Sego Lily November 2010 33 (6)
November 2010 (volume 33 number 6)
The Flora of Rainbow Bridge National Monument
In this issue:
The Flora of Rainbow Bridge National Monument . . . . . 1, 4 Chapter News ...... 2 Bulletin Board ...... 3 Trouble for Pando? ...... 3 Revolutionary New Taxonomy . 14 Utah Botanica: Noteworthy Discoveries: New
Mustards for Utah ...... 15
UNPS Rare Plant List Update 15
Cover: Rainbow Bridge, the world’s largest natural stone bridge, viewed from the south- east in Rainbow Bridge National Monument, Utah. Photo by W. Fertig, September 2010.
“This Rainbow Bridge was the one great natural phenomenon, the one grand spectacle, which Shefford had ever seen that did not at first give vague disappointment, a confounding of reality, a disenchantment of contrast with what the mind had conceived. But this thing was glorious. It silenced him, yet did not awe or stun. His body and brain, weary and dull from the toil of travel, received a singular and revivifying freshness. He had a strange, mystic perception of this rosy-hued stupendous arch of stone, as if in a former life it had been a goal he could not reach … Here at last, apparently, was the rainbow of his boyish dreams and of his manhood: a rainbow magnified even beyond those dreams, no longer transparent and ethe- real, but solidified, a thing of ages, sweeping up majestically from the red walls, its iris-hued arch against the blue sky.” - Zane Grey, The Rainbow Trail, 1915.
Copyright 2010 Utah Native Plant Society. All Rights Reserved. Utah Native Plant Society
Horticulture: Maggie Wolf Sego Lily Editor: Walter Fertig Important Plant Areas: Mindy ([email protected]). The deadline for Wheeler the January 2011 Sego Lily is 15 De- Invasive Weeds: Susan Fitts cember 2010. Rare Plants: Walter Fertig Scholarship/Grants: Therese Meyer Copyright 2010 Utah Native Plant So- ciety. All Rights Reserved Chapters and Chapter Presidents Officers Cache: Michael Piep The Sego Lily is a publication of the President: Walter Fertig (Kane Co) Cedar City: Marguerite Smith Utah Native Plant Society, a 501(c)(3) Vice President: Kipp Lee (Salt Lake Co) Escalante: Harriet Priska not-for-profit organization dedicated Treasurer: Charlene Homan (Salt Lake Fremont: Lisa White to conserving and promoting steward- Co) Manzanita: Walter Fertig ship of our native plants. Use of con- Secretary: Mindy Wheeler (Summit Mountain: Mindy Wheeler tent material is encouraged but re- Co) Salt Lake: quires permission (except where ex- Board Co-Chairs: Bill King (Salt Lake Southwestern/Bearclaw poppy: Mar- empted by statute) and must be cor- Co) and Dave Wallace (Cache Co) garet Malm rectly credited and cited. Articles, Utah Valley: Celeste Kennard photographs and illustrations submit- UNPS Board: Jason Alexander (Utah ted to us remain the property of the Co), Robert Fitts (Utah Co), Susan Fitts Website: For late-breaking news, the submitting individuals or organiza- (Utah Co), Ty Harrison (Salt Lake Co), UNPS store, the Sego Lily archives, tions. Submit permission requests to Steve Hegji (Salt Lake Co), Celeste Ken- Chapter events, sources of native [email protected]. We encourage read- nard (Utah Co), Margaret Malm plants, the digital Utah Rare Plant ers to submit articles for potential (Washington Co), Larry Meyer (Salt Field Guide, and more, go to unps.org. publication. By submitting an article, Lake Co), Therese Meyer (Salt Lake Co), Many thanks to Xmission for an implicit license is granted to print Leila Shultz (Cache Co), Maggie Wolf sponsoring our website. the article in the newsletter or other (Salt Lake Co). For more information on UNPS: UNPS publications for reprint without Contact Bill King (801-582-0432) or permission (in print and electronic Committees Susan Fitts (801-756-6177), or write to media). When submitting an article, Communications: Larry Meyer UNPS, PO Box 520041, Salt Lake City, please indicate whether it has been Conservation: Bill King & Tony Frates UT, 84152-0041 or email previously published or submitted for [email protected] consideration to other publications.
______Chapter News Tim Clarke (newly transplanted to Kanab and landscape architect to Escalante (Garfield County): the stars) will discuss native plants On November 9th, the chapter will and design tips for local landscap- hold a general membership meeting ing. For January, paleontologist to nominate a new slate of officers Alan Titus of the Grand Staircase- and discuss visions and goals for Escalante National Monument will 2011. Our annual Christmas potluck talk about fossil plants of the late dinner will be held n December 3rd Cretaceous that fed the dinosaurs. at the Priska’s home, 120 W 200 S.— Later this winter John Flatberg will Harriet Priska speak on organic gardening and Laura Fertig will discuss her recent Fremont (Richfield area): We trek to the Himalayas. - W. Fertig will not be publishing a calendar for 2011 , however we are going ahead Southwestern/Bearclaw Poppy with our 2012 calendar and invite all (Washington County): Roger Luck- of the UNPS chapters to submit a enbach will give a presentation on photo from a chapter member and a new members). We are a small cactus of the southwest, on Mon- paragraph of what makes their chapter with big ambitions, so we day, 8 November at 7 PM in the chapter special. This calendar gen- are always looking for new mem- Springdale Canyon Community Cen- erates funds for our chapter events bers to help support us with pro- ter. Roger will also speak about and we would like to help all the na- jects (like our demonstration gar- “North American Deserts: Why is tive plant chapters benefit from the dens and the Sam Stowe Camp- Utah such an Unusual Biological sale of the calendars too. ground). - Janett Warner Region” as the opening talk in the The perennial plant exchange Crawford Lecture Series of the Zion held last month was successful with Manzanita (Kane County): Canyon Field Institute on Friday, speaker Ross Murdock from South- Our November program will fea- November 5. For more information, ern Utah University presenting a ture your umbel chapter president contact Barbara Farnsworth fun, informative talk and we all went speaking about the wildflowers of (bfarnsworth @fastmail.fm) or Mar- home with new plants (and gained 3 Southeast Alaska. In December, garet Malm ([email protected]). —Barbara Farnsworth 2 Sego Lily November 2010 33 (6) Bulletin Board
2011 UNPS Scholarship: UNPS is pleased to announce it is accepting applications for the Society’s annual student scholarship program aimed at encouraging research on native plant species in Utah. Applicants are asked to com- plete a short form (available on-line from the UNPS webstite—www.unps.org) and provide a 2-3 page summary of their proposed research, methods, and significance. Applications are due by 14 January 2011 and can be emailed to unps.org (please indicate in the subject line your last name and project title). The UNPS scholarship committee will review the applications and choose 1-2 for an award of 500-1000$. Funds for the scholarship are from donations to UNPS or proceeds from the UNPS on-line store.
UVU Herbarium Day — Saturday, 6 November : The Utah Valley University Herbarium is sponsoring another work day for mounting their backlog of plant specimens on 6 November from noon until 4 PM. Gluing specimens and labels is a great way to learn about new plant species from all over the west, while helping the university and hav- ing fun with like-minded paste aficionados. Parking is free on Saturdays at UVU in Lot N near the library. For fur- ther information, please call (801-863-6806) or e-mail Jason Alexander ([email protected]).
UNPS Life Member Update: Wayne Padgett, Mindy Wheeler, David and Theresa Wilson, Harriet Priska, and Kody Wallace have recently joined the ranks of UNPS life members, bringing the total to 45 individuals & couples.
Trouble for Pando? replaced by more shade-tolerant pen (the seed is short-lived and does conifer species. Several factors are not persist in the soil), but establish- One of Utah’s most noteworthy commonly cited in the decline of ment has been shown to occur fol- residents is the world’s largest aspen, including over-browsing of lowing wildfires, such as those in Quaking aspen (Populus tremu- shoots by high numbers of native Grand Teton and Yellowstone na- loides), a tree affectionately named ungulates (especially elk) or live- tional parks in 1986 and 1988. “Pando” (Latin, for “I spread”) due stock and fire suppression. Aspens The true size and age of Pando to its growth habit. Pando is no or- are also susceptible to Sooty bark has been controversial. Recent ge- dinary tree—for starters it has some canker and other fungal infections netic studies by de Woody et al. 47,000 trunks or boles. Like many that can kill a tree in 3-10 years. (2008) confirmed that the clone is aspens, Pando is a clone consisting In the past decade a new threat genetically uniform, though the sci- of trunks connected below ground has emerged, primarily in Colo- entists did find 40 other aspen geno- by a common rootstalk. Each bole rado, called Sudden Aspen Decline types adjacent to the stand. While has recently been shown to be ge- or SAD. Unlike the slow, long- boles within a clone are genetically netically and morphologically iden- term decline in vigor of aspen identical, they may become physi- tical. The entire clone, located near stands long noted in the west, cally separated from each other as Fish Lake in southern Sevier County mortality from SAD occurs rapidly portions of the underground root die on Fishlake National Forest, covers (often in just 2-3 years) and can back. Thus, not all 47,000 trunks 43 acres and is estimated to weigh eliminate an entire clone. Forest- may actually be interconnected. 6,615 tons. Some scientists believe ers believe SAD is caused by nu- Early estimates placed the age of that Pando is the largest individual merous environmental factors, Pando at 10,000 years, or back to of any living organism in the world. including cytospora canker, bark the end of the Pleistocene when con- Unfortunately, not all is well with beetles, and poplar borers, and is ditions were presumed to be more Pando. Forest Service researchers exacerbated by severe drought favorable for seed establishment. are concerned that the enormous conditions. Aspen clones most Though rare, good seed can still be clone is not regenerating. Mature affected by SAD tend to occur at produced and presumably seedlings trees in the stand are beginning to relatively low elevations, on south- could have germinated and become die from insect attack, disease, or facing aspects, and drought-prone established at any time over the past old age. New shoots are not being soils. several millennia. No reliable meth- produced or surviving long enough The decline of Pando is not ods exist to age the roots. to replace the older boles. Estab- thought to be related to SAD as Despite these uncertainties about lishment from seed at the site is es- yet, but is more typical of the long- its size and age, Pando is clearly a sentially non-existent. Managers term malaise affecting aspen venerable old tree. With our help, it are perplexed as to what to do next. stands across the Rockies and In- will hopefully enjoy many more cen- Individual aspen trunks live for termountain West. Researchers turies of life. - Walter Fertig only 100-120 years, and are usually are investigating several possible replaced by new sucker shoots pro- tools for promoting aspen recruit- References: DeWoody, J., C.A. Rowe, V.D. ment, including fencing to control Hipkins, and K.E. Mock. 2008. “Pando” duced from the roots. Growth of lives: Molecular genetic evidence of a giant suckers has been much reduced over browsing and controlled burns to aspen clone in central Utah. Western North the past century in aspen stands stimulate regeneration. Seed pro- American Naturalist 68(4):493-497. across the west and many stands are duction and survival is rare in as- slowly contracting as they age or are 3 Utah Native Plant Society
Flora of Rainbow Bridge National Monument
By Walter Fertig years to carve the bridge. Engineers predict that it should persist for To the Navajo, it was Nonne- many thousands of years to come zoshe, “the stone arch”. Paiutes until the massive abutments are called it Barhoini - “the rainbow”. eventually eroded to half their cur- In all, five tribes from the Four Cor- rent size and will no longer be able ners region considered it sacred. to support the weight of the span. White explorers named it “Rainbow At just 65 acres, Rainbow Bridge Bridge” for its colorful hues (though National Monument is the smallest mostly in orange, tan, and white) national park unit in Utah. Not sur- and arching shape. Rainbow Bridge prisingly, it also has one of the is the world’s largest natural stone smallest floras. The low species bridge reaching 290 feet from top to richness is a consequence of the bottom and spanning 275 feet across minimal elevational range (3700- Bridge Canyon*. President William 4880 feet) and limited number of Howard Taft recognized the signifi- vegetation types (Utah juniper, Above: Western redbud (Cercis occi- blackbrush-saltbush scrub, hanging cance of the bridge in May 1910, de- dentalis var. orbiculata) produces pea- creeing it one of the nation’s first gardens, and rock ledges) present in like blooms in April in Bridge Canyon the monument. national monuments under the An- below Rainbow Bridge. Overland tiquities Act. trekkers seeking Rainbow Bridge from The first trained botanists to ex- Rainbow Bridge had only been the south must cross the appropriately plore Rainbow Bridge were appar- “discovered” by the outside world named Redbud Pass and Redbud Can- ently Elzada Clover and Lois Jotter less than a year earlier. Though yon. Photo by W. Fertig. in 1939, as part of their baseline flo- likely known by Indians for centu- ristic studies of the canyons of the ries, word of the colossal stone rain- orado River and then a 7 mile hike Colorado River (Clover and Jotter bow first attracted the attention of up canyon. With the completion of 1941). They noted 18 vascular plant early settlers in 1907. Over the next Glen Canyon Dam in 1963, Rain- species from the area. During the two years expeditions were mounted bow Bridge became accessible by next four decades just 15 additional by University of Utah dean Byron boat on Lake Powell, though it is species were documented through Cummings and government sur- still nearly a four hour round-trip the efforts of John T. Howell, Duane veyor William Douglass to discover from Wahweap Marina. Three Atwood, Stan Welsh, and others. In the bridge rumored to lie some- hundred thousand tourists now 1985, Jim Holland and colleagues where in the poorly explored mean- visit the bridge each year according from Glen Canyon NRA made exten- dering canyons of the Colorado to the park service. sive collections at Rainbow Bridge River west of Navajo Mountain in Rainbow Bridge is carved en- and bumped the known flora to 164, extreme southern San Juan County, tirely within Jurassic-aged Navajo where it stood for the next two dec- Utah. The two rival parties eventu- Sandstone sitting on a base of Tri- ades. ally joined forces with local trader/ assic Kayenta Sandstone. Until 5.5 I became interested in the flora of explorer John Wetherill, Paiute million years ago, the Colorado Rainbow Bridge in April 2006 when guide Nasja Begay, and Ute guide Plateau region was a relatively flat I first visited the monument with my Jim Mike to reach the bridge in Au- plain built up of thousands of feet wife Laura and some friends via the gust 1909. of sediments. Regional uplift and a overland route. Although I kept a For years, Rainbow Bridge was wetter climate facilitated extensive log of plants observed on the trek, I the most remote and probably least erosion by creeks draining Navajo didn’t differentiate between species visited National Park Service unit in Mountain. Over time, Bridge found in the monument and those the contiguous United States. No Creek carved a deep, meandering from the adjacent Navajo reserva- paved roads 0r airstrips were lo- chasm that pinched off a narrow tion. When we returned in April cated in the monument. Reaching fin of sandstone. Eventually the 2008, Laura and I had Holland and the bridge entailed a four day trek creek began to pound at the base of Wood’s unpublished species list in on foot or horseback from base the fin, ultimately creating a small hand and began checking off new camps on the south or north sides of hole in the Navajo Sandstone. taxa. In just a few hours we relo- Navajo Mountain, or a three day Over time the hole expanded cated 62 species cited by previous boat trip from Lee’s Ferry to the thanks to the erosive power of botanists and discovered 26 new mouth of Bridge Canyon on the Col- floods and freezing and thawing to species. One of our discoveries was ultimately create the massive the first report of the rare Texas * To put this in perspective, the bridge is bridge that stands today. It is stork’s-bill (Erodium texanum), a nearly the height of the US Capitol. thought that nature took 30,000 native [text continued on page 13]
4 Sego Lily November 2010 33 (6)
Flora of Rainbow Bridge National Monument
The following checklist is based on herbarium records (primarily from the University of Nevada Las Vegas, Glen Canyon NRA, and Brigham Young University), published and unpublished literature, and recent field collections and observations by Walter and Laura Fertig and John Spence. Spe- cies are organized alphabetically by family and genus. Life forms include annual forbs (AF), annual graminoids (AG), ferns and fern-allies (fern), perennial forbs (PF), perennial graminoids (PG), shrubs (S), and trees (T). Range describes the distribution of each species in Utah and includes: local endemics (LE), regional endemic (RE), peripheral (P), sparsely distributed (S), and widespread (W). Status within Rainbow Bridge NM is either confirmed present (Pres) with an herbarium record, photograph, or recent observation; historical (Hist) - not observed since 1970; or re- ported (Rep) in the literature. Population Size ranges from common (com) to uncommon (unc) or rare. The source is the basis for a record in the Rainbow Bridge flora and may be an herbarium specimen, literature citation, or observation. The year documented is the earliest year in which a species was reported for the monument. Species taxonomy follows the 4th edition of A Utah Flora (Welsh et al., 2008). Family Species/Synonym Common Name Life Range Status Pop Source Year form Size Doc.
Agavaceae Yucca harrimaniae var. Spanish bayonet S W Pres Unc Fertig & Spence obs Sep 2010 2008 harrimaniae
Yucca toftiae Toft’s yucca S LE Pres Unc Fertig & Fertig obs Apr 2008 2008 (Y. angustissima var. toftiae)
Anacardiaceae Rhus aromatica var. Squawbush S W Pres Unc Clover & Jotter 4048 (MICH) 1939 simplicifolia (R. trilobata var. simplicifolia)
Rhus aromatica var. Squawbush S W Pres Unc Fertig & Fertig obs Apr 2008 1985 trilobata (R. trilobata var. trilobata)
Toxicodendron rydbergii Western poison ivy S W Pres Com Fertig et al. obs Jul 2008 2008
Apiaceae Cymopterus acaulis var. Fendler’s spring-parsley PF RE Pres Unc Holland, Ott & Wood 2711 (UNLV) 1985 (Umbelliferae) fendleri (C. fendleri)
Apocynaceae Apocynum cannabinum Common dogbane PF W Pres Unc Fertig & Fertig obs Apr 2008 1985
Asclepiadaceae Asclepias asperula var. Spider milkweed PF W Pres Rare Fertig & Fertig obs Apr 2008 2008 (Apocynaceae) asperula
Asclepias latifolia Broadleaf milkweed PF W Pres Rare Fertig & Spence obs Sep 2010 2010
Asclepias macrosperma Bigseed milkweed PF RE Pres Rare Holland, Ott, & Wood 2667 (UNLV) 1985
Asteraceae Acourtia wrightii Wright’s perezia PF P Pres Unc Fertig & Fertig obs Apr 2008 2008 (Compositae) (Perezia wrightii)
Artemisia bigelovii Bigelow’s sagebrush S W Pres Unc Fertig & Spence obs Sep 2008 2010
Artemisia ludoviciana var. Louisiana wormwood PF W Pres Com Fertig et al. obs Jul 2008 1985 albula
Artemisia ludoviciana var. Louisiana wormwood PF W Pres Unc Fertig & Fertig obs Apr 2008 2008 mexicana
Aster ascendens Pacific aster PF W Pres Com Fertig & Spence 26251 (GLCA) 2010 (Symphyotrichum ascendens)
Aster wasatchensis var. Modest aster PF RE Pres Unc Fertig & Spence obs Sep 2010 2010 pulcher (Eucephalus pulcher, Her- rickia glauca var. pulchra)
Aster welshii Welsh’s aster PF RE Pres Rare Fertig et al. 24036 (GLCA) 2008 (Symphyotrichum welshii)
Baccharis salicifolia Sticky seep-willow S W Pres Com Fertig et al. 24040 (GLCA) 2008 (B. glutinosa)
Brickellia atractyloides Spiny brickellbush S W Pres Unc Holland, Ott, & Wood 2726 (UNLV) 1985
Brickellia longifolia Longleaf brickellbush S W Pres Com Fertig et al. obs July 2008 1985
Bricellia microphylla var. Rough brickellbush S W Pres Unc Fertig & Fertig obs Apr 2008 2008 scabra
Chaenactis macrantha Showy dusty-maiden AF W Pres Unc Holland, Ott, & Wood 2712 (UNLV) 1985
Chaenactis stevioides Stevia dusty-maiden AF W Pres Unc Holland, Ott, & Wood 2713 (UNLV) 1985
Chrysopsis villosa var. minor Hispid golden-aster PF W Pres Unc Fertig & Fertig obs Apr 2008 2008 (Heterotheca villosa var. minor) 5 Utah Native Plant Society
Flora of Rainbow Bridge National Monument
Family Species/Synonym Common Name Life Range Status Pop Source Year form Size Doc.
Asteraceae Chrysopsis villosa var. villosa Hairy golden-aster PF S Rep Unk Holland & Wood (1985) 1985 (Compositae) (Heterotheca villosa var. villosa) Chrysothamnus nauseosus Rush rabbitbrush S RE Pres Com Fertig & Fertig obs Apr 2008 2008 var. junceus (Ericameria nauseosa var. juncea) Chrysothamnus nauseosus Greenish rabbitbrush S W Pres Com Fertig & Fertig obs Apr 2008 1985 var. oreophilus (Ericameria nauseosa var. consimilis, E. nauseosa var. oreophila) Cirsium neomexicanum var. New Mexico thistle PF W Pres Unc Fertig et al. obs Jul 2008 1985 neomexicanum
Cirsium rydbergii Rydberg’s thistle PF RE Pres Rare Fertig et al. obs Jul 2008 1985
Conyza canadensis var. Canadian horseweed AF W Pres Com Clover & Jotter (1941) 1939 glabrata
Encelia frutescens var. Bush encelia S RE Pres Unc Holland, Ott, & Wood 2653 (UNLV) 1985 resinosa
Erigeron bellidiastrum Pretty daisy AF W Pres Rare Fertig et al. 24038 (GLCA) 2008
Erigeron divergens var. Spreading daisy PF W Hist Unk Clover & Jotter 4093 (MICH) 1939 divergens
Erigeron lobatus Lobeleaf daisy PF RE Pres Rare Holland, Ott, & Wood 2679 (BRY) 1985
Erigeron utahensis var. Slenderleaf daisy PF RE Pres Unc Holland, Ott, & Wood 2664 (UNLV) 1985 sparsifolius (E. sparsifolius)
Euthamia occidentalis Western goldenrod PF W Pres Unc Fertig et al. obs Jul 2008 2008 (Solidago occidentalis)
Filago californica Fluffweed AF P Rep Unk Holland & Wood (1985) 1985 (Logfia californica)
Gaillardia pinnatifida Hopi blanketflower PF W Pres Unc Holland, Ott, & Wood 2701 (UNLV) 1985
Glyptopleura marginata Crustweed AF W Pres Unc Holland, Ott, & Wood 2707 (UNLV) 1985
Gnaphalium palustre Lowland cudweed AF W Pres Unc Holland, Ott, & Wood 2685 (UNLV) 1985
Gnaphalium stramineum Cottonbatting cudweed AF W Pres Unc Fertig et al. obs Jul 2008 2008 (G. chilense, Pseudognaphal- ium stramineum) Gutierrezia microcephala Thread snakeweed S W Pres Com Fertig et al. obs Jul 2008 1985
Gutierrezia sarothrae Broom snakeweed S W Pres Com Fertig & Fertig obs Apr 2008 2008
Hymenopappus filifolius var. Common hyalineherb PF W Pres Unc Holland, Ott, & Wood 2672 (UNLV) 1985 cinereus
Hymenoxys acaulis var. Stemless woollybase PF W Rep Unk Holland & Wood (1985) 1985 arizonica (Tetraneuris acaulis) Hymenoxys acaulis var. Canyonlands woollybase PF W Pres Unc Fertig & Spence obs Sep 2010 2010 ivesiana (Tetraneuris ivesiana)
Machaeranthera canescens Hoary aster PF W Pres Unc Fertig et al. obs Jul 2008 1985 var. aristata Malacothrix glabrata Filiform desert- AF W Pres Unc Holland, Ott, & Wood 2709 (UNLV) 1985 dandelion
Pluchea sericea Arrowweed S W Pres Unc Fertig et al. obs Jul 2008 (UNLV) 2008 (Tessaria sericea)
Prenanthella exigua Prenanthella AF W Pres Unc Holland, Ott, & Wood 2705 (UNLV) 1985 (Lygodesmia exigua) Solidago canadensis var. Canadian goldenrod PF W Pres Unc Atwood 3304 (BRY) 1939 salebrosa (S. altissima) Solidago velutina Three-nerve goldenrod PF W Pres Com Fertig & Fertig obs Apr 2008 2008 (S. sparsiflora) 6 Sego Lily November 2010 33 (6)
Flora of Rainbow Bridge National Monument
Family Species/Synonym Common Name Life Range Status Pop Source Year form Size Doc.
Asteraceae Sonchus asper Spiny-leaf sow-thistle AF I Pres Rare Fertig et al. obs Jul 2008 1985 (Compositae)
Stephanomeria pauciflora Brown-plume wire- PF W Pres Com Fertig & Fertig obs Apr 2008 1985 lettuce
Stephanomeria tenuifolia var. Slender wire-lettuce PF W Pres Com Fertig et al. obs Jul 2008 2008 tenuifolia
Stylocline micropoides Desert nest-straw AF P Pres Rare Holland, Ott, & Wood 2661 (UNLV) 1985
Thymophylla pentachaeta Scale glandweed PF W Pres Com Welsh & Atwood 11652 (BRY) 1948 var. belenidium (Dyssodia pentachaeta) Townsendia annua Annual townsendia AF W Pres Unc Holland, Ott, & Wood 2699 (UNLV) 1985
Townsendia incana Hoary townsendia PF W Pres Unc Holland, Ott, & Wood 2670 (UNLV) 1985
Wyethia scabra Rough mule’s-ears PF W Pres Unc Holland, Ott, & Wood 2671 (UNLV) 1985 (Scabrethia scabra)
Xylorhiza imberbis Hurtleaf woodyaster PF RE Pres Unc Holland, Ott, & Wood 2668 (UNLV) 1985 (X. tortifolia var. imberbis, Machaeranthera tortifolia var. imberbis)
Betulaceae Ostrya knowltonii Western hop-hornbeam T RE Pres Unc Fertig & Spence 26254 (GLCA) 2010
Boraginaceae Cryptantha circumcissa Cushion cryptanth AF W Pres Unc Holland, Ott, & Wood 2723 (UNLV) 1985
Cryptantha confertiflora Basin yellow cryptanth PF W Pres Unc Fertig et al. obs Jul 2008 1985
Cryptantha fendleri Sand dune cryptanth AF W Hist Unk Clover & Jotter 4097 (MICH) 1939
Cryptantha flava Plateau yellow cryptanth PF W Pres Unc Holland, Ott, & Wood 2673 (UNLV) 1985
Cryptantha gracilis Slender cryptanth AF W Pres Unc Fertig & Fertig obs Apr 2008 2008
Cryptantha nevadensis Nevada cryptanth AF P Pres Unc Holland, Ott, & Wood 2676 (UNLV) 1985
Cryptantha pterocarya Wing-nut cryptanth AF W Rep Unc Holland & Wood (1985) 1985 - variety not determined
Cryptantha recurvata Recurved cryptanth AF W Pres Unc Holland, Ott, & Wood 2675 (UNLV) 1985
Heliotropium convolv- Bindweed heliotrope AF W Hist Unk Cutler 2847 (NY) 1939 ulaceum Lappula occidentalis Cupseed stickseed AF W Pres Unc Holland, Ott, & Wood 2724 (UNLV) 1985 (L. redowskii) - variety not determined
Plagiobothrys jonesii Jones’ popcorn-flower AF RE Pres Unc Holland, Ott, & Wood 2716 (UNLV) 1985
Tiquilia latior Matted tiquilia PF RE Pres Unc Fertig & Fertig obs Apr 2008 1985 (Coldenia hispidissima)
Brassicaceae Arabis perennans var. Perennial rockcress PF W Pres Unc Holland, Ott, & Wood 2689 (UNLV) 1985 (Cruciferae) perennans (Boechera perennans)
Arabis pulchra Desert rockcress PF W Rep Unk Holland & Wood (1985) 1985 (Boechera pulchra var. pallens)
Descurainia pinnata var. Western tansy-mustard AF W Pres Unc Fertig & Fertig obs Apr 2008 1985 osmiarum
Lepidium alyssoides var. Eastwood’s tall pepper- PF RE Pres Com Fertig & Fertig obs Apr 2008 2008 eastwoodiae (L. montanum wort var. spathulatum)
Lepidium lasiocarpum var. Hairy-pod pepperwort AF W Pres Unc Fertig & Fertig obs Apr 2008 1985 lasiocarpum
Lepidium montanum var. Jones’ pepperwort PF W Pres Unc Fertig & Spence obs Sep 2010 1985 jonesii
Physaria rectipes Colorado Plateau blad- PF RE Pres Unc Holland, Ott, & Wood 2693 (UNLV) 1985 (Lesquerella rectipes) derpod
Rorippa sinuata Spreading yellowcress PF S Pres Rare Holland, Ott, & Wood 2706 (UNLV) 1985
7 Utah Native Plant Society
Flora of Rainbow Bridge National Monument
Family Species/Synonym Common Name Life Range Status Pop Source Year form Size Doc.
Brassicaceae Streptanthella longirostris Long-beak fiddle- AF W Pres Unc Fertig & Fertig obs Apr 2008 1985 (Cruciferae) mustard
Cactaceae Echinocereus engelmannii Engelmann’s hedgehog PF W Rep Unk Holland & Wood (1985) 1985 cactus
Echinocereus triglochidiatus Claretcup PF W Pres Rare Fertig et al. obs Jul 2008 2008 (E. mojavensis) Opuntia erinacea var. Common prickly-pear PF W Pres Com Fertig & Fertig obs Apr 2008 1985 erinacea
Opuntia erinacea var. Utah pricklypear PF W Pres Unc Fertig et al. obs Jul 2008 2008 utahensis
Sclerocactus whipplei var. Small-flower fishhook PF W Pres Com Fertig & Fertig obs Apr 2008 1985 roseus (S. parviflorus) cactus Campanulaceae Lobelia cardinalis ssp. Cardinal-flower PF P Pres Rare Atwood & Allen 3301 (BRY) 1971 graminea
Caryophyllaceae Silene antirrhina Sleepy catchfly AF W Pres Rare Fertig et al. obs Jul 2008 1985
Chenopodiaceae Atriplex canescens var. Four-wing saltbush S W Pres Com Fertig & Fertig obs Apr 2008 1985 (Amaranthaceae) canescens
Atriplex saccaria var. Stalked orache AF RE Pres Unc Holland, Ott, & Wood 2718 (UNLV) 1985 saccaria Grayia spinosa Spiny hopsage S W Pres Unc Holland, Ott, & Wood 2682 (UNLV) 1985
Monolepis nuttalliana Nuttall’s povertyweed AF W Pres Unc Holland, Ott, & Wood 2710 (UNLV) 1985
Salsola tragus Russian-thistle AF I Pres Unc Fertig & Fertig obs Apr 2008 1985 (S. kali, S. tragus, S. pestifer) Commelinaceae Tradescantia occidentalis Western spiderwort PF W Pres Unc Holland, Ott, & Wood 2656 (UNLV) 1985
Cupressaceae Juniperus osteosperma Utah juniper T W Pres Unc Clover & Jotter (1941) 1939 (Sabina osteosperma)
Cyperaceae Carex hassei Salt sedge PG W Pres Unc Fertig et al. obs Jul 2008 2008 (included in C. aurea by some authors) Scirpus pungens var. Three-square bulrush PG W Pres Rare Fertig et al. obs Jul 2008 2008 longispicatus (Schoenoplectus pungens) Elaeagnaceae Shepherdia rotundifolia Roundleaf buffaloberry S RE Pres Unc Clover & Jotter (1941) 1939
Ephedraceae Ephedra torreyana Torrey’s mormontea S W Pres Unc Howell 24651 (ARIZ) 1948
Ephedra viridis var. viridis Green mormontea S W Pres Unc Fertig et al. obs Jul 2008 1985
Ephedra viridis var. viscida Cutler’s mormontea S W Pres Unc Fertig & Fertig obs Apr 2008 2008 (E. cutleri)
Equisetaceae Equisetum hyemale var. Tall scouring-rush Fern W Pres Unc Welsh & Atwood 11660 (BRY) 1972 affine
Equisetum x ferrisii Ferris’s horsetail Fern W Pres Rare Fertig et al. obs Jul 2008 2008 (hybrid between E. hyemale x E. laevigatum) Equisetum laevigatum Smooth scouring-rush Fern W Pres Unc Fertig & Spence obs Sep 2010 1985
Euphorbiaceae Chamaesyce fendleri Fendler’s spurge PF W Rep Unk Holland & Wood (1985) 1985 (Euphorbia fendleri)
Fabaceae Astragalus amphioxys var. Crescent milkvetch PF W Pres Unc Holland, Ott, & Wood 2658 (UNLV) 1985 (Leguminosae) amphioxys
Astragalus amphioxys var. Sheldon’s milkvetch PF RE Pres Com Fertig & Fertig obs Apr 2008 2008 vespertinus
Astragalus lentiginosus var. Straggling milkvetch PF W Pres Unc Holland, Ott, & Wood 2684 (UNLV) 1985 palans Astragalus nuttallianus var. Small-flowered milk- AF RE Pres Unc Holland, Ott, & Wood 2714 (UNLV) 1985 micranthiformis vetch
Astragalus sabulonum Gravel milkvetch PF W Rep Unk Holland & Wood (1985) 1985
Astragalus zionis var. zionis Zion milkvetch PF RE Pres Unc Fertig & Fertig obs Apr 2008 2008
8 Sego Lily November 2010 33 (6)
Flora of Rainbow Bridge National Monument
Family Species/Synonym Common Name Life Range Status Pop Source Year form Size Doc.
Fabaceae Cercis occidentalis var. Western redbud S W Pres Unc Atwood 3298 (BRY) 1939 (Leguminosae) orbiculata (C. orbiculata)
Dalea occidentalis White prairie-clover PF W Pres Unc Fertig et al. 24037 (GLCA) 2008 (D. oligophylla, D. candida var. oligophylla) Lupinus pusillus Dwarf lupine AF W Rep Unk Holland & Wood (1985) 1985 —variety not determined Psoralidium lanceolatum var. Slenderleaf scurfpea PF RE Pres Unc Holland, Ott, & Wood 2691 (UNLV) 1985 stenophyllum
Fagaceae Quercus gambelii var. Gambel’s oak T W Pres Unc Fertig & Fertig obs Apr 2008 1985 gambelii Quercus x pauciloba Few-lobe oak S W Pres Unc Fertig & Spence 26252 (GLCA) 2008 (hybrid between Q. gambelii x Q. turbinella) Gentianaceae Centaurium calycosum Buckley’s centaury AF P Pres Rare Fertig et al. obs Jul 2008 2008
Swertia utahensis Utah swertia PF RE Pres Rare Fertig & Spence obs Sep 2010 1985 (Frasera paniculata) Geraniaceae Erodium cicutarium Stork’s-bill AF I Pres Com Fertig & Fertig obs Apr 2008 1985
Erodium texanum Texas stork’s-bill AF P Pres Rare Fertig & Fertig obs Apr 2008 2008
Hydrophyllaceae Phacelia ivesiana Ives’ phacelia AF W Pres Unc Fertig & Fertig obs Apr 2008 1985 (Boraginaceae)
Juncaceae Juncus arcticus Baltic rush PG W Pres Unc Welsh & Atwood 11662 (BRY) 1972 (J. balticus) Juncus ensifolius var. Brownish rush PG W Pres Unc Fertig et al. obs Jul 2008 2008 brunnescens
Juncus longistylis Longstyle rush PG W Pres Unc Fertig et al. obs Jul 2008 2008
Juncus tenuis Poverty rush PG W Pres Unc Fertig et al. obs Jul 2008 2008
Juncus torreyi Torrey’s rush PG W Pres Unc Fertig et al. obs Jul 2008 1939
Liliaceae Allium macropetalum San Juan onion PF W Pres Unc Fertig & Fertig obs Apr 2008 2008 (Alliaceae)
Allium nevadense Nevada onion PF W Pres Unc Holland, Ott, & Wood 2657 (UNLV) 1985
Liliaceae Androstephium breviflorum Pink funnel-lily PF W Rep Unk Holland & Wood (1985) 1985 (Alliaceae, Themidaceae) Liliaceae Calochortus flexuosus Sinuous mariposa PF W Pres Com Holland, Ott, & Wood 2698 (UNLV) 1985 (Calochortaceae)
Calochortus nuttallii Sego-lily PF W Pres Unc Holland, Ott, & Wood 2662 (UNLV) 1985
Liliaceae Eremocrinum albomargi- Sand lily PF RE Rep Unk Holland & Wood (1985) 1985 (Anthericaceae) natum Loasaceae Mentzelia albicaulis White-stem blazingstar AF W Rep Unk Holland & Wood (1985) 1985
Mentzelia multiflora Desert stickleaf PF W Pres Unc Fertig et al. obs Jul 2008 2008
Mentzelia pterosperma Wing-seed stickleaf PF W Pres Unc Holland, Ott, & Wood 2715 (UNLV) 1985
Malvaceae Sphaeralcea coccinea Scarlet globe-mallow PF W Rep Unk Holland & Wood (1985) 1985
Sphaeralcea moorei Moore’s globe-mallow PF RE Pres Com Fertig & Fertig obs Apr 2008 2008
Sphaeralcea rusbyi Rusby’s globe-mallow PF RE Pres Rare Fertig et al. obs Jul 2008 2008
Nyctaginaceae Abronia fragrans Fragrant sand-verbena PF W Pres Com Holland, Ott, & Wood 2677 (UNLV) 1985 (ours probably var. elliptica though often in- cluded in var. fragrans ) Mirabilis multiflora Showy four-o’clock PF W Rep Unk Holland & Wood (1985) 1985
Tripterocalyx carneus var. Wooton’s sand-verbena AF RE Pres Unc Fertig & Fertig obs Apr 2008 2008 wootonii
9 Utah Native Plant Society
Flora of Rainbow Bridge National Monument
Family Species/Synonym Common Name Life Range Status Pop Source Year form Size Doc.
Oleaceae Fraxinus anomala Singleleaf ash S W Pres Unc Holland, Ott, & Wood 2669 (UNLV) 1985
Onagraceae Camissonia walkeri Walker’s camissonia AF W Pres Unc Holland, Ott, & Wood 2717 (UNLV) 1985
Oenothera caespitosa var. Paria evening-primrose PF W Pres Unc Holland, Ott, & Wood 2700 (UNLV) 1985 crinita
Oenothera coronopifolia Hairy-throat evening- PF W Rep Unk Holland & Wood (1985) 1985 primrose
Oenothera longissima Bridges evening- PF RE Pres Unc Fertig et al. obs Jul 2008 2008 primrose
Oenothera pallida var. pallida Pale evening-primrose PF W Pres Unc Fertig & Spence obs Sep 2010 2010
Orchidaceae Epipactis gigantea Giant helleborine PF W Pres Unc Clover & Jotter 4033a (MICH) 1939
Pinaceae Pinus edulis Two-needle pinyon T W Rep Unk Holland & Wood (1985) 1985
Plantaginaceae Plantago patagonica Woolly plantain AF W Pres Unc Holland, Ott, & Wood 2680 (UNLV) 1985
Poaceae Andropogon gerardii var. Big bluestem PG W Pres Rare Fertig et al. obs Jul 2008 2008 (Gramineae) gerardii
Aristida purpurea Purple three-awn PG W Pres Com Welsh & Atwood 11654 (BRY) 1972 (includes vars. fendleriana, purpurea, & reports of nealleyi)
Bothriochloa barbinodis Cane bluestem PG W Pres Com Fertig et al. 24033 (GLCA) 2008
Bouteloua curtipendula Sideoats grama PG W Pres Unc Fertig & Spence obs Sep 2010 1939
Bromus diandrus Ripgut brome AG I Pres Rare Welsh & Atwood 11655 (BRY) 1972 (B. rigidus, Anisantha dian- dra)
Bromus japonicus Japanese chess AG I Pres Rare Fertig et al. 24039 (GLCA) 2008 (B. arvensis, B. commutatus)
Bromus rubens Red brome AG I Pres Unc Fertig & Fertig obs Apr 2008 1985
Bromus tectorum Cheatgrass AG I Pres Com Welsh & Atwood 11651 (BRY) 1972 (Anisantha tectorum)
Calamagrostis scopulorum Jones’ reedgrass PG W Pres Unc Atwood & Allen 3300 (BRY) 1971
Cenchrus longispinus Field sandbur AG W Pres Rare Fertig et al. obs Jul 2008 2008
Cynodon dactylon Bermuda grass PG I Pres Rare Fertig et al. obs Jul 2008 2008
Distichlis spicata Desert saltgrass PG W Rep Unk Holland & Wood (1985) 1985
Elymus canadensis Canada wildrye PG W Pres Unc Fertig et al. obs Jul 2008 2008
Elymus elymoides Squirreltail PG W Pres Unc Fertig et al. obs Jul 2008 1985 (Sitanion hystrix)
Erioneuron pulchellum Fluffgrass PG W Pres Unc Holland, Ott, & Wood 2722 (UNLV) 1985 (Dasychloa pulchella)
Festuca octoflora Six-weeks fescue AG W Pres Unc Fertig & Spence obs Sep 2010 1985 (Vulpia octoflora)
Hilaria jamesii Galleta PG W Pres Unc Fertig & Fertig obs Apr 2008 1985 (Pleuraphis jamesii)
Imperata brevifolia Satintail PG P Extirp Unk Darrow s.n. (MNA) - apparently 1945 inundated by Lake Powell
Muhlenbergia minutissima Annual muhly AG S Rep Unk Holland & Wood (1985) 1985
Muhlenbergia thurberi Thurber’s muhly PG W Pres Unc Fertig & Spence 26256 (GLCA) 2010 (includes M. curtifolia)
Panicum acuminatum Bundle panicgrass PG W Pres Unc Fertig et al. obs Jul 2008 2008 (Dichanthelium acuminatum)
Panicum virgatum Switchgrass PG W Pres Com Fertig et al. obs Jul 2008 2008
10 Sego Lily November 2010 33 (6)
Flora of Rainbow Bridge National Monument
Family Species/Synonym Common Name Life Range Status Pop Source Year form Size Doc.
Poaceae Phragmites australis Common reed PG W Pres Com Fertig & Fertig obs Apr 2008 1985 (Gramineae) Poa annua Annual bluegrass AG I Rep Unk Holland & Wood (1985) 1985
Poa fendleriana Muttongrass PG W Pres Com Fertig et al. obs Jul 2008 1985
Poa pratensis Kentucky bluegrass PG I Pres Unc Fertig et al. obs Jul 2008 2008
Polypogon monspeliensis Rabbitfoot-grass AG I Pres Unc Fertig et al. obs Jul 2008 1985
Polypogon semiverticillatus Water polypogon PG I Hist Unk Clover & Jotter 4033 (MICH) 1939 (Agrostis semiverticillatus) Schismus barbatus Mediterranean grass AG I Pres Unc Fertig & Fertig obs Apr 2008 2008
Schizachyrium scoparium Little bluestem PG W Pres Unc Fertig & Fertig obs Apr 2008 2008 (Andropogon scoparius)
Sorghastrum nutans Indian grass PG W Pres Rare Fertig et al. obs Jul 2008 2008
Sporobolus cryptandrus Sand dropseed PG W Pres Unc Fertig & Fertig obs Apr 2008 2008
Sporobolus flexuosus Mesa dropseed PG W Pres Com Fertig & Fertig obs Apr 2008 1985
Stipa comata Needle-and-thread PG W Pres Unc Holland, Ott, & Wood 2666 (UNLV) 1985 (Hesperostipa comata)
Stipa hymenoides Indian ricegrass PG W Pres Com Fertig & Fertig obs Apr 2008 2008 (Oryzopsis hymenoides, Achnatherum hymenoides) Stipa speciosa Desert needlegrass PG W Pres Unc Welsh & Atwood 11653 (BRY) 1972 (Jarava speciosa, Achnatherum speciosum) Polemoniaceae Gilia hutchinsifolia Broadlobe gilia AF W Pres Unc Holland, Ott, & Wood 2704 (UNLV) 1985
Gilia inconspicua var. sinuata Shy gilia AF W Pres Com Holland, Ott, & Wood 2719 (UNLV) 1985
Gilia leptomeria var. Common gilia AF W Pres Unc Holland, Ott, & Wood 2674 (UNLV) 1985 leptomeria (Aliciella leptomeria)
Ipomopsis aggregata var. Scarlet gilia PF W Pres Unc Welsh & Atwood 11663 (BRY) 1972 aggregata (Gilia aggregata) Ipomopsis gunnisonii Gunnison’s gilia AF W Pres Unc Holland, Ott, & Wood 2659 (UNLV) 1985 (Gilia gunnisonii)
Ipomopsis polycladon Spreading gilia AF W Pres Rare Fertig & Fertig obs Apr 2008 2008 (Gilia polycladon) Polygonaceae Eriogonum corymbosum var. Crisp-leaf wild buck- S W Pres Com Fertig & Fertig obs Apr 2008 1985 corymbosum wheat
Eriogonum corymbosum var. Rimrock wild buckwheat S RE Pres Unc Fertig & Fertig obs Apr 2008 2008 orbiculatum
Eriogonum flexum Bent wild buckwheat AF RE Pres Unc Holland, Ott, & Wood 2702 (UNLV) 1985 (Stenogonum flexum) Eriogonum inflatum var. Desert trumpet PF W Pres Com Fertig & Fertig obs Apr 2008 1985 inflatum
Eriogonum palmerianum Palmer’s wild buckwheat AF W Pres Unc Holland, Ott, & Wood 2697 (UNLV) 1985
Eriogonum wetherillii Wetherill’s wild buck- AF RE Pres Unc Fertig & Fertig obs Apr 2008 2008 wheat
Rumex hymenosepalus Canaigre dock PF W Rep Unk Holland & Wood (1985) 1985
Polypodiaceae Adiantum capillus-veneris Southern maidenhair Fern W Pres Unc Fertig & Fertig obs Apr 2008 1939 (Adiantaceae) fern Primulaceae Primula specuicola Cave primrose PF RE Pres Rare Holland, Ott, & Wood 2683 (UNLV) 1985
Ranunculaceae Anemone tuberosa Desert anemone PF W Pres Unc Atwood 3561 (BRY) 1971
Aquilegia micrantha Alcove columbine PF RE Pres Rare Holland, Ott, & Wood 2678 (UNLV) 1939
Clematis ligusticifolia White virgin’s-bower PF W Pres Unc Fertig et al. obs Jul 2008 1985
11 Utah Native Plant Society
Flora of Rainbow Bridge National Monument
Family Species/Synonym Common Name Life Range Status Pop Source Year form Size Doc.
Ranunculaceae Delphinium scaposum var. Pale larkspur PF W Pres Unc Holland, Ott, & Wood 2688 (UNLV) 1985 scaposum (D. andersonii var. scaposum) Rhamnaceae Rhamnus betulifolia Birchleaf buckthorn S W Pres Unc Fertig & Fertig obs Apr 2008 1985 (Frangula betulifolia) Rosaceae Amelanchier utahensis Utah serviceberry S W Pres Com Fertig & Fertig obs Apr 2008 1985
Coleogyne ramosissima Blackbrush S W Pres Com Hollan, Ott, & Wood 2654 (UNLV) 1985
Petrophyton caespitosum Rock spiraea PF W Pres Unc Fertig & Fertig obs Apr 2008 1985
Purshia mexicana var. Cliff-rose S W Pres Com Fertig & Fertig obs Apr 2008 1985 stansburyana (P. stansburiana) Rubiaceae Galium multiflorum var. Shrubby bedstraw PF W Pres Rare Holland, Ott, & Wood 2690 (UNLV) 1985 multiflorum Salicaceae Populus fremontii var. Fremont cottonwood T W Pres Unc Fertig et al. obs Jul 2008 1985 fremontii (P. deltoides var. fremontii) Salix exigua var. Coyote willow S W Pres Com Holland, Ott, & Wood 2692 (UNLV) 1985 stenophylla
Salix gooddingii Goodding’s black willow T W Rep Unk Holland & Wood (1985) 1985
Santalaceae Comandra umbellata var. Bastard toadflax PF W Pres Unc Fertig & Fertig obs Apr 2008 1985 pallida
Scrophulariaceae Castilleja chromosa Desert paintbrush PF W Pres Unc Fertig & Fertig obs Apr 2008 1985 (Orobanchaceae) (C. angustifolia var. dubia, C. applegatei ssp. martini) Castilleja exilis Annual paintbrush AF W Pres Unc Fertig & Spence obs Sep 2010 2010 (C. minor) Castilleja linariifolia Wyoming paintbrush PF W Pres Unc Clover & Jotter 4046 (MICH) 1939
Scrophulariaceae Mimulus eastwoodiae Eastwood’s monkey- PF RE Pres Rare Atwood & Allen 3303 (BRY) 1971 (Phrymaceae) flower
Scrophulariaceae Penstemon ambiguus var. Bush penstemon PF W Pres Unc Clover & Jotter 4034 (MICH) 1939 (Plantaginaceae) laevissimus
Penstemon eatonii var. Eaton’s firecracker PF W Pres Unc Holland, Ott, & Wood 2686 (UNLV) 1985 undosus penstemon
Penstemon utahensis Utah penstemon PF W Rep Unk Holland & Wood (1985) 1985
Solanaceae Datura wrightii Angel’s trumpet AF W Pres Unc Fertig & Fertig obs Apr 2008 1985
Lycium andersonii Anderson’s wolfberry S W Pres Unc Fertig & Fertig obs Apr 2008 2008
Nicotiana attenuata Coyote tobacco AF W Pres Unc Fertig et al. obs Jul 2008 2008
Nicotiana trigonophylla Desert tobacco AF W Pres Unc Fertig & Spence obs Sep 2010 1985
Tamaricaceae Tamarix chinensis Five-stamen tamarisk S I Pres Unc Fertig & Fertig obs Apr 2008 1939 (T. pentandra, T. ramosis- sima) Typhaceae Typha domingensis Southern cattail PG W Pres Unc Fertig et al. obs Jul 2008 2008
Ulmaceae Celtis reticulata Netleaf hackberry T W Pres Unc Fertig et al. obs Jul 2008 985 (Celtidaceae) (C. laevigata var. reticulata)
Urticaceae Parietaria pensylvanica var. Pellitory AF P Pres Unc Holland, Ott, & Wood 2681 (UNLV) 1985 hespera Vitaceae Pathenocissus vitacea Virginia creeper S I Pres Unc Welsh & Atwood s.n. (BRY) 1972
Questionable records: Two species reported for Rainbow Bridge by Holland et al. are not included in this list and considered questionable. Yucca glauca is a Great Plains species that is not otherwise known (or expected) from Utah. This report is probably based on a misidentified collection of Yucca toftiae or Y. harrimaniae. Sphaeralcea janeae is known mainly from the White Rim area and vicinity of Canyonlands National Park. The Rainbow Bridge report is probably based on S. moorei or S. rusbyi.
12 Sego Lily November 2010 33 (6)
ment’s flora, bringing the total Toft’s yucca (Yucca toftiae) is number of confirmed and reported arguably the rarest species from species to 234. Rainbow Bridge. This striking yucca The table below gives the statis- with extremely tall flowering stalks tical breakdown of the flora of is a local endemic of hanging gar- Rainbow Bridge National Monu- dens and canyons along the Colo- ment. Nearly 39% of all plant spe- rado River and tributaries upstream cies in the monument are peren- of Glen Canyon Dam in Utah. The nial forbs. Another 27% of all spe- species has only been recognized cies are annuals. Trees and shrubs since 1975, but is shown in an his- make up about 18% of all taxa. torical photograph from the 1920s Above: Erodium texanum (left) growing Almost 73% of the species in the taken in Redbud Canyon south of next to its more common, weedy cousin, monument are common and wide- Rainbow Bridge (Bernheimer 1923)! E. cicutarium at Rainbow Bridge NM. spread across much of Utah or the The state’s only known occurrence Photo by W. Fertig, 12 April 2008. west, while just 36 are restricted to of lobeleaf daisy (Erigeron lobatus) the Colorado Plateau. is found at Rainbow Bridge, though known from fewer than a dozen sites Only 15 introduced species have this species is more widespread to in San Juan and Washington coun- been documented at Rainbow the south in Arizona. One other no- ties in Utah. Bridge or just 6.4% of the flora. table rare species is satingrass Laura and I revisited Rainbow This number is extremely low (Imperata brevifolia) which was Bridge in July 2008 to document compared to other park units and collected in the area by Darrow in summer-blooming species. This half the statewide average. The 1945 but has not been relocated time we traveled by boat in the com- relative lack of weeds is probably since the filling of Glen Canyon Res- pany of NPS botanist John Spence, due to the monument’s remote- ervoir. At least five other species graduate student Emily Palmquist, ness and absence of roads. The from Rainbow Bridge are considered and University of Michigan sedge most common exotic species are historical and have not been seen expert Tony Reznicek. Our team cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) and since before 1970. found 35 new species, bringing the stork’s-bill (Erodium cicutarium). Of the fourteen national parks total flora to 224. Among our more Salt cedar (Tamarix chinensis) and monuments managed by the noteworthy finds were first records was once more common, but has National Park Service and BLM in of Welsh’s aster (Aster welshii), Ar- decreased significantly due to re- Utah, Rainbow Bridge is currently rowweed (Pluchea sericea), and In- cent removal efforts by NPS. 13th in total number of species, ex- diangrass (Sorghastrum nutans). ceeding only Golden Spike National In September 2010, John Spence and I made one last visit to Rainbow Bridge to document the under- Statistical Summary of the Present, Reported Total collected fall flora. In particular, I Flora of Rainbow Bridge National Extirpated Monument or was interested in visiting a side Historical drainage across from the bridge that had caught my eye on earlier visits Taxonomic Diversity but required a bit of a scramble to Total # of Taxa 212 22 234 (including vars. and subspecies) access. With just an hour to spare # of Families 51 2 53 before our return on the park service boat, John and I clambered over the Life Form Diversity loose sandy terrace to reach a shady # of Tree Taxa 5 2 7 alcove and perennial spring. Our # of Shrub Taxa 35 0 35 hard work was rewarded with the # of Perennial Forb Taxa 79 12 91 discovery of a small hanging garden # of Annual Forb Taxa 48 5 53 with dangling clumps of rock spirea # of Perennial Graminoid Taxa 33 1 34 (Petrophyton caespitosum), wide- # of Annual Graminoid Taxa 8 2 10 leaved Rydberg’s thistle (Cirsium # of Fern Taxa 4 0 4 rydbergii), orange-flowered East- Biogeographic Diversity wood’s monkeyflower (Mimulus # of Introduced Taxa 14 1 15 eastwoodiae), cave primrose # of Native Taxa 198 21 219 (Primula specuicola), and the aptly # of Locally Endemic Taxa 1 0 1 named cardinal-flower (Lobelia car- # of Regionally Endemic Taxa 34 1 35 dinalis). To our surprise, we also # of Disjunct Taxa 0 0 0 found a small grove of Western hop- # of Peripheral Taxa 8 1 9 hornbeam (Ostyra knowltonii), a # of Sparse Taxa 1 2 3 rare shrub not previously recorded # of Widespread Taxa 154 17 171 from Rainbow Bridge. In all we added 10 new species to the monu- 13 Utah Native Plant Society
Revolutionary New Plant Taxonomy
By Dave Culp The next family is the largest. It Reprinted from the March 2000 is the Floweriaceae. This family in- issue of Castilleja, the newsletter cludes any plant that exists to pro- of the WY Native Plant Society duce a flower. By flower, we mean a showy plant part that, when pre- Following in the footsteps of the An- sented to your spouse, will probably giosperm Phylogeny Group (see win you forgiveness for an all night “Farewell to the Aceraceae: Changes session at the fern bar. in the Angiosperm Family Tree” in the The larger plants of the world fall September Sego Lily), an even more into one of two families. These novel approach to taxonomy has been developed. families are the Bushiaceae and the Treeiaceae. Both of these families With all due apologies to Arthur have members that grow tall. Mem- Cronquist, the current method of bers of the Bushiaceae, however, plant classification used in most have branches very low to the modern herbaria is cumbersome at ground and are often found around Above: Glen Canyon NRA botanist John best. After working in the Rocky foundations of buildings. Plants of Spence posing with the prickly Ryd- Mountain Herbarium I have devel- the Treeiaceae don’t have low berg’s thistle or Cirsium rydbergii oped a simplified method of plant branches and generally live further (Spence is on the left). Rydberg’s thistle classification to be known as the away from buildings. is an uncommon, native, hanging gar- Culp Method of Filing Plant Our final family is the most pain- den species recognized by its enormous Corpses. ful and dangerous to study. It is the leaves and often drooping inflores- Cockleburriaceae. Members of this cence. Photo by W. Fertig, September The main problem with Art’s system lies in the families: there family can be placed into one of two 2010. subfamilies: Dog Hair Cloggus or are too many of them. The Culp Historic Site (Fertig 2009). How- Method of Filing Plant Corpses Bicycle Tire Eatus. Members of the ever, with our new discoveries in utilizes only seven families. Cockleburriaceae are identified by 2010, Rainbow Bridge is now only In keeping with Art’s tradition, their spines, thorns, and other lethal one species behind Timpanogos we start with primitive plants. The projections. If you pick up a plant Cave National Monument for a first family is the Mossiaceae. and say “ouch” it’s probably a mem- share of 12th place! Plants in the Mossiaceae family are ber of the Cockleburriaceae. Place- John Spence applied a first-order characterized by being short, ment into the two subfamilies is jackknife analysis to collection data slimy, and generally gross. Mem- easy: throw it at your dog. If it gets from Rainbow Bridge from 1939- bers of this family are also readily stuck in its hair, it’s a Dog Hair 2010 and estimates that the total identifiable by using the Animal Cloggus. The next test involves a vascular flora of the monument Method: If it looks like something bicycle. If it causes a flat tire after ranges from 242-272 species. the cat drug in, and the dog was being run over by the bicycle, it goes Clearly additional floristic work is afraid to drag it back out, its in the into the Bicycle Tire Eatus subfam- still needed, and I’ll be more than Mossiaceae. ily. happy to make my way back to Our second family is the Fer- Use of the Culp Method of Filing Rainbow Bridge to find the missing niaceae. There is only one crite- Plant Corpses will help most her- species! rion for membership in this fam- baria overcome their difficulties in filing specimens. It should also cre- ily: If it hangs in a fern bar it’s a References Ferniaceae. Ferniaceae is probably ate lots of debate and frantic re- Bernheimer, C.L. 1923. Encircling one of the most fun families to search among plant taxonomists. Navajo Mountain with a pack-train. The study because of its habitat. This will create hordes of jobs, National Geographic Magazine 43 Moving up the evolutionary lad- stimulate the economy, help estab- (2):197-224. der, we come to the Grassiaceae. lish a new world order, and bring Clover, E.U. and L. Jotter. 1941. Flo- These plants are very easily identi- peace to the world. At the very least, ristic studies in the canyon of the Colo- it will make working in an herbar- rado and tributaries. American Mid- fied. If it has long, very thin leaves, tries to cover as much ium a whole lot easier. land Naturalist 591-642. Fertig, W. 2009. Species richness ground as possible, and survives Editor’s Note: The author formerly and complementarity: Sizing up Utah’s after being run over by machines worked at the Rocky Mountain Herbar- national parks, monuments, recreation with whirling blades and the name ium at the University of Wyoming. He areas, and historic sites. Sego Lily 32 “Toro” painted on them, it belongs was fired after refiling the entire collec- (5):6-7. in the Grassiaceae. tion using the Culp Method.
14 Sego Lily November 2010 33 (6) Utah Botanica Odds and Ends from Utah Botany
Noteworthy Discoveries — Updates to UNPS Rare Plant the Colorado Plateau from long- New Mustards for Utah: As List: Last November, the Utah term drought. originally reported in the April 2010 Native Plant Society’s Rare Plant Yucca schidigera: Participants issue of the Western North Ameri- Committee published its list of agreed that the previous rank of this can Naturalist, Utah Valley Univer- Utah plant species of concern that species as High Priority was too sity professor James Harris has was developed at the 5th South- high; habitat specificity was changed added two new Draba species to the west Rare Plant Conference in from 1 to 0 and the overall score known flora of Utah. Pennell’s March 2009 Fertig et al. 2009). dropped to the Watch range. draba (Draba pennellii) and Pedi- This past March, a group of Utah Yucca toftiae: Changed from cellate draba (D. pedicellata) were botanists met at the Orangerie at High Priority to Watch list; trend both previously known only from Red Butte Garden following the changed to unknown. eastern Nevada but have now been annual UNPS state rare plant 4. Added to Need Data list confirmed from the Deep Creek meeting to revise the list based on Draba abajoensis: Recently de- Mountains of Juab and Tooele coun- new field studies and additional scribed as a new species by Mike ties in western Utah. data. The following changes in Windham and Ihsan Al-Shehbaz Pennell’s draba is a perennial status were recommended by the from SE Utah and adjacent NE Ari- forb with a diffusely branched cau- group: zona and NW New Mexico. This dex and tangled mats of greenish 1. Added to Extremely High Pri- species is known from less than a basal leaves, white flowers, and ority list dozen populations in the La Sal and broadly elliptic and often twisted Carex specuicola: Upgraded Abajo mountains of Grand and San fruits with relatively long styles. It is from the High Priority list follow- Juan counties, Utah. Listed as most likely to be confused with ing a change in trend score from 0 “Need Data” for now, due to lack of Breaks draba (D. subalpina) of the to 1 based on research by Daniella information on abundance, threats, mountains of southern Utah which Roth. and trends. has shorter styles on the fruit and 2. Added to High Priority list 5. Other species discussed, but grows mostly on limestone. Harris Carex haysii: Changed from status not changed: Aster kingii var. and his wife, Melinda Woolf Harris, Watch to High Priority due to barnebyana (Watch), Astragalus found D. pennellii to be locally com- higher threats to Zion NP popula- desereticus (High), Draba santa- mon in crevices of quartzite cliffs in tions from trailside trampling and quinensis (Need Data), Eriogonum Birch Creek Canyon. Additional competition from exotic Festuca corymbosum var. smithii (High), habitat for the species is likely to be arundinacea. Eriogonum ephedroides (Watch), found at higher elevations in the Erigeron kachinensis: Changed Penstemon duchesnensis (Watch), Deep Creek Range. The Utah popu- from Watch status to High priority Potentilla diversifolia var. madsenii lation is separated from the nearest due to increased concern over (Need Data), Sclerocactus blainei occurrence in the Schell Creek drought impacts to hanging gar- (Need Data), Swertia gypsicola Range of Nevada by about 39 miles. den habitat. (Watch), and Zigadenus vaginatus Pedicellate draba resembles Pen- Phacelia indecora: Threats to (Medium). nell’s draba but has a more compact hanging garden habitats along the Overall, there was a net gain of growth form, yellow flowers, and San Juan River considered high one species to the Extremely High non-twisted fruits. The Utah popu- (score changed from 0 to 1), over- Priority (31 to 32), Watch (262 to lation occurs near the head of all potential score changed from 6 263), and Need Data (102 to 103) Goshute Canyon in crevices of dolo- to 7 and upgraded from Watch list lists. The total number of High Pri- mitic rock in the understory of Bris- to High Priority. ority species remained 114. tlecone pine and Limber pine. Utah 3. Added to Watch list Thanks to the participants at the material corresponds to var. pedicel- Penstemon navajoa: Previously 2010 species ranking meeting for lata, which differs from var. wheel- on Medium Priority list, but their contributions: Jason Alexan- erensis of the Wheeler Peak area in bumped up to Watch list due to der, Leanna Ballard, Ron Bolander, being taller and not having a dis- increased threat from recent inten- Jesse Brunson, Rita Dodge, Larry tinctly zig-zagging fruit stalk. sive wildfires on Navajo Mountain England, Robert Fitts, Teresa Pren- Even with the discovery of Utah and impacts from logging and feral dusi, Aaron Roe, Daniella Roth, populations, both species have rela- horses. Jessie Salix, and Jim Spencer. tively limited global ranges and Primula specuicola: Also for- - Walter Fertig, chair UNPS rare fairly specific habitats. Both will be merly on the Medium list but plant committee. considered for potential inclusion on changed to Watch status because References: the UNPS rare plant list when it is of increased concern over dewater- Fertig, W. et al. 2009. 2000 Utah Native revised next year. - Walter Fertig ing of hanging garden habitats in Plant Society rare plants of Utah list. Sego Lily 32(6): 8-17. 15 Utah Native Plant Society
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