July 2008 Volume 31 Number 4

Sego Lily July 2008 31 (4)

Salt Lake Chapter Trek to the Beaver Dam Mountains

By Bill Gray

In April, eight Salt Lake Chapter members took a break from their long winter and headed south as far as they could get, actually ending up just over the border in Arizona. Somehow the Virgin River gorge and that part of the Beaver Dam Moun- tains feel as though they really be- long in Utah. Most of you have probably driven through the gorge on Interstate 15 en route to/from Las Vegas or Southern California, and have ad- mired the steep rugged cliffs where the river has carved its way down. From a speeding car it is possible to spot a few of the obvious standout plants of the Mojave Desert – Joshua tree (Yucca brevifolia), Above: Crevice penstemon, Penstemon petiolatus, grows in Creosote bush (Larrea tridentata) mostly inaccessible crevices in rugged limestone cliffs in and rather modest specimens of Le- Utah’s Beaver Dam Mountains. Photo by Bill Gray conte's barrel cactus (Ferocactus acanthodes var. lecontei). But we wanted to take time to get In this issue: out and really experience first hand the other unusual plants from this Salt Lake Chapter Trek to the Beaver Dam Mountains ...... 1 area. In this we were very fortunate UNPS and Chapter News ...... 2 to have one of the best possible Bulletin Board ...... 3 guides in Dr. Larry Higgins. Larry Q and A: Growing Sego Lilies ...... 6 grew up in the area, getting to know Richard Joshua Shaw (1923-2008) ...... 6 it like the back of his hand. Al- Ten Things You Always Wanted to Know About Sagebrush though he moved away to pursue his (But Were Afraid to Ask) ...... 7 doctorate and a career in botany, he What‘s in a Name? Rafinesque and Rafinesquia ...... 10 returned "home" a number of years UNPS Scholarship: What can the Wild Buckwheats Tell Us? . 11 ago. As one of the principal authors Noteworthy Discoveries: New Potentilla in Utah and Nevada . 11 of A Utah Flora he presented a great combination [continued on page 4] Copyright 2008 Utah Native Plant Society. All Rights Reserved. Utah Native Plant Society

Education: Ty Harrison Sego Lily Editor: Walter Fertig Horticulture: Maggie Wolf ([email protected]). News items, arti- Invasive Weeds: Susan Garvin cles, photos, and illustrations from Rare Plants: Walter Fertig members are always welcome. The deadline for the September 2008 Sego Chapters and Chapter Presidents Lily is 15 August 2008. Cache: Steve Ripple Escalante (Garfield Co): Allysia Angus Copyright 2008 Utah Native Plant Officers Fremont (Richfield area): Rebecca Society. All Rights Reserved Co-Presidents: Bill Gray (Salt Lake Co) Harmon and Bill King (Salt Lake Co) Manzanita (Kane Co): Walter Fertig The Sego Lily is a publication of the Treasurer: Celeste Kennard (Utah Co) Mountain (Summit Co): Mindy Utah Native Plant Society, a 501(c)(3) Secretary: Mindy Wheeler (Summit Wheeler not-for-profit organization dedicated Co) Price (Carbon Co): Mike Hubbard to conserving and promoting steward- Board Chair: Larry Meyer (Salt Lake Salt Lake: Kipp Lee ship of our native plants. Use of con- Co) Southern (Washington Co): Margaret tent material is encouraged but re- Malm quires permission (except where ex- UNPS Board: Walter Fertig (Kane Co), Utah Valley (Utah Co): Celeste Ken- empted by statute) and must be cor- Robert Fitts (Utah Co), Susan Garvin nard rectly credited and cited. Articles, (Utah Co), Marie Griffiths (Salt Lake photographs and illustrations submit- Co), Ty Harrison (Salt Lake Co), Char- Website: For late-breaking news, the ted to us remain the property of the lene Homan (Salt Lake Co), Kipp Lee UNPS store, the Sego Lily archives, submitting individuals or organiza- (Salt Lake Co), Margaret Malm Chapter events, links to other websites tions. Submit permission requests to (Washington Co), Therese Meyer (Salt (including sources of native plants and [email protected]. We encourage read- Lake Co), Jeff Mitchell (Utah Co), Leila the digital Utah Rare Plant Field ers to submit articles for potential Shultz (Cache Co), Maria Ulloa (Sevier Guide), and more, go to unps.org. publication. By submitting an article, Co), Dave Wallace (Cache Co), Maggie Many thanks to Xmission for an implicit license is granted to print Wolf (Salt Lake Co), Loreen Woolsten- sponsoring our website. the article in the newsletter or other hulme (Utah Co). UNPS publications for reprint without For more information on UNPS: permission (in print and electronic Committees Contact Bill King (582-0432) or Susan media). When submitting an article, Communications: Larry Meyer Garvin (356-5108), or write to UNPS, please indicate whether it has been Conservation: Bill King and Tony PO Box 520041, Salt Lake City, UT, previously published or submitted for Frates 84152-0041 or email [email protected] consideration to other publications. ______

canyon bottom. In the afternoon, chapter meeting in October. UNPS and Chapter News Fishlake National Forest ecologist —Allysia Angus Bob Campbell gave an informative Annual Field Trip: At least two slide presentation on fire ecology Manzanita (Kane County): dozen UNPS members and friends and aspen biology in the local area. This spring the chapter sponsored attended the Society‘s annual The day was capped by a delicious field trips to the Toroweap area of spring field trip at Capitol Reef meal provided by the Fremont the Grand Canyon and Snow Can- National Park on May 17, ably Chapter at the Sunglow Camp- yon State Park, as well as in our hosted by the Fremont Chapter. ground. Local cowboy poet C.R. own backyard in Kanab. Addi- BLM botanist Maria Ulloa led the Wood and country musician Ken tional field trips are slated for the group on a tour of the Capitol Stevens of the band Latigo regaled Red Canyon area (near Bryce Can- Gorge area. Although this spring‘s us well into the night. Thanks to yon) and Twisted Forest (near dry, cool weather put a damper on everyone in the Fremont Chapter Brian Head) in July and on the the park‘s usual wildflower show, for making us all welcome and Kaibab Plateau in August. Our the group was still treated to many providing a wonderful weekend of indoor meeting schedule will re- colorful and interesting species, botanical fun—W. Fertig sume in early October—W. Fertig including Claret cup cactus (Echinocereus triglochidiatus), Escalante (Garfield County): Southern (Washington Co.) Eaton‘s beardtongue (Penstemon The chapter held its annual pot- Our July 7th meeting will have a eatonii), Circle Cliffs milkweed luck/BBQ at the home of Ricki and powerpoint presentation showing (Asclepias labriformis), Northern Sandy Brown in early June. Ricki plants and landscaping by several hedysarum (Hedysarum boreale), shared information he has gained local gardeners. What grows best and Western blanketflower utilizing water-conserving irriga- plus tips about what works will be (Gaillardia spathulata). Best in tion techniques in his gardens. shared. The event will be held at show honors, however, was given We will take a break from the the Canyon Community Center to the enormous purple mounds of bi-monthly meeting schedule dur- 126 Lion Blvd, Springdale.— Bar- Spiny milkwort (Polygala sub- ing the summer. Expect another bara Farnsworth spinosa) found at one site in the 2 Sego Lily July 2008 31 (4)

Bulletin Board

Coming in September! Gala 30th Anniversary issue of the Sego Lily: The next issue of the Peterson’s campion Sego Lily will be a special theme (Silene petersonii), the signature plant of Cedar issue dedicated to the 30th anni- Breaks National Monu- versary of the Utah Native Plant ment. Photo by Douglas Society. Anyone with a story to N. Reynolds. share about UNPS, especially the Print subscribers: go to society‘s early years, is encouraged www.unps.org to see to submit a short article or anec- this and other photos in dote to [email protected]. Deadline full color (as nature for the next issue is 15 August intended)! 2008.—W. Fertig

UNPS Annual Members Meet- Utah. Volunteers would need to Throughout the Festival, the visi- ing: Our annual members meet- have good plant identification tor center will be hosting an ongo- ing will take place in Salt Lake City skills, particularly on the first of ing electronic display of wild- in late October. This is the time the events. flower images, providing free when we elect a new board of di- July 10-12 Tushar Mountains wildflower photography tip sheets, rectors for the following year. near Beaver, in collaboration with and offering discounts on wild- Currently we are aiming for Satur- the US Forest Service and others. flower related books and sales day October 25th, but might have Volunteers will help to resurvey items. to shuffle a bit depending on avail- transects that are being monitored Lastly, the park will host several ability of an appropriate venue. for the effects of grazing. Zion Canyon Field Institute Given that this is our 30th anni- July 25-27 Two surveys. First, of (ZCFI) classes to round out the versary we plan to have some spe- an exclosure near Teasdale, to schedule. The classes include: cial presentations, and hope to ―Wildflower Photography: Cedar compare grazed and ungrazed ar- th attract many members and offi- eas. Second, a high elevation wet- Breaks‖ on Tuesday, the 8 , cers from the early years. So try to ―Wildflower Journaling at Cedar land area near Fish Lake, that may th, keep that date in mind as you plan never have been thoroughly sur- Breaks‖ on the 10 , and your Fall schedules and come help ―Lifezones II: Zion to Cedar veyed before. th us celebrate.—Bill Gray If you are interested in learning Breaks‖ on the 12 . Please contact more, please contact Bill Gray (801 ZCFI at 435-772-3264 for more Sego Lily Archive Project: -532-3486; cyberflora@ xmis- information and to pre-register. Thanks to our earlier appeal for sion.com) Cedar Breaks National Monu- missing items we now have a com- ment is located 23 miles east of plete set of all issues. These have Third Annual Cedar Breaks Cedar City along Highway 148 be- been scanned and built into a Wildflower Festival: Cedar tween Highway 14 and Brian searchable .pdf document that will Breaks National Monument will Head. The park entrance fee is be made available as a DVD. I am host its third annual Wildflower $4.00 per person ages 16 and older. Those traveling to the Fes- looking for some volunteers who Festival from July 3rd to July 20th. can help create a user-friendly Festival highlights include guided tival should come prepared for index. Depending on how many walks, photography workshops, cool weather at 10,000 feet: Day- people participate, each person Junior Ranger scavenger hunts, time temperatures could be in the may need only cover one or two and Zion Canyon Field Institute 60s and summer thunderstorms years. To help, please contact Bill classes. Guided hikes, which will frequently rise over the mountain. Gray, and he will provide a copy of meet at the Visitor Center, will be Updated Festival events and the DVD. - Bill Gray offered twice a day during all 18 activities, reference lists, and more days of the festival. The hikes will are available for downloading at Life Member Update: Jared take place at 10am and 1pm. Kid‘s the Cedar Breaks National Monu- Fuller of Provo recently became activities include a Junior Ranger ment website: www.nps.gov/cebr . the 31st (and newest) life member ‗Wildflower Scavenger Hunt‘ at Schedules and events are also of UNPS. - Tony Frates 3pm every Friday and Saturday. available at the Visitor Center and On the 19th of July the park will at the Monument‘s administrative Volunteers Needed for Plant offer a free photography workshop office in Cedar City which is lo- Surveys: Mary O'Brien of the at 10:00 AM. This workshop, cated at 2390 W. HWY 56 Suite #11. Call 435-586-0787 or 435- Grand Canyon Trust has asked ―Wildflower Photography for Be- 586-9451 for more information.— whether UNPS could provide ginners‖, is open to amateur pho- NPS Press Release some volunteers for help with two tographers of all ages and abilities. plant surveys in central/southern 3

Utah Native Plant Society Salt Lake Chapter Trek to the Beaver Dam Mountains [continued from page 1] of technical knowledge and direct natural history. For instance, one of the favored foods of the Threatened De- sert tortoise is the introduced weed Erodium cicutarium (Heronsbill). We were joined by two members of the Southern Chapter who added greatly to the trip. Friday night (April 25th) we straggled into the Cedar Pocket campground just off of the freeway: far enough to be free of traffic noise, but right in the wind tunnel! Some of us arrived in time to hike down to the river, which had a strong flow of water. We were delighted with the display that promised good things for the main event. On Saturday morning we spent time around the campground identi- fying plants that had intrigued us the previous evening. One of the most dramatic was a Fishhook cactus (Mammillaria tetrancistra) with treated to some spectacular Purple Above: Trip participants in front of red fruit, growing right out of a vol- torch cactus (Echinocereus engel- Joshua Tree (already gone to seed after canic boulder. Also gone to seed mannii), Silverleaf (Enceliopsis flowering in February). Left to Right: were the many plants of Moonpod argophylla), and Fremont's indigo Maggie Wolf, Sandra Bray, Marnie Ambrose, Bill Gray, Ben Everitt, Doug (Selinocarpus diffusus). Then we bush (Psorothamnus fremontii). crossed the freeway and took off on Reynolds, Larry Higgins, Kipp Lee After a leisurely lunch we made (Photo by Kipp Lee). a gravel road that makes an anti- our way down the long west slope clockwise loop through the Beaver of the mountains. Once we reached Dam Mountains: it was a bit bumpy the paved roads we took two fur- in spots, but none of our assortment ther stops along the way back to the rare Crevice penstemon of cars had any problems. Before the camp site. First was at an area (Penstemon petiolatus), even long we were into a routine of stop- of stabilized sand dunes near the though we knew it would not be in ping where Larry knew the hunting junction of Beaver Dam Wash and flower yet. Larry led us up a steep would be good, wandering around to the Virgin River. It is clearly get- gully that seemed to have been dis- find the local celebrities, photo- ting overgrown by the invasive solved out of the solid limestone, graphing them to our hearts' con- mustard Brassica tournefourtii and pointed out the clusters of gray- tent, and then piling back into the but still has some neat native green leaves that were almost holly cars for the next leg. plants. Birdcage evening-primrose like. Enroute we were rewarded by a Our stops included gravel slopes (Oenothera deltoides) has a pecu- fine Utah agave (Agave utahensis), and roadsides with little beauties liar growth habit in which the the first that we had found blooming like Desert-snow (Linanthus demis- spreading recumbent stems curl on the trip. On my return from a sus) and our only Utah citrus Tur- up to create a little cage. The subsequent journey to California I pentine bush (Thamnosma mon- beautiful Sticky sand verbena was able to revisit and catch the tana). The fruits taste just like . . . (Abronia villosa) is widespread in penstemon in bloom (see cover). well, turpentine! Next came a brief the Mojave Desert, and barely After a fine pot luck dinner back visit to a gypsum quarry area to see makes it into Utah in the extreme at the camp we turned in for a well- Palmer's phacelia (Phacelia southwest corner. From the loose deserved rest. Thanks to several palmeri), a rather rank member of sand of this stop we went to the people who made this happen, but the genus that specializes on this steep limestone cliffs of the gorge especially to Larry Higgins for show- kind of soil. Higher up we were proper. Our goal here was to see ing us around his 'playground'.

This report, plus more photos and a Google Earth tour, has been posted at: http://web.mac.com/wasatchgrays/ Wildflower_Hotline/Zion_%26_SW_Utah/Entries/2008/4/26_Beaver_Dam_Mountains.html

4 Sego Lily July 2008 31 (4)

Beaver Dam Mountain Plant List—April 2008 Field Trip

AGAVACEAE Agave Family ONAGRACEAE Evening-primrose Agave utahensis Utah agave –F Family Yucca brevifolia Joshua tree -S Camissonia multijuga Manylobe Yucca utahensis Utah yucca -V Camissonia -F Gaura coccinea Scarlet gaura –F APOCYNACEAE Dogbane Family Oenothera deltoides Birdcage evening- Amsonia tomentosa Woolly bluestar -F primrose -F Oenothera pallida Pale evening- ASTERACEAE Sunflower Family primrose -F Ambrosia salsola Burrobush -S Baileya multiradiata Desert marigold–F PAPAVERACEAE Poppy Family Baileya pleniradiata Annual baileya -F Argemone munita Armed prickly- Bebbia juncea var. aspera Sweetbush-F poppy-F Chaenactis stevioides Stevia dusty- maiden—F POLEMONIACEAE Phox Family Chrysothamnus paniculatus Mohave Eriastrum diffusum Spreading erias- rabbitbrush -V trum –F Cirsium neomexicanum var. neomexi- Eriastrum eremicum Mohave eriastrum canum New Mexico thistle -F –F Encelia frutescens Bush Encelia -F Linanthus demissus Desert-snow -F Enceliopsis argophylla Silverleaf -F Erigeron utahensis Utah daisy -F POLYGONACEAE Buckwheat Family Eriophyllum lanosum Gray's woolly- Eriogonum brachypodum Parry's buck- leaf—F Above: Jelly-bean fruits of the Com- wheat -V Palafoxia arida Spanish needle -F mon Fishhook Cactus, Mammillaria Eriogonum heermannii var. sulcatum Psilostrophe cooperi Whitestem paper tetrancistra. This is the only Limestone buckwheat -B flower -F Mammillaria native to Utah. Photo by Senecio douglasii var. monoensis Mono Bill Gray. ROSACEAE Rose Family groundsel -F Prunus fasciculata Desert peach -S Thymophylla pentachaeta var. Purshia glandulosa Desert bitter- belenidium Scale glandweed -F GERANIACEAE Geranium Family brush -F Erodium cicutarium Heronsbill –F BORAGINACEAE Borage Family- Erodium texanum Texas storksbill –S RUBIACEAE Madder Family Cryptantha confertiflora Golden Galium stellatum Crevice bedstraw -S cryptanth -F HYDROPHYLLACEAE Waterleaf Family RUTACEAE Citrus Family BRASSICACEAE Mustard Family Phacelia crenulata Narrowleaf Thamnosma montana Turpentine- Lepidium fremontii Fremont's pepper phacelia -F bush –S weed –F Phacelia palmeri Palmer's phacelia –F SCROPHULARIACEAE Snapdragon CACTACEAE Cactus Family KRAMERIACEAE Ratany Family Family Echinocereus engelmannii var. Krameria grayi White ratany –F Penstemon petiolatus Crevice pen- chrysocentrus Purple torch -F stemon -V Ferocactus acanthodes var. lecontei LAMIACEAE Mint Family Leconte's barrel cactus -V Salazaria mexicana Bladder sage –F SOLANACEAE Potato Family Mammillaria tetrancistra Common Datura wrightii Sacred datura -F fishhook –S LILIACEAE Lily Family Lycium andersonii var. andersonii Opuntia echinocarpa Silver cholla -F Calochortus flexuosus Winding mari- Anderson's wolfberry -S Opuntia erinacea Common prickly posa lily -F Nicotiana trigonophylla Coyote tobacco pear -F -F LOASACEAE Stickleaf Family CARYOPHYLLACEAE Pink Family Eucnide urens Rock nettle -B ZYGOPHYLLACEAE Caltrop Family Arenaria macradenia Shrubby sand- Mentzelia multiflora Desert stick- Larrea tridentata Creosote bush -F wort -F leaf—B

CELASTRACEAE Stafftree Family- MALVACEAE Mallow Family Key: B = buds; F = flowers; S = seeds/ Mortonia scabrella var. utahensis Utah Sphaeralcea parvifolia Small-leaf fruits; V = vegetative. mortonia –F globemallow -F List compiled by Bill Gray CHENOPODIACEAE Goosefoot NYCTAGINACEAE Four O'Clock Family Family Krascheninnikovia lanata Winterfat–S Abronia villosa Sticky sand verbena-F Allionia incarnata Desert windmills-F FABACEAE Pea Family Selinocarpus diffusus Moonpod -S Psorothamnus fremontii Fremont's indigo bush -F 5 Utah Native Plant Society Q & A (Gleanings from the Sego Lily Mailbag): Growing Sego Lilies

Q Where can I buy Sego Lily bulbs? The nurseries say they don't carry them because they're difficult to grow. One nursery said it was against the law to sell the bulbs. The Forest Service said it's not against the law; in fact, you can get a permit to go dig them up and plant them in your yard. Red Butte Gardens said the lily has a tap root, so it's impos- sible to dig them up and transplant them, and so they cannot be sold as a bulb either. What is the real answer? - Confused in Lehi

A Dear Confused: Sego lilies (Calochortus nuttallii) are difficult to grow and maintain in garden set- tings, probably for several reasons. I have grown them from seed, briefly, but they are difficult to maintain as seedlings. Above: Winding mariposa (Calochortus flexuosus) and yellow bladderpods. Photo Sego lilies are ephemeral grow- by Max Licher. ers: the plant sends up a few narrow leaves either in the early spring or Intermountain Flora vol.6 (The fall, I cannot remember, and the Richard Joshua Shaw Monocotyledons) by Cronquist et flower stem arises in the early sum- (1923-2008) al., has a great description of at- mer, and then withers, and for most tempts to cultivate this genus: of the year no part of the plant is Dr. Richard J. Shaw, former di- "Calochortus is widely noted for its visible above ground. The bulb is rector of the Intermountain Herbar- remarkable beauty and is therefore small (1", max) and is found quite ium of Utah State University and highly prized by gardeners. Alas, deep in the soil (I think >6" deep). author of numerous popular wild- many of the species do not readily Like most lilies, I do not think flower guides and floras of northern accept ordinary garden conditions they have a persistent tap root, but Utah and Wyoming, passed away in and most attempts to introduce the bulbs are so deep and often in April 2008 in Logan, Utah. Shaw the genus into the horticultural such gravelly-stony soil that it is was born in Ogden in 1923 and trade have not been greatly suc- hard to dig down to the bulb. served for several years in the Navy cessful. With care, sandy well- Collecting seed and growing them as a Pharmacists Mate during World drained soil, and only natural rain- from seed could be done, but my War II. After the war, he received fall, some species will flower in experience (and others I have talked his bachelor‘s degree in biology from gardens in our area. If one remem- with) was that it is hard not to over Utah State, followed by a Master‘s bers that most species of Calo- water them. I think you would have degree in 1950 and a doctorate from chortus are basically desert plants to plant the seed in some forgotten the Claremont Graduate School in and treats them accordingly, some corner of the garden and never wa- 1961. Shaw was a botany professor success may be expected." ter or till, and hope to be surprised at Utah State University from 1951 Sego Lilies are not a protected someday. until 1987 and worked seasonally as species in Utah, so it is not illegal They are slow growers. Several a naturalist in Grand Teton National to have them, but to collect any- native lilies have a neat mechanism Park for over 30 summers. Drawing thing (plants, bulbs, seeds, timber, of germinating the seed just below on his years of field studies, Shaw rocks, gravel, etc.) on any land not or at the soil surface, and growing a wrote a series of illustrated field belonging to the collector, he/she small blade or two, which then se- guides and floras, including Utah needs to have written permission nesces. Over the late summer the wildflowers: a Field Guide to or a permit. – Therese Meyer dying root becomes like a shrinking Northern and Central Mountains

and Valleys; Wildflowers of Yellow- rubberband which pulls the tiny bulb a bit deeper into the soil. With Do you have a question for the crack stone and Grand Teton National each passing summer the enlarging Sego Lily answer staff? Email us at Parks; Field Guide to the vascular bulb gets drawn deeper into the soil. unps.org. plants of Grand Teton National Park and Teton County, Wyoming. -W. Fertig 6 Sego Lily July 2008 31 (4)

Ten Things you Always Wanted to Know about Sagebrush (But were Afraid to Ask) By Walter Fertig rayless florets and tiny seeds lack- ing a pappus of bristles or scales Sagebrush is one of the most for dissemination. Within the as- widely distributed and iconic plants ter family, sagebrushes are most of the American west, and yet also closely related to yarrow, chamo- one of the least understood and ap- mile, ox-eye daisy, and chicken- preciated. In the interests of in- sage (Sphaeromeria). creasing the SIQ* of our readers, the Of our shrubby species, Big Sego Lily offers the following ten sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) sagebrush factoids (in no particular is the most abundant and variable. order): Shultz recognizes 4 subspecies in # 1. Not all "sages" are sagebrush. Utah, each adapted to different True sagebrush belongs to the genus soil types or elevation zones. Ba- Artemisia, a group of more than 100 sin big sagebrush (ssp. tridentata) species in the sunflower family is our most common form and oc- (Asteraceae or Compositae) distrib- curs abundantly on deep sandy uted across northern Asia, Europe, soils or stream terraces. Mountain western North America, and South big sagebrush (ssp. vaseyana) oc- America. The common name sage curs in mountain meadows and comes from the aromatic foliage that Wyoming big sagebrush (ssp. wyo- smells much like culinary sage (see mingensis) is found on clay-rich # 3) and its relatives in the genus sites. Other common shrubby Ar- Salvia, which are all in the mint temisia species in Utah include family (Lamiaceae or Labiate). Pio- Bigelow's sagebrush (A. bigelovii) neers traveling across the western found mostly on rocky ledges; Sil- prairies and deserts applied the ver sagebrush (A. cana), of mon- term "sage" to a number of shrubby tane riparian habitats; Black sage- species that had bluish-green foli- brush (A. nova) from limestone or age, inconspicuous flowers, or odor- shallow soils; and Sand sagebrush Above: Fringed sagebrush (Artemisia iferous leaves that are not true mints (A. filifolia) with very slender frigida) by Kaye Thorne. or members of genus Artemisia. leaves found mostly on sand The Latin name comes from Ar- dunes. temisia, queen of Caria (in modern # 3. If the recipe calls for "sage", Fringed Sage Turkey) in the 4th Century BC, who don't put in sagebrush! Culinary was an amateur botanist and herbal- sage (Salvia officinalis) is the spice ―Fringed sage begins the season in ist. She in turn was named after used for seasoning foods with a the garden as a twiggy mat, woody Artemis, the Greek goddess of the sage smell. Native Americans did at the base, with dense gray-green moon, hunting, and wild animals. not cook with sagebrush, but did foliage. The leaves are alternate, #2. There isn't just one kind of use it as a medicinal plant. Most with very little petiole, and the sagebrush, there are 69! Dr. Leila often it was used as a tea or poul- blade is divided into 3-5 linear seg- Shultz of Utah State University and tice to treat colds, fever, toothache, ments, up to 3/8 inch long. A stipu- author of the chapter on Artemisia or to induce vomiting (an outcome lar appendage is attached at the in the Flora of North America most chefs are not looking for!). base of the petiole. Initial growth (2006) accepts 51 species and 18 Branches were also burned to pu- produces a soft silvery cushion. As subspecies of Artemisia and rify the air. a mass planting the effect is of an Picrothamnus (traditionally in- #4. Sagebrush really is a flow- undulating carpet. However, in or- cluded in Artemisia) in North Amer- ering plant. Individual sagebrush der to maintain this growth form it ica north of Mexico. In Utah, Dr. flowers are quite tiny (1.5-3 mm), is necessary to either prevent flow- Stanley Welsh of Brigham Young lack showy petal-like ray flowers, ering and fruiting or to pinch, clip University recognizes 23 taxa (31 if and are brownish-green. Like or mow the flowering shoots off be- subspecies are included) of sage- other members of the sunflower fore they become mature. Nylon brush. Only half of our sagebrush family, the flowers are aggregated string weedeaters work well as does species are woody shrubs or sub- into small heads, each of which is a rotary mower. If the flowers ma- shrubs - the others are annual or enclosed in an involucre of green- ture the plants tend to become lax herbaceous perennials that are often ish-gray leaf-like bracts. These and open and rather unsightly.‖ called sageworts or mugworts. All flower heads are themselves ar- —Richard Hildreth from his column sagebrushes are characterized by ranged in branching, panicle-like ―Naturally Native‖ in the April 1982 numerous small flower heads with flower stalks (inflorescences) that issue of Sego Lily. often stick out well above the * Sagebrush Intelligence Quotient 7 Utah Native Plant Society foliage. The flowers are designed for #6. Big sagebrush produces two and rockiness of the soil. Big sage- wind pollination. Nearly all sage- different kinds of leaves. Like brush also produces lateral roots brush species flower in late summer most shrubby sagebrushes, Big that radiate out from the plant a or early fall (the exception being sagebrush is evergreen, but indi- short distance below the soil surface. Bud sagebrush, Artemisia spines- vidual leaves may be relatively These roots are especially effective cens, which flowers in mid spring). short-lived. Overwintering leaves at capturing surface moisture fol- Wind-pollinated plants typically last for about a year and are short lowing rain or snowmelt. The range produce large quantities of very and typically clustered. These are of sagebrush strongly correlates small pollen that waft through the capable of undergoing photosyn- with areas where precipitation breeze to randomly reach receptive thesis, even at relatively low winter comes mostly from snow. This ac- stigmas on other plants. Many peo- temperatures. Longer ephemeral counts for the rarity or absence of ple with fall "hay fever" are allergic leaves are formed in the spring sagebrush vegetation in grass- to sagebrush pollen, or pollen of and occur singly on the stems. dominated ecosystems such as the herbaceous ragweeds (Ambrosia These leaves are shed when hot, Great Plains where most precipita- species). Old flowering stalks typi- droughty conditions occur in the tion comes as summer rain. cally persist for nearly a year and are summer, as their larger surface The presence of lateral roots and useful for distinguishing some spe- area makes them more prone to competition for water may help ex- cies, such as Black sagebrush and water loss than the evergreen plain the natural spacing of sage- Big sagebrush. Sagebrush species leaves. Overwintering and ephem- brushes and gaps that form between can produce large crops of tiny seeds eral leaves usually have three lobes plants. In the past, range managers each fall, which can be spread over across their tip, while leaves asso- suspected that sagebrush leaves and large distances by wind gusts or, ciated with flowering stalks are roots exuded chemicals into the soil more frequently, fall near the parent often entire (unlobed). Leaf shape that inhibited growth of competing plants. (elongate vs. bell-shaped) and plants (a condition called allelopa- #5. Some sagebrush species and length are used for distinguishing thy). Scientific analysis of leaf and subspecies can be identified by their Big sagebrush subspecies, but can soil chemicals, however, provide no unique leaf chemistry. Scientists often be extremely variable on the basis for this assumption. In fact, have discovered that the presence same plant. grass and forb species are more and quantity of coumarin in leaf tis- The distinctive bluish-green likely to grow under the canopy of sues can be used to differentiate color of sagebrush comes from the sagebrush where they are partly pro- some sagebrush taxa based on fluo- dense mat of hairs that cover most tected from herbivores and provided rescence of twigs placed in water of its foliage. These hairs reflect shade (which also keeps the soil under UV light. The higher the con- some sunlight and provide shade moister). Rather than inhibiting centration of coumarin, the brighter to the leaf and stem surface, keep- other plants, sagebrush acts as a the sample will fluoresce, while ing them cooler and reducing wa- nurse plant that improves the prob- specimens without coumarin won't ter loss through transpiration. The ability of seedling survival. fluoresce at all. Presence of cou- hairs may also interfere with her- #9. Big sagebrush produces marin is also correlated with palat- bivory by insects. wood and annual growth rings, just ability. Those taxa with high con- #7. Sagebrush can be com- like many trees. Although not espe- centrations generally are favored pletely defoliated and survive. Se- cially thick, the main stems of Big over those without (one exception is vere drought in southern Utah in sagebrush regularly grow a new ring Wyoming big sagebrush, which does 2002 prompted many sagebrushes of woody tissue (water-conducting not fluoresce but is one of the more to shed their leaves to preserve xylem) each year. These growth palatable taxa). water. The drought was followed rings reflect climatic conditions, All sagebrushes get their distinc- by an outbreak of Army cutworm with thicker rings produced during tive sage odor from chemical com- caterpillars which subsequently wetter years and thin rings during pounds such as terpenes and ses- defoliated many plants. Though times of drought. Patterns in the quiterpene lactones. The intent of they appeared dead, most of the annual production of rings can be these chemicals is to reduce herbi- shrubs survived this one-two used to date the age when a sage- vory by insects and large mammals punch. Big sagebrush does not brush plant became established and (including livestock). But not all survive after a fire, however, and is to assess variations in past climate. chemicals are the same - their quan- not able to resprout from its roots. Researchers studying age rings tity and type directly influences the The related Silver sagebrush is within sagebrush populations typi- palatability of sagebrush foliage. able to resprout if burned. cally find that shrubs are of similar Sage grouse and mule deer preferen- #8. Big sagebrush produces ages, suggesting that seedling estab- tially forage on sagebrush species two kinds of roots. Like many lishment is infrequent and episodic. with lower concentrations of these aridic shrubs, Big sagebrush grows They have also found that stem size compounds. The amount of leaf deep taproots up to 20 feet long. does not reflect age - large sage- chemicals differs between plants In general, root depth is 3-4 times brushes attain their size because based largely on genetics, but can greater than the height of the plant they grow in favorable environments also vary seasonally and even from and varies depending on the depth and not because of their longevity. morning to evening. 8 Sego Lily July 2008 31 (4)

#10. Contrary to what you may and fire regimes. Despite decades have heard, sagebrush is quite valu- of removing sagebrush by chain- able to wildlife for food and shelter. ing, thinning, burning, and apply- As discussed under #5, aromatic ing herbicides, sagebrush habitats chemicals in sagebrush foliage are have rarely been permanently con- designed to reduce herbivory, but verted to perennial grasslands be- many animals (especially mule deer cause shrubs are better adapted to and sage grouse) are able to tolerate winter precipitation, drought, and sagebrush browse, and in fact rely grazing pressure. Modern sage- on it extensively in their diet. Sage- brush systems are being impacted brush is an important source of pro- by changes in natural fire fre- tein for mule deer on their winter quency from invading annual range. The Greater and Gunnison weeds (such as cheatgrass, red sage grouse feed almost exclusively brome, and Arabian grass) and on sagebrush from October to April conversion to agriculture and ur- (their gizzards are not adapted for banization to such a degree that grinding hard seeds like other up- many sagebrush obligate species land game birds). Sage grouse also (especially sage grouse) are in sig- rely on sagebrush for nesting cover nificant rangewide decline. It is and feed their chicks insects, surprisingly difficult to find unal- grasses, and forbs that grow under tered sagebrush vegetation any- Above: Artemisia biennis var. diffusa. the sagebrush canopy. Brewer's more! Illustration by Isobel Nichols. sparrows, Sage sparrows, and Sage thrashers are other "sagebrush obli- A New Sagebrush for Utah? gates" because of their reliance on In August 1980, Robert Dorn discovered an unusual population of Bien- Artemisia for hiding cover, nesting nial wormwood (Artemisia biennis) on clay barrens near the Jim Bridger sites, and feeding areas. More than Power Plant, northeast of Rock Springs, Wyoming. Dorn observed hun- a dozen other bird species are highly dreds of plants at this site, all of which were uniformly short (less than 30 dependent on sagebrush and grass- cm tall) with numerous branches originating from the base of the stem. The land habitats, including Black- plants also had atypically short leaves (8-17 mm) and extremely long inflor- throated sparrows, Vesper sparrows, escences relative to the overall stem length. Eight years later, Dorn de- Lark sparrows, Green-tailed tow- scribed the unusual sages from Sweetwater County as a new taxon: Ar- hees, Burrowing owls, Short-eared temisia biennis var. diffusa. owls, Long-billed curlews, Sharp- Var. diffusa was given the common name ―Mystery wormwood‖ because tailed grouse, Prairie falcons, Fer- it remained undetected for nearly 20 years (the type population is now ruginous hawks, and Swainson's thought to be extirpated). In September 1999, Kim Anderson of Dixie Na- hawks. At least 16 species of rodents tional Forest discovered an unusual population of A. biennis-like plants and rabbits feed on sagebrush, as near Pollywog Lake on the Aquarius Plateau in south-central Utah. Robert well as hundreds of insect taxa (52 Dorn verified that the Utah plants matched the holotype of var. diffusa. species of aphids alone according to Anderson later discovered additional populations of the Mystery worm- one study). wood elsewhere on the Aquarius Plateau. Big sagebrush is also less respon- The Utah populations occur in a much different habitat than those from sible for the decline of native grasses Wyoming. Near Pollywog Lake, I have found diffusa growing on rocky clay and deterioration of range condi- soil of roadsides and adjacent drainage channels at the edge of Artemisia tions than is often depicted. Anec- cana-Antennaria communities bordering aspen woods at elevations of 9160 dotal evidence that sagebrush is sig- feet. The type locality in Wyoming is a clayey playa dominated by Hordeum nificantly more common today than jubatum and Chenopodium glaucum at 6500 feet. The Wyoming popula- in pre-settlement times is not sub- tion may have become established during construction of the Jim Bridger stantiated by historical records of Power Plant, possibly hitching a ride on construction equipment or live- pioneers and early photographs. stock transported from Utah. One famous photo used in textbooks Recent taxonomic treatments either do not recognize var. diffusa or treat for years to illustrate the increase of it as a synonym of A. biennis. Although the characteristics of var. diffusa Big sagebrush in the last 130 years are striking in the field, individually none of its diagnostic traits are unique actually depicts an area that was within A. biennis. It is possible that the combination of low stature, small recently burned (and thus devoid of leaves, and elongate inflorescences has developed independently in Utah sagebrush), rather than a site natu- and Wyoming populations (and perhaps elsewhere) and merely reflects rally dominated by grasses. variability within the whole species. However, with fresh material of diff- Changes in the abundance, density, usa-like plants now available from the Aquarius Plateau it ought to be a and composition of native perennial simple matter to conduct a genetic assay of the populations to determine if grasses and forbs since settlement they are, in fact, unique. Such a study could help take the mystery out of are better explained by past grazing the Mystery wormwood.—W. Fertig history and changes in climate 9 Utah Native Plant Society What‘s In a Name: Rafinesque and Rafinesquia

By Walter Fertig

Over the centuries the study of taxonomy has attracted its fair share of eccentrics, but few rival Constan- tine Samuel Rafinesque-Schmaltz. Born of a French father and German mother in Turkey in 1783, Rafi- nesque was a successful, self-made merchant and businessman in Sicily and earned enough money to retire at the age of 25 to pursue his interests in natural history. In 1815 he emigrated to the United States, sur- viving a shipwreck off the coast of Connecticut, but losing his personal library and possessions. For the remainder of his life, Rafinesque traveled throughout eastern North America to collect specimens and published hundreds of book and articles on topics ranging from zool- ogy, geology, and meteorology to Indian languages and history. Rafinesque was especially inter- New Mexico desert chicory (Rafinesquia neomexicana), a white-flowered member ested in naming and describing new of the Aster family found in Creosote bush communities of the Mojave Desert in species of plants and animals. He southwestern Utah and the southwestern United States. Photo by W. Fertig. took to describing species with a zeal almost unmatched in American history, naming 2700 new genera and tury, captured the prevailing view Grande valley near El Paso in 1853. 6500-6700 new species. Unfortu- of Rafinesque in an 1841 euology: The two species, commonly called nately, Rafinesque‘s enthusiasm did ―… a gradual deterioration will be desert chicories, can be recognized not match his skill and only about observed in Rafinesque‘s botanical by their white ligulate flowers, plu- 30 of the genera and 100 species writings from 1819 to 1830, when mose (feathery) pappus bristles sur- that he named are still recognized the passion for establishing new mounting an elongate beak and pin- today. genera and species appears to have nately lobed stem leaves. Both taxa Early 19th Century taxonomists become a complete monomania‖. are spring-flowering annuals that found Rafinesque‘s methods sloppy Rafinesque‘s reputation has occur in the Mojave Desert portion and his conclusions poorly sup- enjoyed a bit of a comeback in re- of Utah. New Mexico desert chicory ported. Many of Rafinesque‘s ―new‖ cent years, as molecular studies (R. neomexicana) is the more showy species proved to be already named, suggest some of his segregate gen- and widespread of the two, and can or had inadequate Latin descrip- era have merit. Colorado botanist be found in Creosote bush and tions. Some of his species were William Weber has been among Joshua tree communities on sandy named on the basis of hearsay those championing old Rafinesque or gravelly soils over much of west- rather than physical evidence, in- names and even dedicated his ern Washington County. It often cluding an imaginary Mississippi 1987 Flora of Colorado: Western grows among the branches of spiny River fish he learned about from a Slope to Rafinesque and several desert shrubs which offer protection practical joker named John James other prominent splitters. from herbivory and support for the Audubon. Although Rafinesque col- On two occasions Rafinesque plant‘s spindly stems. California lected numerous type specimens, proposed the genus name Rafines- desert chicory (R. californica) is many lacked proper labels or were quia, only to have it not accepted. known from a single location in the lost when his personal herbarium The third time proved the charm state in Cedar Pocket Canyon and was split up after his death (in part when Thomas Nuttall published can be recognized by its relatively to pay outstanding debts). the name Rafinesquia californica small fl0wer heads. Sadly, Rafinesque‘s immodest for a white flowered, chicory-like and peculiar personality did little to composite from San Diego in 1841. References: win over his colleagues. Some au- Asa Gray described a second spe- Gilbert, B. 1999. An ―odd fish‖ who thorities even suggest he may have cies, R. neomexicana, from the Rio swam against the tide. Smithsonian 29 gone mad. Asa Gray, one of the pre- (10):112-125. eminent botanists of the 19th Cen- 10 Sego Lily July 2008 31 (4) UNPS Scholarship Speciation and Soils: What can the Wild Buckwheats Tell Us?

By Ben Grady buckwheat species are often only taxa, such as the Frisco wild buck- Department of Botany – University of found on certain soils. If there is wheat, are specifically adapted to Wisconsin an unusual soil type in the arid certain edaphic conditions or if spe- Many have wondered and specu- west, you can bet there is a species cies of Eriogonum are edaphic gen- lated, what role does soil play in of Eriogonum growing there! eralists that can tolerate a wide vari- plant speciation? Edaphic endemics, The focus of my graduate re- ety of soil conditions. My work will species found only on one type of search will center on inferring the shed light on the evolution of soil substrate, are prevalent in the floras evolutionary history of the E. specialists and aid conservation ef- of western states. Soil types are also ochrocephalum complex, a group forts by highlighting suitable eco- extremely diverse and patchily dis- of about 25 closely related species, logical areas to search for additional tributed in the west, providing many found mostly within the Great Ba- populations of rare species of potential niches for plant species. sin. DNA sequencing, greenhouse Eriogonum. One group of plants that is nearly as transplants and measurements of Finally, I would like to thank the diverse as the topography and soils soil properties will provide the Utah Native Plant Society for sup- of the western U.S. is Eriogonum necessary data for this study. port with this project. Field studies (Polygonaceae), more commonly Many of the species in this will be essential for this project and know as wild buckwheat. Eriog- ‗complex‘ are narrow endemics, without the support of the UNPS, onum is a large genus of about 250 often found growing on unusual this research would not be possible. species, limited to North America, substrates. A prime example is the with centers of diversity in Califor- Frisco wild buckwheat, E. sored- Editor’s Note: Ben received a $1000 nia and the Great Basin. Nearly one ium. This rare species is only scholarship from the UNPS board third of these species are considered known from calcareous soils in the in 2008 with funds provided from uncommon to rare in their distribu- San Francisco Mountains in west- generous contributions by society tion. Additionally, many wild Central Utah. I will determine if members. Thanks!

Noteworthy Discoveries

New Potentilla in Utah Noel Holmgren) is endemic to the that time. The sole population in and Nevada high peaks of the Schell Creek and Utah cited by Murray and Elven is Snake ranges of White Pine from a collection made by Sherel The alpine summits of the Rocky County, Nevada and the Deep Goodrich in July 1983 (Goodrich Mountains and higher peaks of the Creek Range of western Juab 19024 BRY, NY). Great Basin share many characteris- County, Utah. Traditionally, this Cottam's cinquefoil (P. cottamii), tics with the tundra environments of species has been included within also of the Deep Creek Mountains the high arctic, and not surprisingly, Snow cinquefoil (Potentilla nivea), and adjacent Great Basin ranges of have similar (though not identical) a widespread arctic-alpine species eastern Nevada and western Utah, is floristic elements. Whether the of Alaska, Canada, and scattered another local endemic apparently ranges of these species were once locations in the Rocky Mountains derived from an arctic relative, P. continuous and subsequently frac- south to Colorado. Potentilla hyparctica. It differs from Holm- tured following retreat of the last holmgrenii differs from its close gren's cinquefoil in having basal continental glaciers, or populations relative in having a more densely leaves that are green on the upper have taken hold following long- compacted growth form, basal and lower surfaces. - Walter Fertig distance seed dispersal, alpine spe- leaves that are more tomentose References cies are often widely isolated above with blunt to rounded teeth on the leaflets, marginal teeth on Murray, D.F. and R. Elven. 2007. A new (disjunct) from related arctic popu- species and two new combinations in lations. Over time, limited gene flow the leaves that overlap with the terminal tooth, epicalyx bractlets Potentilla Sect. Niveae (Rosaceae). between populations has fueled Journal Botanical Research Institute of natural selection and the evolution that are shorter and narrower than Texas 1 (2):811-814 (formerly Sida). of new varieties or full species. the sepals, and longer styles with- One such taxon is Holmgren's out warty papillae at the base. cinquefoil (Potentilla holmgrenii), Noel Holmgren noted many of Do you have a noteworthy discov- described as a new species in 2007 these differences in his treatment ery to share? A new record for the by David Murray of the University of of P. nivea in volume 3, Part A of state or a county in Utah? Attain Alaska and Reidar Elven of the Uni- the Intermountain Flora in 1997, fleeting botanical glory by emailing versity of Oslo, Norway. Holmgren's but did not recognize the Great your findings to unps.org. Basin plants as a separate taxon at cinquefoil (named in honor of 11 Utah Native Plant Society

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