Sego Lily January 2008 31 (1)

January 2008 Volume 31 Number 1

Cronquist’s woodyaster (Xylorhiza cronquistii) is a white- flowered, daisy-like member of the Sun- flower family (Asteraceae or Composi- tae) that is found only in Kane and Gar- field Counties. Genetic evidence strongly suggests that this species is of hybrid origin, involving a cross between Hurtleaf woodyaster (X. tortifolia) and Henrieville woodyaster (X. confertifo- lia). X. cronquistii has narrow leaves like X. confertifolia, but short teeth and long-pointed involucre bracts like X. tortifolia. Cronquist’s woodyaster is named in honor of Arthur Cronquist, one of the most famous American bota- nists of the 20th Century, who first dis- covered the Henrieville woodyaster while botanizing southern in the 1960s. It typically grows on barren, rocky slopes of the Kaiparowits or Chinle formations and flowers in mid May to early June. Illustration by Kaye Thorne from the Utah Rare Field Guide.

In this issue:

Chapter News ...... 2 Bulletin Board ...... 3 Prickly Pears as Food ...... 4 Botanic Verses: Invaders and Invadees ...... 6 Rare Moonwort off Candidate List . . 7 Rock Canyon Restoration ...... 8 What’s in a Name: Fendler, , and ...... 10 Botanical Arts and Crafts How to Make a Cocklebur Poodle . 11

Copyright 2007 Utah Native Plant Society. All Rights Reserved. Utah Native Plant Society

Education: Ty Harrison Sego Lily Editor: Walter Fertig Horticulture: Maggie Wolf ([email protected]). News items, arti- Invasive Weeds: Susan Garvin cles, photos, and illustrations from Rare Plants: Walter Fertig members are always welcome. The deadline for the March 2008 Sego Lily Chapters and Chapter Presidents is 15 February 2008. Cache: Steve Ripple Escalante (Garfield Co): Allysia Angus Copyright 2007 Utah Native Plant Officers Fremont (Richfield area): Rebecca Society. All Rights Reserved Co-Presidents: Bill Gray (Salt Lake Co) Harms & Ron Parsons and Bill King (Salt Lake Co) Manzanita (Kane Co): Walter Fertig The Sego Lily is a publication of the Treasurer: Celeste Kennard (Utah Co) Mountain (Summit Co): Mindy Utah Native Plant Society, a 501(c)(3) Secretary: Mindy Wheeler (Summit Wheeler not-for-profit organization dedicated Co) Price (Carbon Co): Mike Hubbard to conserving and promoting steward- Board Chair: Larry Meyer (Salt Lake Salt Lake: Kipp Lee ship of our native plants. Use of con- Co) Southern (Washington Co): Margaret tent material is encouraged but re- Malm quires permission (except where ex- UNPS Board: Walter Fertig (Kane Co), Utah Valley (Utah Co): Celeste Ken- empted by statute) and must be cor- Robert Fitts (Utah Co), Susan Garvin nard rectly credited and cited. Articles, (Utah Co), Marie Griffiths (Salt Lake photographs and illustrations submit- Co), Ty Harrison (Salt Lake Co), Char- Website: For late-breaking news, the ted to us remain the property of the lene Homan (Salt Lake Co), Kipp Lee UNPS store, the Sego Lily archives, submitting individuals or organiza- (Salt Lake Co), Margaret Malm Chapter events, links to other websites tions. Submit permission requests to (Washington Co), Therese Meyer (Salt (including sources of native plants and [email protected]. We encourage read- Lake Co), Jeff Mitchell (Utah Co), Leila the digital Utah Rare Plant Field ers to submit articles for potential Shultz (Cache Co), Maria Ulloa (Sevier Guide), and more, go to unps.org. publication. By submitting an article, Co), Dave Wallace (Cache Co), Maggie Many thanks to Xmission for an implicit license is granted to print Wolf (Salt Lake Co), Loreen Woolsten- sponsoring our website. the article in the newsletter or other hulme (Utah Co). UNPS publications for reprint without For more information on UNPS: permission (in print and electronic Committees Contact Bill King (582-0432) or Susan media). When submitting an article, Communications: Larry Meyer Garvin (356-5108), or write to UNPS, please indicate whether it has been Conservation: Bill King and Tony PO Box 520041, Salt Lake City, UT, previously published or submitted for Frates 84152-0041 or email [email protected] consideration to other publications.

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the soil that influences the survival Chapter News a great way to socialize and inter- act with our friends and neighbors of native plants we enjoy seeing above ground in April. We will Escalante (Garfield County): who share a passion for native plants. We collected food to do- also have a special surprise for our Back in October, the Escalante January meeting. As soon as I fig- Chapter took on several tasks. The nate to the local food bank, exchanged small plant-related ure out what it is, I’ll get the word chapter co-hosted a talk entitled out to our chapter members by e- Rainwater Harvesting 101 pre- gifts, and shared some wonderful food.—Allysia Angus mail!- Walter Fertig sented by Jeff and Anna Sanders of Boulder. We also hosted a pres- Manzanita (Kane County): Salt Lake: At our December entation by Doug Reynolds, of Iron meeting we had a pair of speakers County, during which he spoke Tim Clarke of Boulder, UT, regaled our group with stories about incor- talk on "Emigration Canyon: an about the ―Challenges of Rest- Uneasy Interface between Man oration in an Age of Weeds.‖ porating native plants into land- scape design at our December and Nature". Emigration Canyon, Lastly, the chapter sponsored and right next to Salt Lake City, is staffed a table at the Annual Esca- meeting. For 2008, our slate of events and speakers includes where the Donner party and the lante Canyons Arts Festival (our Mormon pioneers entered the Val- primary fund-raiser each year). Laura Fertig on getting to Rainbow Bridge National Monument the ley. Cindy Furse spoke on the At the table we shared literature amazingly diverse set of events on native plants and provided an hard way (and the spring wildflow- ers found on the overland route) in that shaped the canyon since then, opportunity for more people to while Sarah Bennett told us about learn about the chapter and join February, Roger Hoverman dis- cussing wildfire dynamics and how the recent efforts to establish a our mailing list. trail system. Mix this in with ex- In December, Louise and Larry to landscape to reduce fire risk in March, and Bala Chaudhary of clusive real estate development, Barnes opened their beautiful his- watershed issues, and fire control, toric home to host the annual pot- Northern University dis- cussing the hidden world beneath and you have a fragile coexistence. luck-style holiday party which was - Kipp Lee 2 Sego Lily January 2008 31 (1)

Southern (Washington Co.) Good news! First, we have a new Program Chair, Barbara Farns- Left: Budding botanists worth, who is eager to get some Thomas and Moriah Ken- interesting meetings for us all. nard in the scrub oak The first meeting will be Mon- leaves during the Plants day, February 4, at 7 PM in and Preschoolers hike in Springdale. It will be on the sex Rock Canyon. Photo by life of plants by Carolyn Shelton Mama Celeste Kennard. of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. The meet- ing will be in the new Springdale Community Center, 126 Lion Blvd (located next to the new library on the road to the O.C. Tanner Amphitheater). Contact Join us for Plants and Pre- hike of the season was to visit the Barbara Farnsworth for more schoolers at Wasatch Elementary Heritage Garden at Rock Canyon information (435/772-0525). (1040N 900E in Provo) for a tour Trailhead. – Celeste Kennard Second - With water becom- of the garden designed to catch the ing ever and ever scarcer in attention of the young at heart. Bulletin Board The trip will be during the first southwestern Utah, it’s high spring-like week in February. We time for you to get going on that 2008 Rare Plant Conference are also planning a ―Garden Art‖ native landscape you’ve been The 7th annual Red Butte Garden- activity at Wasatch Garden in the thinking about but haven’t got- UNPS co-sponsored rare plant spring to learn about drawing ten around to! And here’s your task force conference will be held plants. Let us know if this should chance to get started! The in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, be an evening or morning event. Southern Chapter’s (annual) March 4, 2008 from 9 AM to 5 We will be planning work days Propagation Workshop will be PM. Past participants will receive in mid-March at the Wasatch gar- on February 2 this year. Fee is an email notification with further den and the Utah Central Water $20. Sign up through Zion Can- details. Conservancy District. Look for yon Field Institute, Zion Na- The agenda will follow a format more details in the March Sego tional Park, Springdale, UT similar to prior years involving a Lily. Please contact us if you are 84767. (435) 772-3264 or 1-800- series of short presentations by a willing to help with planning an 635-3959. Class is limited to 15, variety of individuals working on anniversary celebration. We and it always fills up—so get Utah rare plant related conserva- would especially love to hear from your registration in early. This tion projects, including updates of all those who helped plant the gar- year we will also have some seed projects discussed at prior meet- dens over the years. Contact collected around Kanab, for use ings, ongoing/new projects, and [email protected] by people who live in that an opportunity for general net- with suggestions and for details. higher-elevation area. The in- working and for providing input Late Fall Activity report: We structor will again be USU Ex- relating to the status of Utah rare ended the Plants and Preschoolers tension agent Rick Heflebower. plants. year with some great trips during Lastly—the Zion Canyon Field There will be a small registra- those last warm sunny days in Oc- Institute will also be holding two tion fee. While the meeting is tober and November. At Utah other native plant workshops typically attended by those who Lake State park we got a tour of this spring: Native Plants and have jobs that somehow relate to the proposed nature walk Xeriscaping, taught by Lisa rare plants, it is open to anyone trail. We went to Big Springs in Ogden on March 22, and Or- interested in attending subject to the south Fork of Provo Canyon. I ganic Gardening, taught by Aviva space availability. For more details had never been to this trail and it O’Neil on February 23. Contact or to be placed on the meeting was a treat. All the leaves were the Field Institute for further invitation list, please email turning colors, the children had information —Margaret Malm [email protected].—Tony Frates fun crossing several small bridges and Barbara Farnsworth and we only lost one shoe in the Lifetime Members Update stream. This site also had a great Utah Valley (Utah C0): This New lifetime members in 2007 picnic area and we stopped for hot year is the 10th Anniversary of include Lois Arnow, Denise van chocolate afterwards and had a the Utah Heritage Garden Pro- Keuren, Paul and Catherine Thal- treasure hunt along the trail. I gram. Please come and join us mann, and Ann and Gale Dick highly recommend the hike for all for several activities to celebrate (bringing the total to 30). Thanks ages and abilities. Finally our last this anniversary year. to all of our new and renewing 2007 members.—Tony Frates

3 Utah Native Plant Society

Prickly Pears as Food Plants

By Dorde Woodruff

Prickly pears have a very long history as food plants. The pads can be consumed as vegetables and some have edible fruits. Seeds are also very nutritious, but they’re quite hard and difficult to grind. Fleshy-fruited species are the ones we use for food. (Native Americans used dry-fruited species that were often far spinier.) Of Utah natives this means Opuntia macrorhiza (Tuberous-rooted prickly pear), a somewhat scarce, small, hardy species, and O. phaea- cantha (Brown-spined prickly pear), a common species of Southern Utah (depending on your authority re- garding nomenclature). A horticul- tural variety, O. lindheimeri var. linguiformis (Cow’s tongue prickly pear), named for its long slender pads, is a great food plant, grown quite often around St. George. It Above: Fruits on Opuntia phaeacantha, San Juan County. These are more makes huge , as well as hav- orange-hued than most. The yellow mass on one pad is insect damage. ing tender, relatively spineless pads, and larger fruits than the native spe- cies. Opuntia pads are renowned for an antidote to the all-too-readily- O. macrorhiza grows sparsely their health-giving quality, and the assimilated, all-too-abundant simple on the southeast bench of the Salt fruits for their delicate flavor. But carbs of the standard American diet, Lake Valley, and according to our being cacti, they demand some spe- a big factor in the current epidemic prolific plant collector, Dr. Stanley cial understanding and techniques of obesity that health providers are Welsh of BYU, is fairly abundant for their use. The problems are not so worried about. near Zion in eastern Washington only the spines but also the small Americans are fussier about mu- County and western Kane County. barbed glochids and mucilage. cilages than Mexicans, who rather He also cites it from Iron, Piute, and In spite of this, cactus pads are drolly call them baba, drool. One of San Juan counties, but like many one of the most popular vegetables the aspects of learning to cook aspects of cactus distribution in in Mexico, and the fruits are quite nopales is how to manage the muci- Utah, the geography of this species sought after as well. Cactus pads are lage. The amount depends on the needs more work. most often referred to as nopales usual variables of plants, the spe- Somewhat more frost-tender, O. (singular, nopal), in Mexican reci- cies, the individual plant, the time of phaeacantha is quite a different pes, but are also called ―cactus pad- year, etc., as well the effect of other case, being much larger, upright dles‖, ―cactus leaves‖ (wrong, cactus ingredients of the dish. The valuable rather than sprawling, and much pads are stems), ―edible cactus‖, but pesky mucilage sinks seamlessly more common in Utah. It’s abun- ―shovels‖ (translation of Mexican into some dishes, like spaghetti dant around the edges of the Pine slang), and the like. The word sauce or meatloaf. For use in salads, Valley Mountains, north to the nopales is from Nahuatl, the lan- where nopalitos can be at their south end of the Wah Wahs, through guage of the Aztecs, nopalli; the drippy worst, they can be seared in a Zion and on the south side of Boul- Spanish conquistadores found the hot, dry, cast iron skillet briefly to der Mountain, and across to Canyon Aztecs to be avid consumers of cacti. seal them. -lands. The farthest north I’ve seen Cut-up cactus pads are called Getting rid of the spines, it in the East Desert is at the north nopalitos. glochids, and the dry brown areoles end of U72 near Salina Canyon, but It’s the mucilages of the pads from which they arise is the basis of I can no longer find it there. In Utah that make them so very healthy, in preparing nopales. Mexican street it commonly goes farther north on addition to their good vitamin and vendors can do this in seconds, so the east side of the River mineral content. As complex poly- there is hope. A handy way is to fas- than on the west side. saccharides, these mucilages are ten the top of the pad under a clip-

4 Sego Lily January 2008 31 (1) board—one with an old-fashioned big strong clip, not a wimpy small one—and to use a very sharp knife to cut or scrape off the areoles with their spines and glochids. Then cut off the edges of the pad where the glochids cluster. Swap sides and ends to finish the job. Finally, cut off the small, inside end which is a bit fibrous. Opuntia fruit, also, has to be handled carefully with tools until the glochids are removed. Fleshy fruits usually don’t have spines, and glochids are sparser than on dry fruited species. Rub glochids off with paper towels, or roll the fruit in fine dirt or sand. Brief freezing makes glochids go limp and doesn’t seem to hurt the fruit much. Once de-prickled, peel it, cut the dry top Above: Cut-up Utah prickly pear fruits. Lower left, Opuntia macrorhiza; end off, cut in half, scrape out seeds lower right, garden-grown O. humifusa, the Eastern equivalent. The others with a small spoon, and you have a are O. phaeacantha. Like the middle fruit, prickly pears can be green inside delicious morsel. when ripe, or both inside and outside. Photo by Dorde Woodruff. Or bypass all of this, and process and strain the fruits to make puree that can be used in an endless array Spring pads are the ones usually Fruits of Opuntia are larger as of desserts, sauces, drinks, or other used, although later in the season you go south. For a garden in the dishes. Steam-juiced unpeeled tougher, older ones may do if north, select the largest fruit you fruits, if they don’t taste too skinned. O. phaeacantha pads are can find in Utah (or Colorado or ―stemmy‖ depending on the clone, often quite spiny, and not worth ), and take a pad of make great juice or wine. The juice the effort to prepare. I haven’t that plant home to grow, subject to combines well with other fruit tried them much—one winter pad I cold-hardiness (and legalities, of juices. Surprisingly, cactus fruits are skinned was strong tasting. course). Cacti, especially Opuntias, not very acid, so can’t be safely Although xeriscaping advocates will grow quite a bit north of where canned by the water bath method. often say, ―You don’t have to grow they are found in nature. O. Puree or juice freezes well, however. cacti‖, there is nothing wrong with phaeacantha is hardy in Salt Lake. Nopales are especially compatible using cacti in xeriscaping, either. The plant with the largest fruit in with tomatoes and cheese in dishes. Opuntias are easy to grow, given my cactus garden is from Toquer- Recipes for them used to be hard to constraints of cold-hardiness, with ville. Or find a large patch of O. come by, gleaned one by one from adequate drainage. They don’t phaeacantha somewhere, and visit Southwestern or Mexican cook- need humus-rich soil but do need it for the harvest. Even a small books, from foragers, or from cactus as much sun as possible for good patch of O. macrorhiza in a warm, fanciers. Two compilations of ama- production, and respond well to sunny place and fertilized will pro- teur cactus recipes, (unedited and fertilizer and sufficient water in duce a surprising amount of fruit. untested) are from the Cactus and the growing season. If you need a cactus food fix in Succulent Society of America and Growing food plants in your an off-season, you can always visit the Prickly Pear Council. The xeriscape garden is a nice, ecologi- a Mexican market, so much more only published cactus cookbook in cally pleasing concept. If you don’t common in Utah than they once English is 2004’s The Prickly Pear have to be organic, using preemer- were, which will offer fresh tender Cookbook by a long-time writer gence weedkiller in the late fall is nopales, bottled nopalitos, and about wild foods of the Southwest, efficient, and some are rated for fresh red, green, or yellow tunas of Carolyn Niethammer. However, cac- food crops much closer temporally the sweet Indian Figs, O. ficus- tus recipes are now on the Internet to the crop than this. Otherwise it’s indica. Or perhaps you will even by the thousands. vigilance, tools, and never letting find the pretty pale-green-and- Nopales are especially favored by weeds go to seed in your cactus rose xoconostles, sour cactus diabetics and overweight people, garden. For pads you would want fruits, used in entirely different who have the most to gain (or lose, O. macrorhiza in the north, and O. ways, in salsas or regional special- as the case may be) from eating lindheimeri, the hardiest of the ties of the high-plateau Mexican them, which must be done regularly more southern kinds, where it can states in which they grow. to be of continuing benefit. survive. 5 Utah Native Plant Society

Botanic verses

by Bill Gray

Invaders and Invadees

Elegant, but fierce, Scotch Thistle, Your bristles made the Vikings whistle. As legend tells it, this is what Endears the thistle to the Scot.

According to one account some invading Norsemen were tiptoeing barefoot on an unsus- pecting Scottish encampment when one of them Wavyleaf Thistle is widespread throughout the stepped on a thistle. He seems to have lost his presence state, with very pale lilac flowers set off against silvery- of mind, and blew their cover, leading the Scots to rout white leaves, on stems up to 5 feet tall. This past sum- them and save the day. Since then the thistle has been mer as we hiked up a local canyon we came across a the Scottish national emblem. splendid patch of about 30 plants on a trailside slope. Now the tables are turned, and Onopordum acan- Sadly, on the way down we found that all had been up- thium has become the invader in many parts of the US, rooted and trashed by someone who presumably including Utah. Its name, derived from the Greek, thought s/he was doing the natural world a favor. means "spiny plant eaten by donkeys" – witness Eeyore in 'Winnie the Pooh'. That's not quite so crazy when you see the first-year leaves which are not so fierce (inset). As a weed, this is a classic, establishing vigorous patches on ground that resembles that of its native Scot- land (and England). This means relatively mesic situa- tions in which cattle like to graze – and hence the ranchers usually side with the Vikings in hating it. There are a few such nasty spots in Salt Lake and Davis Counties, and doubtless elsewhere in the state. Several other thistles (Canada Thistle, Cirsium ar- vense; Bull Thistle, Cirsium vulgare; Musk Thistle, Carduus nutans) are similar nuisances. The first of these can be found dominating several very out-of-the- way places in the Wasatch. Somewhat similar in appear- ance, but even worse in terms of invasiveness, are the Knapweeds and Starthistles ( Centaurea). Mon- Arizona Thistle occurs in the southern half of the strous populations of Yellow Starthistle (Centaurea sol- state. Leaves are "wickedly spiny", often with a light cov- stitialis) and Russian Knapweed (Centaurea repens) ering of hair which sometimes wears off leaving a shiny are choking places along the Wasatch Front. Though upper surface. Flower heads are usually a distinctive rich not visibly daisy-like, all of these are in the Asteraceae, rose in color, long and narrow. tribe Cardueae, with narrow tubular flowers beloved of butterflies. But not all thistles are to be abhorred. We have quite a number of natives - including a few that are con- sidered 'sensitive species' that we need to monitor to be sure they don't inadvertently fall by the wayside. Among our more common natives are Wavyleaf Thistle (Cirsium undulatum) and Arizona Thistle (Cirsium ari- zonicum).

6 Sego Lily January 2008 31 (1)

Rare Moonwort Off Candidate List Flora, third edition (Welsh et al. Endangered Species Act 2003), but can be distinguished by Protection Denied for its much narrower, wedge-shaped Botrychium lineare rather than broadly fan-shaped pin- nae. On December 6, 2007, the US The sole report of Slender moon- Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) wort in Utah is based on an histori- announced that it was dropping cal collection by Albert O. Garrett Slender moonwort (Botrychium lin- (Garrett 1519 UT) from a meadow eare) as a Candidate for potential bordering Silver Lake in Big Cotton- listing under the Endangered Spe- wood Canyon. Garrett’s collection cies Act. In its decision, the Service consists mostly of Botrychium cited recent studies that have found lanceolatum, but includes a single this diminutive fern to be more specimen identified by Wagner as B. widely distributed in North America lineare*. The population has not than originally suspected and under been relocated. less imminent threat. The removal When it was originally described of Slender moonwort leaves the by the Wagners, B. lineare was White River beardtongue (Pen- known from just a few widely scat- stemon scariosus var. albifluvis) as tered locations across North Amer- the only Utah plant species currently ica from Idaho and Oregon to New on the official USFWS candidate Brunswick and Colorado. The east- roster. ern North American populations are Slender moonwort was described now considered a different species as a new species by the late Warren (as are previous reports from Idaho, H. Wagner and Florence Wagner in Nevada, and California), but Slender 1994. Wagner and his colleague moonwort is presently confirmed Don Farrar of Iowa State University Above: Slender moonwort from 22 extant occurrences in have described more than a dozen (Botrychium lineare) can be recog- Alaska, Colorado, Minnesota, Mon- new Botrychium species since the nized by its once-pinnately di- tana, Oregon, South Dakota, Wash- early 1980s, with a few more appar- vided sterile leaf blade (tropho- ington, Wyoming, Alberta, and ently in the works. Many of these phore) with 4-6 pairs of linear Yukon Territory. Over half of these new species are based on subtle dif- and non-overlapping leaflets and populations have only been docu- ferences in leaflet shape, chromo- its slightly longer, spore case- mented since 2003 (including first some number, and molecular genet- bearing fertile leaf blade (sporo- records for four states), largely be- ics and individual specimens often phore) attached above the mid- cause of increased survey effort cannot be reliably determined. length of the common leaf stalk. prompted by the plant’s candidate Needless to say, the new Illustration by Janet Wingate status. remains controversial in some from Colorado Rare Plant Field Assessing the conservation status camps, though it has been widely Guide (Spackman et al. 1997). of a cryptic, wide-ranging species accepted among most pteridophyte like Slender moonwort is a signifi- specialists (and in recent fern treat- cant challenge. Moonworts can be ments, such as Flora of North recognized by having numerous difficult to locate in the field, and America and Lellinger’s Field Man- clusters of tiny, ball-like, spore huge areas of potential habitat re- ual of Ferns and Fern-Allies). cases (the ―grapes‖ of the grape- main unsurveyed across western Moonworts are primitive vascu- fern). Botrychium identification is North America. Connecting the dots lar plants closely allied to true ferns based largely on differences in the between the most far-flung occur- but placed in their own family, size, shape, and lobing of the vege- rences, the US Fish and Wildlife Ser- Ophioglossaceae. Mature moon- tative fronds and the point of at- vice estimates the total range of B. worts (also called grape-ferns) can tachment of the vegetative and lineare to be over 107,000 square be recognized by their single, green, fertile segments. Slender moon- miles. Undiscovered populations fleshy leaf blades that are divided wort belongs to a subgroup of Bot- could very well occur across such a into two morphologically distinct rychium species characterized by fronds. The more leaf-like of the once-pinnately divided vegetative fronds with linear pinnae (leaflets) * Mixed populations of different Botrychium two is technically called the tropho- species are not infrequent, and contribute to phore or vegetative frond and func- and vegetative and fertile fronds the rewards of Botrychium-hunting (an afflic- tions primarily as a photosynthetic joined above the midpoint of their tion suffered by many botanists – myself surface. It is paired with the fertile common basal stalk. B. lineare included - who enjoy hands and knees survey frond (or sporophore) which can be would key to B. lunaria in A Utah of hummocky wetlands). 7 Utah Native Plant Society large area. Unlike most rare plants, moved, other federal agencies are Plant Field Guide. Colorado Natural this species seems to have fairly un- now much less likely to invest staff Heritage Program. remarkable habitat requirements, time and financial resources into being found in a wide variety of wet surveying and monitoring for the US Fish and Wildlife Service. 2007. 50 CFR Part 17. Endangered and Threat- meadow and forest habitats. The Slender moonwort. In light of re- ened wildlife and plants; Review of na- USFWS notes that many of these cent controversies surrounding tive species that are candidates for list- populations are associated with decisions by the Bush administra- ing as Endangered or Threatened; An- roadsides and other areas strongly tion to deny Endangered Species nual notice of findings on resubmitted influenced by human activities protection to worthy candidates petitions; Annual description of progress (including a mine tailings site), sug- based on shaky science, the US on listing actions; Proposed Rule. Fed- gesting that the species is less Fish and Wildlife Service could eral Register 72(234):69034-69106 threatened than once thought. restore public confidence in its The argument for dropping Slen- integrity by keeping species like Wagner, W.H., Jr. and F.S. Wagner. 1994. Another widely disjunct, rare and der moonwort as a candidate (and the Slender moonwort in the can- local North American moonwort. with it the chance to be afforded full didate pool until more complete American Fern Journal 84(1):5-10. protection under the Endangered data are available to make a more Species Act) presented by the US persuasive and defensible listing Wagner, W.H., Jr. and F.S. Wagner. Fish and Wildlife Service is based decision. —Walter Fertig 1993. Ophioglossaceae. Pp 85-106. In: largely on the assumption that more Flora of North America Editorial Com- populations must be out there, and References mittee. Flora of North America North so the species does not require spe- Lellinger, D.B. 1985. A Field Manual of Mexico. Volume 2 Pteridophytes and cial attention. Despite the success in of the Ferns and Fern-Allies of the Gymnosperms. Oxford University Press, New York. locating 12 new populations in the United States and Canada. Smith- last 5 years, these are all mostly sonian Institution Press, Washington, D.C. 389 pp. Welsh, S.L., N.D. Atwood, S. Goodrich, small in area and number, and fre- and L.C. Higgins. 2003. A Utah Flora, quently associated with disturbed Spackman, S., W. Jennings, J. Coles, third edition, revised. Provo, UT: Brig- areas. Long-term monitoring is still C. Dawson, M. Minton, A. Kratz, and ham Young University. 912 pp. needed to corroborate whether hu- C. Spurrier. 1997. Colorado Rare man impacts are neutral (or benefi- cial) on these occurrences. Twenty- two populations over 107,000 Rock Canyon Restoration square miles remains a very low population density and the case for dropping the species would be sig- By Terri Williams Nelson of the USDAFS, UNPS and nificantly bolstered if many more Dr. Phil Allen at BYU for help. The occurrences had actually been docu- Provo City once owned a canyon; a result was an unprecedented col- mented. If inter-connecting popula- rugged, steep-sided canyon so near laboration of knowledge, ideas, peo- tions prove not to exist, a majority of the city that it seemed part of its ple and energy that changed one the known occurrences would be heart. For many years, the canyon small part of the world. Through reproductively isolated and thus drew city residents needing a the labor of thousands of volunteers, incapable of gene flow or augmenta- break from the busy world of the the canyon changed so much within tion by new spores. Such widely everyday - hikers, bikers, families five years that it was unrecognizable. disjunct populations would be more searching for leaves and flowers Native wildflowers grew there once prone to localized extinction events. and Christmas trees. Old folks and more, the trails and roads had be- The seemingly general habitat re- young alike stood in silent awe at come useful and manageable and quirements of the plant may also be the base of the rocky cliffs, and the balance of nature was well on its an illusion as little is known about geologists taught their classes way to returning completely. its life history, longevity, fecundity, about the rocks' unusual ages and Rock Canyon not only changed, it and possible mycorrhizal relation- the pressures that had twisted and changed people. It changed me. ships. bent them. When I became the Project Manager The discovery of new populations But the plants in the canyon of the restoration in 2002, I was and a wider distribution is positive told their own story - of overgraz- broken and confused by the events news for the Slender moonwort, but ing, of the attempts to grow alfalfa of my life. Working in Rock Canyon does not make an overwhelming and grain in the rocky soil. Weeds helped me focus my mind, case for changing its candidate introduced from thousands of strengthen my body and revive my status. It is unfortunate that the US miles away made their fortunes spirit, and it gave me the confidence Fish and Wildlife Service is not err- there, and the heavy human traffic and faith to face life again. Rock ing on the side of caution and keep- created many interlaced trails and Canyon, to me, is a sacred place - ing this species as a candidate (at roads over the whole area. one that brings together many dis- least for a few more years) until bet- The City parks department parate people and energy and ideas ter data are available to bolster their knew it could be better than it was and fuses them with the natural decision. With its candidacy re- - and asked Susan Meyer and Dea world to create a spectacular whole. 8 Sego Lily January 2008 31 (1) Rock Canyon Restoration

Rock Canyon restoration—before (top), during (below), and after (bottom). Photos by Dr. Phil Allen.

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9 Utah Native Plant Society What’s In a Name? Fendler, Fendlera, and Fendlerella

By Walter Fertig

Anyone who has led or partici- pated in a botanical field trip in the western United States cannot help but have heard the name Fendler applied to a trailside plant – either as a common name or in a scientific epithet. But just who was this Fendler, and why do so many plants bear his moniker? Augustus Fendler was born in eastern in 1813 and emi- grated penniless to the United States in 1836. After many years of menial jobs and rootless travel, Fendler set- tled in St. Louis and came under the influence of *. A fellow German émigré, Engelmann was already a leading authority on the flora of western North America and mentored a number of young plant collectors, including Karl Geyer, Frederick Wislizenius, and Above: The Latin name of Cliff fendler-bush () trans- Charles Parry. In 1846 Engelmann lates as “rock-lover Fendlera”. A good place to see this plant among the took advantage of the Mexican- rocks it loves is on the red sandstone cliffs at the mouth of Courthouse American war to arrange for Fendler Wash in Arches National Park. Illustration by W. Fertig. and a mound of collecting supplies to be transported along with Ameri- can troops to Santa Fe. Fendler Penstemon, Poa, Senecio, Sphaer- ance to the narrow petiole of a spent the next year collecting across alcea, and Thalictrum. leaf). The most peculiar trait of northern New Mexico and returned Fendler was also commemo- the Fendlera flower, though, is the to St. Louis with over 1000 herbar- rated by not one, but two, genus appearance of the 8 petal-like sta- ium specimens. names. Fendlera (known in Eng- mens which are broad and flat- Engelmann and his colleague, lish as fendler-bush) was named tened at the base and forked like of Harvard University, by Engelmann and Gray for 2-3 the tongue of a snake behind the were especially pleased with the species in the Hydrangea anther sac. The stamens form a quality and variety of Fendler’s col- family ()** from ring that obscures the ovary, at lections. Ultimately, over 400 new the southwestern United States least until it ripens into a mature species were described from and Mexico. Members of this ge- capsule. Fendler’s haul, many of which have nus are somewhat unusual in hav- One Fendlera species, F. rupi- withstood the test of time. Nearly ing just four petals (most flowering cola or Cliff fendler-bush, is 40 plants from the southwest and shrubs have 5). The petals have known from southeastern Utah in Rocky Mountain region still bear his finely and irregularly toothed, dia- Wayne, Grand, and San Juan name, including species of Arabis, mond-shaped blades and taper to counties. Some taxonomists split Arenaria, Argyrochosma (a fern), a slender base called a claw this species into 2-3 varieties Berberis, Brachythecium (a moss), (somewhat comparable in appear- based on differences in leaf size, Ceanothus, Cryptantha, Echinocer- shape, and degree of pubescence. eus, Hydrophyllum, Lesquerella, Our plants tend to have slender, **Traditionally, this family has been in- moderately hairy leaves of var.

cluded within the Saxifragaceae (where it is falcata (a.k.a. Fendlera falcata). treated by Welsh et al. in A Utah Flora). *Engelmann helped establish the Missouri This is the most widespread form, Members of the Hydrangea family are Botanical Garden, saved the French wine ranging from southern Nevada to woody shrubs with ovaries comprised of 3- industry, and also had numerous plants southwestern Colorado and west 5 fused carpels, while plants in the Saxi- named for himself (most notably the Engel- frage family (in the strict sense) are herba- Texas. To the east and south of mann spruce), but we will save his story for ceous with ovaries of 2 carpels fused only at Utah, plants with inrolled leaf another time. the base. margins and densely white-

10 Sego Lily January 2008 31 (1) tomentose undersides belong to var. was actually collected farther to Augustus Fendler left the west for wrightii (in the strict sense, var. the east (location data were notori- good after this run of misfortune, rupicola is a narrow Texas en- ously imprecise in those early though he would resume plant col- demic). Leaf characters intergrade days). Utah fendlerella occurs lecting in the southeastern US , Pa- across the species’ range, however, sporadically across the state nama, Trinidad, and . He leading some authorities to lump all (Garfield, Millard, San Juan, Uin- died in 1883 and was eulogized by three forms under one name. tah, Utah, Washington, and Wayne Asa Gray as a ―quick and keen ob- Cliff fendler-bush makes an at- counties), especially in limey sand- server and an admirable collector‖. tractive addition to a natural garden. stone cliffs, but is not commonly The white flowers are relatively large used in cultivation. References: as shrubs go (about 3/8 to 3/4 of an Fendler followed up his success- Dorn, R.D. and J.L. Dorn. 2007. Grow- inch) and occur singly or in clusters ful 1846-47 New Mexico trip with a ing Native Plants of the Rocky Moun- of 2-3 at the end of a branch. Flow- major expedition to the poorly ex- tain Area. Self-published. 252 pp. ering takes place from April to June, plored Great Basin in 1849. Not Williams, R.L. 2003. ―A Region of As- with a second bloom sometimes oc- long into the trip Fendler lost all of tonishing Beauty”, the Botanical Explo- curring in late summer. Fendlera his gear, notebooks, and speci- ration of the Rocky Mountains. Roberts can grow in full sun and is drought mens in a flood. Returning to St. Rinehart Publishers, Lanham, MD. 209 and heat tolerant. Although its Louis, he found that his home and natural range is the canyon country possessions had all been destroyed of the Colorado Plateau, it can be in a fire while he was gone. hardy as far north as the valleys of northern Utah, southern Idaho, and Botanical Arts and Crafts eastern Washington. Fendler-bush can grow from seed (available com- mercially) that is stratified at refrig- How to Make a Cocklebur Poodle erator temperatures for 60-90 days, or from greenwood cuttings. Native Americans put Fendlera to By Walter Fertig many uses. made an infu- sion from the inner bark as a medi- Late summer and fall is a time cine to treat poisons. Boiled with when hikers become painfully bark, pinyon buds, and corn aware of the great number of plant meal, the resulting mush was also species that produce fruits with used in certain ceremonies. Many spines, hooks, or other protuber- tribes used fendlerbush wood to ances designed to catch a ride on make arrow shafts, knitting needles, our pant legs, socks, and shoe planting sticks, and weaving forks. laces. Mother Nature originally The second genus named for developed these structures to aid Fendler is Fendlerella, or literally in the dispersal of seeds and fruits the ―little Fendlera‖. Amos Heller to new habitats for germination. It coined this name for another small is only recently that a new use has Above: Cocklebur poodle, made of genus of southwestern shrubs in the been developed for these devilish 16 fruits of Xanthium strumarium. Hydrangea family. Species of devices: the modeling of small, Perfect for Christmas! Illustration Fendlerella differ from Fendlera in poodle-like dogs! by W. Fertig. their smaller stature, small 5- According to Wayne Armstrong, petaled flowers arranged in a cyme- a botanist at Palomar College in like inflorescence, and stamens that California, the fruits of Cocklebur Other bristly fruits may be substi- taper abruptly from a broad base to (Xanthium strumarium) can be tuted with varying degrees of suc- a cap-like anther. Only one species fashioned into a reasonable fac- cess. I have found that the fruits of occurs in Utah, the aptly named simile of a standard poodle. Six- licorice-root (Glycyrrhiza lepidota) Fendlerella utahensis (Yerba teen fruits are required (one for will also yield a poodle. However, desierto or Utah fendlerella). The the face and ―topknot‖, two for the the fruits of burdock (Arctium mi- type specimen of this taxon was col- ears, one for the neck, two for the nus) produce an animal that looks lected by Ellen Powell Thompson body, one for the tail, and two each more like a cross between a woolly- (pioneer botanist of southern Utah for the legs). The slender, hooked bear caterpillar and a slightly de- and sister of explorer John Wesley bristles on the fruit help secure the mented grizzly bear. Powell) in 1872, supposedly from parts together, although I have

Kanab. No one has been able to re- found that a little white Elmer’s Reprinted from the October 1995 issue locate this species since in Kane glue also helps if you wish to keep of Castilleja, the newsletter of the Wyo- County, leading Dr. Stan Welsh to your poodle for posterity. ming Native Plant Society. suggest that the original specimen

11 Utah Native Plant Society

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