Wyoming Native Plant Society

Box 1471

Cheyenne, WY 32003

VoluBie 7, Number 1 October 1987

Minutes of Annual Meeting The 1987 annual meeting was called to order by President Phil
White at the Blair Picnic Ground in the Laramie Range at 9:05 am on July 18. Sixteen
members and three other interested persons were In attendance.

Nominations for new officers were called for, Phil White declined his previous re-
nomrnation for President and nominated Hollis Marriott, seconded by Erwin Evert, Hollis
was elected on a voice vote. Ernie Nelson, unopposed for Vice-President, was also
elected on a voice vote. Hollis' election to President created a second vacancy for a
board member. The two metnbers running for the initial vacancy were both elected on a
voice vote and a coin flip gave Erwin- Evert a two-year term and Nell Snow a one-year
term. A secret ballot was taken for the Secretary-Treasurer position and Bob Dorn was
re-elected.

Old business was called for. Discussions ensued on member involvement in conducting
field trips in different parts of the state, presenting programs at the State Parks, and
assisting the Cheyenne Botanical Garden to develop a native plant section. A motion was
made to help out the Botanical Garden and passed. Bob Lichvar agreed to follow up on the
motion with the help of Erwin Evert, Jane Dorn, Virginia Wheeler, and Pat Pachuta'. An
additional motion was made to write up information on the society to be placed at the
Botanical Garden. The motion passed and Phil White agreed to do the write up. Bob
Lichvar will follow up on the State Park programs and provide information for the news-
letter. A committee was formed to organize field trips around the state. Hollis will
head the committee.

New business was called for. Bob Dorn indicated that the society had several requests
from native seed dealers for our mailing list and for advertising in the newsletter. A
discussion on the matter resulted in a motion by Hollis to not give out the mailing list,
seconded by Jane Dorn, The motion passed. George Jones moved to accept advertising
related to native plants, seconded by Bob Lichvar. This motion also passed. The
Secretary-Treasurer will be responsible to determine rates and screen requests. The
scholarship was next discussed. Dennis Knight moved that we establish a specific
scholarship fund, seconded by Hollis. Motion passed. Hollis moved that we commit $200
to the fund and leave it open to any additional donations with the Board to decide how
many scholarships to give out and in what amounts, seconded by Michele Potkin. The
motion passed, George Jones moved that the President appoint a committee to look into a
Wyoming Native Plant Society T-shirt, seconded by Hollis. The motion was approved.

George then reported on the Intermountain Shrub Symposium which he had attended, Dennis
toight suggested that we look into the dues structure particularly with regard to elim-
inating the one-time $4,00 initiation fee and possibly increasing the dues or providing
a place on a form for scholarship donations in addition to the dues. Ron Hartman moved
that the next annual meeting be held in the Sierra Madre Mountains, seconded by Hollis.

The motion passed. Ron moved to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Hollis, RD

Treasurer's Report - Balance as of May 15, 1987: $463.71; deposits $223.00; disbursements:
Secretary of State annual fee $3.00, newsletter printing $14.55; new balance as of
October 10, 1987: $671.16. RD

Botanical Novelties

Astragalus drabelliformls Barneby Bastard Draba Mllkvetch

This member of the pea family was first collected by Edwin and Lois Payson near Cora
in Sublette County on July 10, 1925, Rupert Barneby next collected it near Big Plney
in 1961 and described it in 1964. The plant forms dense cushions about 4 inches across
and about an inch high. The leaves appear simple (rare in our legumes). The pink-purple
flowers are 1 to 4 per stem and each about h inch long. Only the pods distinguish it
from the more conunon A. spatulatus . although recent Intermediate collections suggest that
it may eventually need to be combined with that species. It is still known only from
Sublette County where it grows on cobbley ridges and slopes and flowers in the spring.

Physaria condensata Rollins Tufted Twinpod

This member of the mustard family was first collected by Edwin Payson and George
Armstrong on June 19, 1923, between Opal and Kemmerer in Lincoln County. It was next
collected by Reed Rollins on Bridger Butte in Uinta County on June 24," 1938, Rollins
described it in 1939. It usually forms a dense tuft of rosette leaves about 1-2 inches
across and about an inch high. The petals are yellow and about inch long. It grows
on white shale formations in Uinta, Lincoln, and Sublette counties and flowers in the
spring. This is one of about ten species of Physaria in Wyoming where the genus is
still very actively evolving. Three of these ten species are known only from Wyoming
and most of the others have restricted distributions into adjacent states. RD

Physaria coudeosata

J.L.O

BCITRNIC3\L ODTREaCH — In the Octctier 1986 WNPS newsletter, Don Despain suggested that
the Society do nere in the way of educational programs to increase appreciation and
concern for the state's native flora- Along the sane lines, l^<ming Outdoor Council
President J. P- Barlow recently pointed out that it's easier to get a kid to clean his
room if you convince hha. that he likes to live in a clean rocen. In otherwords, if we
could foster a greater appreciation for native plants, it would be easier to protect
them, ard . . . field botany is fun and why not share this with others?

With this in mird, I contacted the National Park Service at Devils Itwer National
Monunent last spring about giving a talVwalk as a representative of the WNPS. 'Hie
Park Service cccperated wonderfully, providing a roan and prajection equipment, as well
as ’’advertising ” (through the fainous Devils Tcwer grapevine) - The program served as
orientation for the Monument smtimer staff, and attracted interested locals as well. It
consisted of a brief slide show on native plants and plant ccmnunities , followed by a
walk on the Joyner Ridge Trail. The rec^t-ion sealed enthusiastic — in any case, I had
a good time. And I enccfurage other members to try their hand at similar projects. HIM

THE YELIDW SEKrasBERmr — Springbeauty is a familiar plant to most Wyoming botanists,
amateur and otherwise. It peps up in the spring in habitats rangir^ from semi-arid
sagebrush-grasslands to mountain meadews below melting sne^hanks. Clavtonia lanceolata
is a itonber of the Purslane family. It is a snell perennial herb with somewhat fleshy
leaves ard stene, and white, S^talled flowers- The petals often are tinged with
pink, and occasiorally have a yellow spot at the base, Springbeauty is widely-
distributed in western North America, frctii British Columbia south to southern
California, and east to Alberta and New Jfexioo. It occurs thrco^ciut Wyoning with the
exception of the northeast quarter and the southwest comer.

In 1899, Aven Nelson, Curator of the newly-named Rocky Mountain Herbarium,
IMiversity of V^esming, was botanising at Henry's false in eastern Idaho, and oollectad a
yellow- flowered Clavtonia . He gave it the narae Clavtonia aurea . ^Mch was later
changed (by Nelson) to C. flava , as the earlier name was already in use- In 1966,
yellow springbeauty was reduced to a variety of the ’fehite-flcwered species, beoaning C-
lanceolata var. flava . This variety is presently known ftom only three locations:
Henry's lake, Idaho, southwest of Anaconda, Mcntana, and the upper Waynes Creek
drainage and vicinity in the Absaroka Mountains, Wyoming,

At the Waynes Creek site in the southern Absarokas northeast of CXJbois, yellcw
springbeauty grows in abundance in a moist, broad drainage bottom surrounded by
sagebrush-grasslard., Elevational range is about 9200 to over 10,000 feet. The white-
flowered variety also is present but is unconmon. In adjacent drainages, yellow
flowers become less ccratron, ard white- flowered plaints predeminate. The two varieties
appear to differ only in flcwer color, with no intennediates present. Flcwers are
either deep yellow, or white. Vegetative characters are not useful for separating the
varieties .

We have little understanding of the relationship between these two closely-related
plants. Is flower color in springbeauty siirply a one-gene charac±er, with the g^ie for
yellow flowers extremely rare? CSbviously, the machinery for making yellow pigment
exists in the cammon white- flowered variety, as evidenced by the yellcw spots that
occasionally appear at the base of the petals. Chrerriosame counts by Walter Lewis of
Washington University showed no differences betwe^ and yellow- flowered plants.
Flavonoid and riboscanal gene stiidies are currently underway at Cornell under the
direction of Jeff Doyle.

A similar situation exists for the common springbeauty of eastern North America,
Clavtonia vixoiniana (with iiAiite flcwers) . A population of yellow-f lowered spring-
beauty occurs in New Jersey, and controversy currently exists over leather to recognize
the yella^^f lowered plant as a full species or a form of the corrarnan ^ecies. The
decision to list or not to list the eastern yellow springbeauty as Endangered will be
based on the outoame of this taxonomic debate. HIM

2

CiienQpQJiac&ouii Shrubs in Uyoniing - The sjAgebrushes are the most conspicuous plants in
much of the hVoming landscape. Except for the mountain areas, the next most conspicuou
plants, especLally in the western half of the state, are probably the chenopodiaceous
shrubs. These are members of the aienopodiaceae , the Coosefoot Family. They include
saLcbuslmSj ^r^asewood ^ winterfat, ^nd

saltbush, characteristic of barren, clay slopes and flat
popular species to plant on reclaimed areas,
livestock and wildlife.

Four-wing saltbush is a
Unlike the other two, it is palatable to

Greasewood, Sarcobatus vermiculatus , is characteristic of clay playas, low areas that
collect water after rains. It is often the only species growing on such sites perhaps
partly because it produces inhibitors and partly because these soils ate so saltv. It
also grows in more upland areas often mixed with sagebrush. Livestock and wildlife do
utilize It to some extent. It is probably more important for cover than for f oracle
Like shadscale, it is spiny, but its leaves are fleshy, cylindrical, and narrow rather

than broad, flat, and non-fleshy as in shadscale, and it tends to be taller.

^ Winterfat, Cera toides lanata , is a palatable subshrub that is low-growing and silverv

in appearance. It is very hairy and many of the hairs are branched. It has been used '

for reclamation but the seed must be specially treated to get high germination.

Spiny hopsage, Grayia spinosa , is most frequently found 'in sandy' places . Its leaves
ate broadish and somewhat fleshy but generally not gray or silvery scurfy as in sliad-
scale, Mother species, _G. brandegei , has until recently been included in the genus.

It has scurfy leaves very similar to the saltbushes. It is now considered by some to
belong in ^ Che genus Zuckia which previously had only a single species from Arizona.

Others think that both species of Grayia should be Included with the saltbushes in the
genus Atriplex. Grayia brandegei is common on the badlands of Washakie Basin in southern
Sweetwater and Carbon counties.

Several other small subshrubs should be mentioned, Kochia americana, summer cvnress.
has narrow, fleshy leaves that are sparsely hairy. The similar appearing Suaeda nigra/
sea blrte, has similar leaves but they lack hairs. Both are found in saltf^^b^dl^d
areas.

Like most sagebrushes, the chenopodiaceous shrubs flower and fruit in late summer and
on into fall. The ^flowers are very inconspicuous (there are no petals) but the fruits
generally are prominent. They tend to be more abundant to the southwest, especially in
Utah and Nevada. Here they constitute Che dominant element in what are called salt-desert
shrub ranges. The following publication provides a good summary of our knowledge of these
ranges: Blaisdell, J. P. s R. C, Holmgren, 1984. Managing Intermountain rangelands —
salt-desert shrub ranges. USDA Forest Service General Technical Report INT-163. RD

1 yRING i IiiL EARTH • 1988 Tne first national gathering lo consider the
restoraaon of ah natural resource types and the redesign of urban areas will be held on
January 13-16 at the University of California, Berkeley. The conference is organized by
the Restoring the Earth project of The Tides Foundation, San Francisco, and cospon-
sored both by the College of Natural Resources and the Center for Environmental Design
Research of the University of California, Berkeley. It will bring experts in natural
resource restoration and managetnent together with a broad selection of academic,
government, industry, foundation, labor, public health, and environmental represen-
tatives. Participants will help create new solutions to the nation's environmental
problems, through restoration of damaged resources.

Topics to be covered include restoration of coastal ecosystems and estuaries; rivem and
lakes; streams and fisheries; rangelands, prairies, mined lands, forests and wildlife;
atmosphere and climate; dry lands and agricultural lands; urban environmental planning;
and control of toxic wastes. Formal refereed papers will be presented at scientific and^’
technical sessions. Non-technical sessions will include accounts of restoration successes
and discussions of policy issues, legislation, litigation, trends, and resource conflict
resolution. Tlie program also includes keynote panels, plenary sessions, workshops,
films, and exhibits.

Information is available from; Restoring the Earth Corference, 1713 C Martin Luther
King Jr. Way, Berkeley, CA 94709, or telephone (415) 843-2645.

Contributors This Issue - RD ^ Robert Dorn, HJM = Hollis J. Ffarriott.

1937 Annual Meeting; Attendees t left to right, 1st row: Louis Williams, Robert Dom, Gail
Chance, Jane Dorn, Virginia Wheeler, Marlene Juday, Michele Potkin; Ind row: Neil Snow,
Dennis Knight, Erwin Evert, Ronald Hartman, Rick Juday, Ernie Nelson; 3rd row: Larry
Cook, George Jones, Pat Pachuta, Hollis Marriott. Photo by Phil White.

From Laramie Daily Boomerang, July 17, 1987.

Ruth Ashton Nelson, 90, a former
Laramie resident, died Saturday in
Colorado Springs.

She was bom Nov. 29, 1896 in Rox-
bury, Mass. She later moved to the
Roffky Mountain region where she
began a serious study of western
plants and obtained her M.A. in bot-
any from Colorado State University.

In November 1931 she was mar-
ried to Dr. Aven Nelson, one of the
great Rocky Mountain- botanists,

professor of botany and curator of
the herbarium at the University of
Wyoming. Together, they spent
many summers collecting plants
and the winters working in the her-
barium.

Mrs, Nelson published four books
on plants in the R-ocky Mountain Re-
gion.

Survivors include her nieces
Susan Gentle, Cheyenne; Kathryn

Reynolds, Greshan, Oregon; her
nephew Rodney Ashton, Wooden-
viUe, Wash., and her step-brother,
Alfred Ashton, of Hemet, Calif.

She was preceded in death by her
husband.

Memorial contributions can be
made to the Horticultural Library,
1438 North Hancock Ave., Colorado
Springs, Colo.

No services were held.

Wyoming Native Plant Society
Box 1471

Cheyenne, WY 82003