Colorado JVatiTePlant (Society

NEWSLETTER

Volume ^ Number 6
November-December 1980

"Dedicated to the Appreciation and Conservation of the Colorado Flora"

OFFICERS 1979-1980

PODRESS

President:

Vice-President:

Secretary:

Treasurer:

Lloyd Hayes
0. Scott Peterson
Sue Martin
Myrna Steinkamp

Colorado Native Plant Society
P. 0. Box 200

Ft. Collins, Colorado 80522

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Ann Armstrong (81) Boulder 494-0545

Bob Bowman (80) Ft. Collins 491-6524

Miriam Denham (80) Boulder 442-1020

Virginia Dionigi (80) Hygiene 776-2609

Tom Eamon (81) Golden 279-1076

Hugo Ferchau (80) Gunnison
Lloyd Hayes (80) Ft. Collins 226-5365

Bob Heapes (81) Parker 841-3978

Sue Martin (81) Ft. Collins 226-3371

J. Scott Peterson (80) Ft. Collins 491-6524
Mark Phillips (80) Lafayette 828-3021

c»thttees

EDUCATION Virginia Dionigi

HORTICULTURE & REHABILITATION Mark Phillips

LEGISLATIVE vacant

MEMBERSHIP Myrna Steinkamp

PUBLICATIONS J. Scott Peterson

THREATENED ENDANGERED Bill Harmon

SCHEDULE OF MEMBERSHIP FEES

LIFE $ 250.00
SUPPORTING 50.00
SOCIETY 25.00
family 12.00

INDIVIDUAL 8.00
STUDENT & RETIRED 4.00

Nonmembership subscriptions to the
Newsletter are $ 4.00.

ne'/^letter articles

Please direct all articles of interest to
the CONPS to Dieter Wilken, Editor, CONPS.
Deadlines for the 6 bimonthly Newsletters
are the end of January, Marc?i, May, July,
September and November.

fCfSERSHIP RENEWALS & IHFORfWION

Please direct all membership applications,
renewals and address changes to Myrna
Steinkamp, Membership Chairperson, CONPS.

BSJ kmm. Meeti?^

It was a pleasure to meet with the 55 members
who participated In the 1980 Annual Meeting at
the Denver Botanic Gardens.

The program consisted of three parts, comprising
a brief- business meeting and two informative and
Illustrated presentations.

The highlight of the n^eting was the presentation
of an honorary life membership to one of our most
respected members, a founding member and first
president of the Society, Dr. John Marr of the
University of Colorado.

Bob Heapes donated a beautiful, framed color
photograph of the orange Paintbrush, Castilleja
Integra , as a door prize. The fortunate winner
Wilken.

Intermission took us for refreshments hosted by
Ann Armstrong and educational displays. Exhibits
Included a presentation by the Applewood Seed
Company of Denver and a continuous color slide
Show prepared by Bob Heapes from the Society's
field trips.

Most Society activities have been detailed
In newsletters during the year. Certainly
the highlights of the field season were our
four trips planned and coordinated by Bob Heapes.
The trips took participants to the High Plains
Conservation Center, Pikes Peak/Mueller Ranch,
Piceance Basin/Raven Ridge and Niwot Ridge.

The Society donated $ 50 to support ''Operation
Wildf lower" sponsored by the Colorado Federation
of Garden Clubs.

The CONPS poster, designed by well-known
CSU poster artist, John Sorbie, was printed
as a publicity and fund-raising venture.

We also sought further public exposure by our
participation in the Life Vision Environmental
Fair, sponsored by the Colorado Open Space
Council and Denver University.

The Society joined with 9 other similar
organizations in forming the Western
Association of Native Plant Societies.

During 1980 the Society cooperated with
such organizations as The Colorado Open
Space Council and the Colorado Natural Heritage
Program

The officers and continuing Board members thank
retiring Board members Virginia Dionigl, Miriam
Denham, Hugo Ferchau, Scott Peterson and Mark
Phillips. Virginia and Miriam consented to
run for a second term and were reelcted along
with new Board members Mary Edwards, Scott
Ellis and Lloyd Hayes.

The featured speakers of the Annual Meeting were
Dr. Eldie Mustard, Wildlife Biologist with the
USDA Soil Conservation District who discussed
"Preservation of Wetland Habitats" and Dr, Carse
Pustmueller, Director of the Colorado Natural
Areas Program, who described the objectives and

activities of the Natural Areas Program with an
excellent slide presentation.

Finally, our thanks go to Tom Eamon for arranging „
and coordinating the program. ^

Lloyd Hayes

On September 11, 1980, the BOD formalized a
previous informal practice: new members who
join after September 1 of any year will be
considered full members throughout the entire
following year,

Scott Peterson was authorized to attend a
meeting of the Association of Western Native
Plant Societies in Phoenix, Arizona on
October 11-12, 1980,

On October 25, the following officers were
elected to serve for the 1980-1981 term:

President: Lloyd Hayes

Vice-President: Scott Peterson

Secretary: Sue Martin

Treasurer: Myrna Steinkamp

In order to anphasize the needs and problems
associated with native plants of the western
slope of Colorado, a position of West Slope
representative was authorized by the BOD
The BOD is actively seeking a member of the
Society who can fill this position.

The Education CoTOittee was authorized to
complete two sets of photographic slides and
tape cassettes which will comprise a native plant
educational' program designed for sale to school
districts and similar groups.

1980 CCWPS COWITTEE ACTIVITIES

PRESETiTATION OF HONORARY LiFE ftMBERSHIP

The presentation of an Honorary Life Membership
was made on behalf of the Society by Miriam
Denham to Dr. John Marr of the EPO Biology
Department, University of Colorado, Boulder.

The following represents the text of the
presentation:

Those of us who have known Dr. Marr for a few
years will always think of him as the Arctic
and Alpine Institute, which he helped to establish
and directed for 16 years. The Institute was an
outgrowth of a graduate program in mountain eco-
logy at CU, Boulder. To meet the needs of a win-
ter research class, the Science Lodge below Niwot
Ridge was converted for survival and winter field
studies so that different ecological units and
atmospheric conditions could be compared.

His 1961 "Ecosystems of the East Slope of the
Front Range in Colorado" has become a classic.
Today, however, he is more interested in
talking about his cu'^rent studies of timberline
tree islands than his many past accomplishments
and publications. His recent work and activities
include a publication on "Mechanisms for movement
and migration across the landscape", his "Labora-
tory of Mountain Ecology" and the direction of
graduate students and environmental impact studies.

Dr. Marr was one of the people instrumental in
the formation of the Colorado Native Plant
Society and was its charter President in addition
to being a member of the Board of Directors.

Much of the work of the Society takes place
in the Society Committees. Major activities
of these committees are reported below.

MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE: Beth Painter, Sue Martin
and Myrna Steinkamp comprised the committee
during 1980. 1980 began with 153 members.

Of these, 115 rejoined with the membership at
the end of 1980 comprising 157, with the
addition of 42 new members. The committee
is actively planning a membership drive and
solicits all advice regarding its plans.

EDUCATION COMMITTEE: Ann Armstrong, Miriam

Denham and Virginia Dionigi were kept busy
in 1980 with 3 major tasks.

The first was to obtain a list of members
interested in committee or other work per-
taining to the Society's activities. In so
doing they prepared a quetionnaire submitted
to the membership and compile responses which
are now on file. Second, the committee planned
and arranged the booth at the Life Vision
Environmental Fair, reported in the May-June
Newsletter. Third, they began the preparation
of a library of colored photographic slides
of the Colorado Native Flora. Incorporated
into an audio-visual program, 1;he first
program, soon to be released, is designed for
use in elementary schools. It will be available
for purchase and possibly on loan to Colorado
Schools. In addition. Bob Heapes, Paula Lehr and
Lloyd Hayes are to be credited with contributions
to the project.

PUBLICATION COMMITTEE: Despite a continuing
shortage of articles and items of interest,
the Newsletter was published in 6 issues this
year. Scott Peterson arranged for the design
and publication of the first CONPS poster, of
which a number have now been either sold or
distributed.

THREATENED AND ENDANGERED SPECIES COMMITTEE:

With the concurrence of the BOD. Chairman Bill
Harmon accepted a personal contract with the
Colorado Natural Areas Program and the Natural
Heritage Program to gather data on specified
Colorado plants that may be eligible for inclusion
in the Federal Endangered Species Program. Bill
administered two field teams and independent
researchers during much of the summer of 1980.
After his return this fall. Bill has started
on a revision of the Colorado list of
sensitive, threatened and endangered species.

HORTICULTURE AND REHABILITATION COMMITTEE:

Mark Phillips and Lloyd Hayes served on this
committee during 1980 and reviewed, on behalf
of the Society, the "proposed Rules and
Regulations of the Colorado Mined Land Reclama-
tion Board". Their comments and criticisms were
referred to the BOD and are summarized in the
March-Spril Newsletter.

FORT COLLINS CHAPTER ACTIVITIES

The Fort ColUns Chapter remains the only
active chapter in the Society with Bob Bowman
serving as Chair. The local chapter met
on November 17 for an illustrated presentation
by Joe Friedlander, Range Science, CSlf on his
research of Rare and Endangered Plants in Mesa
Verde National Park. The last meeting of the
year was on December 11 and was highlighted by
The Colorado Natural Areas Program multi-media
slide presentation hosted by Dr. Carse Pustmueller,
This program was much enjoyed at the annual
meeting of the Society and revisited again by
local chapter members with great interest.

FOIXIU AT THE ANNUAL MEETING: A man's wool jacket.
"Wool rich” brand, size large, was found at the
conclusion of the annual meeting at the Denver
Botanic Gardens. Please contact Sue Martin
(226-3371 home; 482-7717 office).

THE NB^LETTER

Beginning with 1981 and Volume 5 the
CONPS Newsletter will have a new editor
in the person of Beth Painter, who will
be responsible for preparing each number
and sharing the frustrations of the current
editor in finding sufficient material for
inclusion. Since Beth is married to the
current editor, these frustrations will
be shared more commonly than usual 1

Every attempt will be made to make the
Newsletter more interesting to the general
membership and several articles are now
being prepared for the next two numbers.
However, it is the membership which best
provides the current events and their news
regarding the activities of the Society
and you are all urged to contribute-
Whether your contributions may be personal
experiences or knowledge of other's,
amateur or professional observations or
the activities of other organizations
with an interest in the Colorado flora ^
please contribute for 1981 i

Dieter Mil ken

NOTICE: fCMBERSHIP R E NEWALS
For those members whose address
labels end with "PAID THRU; *80"
a self-addressed envelope is en-
closed so that you may renew
your membership for 1981.

Please renew promptly so that you
can continue to receive the news
of the society activities for 1981.

If you note a discrepancy with regard
to your address label please contact
the Membership Chair, Myrna Stein-
kamp via the Society's P.O. Box
address

VARIATION IN THE ALPINE FORGET-ME-NOT

In July, 1980, Ruth Nelson brought me 2
living plants of Eritrichiutn aretioides,
the ALPINE FORGET-ME-NOT, ' from Level and Pass
which were interesting not only in that they
represented the white and blue floral form,
but because the flowers of the white plant were
exactly half the size of those in the blue
plant. The measurements were as follows:

Normal Blue Flowers Small White Flowers

6 irm

2 X 2 mm

1.8 X 1.7 mm
0.8 mn, stout

2.8 mm
0.5 nm

There was no evidence of floral dimorphism
(i.e. different forms) as to the insertion of
the stamens and the observed style length
difference may not be significant.

We saw these 2 types in the field on Hoosier
Ridge, where another variable was height of
the flowering stems. Some of the very long
stems habe been used as a basis for the name
£• elongatum . It seemed that the small -flowered
plants were growing in drier ground and It may
be suggested that the dry situation creates a
threshold response in the flower buds resul-
ting in small flowers. The wet and dry sites
form an intricate mosaic, and one must get
down under the plants to determine the soil
moisture situation.

diameter 3 mm
petal ~ 1.3 X 1.2 mm
tube 1,3 X 1.2 imm
style 1.0 mm, slender
calyx 2.0 mm
anthers 0.6 mm

We have also seen these 2 flower sizes in Eri-
trichlum and in Hyosotis in the Bering Strait
region of Alaska. The monographer. Lore
Lechner-Pock, in a monograph published In 1956*
wrote, under the name t. villosum (I translate):
"...Very small -flowered specimens also occur,
in which the corolla length only reaches 1,5 to
2 mm. Herder in 1872 referred to these as as
the variety parviflorum . . . Also in E_. aretioides
from the Rocky Mountains I have found small-flo-
wered plants among the normal ones. The corol-
la tube is 1.5 to 2 mm long, and the base 0.8-
1.3 mm wide, in the middle l-2(~2.4) mm wide,
and somewhat narrowed above. The diameter of
the white or blue petals 1s (3.5)4 to 7(8) mm

Someone should investigate this phenomenon
from an ecological and a developmental morpho-
logy standpoint. This certainly would be an
ideal subject for a postgraduate thesis.
Meanwhile, do not be alarmed at seeing these
different flower sizes and colors. They do
not indicate two different species:

— William A. Weber

REPRINTS OF NEWSLETTER VOLS M

In response to requests for old
issues of the Newsletters, Volumes
1-4, 1976-1980 from several libraries
and botanical gradens, the editor
is planning to have complete sets
prepared through a photocopying
service. Costs will be kept minimal
only if complete sets are produced.
The cost has been estimated at about
$4.00 If any m^ber would like to
obtain a complete set beginning with
the first CONFS Newsletter, please
respond by March 1, 1981 and the
editor will make arrangements.

Please write through the Society
P.O. Box. Requests for individual
issues or volumes can not be
honored.

— Dieter H. Wilken