THE JEPSON GLOBE VOLUME 14 NUMBER 2 A Newsletter from the Friends of The Jepson Herbarium January 2004 Curator’s Column: Lemmons and Poppies Tarweeds & Silverswords by Richard Beidleman by Bruce G. Baldwin The year of 2003 was the centennial Spring of 2003 was a memorable of the California Poppy’s legislative ap- season for California botany, with proval as the state flower of the Golden an unusually spectacular wildflower State. Just a century ago, the evening bloom in much of the state, including of March 2, 1903, proved special for the deserts. For this botanist, spring Sarah Lemmon of Oakland, at the was also enriched by publication of Senate Chambers in Sacramento. The Tarweeds & Silverswords: Evolution gala celebrated the signing by newly of the Madiinae (Asteraceae) [Missouri elected George Pardee, fittingly the Botanical Garden Press], a book that Golden State’s first native-born gover- comprises a wide diversity of informa- nor, of the bill finally designating the tion on one of California’s distinctive California Poppy as “the State floral and well-studied lineages of native California Bryophytes emblem of California.” When Senator plants. Much new knowledge about the A Status Report F. M. Smith of Los Angeles, author of California tarweeds that is contained Senate Bill No. 707, commenced his within Tarweeds & Silverswords was Bryophytes (mosses, liverworts, and celebratory speech, it was to Sarah obtained through research at the Jepson hornworts) were the first “land plants.” Plummer Lemmon — botanist, artist, Herbarium, with the support of Roderic Nonetheless, we generally know much author, librarian, public speaker, con- B. Park and other generous Friends. less about them in comparison to the servationist, suffragette, nurse, wife The effort to produce Tarweeds & flowering plants. Did you know that of pioneer flower collector and forester Silverswords was led by famed plant California has half of all of the moss- John Lemmon — that he paid tribute. anatomist and island biologist Sherwin es recorded for North America and For three decades, and particularly over Carlquist (Santa Barbara Botanic Gar- that California is remarkable for the the past twenty years, it was Mrs. Lem- den), who served as convening editor, diversity of BOTH its vascular plant mon, supported by many others, who in association with co-editors Gerald flora and its bryophytes? For the past steadfastly promoted the poppy, despite D. Carr (Univ. of Hawaii, Honolulu) 5+ years, Dan Norris and Jim Shevock, interminable disappointments. After — world-authority on biosystematics of as researchers in the UC Herbarium, his tribute, Senator Smith presented the Hawaiian silversword alliance and have been actively working toward Sarah with the magnificent Bald Eagle the California tarweed genera Calyca- the preparation of a California moss quill-feather pen used by the governor denia and Osmadenia — and me. In- catalogue and a key to moss species. in signing the bill. cluded within the book are chapters by This monumental work will appear in In Mrs. Lemmon’s response she each of the editors and by distinguished Madroño 51, issues 1 & 2, 2004. adroitly noted that time did not allow authors Bruce A. Bohm, Elizabeth A. The UC Herbarium bryophyte Friar, Michael D. Purugganan, David collection is among the largest in the “any lofty eagle-flights of rhetoric.” She applauded the appropriateness of Continued on page 4. Continued on page 3. Continued on page 2. Above: Dan Norris and Jim Shevock in the Sierra, summer 2003. Continued from pg. 1. the California Poppy as the state’s of- Orleans Cotton Exposition in 1884, and passed it over the governor’s veto. ficial symbol, reminding the audience where there was discussion about states The Senate, however, quailed before that years earlier Jessie Fremont, wife adopting state flowers. In California Governor Gage’s wrath; and the state of California’s “first” governor, had the “Golden Poppy” was already con- flower bill “died among its friends.” enthusiastically supported the choice: sidered the unofficial state flower by Then in May of 1901, “Professor” John “Why, the Eschscholtzia [sic], of course; many. During 1890, two California G. Lemmon entered the fray, offering a the golden poppy was born for Cali- organizations actually held elections for resolution to the meeting of the Pacific fornia.” Sarah then touched briefly on a state flower. At the Santa Cruz Fruit States Floral Congress to support the the role local members of the National Growers’ Convention in November, the California chapter’s recommendation Floral Emblem Society of America had California Poppy was endorsed, while of the California Poppy as state flower. played in the long campaign, and the the next month the California State Flo- The next year horticulturalist Emory support by Senator Smith, Governor ral Society offered a ballot with three E. Smith’s book, The Golden Poppy, Pardee, and especially Assemblyman J. choices: the California Poppy, Matilija appeared, filled with art work, photo- A. Bliss of Oakland “for his continued Poppy, and the Mariposa Lily. The graphs, poetry, and essays relating to and untiring devotion in the stormy California Poppy got all but three votes. the poppy, including several chapters past and sunny present.” She concluded Sarah Lemmon and others, however, by the Lemmons. Forgotten was Editor her remarks by pinning on Bliss’s coat still felt the selection should be made Smith’s abortive support of the Matil- lapel a badge embellished with her oil official by the state legislature. ija Poppy. The following year, 1903, painting of a cluster of the beautiful In 1893, Sarah Lemmon and her a sympathetic new governor, George poppies. The evening’s festivities came husband attended the World’s Columbi- Pardee, early in his term finally made to an end as Mr. Bliss recited Joaquin an Exposition in Chicago. At the Wom- the California Poppy the state’s official Miller’s poem, “God’s Gold,” honoring an’s Building, after lengthy discussion, floral symbol. the California Poppy, which “careless, the National Floral Emblem Society was In 2003, California celebrated laughing, freely spills its hoard, far up established, “for the purpose of legal- the California Poppy’s centennial, re- the happy hills . .” izing State floral emblems,” as well as membering those like the Lemmons, During Spanish times, it was this selecting a national flower. To Sarah’s and many others, who contributed their “Copa de Oro”, the “Cup of Gold”, surprise, she was appointed Chairman time and effort towards a memorable that botanist and writer Adelbert von of the State Committee for California, cause. Still today, across California Chamisso had come upon at San Fran- charged with “confirming the selection in season, one may see patches of the cisco Bay. He and zoologist Johann of the State flower by act of the next brilliant, golden displays that inspired Eschscholtz were naturalists with Rus- State legislature.” the Spanish exclamation “land of fire” sia’s Rurik expedition, commanded by Now the work began. Sarah be- to describe the Golden State. Otto von Kotzebue. During the month’s came an inspired activist, setting up stay in the autumn of 1816, they collect- regional committees, corresponding, ed both plants and animals, but it was sending out hundreds of publicity circu- the California Poppy that became most lars, and traveling around the state giv- famous. Since earlier naturalists had ing lectures promoting the California overlooked the poppy, Chamisso wrote Poppy. In 1895, through her efforts, the the first scientific description, in Latin, first poppy bill was introduced into the naming the flowerEschscholzia califor- legislature, passing almost unanimous- nica in honor of his genial companion. ly. But “for personal, political reasons” Unfortunately, the zoologist’s name was Governor James Budd would not sign misspelled, and by nomenclature rules, it. Four years later, Sarah Lemmon it must remain misspelled. In 1820, presented another request to the legis- the description appeared in a Russian lature, carried by Assemblyman Bliss scientific publication, accompanied of Oakland. This bill likewise passed by Chamisso’s original sketch of the almost unanimously. But the new gov- “type specimen” as a large, exquisite, ernor, Henry Gage, at political odds color plate. with Bliss, vetoed it, with the excuse Sarah Lemmon’s adventures with that “I do not think the adoption of a the California Poppy began when she State flower a proper subject for legisla- A painting of Chamisso’s original specimen. and her husband attended the New tion.” The Assembly thought otherwise Collected in San Francisco, 1816. 2 In Memoriam: Wayne Roderick by John Game NSF Grant Awarded to Bruce Baldwin Wayne Roderick died on August 10, 2003, at his home in Orinda, California, at the age of 83. Wayne made an immense contribution to Californian field botany Bruce Baldwin has received a recent and introduced many Californian plants into horticulture. He was a Founder member and Fellow of CNPS and served on the board of the East Bay Chapter research award from the National for many years. On his frequent field trips, he introduced many people to such Science Foundation (Population wonderful places as Cook and Green Pass, The White Mountains, and Winnemuc- Biology Program). The four-year ca Lake. He was widely known for his knowledge of Californian bulbs and his project, “Unravelling the dynamics skill at growing them, and was active in the American Rock Garden Society and other groups. His widespread explorations revealed new species, for example of mating-system evolution in tribe Ceanothus roderickii, and he did much Collinsieae (Scrophulariaceae s.l.)” to support conservation in our state. will begin in January of 2004. The Wayne was born in Petaluma, California, project is a collaborative effort with and worked for his family’s horticultural W. Scott Armbruster (Univ. of Alas- nursery from 1945 until 1959.