COLORADO ^NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY NEWSLETTER Volume 10, Number 5 November 1986 "DEDICATED TO THE APPRECIATION AND CONSERVATION OF THE COLORADO FLORA" iWWWIlW W WWtfVtfWWWyVW WW VWWI l VWIIWVVWWIlWftW^ A CALL FOR ARTEMISIA SEED Researchers at Walter Reed Army Hospital are currently conduc- ting investigations into the anti- malarial properties of extracts from Artemi ala species. Fresh plant materials for sampling are being grown at the Denver Botanic Gardens and other locations from ^seed offered by other botanic gar- dens throughout the world. Native to the dry steppe re- gions of the world where neither botanic gardens nor collectors abound, it is understandable why this project is a massive one and that only 70 Artemisia species have been sampled to date out of the 250 to 400 worldwide species. Your help in gathering seed of all species, subspecies, and varie- ties is requested. Only enough seed to grow 25 plants is needed and the correct identification of the plant is not absolutely neces- sary. Identification can be made at a later date upon blooming in the greenhouse. Unidentified seed should be accompanied, however, with good information regarding collection site (e.g., state, coun- try, elevation, etc,). Please send to; Jim Borland ^ Plant Propagator Denver Botanic Gardens 909 York Street Denver, Colorado 80206 CALENDAR Nov. 22 Pteridophyte Identific- ation Workshop: Mr. Peter Root Jan. 17 Parasitic and Saprophytic Plants Workshop; Dr. Frank Hawksworth Feb. 7 Ecology of Wetlands Workshop: Mr. Steve Dougherty Feb. 28 Selected Woody Genera in Rosaceae Workshop: Ms Gayle Weinstein Mar. 21 Propagation of Colorado Native Plants Workshop: Jim Borland HELP WANTED Your editors need your help* We need informational articles, filler material, etc. for the news- letter. If you have visited a particularly botanically interes- ting area this past summer or fall, send us a short article on it for us to share with other members. Field trip participants, send us short articles on the field trips you enjoyed this summer. Anyone, send us material for the newslet- ter. Thanks. We have received a number of suggestions for a new name for the newsletter. We plan to make a final decision at the November Board meeting, so we will start the new year off with a ”new” newslet- ter. Thanks for your suggestions. * * # * To the Editor: On the subject of Paxistima vs Paohystima . I wouldT like you to publish this portion of a letter to me from Dan H. Nicholson, Dept, of Botany, Smithsonian Institution, June 13 , 1986, Sincerely, William Weber ”I looked into the Paxistima m Pachistlma Raf. question a bit. According to Merrill (Index Raf.) there were three early publications of » Pachiatima * Raf., all as nmlm. nuda : Ann. Monthly Mag. Crlt. Rev. 2 : 176, 1818 ; alt.. 4 : 191 . 1819; and J. Phys. Chem Hist. Nat. 89: 257. 1819. These publications are not easily available to me but I have no reason to doubt Merrill’s report. In the first valid publication (Sylva Telluriana 42 . I838) he used Paxistima three times (including the index). The only evidences that Rafinesque used Greek letter * * chi , instead of transliterating it as fiii, are ( 1 ) as your colleague suggested, that he must have meant pachi- (thick, a variant of pachv 4 . since ’ oaxi ’ is meaningless and the preceding invalid usages. Indeed, Endlicher accepted **Pachis- tima” . My feeling is that one should stick with what an author did, not climb on to the slippery slope of trying to guess what an author intended. For example, - stima . is also meaningless and Rafinesque probably meant - stigma . ’ Paohvsti- ma ’ was accepted by Meissner (1843), later than Paohvstigma Hochstetter (1842, Rubiaceae) . In this case, as sometimes happens, the more tinkering with ^ the original spelling one gets into, the more likely one gets into problems affecting other names. Article 20.1 states: "It (a name of a genus) may be taken from any source whatever, and may even be composed in an absolutely arbit- rary manner." I would be inclined to stick to the spelling used at the point of first valid publication. Ignore the earlier invalid publications, and not begin ’correcting’. Rafi- nesque, admittedly mercurial, was composing many names and was un- doubtably trying to avoid homonymy (no ,I h .d. g J Kewensls was available then) and may well have shifted the spelling to avoid potential homony- my. The fact that his final spel- ling is meaningless is not as important as the fact that it real- ly is a different name and, at his time, was an improbable later homo- nym. Rather than second-guess what he may have intended or meant to . do, the easiest course is to accept what he did." 2 TENTH ANNUAL HEETING The tenth Annual Meeting was a huge success with just under one hundred people attending. It was held at the University Park Holiday Inn in Fort Collins, Colorado, and hosted by the Fort Collihs Chapter. The morning events began at nine o’clock with two tours. Tour #1 visited xeriscape gardens in which many native plants are inte- grated with other drought-tolerant species. Tour #2 went to the Tis- sue Culture/Seed Lab on the Colora- do State University campus to see the Tissue Culture for Crops Pro- ject, an international program, and the U.S. Department of Agricul- ture’s National Seed Storage Lab- oratory. A film session was held at ten o’clock at the University Park Holiday Inn with ’’The Garland of Generations”, a Center for Plant Conservation and Garden Club of America slideshow. This show fo- cuses on conservation of rare and endangered plants throughout the country. ’’The Garden of Eden” a Nature Conservancy film showing plant diversity and the rationale for preserving that diversity, was also shown. At eleven o’clock, the group heard Dr. Holmes Rolston III, Pro- fessor of Philosophy from Colorado State University, speak on the topic, ’’Why Preserve Rare Plants? The Philosophical Considerations of Endangered Species”. Steve O’Kane, Botanist from the Colorado Natural Areas Program, then discussed ’’Co- lorado’s Rare Plants and Their Habitats” . After a delicious luncheon at the Holiday Inn, the participants reassembled to hear Dr. Dieter H. Wilken, Professor of Botany at Colorado State University, give a ’’Ten Year Retrospective of the Society” after which he was presen- ted with an honorary life member- ^ ship in CONPS for his outstanding contributions in furthering the knowledge of Colorado Flora, Three speakers followed who continued on the theme of the day. Sue Galatowitsch , Ecologist from the Colorado Natural Areas Program, spoke about ’’Protecting Rare Plants in Colorado”; Betsy Neely, a consulting Botanist, discussed her research with the rare plant, Brava humilis ssp. ventosa . and Don Falk from the Center for Plant Conserva- tion spoke on ’’The Center for Plant Conservation: Building a Living Collection of Endangered Plants*.' An election was held to fill the five Board of Director’s posi- tions being vacated by Bill Jen- nings , Velma Richards, Ann Cooper, Scott Ellis, and Anna Thurston. We appreciate the service these people have given to the Society and wish them well . Jim Borland, Mark Gala- towitsch, Elizabeth Otto, Velma Richards, and Dr. Doug Ripley were elected to fill the vacancies. Congratulations to each one of them. During the afternoon break, there was time for visiting, seeing exhibits and sales items, viewing some of the slides being assembled for the monograph of Colorado are Plants, and for enjoying coffee, cider, and cookies. The final session of the day began with Ann Cully , Planner and Botanist from the New Mexico Depar- tment of Natural Resources, who spoke about ’’Obtaining Rare Plant Legislation: The New Mexico Exper- ience”, David Kuntz , Director of the Colorado Natural Areas Program, spoke on ’’Prospects for Rare Plant Legislation in Colorado”, Conclu- ding comments were then made by Dr. Sue Martin who is the Conservation Chair for CONPS. This meeting was one of the highlights of the ten year history of the Society and provided much food for thought and stimulus for action. A big thank you goes to the Fort Collins Chapter for planning such an outstanding meeting. Eleanor Von Bargen President 3 CONPS Workshops Sat., Nov. 22, 1986 Pterldophyte Identification Leader: Mr. Peter Root Pteridophytes are the ferns and similar plants which are often called fern allies. The main em- phasis of this workshop will be identification * of pteridophytes from various parts of the United States. The relationships of the various groups will also be discus- sed. Participants should have a copy of John Mickel’s How the Know the Fe rns , ani F.e„m Allies . This can be ordered when registering. This workshop will be held at the Denver Botanic Gardens. Registra- tion fee: $8 (members) $16 (non- members ) . Sat., Jan. 17, 1987 Parasitic and Saprophytic Plants Leader: Dr. Frank Hawksworth Parasites like mistletoes and broomrapes derive their nourishment from other living plants. Sapro- phytes like pinedrops live off decaying plant material in symbio- sis with fungi. Dr. Hawksworth, who has published extensively on the mistletoes, will cover these plants plus broomrapes, dodders, and the saprophytic genera in the Orchidaceae and Ericaceae. To be held at the US Forest Service, Fort Collins. Registration fee: $8 (members ) ; $ 1 6 (non-members ) . Sat., Feb. 7, 1987 ^ Ecology of Wetlands Leader: Mr. Steve Dougherty Wetlands are extremely important for many reasons, not just botani- cally or zoologically. Steve will explain just what is really meant by the broad term wetland, why they are so vital, and what plant assoc- iations are present. To be held at the Denver Botanic Gardens. Regis- tration fee: $8 (members); $16 (non-members) . Sat., Feb. 28, 1987 Selected Woody Genera in Rosaceae Leader: Gayle Weinstein This workshop will focus on the winter identification of woody plants in the Rose family. Exam- ples include: Cowania. Fallueia. Chamaetatarla. PurshiSt Cercocar- PruhU ,8 «„ and Ame- lanchier . These genera are impor- ^ tant components of western plant communities. Registration fee: $8 (members); $16 (non-members). 4 Cfrcc Citrous Tru?nhxnt4S Sat., March 21, 19S7 Propagation of Colorado Native Plants Leader: Jim Borland Starting native plants from seeds and cuttings is not a secret known only to a select few nurseypeople and greenthumbers. Special techni- ques and procedures for starting native seed will include descrip- tions and demonstrations of strati- fication, scarification and after- ripening processes to overcome dor- mancy problems. Many of our alpi- ne-to-desert species can also be easily propagated by the same cut- ting techniques used for African violets and philodendrons. This workshop will be held at the Denver Botanic Gardens, Bring: knife, pruners or scissors, fingernail file, large zip-lock bags and a ^ large dose of inquisitiveness. Re- gistration fee: $8 (members); $16 (non-members) . To register, contact CONPS workshop coordinator, Bill Jen- nings, 360 Martin Drive, Boulder, 8 O 303 , 49^*‘5159* Please register promptly as workshops tend to fill up fast. You may pay in advance or at the workshop as you wish. Regi- strants will be notified by mail about two (2) weeks prior to the workshop regarding final location, time, lunch, suggested references, etc. Be sure to include your mail- ing address and phone number if you mail in your registration. Cancel- lations sometimes create openings, so check with Bill a few days be- fore the workshop if you want to try to register at the last minute. Workshops scheduled for March, April and May 1987 will be announc- ^p^ed in later newsletters. Please let us know how you like the workshops and field trips we plan. We need your suggestions for others as well as your feedback on whether you enjoyed them, found them informative and exciting or dull and nothing new. Send us feedback I We need to know if we are serving you, our members, the way you wish. Thanks. 5 Tm si QAh RiUNFQ lE SIS,; aTMTEGIES £21 WISE MANAGEMENT A Four Day Conference The University of Colorado will host a conference on tropical rainforests February 5 - 8, 1987* The four-day conference will bring togethe*r many of the world’s lead- ing rainforest experts to discuss ways of better managing this irre- placeable resource. Keynote speakers will be David Brower of Earth Island Institute and Catherine Caulfield, author of la tba Rainforest . Other speakers include Ghlllean Prance of the New York Botanical Gardens, Bruce Rich of the Environmental Defense Fund, Judy Gradwohl of the National Zoo- logical Park, Shelton Davis of the Anthropological Resource Center, and many others. Topics to be covered include: biological diversity, indigenous peoples, international consumerism, climatic effects, international lending policies, and the impact of economic activities such as cattle ranching, colonization, and dam building. The goal of the conference will be to educate participants on the problems of rainforest manage- ment and to provide a context for policy solutions and outlets for activism. Sponsors of the conference to date are: the University of Colo- rado Environmental Center, the Kuja Sni Research Group, the CU Depart- ments of Biology, Geography, and Anthropology, the Rainforest Action Network, and the New York Botanical Garden. Registration fees are: indi- viduals: $15/day; $30/four days, representatives of groups: $30/day; $60/four days. For more information, contact the CU Environmental Center, UMC 331 A, Campus Box 207, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309, 303-492-5308. 6 BOOK REVIEWS North American Range Plants Third Edition By J, Stubbendieck , Stephen L, Hatch, and Kathie J. Hirsch Lincoln, NE; University of Nebraska Press 1986 465 pp- $18.95 This book is a guide to 200 plants that are particularly signi- ficant for their abundance, desira- bility as forage, or noxious pro- perties. The species included are those on the Master Plan List for the International Range Plant Iden- tification Contest sponsored by the Society for Range Management. A brief, illustrated guide to the identification of range plants is given at the beginning of the book. Ninety-four grasses and one hundred-six forbs and woody plants are desorbed in detail. The species descriptions in- clude nomenclature, life span, ori- gin, season of growth, and inflore- scence, vegetative, and growth characteristics* Brief notes are given on habitat, estimated forage value, livestock losses, and histo- ric, food, and medicinal uses. The descriptions also include charac- teristics for their identification, a full-page drawing of the plant or enlarged plant parts including the ligule, and a general distribution map for North America. These il- lustrations are beautifully done. James Stubbendieck is a pro- fessor of agronomy at the Universi- ty of Nebraska-Lincoln . Stephen L. Hatch is an associate professor and curator of the Tracy Herbarium in n * % * * the Department of Range Science at Texas A ^ M University. Kathie J, Hirsch is an environmental scien- tist with the Reclamation Division of the North Dakota Public Service Commission . review by Eleanor Von Bargen Flor a af tM Qr,.g..a.b Pl a x n e By The Great Plains Flora Associa- tion Lawrence, KS: University of Kansas Press 1,400 pp. This volume is the only up-to- date floristic treatment in exis- tence for the Great Plains area. Founded on a massive specimen col- lection program, it is a definitive compendium of information about the vascular plants that occur sponta- neously in Kansas, Nebraska, North and South Dakota, eastern Montana, Wyoming, and Colorado; northeastern New Mexico; the Texas panhandle; northwest Oklahoma; and western Missouri, Iowa, and Minnesota. In- cluded are general keys, descrip- tions, statements of range, flow- ering times, ecological data, and relevant synonymies (sic) for every flowering plant, conifer, and fern known to occur in the region. review from book jacket (available on loan from the Denver Botanic Gardens library) * * % * % * * 1 President Vioe-Fresldent Secretary Treasurer OFFICERS Eleanor Von Barges 756-1^00 Steve 0»Kane 7HH„2il79 Meg Van Neas " 279-2569 Myrna P. Steinkamp 226-3371 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Jim Borland (88) Carol Brandt (87) Virginia Crosby (87) Miriam Denham (87) Mark Galatowitach (08) Elizabeth Otto (88) Velma Richards (86) Doug Ripley (88) Les Shader* (87) Eleanor Von Bargen (87) Denver Ft. Collins Lafayette Boulder Berthoud Denver Inglewood Ft. Collins Denver 329-9198 484-9251 666-5303 442-1020 532-4635 355-0119 794-5432 484-0107 756-1400 Chapter Presidents (Members of Board) Boulder Virginia Crosby 666-5303 Denver Metro Peter Root 433-9340 Ft. Collins Carol Brandt 484-9251 SCHEDULE OF MEMBERSHIP FEES Life $250.00 Family or Dual $12.00 Supporting 50.00 Individual 8.00 Organization 25.00 Student or, Senior 4.00 Please direct all other inquiries regarding the Society to the SECRETARY in care of the Society’s mailing address. Conservation COMMITTEES Sue Martin 226-3371 Editorial Peter Root 433-9340 Education Miriam Denham 442-1020 Field Trips Nevln BeBee 733-1038 ^ Florissant Mary Edwards 233-8133 ^ Horticulture A Gayle Weinstein 333-3024 Rehabilitation Membership Myrna Steinkamp 226-3371 Publicity Workshops Bill Jennings 494-5159 NEWSLETTER CONTRIBUTIONS Please direct all contributions to the newsletter to Peter Root 4915 West 31st Avenue Denver, CO 80212 Deadlines for newsletter materials are one month prior to publication dates, which are January 15, March 15, May 15, August 15, and November 15- There is a special need for short filler items such as some unusual information about a plant, a little known botanical term, etc. Please include author’s name and address, but items will be printed anonymously if requested. MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS AND INFORMATION Please direct all membership applications, renew- als and address changes to the MEMBERSHIP chair- person, in care of the Society's mailing address. RETUHN AND MAILING ADDRESS Colorado Native Plant Society P.O. Box 200 Fort Collins, Colorado 80522 Non-profit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Permit #1475 Denver, Colorado Time Value Material - Mailed on or about November 14 ^ i 64 Co 906 GOLQKABO KATIVK FLUTT SOCIETY MENBEE WSMEXtKL HOTICE AMD SDRYEY, 1987 Mevbersliip in CoHFS is on a calendar year basis, January 1 through December 31. Your address label in the upper right comer shows the year through which your dues are paid, you have not paid THRU 1987, please enclose this form with your renewal. All members ncluding "Life** and "1987** are asked to complete and return the survey. Thanks tl MAME(S) ^ MEMBERSHIP CLASS ADDRESS IHDIVIDTJAL, $8 FAMILY/D0AL, $12 (address) SENIOR/l^TIRED, $4 STTOEHT, $4 CITY STATE ZIP CORPORATE, $25 StrpPORTlNG, $50 PHON E NIN MEMBER RENEWA L LIFE, $250 I WISH TO BE A MEMBER OF THE FOLLOWING CHAPTER (mark one only): BOULDER COLO. SPRIBKJS FT, COLLINS _F0UR CORNERS METRO DENVER I would give a Chapter program on , or lead a local trip to . In addition to ray membership, I wish to donate $ to further the purposes of the society. CoNPS IS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION; DUES AND CONTRIBUTIONS ARE TAX- DEDUCTIBLE. PLEASE DO NOT DETACH 1. There are occasional vacancies on the Society's standing cossaittees. Please indicate your interest in possible committee service. (Information on duties can be obtained from the committee chairperson, listed in the newsletter, c/o the Society address.) CONSERVATION Reviewing governmental documents, EIS, etc. Representing CoNPS to other conservation groups EDITORIAL (Newsletter) Art Work for Newsletter or other publication EDUCATION (see #5 below) FIELD TRIPS FLORISSANT HORTICULTURE & REHAB. MEMBERSHIP PUBLICITY WORKSHOPS 2. Would you consider running for the Board of Directors? Yes No 3. The field trips committee welcomes suggestions for field trips — ^-let's have yours I Locat ion : Plants of special interest in the area: Best flowering dates or period: , .. Time needed to see area: (1/2 day, day, wkend, longer?) I sm willing ^to lead, or t o help organize this trip. (If you are unable to lead, suggest leader (s) who might be willing: 4. The newsletter editor solicits contributions by members. Anything that might be of interest to native plant lovers is wanted. I could contribute an article or note on: Any suggestions re the newsletter? 5. The Education Committee is working on a slide program, *'Life in an Aspen Grove." Could you donate original slides (not duplicates) on this subject, or help as ^a driver or ^a photographer to explore aspen groves this year, or ^help write/assemble the program? (For info, contact Miriam Denham, 442-1020 in Boulder.) 6. CONPS should sponsor a workshop on ^(topie, plant taxon, etc.) Your comments and suggestions are always welcome. What are we not doing that should be done, and vice versa? What could be improved? (Please use the back of this sheet for potshots or praise I) V COLORADO NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY BOULDER CHAPTER CALENDAR Tuesday, November 11 COMPARISON OF THE BIOLOGY OF THREE RARE AND THREE WIDE SPREAD SPECIES OF MILKVETCH. Jeff Carron, of the EPO biology Department at CU, will discuss his findings on the reproduction ecology and genetics of several species of Astragalus ( mi 1 kve t ches ) . Time: 7:30 pm Place: Foothills Nature Center Tuesday, December 9 WILDFLOWERS OF BIG BEND AND GUADALUPE NATIONAL PARKS. Bill Jennings will present a slide talk on the plants of these fascination areas of Texas. Time: 7:30 pm Place: Foothills Nature Center Tuesday, January 13 ABORIGINALS USE OF FIRE AND ITS INFLUENCE ON THE NATIVE VEGETATION. Dr. Oraer Stewart, Prof. emeritus of Anthropology, CU , will share his views on the relationsnip between modern plant communities and the use of fire by native human populations. Time : 7:30 pm Place: Foothills Nature Center Tuesday, February 10 CITY OPEN SPACE MANAGEMENT WITH EMPHASIS ON THE TALL GRASS PRAIRIES Jim Crain, director of Boulder^s office of Real Estate and Open Space, will be present to describe and answer questions about the city’s open space management program. Time: 7:30 pm Place: Foothills Nature Center Tuesday, March 10 SENSIBLE LANDSCAPING FOR WATER CONSERVATION, BEAUTY, AND LOW MAINTENANCE. Jim Knopf, landscape architect and xeriscape authority, presents this slide program of landscape ideas featuring native, low maintenance, and water conservation plantings. Time: 7:30 pm Place; Foothills Nature Center Meetings are open to the public. For information call 449-3041. DENVER CHAPTER CALENDAR Wednesday, November 26 Roxborough State Park Management Plan and the Problems of Managing a State Park/Natural Area. Susan Trumble, Park Manager of Roxborough State Park/Natural Area will dis- cuss the problems with managing a natural area in a location which is being increasingly impacted by residential development. Time: 7:30 pm Location: Denver Botanic Gardens House Wednesday, January 28 Plants of the Colorado Plateau. Karen Trout will discuss the flora and geology of the canyonlands and mesas of southwest Colorado. Time: 7:30 pm Location: Denver Botanic Gardens House