Sage notes: Idaho Native Plant Society newsletter.

ID.4H0 N/1TIKE PLA-iT SOCIETY NEWSLETTER

VOL. IX NO. 4 APRIL— MAY 1986

PAHOVE

ACTIVITIES CALENDAR

April 5:

Saturday field trip to the Snake River, north of Weiser. Meet
at 8:30 at Perkins Restaurant, State St. and Glenwood for Boise
carpooling. Contact Trip Leader Steve Caicco at 334-3402 (work)
or 344-3148 (home) for more details.

April 17:

Caldwell meeting at 7:30 pm in the herbarium, Boone Science

Hall, College of Idaho. Chris Davidson will discuss future
plans for the new Idaho Botanical Gardens. The election of new
officers will also be during this meeting.

April 26:

Saturday work day at the Idaho Botanical Gardens. Meet at

10:00 am above the old prison site with work clothes, lunch and
handtools (shovel, rake, or tilling fork). Also bring plants
that can be transplanted if you have them. Best entry is by
way of Goodman Street off Warm Springs Ave. Call Chris David-
son at 343-8649 for more details. Note: This is a change in
schedul ing.

May 3:

Saturday field trip to an oolitic limestone site south of
Bruneau. Meet at 8:30 am at Grant's Truck Stop on Hwy I 80.

Call Trip Leader Roger Rosentretter at 334-1734 (work) or 384-
1244 (home) for more details.

May 15:

No regular meeting planned for this month. Meetings to resume
in October.

May 17:

Saturday field trip to Wilderness Ranch in the Mores Creek area
north of Boise. Meet at 8:30 am at the M&W Market on Warm
Springs Ave. in Boise. For more details call Trip Leader Bob
Parenti at 334-1806 (work) or 342-4880 (home).

June 14:

Saturday field trip to Craters of the Moon National Monument.

Leave from Grants Truck Stop, Hwy 180 in Boise, at 8:30. Meet
again at the Monument Visitor Center at noon. Or plan to camp
with us Friday night at the Monument group campground, and join
in a hike Saturday morning. RSVP to Trip Leader Steve Caicco
at 334-3402 (work) or 344-3148 (home).

June 28:

Saturday field trip to Ponderosa State Park by McCall. A vari-
ety of vegetative types including wetlands, mature forests, and
open sagebrush slopes makes this an exciting location, pro-
viding many interesting plants from aquatics to terrestrial
orchids. Meet at the Perkins Restaurant on State Street and
Glenwood at 8:30. RSVP Michelle Stevens at 334-9488 (work) or
344-3148 (home) .

July 26:

Saturday field trip to Mt. Harrison in the Albion Range south
of Burley, in search of Castilleja Christ i i , Cymopterus davisii
and Mac haerar/thera I aetevirens. Bob Mosely plans to lead this
trip. Details will be announced in the next newsletter.

NOTE: RSVP's

are important as there may be a need to change or cancel a trip.

FROM

THE ED X TOR

Personal commitments and schedules -for the remainder o-f this year requires
that this be my last issue as newsletter editor. Although a demanding and
time-consuming job, it has indeed, been rewarding. I wish to thank the many
who have contributed materials and support over the past several years, and
hope that you will continue the excellent support for the Sage Notes in the
future. Michelle Stevens has agreed to take over as editor starting with
the June edition. You may see some changes in procedure and format in the
coming months, however, please continue to use the regular INPS address for
newsletter correspondence.

I D^MO BOTANICAL GARDEN NEWS

Spring work is under way at the new Idaho Botanical Gardens. A 1200 sq. ft.
building was recently moved on to its foundation to provide office space for
the gardens. Refurbishing of the building will begin soon.

NEW NATURE TRAIL. One of the projects taking shape is the design of a nature
trail which will lead into the foothills above the present garden area.
Dotty Douglas is leading this project with the help of several volunteers:
Jerry Cross has prepared the sign posts; Jeri Williams, a BSU student ir
working up the brochure; Jenifer Tripp, another BSU student is doing the art
work; and Steve Briggs has helped in trail location. The trail guide will
provide botanical, zoological and geological information about the area.
Dotty hopes to have the first segment of the trail ready for use by early
summer. This will be the primary project for Pahove's workday on April 26.
Bring shovels and rakes for trail work.

ARBOR DAY CELEBRATION. What better place for an Arbor Day celebration than
at the Botanical Gardens. Arbor Day is Friday April 25. The celebration
starts at 1:00 pm with refreshments, tours and other events. Several local
garden clubs will be participating. People can bring any plants they wish
to donate.

SPRING GARDEN TOUR. The Botanical Gardens will sponsor a spring garden tour
of the Warm Springs Area in East Boise on Sunday May IS. The tour will end
up at the Botanical Gardens. A tour brochure is being prepared and will be
available by calling Chris Davidson at 343-8649.

Be sure to take in at least one of these scheduled events.

W I L_DFI OWERS OE I DF*MO CLASS

As announced in our last newsletter, Dick Lingenf elter ' s wildflowers class
for Boise Community Education Schools has been rescheduled to begin on April
7. The class will be held Monday evenings, 7 to 8:30 at Borah High. The
class runs for 7 weeks and costs $9.95. Call the Community Ed office at
338-3525 for signup information.

MUSEUM OF IM^TUFt^L. FI I STORY WORKDAYS

Come lend a hand at the College of Idaho's Museum of Natural History monthly
workdays. Volunteers are needed for a variety of Museum tasks including
rebui 1 di ng/ref urbi shi ng display cases. Workdays are on Saturdays, 7 am until
evening. Scheduled workdays are May 10, May 17, June 7, and August 2. A
benefit auction will also be held on May 17 <10 am). Phone 365-8605 (Bill
Clark) or 459-5331 (Eric Yensen) for additional information.

VOL. IX

NO. 4

APRIL-MAY 1986

#=» NEW I ELD KEY TO CHR YSOTH AMNU5

Idaho botanists have long realized the need for a good field key to the
species of Chrysothannus south of the Snake River. Such a key Mas recently
developed by Carol Prentice as she used material deposited in the College of
Idaho Herbarium (CIO and verified by Loran C. Anderson. Carol, Mho is a
botanist and charter member of Fahove, undertook the project this past year
at the request of Dr. Pat Packard.

The key is as follows:

1. Stems tomentose, hairs often densely compacted. Scratch stems with
fingernail to remove densely compacted hairs.

Chrysothawnus nauseosus (Pall.) Britt.

2. Breen stems, involucres glabrous. (Two subspecies, not able to
differentiate at this time.)

ssp. consimil is (Greene) Hall & Clem.

HERBARIUM NOTE: Spotty collections in Owyhee and
Cassia Cos., and Elko Co., Nevada.

ssp. graveolens (Nutt.) Piper

HERBARIUM NOTE: One speciman on file with large
flowering heads which may or may not be significant;
leaves perhaps wider and longer, more robust than
cons i mil is .

2. Gray stems (white).

3. Involucres tomentulose to wooly.

ssp. graveolens (Nutt.) Piper

3. Involucres glabrous.

ssp. al bicaul is (Nutt.) Hall & Clem.

HERBARIUM NOTE: One hybrid speciman x consimil is
from Meadow Creek Crossing, Owyhee Co.

1. Stems glabrous (no hairs on stems, no change in the color of the stems
when scratched).

4. Calyx glandular.

C. Mumi'Ixs Greene

HERBARIUM NOTE: Our specimen from Reynolds Cr.,
Owyhee Co., Appears to have glandular calyx but no
overtopping leaves. Anderson's description reads
that the head often overtopped by leaves; flowers
2-3(4) style branches included or barely surpassing
corolla lobes, appendages long.

4. Calyx not glandular.

Chrysothannus vi sex di fl orus (Hook.) Nutt.

5. Stems glabrous, leaves 1-10 mm wide with ciliate margins,
otherwise glabrous.

ssp. viscidi floras

3

Upper stems hairy, also frequently the leaves are hairy.

6. Leaves strongly twisted, stems and leaves finely puberal ent,
leaves 1-2(4) mm wide.

ssp. puberal us (D.C. Eaton) Hall & Clem.

6. Leaves not twisted, stems hispid near inflorescence (ie.

with stiff rigid bristle-like hairs), leaves over 2 mm wide
ssp. Imnceolmtus (Nutt.) Hall. & Clem.

TRIBUTE TO THE AMATEUR I |sj BOTANY

If we define a professional botanist as a trained person employed in an edu-
cational or research institution, then there are several sorts of amateurs
in botany. There are those whose background ' consi sts of formal training in
botany but who are working in other fields, and there are those whose
botanical knowledge is largely sel f -gathered. There are those of
independent means who expand their energies in botanical research, and
others who must work for a living and yet use all of their free time for
botany. In both economic groups there are qualified people interested in
occasional forays into the realm of botanical investigations.

All of these types of amateurs have provided significant contributions- — con-
tributions that sometimes have been overlooked in our society* s orientation
toward the value of affiliation with institutions, and the value of work
that is compensated by money. We wish to encourage all amateurs to continue
to initiate their work.

7 hi c item ju ss taken from the University of Mmshington .Arboretum oulletin
trail 1982).'''

DEOERT CONFERENCE VIII

The eighth annual Desert Conference will be held April 18-20 at Malheur
Field Station south of Burns, Oregon. This is a three state conservation
conference with themes that address the arid lands of Idaho, Nevada, and
Oregon. The event has always been i nterorgani zati onal , with various groups
contributing resources and funding. The Conference blends field trips,
educational and management programs and the annual Desert Conservation
Strategy Session. In addition to Bureau of Land Management wilderness
issues, this years session will address the National Wildlife Refuge system.
The agenda is diverse and flexible. You can attend any combination of
events during the three days.

The Malheur Field Station is located on the western edge of the Malheur
National Wildlife Refuge. The Refuge covers over 184,000 acres and includes
one of the largest inland marshes in the nation. The area is noted for its
remarkable diversity of habitat, with more than 840 species of vascular
plants, 280 species of birds, and 50 species of mammals.

Board and room in dormitory facilities at the Station are available at very
reasonable rates for the Conference. Reservations should be placed as soon
as possible. Applications can be obtained by calling Don Tryon, Bend, OR
503-388-0089 ; Joe Duft at 208-375-8740 has a few applications left.

WELCOME TO NEW MEMBERS

4 s

FL D. Zt Janet Skirrow, Boise,

ID

Jane Smith, Coeur D” Alene, ID

NO. 4

APRIL-MAY 1986

,

VOL. IX

.

I DAHO N T LJ FC L_ AREAS by Bob Moseley
Boodrich Creek

At the base of the Cuddy Mountains in Adams County, a small area along Good-
rich Creek was spared from a century of livestock grazing, remaining today
as an isolated tract of vegetation surrounded by heavily-grazed rangeland.
Probablly due to a combination of historical happenstance and physical
character i st i cs, this small piece of BLM land remains as a valuable refer —
ence area to view natural vegetation that was once widespread.

Goodrich Creek natural area is a knoll underlain by basalt, which resulted
in a step-like arrangement of flat benches alternating with steep slopes.
This physiography has greatly affected the soil depth, which in turn created
a complex mosaic of plant communities. A diversity of plant communities has
made for a rich flora in a relatively small area.

Flat benches, with very shallow soil, are dominated by bicolor biscuit-root
(Lomatium 1 eptocarpum - one of at least four species of Lomatium present in
the area). The long, thick taproot of this plant extends deep into cracks
in the basalt. A rock buckwheat (Eriogonum s phaeroce phal um war, ha I i mi odes >
community occurs on sites with slightly deeper soil. Individuals of this
short, compact shrub are widely spaced, surrounded by large areas of bare
soil. A close look at these bare areas reveals the presence of several
diminutive plants including bitterroot, ^tolonous everlasting (Antennar i a
f 1 ageil ari s) , and seal epod < Idaho a scapigera) . All of these species are
seen only in the spring, as these shallow soils dry rapidly.

Gmail areas dominated by stiff sagebrush (Artemisia rigida) also occur on
these flat benches. At Goodrich Creek, stiff sagebrush is near the southern
limits of its range. A shrubby penstemon, Penstemon gai rdneri war.
oregavus , occurs with stiff sagebrush and also reaches the edge of its
distribution in this part of Idaho.

iSeveral sites on the summit of the knoll have deep soil and are dominated by
(mountain big sagebrush ( Artemisia tridentata ssp. waseyana) . These patches
lof deep soil, isolated from each other and surrounded by areas of shallow
(soil, probably resulted from a differential sorting of soil particles during
the last ice age. This resulted in what is commonly referred to as
"patterned ground."

Moist basins on the knoll are dominated by numerous tall shrub species in-
cluding chokecherry, servi ceberry , shiny-leaf ceanothus, bi ttercherry , Rocky
Mountain maple, syringa, and golden currant. In the spring, dutchman's
breeches is the major groundcover beneath the shrubs while a plethora of
iisongbird species abound in the canopy.

While the diverse plant communities mentioned above make Goodrich Creek a
botanical ly rich natural area, perhaps the single most significant feature
| is a hillside of the bi tterbrush-bl uebunch wheatgrass community in excellent
condition. Large bitterbrush plants are scattered throughout a dense stand
of waist-high bluebunch wheatgrass. In early spring, balsamroot lights up
the hillside with its large yellow flowers. Ecologists who have studied
this community in the northern Rockies have found it to be highly suscept-
ible to both fire and grazing. One of these researchers, upon visiting
Goodrich Creek, was impressed with development of both the bitterbrush and
grass cover, indicating to him that this area has been little disturbed in

the recent past. Because this undisturbed situation is rare, Goodrich Creek
is invaluable tor scientific education and research and would make an
excellent addition to the Idaho natural area system.

The Boise District BLM is currently considering a proposal made by the Idaho
Natural Areas Committee and The Nature Conservancy to set aside Goodrich
Creek as a research natural area. The best time to visit Goodrich Creek is
during May. To get there, take the road -from Cambridge to the old town of
Goodrich. Bear left at the abandoned schoolhouse and travel up Goodrich
Creek for approximately 2.5 miles. The natural area lies above the road
just before crossing the bridge.

F^O X SONOUS LECTURES

. As in past years, Pahove members have again received requests from local
groups to present programs on poisonous plants. During the month of March,
Carol Prentice presented two programs, one for the St. Alphonsus Poison
Control Center and one to the Master Gardeners Group at the County Extension
Service. The slide lectures cover about 50 species of greatest concern in
Idaho. The program was originally prepared by Dr. Pat Packard and Lynda

Smithman, who is recovering from recent surgery.

A PERSONAL AD - I am conducting research on North American species of
the genus Allium (onions), and search for information, seeds, and/or
bulbs of Idaho native Allium species. In particular, I am searching
for the following species: A. newadense , bi see ptrum , dougl as 2 i , i em-
wonii, parwum. mad id am , brandegei , forms of cernuum , color forms of
textile , white form of acuminatum , fibril I urn, simil 1 imuw , aaseae, tol-
mi ei , tolmiei war. pi atyphyl 1 um, and tolniei war. persimile. You r help
with any of these species would be appreciated.

Mark McDonough, 4725 119th Ave SE, Bellevue, WA 98006.

ABOUT OUR I DAHO NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY

OFFICERS

President Roger Rosentreter 384-1244
Vice Pres Steve Caicco . . 344-3 1 46
Secretary Agnes Miller . . 343-6234
Treasurer Wilma Gluch . . . 343-3026

Board Chr Lynda Smithman . 344-2650

Technical Committee
Pat Packard, Bob Steele, Nancy Shaw,
Dotty Douglas, and Bob Parenti .

Lay Representatives
Freda Younger and Jerry Wood.

Newsletter Editor Joe Duft
Technical Editor Bob Steele

Sage Notes is published bimonthly by
the Idaho Native Plant Society, in-
corporated since 1977 under the laws
of the State of Idaho.

Membership in the Society is open to
all interested in our native flora.
Dues are <6.00 per year on an anni-
versary month/year basis. Send dues
and all correspondence to I.N.P.S. ,
Box 9451, Boise, ID 83707.

t.

Red dots beside dues dates indicate
that your dues have expired. You
will receive only two issues after
expiration .

DUE DATE FOR COPY MATERIALS FOR NEXT (JUNE) NEWSLETTER IS MAY 20.

b \

IDAHO NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY
MEMBERSHIP L_ I ST 1906

lobbie Billings .... 1418 E Hays, Boise, ID 83702 .... 345-8303

lichard T. Bingham .... 612 N Moore, Moscow, ID 83843 ....
lim Borland .... 320 Adams Street, Denver, ’CO 80206 ....

Steven F. Briggs .... 1100 Oakland #5, Boise, ID 83706 .... 384-9039

Steve Brunsf el d 707 S Hayes, Moscow, ID 83843 .... 882-7907

Steve Caicco .... 1517 Longmont, Boise, ID 83706 .... 344-3148

Jilliam St Mary Clark .... 6305 Kirkwood Road, Boise, ID 83709 .... 375-8605

lerry Cross .... 1212 E Boise Ave. , Boise, ID 83706 .... 344-1986

Shris Davidson .... P0 Box 2140, Boise, ID 83702 .... 343-8649

Jetty Derig .... P0 Box 184, Weiser, ID 83672 ....

)otty Douglas .... Biol Dept, Boise Sta Univ, Boise, ID 83725 .... 345-0933

loe S< Maxine Duft .... 10073 Westview Dr., Boise, ID 83704 .... 375-8740
larion E.-Batey .... Rt.#l, Burns St., Eagle, ID 83616 .... 939-0210
lary Edwards .... 2580 Par f et Street, Lakewood, CO 80215 .... 233-8133
Silly Ann Farley .... 1905 Willow Street, Caldwell, ID 83605 .... 459-0524
Susan H. Gilliland .... P0 Box 1971, Ketch urn, ID 83340 .... 726-4318
fames M. Glennon .... 714 N Arthur, Pocatello, ID 83204 ....

Jilma Gluch 1010 N 7th, Boise, ID 83702 343-3026

Sonnie Green .... 402 Taylor, Box 386, Ryderwood, WA 98581 .... 295-3626

Jalter Hankins 9960 M’Ren St., Boise, ID 83709 362-1429

:en St Sarah Harris .... P0 Box 751, Challis, ID 83226 .... 879-4324
Sindy Hohenleitner .... 1015 W Hays, Boise, ID 83702 .... 344-9171

Jnne H. Hollingshead P0 Box 3082, Ketchum, ID 83340 .... 726-7192

iarle E. Holte P0 Box 8007, Pocatello, ID 83209

f i m St Lorna Irwin .... 221 12th Ave E- Jerome, ID 83338 .... 324-7544
Dhr i s Jansen .... 302 Brookdale Dr., Boise, ID 83712 .... 344-0305
Charles G. Johnson, Jr. .... P0 Box 907, Baker, OR 97814 ....

_oring Jones .... P0 Box 9107, Moscow, ID 83843 .... 882-5412
Bob St Feme Krumm .... Mackay Bar, Salmon R, McCall, ID 83638 ....

Vincent Lee .... 2151 Fir, Longview, WA 98632 ....

Dick Lingenfelter .... F'0 Box 5541, Boise, ID 83705 .... 344-7742

Jill Little Rt . #2, Kimberly, ID 83341 423-5801

Elizabeth Lovelace .... 301 E 46th, Boise, ID 83704 .... 376-3288
Bureau of Land Management .... Box 700, Vale, OR 97918 .... 334-1700
Baul St Larraine Mann .... 407 E Spruce, Caldwell, ID 83605 .... 454-1064

Vicki Saab Marks 1016 N 20th, Boise, ID 83702 336-5854

Eheryl McCaffrey .... P0 Box 963, Burns, OR 97720 ....

lark McDonough .... 4725 119th Ave. SE, Bellevue, WA 98006 ....

Elizabeth McFadden .... 2717 Comino Lenada, Oakland, CA 94611 ....

lary McGown 1617 N 12th St., Boise, ID 83702 .... 336-6811

}gnes Miller .... 309 Howe Street, Boise, ID 83706 .... 343-6234
lelanie Miller .... 9644 Pierce Park Rd., Boise, ID 83703 .... 362-5942
Robert Mohlenbrock .... 1 Bird Song Dr,Rt 6, Carbondale, IL 62901 .... 549-1884

31 or i a M. Moore .... P0 Box 2012, Sun Valley, ID 83353 ....

Robert K. Moseley .... 1733 East F Street, Moscow, ID 83843 .... 882-7964
rl or ence Mulder .... P0 Box 2110, Sun Valley, ID 83353 .... 726-8851
Barbara Nelson .... 4350 Hill Road, Boise, ID 83703 .... 343-6781
Rod Norum .... 9644 Pierce Park Rd., Boise, ID 83703 .... 362-5942
dlayne R. Owen .... 909 W Fort St. #6, Boise, ID 83702 ....

&atricia Packard .... College of Idaho, Caldwell, ID 83605 .... 466-4923
Evonne Palmer .... P0 Box 1690, Ketchum, ID 83340 .... 726-7455
Robert Parenti .... HC 33, Box 3215, Boise, ID 83706 .... 342-4880
Joanne Pavia .... P0 Box 912, Bonners Ferry, ID 83806 ....

J. Scott Peterson .... 1370 Pennsylvania St 190, Denver, CO B0203 ....

* H*

7

Tom ic Dixie Phillips .... 256 Pierce Street, Twin Falls, ID 83301 .... 733-8582
Mike & Carol Prentice .... 5134 S Morrow, Boise, ID 83709 .... 362-9029
Roger Rosentreter .... 3380 Americana Terrace, Boise, ID 83706 .... 384-1244
Betty Schaaf .... 9800 Westview Dr., Boise, ID 83704 .... 375-3029
Bob Shaekei-furrf .... -2816 ft 5tti, Ooexir D'Alene, ID 83814 .... 765-8926
Carol Shaffer .... P0 Box 73, Star, ID 83669 ....

William Shalter .... P0 Box 297, Utica, IL 61373 ....

Nancy Shaw .... 4011 Chicago, Nampa, ID 83651 .... 467-7004
Carolyn Sherman .... 1316 N 7th, Boise, ID 83702 .... 342-0674
H.D. & Janet Skirrow .... 4820 Cresthaven Dr., Boise, ID 83704 ....

Jane Smith .... 1036 Pine Ave. , Coeur D’Alene, ID 83814 ....

Jay & Linda Smithman .... 819 N 18th Street, Boise, ID 83702 .... 344-2650

Robert Steele .... 5575 Roundup, Boise, ID 83709 .... 362-5013

Michelle Stevens .... 1517 Longmont, Boise, ID 83709 .... 344-3148

Jim Torrel .... 760 E 900 N #36, Logan, UT 84321 .... 753-1969

Jon Trail .... Route #3, Weiser, ID 63672 .... 642-3036

Mary Trail .... 1015 N 12th, Boise, ID 83702 .... 343-8196

Gretchen Van Ert .... P0 Box 283, Bountiful, UT 84010 ....

Charles A. Wellner .... 439 Styner Ave., Moscow, ID 83843 ....

Marcia Wi ckl ow-Howard .... 2415 Channel Rd., Meridian, ID 83642 .... 939-0975

Lei and J. Willis .... P0 Box 623, Blackfoot, ID 83221 , 785-6300

Gerald E. Wood .... 1900 Cleveland, Boise, ID 83705 .... 336—8749

Freda Younger .... P0 Box 652, Nampa, ID 83652 ....

Pahove Copier
Box 9451

Boise, Idaho 63707

APR 1 1 W88

BOTANICAL GARDEN

EXCH

Li br ary

New York Botanical Garden
Bronx, NY 10458