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VOL. 37, NO. 3 • JULY 2009 FREMONTIA JOURNAL OF THE CALIFORNIA NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY

FIRE ON GUADALUPE ISLAND: OLD WOUNDS, NEW OPPORTUNITY A MANUAL OF CALIFORNIA VEGETATION,, 2ND2ND EDITIONEDITION CONTEST WINNERS: CNPS 2009 CONSERVATION CONFERENCE ROLAND PITSCHEL: 1942–2009

VOLUME 37:3, JULY 2009 FREMONTIA CALIFORNIA NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY CNPS, 2707 K Street, Suite 1; Sacramento, CA 95816-5113 FREMONTIA Phone: (916) 447-CNPS (2677) Fax: (916) 447-2727 Web site: www.cnps.org Email: [email protected] VOL. 37, NO. 3, JULY 2009 MEMBERSHIP Copyright © 2009 Membership form located on inside back cover; California Native Plant Society dues include subscriptions to Fremontia and the CNPS Bulletin Mariposa Lily ...... $1,500 Family or Group ...... $75 Bob Hass, Editor Benefactor ...... $600 International or Library ...... $75 Beth Hansen-Winter, Designer Patron ...... $300 Individual ...... $45 Plant Lover ...... $100 Student/Retired/Limited Income . $25 Brad Jenkins and Jake Sigg, Proofreaders CORPORATE/ORGANIZATIONAL 10+ Employees ...... $2,500 4-6 Employees ...... $500 CALIFORNIA NATIVE 7-10 Employees ...... $1,000 1-3 Employees ...... $150 PLANT SOCIETY STAFF (SACRAMENTO) CHAPTER COUNCIL Executive Director . . . . . Tara Hansen Kevin Bryant (Chair); Larry Levine Dedicated to the Preservation of Finance & Administration Manager . (Vice Chair); Marty Foltyn (Secretary); Board of Directors Representatives: the California Native Flora Cari Porter Membership & Development Coor- Lauren Brown, Brian LeNeve The California Native Plant Society dinator ...... Stacey Flowerdew Alta Peak (Tulare) . . . . Joan Stewart (CNPS) is a statewide nonprofit organi- Conservation Program Director . . . . . Bristlecone (Inyo-Mono) ...... zation dedicated to increasing the Greg Suba Steve McLaughlin understanding and appreciation of Rare Plant Botanist . . . . Nick Jensen Channel Islands . . . . David Magney California’s native plants, and to pre- Vegetation Program Director . . . Julie Dorothy King Young (Mendocino/ serving them and their natural habitats Evens Sonoma Coast) . . . . . Lori Hubbart for future generations. Vegetation Ecologists . Jennifer Buck, East Bay ...... Delia Taylor CNPS carries out its mission through Kendra Sikes El Dorado ...... Cindy Podsiadlo Education Program Director . . . Josie Kern County ...... Laura Stockton science, conservation advocacy, educa- Crawford tion, and horticulture at the local, state, Los Angeles/Santa Monica Mtns . . . . Administrative Assistant . . . . . Marcy Betsey Landis and federal levels. It monitors rare and Millett endangered plants and habitats; acts to Marin County . . Carolyn Longstreth save endangered areas through public- STAFF (AT LARGE) Milo Baker (Sonoma County) . . . . . ity, persuasion, and on occasion, legal Fremontia Editor ...... Bob Hass Liz Parsons action; provides expert testimony to CNPS Bulletin Editor . . . . . Bob Hass Mojave Desert ...... Tim Thomas Monterey Bay . . . . Rosemary Foster government bodies; supports the estab- Legislative Consultant .Vern Goehring East Bay Conservation Analyst . . . . . Mount Lassen ...... Catie Bishop lishment of native plant preserves; spon- Napa Valley ...... John Pitt sors workdays to remove invasive plants; Lech Naumovich Website Coordinator . . Mark Naftzger North Coast ...... Larry Levine and offers a range of educational activi- North San Joaquin . . . . Alan Miller ties including speaker programs, field PROGRAM ADVISORS Orange County . . . . . Nancy Heuler trips, native plant sales, horticultural Rare Plant Program Senior Advisor . . . Redbud (Grass Valley/Auburn) . . . . workshops, and demonstration gardens. Jim Andre Brad Carter Since its founding in 1965, the tradi- Vegetation Program Senior Advisor . . Riverside/San Bernardino counties . . tional strength of CNPS has been its Todd Keeler-Wolf Katie Barrows dedicated volunteers. CNPS activities Horticulture Committee Cochair . . . . . Sacramento Valley . . . Hazel Gordon, are organized at the local chapter level Brett Hall Kristie Haydu where members’ varied interests influ- CNPS Press Co-Directors . . . . . Holly San Diego ...... Marty Foltyn ence what is done. Volunteers from the Forbes, Dore Brown San Gabriel Mtns . . . Gabi McLean Poster Program . . . Bertha McKinley, San Luis Obispo . . . Lauren Brown 33 CNPS chapters annually contribute Wilma Follette in excess of 97,000 hours (equivalent Sanhedrin (Ukiah) ...... Geri to 46.5 full-time employees). BOARD OF DIRECTORS Hulse-Stephens CNPS membership is open to all. Brett Hall (President); Carol Witham Santa Clara Valley . . . Kevin Bryant Members receive the quarterly journal, (Vice President); Brad Jenkins (Trea- Santa Cruz County . . . . Brett Hall Fremontia, the quarterly statewide Bul- surer); Sarah Jayne (Secretary); At Sequoia (Fresno) . . . . Paul Mitchell letin, and newsletters from their local Large: Lauren Brown, Laura Camp, Shasta . . . . . Susan Libonati-Barnes CNPS chapter. Ellen Dean, Jane Hicks, Arvind Kumar, Sierra Foothills (Tuolumne, Cala- Brian LeNeve, Vince Scheidt, Alison veras, Mariposa) . . Robert W. Brown Shilling South Coast (Palos Verdes) ...... Disclaimer: Barbara Sattler, David Sundstrom MATERIALS FOR PUBLICATION The views expressed by authors published Tahoe ...... Michael Hogan in this journal do not necessarily reflect CNPS members and others are wel- Willis L. Jepson (Solano) ...... established policy or procedure of CNPS, come to contribute materials for publi- Mary Frances Kelly Poh and their publication in this journal should cation in Fremontia. See the inside back Yerba Buena (San Francisco) . . . . . not be interpreted as an organizational cover for submission instructions. Linda J. Shaffer endorsement—in part or in whole—of their Staff and board listings are as of April 2010. ideas, statements, or opinions. Printed by Premier Graphics: www.premiergraphics.biz

FREMONTIA VOLUME 37:3, JULY 2009 CONTENTS

EDITORIAL: WHAT IS NATIVE? by Jake Sigg ...... 2

FIRE ON GUADALUPE ISLAND REVEALS SOME OLD WOUNDS, AND NEW OPPORTUNITY by Thomas A. Oberbauer, Luciana Luna Mendoza, Nadia Citlali Olivares, Lucía Barbosa Deveze, Isabel Granillo Duarte, and Scott A. Morrison ..... 3 Guadalupe Island continues to exhibit a remarkable recovery of native vegetation following the removal of feral goats. A recent fire in the remnant groves of endangered Guadalupe cypress caused unexpectedly high mortality of adult trees. What enabled that relatively low intensity fire to kill the large trees was that the trees had been scarred by goat browsing and that damage to the trunk allowed the fire to kill the tree. Fortunately, the fire also triggered a tremen- dous dispersal of cypress seeds and the likely rejuvenation of the forest.

A DYNAMIC TOOL FOR SOUND LANDSCAPE MANAGEMENT: INTRODUCING THE SECOND EDITION, A MANUAL OF CALIFORNIA VEGETATION by Todd Keeler-Wolf and Julie M. Evens...... 12 Since the first edition of A Manual of California Vegetation was published 15 years ago, significant changes have occurred. Thousands of new field samples have been col- lected and analyzed, and the classification of vegetation types has been refined and expanded. The second edition includes detailed information on life history and ecology of the State’s vegetation, and is expected to contribute significantly to better management of Cali- fornia’s natural landscapes.

AWARD WINNERS OF THE PHOTOGRAPHY AND BOTANICAL ART CONTESTS FROM THE CNPS 2009 CONSERVATION CONFERENCE by Josie Crawford ...... 19 In discussing the science connected to conservation issues, it is easy to lose sight of why we are so engaged in these discussions. This is precisely why planners of the CNPS 2009 Conservation Conference decided to sponsor two contests, one for photography and the other for botanical art. The images that follow eloquently express an appreciation for California’s native flora.

ROLAND PITSCHEL: 1942–2009 by Jake Sigg and Barbara Pitschel ...... 24

BOOK REVIEW: California Mosses by Bill Malcolm et al., Reviewed by David Wagner...... 25

BOOK REVIEW: A Rare Botanical Legacy: The Contributions of Ruby and Arthur Van Deventer by Rick Bennett, Susan Calla, and David Wallace, Reviewed by Richard G. Beidleman ...... 25

THE COVER: The critically endangered Guadalupe cypress (Hesperocyparis guadalupensis) was restricted to three groves on Guadalupe Island before the removal of feral goats in 2006. Since then the cypress have been regenerating and over 10,000 seedlings and young trees are now in evidence. Photograph by Thomas Oberbauer.

VOLUME 37:3, JULY 2009 FREMONTIA 1 EDITORIAL: WHAT IS NATIVE?

uch ink has been spilled, and Absent these relationships and the unknown. The mere fact that they bear M numerous discussions—not to plant you just planted may be merely the same name does not mean they are mention arguments—have happened another exotic plant; it may have come equivalent. Plants have chemical com- over the definition of what constitutes from another part of California but it pounds that help them defend them- a native plant. Why does the question may just as well have come from the selves and adapt to their local circum- even matter? The word is used a lot, other side of the ocean, since it left stances. Changing their genetic consti- and it even occurs in policy or legal components of its ecosystem behind. tution may impair this ability in un- documents, so we need at least a work- Further, because it lacks these interac- seen ways—for example, the changed ing definition. tions, some of the introductions may flower color may not be readily seen by About 20 years ago I was explain- even spread out of control and dis- the pollinating organisms that it has ing to a landscape architect practicing place other plants and animals that previously relied on. Or the chemical in San Francisco, where we both live, have been there for thousands of years. compounds that had deterred a South- that a certain plant was not native, What might be some of the conse- ern California caterpillar from chew- that it was native down the California quences of introducing a plant from ing the leaves of the monkey flower—a coast south of San Francisco. His looks another part of California that has lo- caterpillar that doesn’t exist here— and his words added up to “My, aren’t cal congeners here? Three examples won’t deter another caterpillar that is we precious?” I replied, “What if immediately come to mind: here. However, it may deter the feder- Mexico still owned Monterey, would ally listed endangered Bay checkerspot 1) As landscaping along Highway 1, its plants still be called native in San butterfly, which uses the native mon- Caltrans planted a coastal buckwheat Francisco?” He got the point—Cali- key flower, from ovipositing. (Eriogonum parvifolium) which occurs fornia is a political designation, not a All this argues for a conservative naturally from Monterey County to San biological one. policy, one that our CNPS chapter ob- Diego County. In its new home, it self- For example, Joshua trees (Yucca serves. — Jake Sigg sowed readily and invaded Pacifica brevifolia) grow in the harsh and de- State Beach at Linda Mar, displacing manding Mojave Desert, along with Jake Sigg, 338 Ortega Street, San Fran- the native coast buckwheat (Eriogonum the critically important yucca moth cisco, CA 94122, [email protected] latifolium). (Fortunately, local volun- (Tegeticula maculata). Would these teers have been eradicating the invader organisms be considered native in at this site and replanting the native.) Fresno, Tahoe, Eureka, or San Diego? USEFUL WEBSITES AND If you live in Barstow and wanted a 2) A long time ago, someone intro- CONTACT native tree, would you plant a coast duced to San Francisco’s coastal strand INFORMATION redwood? In thinking about natives, a subspecies of beach evening prim- we need to look at the biological rela- rose (Camissonia cheiranthifolia) from California Native Plant tionships, the plant and animal associ- Southern California, and it rapidly dis- Society (CNPS): ates, the weather, the soil. The Yerba placed the local subspecies, which no www.cnps.org with links to Buena Chapter has always had a policy longer exists here. The mere fact that conservation issues, chapters, to offer at its annual plant sale only this plant and the buckwheat displaced publications, policies, etc. plants propagated from material origi- their native relatives is an indication For updates on conservation nally obtained from our restricted that they are not supporting or fully issues: chapter area. The primary reason for interacting with the local wildlife and this was that we were urging people to other organisms. Audubon Society plant natives in their gardens, but those www.audubon.org 3) As part of the San Bruno Mountain natives were unavailable. Center for Biological Diversity Habitat Conservation Plan, a red-flow- The term native plant means na- www.sw-center.org ered form of bush monkey flower tive to the site; it has no other mean- Native Plant Conservation (Mimulus aurantiacus) from Southern ing. Native plants of a given site inter- Campaign California was introduced on the moun- act with each other and with local www.plantsocieties.org tain, genetically contaminating the lo- wildlife—the birds, the bees, butter- Natural Resources Defense cal stock. It hybridized with the local flies and other insects, the soil micro- Council apricot-colored indigenous plants, pro- fauna and flora—even the local patho- www.nrdc.org ducing muddy-orange intermediate- gens. These organisms are all intri- Sierra Club colored flowers in its offspring. cately woven into the living fabric we www.sierraclub.org call an ecosystem. Ecosystems have What are the consequences of these Wilderness Society sorted out these relationships over the ill-advised introductions? Without de- www.wilderness.org eons, and they are finely tuned. tailed study most consequences are

2 FREMONTIA VOLUME 37:3, JULY 2009 Dead cypress with seedling offspring. All photogtaphs by Thomas Oberbauer unless otherwise noted. FIRE ON GUADALUPE ISLAND REVEALS SOME OLD WOUNDS, AND NEW OPPORTUNITY by Thomas A. Oberbauer, Luciana Luna Mendoza, Nadia Citlali Olivares, Lucía Barbosa Deveze, Isabel Granillo Duarte, and Scott A. Morrison

uadalupe Island’s recov- Mars are now beginning to provide trees up to four meters in height are ery from more than 175 a glimpse into what the island may found in numerous locations around years of destruction by have looked like in the past. the groves. Older individual trees feral goats has been phe- The critically endangered Guada- periodically continue to fall from Gnomenal (e.g., Luna et al. 2007). lupe cypress (Hesperocyparis guada- the lack of soils due to erosion or Following the eradication of goats, lupensis) has also shown promising other goat-caused damage, but it is completed in 2006, shrubs thought regeneration. Its distribution before not uncommon to see those wooden to be extirpated for more than a the goat eradication was restricted skeletons surrounded by a flush of century have reappeared. Guadalupe to three groves, consisting of ap- young trees. pines (Pinus radiata binata) have re- proximately 4,000 trees, covering On September 15, 2008 a fire generated in considerable numbers roughly 100 hectares (Rodriguez began that spread over a three-day in the vicinity of the few remaining Malagón et al. 2006). Following the period into the two large groves parent trees—and with little appar- removal of goats, seedlings were at and one smaller cluster of trees. ent mortality despite recent dry long last able to establish, and to- Attempts to quickly extinguish the years. Portions of the island that not day, only a few years later, tens of fire were frustrated by strong winds, long ago resembled the surface of thousands of seedlings and young low humidity, and insufficient fire-

VOLUME 37:3, JULY 2009 FREMONTIA 3 fighting equipment and personnel to carry the flames between and far on the island. Water is limited due beyond the groves. to reliance upon one perennial spring located elsewhere on the is- POST-FIRE ASSESSMENT land. The initial suppression team consisted of a few on-island staff of On October 5, 6, and 7, 2008 we the island conservation organiza- conducted an initial reconnaissance tion Conservación de Islas, person- of the burn (a more thorough as- nel of the Mexican Navy (Secretaría sessment continued during the fol- de Marina-Armada de México), vis- lowing weeks under the coordina- iting researchers, and local fisher- tion of Conservación de Islas, and men, armed with three small trucks, the collaboration of the Mexican rakes, and shovels. The National Navy and CONANP). Although the Forest Commission (CONAFOR) fire burned through a significant area and the National Commission of of the cypress groves, many of the Protected Natural Areas (CONANP) trees remained standing. (A number augmented that effort, and ulti- of them have since fallen, however, mately, a force of nearly 80 indi- due to strong Santa Ana winds.) Al- viduals participated in extinguish- though about a quarter of the large ing the fire. northern grove burned in a crown Approximately 60% of the cy- fire that consumed entire trees, the press forest was affected and around majority of the southern grove was 600 hectares (1,500 acres) of grass- not burned. For the most part, it land burned. Some on the island appears that the fire kept close to during the fire described hearing the ground. In some places outside cypress trees crashing down as the the groves, among the low growing fire burned (D. Rogers [UC Davis] forbs, a narrow jeep trail served as a pers. comm.). The fire reportedly fire break. In other places, the fire changed direction frequently, but was able to cross the trail and spread. generally spread southward and The prevailing winds would have northward aided by the winds. Be- pushed the fire to the south and to the north through low and sparse cause of the winds, the little vegeta- they did so through the two major herbaceous vegetation. tion that existed on the island, cypress groves. However, we ob- In many locations we found soil mostly introduced grasses, was able served that the fire also burned far that was bright pink, outlining ghost trees where once a trunk lay. The

ABOVE: Moonscape-like surface of the island in 1988, the result of vegetative destruction heat of the burning log removed all by vast herds of feral goats. • RIGHT: Bare slopes with a lone pine tree, 1988. organic matter, leaving clean, iron-

4 FREMONTIA VOLUME 37:3, JULY 2009 rich volcanic soil. In unburned lo- fire entered into that soil, consum- serotinous cones that remain closed cations of the forest, the surface of ing the organic material. The result and sealed with sap until exposed to the soil appeared as a pulverized was a fluffy texture of soil-ash pow- fire or heat. And therein lies some mix of cypress leaf scales and bits of der that in some places was 20-30 good news: the plates on the round wood chips, created by the pound- centimeters deep, and resembled fire-blackened cypress cones did in- ing and mixing effects of decades of moon dust or dry quick sand. deed open, revealing and releasing goat hooves. Within the burn areas, Guadalupe cypress is a tree with thousands of orange cypress seeds.

VOLUME 37:3, JULY 2009 FREMONTIA 5 A goat-scarred tree trunk. Over 175 years, goats consumed almost everything within their reach on the island, including tree bark (especially during periods of drought). This often resulted in leaving heartwood exposed, making the trees more vulnerable to fire, rot, and disease.

In the burned area, the ground was wet. Seeds that fall on such locations from the stump. In a number of those peppered with millions of seeds. On will surely benefit from moisture gen- cases the fire consumed the rest of island and coastal locations where erated by this process. the tree once it lay on the ground, fire is probably irregular, serotinous and as its crown burned it ignited an cones may also open readily with- SURPRISES adjacent tree, exacerbating the fire’s out fire (McMaster and Zedler 1981; spread and intensity much like fall- Barbour 2007). We did indeed ob- There were some disturbing ob- ing dominos. serve cones on branches that were servations, however. Although the Why were trees exposed to rela- no longer living that had split and fire appeared to have burned at very tively low levels of fire collapsing released seeds, even though the low intensity through much of the from the base? While cypress are cones were not burned or affected forest—perhaps only a few decime- known to have relatively thin bark, by the heat of the fire. ters high—many adult trees were these trees burned out and collapsed The fire improved the conditions nevertheless killed. Many of those from fires that should not have killed for seed germination by removing trees had a common characteristic: healthy individuals. When we ex- organic material on the soil surface. they burned from the base, where amined the trees that were burned Young seedlings need exposure to fire entered into and hollowed out and those that were unburned, the mineral soil to ensure that roots con- the trunk. Some trees were con- cause became evident. All of the tact stable substrate; that contact with sumed while standing. Others ap- trees—burned or unburned—exhib- mineral soil can also help protect parently collapsed once the fire hol- ited severe scarring near their base. seedlings from desiccation. Interest- lowed out a section of the trunk. A The majority of them had been par- ingly, fog swept through the groves number of really large trees—some tially girdled and damaged to the the night before we arrived on the a meter and a half in diameter— point that dead heart wood was ex- island. Even leafless burned trees collapsed, breaking approximately posed at the surface. condensed enough moisture so that half of a meter above the ground so The cause of this damage was the ground beneath the branches was that the fallen canopy radiated out fairly obvious. In 2000, researchers

6 FREMONTIA VOLUME 37:3, JULY 2009 on the San Diego Natural History Cones on these broken trees were die even though the goats have Museum-sponsored expedition to also observed to open and release been removed. Even prior to the the island noted tooth marks on the seeds, although not to the extent fire, within openings of the forest, a cypress bark, caused by goats gnaw- that burned ones did. number of unique species of plants ing the trees mostly during periods In contrast to the situation on had already appeared with the re- of drought. This scarring and ex- Guadalupe Island, low fires within duction in numbers of goats, among posed heartwood was prevalent groves of Tecate cypress (Cupressus them the annual monkey flower throughout the forest, all at levels forbesii) in San Diego County, a close (Mimulus latifolius), island night- within reach of the goats. Over 175 relative of the Guadalupe cypress, shade (Solanum wallacei), and na- years, tens of thousands of goats have been observed in some cases to tive tobacco (Nicotiana attenuata). consuming everything within their be relatively hot and burn the or- Elsewhere, vegetation recovery reach has clearly left a lasting effect ganic duff and understory, without appears to be accelerating. The on the forest. Not only did the goats causing tree mortality (P. Scully spread of some of the plants seems cause major erosion issues within [CAL FIRE] and A. Shreve [U.S. For- almost miraculous considering their the forests, but the surviving trees est Service], pers. comm.). reappearance on the island just a were heavily scarred. And those few short years ago. While they have wounds enabled an otherwise low PERSPECTIVE not quite yet formed a mature veg- intensity fire to kill the trees. etation community, in the last few Even a low intensity fire would While at first blush this fire could years the Guadalupe white sage (Sen- easily ignite the exposed wood and appear to be tragic, we suggest it is ecio palmeri) and Guadalupe perityle burn out the base of the tree from not, and that it will have a number (Perityle incana) have spread from the inside. If a piece of this cypress of interesting benefits. Overall the a very few isolated cliffs to be quite wood is subjected to the flame of a fire has caused what can be—with common over the upper parts of butane lighter, within moments the proper management—a renewal the island. Island endemics like the wood ignites and burns on its own. and expansion of the cypress forest. beautiful prostrate Guadalupe tar- If the bark were intact with a live New healthy seedlings will replace plant (Deinandra frutescens), Guada- cambium layer, the flame would the old scarred and damaged trees, lupe phacelia (Phacelia phylloma- likely not have been able to ignite many of which would continue to nica), and native Island hazardia the bark or wood. Every (Hazardia cana) are tree—including those not BELOW, TOP: The heat from the fire resulted in the release of millions spreading in flats near the affected by the fire—dis- of cypress seeds, many of which germinated and began a cycle of cypress forest limits. The played the scars. Even passive revegetation. • BOTTOM: Cypress seeds and cone. unusual silver-stemmed trees that have healed over Guadalupe stephanome- so that no wood is ex- ria (Stephanomeria gua- posed exhibit scars that dalupensis) that was pre- create a ribbed surface viously known from the near the base. The grooves southern islets and nearly between the fluted ribs extinct on the main island contain oozing sap, and can now be found grow- provide another avenue ing on the slope of Mount for heat and flame to en- Augusta, the highest point ter the heartwood of the on the island. tree. The reappearance of Interestingly, even in felt-leaf ceanothus (Cea- the absence of fire, many nothus arboreus, also of the very old large trees known from the Califor- have been hollowed by rotting where nia Channel Islands, e.g., Junak 1995 heartwood was exposed. As we ob- and Junak et al. 2007) and one which served in the unburned forest, it is appears to be related to cupleaf only a matter of time before they ceanothus (C. greggii var. perplexans, collapse. We found numerous speci- known commonly from the main- mens of older unburned trees that land chaparral to the north) is espe- collapsed along the scars where they cially noteworthy, especially consid- too were weakened, which is basi- ering that adult ceanothus shrubs cally the height of a goat’s head. normally live less than 60 years

VOLUME 37:3, JULY 2009 FREMONTIA 7 Severe scarring of tree trunks caused by the large number of goats on the island made the cypress extremely vulnerable to fire. This tree with its hollowed trunk is typical of the damage that resulted.

8 FREMONTIA VOLUME 37:3, JULY 2009 (Keeley and Davis 2007) and that mature individuals had not been HOW OLD ARE THE CYPRESS GROVES? observed on the island for over 100 years. Historic references indicate ypress growth rings are sometimes difficult to see, but after the that ceanothus was once quite C wood has been weathered they are more easily counted. We common within the cypress forest estimated the age of trees by counting growth rings of a few cut (Franceschi 1893). sections of cypress that fell a number of years ago. Small- to medium- Young ceanothus are again ap- sized cypress trees roughly 50 centimeters in diameter seemed to be pearing in a number of locations. roughly 150 to 160 years of age. The large trees with trunks more Prior to the removal of goats, any than 1.2-1.4 meters on the outlying edge of the forest and on the individual plants that germinated southwestern portion of the southern grove are likely to be 350-500 would have been consumed. With years old. the goats removed, these plants sur- These large trees appear to be remnants of a more widespread vive—the product of delayed germi- forest where younger trees have died out. Based on old accounts and nation of a very old, diminishing, cut trees, dead tree trunks appear to decay at a rate of approximately and fortunately not yet exhausted 30 to 50 years. Dead tree trunks exist in the open land between the seed bank. With this staggered ger- two major groves, indicating that relatively recently the two groves mination strategy, it is likely that were united into one large grove. Furthermore, within the last new ceanothus plants will continue century, cypress trees grew near the major island spring far from to germinate for some time. It will existing groves, which indicates the much greater extent of this be of great interest to observe the forest type. germination of plants such as cea- nothus that may have been stimu- lated by the fire. event highlights the urgency of com- Island oak (Quercus tomentella), Is- pleting that effort. If the rejuvenat- land redberry (Rhamnus pirifolia), ing benefits of this fire are to en- toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia var. THE IMPERATIVE OF dure, it will be essential there be no macrocarpa), and even California MANAGEMENT subsequent fire in the area in the sagebrush (Artemisia californica), to several decades ahead. Tecate cy- name a few. Managers need to iden- When this fire occurred, a State press has been found to reproduce tify ways of augmenting those popu- Fire Management Collaboration best if fire intervals are longer than lations, so as to reduce the risk of a Group planning effort was under- 30-50 years (Zedler 1981; Barbour catastrophic impact that could come way for Guadalupe Island. This fire 2007). If a fire occurs more fre- with a single fire event. quently than that, the trees will be Some management may be need- In just a couple of years following the fire, unable to produce enough seed for ed within the burn area, although it the endemic Guadalupe white sage (Senecio their replacement and numbers are does not appear at this time that palmeri) has spread and become quite likely to diminish, thereby reducing active reforestation of cypress is re- common in certain parts of the island. Photograph by J.A. Soriano/Conservación the size of the grove or forest. There- quired, given the massive release of de Islas. fore, even though these trees are seeds and the impact that mechani- adapted to periodic fire on the is- cal revegetation may have on the land, due to their precarious condi- seedlings that have already estab- tion, no fire can be allowed to re- lished. In effect, the fire has caused turn until the new trees are at least a rejuvenation of the forest because 30 years old. this new crop of trees may replace This fire also reminds us of how the adult trees killed by the fire. But precarious these and other island seed collection would nonetheless resources are. The Guadalupe junco be prudent in the event of wide- (Junco hyemalis insularis) tends to spread seedling mortality (e.g., due be associated with forest cover, so it to drought), or more immediately, will be important to evaluate its re- for broadcast dispersal into burned sponse to the fire. There are other areas outside the footprint of the species in great peril of extinction current groves. Seed collection was on the island including California already underway while we were on juniper (Juniperus californica), which the island. at one time grew in an open forest, There is also a great amount

VOLUME 37:3, JULY 2009 FREMONTIA 9 of downed wood (or soon to be cided if they pose an additional fire downed, i.e., standing trees that were hazard. Since the goats removed the killed but not consumed by the fire). stabilizing vegetation many years Eventually the old logs will decay. ago, and the fire burned off addi- But in the meantime, it must be de- tional soil vegetation and organic matter, erosion is a problem that LEFT AND BELOW LEFT: Guadalupe cypress (Cu- has been exacerbated in the burn pressus guadalupensis ssp. guadalupensis) areas. Perhaps the newly lying dead seedlings in 2010, over two years after the logs may be able to serve as soil- Guadalupe Island fire, which burned ap- proximately 60% of the existing cypress stabilizing devices in some areas. forest covering more than 150 hectares. Monitoring will be important and Photographs by J.A. Soriano/Conservación should prove very interesting over de Islas. • BELOW: Map of Guadalupe Island the coming years. Plant species may showing the three cypress areas (upper left) emerge within the burn area that impacted by the 2008 fire. will surprise all. However, it will also be important to monitor for invasive weeds that may interfere with the establishment of native species and provide flashy fuels for future fires. Again, it will be important to re- double efforts to reduce the risk of fire igniting and spreading on the island, perhaps with strategic fire breaks and removal of dry grasses around the forest and other sensitive resources. Some of the new roads cut to suppress this recent fire may need rehabilitation. The recovery of the vegetation on Guadalupe Island remains on a positive trajectory. More than any- thing, this fire reminds us of how fragile—but also how resilient— these island ecosystems can be, and that there is still much to be done to HOW LONG HAVE THE GOATS BEEN PRESENT undo the damage of the era of feral ON THE ISLAND? animals on the island. Above all, the island remains an inspiring story of eral goats were likely to have been introduced in the early 1800s at restoration and the conservation suc- Fthe time of the first seal and otter hunters. Conservación de Islas cess that can be achieved through and its partners, including the Mexican government, worked for vision, dedication, and collaboration. seven years to remove the goats (Luna et al. 2007). The goat removal Clearly, with severely damaged eco- was completed in 2006. However, a few collared goats, referred to as systems like this one, the removal of Judas goats, have remained on the island from 2007-2010. They act as a destructive introduced species is decoys to attract any other goats that could have hidden in the deep not enough to ensure resilience. At- canyons or caves, and serve as a means to confirm the eradication. tentive and ongoing conservation The Judas goats will be removed at some point during 2010. management is imperative. While they existed on the island, the goats consumed all vegeta- tion within reach and though they did not feed on the trees directly, they caused erosion of the soil that supports trees, causing many to REFERENCES die. The groves that remain are mere remnants of what were once Barbour, M.G. 2007. Closed-cone pine much larger stands of trees. Much of the island resembled a moon- and cypress forest, pp. 296–312. In scape while the goats persisted. The vegetation is now gradually Terrestrial Vegetation of California, making a comeback. 3rd edition, ed. Barbour, M.G., T. Keeler-Wolf, and A. Schoenherr. Uni-

10 FREMONTIA VOLUME 37:3, JULY 2009 The reappearance of ceanothus on Guadalupe Island prior to the 2008 fire is likely due to the final removal of all the feral goats in 2006, and not to the fire event itself. The goats had been on the island for 175 years, which is the most likely theory as to why ceanothus had not been observed there for over 100 years.

versity of California Press, Berkeley, Randall. 2006. Fire and invasive plant Corona, A. Aguirre-Muñoz, and CA. species, pp. 499–519. In Fire in Cal- C. García-Gutiérrez. 2006. The Gua- Franceschi, F. 1893. Notes on the flora ifornia’s Ecosystems, ed. Sugihara, dalupe Island Cypress Forest: On of Guadalupe Island. Zoe 4:130-139. N.G., J.W. van Wagtendonk, K.E. the Recovery Track, ESRI Proceed- Junak, S., T. Ayers, R. Scott, D. Wilken, Shaffer, J. Fites-Kaufman, and A.E. ings. 10 pages. gis.esri.com/library/ and D. Young. 1995. A Flora of Santa Thode. University of California Press, userconf/proc07/papers/papers/ Cruz Island. Santa Barbara Botanic Berkeley, CA. pap_1960.pdf Garden and California Native Plant Luna Mendoza, L., A. Aguirre Muñoz, Zedler, P.H. 1981. Vegetation change in Society, Santa Barbara, CA. B. Keitt, S. Junak, and B. Henry. 2007. chaparral and desert communities in Junak, S., D.A. Knapp, J.R. Haller, R. The restoration of Guadalupe Island, San Diego County, California, pp. Philbrick, A. Schoenherr, and T. revisited. Fremontia 35: 14-17. 406–430. In Forest Succession: Con- Keeler-Wolf. 2007. The California McMaster, G.S., and P.H. Zedler. 1981. cepts and Application, ed. West, D.C., Channel Islands, pp. 229–252. In Delayed seed dispersal in Pinus H.H. Shugart, D.B. Botkin. Springer- Terrestrial Vegetation of California, 3rd torreyana (Torrey pine). Oecologia Verlag, New York, NY. edition, ed. Barbour, M.G., T. Keeler- 51: 62-66. Wolf, and A. Schoenherr. University Rogers, D.L. 2002. In situ genetic con- Thomas Oberbauer, Department of Plan- of California Press, Berkeley, CA. servation of Monterey pine (Pinus ra- ning and Land Use, County of San Diego, Keeley, J.E., and F. Davis. 2007. Chap- diata D. Don): Information and rec- 5201 Ruffin Road, Suite B-5, San Diego, arral, pp. 339–366. In Terrestrial Veg- ommendations. Report No. 26. Divi- etation of California, 3rd edition, ed. sion of Agriculture and Natural Re- CA 92123, [email protected]; Luciana Barbour, M.G., T. Keeler-Wolf, and A. sources, Genetic Resources Conser- Luna Mendoza, Conservación de Islas, Schoenherr. University of California vation Program, University of Cali- Avenida López Mateos 1590-3, Ensenada, Press, Berkeley, CA. fornia, Davis, CA. Baja California, México 22880, luciana. Klinger, R.C., M.L. Brooks, and J.M. Rodríguez-Malagón, M., A. Hinojosa- [email protected]

VOLUME 37:3, JULY 2009 FREMONTIA 11 A mosaic of vegetation occurs in California based on geomorphology, fire history, hydrology, and elevation, such as pictured at Big Sur in Monterey County. Photograph by J. Evens. A DYNAMIC TOOL FOR SOUND LANDSCAPE MANAGEMENT: INTRODUCING THE SECOND EDITION, A MANUAL OF CALIFORNIA VEGETATION by Todd Keeler-Wolf and Julie M. Evens

he past 15 years have been Our current state of knowledge part of the story of how vegetation very productive for vegeta- is summarized in the second edition description is contributing to con- tion science in California. of A Manual of California Vegetation servation and sound management CNPS and affiliated organi- (Sawyer, Keeler-Wolf, and Evens) of California’s natural landscape. In Tzations have been advancing stan- published in October 2009. While this article we want to show the dard approaches to categorize and the first edition of the book was reader what information lies within define vegetation using thousands published as an introduction to a the book, and also what related ac- of recently collected and analyzed new way of defining and describing tivities are underway to provide in- field samples. Simultaneously, we vegetation, the second edition pre- tegrated information on California have been increasing public aware- sents a refined tool that distinguishes vegetation. ness and knowledge through classi- all of the currently known vegeta- fication and mapping work. Detailed tion types in California. Just as im- STRUCTURE OF THE BOOK descriptions and maps of vegetation portantly, it also uses the descrip- have recently been created for mil- tions as a means to describe dynamic The main body of the book in- lions of acres. This information leads processes such as fire, flood, and cludes 482 individualized descrip- to better protection and management climate change that shape the state’s tions of vegetation types. These are of large portions of the biological biotic landscape. arranged simply in three main cat- landscape in California. In many ways the new book is egories—by trees, by shrubs, and by

12 FREMONTIA VOLUME 37:3, JULY 2009 herbaceous vegetation. Leading off these three sections are keys to as- sist the unfamiliar reader in identi- fying a particular “stand” of vegeta- tion or related type. Within each of the three sections are several differ- ent types of descriptions. The majority of them (about 320) are descriptions of alliances. We describe alliances if we have suf- ficient quantitative data to substan- tiate them as distinctive floristic and ecological units. Many alliances are well known throughout the Califor- nia botanical community, and have been understood as plant commu- nities for many years. Some examples are Coast Redwood (Sequoia sem- pervirens), Chamise (Adenostoma fasciculatum), and Purple Needle- grass (Nassella pulchra) Alliances. In other cases, some alliances have been described only recently through vegetation sampling and quantita- tive analysis. Examples include Is- land Scrub Oak (Quercus pacifica), Sierra Juniper (Juniperus grandis), Wright’s Buckwheat (Eriogonum significant human management wrightii), and Vernal Pool Goldfields issues. This is followed by a list of (Lasthenia glaberrima) Alliances. all the specific plant associations Each alliance description has a that have been defined for each alli- prescribed format, starting off with ance. The plant association is the a diagnostic list of plant species that finest unit of classifying vegetation, characterize or may commonly be and at least one association is de- found within stands of them. Com- fined for each alliance. Similar to pletely new in this edition are tables the concept of biologically related and descriptions for both life his- species placed within a genus, a set tory and fire ecology or other natu- of floristically and ecologically re- ral processes influencing the veg- lated plant associations can be ag- etation. An expanded section on geo- gregated into an alliance. Following graphic distribution makes use of a the associations is an expanded set range map and a discussion of each of references. These new sections vegetation type’s distribution within provide ecologists, botanists, and the State’s ecoregions. many others with better informa- A new section on management tion to identify and protect, as well implications interprets the particu- as maintain and restore, our state’s lar vegetation alliance in light of biodiversity.

TOP: Stands of bigberry manzanita (Arctostaphylos glauca) occur intermixed with other chaparral and woodland vegetation from Central to Southern California, often on upper slopes and ridges. The manzanita is particularly notable on serpentine substrates where fires are less frequent. • BOTTOM: Water primrose (Ludwigia peploides) is represented by both native and non-native populations in California. Monotypic stands are very common in the lower Sacramento and San Joaquin river drainages. Since this vegetation has not been ex- tensively sampled and ecological relationships to other closely related vegetation have not been worked out, it is considered as a Provisional Alliance. Photographs by T. Keeler-Wolf.

VOLUME 37:3, JULY 2009 FREMONTIA 13 Besides the standard alliance de- those stands that are entirely domi- scriptions are three other catego- nated by yellow or Maltese star- ries, also newly defined in this sec- thistle with an extremely low pro- ond edition. One is semi-natural portion of native species can be stands. Semi-natural stands are very considered members of the yellow strongly dominated and defined by star-thistle semi-natural stands. This non-native species, almost to the level of detail enables us to target exclusion of native species. For ex- and manage areas with strongly ample, although many grassland dominant non-native vegetation and stands in California have yellow to restore and reestablish character- star-thistle (Centaurea solstitialis) istic native species. A couple of other or Maltese star-thistle (Centaurea widespread semi-natural stands are melitensis) as a component, only perennial pepperweed (Lepidium

LEFT: Popcornflower (Plagiobothrys nothofulvus) is a native annual herb that brightens thousands of acres of “annual grasslands” in the foothills surrounding the Central Valley. It is characteristic of a different soil texture (loamy, well-drained, often riddled with animal burrows) than other similar herbaceous vegetation. Photograph by T. Keeler-Wolf. • BELOW: The Yellow Bush Lupine (Lupinus arboreus) Alliance of the California coast is characterized by short-term dominance of this species, followed by die-back and alternating temporary dominance by grasses and native herbs. It is represented by native and non- native stands in Central California, but all stands north of Sonoma County are non-native. Photograph by T. Keeler-Wolf. • OPPOSITE, TOP AND BOTTOM: The Herbaceous White-Tipped Clover (Trifolium varigatum) Alliance is one of several new native annual herb alliances that have recently been described in loamy to clayey soils that are mesic to wet in lower elevations of the California floristic province. Photographs by J. Evens.

14 FREMONTIA VOLUME 37:3, JULY 2009 VOLUME 37:3, JULY 2009 FREMONTIA 15 ABOVE AND OPPOSITE: These two desert stands—the left on a steep rocky slope, and the right on a sandy alluvial fan—both have tall spiny ocotillo (Fouquieria splendens) and several members of the cactus family highly conspicuous. However, through analysis of hundreds of vegetation samples in the California desert, we have learned that the most diagnostic species for distinguishing different environments are not necessarily the most conspicuous. On the left, the low-growing, grayish-green brittlebush (Encelia farinosa) is most significant and most abundant, making that stand a member of the Brittlebush Alliance, while the many low gray shrubs of burrobush (Ambrosia dumosa) and the scattered dark green shrubs of creosote bush (Larrea tridentata) make that stand a member of the Creosote Bush- Burrobush Alliance. Photograph above by J. Evens. Photograph opposite by T. Keeler-Wolf. latifolium) and ryegrass (Lolium demic local species that they tend NATURAL PROCESSES AND perenne). to be found only in a handful of LIFE HISTORY Another category is what we call locales. INFORMATION special stands. Theoretically these The final category of plant de- are different than alliances, because scriptions is for provisional alli- We include many new details in they do not occur as regularly across ances. These are not given full alli- the book to enrich readers’ abilities a landscape. Instead they are rare ance status in the book because they to gauge the ecological status (i.e., and local, often dominated by geo- are not well sampled and described. the natural condition and transitions) graphically restricted endemic spe- However, we expect their status to of vegetation, and to better protect cies such as a rare species of manza- be resolved when sufficient sampling and manage California’s varied land- nita (Arctostaphylos) or California and assessment of them is done, and scapes. Because fire influences the lilac (Ceanothus), or a restricted we expect that most of them will majority of vegetation in the state, endemic tree such as Torrey pine reach full alliance status. These three and because it is often of primary (Pinus torreyana) or island oak additional categories are described concern to land stewards and man- (Quercus tomentella). Their stands in less detail in the book than the agers, fire ecology is featured promi- may be related to more widespread others, lack a detailed map of distri- nently in the book. With the help alliances, but are so strongly domi- bution, and contain less informa- of professional fire ecologists, we nated or characterized by an en- tion on fire regime and life history. present individualized text descrip-

16 FREMONTIA VOLUME 37:3, JULY 2009 tions and tables denoting fire charac- etation. In addition, the fires can be those that persist for short periods. teristics such as return intervals (i.e., characterized as crown fires of high For example, the Bush Poppy (Den- the number of years between two intensity, high severity, or moderate dromecon rigida), Black-Stem or successive major fires), intensity, se- to low complexity. Mojave Rabbitbrush (Ericameria verity, and other effects of fire on all A main reason that we can paniculata), Deer-Weed (Lotus sco- major vegetation types. Along with surmise this is because big berry parius), Silver Bush Lupine (Lupinus this information, we present more manzanita is an evergreen, nonre- albifrons), Bush Mallow (Malaco- general descriptions of the life his- sprouting shrub producing long- thamnus fasciculatus), and Fiddle- tory strategies of the characteristic lived, animal-dispersed seeds that necks (Amsinckia [menziesii, tessel- plant species that form each alliance. build up in a soil seed bank. These lata]) Alliances occur in landscapes Combined life history and fire seeds require chemical treatment and with rapid turnover cycles of fire, information can assist the reader in heat to germinate, and adult plants floods, and other natural disturbance interpreting what is the normal range can produce viable seeds from plants processes. of variability for a given vegetation ranging from 10 to over 100 years. The book also provides a signifi- type. For example, if we see a dense Descriptions of these terms may be cant number of other new alliance and healthy stand of Big Berry Man- found in appendices in the book descriptions for entire suites of plant zanita (Arctostaphylos glauca) Alli- and further explanation may be communities or habitats, including ance in the California Central Coast found in the book Fire in California montane coniferous forests, desert Ranges, we now recognize that it Ecosystems (Sugihara et al. 2006). scrublands and washes, maritime likely has had a medium duration It is possible to understand the chaparral, serpentine vegetation fire return interval (20-100+ years). natural state and dynamics of Cali- types, alpine habitats, montane to It usually burns in late summer to fornia vegetation more completely subalpine meadows, willow scrubs, fall in medium to large-size fires that because we now have descriptions coastal and inland marshes, vernal may spread into other adjacent veg- for a greater array of vegetation, even pools, and California grasslands. For

VOLUME 37:3, JULY 2009 FREMONTIA 17 example, we now refer to 15 annual using our refined vegetation classi- In preparation for these inevita- herbaceous types to describe Cali- fication as the standard in their bilities, we have begun entering the fornia annual grassland habitat, in- local environmental projects. An book’s content into a database, and cluding many containing native important next step will be to con- hope to produce an online version biodiversity such as the Goldfields– tinue to work with county, open with yearly updates. This also will Plantain–Annual Fescue (Lasthenia space district, land conservancy, and enable users to produce customized californica–Plantago erecta–Vulpia consulting biology staff to incorpo- queries, including lists of types based microstachys) Alliance. These new rate this level of detailed vegetation on common or scientific names, geo- descriptions have come directly from classification when making land- graphic location, and other features. focused vegetation inventory and planning and land-management We are actively working on many mapping conducted through the co- decisions. aspects of the database and portions operative efforts of CNPS, Depart- While all of this information is of the website, especially to display ment of Fish and Game, National incorporated into the new edition of good diagnostic photographs of all and State Parks, U.S. Forest Service, A Manual of California Vegetation, the vegetation types described in the and many other agencies and orga- our knowledge continues to grow, book. We also are planning to pub- nizations. and we recognize that further addi- lish a photographic guidebook as a tions and modifications to the clas- companion to the manual. sification and description of Cali- We hope that this book will pro- BEYOND THE SECOND fornia vegetation will come for vide a broad context for anyone who EDITION decades. Because vegetation classi- is interested in “reading” the natu- fication is also growing and chang- ral landscapes of California. By us- Through workshops and re- ing nationwide and internationally, ing the information in the book, the gional projects, we have begun to this will also influence the ways we natural history of any part of the educate the public agencies about interpret vegetation in California. state can be understood in a richer way. To those simply curious about Stands of desert agave (Agave deserti) occur along rocky uplands and washes in and near nature, we believe it will provide Anza-Borrego State Park. The Desert Agave Alliance is one of a number of newly described more satisfying answers to questions alliances in the updated Manual. Photograph by J. Evens. like “Why do the plants grow so sparsely here?” or “How has this forest changed in the past 50 years?” To a land steward or manager, it can help answer the question, “How can we restore this landscape to a natu- rally functioning ecosystem?” And conservationists will likely find the book invaluable in answering ques- tions such as “Which site should we acquire to preserve a diverse mosaic of vegetation types?”

REFERENCES

Sugihara, N.G., J.W. van Wagtendonk, K.E. Shaffer, J. Fites-Kaufman, and A.E. Thode, eds. 2006. Fire in Cal- ifornia’s Ecosystems. University of California Press, Berkeley, CA.

Todd Keeler-Wolf, Biogeographic Data Branch, California Department of Fish and Game, 1807 13th Street, Room 202, Sacramento, CA 95811, tkwolf@dfg. ca.gov; Julie Evens, California Native Plant Society, 2707 K Street, Suite 1, Sac- ramento, CA 95816, [email protected]

18 FREMONTIA VOLUME 37:3, JULY 2009 AWARD WINNERS OF THE PHOTOGRAPHY AND BOTANICAL ART CONTESTS FROM THE CNPS 2009 CONSERVATION CONFERENCE by Josie Crawford

he artists and photographers tests also awarded a Conference For the botanical art contest, displayed on the following Choice award based on the votes of entries could be original artwork in pages have waited patiently conference attendees. With such a any two-dimensional medium. They for this moment to arrive. It concentration of talent, it was ex- had to reflect the beauty and unique- hasT been more than a year since the tremely difficult to choose “the best.” ness of California flora, and adhere photography and botanical art con- In this issue we feature the First, to high standards of botanical accu- tests were held at the CNPS 2009 Second, and Third Place winners, racy. Judges of the botanical art con- Conservation Conference: Strategies and the Conference Choice awards. test included botanical illustrators and Solutions, held January 17-19, Runners-Up and Honorable Men- Kristin Jakob, Lee McCaffree, and 2009 at the Sacramento Convention tion awards are also listed. Geri Hulse-Stephens. The commit- Center. In this article we present the For the photography contest, tee responsible for organizing the top winners of those contests. entries had to be taken in Califor- show was comprised of Geri Hulse- Art is one way of expressing ap- nia and feature plants native to the Stephens and Judy McCrary, co- preciation of our flora and natural state. The images could be species chairs, and Susan Blazell. Thanks landscapes (part of the mission of specific macro shots, wide angle also go to Kristin Jakob and Lee CNPS). We wanted art and photog- landscape photos, or pictures of McCaffree, who provided invalu- raphy as counterpoint to the science people or animals interacting with able support. There were 53 botani- in the conference and to remind us the natural environment of Cali- cal art entries by 31 artists. of why we are involved in conserva- fornia. Photos could be of, but were The next CNPS conference will tion science in the first place. We not limited to, rare or common be held in mid-January 2012. Check did not wholly expect to receive the plants, flowers, trees, shrubs, vines, the state website in 2011 for details high quality of art that flowed into grasses, or bryophytes. The judges of the next conference photo and art our office. Many attendees said the of the photography contest included contests. There may also be a cat- art and photography were the high- photographers Ree Slocum, Sally egory for landscape art in 2012. light of the conference for them. Mack, and Nick Jensen. Stacey Each contest was judged by a Flowerdew organized and chaired Josie Crawford, Education Program Di- separate panel of three judges of the contest. There were 105 photo rector, CNPS, 2707 K Street, Suite 1, Sac- peers and professionals. Both con- entries by 37 artists. ramento, CA 95816, [email protected]

PHOTO CONTEST RUNNERS-UP HONORABLE MENTIONS WINNERS Judy Kramer, “Garden Among the Dylan Neubauer, “Agoseris First Place: Bruce Barnett, Joshua Trees” grandiflora” “Vernal Pools” Brian Wright, “Moonlit Bristle- Michael Kauffmann, “Siskiyou Second Place: Paul Johnson, cone” Sunrise” “Family Values” Toni Rizzo, “Coast Indian Paint- Judy Kramer, “Pennyroyal Bud” Third Place: Dylan Neubauer, brush” Paul Johnson, “Pinyon Beauty” “Limnanthes douglasii & Paul Johnson, “Buttonwillow” Syrphid Fly” Paul Hankamp, “Camissonia claviformis” Conference Choice: Reny Spring Strahm, “Calochortus Parker, “Coast Buckwheat” catalinae” Linda Donnelly, “Jackass Meadow, Sierra Nevada”

VOLUME 37:3, JULY 2009 FREMONTIA 19 DR. BRUCE BARNETT PAUL G. JOHNSON FIRST PLACE PHOTOGRAPH SECOND PLACE PHOTOGRAPH “VERNAL POOLS” “FAMILY VALUES”

Dr. Bruce Barnett is a Ph.D. biologist living in Davis. He has been an environmental consultant for over 25 years and worked throughout California and the western U.S., Mexico, Central and South America, Europe, Africa, and India. Dr. Barnett combines his ecological knowledge with a keen interest in aerial photography to provide a unique perspec- tive on the diversity and beauty of California’s natural and manmade landscapes.

“As an avid powered paraglider pilot, I spend many hours Paul Johnson is a wildlife biologist who spends exploring and photographing the region’s diverse natural much of his spare time studying and photographing and agricultural landscapes from the air. I regularly visit the insects in their natural surroundings. He uses his impressive vernal pool landscape at the Glide Tule Ranch, camera to immerse himself in nature and to share approximately 10 miles south of Davis, as much to record the beauty he finds there. His winning entries in the yearly variations in flowering patterns and extent as to CNPS photo contest (he also received two honor- admire its sheer beauty. Though these large pools, or playas, able mentions) were all taken during insect expedi- are beautiful anytime, they are most striking in early tions. morning or late afternoon light, which emphasizes textures and infuses a distinct richness to the colors. Though I may This photo depicts a “family that delights in one of sometimes make minor adjustments to my photos to re- the finest wildflower shows in California held at move haze, increase sharpness, or adjust contrast, my goal Shell Creek in San Luis Obispo County.” is for the viewer to see what I see from my aerial perch. Why fix what doesn’t need fixing?” [email protected] www.flickr.com/photos/bioflyer

20 FREMONTIA VOLUME 37:3, JULY 2009 DYLAN NEUBAUER RENY PARKER THIRD PLACE PHOTOGRAPH CONFERENCE CHOICE PHOTOGRAPH “LIMNANTHES DOUGLASII & SYRPHID FLY” “COAST BUCKWHEAT”

Dylan Neubauer is an amateur botanist and photogra- pher who really enjoys combining the two pursuits. Reny Parker is author/photographer of the photographic field guide, Wildflowers of Northern California’s Wine “Every now and then, through some miracle, an amaz- Country & North Coast Ranges. She is past president of ing moment is captured by the eye of the camera. That’s the Milo Baker Chapter and lives off the grid in northern what happened with the shot of the syrphid fly—it was Sonoma County. one of my very first pictures.” “This coast buckwheat was in a perfect setting at Point [email protected] Reyes to make a ‘winning’ photograph.” www.flickr.com/photos/28585246@N00/ www.renyswildflowers.com/

RUNNERS-UP PHOTOGRAPHS (not pictured) Judy Kramer Brian Wright Toni Rizzo “Garden Among the Joshua “Moonlit Bristlecone” “Coast Indian Paintbrush” Trees” Equipped with medium format film Toni Rizzo lives near Fort Bragg Judy Kramer is a past president cameras and using only moonlight on the Mendocino Coast, where of the Palo Alto Camera Club, for illumination, Brian Wright she makes a living as a freelance and her photographs are used by spends countless hours every sum- writer specializing in medical, several local environmental or- mer trying to capture the nighttime science, nature, and outdoor top- ganizations. She captured this beauty within the groves of the An- ics. She loves hiking and photo- image in April 2008 heading to cient Bristlecone Pine Forest near graphing native plants, especially Walker Pass in Kern County Bishop. macro photography of flowers. along California Route 178. “This five-hour exposure reveals the “This photo of Mendocino Coast “The carpet of spring color be- hidden detail and color of one re- Indian paintbrush (Castilleja men- neath the Joshua trees caught mote tree beneath the majestic night docinensis) was taken on the my eye, and the high clouds sky.” bluffs of Glass Beach in Fort added drama to the scene.” Bragg.” brianwrightphoto.com www.earthwitnessphoto.com

VOLUME 37:3, JULY 2009 FREMONTIA 21 MARIA CECILIA FREEMAN BOTANICAL ART WINNERS FIRST PLACE AND CONFERENCE CHOICE BOTANICAL ART First Place: Maria Freeman, “Santa Cruz Cypress” “CUPRESSUS ABRAMSIANA” Second Place: Peggy Irvine, “Golden Iris” Third Place: Peg Steunenberg, “Mt. Diablo Buckwheat”

CONFERENCE CHOICE WINNER Maria Freeman, “Santa Cruz Cypress”

HONORABLE MENTIONS Eliza Jewett, “Toyon” Jade Paget-Seekins, “Black Morel” Lesley Randall, “Eremalche rotundifolia”

Maria Cecilia Freeman, a CNPS member for 25 years, is a botanical artist based in Santa Cruz. Her work includes scientific illustration and botanically accurate fine art that serves the goals of education and conservation. She portrays native plant species with a view to their preser- vation. “Cupressus abramsiana” is watercolor and col- ored pencil on paper 18" x 24". It is included in the American Society of Botanical Artists’ exhibition, “Los- ing Paradise? Endangered Plants Here and Around the World,” currently traveling in the U.S.

“I live ten minutes from two of the five remaining popu- lations of Santa Cruz cypress (Cupressus abramsiana). When I set out to study the cypress, I consulted Stephen McCabe, CNPS Conservation Committee chair for the Santa Cruz Chapter, and coordinator of research at the University of California’s Santa Cruz Arboretum. Steve helped me identify the distinctive characteristics of this cypress species, showed me specimen plants at the Arbo- retum, and gave me small cuttings with cones to study and draw in detail. I visited the trees repeatedly to study their branching habit, bark, leaves, and cones as the seasons changed. After a wildfire in June 2008, I visited the Bonny Doon Ecological Preserve and photographed the blackened remains of the cypresses there. In the spring of 2009 I returned and found the ground covered with tiny seedlings of the species.”

www.mcf-art.com; 831-457-2365

22 FREMONTIA VOLUME 37:3, JULY 2009 PEGGY IRVINE PEG STEUNENBERG SECOND PLACE BOTANICAL ART THIRD PLACE BOTANICAL ART “GOLDEN IRIS” “MT. DIABLO BUCKWHEAT”

Peg Steunenberg creates visual educational images for publications and product lines. The focus of her work is Peggy Irvine began working at botanical illustration in the preservation of California’s flora and fauna. She has 2004. exhibited in a number of shows, including the Picturing Natural History exhibit at the National Museum of Natu- “The subject of my illustration, Del Norte County iris ral History, the Smithsonian Institution, New York State (Iris innominata), is from my garden. It’s an interesting Museum, and the St. Louis Botanic Garden. She received subject for painting, as its bud, mature flower, and seed the Gold Medal 2000 award from the San Francisco pod can all be present at the same time. In addition, this Society of Illustrators. little native California iris grows so vigorously that one can dig up a specimen for illustration, with roots at- “With the help of Michael Park, Seth Adams, and the tached, and still have most of the plant left to admire in Jepson Herbarium, I was able to render the painting of the garden.” Mt. Diablo Buckwheat (Eriogonum truncatum). Live speci- mens, museum mounts, and photography provided the [email protected] necessary reference material.”

www.pegsteunenberg.com/

VOLUME 37:3, JULY 2009 FREMONTIA 23 ROLAND PITSCHEL: 1942–2009 by Jake Sigg and Barbara Pitschel

oland Pitschel, CNPS Fellow, staff for The Committee, Alan Myer- to preserve what was left of the origi- long-time Yerba Buena Chapter son’s successor to Second City and nal landscape of the city. Much of the Board member, and active na- another leader in the improvisational group’s work involved rooting out in- tive plant and grassland restora- theater movement. Because of Roland’s vasive nonnative species. Rtion activist, died on August 1, 2009, amazing stage construction and cre- Roland served in myriad capaci- two weeks before his 67th birthday, ative carpentry work, The Pitschel ties for the Yerba Buena Chapter, in- after bravely contending for seven Players, a successor group, adopted cluding vice-president from 1992 to months with aggressive cancer. his name. 2009. Through his decades of sup- Born in Germany in 1942, Roland Roland worked for many years as a port, he could always be counted on to immigrated to Chicago with his mother freelance carpenter, cabinet maker, and serve and to contribute his skills in and sister in 1950. The environmental creator of artistic wood carvings, jew- whatever capacity was needed. wisdom and comfort with camping and elry, bird calls, bookbinding equip- In 1983, Roland joined the Facili- studying wild areas that followed him ment, furniture, and much more. “He ties Department of Oakland’s Califor- throughout his life were fostered by was a craftsman in wood, metal, and nia College of the Arts where he con- his youthful experiences as an Eagle ceramics,” said Ted Kipping, arborist, tinued to work until two weeks before Scout in the Lake Michigan area. who was Roland’s friend for 25 years. his death. He was respected and be- After high school, Roland worked “He was a master at anything he did.” loved by his colleagues. His amazing at the bindery of the University of Chi- In 1966, the Pitschels settled on skills provided great forward impetus cago, where his sister was a graduate Bernal Heights, an urban island that to the work of the college; his non- student. During this period, the Chi- still harbored many of San Francisco’s confrontational personality helped cago Review declined to publish some native plant species. Early on, they move initiatives forward. He is one contemporary writing it deemed ob- helped protect the hilltop from devel- of the few people we know who had scene, prompting Roland and his sis- opment by working to ensure its trans- no enemies! His coworkers have ter to work with many notable literary fer from the Department of Public planted a native plant garden and cast heroes to create Big Table Magazine, Works to the Recreation and Parks a plaque in his memory, bearing his thus ensuring publication of William Department. Roland continued to be epitaph: “‘Sometimes the magic works; Burroughs Naked Lunch and other im- an environmental leader in conserva- sometimes it doesn’t.’ —Little Big Man, portant literature. tion of San Francisco natural areas for 1970.” Roland produced beautiful silk the rest of his life. He spent thousands “He was a quiet man, very low screen prints and posters. This period of volunteer hours working to restore key,” said Jake Sigg, a longtime friend. was the first public revelation of the the slopes of Bernal Hill to its native “He gave new meaning to the term brilliant woodworking, metalworking, bunchgrass-wildflower ecosystem. The self-effacing.” graphic arts, book arts, mechanical, Pitschels were key members of a group “Roland lived well and he died well, artistic, creative, and problem-solving of neighborhood people who worked surrounded by his family,” said Bar- skills (and also intelligence and hu- bara. In addition to his wife of 45 mor) that defined his entire life. Roland Ritschel. Photograph by Margo years, Roland is survived by one daugh- In Chicago, Roland worked as stage Bors. ter, two granddaughters, one great- manager and lighting coordinator at grandson, one sister, and two neph- the Gate of Horn, noted folk club of ews and their families. the 1950s and 1960s, which featured Roland bequeathed his body to the luminaries including Josh White, UCSF whole body donation program Odetta, and Lenny Bruce. He and his for scientific research. The family did future wife Barbara both worked as not plan a formal memorial service at support staff at Second City, the leg- the time of his death, but still hopes to endary leader in the tradition of im- celebrate Roland’s life and work with a provisational theater, when it was joyful party in the future. founded in Chicago just 50 years ago, on December 16, 1959. Roland and Barbara moved to San Jake Sigg, 338 Ortega Street, San Fran- Francisco in 1963, where they were cisco, CA 94122. jakesigg@ earthlink.net; married in City Hall. Daughter Justine Barbara Pitschel, 99 Ellsworth Street, was born in 1965. In early San Fran- San Francisco, CA 94110. bpandrp@ cisco years, both worked as support peoplepc.com

24 FREMONTIA VOLUME 37:3, JULY 2009 BOOK REVIEWS

California Mosses by Bill Malcolm, exaggerates the depth of field and con- a taxonomic ar- Nancy Malcolm, Jim Shevock, and Dan trast of the cell walls. rangement not fa- Norris. Micro-Optics Press, Nelson, This combination of techniques, miliar to many New Zealand, 2009. 430 pages. $68 rarely used by American bryologists, moss students, so hardcover. ISBN 0-9582224-5-2. gives the images a somewhat unnatu- that users will ral appearance. The KOH tends to color find the guide on California Mosses is a stunning the cell walls yellow to orange to red, pages 22-23 to be demonstration of the capabilities of so the images do not look green like a valuable supple- modern publishing, a full-color pho- fresh leaves in a traditional wet mount. ment to the index tographic guide. This collaboration be- Their optical system enhances the in- in the back of the tween a pair of photomicroscopists and ternal structure of cell walls and im- book. a pair of field bryologists has resulted parts a syrupy 3-D effect to cell walls The authors in a near magical fusion of effort. This that are nearly transparent under ordi- note that in the book was heralded by the previous nary microscope optics. It is impor- years since publi- work of the Malcolms, Mosses and tant to remember these artificial ef- cation of the 2004 Other Bryophytes, An Illustrated Glos- fects when comparing fresh specimens Norris and Shevock keys, 48 species sary (second edition, 2006), where with the plates. have been added to the state’s moss their beautiful images of moss leaf The authors intend that this book checklist and 29 have been removed. structure first received wide attention. will help people identify mosses with- New species remain to be formally The heart of this book is the as- out having to use a hand lens. This can named. As with any flora, updates are semblage of 290 pages of color pic- be accomplished by matching leaves to inevitable. This guide will serve us tures. The images are grouped by illustrations in the book, and then read- admirably in the near future; the not- “plates.” Each plate focuses on one ing the text. To assist in this matching so-distant future will incorporate cor- species and contains seven to nine pic- process is an 80-page section that con- rections and additions into a revised, tures, typically consisting of 1) a dry, tains close to a thousand leaf diagrams bigger, better second edition. The rea- vegetative shoot, slightly magnified, (called thumbnails). The thumbnail sonable price for this volume should 2) a fertile shoot or a capsule, slightly section is itself divided into two parts, afford it a place on the bookshelf of magnified, 3) a single leaf magnified the first with leaves sorted into 26 dis- anyone interested in California mosses. about ten times, and 4) cells of the leaf tinctive leaf types and the second part David Wagner apex, leaf margin, middle of leaf, and with the species arranged by genus. Northwest Botanical Institute basal corner of the leaf, magnified Although identification using pic- about 100 times. It is the latter group ture matching based on hand lens ex- of photomicrographs that makes the amination of whole leaves will work A Rare Botanical Legacy: The Con- book so useful, in addition to being so with many mosses, most people desir- tributions of Ruby and Arthur Van spectacularly beautiful. ing to identify mosses will need a com- Deventer. Rick Bennett, Susan Calla, Every genus in the California moss pound microscope in order to see the and David Wallace. Heyday Books, flora is included, with almost half of cellular details depicted in the plates. 2009. 154 pages, illustrated. the 600+ species of California mosses They can use this book in conjunction given a full plate. Each page also in- with the keys to California Mosses by A Rare Botanical Legacy proves to cludes a brief discussion of the species’ Norris and Shevock (2004, Madroño be much more than an oversized cof- growth form, habitat, and a descrip- 51:2). I have student-tested the book fee table book with floral paintings tion of leaf and capsule characteristics. in an advanced bryology workshop and and a striking dust jacket watercolor Comments mention the geographic found it enormously useful. Students of a menacing cobra lily. The legacy range of the species, whether it is rare key out a moss, and then turn to Cali- belongs to Ruby Steele Van Deventer, or of concern, and notable distinguish- fornia Mosses to see if the specimen long-time school teacher and amateur ing characteristics. matches the illustration of what it plant collector, and her husband The photomicrographs (photos keyed out to. California Mosses is also Arthur, forest ranger, rancher, and taken through a microscope) are dra- helpful when a student has a hunch as amateur artist. matic for two reasons. First, the Mal- to the identity of a specimen, because Ruby grew up in a cabin along colms treat all specimens with potas- the student can go directly to an illus- Smith River in California’s isolated Del sium hydroxide (KOH) before making tration in the book to see if that hunch Norte County, Arthur on a ranch in microscope preparations. This clears might be correct, or at least close. The Southern California. They both at- the cells of contents so that the cell illustrations are just as useful for rul- tended UC Berkeley, she a language walls stand out. Second, they photo- ing out possibilities as they are to verify major, he in engineering, but first met graph with differential interference proposed names. during the spring of 1915 in Brookings, optics, an elaborate technique that The sequence of species follows Oregon, a lumber village started by

VOLUME 37:3, JULY 2009 FREMONTIA 25 Walter Brookings and botanically unique Arthur. It was love at region and could send first sight, and they him a fresh specimen eloped from a Fourth of Indian Pipe (Mono- of July dance and were tropa uniflora), not married on July 6 in known from Cali- Eureka. They first fornia. lived near Siskiyou In early Septem- National Forest where ber Jepson received Arthur worked. In her Indian Pipe speci- 1923 they moved with mens. He quickly re- three-year-old daugh- plied that this first ter Dwayne to Ruby’s official California homestead near Cres- record for uniflora cent City. would be in the next Interested in the local flora, Ruby section of his Flora, soon on its way to began her plant collections, and her the printer. Congratulating Ruby, he husband, who had dabbled with art wrote “You will be duly and appropri- since childhood, began to sketch and ately immortalized in the Flora of Cali- paint her specimens. After Ruby’s re- fornia”(3:32). In Ruby’s 1937 letter to jection of his first attempt—a wilted Jepson she asked if there were any saxifrage portrayed as wilted—his art- special specimens that Jepson would istry improved immensely. Meanwhile, like, mentioning common butterwort during the 1920s, Ruby’s entries from (Pinguicula vulgaris) (not in The Jepson Del Norte County at San Francisco Manual!), and included an ink sketch flower shows won so many prizes that of pipsissewa (Chimaphila umbellata) she was finally told not to enter any- by Arthur. Thus began a long lasting more. and productive friendship. In San Francisco Ruby had become Jepson would pay a visit to the acquainted with Alice Eastwood of the Van Deventers in late July of 1937, California Academy of Sciences, who their field excursion to Poker Flat invited her to coauthor a flora. Ruby abruptly ending with his breaking an declined, feeling unqualified. But her ankle, two weeks in a hospital, and visit with University of California bota- prolonged recovery. But Ruby would nist Dr. Willis Jepson on August 24, become Jepson’s floral source for the 1936 resulted in her becoming in- unique Del Norte County, eventually volved in the flora nevertheless. Jepson contributing more than 400 specimens was working on his monumental Flora to the Jepson Herbarium. And the Van of California, and here was Ruby, a Deventers soon became his valued cor- plant collector from Del Norte, who respondents for the following decade informed him she already had a col- until Jepson’s death, with some 74 lection of some 1,500 plants from this letters going back and forth. Professor Jepson’s encouragement to Ruby that she should write a book on her county’s flora is most likely responsible for spurring her great pro- ductivity. When the Van Deventers died in the early 1970s, there remained Telos Rare Bulbs Ruby’s legacy of 1,100 pages of manu- script and 4,000 plant descriptions, The most complete offering of bulbs plus Arthur’s 400 paintings and draw- native to the western USA available ings . . . but all unpublished! anywhere, our stock is propagated at the It was increasing northwestern Cali- fornia community interest that brought nursery, with seed and plants from the Van Deventer dream to fruition. legitimate sources only. Telos Rare Bulbs Legacy’s two coeditors, Rick Bennett P.O. Box 1067 and Susan Calla, aware of the unpub- Ferndale, CA 95536 lished manuscript and paintings, to- www.telosrarebulbs.com gether with the Del Norte County His- torical Society, proposed and subse-

26 FREMONTIA VOLUME 37:3, JULY 2009 quently received a major grant from the U.S. Forest Service for The Van Deventer Botanical Legacy Project. With the encouragement of publisher Mal- colm Margolin of the Heyday Insti- tute—which was devoted to publica- tions of significant California import— A Rare Botanical Legacy was printed by Heyday Books. Meanwhile, in 2008, 600 people attended the Ruby Van Deventer Wildflower Show, attesting to the gen- eral public interest in their work. In Legacy, the 116 large plates of beautiful, realistic floral watercolors by Arthur dominate. Each plate con- tains an informative caption that in- cludes the scientific and common name, along with descriptive, histori- cal, and anecdotal information (e.g., “The Marsh Pea: Ruby collected her specimen at Bower’s Swamp and sent it to Jepson in 1938.”) There is no index for the plates, but readers famil- iar with plant families will soon realize the arrangement is alphabetically by families, with monocots listed last. Following the plates is an appendix community.” (In Calla’s preface appear tions of Jepson field diary entries, and that elucidates how the Tolowa and maps of the northwest coast region.) relevant correspondence. Wallace con- Yurok Indians used many of the plants. Following Rick’s and Susan’s per- cludes with Ruby’s speech for the 1967 Preceding the watercolors are 13 pages sonal reminiscences, biographer David dedication of the Van Deventer Forest of text by the coeditors, who wrote Wallace provides a readable portrait of Park, where she planted a redwood separate prefaces from quite different the Van Deventer lives. Accompanying seedling from the old Van Deventer vantage points, and a biographical it is a delightful variety of illustrations, homestead nearby. sketch of the Van Deventers by noted from Van’s flower paintings to family Richard G. Beidleman nature writer David Wallace. and landscape photographs, reproduc- University and Jepson Herbaria How the book’s coeditors became involved in the project is a story in itself. Coeditor Rick Bennett first be- NOTES AND COMMENTS came acquainted with Ruby when the two of them were teaching at Crescent City High school years earlier. In 2004, A POTENTIAL FELLOW IN wide level. Help us to make their rec- driving past the Van Deventer’s old YOUR MIDST ognition possible. Smith River homestead, Rick discov- For more information about the ered that their grandson’s widow, CNPS strives to recognize any nomination process, go to www.cnps. Marilyn Heye, still lived there and member who has made an outstand- org/cnps/support/pdf/fellow_nomination. “had some of Ruby’s stuff,” including ing contribution to our organization. pdf or email lindachipping@yahoo. a lengthy book manuscript and hun- One way to accomplish this is through com. dreds of her husband’s flower paint- the Fellows program. The nomination To view a list of members who ings. Rick became entranced. Coedi- of a CNPS member to become a Fel- have been designated as Fellows, go to tor Susan Calla had moved to the low can be made at any time by any www.cnps.org/cnps/support/fellows.php. Klamath-Siskiyou region in the late CNPS member, chapter, board, com- 1970s, some time after the Van De- mittee, or officer. The successful can- CORRECTION venters had passed away. She, too, got didate is a member who has made a to know Marilyn, and was impressed significant contribution to the success On page 10 of the last issue of with tales of the spunky Ruby, as well of the Society and furthering the ap- Fremontia (Vol. 37, No. 2), in the chart as the couple’s past contributions to preciation and conservation of Cali- “Additions to the Flora of Sonoma the community and to botany. The two fornia’s native flora. The Fellows Com- County From the Cedars,” the species coeditors viewed a possible Van mittee knows there are potential Moehringia latifolia should have been Deventer book as “a marriage of sci- candidates that have made a differ- listed as Moehringia macrophylla. The ence and art, of pioneer history and ence in your chapter or on the state- author regrets making this error.

VOLUME 37:3, JULY 2009 FREMONTIA 27 28 FREMONTIA VOLUME 37:3, JULY 2009 Join Today! CNPS member gifts allow us to promote and protect California’s native plants and their habitats. Gifts are tax-deductible minus the $12 of the total gift which goes toward publication of Fremontia.

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CONTRIBUTORS (continued from back cover) Luciana Luna Mendoza is a biologist with Conservación de Islas, where she has MATERIALS FOR worked since 2003, and directs the Guadalupe Island Conservation and Restora- PUBLICATION tion Project. Her primary responsibilities have been in overseeing the eradication Members and others are invited of feral goats on the island, and in monitoring vegetation recovery. to submit material for publica- Scott Morrison is Director of Conservation Science for The Nature Conservancy tion in Fremontia. Instructions of California. for contributors can be found on the CNPS website, www.cnps. Thomas Oberbauer is Chief Land Use Planner for the San Diego County Depart- org, or can be requested from ment of Planning and Land Use. Tom has contributed articles to Fremontia on topics including plant diversity, the California and Baja California islands, and Fremontia Editor Bob Hass at the effects of fire. [email protected]. Nadia Citlali Olivares is Director of the Reserva de la Biosfera Isla Guadalupe, of CONANP. Fremontia Editorial Advisory Barbara Pitschel has been librarian at San Francisco Botanical Garden’s horticul- Board ture library for 29 years, served as Yerba Buena Chapter newsletter editor and Susan D’Alcamo, Ellen Dean, program cochair for about 15 years, and with Roland, coordinated the Bernal Phyllis M. Faber, Holly Forbes, Hilltop Restoration Project since the 1980s. Brett Hall, Tara Hansen, Todd Jake Sigg is a CNPS Fellow and a past president of the Society. He has served on Keeler-Wolf, David Keil, Pam the Yerba Buena Chapter board since 1988 as conservation chair, and for eight Muick, Dylan Neubauer, Bart years as president. He has worked with the Pitschels on many chapter projects, O’Brien, Roger Raiche, John Saw- including the monthly restoration work parties on Bernal Hill. yer, Teresa Sholars, Nevin Smith, David Wagner is a botanist specializing in ferns and bryophytes. Formerly direc- Greg Suba, Dick Turner, Mike tor of the University of Oregon Herbarium, he now operates the Northwest Bo- Vasey, Carol Witham tanical Institute, focused on research and education.

VOLUME 37:3, JULY 2009 FREMONTIA California Native Plant Society Nonprofit Org. 2707 K Street, Suite 1 Sacramento, CA 95816-5113 U.S. Postage PAID Address Service Requested A.M.S.

CONTRIBUTORS FROM THE EDITOR

Richard G. Beidleman is an ecologist and has been a re- t is both sad and alarming to see the extent to which people search associate for the past 17 years with the University today have become disconnected from nature. Examples Herbarium and the Jepson Herbarium. He is a professor I of this disconnect pervade our society and include our emeritus at The Colorado College in Colorado Springs. Most willingness to produce and use substances (knowingly or recently he authored California’s Frontier Naturalists by the not) that are toxic to ourselves, our air, waterways, soil, University of California Press. wildlife, and to the native plants and plant communities we Josie Crawford is Director of the Education Program for the care so deeply about. California Native Plant Society, where she develops programs I believe the reason we are leading an unsustainable for students of all ages, including the Plant Science work- lifestyle is due, in considerable part, to how little contact shops, the CNPS Conservation Conferences, the Rare Plant most of us have anymore with nature. It becomes much Treasure Hunt, and nature education for children. She gets more difficult to ignore or rationalize the damage we are joy from people, color, landforms, vegetables and other causing to our ecosystem when one gets out in nature and plants, and playing bass guitar. experiences its incredible gifts. A majestic mountain range Lucía Barbosa Deveze is Technician of the Reserva de la can inspire awe, a crystal-clear blue lake tranquility and Biosfera Isla Guadalupe, of CONANP. peace, a wildflower-carpeted valley delight, and a sun- drenched beach comfort and freedom. To those who have Isabel Granillo Duarte is Baja California Program Manager experienced these things, the possibility of losing them for The Nature Conservancy. seems unthinkable. Julie M. Evens is the Vegetation Program Director for the Global warming is the latest, and perhaps the most California Native Plant Society, where she manages projects devastating consequence yet, of this disconnect to nature. to sample, describe, and map vegetation statewide. Julie en- Yet scientists, conservationists, some policymakers, and na- joys capturing the landscape through maps as well as photo- ture lovers of all kinds are hoping for two things to turn this graphs and artwork, and she treasures taking botanical hikes situation around. One is that we humans will take decisive around the state with her one-year-old son. action to significantly reduce our impacts on the environ- Todd Keeler-Wolf is Senior Vegetation Ecologist at the Cali- ment. The other is the knowledge that, in the past, nature fornia Department of Fish and Game, Biogeographic Data has proven to be extremely resilient and able to recover from Branch, where he leads the Vegetation Classification and major destructive events, whether caused by man or nature. Mapping Program. He is also technical program advisor to The lead article in this issue of Fremontia detailing the California Native Plant Society’s Vegetation Program. In Guadalupe Island’s beginning signs of recovery from years addition to the Manual of California Vegetation, he has coau- of destruction caused by feral goats and then a devastating thored several books and publications, including the revised fire, reminds us once again of nature’s ability to restore itself UC Press California Plant Life Natural History guide, and the if given sufficient time. It’s also the sort of story that offers recently published third edition of the Terrestrial Vegetation hope to all of us. of California. —Bob Hass

FREMONTIA (continued on inside back cover) VOLUME 37:3, JULY 2009