

Brevit Capt. John C. Fremont, U. S. Army

Senecio fremontii, Penstemon fremontii

Report of The Exploring Expedition to The Rocky

Mountains.... 28th Congr., 2nd Sess., Senate Exec. Doc.

No. 174:123. 1845. July 31, 1843

“As we emerged on a small tributary of the Laramie river,

coming in sight of its principal stream, the flora became

perfectly magnificent; and we congratulated ourselves, as

we rode along our pleasant road, that we had substituted

this for the uninteresting country between Laramie hills

and the Sweet Water valley.”

Bighorn Native Plant Society : The Bighorn Native
Plant Society organized in March of this year to
encourage the appreciation and conservation of native
flora and plant communities in the Bighorn Mountains and
adjacent plains. The society will promote education,
research, and enjoyment of the Bighorn Range and
surrounding area through its newsletter and web site.
Membership is open to individuals with an interest in the
north central Wyoming flora.

Members will receive the Bighorn Native Plant
Society’s newsletter (published twice a year in June and
July) either through the mail or their e-mail address. Two
classes and several field trips have already been
organized for this summer. Annual membership is $5.00.
To join or for more information, contact Bighorn Native
Plant Society, PO Box 21 , Big Horn, WY 82833. JD

Wyoming Native Plant Society
PO Box 3452
Laramie, WY 82071