Vol 38(2) – June 2016
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Vol. 38 No. 2 June 2016 Newsletter of the Idaho Native Plant Society ● Promoting Interest in Idaho’s Native Flora 27th Idaho Rare Plant Conference By Caroline Morris, Pahove Chapter Idaho Native Plant Society (INPS) President apply the species distribution model to Idaho’s Steve Love's brief closing remarks captured the es- rare plants, and offering modeling help. sence of the 27th Idaho Rare Plant Conference The two-day RPC agenda included agency up- (RPC): "We were educated, mentally stimulated, dates, rare plant rankings, superb panels, poster and participated in very meaningful activities...." presentations, and individual speakers. Agency Held February 10-11, 2016, in a wonderful Boise updates came from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service auditorium, 61 people attended the conference, in- (USFWS) biologist Karen Colson ("Conservation cluding 3 students and 6 folks not from Idaho. We in Action: How Recovery Planning Guides Conser- were honored that Dr. Pat Packard, of Packard's vation and Recovery of Idaho's Rarest Plant Spe- milkvetch fame, joined us. Holly Beck with the cies"), Idaho Natural Heritage Program (IDNHP) Bureau of Land Management (BLM) directed RPC Botany Program Director Lynn Kinter and Ecolo- planning and preparations, and then led the lively gist Kristen Pekas ("Rare Plant Research by meeting. Many other INPS members spent signi- the Idaho Natural Heritage Program"), and ficant personal time making the meeting a suc- Brenda Erhardt, Conservation Planner for the La- cess. The INPS and BLM were partners in tah Soil and Water Conservation District sponsoring the conference. ("Spalding's Catchfly, Silene spaldingii, Recovery Our keynote speaker was Shannon Still, Efforts on the Palouse"). Beth Colket, Power En- Ph.D., Director of Plant Conservation and gineers botanist, later presented "Recommenda- Curator for the University of California Davis tions to Agencies." Arboretum and Public Garden, and a member of Beth Corbin introduced everyone to the the California Native Plant Society's Rare Plant intricacies of the plant ranking process used for Program Committee. He described how "Rare Continued on Page 5 Plant Climate Modeling" can improve estimates of In this issue: possible climate change impacts such as shifts in 27th Idaho Rare Plant Conference............................ 1 species distribution and viability and long-term Letter from the President........................................... 2 persistence of western rare plant species and pop- Announcements.........................................................3 ulations. His detailed discussion of the benefits Mystery Plant.............................................................3 and limitations of using species distribution mod- 2016 RPC Results..................................................... 6 eling to predict the change, direction, and mag- Idaho's Newest Rare Plant........................................ 8 nitude for all concerned species has particular Lucky Peak Nursery Tour.......................................... 9 value for future conservation efforts. He stressed Landscaping for a Sense of Place...........................10 careful examination of data indicating species ab- Blackwell Island Native Plant Garden......................12 sence, particularly for small and easily overlooked Palouse Prairie Field Guide.....................................13 plants. Dr. Still concluded by suggesting how to Chapter News..........................................................14 Letter from the President IDAHO NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY PO Box 9451, Boise, ID 83707 After most of a year, I look back fondly on the 2015 INPS meeting held www.idahonativeplants.org public3[at]idahonativeplants.org jointly with the Wyoming Native Plant Society. The four days of the meeting were filled with good company, wonderful views, and great botanizing. That’s INPS BOARD a hard combination to beat for any member of INPS. President: Stephen Love I remember the ride to the top of the ski lift at Grand Targhee. Having Vicepresident: Tony McCammon Secretary: Janet Bala skied at the resort several times in the past, I was familiar with the terrain, but Treasurer: Karen Getusky had always seen it cloaked in snow rather than wildflowers. The high speed Pastpresident: LaMar Orton lift was a pleasant way to access the crest of Fred’s Mountain and spectacular MemberatLarge: Mel Nicholls views of the Teton Range. After disembarking, we spent a few minutes watch- Chapter Presidents ing a couple of pikas dodge in and out of the rocks, an unexpected site given CALYPSO CHAPTER the number of noisy people milling about. The high elevation ridgeline was 821 W. Mustang Ave. carpeted with alpine beauties, most in full bloom. I found violet flowers of Hayden, ID 83835 Townsendia alpigena, clumps of strikingly blue Penstemon cyananthus, soft President: Derek Antonelli yellow flowers of Castilleja sulpherea, and two distinct varieties of Anemone Vice President: Vacant Secretary: Karen Williams multifida. My head still spins a little when I recall hanging over a cliff face to Treasurer: Janet Benoit get pictures of Primula parryi clinging to rocks below. Newsletter: Vacant My best memories of the meeting are associated with the hike into Table Mountain. My wife and I joined 13 other intrepid explorers on this strenuous LOASA CHAPTER 340 E 520 N. 12-mile roundtrip. Abundant spring rains made the foliage lush, often head- Shoshone, ID 83352 high along the lower trail, and the wildflower viewing incredible. Although President: Bill Bridges many of us did not quite make the summit due to a lightning storm, the trip Vice President: Valdon Hancock was well worth the effort. On the lower trail, we saw Delphinium occidentale, Secretary/Treasurer: Lois Rohay fully 7 feet tall. We also saw a host of other species, including Spiraea PAHOVE CHAPTER splendens, Penstemon attenuatus, and Hypericum scouleri. In the upper PO Box 9451, Boise, ID 83707 bowls and ridgelines, we found Gentiana calycosa, Erigeron peregrinus, pahove.chapter[at]gmail.com Hedysarum boreale, and a white-flowered variant of Mertensia ciliata. On President: Karie Pappani the return trip, we observed an intriguing phenomenon associated with the Vice President: Elaine Walker columbine along the trail. At the top of the ridge, the columbine was typical of Secretary: Daniel Murphy Treasurer: Caroline Morris Aquilegia coerulea with white flowers, large floppy petals, and long spurs. As we moved down the trail, the plants morphed progressively to flowers with SAWABI CHAPTER pink and yellow coloration, smaller petals, and short spurs. By the time we 1506 N. Mink Creek Road Pocatello, ID 83204 reached the lower trail, the plants were typical of Aquilegia flavescens. But CoPres: Karl Holte and Paul Allen the intermediate forms in between were Vice President: Geoff Hogander very intriguing. Secretary: Barbara Nicholls So, you can see why I am excited about Treasurer: Ruth Moorhead the upcoming annual meeting in the UPPER SNAKE CHAPTER Clearwater country around Grangeville. I Currently Inactive am intending to acquire a whole new set of lifetime memories. Nancy Miller and her WHITE PINE CHAPTER PO Box 8481, Moscow, ID 83843 crew have put together a wonderful agenda whitepine.chapter[at]gmail.com for us. I hope you have set aside a few days President: Susan Rounds to meet with us in June. I extend my per- Vice President: Judy Ferguson sonal invitation. See you there. Secretary: Charlotte Omoto Treasurer: Pamela Pavek Yours truly, WOOD RIVER CHAPTER PO Box 3093, Hailey, ID 83333 Stephen Love, Douglas’ grasswidow President: Cynthia Langlois INPS President (Olsynium douglasii) Vice President: Lisa Horton Illustration by Karie Pappani Secretary: Jeanne Cassell Photo reference: Kirsten Severud Treasurer: Carol Blackburn Sage Notes Vol. 38 (2) June 2016 2 Announcements 2016 Idaho Botanical Foray The 9th Annual Idaho Botanical Foray is fast ap- Mill Creek Campground just off the Sawmill Canyon proaching. It will take place June 16-19, 2016 in the Pah- road, a spur off the main Pahsimeroi Road. From the simeroi River and upper Little Lost River areas in small town of Howe, it is roughly 45 miles to the camp- east-central Idaho. Tucked between the crests of the grounds. Logistics and other information are available on Lemhi and Lost River mountain ranges, this botanically the INPS webpage and on Facebook on the Idaho Botan- diverse area includes a number of Idaho endemics and ical Foray link. The 2016 Foray is being sponsored by habitats that vary from alpine summits to riparian bot- Idaho State University. Please contact Janet Bala tomlands. We look forward to contributing new collec- (balajane[at]su.edu) at the Ray J. Davis Herbarium, tions from a somewhat remote area of Idaho. The plan is Idaho Museum of Natural History if you have questions. to camp at either the Timber Creek Campground or the From Refugia to Ridgetops - INPS Annual Meeting The 2016 Annual Meeting of the Idaho Native Plant Directions (watch for INPS signs): The Fish Creek Society will be held June 10-13, 2016. The meeting will be Pavilion - from Grangeville, head south on Grangeville- based out of the Fish Creek Group Use Camp and the Salmon Road for approximately 7 miles to the Fish Creek Fish Creek Pavilion on Mt. Idaho, 8 miles south of Meadows area (the road may change names). Turn right Grangeville, Idaho. Field trips will provide opportunities on Forest Road 4600. The entrance to Fish Creek Pavil- to explore several types of habitats along nearby rivers ion is located