1995 utah native plant society annual compliations

8/9/2019 1995 Utah Native Plant Society Annual Compliations

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VOL.18 NO. 1

Jan

Feb

Jan- Feb 26

fa25Wednesday7:00 p.m.Feb 22Wednesday7:00 p.m.Mar 22Wednesday7 0 0 p.m.

Newsletter of the Utah Native Plant Socie

JAN / FEB 1995CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Salt Lake and Cache Chapter Meetings will be announced n mailings.

Salt Lake and Cache ChapterMeetings will be announced in mailings

Utah Museum of Natural History is presenting their winter exhibit, WildExpressions. Call 581-4303 for hours and admission information.

Red Butte Garden Lecture Series 'Deserts o f NorthAmerica: Yesterday,Today and Tomorrow"More information inside

Red Butte Garden Lecture Series "In P w u i t of Immortality: TheBrisdecone Pine". More information inside.

Red Butte Garden Lecture Series "Ethuobotany:From Tropical Treetopsto Desert floors". More information inside.

Conservationeducation and horticulture opportunities! Participate in a professional trainingseminar to become a docent or horticultural aide at Red Butte Garden and Arboretum.Volunteers are also needed in the visitor center, office and gift shop. Call Susan at 585-5688.


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EVER GREENby Pamela M. Poulson

Winter is here. It's cold. We pull on our long-johns or snuggle inside our cozy homes, whileoutdoors plants and animals settle into theirindividual adaptations to winter. For the next severalweeks, plants and animals must survive a period ofsubfreezing temperatures and desiccating winds.The water based life of this planet is not designed tosurvive these harsh conditions. When temperaturesdrop, water freezes. Life giving liquid waterbecomes cell destroying, daggers of ice. Movingfrom the warm days of summer into the cold days ofwinter presents probably the most extreme hardshipof survival for living organisms, yet through the agesof evolution, plants and animals have adapted to itsrigors. Some organisms avoid the cold; otherstolerate the cold. Many birds follow the sunsouthward to warmer climes, while others remainbehind and develop the insulating fluff of winterplumage. Warm blooded mammals migrate tolower, warmer elevations or grow thicker coats andburrow deeper into the protective mantle of motherearth. A few insects migrate south while mosttolerate winter at home. They pupate or lay eggsthat survive the cold in tree litter or underground.Wasps and hornets leave a single fertile queen towait out the winter in the cavity of a rotting log.Meanwhile, the lush green vegetation thatsustained the animal kingdom is withered and dry.Many trees have lost their leaves with the shorteningof days and appear lifeless in their dormant winterrespite. They await the return of the sun and thewarm days of spring, when buds will once againburst forth with the energy of stored sugars andstarches, and the miracle of photosynthesis willbegin again.For the most part then, winter is quiet, coldand grey. Yet the stark landscape of winter ispunctuated with a rich surviving greenness. Hereand there, among "lifeless" other plants,photosynthesis continues year-round, for that greenamong the grey is the ancient symbol of lifeeverlasting--the evergreen.The common evergreens of our northtemperate latitudes are the needled evergreens orconifers. Conifer is from the Greek $onus, or cone.Conifers then, are cone bearing plants, and mostcone bearing plants are the familiar needle bearingpines, firs, spruces, cedars, larches, sequoias andjunipers. The order Coniferales consists of nearly570 species.

The cone is a unique reproductive apparthat evolved at the height of the dinosauraround 250 million years ago. Conifers evolveda succession to the fernlike trees ofCarboniferous coal swamps. The draminnovation offered by the cone was that it produhardier seeds rather than fragile spores, which dominated the realm of plant reproduction sunicellular algae first appeared in the ocean baover 200 million years before. Conifers weremore step in the evolutionary advance towardstrue flowering plants which dominate the Etoday. Coniferous forests cover much of the temperate latitudes of the northern hemispheremust endure the hazards of the change of seasand dry, bitterly cold winters. Global distributioconifer forests is limited by drought and cForests generally require at least 15 incheavailable water annually and a frost free growseason of at least 90 days. Locally, this global ecan be read as timberline. Above and belomountainside "bandu of water and temperarequirements, conifers cannot survive- Lotimberline is marked by deficient moisture. Utimberiine is marked by both cold temperaturesdeficient moisture.In winter not only the air is cold. The grois frozen, and plants that continuephotosynthesize find soil water is unavailabthem. Like notorious desert dwellers, concircumvent this problem by conserving water.shape of their needles exposes the least possurface area to evapo-transpiration. Furconifers actually have made adaptations similathose of cacti: the needle epidermis is covered a thick waxy cuticle, the leaf pores {stomatasunken below the surface and are fewer and fabetween than those on eaves ofdeciduous treeThe conifer's drought resistant featevolved during the Permian period, when extenmountain building brought about drastic dryincontinental climates. Coniferous forests oexisted farther south and lower in elevation, buthe climate continued to dry, they retrenorthward and up the mountainsides, staying their adapted preference to cooler and wconditions. Farther south and in the valsavannahs, grasslands, chapparals and desreplaced them.Surviving cold and snowload was anoadaptation some conifers conquered. Needeveloped a single, centrally located vein for wand food transport while the remainder of the neevolved a network of ducts filled with the antifreknown as resin. The pyramidal shape of the trtheir slender needles and drooping branc


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developed to accommodate the shedding of snow.The pyramidal profile also allows this northtemperate tree to expose the most possible needlesto the low sun angle of winter.In conifers, photosynthesis continuesthroughout the winter, whenever temperatures arewarm enough, sometimes only on the sunny side ofthe tree. This is often evident as a denser foliage onthe south side of the tree. (In dry climates, foliagemay be denser on the north side of the tree, due tohealthier growth on the side of the tree.} If aconifer needle cannot reach enough light to collectenergy for photosynthesis, its chlorophylldissappates and the needle dies. Older, innerneedles discolor and drop off after one to severalyears during late summer or early fall. Length ofneedle retention depends on the species.Arborvitae and White Pine lose their needles afteronly one or two years. Austrian and Scotch Pinesretain their needles for three or four years. Spruceand firs retain their needles for several years, but theGreat Basin Bristlecone Pine can retain its needlesfor up to 45 years. Conifers remain "evergreen"throughout the year only because they don't lose alltheir foliage at one time and usually, needle dropgoes unnoticed because new needles conceal old,inside foliage that has died.Probably the best way to maintain vigorousconifers in the home landscape is to understandthem. Remember their long and nnovative history ofadaptation to the rigors of winter. Imitate their nativehabitats. Water them and fertilize them. They areliving organisms, and of all living organisms theyalone stand ever green and tolerate the onslaught ofcold, grey winter--head on.

1995 Red But& W e n Lecture SeriesRed Butte Garden and Ahoreturn at the Universiof Utah will host a three-part lecture series entitled

*'Beautyin the Natural Wortd: Biological SystemsExplored." All three presentationswill be held in thesecond floor visitor lobby of the Red Butte GardenVisitor Center. The 1995 series will feature threepesentations of botany and naturalist topics. Admissio$3.00 or lion-membersof Red Butte Garden. Gardenmembers are free.The first presentation, "Deserts of North AmericaYestetday, Today and Tomorrow," will be heldWednesday, J a m i a i y 25, 1995, at 7:00 p.m. by Dr. JaA. MacMahon, dean of the College of Science at UtahStale University, Logan.Dr. MacMahon will address tbiological definition of a desert, the kinds of plants ananimals that are found in western deserts in the U.S. athe effects a global climate change would have ondeserts.

The second lecture, 'In Pusuit of Immortality: ThBristlecone Pine", will be held on Wednesday, Februa22, at 7:00 p.m. and will be presented by Dr. RonaldLanner, College of Natural Resources, Utah StateUniversity. Dr. Lanner will discuss the fascinating andmysterious biological nature of these ancient organismsaid to be the oldest living trees on earth.The final lecture is titled "Eibnobotaoy: FromTropical Treetops to Desert Floof', will be held onWednesday, March 22 at 7:00 p.m. Presented by Dr.Cox, Department o f Botany, Brigham Young UniveisDr. Cox wil l discuss how ancient peoples depended oplants and animals around them for sustenance, shelteand healing, and address questions regarding how theof diversity represented by destruction of desert, foresand tropical habitats will effect modem people.

LJFE IN AN ASPEN GROVE n educational programpresented by the Colorado Native Plant Society.Available in sliddcassette or videotape formats. Theprogram includes 80 color slides depicting the variedplant and animal life in an aspen grove. A cassette tacontains the spoken narrative. Alternatively, the progris available as a 27 minute videotape. Accompanyingeither version is a printed booklet that includes thenarrative, an extended text containing additional detaiand a g l o s s q of terns used in the program. Slideltap$45.50 and videotape is $23.50 which includes postagSend check or purchase older to:Aspen ProgramColorado Native Plant SocietyPO Box 200Fort C~l l ins ,CO 80522-0200


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Try this method for checking out natlva abefore planting.

Testing for GerminationNancy BubelAs the sun gradually grows stronger, we gardeners startto shuffle through our packets ofseed. Sometimes wefind ourselves with leftovers from other years. seeds offlowers,herbs. and vegetables that we never got aroundto trying. Except for the short-llvd seed's of lettuce andparsnips, most year-old seed should still be fine forplanting this year-If it has been stored In a cool. dryplace. But what about older seeds, the envelopes that getshunted, once again, to the bottom of the pile becauseyou're not sure they're still viable? What about theheirloom seedsyou want to plant every few years tokeepthe strain alive? O r the undated seeds you've receivedfree? With a new growing season quickly approaching,perhaps you would like to give some of these seeds a hy.You can avoid wasting time and garden space In spring(If the seeds are indeed duds) by testing them forgermination now.while there'sstill time to replace themIf necessary. Seed with a low germination rate can sU3Jproduce a worthwhile stand of plants Ifyou sow thickly.The following steps are a homegrownversion of th e testthat seed companies use.

1. PREPARE A MOIST BASE. Professionaltesters often use a base of super-absorbent felt orblotting paper, but for home t e s t i n g double layers ofpaper towels work fine. You'll also find scoring easier Ifyou mark off the paper towel into one-Inch squares witha ball-point pen. Then fit the paper towela Into thebottom of a shallow pan or cookie sheet. Dampen thetowels with warm water until they are moist but notsoggy. [Asquirt bottle works nicety.]2. COUNT OUT THE SEEDS. Professionalsusually test 100 seeds at a time. but 50 Is plenty for thehome gardener. If your seed supplyIs limited, as few as20 should give you an adequate test. If not a completelyaccurateone. In anyeven! a good rule of thumb Is to use

less than 20 percentofyour supply. Remember that it iseasier to calculate germination percentages from roundnumks. Now,place a eed in he center of cachmarhdsquare. Seal the remaining seeds In their container orpacket,and return them to storage n a cool, dry place.3 . INCUBATE THE SEEDS. For vegetables.herbs, and most flowers, cover the seeds with two ayersof damp paper towel or newspaper and slide the wholearrangement into a large plastic bag. Some seeds--mostlyflowers, need light to germinate. (For moreinformation. see The Light Touch." Horticulture. Jan..1968.) Leave these seeds uncovered. and enclose th e pan

In a clear plastic bag. In either case. seeds need air aswell as moisture to germinate, so don't close the bagtightly. Because th e most rapid germination occurswhen the seeds are in the 70- to 80-degree range, placethe bagged tray in a consistentlywarm place--atop a hot-water heater or refrigerator, near a wood stove, orperhaps on a high shelf near a hot-air vent For light-sensitive seeds. choose a place where they will receiveIndirect light,or they will get the life steamedout of them.For slower-gennlnaUngseeds,be sure the paper towelsremain damp. Gently sprinklewann water on the paperIf it shows signsofdrying.

4. CHECK FOR GERMINATION.Take your firstpeek at the seeds after two or three days.Mo s t viable seed will germinate within two or threweeks, and some will sprout much sooner. Seeds ofplants in the cabbage family will often sprout In twodays, cucumbers and zucchtnl In three or four. Seeds oparsley, carrots and related plants can take up to threweeks to germinate. Zinnias and marigolds are often upwithin aweek: coleus two weeks, dusty millerand as*three weeks. Consult the seed-packet or a seed-startingguide soyou know what to expect.If 40 ou t of 50 seeds sprout, the seeds ardefinitelyworth planting. Even a germination rate of 50percent means there are still enough viable seeds for adecent stand. Jot down the test date and germinationrate on the seed packet or label so you'll remember toplant them more thickly. A gcmUnaUon rate lower than25 percent of any seed should persuade you to ordefresh replacements.Keep In mind also that these results wereobtained under near-Ideal conditions. If you havreservations about the germination rate of your seedafter his test you can stack he deck toyour favor. Planth e seedswith a heavy hand,use only fine soil. and keepyour flats or beds well-watered even before the seedlingappear. In other words, give th e seeds every bit oencouragementReprtnted courtesy of re . The Maaazine o

~ ~ ~uite lzo,mshAtA 021 16 . Copyright (d 1989. HcrttculturePartners.nIustrat10n by Elayne Sears. and reprinted with hepermission.Nancy Bu&eI0s new book, -&~~QLSHandbook, published Jan. 88 by Rodaie Press, containcomplete, general seed-starting directions, as well asspecif ics for wildflowers, herbs, shrubs , treesvegetables an d garden flowers. A section on savingseed at home is included.


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CRONQUISTS WOODY ASTER --REDISCOVEREDR Douglas StoneUtah Natural Heritage Program

The woody asters (genus Xylorhiza) ompriseabout eight species of low shrubs with large,daisy-like blossoms. Plants of this genus arefound in arid and semi-arid regions of thewestern United States and northern Mexico.Some of the species are restricted to selenium-bearing clays and are known to accumulate thistoxic element in high concentrations. One of thespecies, Cronquist's woody aster (X. cmnquista)is a native of Kane County in south-centralUtah.Discovered in June 1975by Drs. Stan Welsh andDuane Atwood, X cmnquistii was subsequentlylost to science for almost 20 years.Utah Natural Heritage Program botanist BenFranklin, n a cooperative effort with the U.S.Bureau of Land Management, searchedunsuccessfully for Xylorfiiza cronqwstU in May1989. In June 1990, he was joined by Dr.Atwood, but once again the plant could not befound. Then, in early May 1994,Ben got a phonecall from Dr. Tom Watson of the University ofTexas at Austin. Dr. Watson, who is working ona revised treatment of the genus Xylorfuza,saidthat he had relocated X wmphtC during thefie

Drawing by KayeThorne

On May 14, 1994, I met Dr. Watson at thentrance to Kodachrome Basin State ParkTogetherwe drove east on the unpaved road pasthe cutoff to The Cockscomb, past GrosvenoArch, finally reaching the south end of HorsMountain, The road ascended through piiionjuniper woodland to a point where semi-barreneroding slopes of the Kaiparowits Formation arvisible on both sides. From there, we headedeast on foot to the place where Dr. Watson haseen Xylorhszawnquistu, And there it was!The species occurred very locally on a steepsoutheast-facing slope, and by my estimatiothere were fewer than SO plants. Most of thflowers were still in bud stage, but we also founa few heads in full bloom. Associated planspecies includedA t n i p l e x c ~ a ,. confertifofiZucfda 6 var. plummeri, Shepherdlrotundifolia, Stanleya p a , Ephedra vaidiscfuysothamnus sp., Enogonwn rmcrothecwnAmelanchier zitahensis, Achnatherum (Stipa@hi , A (S) hymenoides, and Machaeranthem@&?&ides.Dr. Watson believes thatXylorhiza cmmpdis a sterile hybrid between X tortt'foua and Aconfertijok Both of the suspectedparent specieare found in the immediate vicinity,X mtifo/iaon the adjoining ridgetop in cobbly loam soilsothe Horse Mountain pediment,X cunfdfiUa athe base of the slope on heavy clay soiweathered from th e Kaiparowits Formation. Xcronqwstii seems to occur only in a narrow banat mid-slope, where the silty clay soils of thKaiparowits Formation intermix with slope wasfrom the overlying Horse Mountain pedimenSuch restriction of a hybrid population totransitional habitat or "ecotone" was firrecognized and described in a 1948 paper bEdgar Anderson of the Missouri BotanicaGarden.Hybrid plants often exhibit sharply reducefertility when compared with their parents. DWatson hopes to use this kind of evidence tdemonstrate thatXyforfaca cronqwstu..is indeedhybrid. In addition,ThereseMeyer of Red ButtGardens and Arboretum is now conductingermination trials with seeds of X t o r t i ! ,Xconfertffolia, and X c m u p W collected at thHorse Mountain site on June 11,1994 (see SegLily,vol. 17, no. 4, July/August 1994). But shreports that the X cronqwstii seeds appea


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Plant communities on the sites where Idahopenstemon grows in Utah are dominated by Utahjuniper and big sagebrush. Other associatedspecies include black sagebrush, needle-and-thread grass, ballhead gilia, stemless lupine, basincryptanth, stemless goldenweed, and Sandburg'sbluegrass. Idaho penstemon occurs within therange of and on the same substrate as anotherCategory 2 plant, Goose Creek milkvetch(Astragalus ansennus Atwood, Goodrich, &Welsh), though they occur only sporadicallytogether. Goose Creek rnilkvetch seems to prefermore open sites with looser soil at lowerelevations.Reproduction of Idaho penstemon appears tobe by sexual means and most likely is openpollinated. Insects are assumed to be the primarypollinators, bu t no specific pollinator(s) wasobserved. Anthesis occurs predom inantly in June.Mechanisms of seed dispersal are undetermined,although wind dispersion seems most likely. Noinformation is currently available on seed biology.ThreatsPotential threats to Idaho penstemon fromman-induced factors ar e limited to the effects ofcattle grazing. The greatest danger appears to befrom trampling, either randomly or fromproximity to established trails, there is noevidence that Idahoensis Penstemon is utilizedfor forage by cattle. In Idaho a least fourpopulations are being invaded by leafy spurgewhich could have serious consequences to aspecies with apparently low competitive ability,like Idaho penstemon. The restrictedgeographical range and edaphic specialization ofIdaho penstemon are of equal or greater concernthan potential threats from land uses.Due to its restricted habitat, limiteddistribution, and potential threats, Penstemonidahoensis has been designated as a Category 2candidate for federal listing as an endangered orthreatened species. It is also a sensitive plantspecies for the U.S. orest Service Region 4 andthe Bureau of Land Management in Utah andIdaho.

WHAT IS IN A NAME?When Linneus developed his sexual system f . -organizing plants and his nomenclature fospecifying a unique entity it was in hopes of noonly clarifying a growing mass of knowledge bualso to simplify th e study of botany. The wordbinomial has its roots in the latin words bi (twoand nom (name). Two words make up a latin

name for a plant or animal. The first name is thegenus and is in noun form. The noun is followedby an adjective or descriptive form and is th especies part of the latin name. Many of theseadjectives can be divided into groups thadescribe relationship, size, shape or structuregeology, or geography. Lets take a look at howhelpful these descriptive names are in identifyina plant.Penstemon is a genus well-represented inUtah. Penstemon with a species name describina relationship to a collector, or a person honoredby a taxonomist are probably the least usefudescriptive names fo r the purpose oidentification.DoesPenstemon atwoodii look likDuane Atwood? No. It does denote the botaniswho first collected it. There are more thandozen such species the newest being PewternofrankUnii named fo r Ben Franklin who made thfirst collection of that particular species. Thougmany of us would recognize Penstemowhippleanus there is nothing in that second namof the binomial which would give us a clue todefining characteristic of the plant.A slightly more useful specie category igeographical. In Utah we have Penstemon speciesduchesnensis, uintuhensis, and uta/1ensis. It ipretty easy to guess where these might be found

Speciespinorurn (pine) an d montanus (mountainseem rather straight forward also. The problemhere is the plants haven't been fenced into thesgeographical boundaries and they occasionallstray.Two Penstemon species described bgeological adjectivesareummophilus (ammo-claand philus-loving) and deustus (burned), the hotrock penstemon. In species that are totallrestricted to a geological formation the namgives us a lot of information.

A distinctive texture may be used to describa plant or in the following a lack of texture. Thspecies laevis ( m o o th) , leiophyUus (leio-smooth


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UNPS SEGO L X U1 c / o Jo Sto lhand~ t a h ative Plant S o c i e t y

- 0 . B o x 5 2 0 0 4 1S a l t L a k e C i t y , UT 84152-0041Address C o rrec t i o n Requested

Non-Profit Org.U.S. Postagesalt b k E cw*Gtah

and phyUus-leaf) and subgkborous (somewhat smooth) allseem o say thesame thing.Smooth,but in this instanceonlya W e helpfd for dkthguishiug these fromPenskmwn thatare uzzy, hairy, glandular, anythingbut smooth.Species that denote size.At last.We can ll tell big fromlittle, and short from talL So, in the Penstemon genus wehave the following:pfocerus (tall), brevicauiis (brew-short,and caulis-stem), hunuJus (dwarf), taanus (dwarf), andpwvus(small). W e ould probaly comeupwith more dwarfs thanSnowwhite, but still size could eliminate a lot of choices.Another group are the ones defined by a somewhatunique shape or structure. Part of the species name mayinclude a plant structure ie.phyilus or folio, is leaf, lora isflower and caulis isstem. Thus the speciepachyphyBus is athick-leaved Penstemon, platyphylh is broad-leaved, andangustifolius is narrow-leaved. Rostafloms has a beakedflower. CyanocaulIS has a bluish stem while a c d i s has nostem.Bracteatus has bracts andpelfotatus has petioles.Manyof these species names you 'mil see again and again withother genera.Learn what they mean once and it milbe thesamewhenever you encounter them again with a new plant.Sometimewhile hiking in the outdoors, play the game ofmimingPens f~onsrmy other plant.NotW r i d namesas defined in a flora, but latin names you would have giventhem if you were in charge and seeing them for the firsttime. What is the most strildng characteristic you notice?Can you put that in latin? Don't limit yourself to speciosus(beautiful), e l m elegant), and venustvs (charming).If playing games isnot your style and you reallywant tokey Pensteinons, carry along a flora. After an hour spenttrying to identify a plant you may find these next twobinomials useful, Penstemon ambiguous and Penstemoncon*.

Menubeiship Application1.1 New Member i_] Renewal Gi f tNameStreet

Zip PhoneI f Gift from:Check Membership category desired:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .tudent ~. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .-1 ~enior ~1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .ndividual S1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .ousehold S2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .ustaining !. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .upportingOrganization $5

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .orporate S250.0C A. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .-1 Lifetime $250 lease send a complimentary copy of he Sego Lily to the abindividual.Please enclose a check, payable to Utah Naive Plant Society, andit to:MembershipUtah Native Plant Society

P.O. ox 52004 1Salt Lake City, Utah 84 152-0041(If you prefer not to cut this out o f your Sego Ul y , feet k c o cathe membership fonn or simply write the information down and mwith payment for the category ofmembership.)


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VOL. 18 NO. 2

Mar 22Wednesday7:30 pm

Mar 1810-200Apr 22Saturday9;00 am -12:OO amApr 26Wednesday7:30pmApr 28Friday10:amMay 12afternoon

Apr 29Saturday8-12:OO amMayJun 17-20

Aug 17-19

MAR / APR 1995CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Salt Lake Chapter Meeting. Watch for blue cards to announce the topic for thismeeting.Cache Chapter Meeting. Watch mail for flyer. New meeting place: Forest ServiceOffice in Lady Bird Park.Garden Workday at Pioneer Trail State Park. We are looking for volunteers tohelp with planting of native plants. Contact Alyce Hreha (944-2337) if you canhelp and to find out an exact date of planting,Cache Chapter Earth Day. A day at Golden Spike National Historic Site. RichardShaw will lead a short interpretive walk. Michael Curto will provide aninterpretive walk about the sagebrush steppe focussing on the native grasses alongthe Big Fill Walk.Everyone is invited.Salt Lake Chapter Meeting. Watch for blue cards to announce the topic for thismeeting.Arbor Day at Red Butte Garden and Arboretum. Meet with Governor Leavitt andthe poster winner of 'Trees are Terrific". Tree planting and other events.Celebrate Wildflowers Ceremonies. Red Butte Garden and A rboretum aresponsoring a poster contest for school children. National Celebrating Wildflowersweek is May 21-27.Wildflower Workshop. "TakePride in Utah" A how to use wildflowers in yourgarden workshop sponsored by RBG&A with th e Utah Association of GardenClubs. $5 registration gets you a large packet of materials including posters andseed. Call Pam Poulson (581-3744) for more information.Threatened and Endangered Fieldtrip. See article inside newsletter.Field Botany: Flora of the Tetons. This class is through the Teton Science School,FO B 68, Kelly, L'Y, 8301 1. The instructor is Leila Shultz. Call 307-733-4765Mushroom Hunt 95 at Fishlake. Campground space has been reserved at DoctorCreek Cmpg. More details in next issue.


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LYTLE PRESERVE, BIOLOGICALOASIS

by Stan WelshSituated within and astride Beaver DamWash, seven miles north of Arizona and a mileand a half east of Nevada is a small naturalhistory preserve. Its very setting dictates that it isunique. The wash exits the boundary at thelowest elevation in the state, and is an openingthat invites visitors from th e south. Northward itdrains from the Clover Mountains in Nevada andthe Bull Valley Mou ntains in Utah. North of thelatter is the Great Basin. Eastward lie the BeaverDam Mountains, and beyond them is theColorado Plateau. The Wash proper is within theBasin and Range, but no t in the Great Basin. Byits unique position the Wash is influenced by the

plants and animals from all of the diverseregions. But it is from th e south and southwestthat the major influence is felt. In that directionis the Mohave Desert, so named by explorer JohnCharles Fremont in 1844. He passed across it inspringtime before the searing heat of summermade his trip a probable impossibility. Fremontnoted its plants and collected many of them, evencollaborating in naming them with botanist JohnTorrey.Those Mohavean plants, bred to surviveextremes of heat and drought, are the ones soimpressive at the Lytle Preserve. They appear tosweep like waves across an ocean of dryness fromMexico and Baja through southern California,southern Nevada, an d against the barriers of theColorado Plateau an d Great Basin. Few of themsurpass those barriers, an d travelers from theGreat Basin are plunged into an entirelydifferent, even alien, flora as they drop from thepasses into the Mohave desert. The desertfunctions on extremes, temperatures in summerexceeding 110F winter t empera tu resapproaching VF, reat diurnal fluctuations intemperature, huge variations in precipitationamounts. Long periods pass without precipitation ,which normally occurs from late summer throughearly winter. One cannot, however, count onaverages. Normal is not average, it is alwaysskewed. Long periods of drought are marked byshort periods of intense storms, which cause thesparsely vegetated lands to loose its water quickly

through floods of small to large measure. Planin the region are designed to survive th e normconditions of intense drought coupled wiintense heat. To the plants the climatic regimeno t harsh; it is normal, and they have a genetmemory that allows them to survive to the nestorm, to th e next cool period, and which allowthem to flower and produce seed for subsequegenerations.Mohavean animals reflect the Mohaveaplants; they survive together locked in themutual needs to survive. The low elevation wassupplied at intervals with perennial w ater markewith green of trees, supplies the requirementsmigrating birds in several ways. The open wasattract migrants w ho follow its course, and whfind water and shelter along its wooded coursSome of the birds pass through on their waythe Arctic, others travel to intermediate poinbu t some travel no farther north. They have comfrom Central America and Mexico to this thenorthernmostpoint to next, rear young and retusouth again early in th e season. Vermilioflycatchers nest at the preserve; phainopepcome to feast on mistletoe berries borne by thCalifornia mistletoe on catclaw acacias. Thmistletoe is classically a parasite, but this onappears to form a more complex relationship withe catclaw, which is found in Utah only in tWash. Trees infected with the mistletoe are la

to leaf out. Those lacking mistletoe leaf out earlCould it be that the mistletoe photosynthesizsufficiently to support both itself an d the acacearly each season?Other peculiar Mohavean animals aresidents in the Wash. Gambel quail come eaevening running on wheel-like legs to tblackberry thicket on the preserve, there to roosafely within the spiny bramble. Each mornithey flee from the thicket into the surroundidesert. In springtime the females brood their eguntil they hatch into mobile miniatures readyfly within a few days. They can be seen runnithrough the desert brushlands at any time of tday in small to large flocks. Mohave rattlesnakthrive on rodents along the Wash; sidewindeoccur but are seldom seen. Desert tortoise maktheir dens along the drainages, feed on the desevegetation, and live to old age, always vulnerabto badgers, coyotes, and other predators, bespecially so to people.


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Hollows in cottonwood trees retain waterthrough much of the year and provide miniaturerearing ponds for species of mosquitos that areadapted to breed and hatch in them. Thesebreeding chambers are protected from thedesiccation general in the desert. Ants abound inthe wash. Some of them are the renownedhoneypot ant, those with workers specialized asstoragevessels for nectar. They are filled in timesof plenty and the nectar is withdrawn in times offood shortage.Figs and pomegranates, grown regularlyoutside in Utah only in Washington County,thrive at the Preserve. They were among thepioneer plantings, and served to make life in aland harsh o r humans more bearable. In theintense heat of early August the first crop if figsripens. Fruit hungry birds eat the large, succulent,sweet blackish fruitsas they ripen sequentially onthe trees. Some birds merely peck a hole in theside and eat the contents while comfortablyperched. The hollowed fig then hangs attachedfor a while. Prior to dropping to the ground thelarge wasps known as tarantula hawks find thepartially eaten figs, climb into the cavity withwings and abdomen protruding into the air, andclean out the remaining sweet flesh. In someyears a speciesof riel arrives in concertwith theripening of th e figs and remain until the first cropis gone, meantime eating their fill. When figs fallto the ground they are eaten mainly by nocturnalskunks, coyotes, and fox who visit regularly.Pomegranates begin to ripen in late Septemberand become sweeter with each passing day. Theyare the pale-seeded kind, sweet as honey.Manyof the fruits develop cracks exposing the lusciousseeds. Birds find them at once, excavate a holeinto the mass of fleshy seeds and eat their fill.Finally they excavate the ent i re center, leavingthe empty shell clinging to the tree.Divided into three main floristic zones,Thecottonwood-ash riparian, the catclaw acacia-mistletoe-desert willow terrace, and Joshua-cholla-ambrosia upland, the preserve hasimmediately juxtaposed, contrasting vegetativetypes. In the first of these, the riparian zone, heFremont cottonwood, Arizona ash, and seepwillow hod sway along a perennial streamsegment. The stream is fed by springs that arisein the valley bottom about two miles above thepreserve. It is home to native fish species, among

them the Virgin River spinedace, specklespinedace, and desert sucker. Great blue heronstand 1-legged to fish for these small but edibfish. Away from the stream the habitat becomedry at once, he uplands are perhaps the driest 1be found in the state. It is there that the desetortoise, coyote, fox, mule deer, bobcat, anoccasional cougar rein as the main large animalThe low-elevation course of the Wash nvitethe traveler, whether plant, animal, or humanEvidence of early people's use of the landpresent along t h e Wash in numerous locatioFire pits, shards of pottery, chips of stone, marthe places where early peoples rested, preparefood, and lived temporarily through the centurieSettlersfrom the modem era followed the wasin search of water and land suitable for farminSmall holdings were cleared and irrigated frothe perennial portions of the stream. Cropswerraised, families grew to adulthood, and childreleft to find more viable places to pursue thelivelihoods and happiness.Into the Wash in the late 1870's or ear1880's came Dudley Leavitt, pioneer settlersouthern Utah. In 1888 his daughter HannaLouisa, th e polygamous wife of Thomas SirTerry arrivedwith five children.Shewas pregnawith the sixth, and was trying to escape fropersecution of federal officers bent on catchinpolygamists cohabiting. She had fled from thEnterprise region first to Gunlock and laterBunkerville. Her final child, a girl, wa born thDecember in Mesquite. The following year shmade her final move, back to the Wash with igroves of trees and their cooling shade, withflow of clear water, and its solitude away frothe persecution. Tom visited her in Mesquifollowing the final daughter's birth. "What shwe name this child," he asked? "W e have bebanished. We have been exiled. You will namthis child either Banish or Exile," said HannaExile it was, and she was known as Exthroughout her life.T h e final move was to the Wash in tsummer of 1889,Hannah then 33 with her youfamily aged 9,8,6,4,3, and half a year. There sfought th e water from the creek, planted gardeand orchards, picked h i t and vegetables, milkth e cows, and reared her family. She was coolaundress, seamstress, nurse, eacher, and generfactotum. Her husband, five years older than h


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father arrived with supplies at irregular intervals.Her extended family were in evidence inMesquite, Bunkerville, and other places a day ortwo distant by team and buggy, and they helpedher to survive in this desolate, lonely place.Trees planted by Hannah and her childrenstill grow near where her small log cabin stood,near where her children grew to maturity. One byone the children were married and moved away.In 1911 a huge flood swept across th ebottomland, carrying with it Hannah's belovedorchard, row by row in the thrashing chocolatewaters. Hannah was desolated to see hercherished trees swept down the channel. In 1912she was gone, moved to St. George where sh espent th e remainder of her live.Ed and Jed Terry, Hannah's two youngestsons stayed on in the Wash until the 1950s. In th elate 1920's John Eardley,whose family consistedof his wife and six children, acquired the upperportion of the Terry property, the part thatincluded Hannah'k original homestead. Theyworked to clear th e fields and develop irrigationwater. A house was built, well dug, cellarconstructed, fields and orchards planted, and thefamily thrived. Hard work, ong hours, sacrificeofpersonal needs and requirements, were keys totheir success. But that family also mature toadults an d one by one left the Wash also. By th eearly 1950's they were all gone. John Eardleythen sold his property to Talmage and Eleanor(Marie) Lytle. Marie was related to John's secondwife, or at least a friend. Talmage continued toraise crops and run a small cattle operation, butth e place required more labor than one mancould put forth. Gradually th e orchards fell intodisrepair, the fields became patches of weeds, thecattle were sold, and Talmage lived in genteelretirement. Marie loved the place, an d evidenceof her gently hand is still to be seen around thehouse. In 1984, in May, Marie died in th e houseconstructed more that five decades earlier by theEardleys.Now, almage had no reason to continue. Hesold the property to The Nature Conservancy,who were under contract to Brigham YoungUniversity to pay for the property as soon as thesale price could be raised from private sources. InJuly of 1986 th e property passed the Universitywho are th e sole owners.The preserve is a multifaceted place; there is

something unique there for everyone who bothlooks an d sees. It is a wild land, a place at th eend of the road, a solitary place where one findssolace in contemplation. It is a place of subtlecharm and beauty, a place os searing heat insummer, of cold winds in winter, an d place ofabundant wildflowers in years of adequatemoisture. This is such a year.Facilities at the Lytle Preserve include acampground to accommodate up to 25 peopleflush toilets, coldwater showers, excellent drinkingwater. A bunk house and house trailer forresearchers and support personnel, and more the460 acres of solitude, birds, geology, fantastivegetation, and scenery.The preserve welcomes researchers, teachersstudents in formal classed, and aficionados ofnature generally.A day use fee of $3.00 per person, an dcamping fee of $5.00 per night is charged toprovide operational monies. A full time operatorHeriberto Madrigal lives year-round at thepreserve with his wife Debbie. The place receiveheavy use during spring and fall seasons, andreservations should be made early. They can beplaced with Terry (801) 378-5052. t is a garba!


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Mountain Lady's Slipper Cynripedium montunum

REWARD(ONE IME REWARD OFFEREDBY THEUTAH ORCHID SOCIETY)

HEIGHT: 1 to 2 ft. FLOWER: 1-3 n the inflorescence; sepals - greenishsuffusedwithpurple; petals - purplish; pouch -whitThiswild orchidhasoccasionally been reported from Utah, but its presencehanever been confirmed. It is to be expected in moist mountain areas at moderatelhigh altitudes (9,000 feet), i.e., subalpine slopes, open woodlands and scrub. Iflowers from May to July. Expected habitat locations for this orchid are in thUmta Mountains and perhaps the Bear River Range. If you see thisplant please donot collect. Carefully note the location and contact as soon as possible:

Jim CoynerUtah Orchid Society(801) 292-4777


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UWPS SXGO L X uI c/o Jo Stolhandutah Nat ive Plant SocietyP . O . Box 5 2 0 0 4 1S a l t Lake City, UT 84152-0041

hiembeishipApplicationNew Member 0 enewal LIGift

NameStreet

Zip PhoneI f Gift. from:Check Membership category desired:0 tudent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S60 enior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1O

Individual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12Household . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 520

1_] Sustaining . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . :35Supporting Organization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S50

1_]Corporate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S250.0C >&0 ifetime . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S250Please send a complimentary copy of the Sego U i y 10 the aboindividual.

Please enclose a check, payable to Utah Native Plant Society, andit to:MembershipUtah Native Plant Society

P.O. Box 520041Salt Lake City, Utah 84 lS2-OO4 1

(If you prefer not to cut this out of your Sego Lily, feel free to copthe membership form or simply write the information down and mawith payment tor the category oimembership.)


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VOL. 18NO.3

May 3Wednesday7:00 .m.

May 15-21

May 20Saturdayall day

May 25-27Thur-Sat

Jun 7Wednesday7:30 p.m.Jim 16-18

June 17-20

MAY / JUN 1995CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Salt Lake Chapter Meeting.The Morels of Utah will be the topic addressed by Dr.Kent McKnight. This will beajoint meeting with the Mushroom Society of Utah.Meet at the Utah Department of Natural Resources, 1636West North Temple,SaltLake City.The entrance is on the west side of thebuilding. Note for this time onlythemeeting time has been changed to 7:00.Duane Atwood, Forest ServiceRegional Botanist is leading an interagency fieidtripin conjunctionwith the newly organizedNational Native Plant ConservationInitiative. The schedule is very tight as the group races tosee as many plants aspossible in southeastem Utah. A limited number of people may join this group. CallJo Stdhand (521-0069) fora copy ofamore compIete schedule orDuane Atwood(625-5599) if you are interested in going.Reldtrip to theLittleSahara (Lyndyll) Sand Dunes with Alyce Hreha andThemeMeyer. We are going to see Giant Fouw ing Saltbush, Atriplex canescensvar.giganteaand Penstemon angustifoliusvar. dulcis. Meet at 9:00am at Sam's Clubon State Street near 1215and south of Allied. Call Alyce (944-2337) r Thercse(272-3275)ormore information. Please bring water and lunches.Threatened and Endangered Fieldtrip wil l be to theDeep CreekMountains.Camp will be at the old CCCcamp nearCallao. We will be looking forDraba kassii (Kass Rockcress) and Hackelia ibapensis.(DeepCreekStickseed)among othernative plants which should be spectacular this timeof year. Call Rod Harding,BLM botanist(9774l36) orDave Okelbeny(968-6190)formore information.SaltLake Chapter Meeting. Watch for bluecard to announce thismeeting.

Wild EdiblePlants and Medicinal Herbs-a classofferedby theYellowstone Institute. Telephone (307)444-2294Field Botany:Horaof theTetons. Leila Shultz is the instruetor for thispopular class offered for college credit through the Teton Science School.Write to Teton Science Schocrf, FOB 68. KellyWY, 3011 or telephone(307)-7334765.


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Jul / AugSaturdayJuly 21-22

Duane At woodAndrew BoyackShennan BroughRobert FittsBen FranldinDave GardnerDick HildrethAlyce HrchaJoan Livingston

Grasses of the Bear River Range. Fieldtrip led by Michael Curto.Thedateon this fieldtrip will be set later and announced n the Jul / Aug newsletter.Wildflowers of Yellowstone--a class offeredby the Yellowstone Institute.Telephone (307)-344-2294.Alpine Wildflower Walks--a class offered by the Yellowstone Institute.Telephone (307)-344-2294.Mushroom Foray 1995 at Fishlake.Campground space has been reserved atDoctor Creek Campground

BOARD OF DIRECTORS801-625-5599 (W)801-278-8596 (h)801-943-6183 (h)

Th em e Meyer 80 272-3275Dave Okelbeny 801-%8-6190Richard Rage 801-255-7769PamPOU~SO~ 801-581-3744Brent Shipley 801-268-2601JO Stolhmd 801-521-0069Doug Stone 8 0 1-5384761Leila Shultz (honorary)Kaye Thorne (honorary)

OFFICERS.......hairman of the Board........ rent Shipley Membership Chairperson Pam Poulson...resident.......................A1yce Hreha Conservation Chairperson.. .ThereseMeyer............................ecretary.......................herman Brough Editor.. Jo St01hand......reasurer....................... .Andrew B yack Acting Salt Lake Chapter PresidentDave okelbeny

............ache Chapter Sec Linda AlienMUSHROOM HUNT 1995

The annual mushroom hunt is scheduled forAug 17-19at DoctorCreek Campground at fishlake.TheMushroom society of Utah wilt be with us and will be in charge of identifying and displaying the mushrooms.Anyone who would like to help with identification and display should call Ardean Watts (581-1931).The campground has been reserved from 2:00pm Wed. ug 16 until 200pm Sunday Aug 20. You can comeearly and/orstay late todoa little fishing or hiking.Cost for this years foraywhich includes food and he abovecampground fees is $15 for members and $25 for non-members.Children under 8are 112price.There will besourdough pancakes for breakfast, sandwiches or lunch and dutch oven dinners.Anyone who has (a) specialdietary requirements, or (b) would like to make a dutch oven cobbler, or (c)will be there for Thursday breakfastshould contactDaveOkelberry (968-610).We have a great bunch of mycological experts this year sowe hope to have small foray groups. Pleasemakeyour reservation by July 15 by sending check and reservationform (back cover of Sego Lily) to UNPS, POI3520041, Salt Lake City, UT 84152-0041.Orders for t-shirtsmust be made by July 15th. Dr FrankAnderson sdoing the artworkTHANK YOUThank you to Lamy Meyer for his help in setting up our computer, his donationof software,and technicalexpertise.


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Two Species of Utah's Hanging GardensLeila Shultz

Gardens suspended in shaded alcoves ofsouthern Utah harbor a number of rare species.Twoprovide examples of the differentkindsof rare plantsoccurring in the state-those that are old and thosethat are new. Many of the species found in hanginggardens are relictsof distributions that were oncewidespread under wetter climatic regimes. Thesediffer from the "new species with specialcharacteristics suited for growth in the uniquehabitats in Utah. UnliIce the relicts represented inhanging gardens, the majority of Utah's rare speciesfit the categoryof neo-endemic-recent1y evolvedspecialists found nowhereelse in the world.Hop-hombean (OstryakMnvltunii Coville), asmall treeof he Birch family, is an example of arelictual species. Its distribution is fragmented:scattered populations re restrictedto the occasionalmoist and shaded site. However, t h i s species iswidespread alongwaterways in Arizona, NewMexico, andTexas, where the trees aremore robustand grow to a greater height Because the Utah plantsarc at the northern limit of the range for the species,individual plants appear to be especially sensitive tochanges in climate and by all indications, thedistributionfor the species is contracting rather thanexpanding. While this specieswas once consideredforprotected status, t is not on aFederal listor theUtah Native Plant society's watch list Species thatare rare at the outer limits of their distribution areoflow conservation priority in astatewhere more thanten percent of its 2500+species are unique (Shultz1993).

OSTRYA KNOWLTONIIdrawing by Kaye Thorne

The CanyonlandsEaster flower (PrimulaspecuICOlaRydberg) is representativeof the majorityof rare species in Utah. This delicate herb isanexampleof a neo-endemic, one that has evolved inresponse to recent changes in climatic conditions. It sclosest relative is Primulafdnosa L. f Europe andeastern North America, a plant of alpine habitats indistinct regions. However, he explanation for itspresence remainsapuzzle. Becauseof he distinctivehabitatof die siblingspecies and pronounceddifferencesin morphology,one explanationmay bethat theCanyon primrose is aneo-endemicevolvedfrom a relictual ancestor.With apparentextinctionsofancestral lineages, the reasons for this speciespresence are difficult toexplain.

PRIMULA Sf CUICOLAdrawing by Kaye ThomeIn The ReldHophornbean (Ostryabwwltonii Coville) is aslender tree, growing to about 15 f t in height, inhanging garden habitats along the Colorado River(seemap insert, from Albee etal., 1988).Thecommon name refers to the fruit which develops atthe end of reddish-brown to gray branches andresembles a common hop. These hoplike structuresconsist of 1-3 flowerclusters (catkins in thiscase).They are surrounded by large green bracts andappear in early spring. The leaves are entire,alternate, ovate to elliptic, pointed, and about twoinches long.Thename Osbycomes from the Greekword for 'hardwood'. The species is also knowninsome areasas ironwood and is named in honor ofFrankHall &owl ton (1860-l926),an Americanbotanist Hophornbean is an example of a relictualspecies.


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Distribution of OstryaknowltoniiEaster flower (Primulaspecuicola Rydberg) isone of the earliest blooming plants in al l the hanginggardens. Lavender flowers set against a rosetteofpale green leaves might remind you of animpressionist painting.At the summit of anakedflowering stalk,10-20 flowers cluster at the ends ofspoke-like rays (umbels).Color varies from rose tolavender, or white. One of the most notable featuresof the plant is the whi te-luminescen t mealy coat(farina) which appears on the undersurface of theleaves and on the sepals which surround the flowers.Calling the plant "ter Flower", residents of Moaband Bluff know when toseek the delicate flowersand brilliant displays of color along red sandstonecliffs.I f you are hiking in the plateau drainages, lookfora fern as an indicator of moist habitats. Thecommon m aiden-hair fern (Adlantum capillus-venerisL.) grows n virtually all of the hanging gardens ofthe Colorado River and Virgin River portions of theColorado Plateaus. In these suspended gardens,seeps nourish masses of summer-bloomingperennials such as AqUlIegia micrantha, Eastwood ( a

delicate white-flowered Canyonlands columbine),Mimulus eastwoodiae, Rydberg (a brilliant redmonkey flower), Habenuria wthecina, Higgins&Welsh (AlcoveOrchid),and Carex curatorum,Stacey (a fine leaved sedge whch forms gracefularching clumps). Each of these species is rare,presenting special challenges in the study ofevolutionarystrategiesof plants. The wet seeps ofthe Colorado Plateaus provide cool respite as well asa natural laboratory fo r studies in plant ecology andevolution.

Colorado Plateau Hanging GardenEndemicsNancy S.KeateAn important feature of hanging gardens is thatthey are geomorphic and hydrologic units. Gardensoccur in alcoves that have developed in sandstoneformations.Two mportant sandstone units thatoccur in the Moab area of the Colorado Plateau arethe NavajoandEntrada. They are mainly flat lying ogently warped over large areas.Alcove developmentappears to be principally related to the nature,occurrence,and attitude of these formations. Thesesandstonesare excellent aquifers, yielding water atseeps and springs throughout the region. Therecharge potential of these sandstones is highbecause of their widespread exposure a t low dipangles, relatively uniform permeability of the rock,and pervasive fracturing. Small discontinuous bodieof perched groundwateroccur hroughout theformations. Perched water tables that areassociated

with alcove development are important in modifyingthe canyon walls. Furthermore, the evolution ofcanyon networks n the area is often dependent onsustained seepageat valley headwalls fed by regionaaquifers.The hanging gardens that occupy these alcovecontain various cornbinations of the endemic specieAquileg ia micrantha, Primula specuicola, Cirsiurrydbergii, fiabenaria zothecina, Perityle specuicolaand Zgadenus vaginatus .Zigadenus vaginatus is listed as a s ep a ra tspecies by Welsh but is considered to bsynonymous with 2. elegans by other researcherWelsh maintains that it is related to 2.elegans annotes that it occurs n gardens in Grand, San Juanand Kane counties in Utah.Habenaria zothecina is listed by Welsh anAlbee .Cronquist includes i t as synonymouswith Hsparsifolia.H. zothecina is found in hangingardens from Arch Canyon,west of Comb Ridgenorth to Arches National Park; t is also found omoist stream banks near hanging gardens. I t occurin Emery, Garfield, San Juan, Grand, and UintaCounties of Utah and in Moffat County, Colorado.Perityle specuicola is endemic to Grand and SaJuan County, Utah. t's southern most occurrencejust north of Dark Canyon n C ataract Canyon. t iknown mostly from gardens in the Moab area withth e largest population found n Pole Canyon near hDewey Bridge. It is believed to be related to Pl end la , which grows only in Washington CountyUtah.Aquilegia micrantha occurs in most hanginggardens and is found in Emery, Garfield, GrandKane, San Juan and Wayne Counties of Utah, awell as in Colorado and Arizona on the ColoradPlateau .


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Primula specuicola is found in gardens in Grand,Garfield, Kane, San Juan, and Wayne Counties ofUtah, and in northern Arizona. Mmiulus eastwoodheoccurs in Grand, Kane, and San Juan Counties ofUtah and in adjacent areas of northern ArizonaCirsium rydbergii is distributed in Garfield,Grand, Kane, San Juan, an d Wayne Counties ofUtah and in the Black Mesa areaof Apache CountyArizona. It occasionally grows outside the gardens inthe adjacentdrainages .

The work I am doing i s examining therelationships between the physical structure ( theshape and form of the alcoves in which gardensoccur),site characteristics(the environmental factorssuch as soil salinity and aspect) and speciescomposition (species diversity, species richness,species frequency and species similarity) of t h ehanging gardens of the Colorado Plateau.Relationships will be examined over a spatialhierarchy, Le., at the microhabi tat (plot), local(garden), and regional (Moab region) level. Theprimary factors that contribute to species compositionat all scales will be identified and their importance tospecies composition will be examined.

HMENARIA ZOTHECINAdrawing by Kaye ThomeIn order to address these hypotheses, field workwas conducted in the Moab, Utah area where Navajoan d Entrada sandstone occur over wide areas.Consequently, there are numerous and variedhanging gardens. An intensive samp le hanginggardens was conducted in July and August of 1994.In each garden, plots were sampled according to arandom stratified sampling design. Three endemicspecies were always sampled if they were present-Primula specuicola, Habenaria zothecina, a n dZigadenus vaginatus. In each sample plot, all species

present were recorded. Soil samples were collectedin each plot by sampling the first fifteen centimetersof soil at each comer and at the center of the plot.The soil samples were later analyzed for soil color,soil water salinity, soil water pH, and soil texture bysieving oven dried samples. The aspect of the plotwas determined by compass. n each garden, datawas recorded on a text form and a schematicdrawingof the garden. The depth, width, the aspect of thecentral axis and each side of the garden, the length ofthe visible driplines, and the average slope of thecolluvial slopewere measured.Preliminary analysis of the data indicates thatHabenuria zothecina tends to occur in north facingplots where soils have low salini iy levels. Zigadenusvaginotus tends to occur in soils that arepredominant1y sand. At the garden level, Habenoria~ t k e c i n a nd Tigodenusvaginatus tend to occurwhere the exposed seeplinescover most of theperimeter of the wall. Zigodenus vagimus tend tooccur n gardens with low average soil salinity andsandy soils. H a h e w l a zothecina tends to occur ingardens that have an overall low light environmentand a slightly higher than average pH level. Thestructure of the garden appears to be important toHabenuria zothecina . It often occurs in deepgardens with large overhangs. This would tend tocreate the low light environment that this speciesappears to prefer. This s very preliminary analysis.As the investigationproceeds hese relationships maybecome clearer and other relationshipsmay becomeapparentNancy S. K a t e PhD Candidate University of UtahGeography Department

PERITYLE SPECUKOLAdrawing by Kaye Thome


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WHERE HAVE ALL THE ARIZONAWILLOW'S GONEDuaneA t w d

Arizona willow was proposed for listing asendangered with critical habitat designations by theU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service {FWS) in November1992.Critical habitat designations includedpopulations on the SpringervilleRanger District,A pache-Si greaves N ational Forests (NF)and WhiteMountain Apache Tribal Lands n east centralArizona. Fish and Wildlife Service was not awarethat the species occurred in Utah when the proposedrule was developed. In the spring of 1993,FWS wassued by several Arizona conservationgroups becausethe final rule was not published within the one yeartime-frame.In the fall of 1994the Forest Service(FS) asnotified of a previously misidentified herbariumspecimen of Arizona willow collected in 1913on the'Sevier Forest"insouthern Utah (now known as theDixie NF). Effortswere initiated by the author togather information on both species habitat andidentifying characteristics in Arizona. In the spring of1994,having secured agreement from the WhiteMountain Apache Tribe and Apache SitgreavesNational Rarest, Utah Forest Service personel RonRodriguez ,Bob Thompson and the author vistiedArizona populations. Upon their return to Utah theyrediscoveredArizona willow in Utah on the DixieNF on June 30. Subsequent Forest Service surveysdocumented Arizona willow on theDixie andFishlake NFs, Cedar Breaks National Monument,and adjacent private land. Three university studentswere hired and in place by mid June, nd theywntr ibuted significantlyto the new information onthe willow in theDixie NF.Intermountain Region Forest Service botanist andDixie NF wildlife biologist immediately notified Fishand Wildlife Service of these new finds whichresulted in a hold on he final rule to list the specieswhich was then on the FWS Secretaryof theInterior's desk for final signature. Utah populationsof Arizona willow on the Dixie NF were in andadjacent to large salvagetimber sales currently beingharvested and others proposed forsale. Some otherpopulations on the Dixie and HshIake NFs(discoveredAugust 8)were located in areas withsignificant impacts from livestock grazing andrecreation. Coordination efforts with academiaresulted in immediate graduate thesis projects for twostudents and by late July these studentswere active1yworking on thesis projects funded by the ForestService Regional Officeand Dixie National ForestThis research is under the direction of Dr. KimHarper, Brigham Young University professor.Additional survey work was completed on theDixie NF in July. Dr. Robert Dom (willow expert)was invited to visit Utah populations on July 14-15.

An Interagency field tourwas scheduled andcompleted A ugust 10- 11, 1994,and the first formalmeeting of the Interagency Technical Team forArizona willow was held in Flagstaff,ArizonaAugust 12.The FW S discussed their position, specific shortand long term actions needed to remove threats to thespecies,and a December 15deadline forimplementation of shortterm actions before FWScould agree to move forward with development of aConservation Agreement and Conservation Strategy.The final listing package o r a withdrawl would haveto be published by April 30, 1995.Subsequent meetings with FS RegionalForesters, orest Supe rvisors, Directors andtechnical staff from the Southwestern andIntermountain Regions, resulted in a decision andstrategy tomove forward with development of theconservation documents, that if com pleted andsigned by April 15would warrant withdrawl of theproposed rule to list the species.Completion of the Tonservat ion Documents"involved coordination with litigants, the judge, theIntermountain an d SouthwesternRegions of theForest Service, the Apache-Si tgreaves, Dixie andFishlake National Forests, regional and state Fishand Wildlife Serviceoffices, National Park ServiceRocky Mountain fieldoffice and Cedar BreaksNational Monument, Arizona andUtah State Fishand Game Departments, theWhite Mountain ApacheTribe, academia, research, permittees, and otherpublic interests.The Conservation agreement wassigned the week of April 3-7.Poiitical boundaries were fuzzed up, immediatesohtions and actions were taken on complex issuesto remove threats to the speciesand its habitat, riskswere taked by line officers to implement short termactions, funding was reprogrammed to cover costs,biologist work schedules were adjusted formeetingsand completion ofproducts to meet deadlines. Thetechnical team contributed significant personal time,with undue hardship to families, to complete theconservationdocuments.A core technical group kept the vision alive, theprocess moving, and endured to th e end.Populationsof Arizona willow discovered inUtah now epresent the corearea for the species andthese additional populations were the primary factorin our ability toprovide interagency protection andmangement of this species and its ecosystem,without the protective measuresof he EndangeredSpecies Act.The habitat conservation assessment,conservation agreementandconservation strategydocuments prepared by an nteragencyTeam ofbotanists and biologists outline the specificactions,costs and skills needed to implement protectivemeasures and research studies needed for thespecies.


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Arizona willow (Salixariwnica Dom) wasdescribed by Dr. Robert Dam in 1975 fromspecimens collected in Arizona by Eric GranfeltArizona Willow has several growthforms, ncludingscragglyshrub, ounded shrub, prostrate mat orsingle stem and large hedgeor thicket. Typically theyare less than 2 feet tall in Arizona populations.Utahpopulations have two basic forms, those that grow insaturated soils aremore dwarf and those in welldrained soils can grow to a height of6 feet with theaverage being around3-4 feet tall. The mature leavesare ovate (egg-shaped)to broadly elliptical orobovate,with a rounded or cordate (heart-shaped)base, and 1.5-2.4 times as long as wide. The leavesare 1-5crn in length and 0.5-3 cm wide with f i netoothed, gland-tippedmargins. The previous year'sstemsare bright red but become ighter as the seasonprogresses. The branchesof the year areyellow-green, red-brown,or brownish in colorand arepilose(dense1yhaired).This species is related to andcan be confused with Salix buuthii in morphology.

Currentdataon his speciesdocumentsoccurrencesat elevationsabove 8,500 feet in wetmeadows,stream sides, andcienegasmostcommonly in or adjacent to perennial water. Arizonawillow plants have been found in drainages that trendto the north, east, or south.Sometimes ndividualsare widely spaced(more than onemile apart) butoccasionally plants are clustered or form densestands, as in some Utah populations on CedarMountain,Dixie National Forest

Key indicator plants associatedwith the Arizonapopulations which also occur here in Utah are Salixmnticola, 3.geyerana, Pkza pungens, PolentUlafruticosa, P.diwsifolia,Descfwmpsia casepitoso,Festuca ovina,and associatedCarex species.The Esh and Wildlife Service and other agencymanagers will have amock signingof theconservation documents n Phoenix,Arizona, May16,1995with a lot of media coverage. Developmentof conservation documents for Arizonawillow, aproposed species, that precluded the need to list thespecies s the only effort attempted,and is touted asaWationalAccomplishmentw.

RED BUTTE GARDEN RECOGNIZES BLMENDOWMENT FOR RARE UTAH PLANTA $6,500endowmentestablished by the BLM tofund research on Utah's endangered Bearclaw Poppy(Arctomecon hwmlis)was matched by a $3,500grant from the Andrew W.Mellon Foundation,NewY o k Interest from the endowment fund will supporRed Butte Garden's ex-situ (off site) plant researchon the poppy, which is one of Utah's mostendangeredplant species.The research programincludes annual collectionof seed, germination andcultivation studies, and long-term protectionof seedthrough freezing. The Garden has successfullygerminatedsome of therarepoppies and will conducpollination studies in hopesof producing seed undercontrolled conditions.Red Butte Garden DirectorMary Pa&Matheson said, "Theendowment

established by the Bureau of Land Management onbehalf of the Bearclaw Poppy will assure long-termprotection of the plant, oneof Utah's most beautifultreasures. This is avery cost effectiveapproach toplant conservation - pennies spent today to learn howto protect and preserve this plant in thewild, beforethe plant populationsdwindle to the point ofextinction, will save many dollarstomorrow.Red Butte Garden and Arboretum is the GreatBasin affiliatefor theCenterforPlant Conservationbasedat theMissouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis.The Center for Rant Conservation maintainstheresearchand scientificdata for theNationalCollection of Endangered Plantswhich isavailable toscientists and conservationistsnationally andinternationally. Twenty-five otanical gardensthroughout the United Statesare the designatedaffiliates n theprogram, managingresearchcollectionsofregional endangeredplants for thepurpose of germplasm preservation andreintroduction. The combined effortsof the Centerand affiliate gardens havemu1ted in successfulgermination studies, production of seed, and longterm storageof over3 million seeds of 480endangered plants throughout the country.


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NEARLY NOTEWORTHY COLLECTIONSLinda Allen& MichaelCurtoIn tm un ta in HerbariumUtah State University

Recent additions to the Intcrmoim~ainHerbarium (UTC) vascularplant collection, as well as searches through both the IntermountainHerbarium and Brigham Young University Herbarium (BRY), aveyielded ne w state or county floristic records for Utah. Stale recordsarc often published as "Noteworthy Collections" in the scientificjournal Madrorio. County records within slates, however, are rarelypublished because they often Kprusent intercalary locatitics forotherwise widespread taxa. The collections reported herein varyfrom previously unrcportcd locations for species commonthroughout northern Ulah, to truly noteworthy range extensions, orfirs1 coIlections for Utah. We consider all to be significant as theyprovide new distributional documentation within Utah.Utah botanists are fortunale to have available tw o resources,Albee el al. (1988)an d Welsh et al. (1993), hat provide florislicdistributional data at the county-level. Following each Laxon, wecode presence (+) or absence (-1 within a particular county as listedby both references, e.g., A- W+ indicates a taxon unreported from th ecounty in Albee at al., but reported as present by Welsh et al. Otherregional floras lhal do not provide distributional data at the county-level are not referenced. All records ar e fusl collections within eachcounty listed unless otherwise noted. Multiple entries for an yspecies are chronological b y collection date. Nomenclatureconforms lo Welsh cl al . (19931, xcept where noled, and for authorabbreviations which follow Brummitt and Powcii (1992). Wherenecessary, synonyms are provided lo facilitate cross-reference withAlhee ct al . ( 1 9 8 8 ) .

BOX ELDER COUNTYGRAMINEAE (POACEAE)Crypats alopecumtdes (Piller et Mitterp.) Schrader; A- W-. WcllsvillcMIS,Mantua Reservoir, S shore, rd along Maple Creek,T18N R W S23,41'30'00'N. 1 l'S7'3O"W. 5150 ft, 16Sep 1994.M Ciirto1179&L Alien

(UTC213017). Previously known from Cache, Millard,and WasatchCounties.Elymus hispldu~ Ope) eideriS;A- W-.ellsville Mis, Mantua Resemir,S shore, id alongMaple Creek.T18NR W S23,41*30'00'N, 1 '57'3O"W.5 15 0 fl. 16Sep 1994.M Qiw 119014L.Alien (uTC213007).Panlcum capibre L.; A- W-. WcllsvillcMu, antua Risscrvoir,S shore, rdalong Maple Creek,T18N R1W S23,4!*30'WN, I 1'57'30"W, 5 150 t, 16S t p 1994,MCurtoil76& L M i en (UTC2130.21).ORCHIDACEAEEpipaciis gigantea Douglasex Hook.;A- W-. Brigham City, Hwy 89-91, Imi above [E f] red [traffic] ight, T9N R1W S30,4300 ft, 6 ul 1993,RJiSAaw 5/56 UTC2I1031).

SCROPHULARIACEAECordvlanthus oarvitlorus (FerrislWiaains: A- W-. UT H w 0 ca . 2mi Eof h r k ~ a l l e v . 5 Au c 1993.M k h c a .n furcr'- 1 1030\.~irstollectionin Ulah northof ~e av er ou&; also known from cassia cL., ID.Veronica anagalllsaquattea L;A- W-. Wellsville Mts, MamuaReservoir,S&ore,idalongMaple Creak, T18N R1W S23,41'30'00'N. 1 1 '57'30-W.5 150 t, 16 Sep 1994, Curio1166& L Alien (UTC213030).

ZYGOPHYLIACEAETribulus tetrestrlsL;A- W-. Wriliwille Mis, Mamua R t f w o i r . S shore. rdalong Maple Creek, I8N R1W S23.41'30'00'N. 111'57'30"W, 5150 ft, 16Sep 1994,M CurioUS3& L Atlen (UTC213013).

CACHE COUNTYGRAMINEAE (POACEAE)Alopecurus arundlnaceus Par. inLam,[AventnoosusPars.]; A- W-.Cache Vallev. UT PowerfiEhl Ptoaertv.S ide ofMendon Rd 600 51.1.3

(UTC213190). The illegitimate name A. vmtricosits was somehoweditorially substituted fur ihe c w t t name A. anindinacetis bctbri: ihi; grasstriialmi.'nt hy Arnow in Welsh ct al. ( 1 993) went id press (Amow. pcrs.comm. 1995). Persoon's mini:,howtivcr. is a laiiir homonym of A.ventricosw (Gouan)Huds., which is based on Agrostis ventricosa GouanGascridiwti vcniricos~w~Gouan) Sphinx1:\Thcll.Elymus smithii (Rydb.)Gould; A+ W-. Cache Valley. UT Power/LighlProperty,S ide of McndonRd (600 S), 1.3 rd mi E of 5400W an d 3.7 cd miWofLoganCity l~mil,TllN lWS3,4l '40'00"N, lll'57'30'W.44lOfi.8Jul 1994.M Ciino1158& L Alien (U T E 1 3 192). This species was tistcdfrom Cache Co. in Welsh (1987 ). but MI in Welsh (19931; we includi: thiscollection to reat1-inn thai E smithii is presrint in Cache Co.LYTHRACEAELythrum tribracteatum Salzm,ex Spreng.; A- W-. Cache Valley. 600S { b e

Mcndon Rd.) 10 mi W of l&h W, 1*43'17'N 111-56'35.W [sic],1450rn.10Se p 1993,ME Barkwonh 93-163 & FJ Smith (UTC210397); CachcValley. UTPower/Light Property- S side ofMcndon Rd (600 S). 1.3 rd mi Eof5400Wand3.7rd OT WorLoganC ity l imit .Tl lN RIW S3.41'40Wt 4,11 1'5730 -W. 4410 i. 8 Jut 1994,M Cmo !S5 & LA/len (UTC213193),First colleclions within Ulah, known from southern Idaho.

RICH COUNTYBERBERIDACEAEMahonla ropers (Undl.)G.Don [Bertwris repens Lindi.];A- W+, Negro DanHollow,T7NR7E S19,6600 ft, 27 Jul 1984.K Thomr 3280ef at.(BRY267882); ear River Range. UTHwy 30 ca. 5.6 rd mi S of US Hw y W.Tl3N R5ESIO,6000 ft, 23May 1993,MCurioSW& LAJSkn (UTC210717)BORAGINACEAECryptantha flavocutata (A.Netson) Payson;A- W-. Rich County. sine loco,1938, . Gusset s.n. (UTC210536): Lake Ridge, Rabbit Creek alon rd fromSixmilc Creek,6700 t, 13 Jim 198 1. m o r n 282a ei al. (BRY&6 1); ca5 mi W of Sage Valley Jet, T13N R7E S18,6600 H. 6 Sw l9S3,SL Welsh22J70& E Nt-use (BRY252204);6mi N W f Sage Creek Jet otTDuckCreek, I 2N R6E S2.7100 ft, 28 Jun 1983.K Snyder 562& L Hawkins(BRY253261); EdenCyn, ca. 5.5 rd miE rEast Lake Rd.Tl4N R7E S30.6500 ft, 23May 1993. M C u m 90S& L Alien (UTC210609).HackeKa patens (Mutt.) IMJohnst.; A- W+. Bear Rivcr R a p e , Swan Peak,TI4N R4E S 1 1.8500 t, 18 ul l982. R Ailans 8264et at.(UTC36466); THwy 39 7mi W ofW


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haxanthlfoIlaNutt.;A-W-. BearRiverRange,USHwy 8931.3miEofhg~,41*55.50'N,l l%.lffW, 2540m. I2 Sep 1993,MEBflrfewA2#-93etaL (UTC210787).Mkfoserts flutan8 G m r ) SchBlp.;A- W+. Bear River Range, UTHwy 306miW ofGarden City, T14N R4E S34.6900 fi , 13 fun1981.KThome12%el at (BRY223276); aleratusCreek.W side, T8N R6E S25,64M ft,27 JullW, Fmnklin IO U (BRY275984);Bear RiverRange.Cottonwood Cyn,USFS Rd 054a1Wa~lch-Caehc F boumhy,TIIN M E 6,7220 ft, 5 ul1993, Cum 1020& LAJtot (UTC210374).Rudbeckb occktentatta Nun.; A- W-. Bear River Range, USFS Rd 055 ca. 3mi S ofUS V w y 89.T13N R4E 510,8100 t, 1 Aug 1993,M Cwto 1033A LAlien (UTC210361); ur River Range, USFS Rd 074S ofUS Hw y 89,MiddleSinks, nd,7500 ft, 15 Aug 1993,ME niiawrth U9-93eiat.(UTC210747).

CRUQFERAE (BRASSICACEAE)AlyWu.m minus (L.) Rothm.; A- W-. Bear River Range,UTHw y 30ca. 5.6rd n u S ofUS H 89,T13NR5ES10,6000ft,16May1993,MCum864&LAkn wm213bs).

GERANIACEAEErOdium ckutartum (L.) LWr.; A- W+, Bear River Range, UTHwy 30 a.5.6 id mi S ofUS Hwy 89.TI3N R5E 310.6000 ft. 16May 1993,M Qtw862& LAlien (UTC113175).GRAMINEAE (POACEAE)P0a bofaiKteriV&sey;A- W-. Bear River Range.USFSRd 055 ca. 8.5 id mi Sof USH wy 89,T13NRffiS21,8000ft,1Aug 1993,MQtrtol#tf&LAlien(UTC210366); ear RiverRange,USFS Rd014ZSmiN of USHwy 89,41'5921'N, 1 11'29.55W,22Aug 1993,ME arfcworth136-93 taL(UTC210754).PoabUlb09a L.; A- W-. BearRiverItqeerr Hwy 30 ca. 5.6 rdmi S fUSHwy89,T13NRSES10,6000a,23May993,JtfGiTO;2 nilWofOanlenCity,6900flm 3May 1967GM e 038 nJTCI178151.Bear River Etame.Tenule Cva.USFS Rd008 1.5 m iW f ~ c a d m w i i c - ~ d , ~ l 3 ~ R 5 E S 3 6 ,~ , 2 3 hy993,MCMIO 925LMien (UTC210721).TOOELE COUNTY

LITERATURE CITEDAlbee, El,LM Sbuto,and S Goodrich. 1988.Arias of (A^ VosrutorPtoiB ofUtah.Utah MuseumofN t l u t ~ lHistoryOccasionalPublication No. .Bnimruitt, RK, andCE owell(da) 992. uthor, oJPkmt Names.RoyalBotanic Gardew.,Kew.Welsh,SL,ND Atwood, S Goodrich, andLC Higgins (4s.) 1993. UldhFlora,ed. .W r n oung University,Prove.


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Endangered Species Ac t A l e r tThe E ndange red Species A ct (ESA) has been for twenty tw o years thes t r o n g e s t expression of stewardship this country of fe r s for native plantsand t h e i r h a b i t a ts . U t a h has twenty plant species protected u n d e r thisprov i s i on , and over one h u n d r e d spec i e s on the candidate list. The c u r r e n tCongress ( i n c l u d i n g m o s t of ou r Utah delegation) is of the mindset toqu i ck ly dismantle the ESA to a1low greater deve l opm en t w i t hou t having tobe concerned about destruction of rare plants and the biodiversity theyrepresent. i n Apr i Congress attached an Endangered Species fundingrescission onto a Department of Defense appropriation b i l l a n d quicklypassed i t into law.The rescission means that no more funds w i l l be spenti n 1995 o n d e t e r m i n a t i o n s of endangered species o r c r i t i c a l habitat. Thisi n d i c a t e s the mood of this Congress and their intent r e g a r d i n g speciesdhers ty !The ESA ha s p r o t e c t e d many rare p l a n t species from harm in theSouthwest. Operation of Glen Canyon D a m on the Colorado River hasundergone an Environmental impact Sta tement and changes w i 11 bei m p l em en t ed t o protect endangered species (plants and animals) found int h e river c o r r i d o r . They were adversely affected by the o l d ope ra t i onschedule. A p l a n n e d l a n d f i l l near Richfield was re -s i t ed to avoid d e s t r o y i n gan endange red Fishhook cactus(mr h h t i i h H ig hw ay w i d e n i n gin Logan was rerouted t o pro tect the l i m es t one c l i f f s where Maguirep r i m r o s e (Primula mamirei) grows. The Bureau of Land Management hasresisted pressure t o t r a n s f e r federal lands around St . George into privatecontrol and has set aside l and t o p r o t e c t the Dwarf Bearclaw poppy(Arctomcon h u m i lis).The State of Utah has no legal p ro t ec t i on fo r rare plants on state o r privatelands.Consequently, only those plants found on Federally managed lands


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which fall under the provisions of the Endangered Species A c t areprotected.Utah Native Plant Society members must let th e delegation and Pres i dentClinton (who avors a strong ESA) know how much we value our naturalfloristic heritage. Please urge the President to veto legis lation that weakensprotection. Please send your letters and telephone calls immediately toyour Congressional representatives and the President.Lettern-itiw tips: Write your own views; let them know your personalexperiences or observations. Try t o show an awareness of how legislationwill affect your community, health, jobs. Ask for a response; ask questions,without sounding demanding or threatening. Be sure to use your returnaddress or letterhead. Say "We1 l done" when your representatives supportgood legislation. They appreciate the thanks when they have donesomething w el l .Senator 0 in HatchU.S. SenateWashington, DC 205 10Congressman James HansenUS. House of Rep resentat ivesWashington, DC 2 05 15Congressman B i l l OrtonU.S. House of RepresentativesWashington, DC 20515

Senator Robert BennettUS. SenateWashington, D C 2 0 5 1 0Congresswoman Enid Wald hol tzU.S. House of Representat ivesWashington, DC 205 15President B i l l ClintonThe W h i t e HouseWashington, DC 2 0 5 0 0phone (202) 456- 14 14 Fax (202 ) 456-2461


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W P S SEGU L I L Yc / o Jo StolhandUtah Na t i v e Plant Soc i e t yP . O . Box 520041S a l t Lake C i t y , UT 8 4 1 5 2 - 0 0 4 1Address Correction Requested

Nan-Rcrfit Oq.U.S. PostagePAIDSalt Lake City. UtahPERMIT No. 327

MUSHROOM FORAY 1995Doctor Creek CampgroundFishlake UtRegistration (camp fee& meals)

number of adultsmembers x $15=non-members x $25=numberof children (8and under)i e m b e r s x $7.50=non-members x 12.50=

TOTALt-shirt ( $10a hsmallmedium

-age x-large_^x-largeTOTAL x $lo=

TOTALSend check and registrationto:Utah Native Plant SocietyP.O. Box 520041SaltLakeCity, Ut 84152-0041

Membeiship ApplicationNew Member Q Renewal Gift

N a m eStreet

Zi p PhoneIf Gift, from:Check Membership category desired:

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .tudent 95. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .enior $10

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .a ndividual $12. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .ousehold S20. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .El) Sustaining


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NewsIetter of the Utah Native Plant SocieVOL. 18NO.4

Jul 16SunJuly 21-22July 28-30Aug 12Saturday

Aug 17-19Sep 6Wed0700pmOct 18Wed0630pm

JUL / AUG 1995CALENDAR OF EVENTS

WildflowerPhotographywith theUtahMuseum of Natural History. A day longtrip to Albion Basin to photograph the wildflowers. Call the museum for moreinformation (581-4887).Wildflowers ofYellowstone-a class offered by theY llowstoneInstitute.Telephone (307)-344-2294.Alpine Wildnower Walks-a class offeredby theY llowstone Institute. Telephone(307)444-2294UintaFieldtrip.The trip will start at 10:00am. t the Upper Stillwater Dam inthe south forkof the Rock Creek Drainage.Thosewishing tocarpoolfrom SaltLake City shouldmeet at7:30m at the parking lot of theStateGeological Surveyat 2363 So. Foothill Drive. Bring lunch and raingear. Call Jo Stolhand (521-0069)if you would like to go. There is thepossibilityof changing the meetingplace so besure to get your name on ourcall listMushroom Foray 1995 at Fishlakc. Campground space has beenreserved atDoctorCreek Campground.See nextpage for moredetails.Salt Lake ChapterMeeting. Bruce Thompson of &track will presenta program of Wildflower Photography. Note new meeting time ROOpmat the Division ofNatural Resources 1636West North Temple. Theentrance is on thewest side of the building.Annual State Membership meeting and new world menu potluck.More information in thenext newsletter.

WILDFLOWER HOTLINE 581-4747


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BOARD OF DIRECTORSDuane A t woodAndrew BoyackSherman BroughRobert FItsBen FranklinDave GardnerDickHildrethAlyce HrehaJoan Livingston

801-5384763 w)801-649-3355 (h)801-581-8936w)801-944-2337 (h)801-295-7825

Chairman of the Board...... ..Brent ShipleyPresident. ...................... Alyce HrehaSecretary ....................... Sherman BroughTreasurer........................ndrew Boyack

Theme MeyerDave Ok eltm yRichard PagePam PoulsonBrent ShipleyJo St01handDoug StoneLeila Shultz (honorary)Kaye T ome (honorary)OFFICERS

Membership Chairperson....... Pam PodsonConservationChairperson.....Theme MeyerEditor.. ............................ Jo StolhandActing Salt Lake Chapter President.......Dave OkelbenyCache Chapter Sec.. ............Linda A lien

UNPS ANNUAL MUSHROOM HUNT AND NATURE OUTINGThe UNPS Mushroom Hunt will be held at DoctorCreekCampground at Rshlake National Forest August17, 18 and 19.All food and cmpgroundfeeswill be provided at a cost of:$15per person member$25per person nonmember112price for age 8 and underBring your own camping gear tents, sleeping bags etc.Dutch oven dinners, sourdough pancake breakfasts,and a steak dinner on Saturday afternoon will highlightthe menu. There will be a contest for the best dutchoven cobbler, with prizes to be awarded-UNPS willreimburse for the cost of the cobbler ingredients so bring those receipts with you and turn them into DaveOkelbeny.We also have t-shirts designed by Dr. Frank Anderson for $10each.We arc looking for volunteers to :1. Help as nature guides.2. Help cook3. Enter the cobbler contestVolunteers and people with questions should call or write Dave Okelberry (968-6190)3522W. 305 So,West Valley City, Ut 84119See last page for registration forms.


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PLANTSAND ANIMALS IN HIGHPLACES:THE ALPINE ECOSYSTEM OF UTAHDr.Richard Shaw

What is an alpine ecosystem? Simply stated it isa solar energy driven system of plants and animalsthat is self-sustaining in a high mountainousenvironment too severe to meet the requirements fortree growth. The erm " reelineqs used to describethe limit either in frigid polar regions, high up in themountains or adjacent to shrubs or grasslands.Asone cologist aptly put it: "Treeline is a biologicalboundary which doesn't escape the most casualobserver." "Upper or alpine treelinen applies to theupper elevational limits of forest and tree growth.The alpine treeline of the Utah mountains does notform an abrupt bound ary but usually forms atransition zone varying from 9,500 o 10,000 feet(2,900 to 3,050m) epending on a series ofenvironmental factors. Alpine treeline has a diversityof interacting causes affected by inadequate summertemperatures; thus it is classed as a "cold treeline".Another kind of treeline may occurat lowerelevations especially in valleys in semi-arid westernUtah. This "lower treeline" is generally related toinadequate water; and, thus, s called a "dry" o r'drought-caused treelinen.SnakeValley in westernUtah has a dry timberline because of lowprecipitation.In this commentary we will emphasizethesummits over 10,000 feet.TheNational GeographicNames Data Base ists 263 summits. his is quite astaggering figure as one considers a map of Utah.TheWasatch and Uinta Ranges stand out as theranges with the most number of peaks; the latter isthe largest mountain range with 39 summits over10,000 ft. It also has the distinction of being thelargest range in the western hemisphere that extendsin an east-west direction (Fenneman 1931). Thismassive Uinta Range s 150 miles long and 35 mileswide, an d its highest summ it is Kings Peak at13,498feet The upper portion of the range has beenheavily glaciated leaving scooped-out cirquebasins-T e Uintas havea floristically rich alpine floraabove 11,000 feet, which extends along the crest for60 miles and coversmore than 300 square miles(Cronquist et al 1972).Th e Wasatch Range is exceptionally steep andrepresents a complex fault-block with varioussedimentary, metamorphic and igneous ocks. Thehighest peaks are Mount Timpanogos at 12,008feetand MountNebo a t 11,928feet The Wasatch Rangeis less floristically rich than the Uintas, but has somecircumbreal species such asmoss carnpion ( S h eacaulis).Among someof the highest of Southern Utahmountainswe should mention Mount Belknap

(12,139 feet), Delano Peak 12,173 feet), AbajoPeak (11,360feet) and Mount Peale (12,721 feet).Each of these has a distinctive history but all haveunique alpine plants.A person climbing upslope on any of thesemountains will pass through the alpine treeline andnote that trees become ncreasingly stunted and arefinally reduced to shrub-like forms.This s oftenreferred to as the "krumholz ine" The term"krurnholzu(Germanfor "crookedwood")is usedfor the environmentally dwarfed forms of speciesthat become reelike in less harsh environmentalsites.This hallenging environment beyond thekmmholz appears at First glance to be a coldinhospitable desert; but, in fact, i t will reveal a wealthof miniature plants as well assome uniquely adaptedinteracting animals. When examined with patience,the smallest plants express themselvesin a number ofgrowth formswith incredible evolutionary ingenuity.They are truly beautiful and remarkable, and theythrive amid stressful environmental forcesof lowsummer temperatures, buffeting w inds, drought,intense ultraviolet ligh t and soil churning processescaused by frost and burrowing animals.Lakesand streamsarecommon n the alpinezone but no aquatic speciesare likely to be found.Bogs, however, generally occur close to the lowerlimits of the alpine zone at 9,500 feet (2,900 ).Alpine plants commonly occur in glacial cirquesandlocal depressions in the major canyons especiallyalong streams. Sedges, grasses and willow speciesdominate he vascular flora.Other species found inbogs include elephanthead (Pedicularisgroenlandica), edpod stonecrop (Sedumrhadanthwn), and alpine laurel {KaImiapolifolia).


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The bog habitat usually grades into wet meadowhabitat, and these are common t lower elevations inthe glacial cirques. Vegetation surviving below slowme1ting snowbanks is also included in this habitattype. W et meadows are usually dominated bymarshmarigold (CalthaIeptosepala).American bistort(Polygonurnbisturroidcs) alpine speedwell(Veronica womkjoIdii) and sedge species. AlongstreamsParry primrose (Primulaparryi), prettypaintbrush, (Castillejapukhella), nd explorergentian (Gentimiacalycosa)are apt tobe found.Ground which is exposed by late me1ting snowusually supports species uch as springbeauty(Claytonia lanceolata),glacier lily (Erythroniwngrandiflorum),and alpine buttercup (Ranunculusadoneus).Dry meadows are fairly common and perennialspeciesof the sunflower, pea, an d grass families arelikely to dominate. Alpine hyrnenoxys(Hymenoxysgrandiflora),dwarf clover (Trifoliumnanum), andspike trisetum (Trisetwnspicatwn)are frequent1yseen herbaceous plantsTalus, cree and boulder fields are called debrisaccumulation sites.Thesehabitats are oftenphysically disturbed by mass movements.Plantcover here is usually very low.However, manyspecies have adapted to the disturbed and dryconditions by producing extensive root systems.Common species include mountain avens (Dryasoctopetala). mountain sorrel (Oxyrladigyna), brittlefern (CysbplerISfrag ilis),and sticky jacobsladder(Polemoniumviscosum)Rockfac