January 2007 Volume 30 No. 1
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January 2007 Volume 30 No. 1 Small-leaf globemallow (Sphaeralcea parvifolia) is one of the most common of Utah’s 15 species of Sphaer- alcea. It can be recognized by its palmately veined maple-like leaves and orange blossoms that occur in groups of 2 or more at each node of an elongated inflorescence. Like other globemallow species, S. parvifolia is cold and drought hardy and thrives in full sun. Globe- mallow fruits are hard and may persist ungerminated for several years. Germination can be facilitated by nicking the fruit with a razor blade or sandpaper (scarification). For more on globemallows and the mallow family in general (and the prominent role of one spe- cies in the settlement of southern Utah) see the articles on pages 6 and 8 of this issue. Illustration by W. Fertig In this issue: What does UNPS stand for? . 2 State board report . 3 UNPS annual members meeting . 4 Chapter news and events . 5 Utah plant families: the mallows (Malvaceae) . 6 Some common globemallows of Utah and how to recognize them . 8 Plants in the news USFWS to investigate status of rare Uinta Basin Sclerocacti . 10 Celebrating wildflowers website . 11 Noteworthy discoveries Golden tickseed new to Utah . 11 Chapters and Chapter Presidents Cache: Steve Ripple Escalante (Garfield Co): Allysia Angus Manzanita (Kane Co): Walter Fertig Mountain (Summit Co): Mindy Wheeler Price (Carbon Co): Mike Hubbard Officers Salt Lake: Kipp Lee President: Bill Gray (Salt Lake Co) Southern (Washington Co): Margaret Malm Vice President: Bill King (Salt Lake Co) Utah Valley (Utah Co): Celeste Kennard Treasurer: Celeste Kennard (Utah Co) Secretary: Richard Jonas (Salt Lake Co) Sego Lily Editor: Walter Fertig ([email protected]). Board Chair: Mindy Wheeler (Summit Co) Articles, photos, and illustrations from members are UNPS Board welcome and encouraged. The deadline for the March Walter Fertig (Kane Co), Robert Fitts (Utah Co), 2007 Sego Lily is 15 February 2007. Jackie Freshwater (Box Elder Co), Susan Garvin (Utah Co), Marie Griffiths (Salt Lake Co), Ty Harri- Website: For late-breaking news, the UNPS store, the son (Salt Lake Co), Kipp Lee (Salt Lake Co), Marga- Sego Lily archives, Chapter events, links to other web- ret Malm (Washington Co), Larry Meyer (Salt Lake sites (including sources of native plants and the digital Co), Therese Meyer (Salt Lake Co), Jeff Mitchell Utah Rare Plant Field Guide), and more, go to (Utah Co), Dave Wallace (Cache Co), Winnie unps.org. Many thanks to Xmission for spon- Washburn (Iron Co), Maggie Wolf (Salt Lake Co), soring our website. Loreen Woolstenhulme (Utah Co). Committees For more information on UNPS: Communications: Larry Meyer Contact Bill King (582-0432) or Susan Garvin (356- Conservation: Bill King and Tony Frates 5108), or write to UNPS, PO Box 520041, Salt Lake Education: Mindy Wheeler City, UT, 84152-0041 or email [email protected] Horticulture: Maggie Wolf ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ President’s Corner: their work of describing species and understanding how they contribute to the big picture. What does UNPS stand for? "Preservation" Some of our work is direct, some indirect. Our Conservation committee, chaired by Tony Frates and Bill King, has been very busy again, Easy answer: "Utah Native Plant Society". But trying to track actions that affect our rare and endan- what does the Utah Native Plant Society stand for? gered plants. This can be a nightmare in an era when Our charter says we are "a charitable organization governmental edicts may pit political expediency dedicated to the understanding, preservation, enjoy- against science-based judgment, sometimes placing ment, and responsible use of Utah native plants." impossible burdens on agency personnel. We have There are many ways we can do this, from the joined formal petitions on actions to very simple to the very ambitious. I like to think of - preserve particular species and habitats them all as coming from the same perspective: that - oppose the Washington County land bill the plants are not mere adjuncts to our pleasure, but - support the continued designation of roadless areas are worthy of our respect in their own right. A rare within National Forests. cactus should not be dug out of its remote nook in Conversely, we have declined to join other petitions the desert just so that more humans will be able to where we have felt the evidence is not so convincing. appreciate its beauty ("Full many a flower is born to A surprising number of our members are profes- blush unseen . "). It's OK in its own little corner, sional botanists, working with governmental agencies, even if nobody gets to visit. universities, conservation organizations, or environ- How have we gone about our mission in the past mental consulting companies. What do they do in year? their spare time? Many of them donate hours to pro- "Understanding" Last Spring we awarded a jects concerned with protecting native plants. For ex- research grant to Ashley Egan, a BYU graduate stu- ample, this Fall we were contacted by The Nature Con- dent, to conduct research on a rare plant (Paria servancy of Utah (one of our most treasured partners Breadroot, Pediomelum pariense). Ashley is study- in conservation work) to see if UNPS could help with ing how much genetic interchange occurs between plant surveys of an area in Cache Valley that was being the small, isolated populations of this species and considered for a conservation easement. Several how this might affect its long term survival. Infor- members of the Cache chapter gave their professional mation like this is crucial for deciding how best to services to this project. protect rare species. Other individuals continue 2 In addition to these professionals many other sometimes have a very hard time getting people to members have participated in plant surveys, weed participate: they are listed on page 2, so contact pulls, letter writing, and other ways of counter- them and offer to help. balancing threats to our native species. A big "Thank Second is to recruit more new members. Use the You!" to all our members who participated in these Gift cards available through the website (or contact efforts. me directly). They are only $10 for a year's member- "Enjoyment" I hope that every member has ship including the Sego Lily. A broader membership been able to get out and enjoy some of the splendid base leads to more active programs, more funds for displays of our wildflowers and other plants. Chap- giving grants, and a larger pool of volunteers. ters have organized many wildflower walks and field Third, closely connected with the last, we want to trips, at elevations from the southern deserts to al- establish chapters in places where there is a big most 12,000 feet in the Uinta Mountains. This is a enough population base. Two chapters are in the tremendously important activity, especially when planning stage: Fremont, organized by Maria Ulloa, shared with people who need some guidance about will serve the Richfield area, and a Cedar City chap- what they are seeing – not just names of plants, but ter will be organized by Winnie Washburn. We how they fit together. Just walking with someone would love to see another in the populous area along can help them see things in a different light. Thank the east shore of the Great Salt Lake – let us know if you, all who have participated in this way, some- you are interested. times showing our plants to visitors from out of state Have a wonderful year, enjoy our plants, and who will have gained a deeper sense of what Utah share the fun with others. – Bill Gray, UNPS Presi- has to show the world. dent "Responsible use" The obvious context is that of using native plants in landscaping. From the State Board Report plant's perspective, we need to be thoughtful, and ensure that this does not deplete natural popula- At its meeting on Nov. 30th the board appointed tions. UNPS has been active in promoting local Richard Jonas to its vacant position and elected the plant propagation workshops in which people learn following officers for the 2007 year: President, Bill to grow native plants from seed. It is equally impor- Gray; Vice president, Bill King; Treasurer, Celeste tant to avoid plants such as Myrtle spurge that can Kennard; Recording Secretary, Richard Jonas. escape and threaten native habitats like the foothills Chairpersons were appointed for 3 of our stand- of the northern counties. We are working with nurs- ing committees: Conservation, Bill King, with Tony eries to recommend the best plants for use in water- Frates; Horticulture, Maggie Wolf; Invasive Weeds, wise gardening. Susan Garvin. We did not yet appoint chairs for Edu- Perhaps the founders of UNPS felt that these four cation and Communication. headings covered the most important ways in which We also agreed that UNPS should hold a state- we should work. I like to turn it around and think wide Spring Conference each year, hosted by one of that they are all closely linked to another theme, the southern Utah chapters (see reminder below). which is that of EDUCATION. We are very limited An invitation to serve: if you have interest in help- in our resources of time, energy and money. We'll ing with any of the above committees, please contact do more by sowing seeds than by transplanting Bill Gray (801-532-3486; cyberflora@ xmission .com). shrubs, and the most fertile ground is that of young – Bill Gray minds. In all the activities listed above we are in parallel trying to educate others, mostly adults. Just today the board of directors voted to award an edu- cational grant to Michael Yardley, an elementary First UNPS Spring Conference school teacher in the little town of Enterprise, west of Cedar City.