No. 80 March 2017 Iris The Alberta Native Plant Council Newsletter

Botany Alberta 2016: In This Issue A Rainy Visit to Dry Mixedwood Boreal Sites

Botany Alberta 2016: Kristen Andersen & Wendy Daley A Rainy Visit to Dry Mixedwood Boreal Sites ...... 1 Botany Alberta took place in the Central area. We climbed up a bit of a hill to an Bittercress (Cardamine) Mixedwood and Dry Mixedwood expanse where there were large patches Species in Alberta ...... 3 natural subregions of the boreal forest, of wild sarsaparilla (Aralia nudicaulis) about a 2-hour drive northeast of our between the alders and spruce. The Cottonwood capital city. The weekend of June 24 to bunchberry (Cornus canadensis) was in Regeneration ...... 8 June 26 was much like every weekend full bloom, and the blueberries were Foray in the Oldman River in the summer of 2016, as it was either profuse but not yet mature. At another Valley in Lethbridge ...... 8 raining or about to rain. The event was point, the group treaded down into a kicked off by a walk in the Holmes low-lying area flled with birch, willow, News and Events ...... 10 Crossing Sandhills Ecological Reserve, pine and spruce. The grass-of-parnassus Biodiversity in Alberta’s followed by a Saturday tour of the (Parnassia sp.) was just in bud, but Changing Landscape: Fort Assiniboine Sandhills Wildland the common pink wintergreen (Pyrola 30th Workshop Provincial Park, and fnished off in the asarifolia) was in full bloom, its pink & AGM Registration ...... 11 Clyde Fen Candidate Natural Area.

Friday afternoon, the group met at Holmes Crossing just south of the Athabasca River Bridge from Fort Assiniboine. This place is home to traverse dunes stabilized by the jack pine lichen forest, which includes a Look for more information series of small lakes. The tour guide on the ANPC’s website. www.anpc.ab.ca wasn’t able to make it, so he sent a couple of avid hikers who knew the area. He had told them that they would Daley Wendy be hiking with a group of botanists. Jack pine forest with wild sarsaparilla carpet Surely this was an oxymoron they were at Holmes Crossing. not familiar with. After following the nine of us for about half an hour and fowers poking up through the shrubs 100 m (stop, start, look, take pictures, and grasses. Another turn took us into a start — whoa stop, what’s that?), they large wetland full of small bottle sedge Cover photo: Janine Lemire decided to take off. Fortunately for us (Carex utriculata). It rained a little bit Pitcher plants (Sarracenia purpurea) in a boreal wetland. the signage and paths were good, and during the hike then it came down hard some people were familiar with the See Botany AB 2016, page 2 Iris ♦ The Alberta Native Plant Council Newsletter ♦ No. 80 March 2017 Botany AB 2016, from page 1 just before we fnished the loop. I don’t remember the last time I was that wet. I think the term is “soaked to the bone.”

Saturday’s trip included the Fort Assiniboine Sandhills Wildland Provincial Park, which is along the north shore of the Athabasca River. The group started out at the Central

Staging Area, where the Moose Trail Daley Wendy carried us into a majestic stand of jack Holmes Crossing wetlands have signifcant biodiversity. slope where wetter habitats, including fens, were observed. Around each corner, the species diversity of the Fort Assiniboine Sandhills became more evident. With over 435 species recorded in the park, it was no surprise for the group to continue discovering more

of them including spotted coralroot Kristen Andersen (Corallorhiza maculata), green saxifrage Pitcher plant (Sarracenia purpurea) Kristen Andersen (Chrysosplenium tetandrum), blunt- at Clyde Fen. Cladonia lichens cover the ground at Fort leaved sandwort (Moehringia laterifora), started their way in. Clyde Fen is home Assiniboine Sandhills Provincial Park. yellow avens (Geum aleppicum), and golden sedge (Carex aurea), to name a to Alberta’s southern-most population of pitcher plants (Sarracenia purpurea), pine (Pinus banksiana) with the forest few. Thanks to the efforts of the group, one of seven insectivorous plant species foor covered by Cladonia lichens. a specimen collection including 62 found here, which were a common Black spruce (Picea mariana), white species was made for accession at the sight as the group meandered through spruce (Picea glauca), green alder (Alnus University of Alberta herbarium. This the fen. Two rare plants were found and viridis), aspen (Populus tremuloides), will create an irreplaceable record and documented: the fat-stem spikerush and common blueberry (Vaccinium resource for education, research and (Eleocharis compressa) and Loesel’s myrtilloides) were also common here, knowledge of the Alberta fora. After a twayblade (Liparis loeselii), which is as well as a smattering of forbs and hot day we made our way back to camp among Alberta’s rarest orchids. Some grasses including lyre-leaved rockcress before the next thunderstorm rolled in. of the group present during the feld (Arabidopsis lyrata) and hay sedge trip were common visitors to Clyde (Carex siccata). As the group wound Fen, while others explored it for the frst up the trail, we found a hilltop perfect time. One thing that everyone would for a picnic, with a beautiful view Spotted coral likely agree upon, is that the Clyde Fen surrounded by wood lilies in full root (Corallorhiza is certainly a wetland worth visiting bloom. After lunch, a patch of low maculata) at and to continue watching over, given its milkweed (Asclepias ovalifolia) grabbed Fort Assiniboine unique and important habitat. ♦ our attention. After many photos and a Provincial Park. specimen collection, we started down a Kristen Andersen

On Sunday morning, the group met at the Clyde Fen. The candidate natural area was established in 1990, and the ANPC has been a steward of the site since 1992. ANPC’s long-time steward, Derek Johnson, and co-steward Joelyn Kristen Andersen

Kristen Andersen Kozar, accompanied by a group of nine Long-time steward of Clyde Fen called Scorpidium scorpioides “spaghetti moss,” Moose Trail at Fort Assiniboine more, put on their rubber boots and an indicator of a rich fen. Sandhills Provincial Park. 2 www.anpc.ab.ca Iris ♦ The Alberta Native Plant Council Newsletter ♦ No. 80 March 2017 Bittercress (Cardamine) Species in Alberta

Lorna Allen (with excerpts from Graham Grifths)

Cardamine pratensis (meadow bittercress), previously listed as Cardamine dentata Recently Discovered in Alberta rare in the province, is now split (an excerpt from Griffths 2007) into 11 different species, mostly of European distribution. Two The ranks of taxa constituting the Cardamine pratensis complex are species of the complex (C. dentata interpreted differently in different publications. North American authors and C. nymanii) do occur in Alberta have generally treated the whole complex as a single species, within according to both VASCAN which subspecies or varieties are recognized. But in recent special (Brouillet et al. 2016) and BONAP European literature (e.g., Marhold et al. 2004), the complex is divided into (Kartesz 2015). Cardamine pratensis 11 species. remains an accepted taxon, but it has not yet been found in Alberta Cardamine nymanii Gandoger Dr. Griffths suggested that all collections of the Cardamine pratensis (and if it is here, it is an exotic complex in Alberta prior to 2005 belong to C. nymanii Gandoger [syn. species). The taxon in the Flora of C. pratensis L. var. angustifolia Hook.] as described in the Flora of North Alberta that keys out to Cardamine America (FNA 2010). The plants fower from the end of May through pratensis is most likely C. nymanii June. The leafets are thick with embedded veins. On basal leaves the (according to Dr. Griffths — see terminal leafet is not much larger than the lateral leafets; leafets on the below). The key in Flora of North upper stem leaves are narrowly wedge-shaped, not borne on petiolules. In America (FNA) Volume 7 (FNA Alberta populations, the plants fower profusely; but an increased reliance 2010) will lead you to either C. on vegetative reproduction is reported in the Arctic, towards the northern pratensis or C. nymanii, but does not range limits of this taxon. separate out C. dentata. Cardamine dentata Schult. Dr. Graham C.D. Griffths published The occurrence of a second member of the Cardamine pratensis complex in one of the few keys to help the plant northeastern Alberta frst came to light in 2005 and the identifcation was enthusiast distinguish between confrmed in 2006, when the frst fowering stem was found. This well Cardamine species that are found shows the diagnostic feature used in published keys (e.g., Flora Europaea in Alberta but are not included 1: 287), that the leafets of all leaves (including upper stem leaves) are in either the Flora of Alberta stalked (borne on petiolules). (Moss and Packer 1983) or FNA Vol 7. Dr. Griffths passed away Most plants grow as emergents in water-flled depressions, with only the in 2009, but his dedication and tips of their basal leaves rising above water level. In Alberta populations, contributions to the knowledge of the plants reproduce mainly by means of “adventitious shoots” arising Alberta’s biodiversity have not been from their leafet blades; fowering stems are very rarely produced. The leafets are relatively thin (veins not embedded). On basal leaves the forgotten. terminal leafet is often much larger than the lateral leafets; leafets on all leaves (including those on fowering stems, if present) are borne on The following is a modifed excerpt petiolules. from his publication in Dr. A. Ceska’s Botanical Electronic News Dr. Griffth’s observations of plants grown indoors indicate that leafets (BEN) (Griffths 2007a) and is being bearing adventitious shoots may fall off and give rise to separate new republished now to help the plant plants; or, if the leaf is prostrate (lying on the ground), the new plant enthusiast understand some of may remain attached to the parent plant. In the latter case, plants may the complexities of the Cardamine appear to be connected by stolons, but the apparent stolons originated as pratensis complex, and to assist in the petioles and rachises of basal leaves. True stolons (horizontal stems distinguishing between Cardamine producing new plants) are not known in any North American members of species that are not included in the Cardamine pratensis complex. either the Flora of Alberta or FNA Vol 7. See Cardamine, page 4 www.anpc.ab.ca 3 Iris ♦ The Alberta Native Plant Council Newsletter ♦ No. 80 March 2017 Cardamine, from page 3

The following key couplet was developed by Dr. Griffths and is intended to distinguish the two native members of the Cardamine pratensis complex now known to occur in Alberta:

1a. Leafets thick, with embedded veins; terminal leafet of basal leaves normally not much larger than lateral leafets; leafets on upper stem leaves narrowly wedge-shaped, not borne on petiolules (petiolules evident at most on basal and lower stem leaves). Alberta populations fowering readily. C. nymanii Gandoger [= C. pratensis L. var. angustifolia Hook.]

1b. Leafets thinner (veins not embedded); terminal leafet of basal leaves often much larger than lateral leafets; all leafets borne on petiolules (including those on upper stem leaves). Alberta populations reproducing mainly by adventitious shoots arising from leafets, rarely fowering. C. dentata Schult. [= C. pratensis L. subsp. paludosa (Knaf) Celak.]

By Graham C.D. Griffths

In 2015, the Alberta Conservation Information System (ACIMS) reviewed most of the species in the database along with their ranks, resulting in many taxonomic updates and adding to the database many new species now confrmed for Alberta. A spreadsheet of the vascular plant species for Alberta can be downloaded from http://www.albertaparks.ca/albertaparksca/ management-land-use/alberta-conservation-information-management-system-acims/download-data/

Changes to the taxonomy of Cardamine have resulted in two species confrmed in Alberta that are not in the Flora of Alberta — C. dentata and C. nymanii. A table of all bittercress species confrmed in Alberta as of 2016 follows.

Cardamine ecies Conre as ccurrin in Alberta 201

ACIMS *Global Canadian Alberta cientic Select Synonyms Common Name Rank Rank Rank Name Cardamine alpine bittercress G5 NNR S3 bellidifolia Cardamine Cardamine pratensis var. (or ssp.) toothed bittercress; GNR NNR S2 dentata palustris, or C. pratensis ssp. paludosa white cuckoo bitter-cress Cardamine Cardamine pratensis var. (or ssp.) northern feld bittercress; G5T5 N4N5 S3 nymanii angustifolia cuckoo-fower Cardamine Cardamine arenicola small bittercress; G5 N5 S2 parvifora small-fowered bittercress Cardamine Pennsylvania bittercress G5 NNR S5 pensylvanica Cardamine Cardamine oligosperma var. kamtschatica mountain cress G5T3T5 NNR S3 umbellata * for a review of the NatureServe ranks, see http://explorer.natureserve.org/granks.htm

Literature Cited Alberta Conservation Information System (ACIMS). 2015. List of all Vascular Plant Taxa Confrmed for Alberta as recorded in the ACIMS database - October 15 2015. http://www.albertaparks.ca/albertaparksca/management-land-use/alberta-conservation-information-management-system- acims/download-data.aspx#trackedWatch

Brouillet, L., F. Coursol, S.J. Meades, M. Favreau, M. Anions, P. Bélisle & P. Desmet. 2010+. VASCAN, the Database of Vascular Plants of Canada. http:// data.canadensys.net/vascan/ (consulted on 2016-06-01)

Flora of North America Editorial Committee (FNA). 2010. Flora of North America North of Mexico. Vol. 7. Magnoliophyta: Salicaceae to Brassicacee. Oxford Univ. Press, New York. xxii + 797 pp.

Grifths, Graham C.D. 2007a. Botanical Electronic News No. 369 January 3, 2007

Grifths, Graham C.D. 2007b. Cardamine dentata Recently Discovered in Alberta. Iris: The Alberta Native Plant Council Newsletter, No. 55, October 2007. See Cardamine, page 5 4 www.anpc.ab.ca Iris ♦ The Alberta Native Plant Council Newsletter ♦ No. 80 March 2017

Cardamine, from page 4 Kartesz, J.T., The Biota of North America ANPC Board Positions Alberta Native Plant Council Program (BONAP). 2015. Taxonomic Data Garneau P.O. 52099 Center. (http://www.bonap.net/tdc). Up For Re-election in 2017 Edmonton, AB T6G 2T5 Chapel Hill, N.C. [maps generated from Kartesz, J.T. 2015. Floristic Synthesis of The following ANPC Board website: www.anpc.ab.ca North America, Version 1.0. Biota of North email: [email protected] America Program (BONAP). (in press)] Positions are up for re-election: President • President Leslie Monteleone Lovkvist, B. 1956. The Cardamine pratensis • Vice-President [email protected] complex. Outlines of its cytogenetics and • Secretary Vice-President taxonomy. Symbolae Botanicae Upsalienses • Southern Director XIV, no. 2. xvi + 131 p. Ron Linowski • Northern Director [email protected] Marhold, K., J. Lihova, M. Pern, & W. Bleeker. We are now accepting Secretary 2004. Comparative ITS and AFLP analysis nominations. Sandy McAndrews of diploid Cardamine (Brassicaceae) taxa [email protected] from closely related polyploid complexes. If you are interested in joining Treasurer Annals of Botany 93: 507-520. Julie Figures the ANPC Board, please [email protected] Moss, E. H. & J. G. Packer. 1983. Flora of Alberta. send an e-mail to Sandy 2nd edition. University of Toronto Press. McAndrews, ANPC Secretary, Directors xiii + 687 p. Marsha Hayward (Northern) at [email protected] or [email protected] phone at (403) 874-3171. Please Tony Blake (Central) Tutin, T. G. et al. (eds.) 1964. Flora Europaea, [email protected] Volume 1. Cambridge University Press. xxxii include the position that you are Christina Metke (Southern) + 464 p. ♦ interested in and your contact [email protected] Kim MacKenzie (Nature Alberta) information. [email protected] 2017 Junior Forest Wardens The following lists the current Membership Secretary National Camp Kelly Ostermann slate of possible nominees for [email protected] ANPC is seeking a volunteer to give Board positions up for re-election: a presentation at this youth outdoor Conservation Action education program held from July 1 to 8 • President – Leslie Monteleone Laurie Hamilton [email protected] at the Blood Indian Park in Bigstone, AB. (incumbent) Education activities range from 1.5 hours • Vice-President – unconfrmed Education and Information to full day sessions. Contact info@anpc. • Secretary – vacant Kristen Andersen [email protected] ab.ca (Subject: ANPC Volunteers) for more • Southern Director – Christina details by April 1, 2017. Metke (incumbent) Rare Plants Leslie Monteleone • Northern Director – Marsha [email protected] ANPC Outreach Hayward (incumbent) ANPC attends community events, Reclamation and Horticulture Voting will take place at the Vacant conferences and more to provide Annual General Meeting, which information about native plants. Please is being held in conjunction with Volunteer Coordinator contact [email protected] or mjredburn@ Vacant hotmail.com (Subject: ANPC Volunteers) the ANPC’s Annual Workshop Project Outreach Volunteer Coordinator if you would like to be on our call-out list on April 29, 2017, in Ponoka, AB. Jacqueline Redburn when events are scheduled and volunteers Visit the website (www.anpc. [email protected] are needed. ab.ca) for workshop program Webmaster updates and registration details. Carole Dodd ACIMS App [email protected] Want a little help navigating the Newsletter Committee Alberta Conservation and Information Mélanie Violette Management Systems (ACIMS) database? [email protected] Patricia McIsaac Download this free app: [email protected] https://play.google.com/store/apps/ Alfred Falk details?id=com.ionicframework. [email protected] Kelly Ostermann acimsapp774258&hl=en [email protected] Currently it’s only available on the Android And many volunteer writers . . . platform. Thanks to Cam Johnston for building the app. www.anpc.ab.ca 5 Iris ♦ The Alberta Native Plant Council Newsletter ♦ No. 80 March 2017 Clones and Seedlings, Floods and Droughts: Cottonwood Regeneration C. Dana Bush Riparian forests are the only native tree and shrub communities in most of the prairies, and they are critical habitat for many prairie animals. Without cottonwood forests, we could lose up to 75% of our prairie birds. The extensive cottonwood forests on the Oldman River between Pincher Creek and Lethbridge are signifcant to the biodiversity of the prairies, and are internationally recognized. C. Dana Bush Flooding Lethbridge has three species of Floods restructure the foodplain, scouring the bottom of the river, breaking and rebuilding cottonwood, all of which are at the riverbanks and islands, and depositing fresh silt. edges of their ranges. Narrow-leaved cottonwood (Populus angustifolia) is a western species that just enters Alberta in the southwest corner, balsam poplar (Populus balsamifera) is a northern species, while plains cottonwood (Populus deltoides) is a southern and eastern species. Southeastern Alberta is the one place all three species occur together, and they produce a swarm of

hybrids making identifcation diffcult. C. Dana Bush

Cottonwoods regenerate from a Seeding Cottonwood seeds are released in mid-June to mid-July, just in time to land on the fresh silt combination of clonal shoots from roots deposited by spring foods. Once moistened, a cottonwood seed germinates within 24 hours. and branches, and seeds. Either way, occasional foods are necessary for them to establish. C. Dana Bush

C. Dana Bush Shoots and Seedlings The seedling roots immediately grow at 0.5 to 1 cm/day, reaching a length of about 60 cm after Clonal shoots the frst growing season, as they follow the water table downward. If the water table drops too Cottonwoods produce clonal shoots from quickly (below a dam, for instance) the seeds lose contact with the water table, and they will beaver-felled stumps and food-toppled perish. trees. Sometimes it is hard to tell if a young forest began by seeds or clones without Cottonwoods typically germinate in a fringe or band no more than 1 metre above the late digging up the roots, but cottonwoods with summer river stage. Above 1 metre, the seedlings are susceptible to drought. Below that band, multiple trunks often originated as clonal the seedlings may be scoured by ice or later foodwaters. shoots. See Cottonwoods, page 7 6 www.anpc.ab.ca Iris ♦ The Alberta Native Plant Council Newsletter ♦ No. 80 March 2017 Cottonwoods, from page 6 Johnston, Alex. 1989. Floods in the Oldman River Valley at Lethbridge. Sir. Alexander Galt Museum, Lethbridge, AB.

Kalishchuk, Andrea R., Stewart B. Rood, and John N. Mahoney. 2001. Environmental Infuences on Seedling Growth of Cottonwood Species Following a Major Flood. Forest Ecology and Management 144 (2001): 75-89.

Mahoney, John M. 2015. Personal Communication. Alberta Environment and Parks.

Multisar. n.d. Cottonwood Forests Fact Sheet.

Rood, Stewart B. 2015. Personal Communication. University of Lethbridge.

Rood, Stewart B., Lori A. Goater, John M. Mahoney, Cheryl M. Pearce, and Derald G. Smith. 2007. Floods, Fire and Ice: Disturbance

C. Dana Bush Ecology of Riparian Cottonwoods. Can. J. Bot. 85: 1019-1032. ♦ Cottonwood bands The bands range from 7 cm seedlings from the previous year, to 3-metre-high saplings from previous foods. If you walk along a healthy foodplain, you will see even-aged stands in AIN N arcuate bands, illustrating the history of the river. Alberta Vascular Plant Species Keys Cottonwood recruitment naturally event. Now the dam operators manage occurs at irregular intervals. High fow the water to encourage cottonwood Linda Kershaw and Lorna Allen are events occur, on average, one in six survival, providing the weather graciously making plant keys available years. Lethbridge experienced three cooperates. As a result, there are thick for several of Alberta’s vascular plant events in 1902, two of which were stands of different aged saplings re- families on ANPC’s website. major foods, but there were 20 years establishing along the Oldman River. between the 1975 food and the 1995 Available families include food. Recent foods occurred in 2010, Polygonaceae, Primulaceae, 2013 and 2014. Young seedlings can be Selected References Salicaceae, Saxifragaceae, Violaceae, scoured away by subsequent fooding, Caryophyllaceae, Ericaceae, as in 1902, or perish from lack of water Braatne, Chad R. Gourley, Francine M. R. Grossulariaceae, Ranunculaceae and Hughes, and John M. Mahoney. 2005. during drought years, as in 2006 and Rosaceae as well as illustrated and 2007 after good germination in 2005. Managing River Flows to Restore Floodplain Forests. Frontiers in Ecology and the revised editions of Amaranthaceae, Environment 3 (4): 193-201. Asteraceae and Brassicaceae. Dams alter the fow of water and can help or hinder cottonwood recruitment. Clipperton, G. Kasey, C. Wendell Koning, Allan See Publications > Keys to Alberta Past water management in the Oldman, G.H. Locke, and John M. Mahoney. 2003. Vascular Plants on the ANPC website. Waterton, and St. Mary’s Rivers Instream Flow Needs Determinations for the http://anpc.ab.ca/?page_id=3089. deprived cottonwood seedlings of South Saskatchewan River Basin, Alberta, much needed water during the summer Canada. Alberta Environment and Alberta Please share the keys with anyone who Sustainable Resource Development. drawdown and subsequent years, might fnd them useful. so recruitment was low. Research by Stewart Rood at the University of Cooke, Janice E.K. and Stewart B. Rood, 2007. Trees of the People: The Growing Science of Linda and Lorna ask that you try Lethbridge, John Mahoney with Alberta Poplars in Canada and Worldwide. Can. J. Bot. the keys and then let Linda know if Environment, and the operators of the 85: 1103-1110. there are ways the draft keys can be St. Mary’s, Waterton and Oldman Dams improved. showed that the seedlings required a Foster, Stephen Gregory. 2016. Cottonwood gradual recession of 4-5 cm/day after Evaluation Following Environmental Flow Please pass on your comments to a food, and 2-3 years of consecutive Implementation along the Waterton River, Linda at [email protected]. fows to support the recruitment Alberta. M.Sc., University of Lethbridge, AB. www.anpc.ab.ca 7 Iris ♦ The Alberta Native Plant Council Newsletter ♦ No. 80 March 2017 otan ora in the lan iver alle in ethbrie

C. Dana Bush

The Oldman River runs through the over, fipping through picture books Alberta Conservation Information heart of Lethbridge. It is a broad valley and memories, considering composites Management System (ACIMS) with steep eroding slopes, which and evening primroses, until we Defnitions: the city has protected in a vast parks came upon evening star or sand-lily S1 elements are known from fve or fewer system. Botanists (and others) can (Mentzelia decapetala), a member of occurrences or especially vulnerable access the coulees, cottonwood forests the Loasaceae family. This S3-ranked to extirpation because of other and riverbanks from both the top and species is a biennial — we had found factor(s). bottom of the escarpment, giving us a the frst year growth. This summer S2 elements are known from twenty or wonderful array of plant communities it could reach a metre tall with large fewer occurrences or vulnerable to to explore. Seven of us explored the white fowers that open in the evening. extirpation because of other factors. valley last spring, in early June. Hmmm, I sense another road trip. S3 elements are known from 100 or fewer occurrences, or somewhat vulnerable We began in Alexander Wilderness We spent the afternoon along the due to other factors, such as restricted Park at the north edge of the city, and banks of the Oldman River looking range, relatively small population hiked the coulees and hills, exploring at cottonwood seedlings. Lethbridge sizes, or other factors. the plants growing on the dry ridges is the only place in the world where Tracking List — ACIMS compiles data and those in the narrow coulee all three cottonwoods coexist: the from S1, S2, and some S3 species bottoms. On a protected east-facing plains cottonwood (Populus deltoides) in a database, which is available to slope, we found a large patch of dense (S3), lance-leaved or narrow-leaved researchers and botanists. chokecherry (Prunus virginiana), with cottonwood (Populus angustifolium) (S3), Watch List — ACIMS holds data for some buckbrush (Symphoricarpos occidentalis) and balsam poplar (Populus balsamifera) species for which there is some and gooseberries (Ribes oxycanthoides) (common). We found several cohorts of uncertainty about whether or not growing in the shady understory. seedlings and suckers, the most recent they should be on the tracking list. We poked around at the edges until from 2015 and many from the foods in we found a game trail leading into a 2014 and earlier. bedding area, and sure enough we Dana Bush (P.Biol., M.Sc., B.F.A.) is found waterpod (Ellisia nyctelea). This The fnal morning, we explored a a plant geek who works as a consulting S3-ranked species on the watch list steep coulee slope along Country botanist specializing in rare plants and (ACIMS October 2015) has specifc Club Road near the Mountain View wetlands. She also works as an artist, habitat requirements. This little annual Cemetery. We hoped to re-fnd several making three-dimensional objects (of needs the bare and moist ground found rare species that had been documented painted silk) that portray ecological systems under shady moist woods and stream- there, but instead we found signifcant and relationships. banks. I’ve seen it on shrubby slopes populations of red three-awn (Aristida where animals hang out and trample purpurea var. longiseta). Red three-awn References the ground, eliminating the perennial is S3 and tracked, and the community Alberta Conservation Information Management System (ACIMS). 2015. List of Elements in competitors. To my delight, we also is an S1, occurring at the far north edge Alberta: Vascular Plants (October 2015). found American pellitory (Parietaria of its range. Red three-awn grassland is Available at: https://www.albertaparks. pensylvanica), another uncommon usually found on steep (30-40 degrees) ca/albertaparksca/management-land- annual (also S3 on the watch list), far south-facing slopes (Allen 2014), use/alberta-conservation-information- west of where I have seen it before, which described this site perfectly. management-system-acims/tracking-watch- and the frst record for Lethbridge. Unfortunately, the gale-force winds lists/ American pellitory has a similar habitat prevented us from doing more than as waterpod, although it seems to marking the locations of the signifcant Allen, L. 2014. Alberta Conservation tolerate somewhat drier conditions. patches, as we were in peril of being Information Management System Ecological Community Tracking List. Alberta Tourism, blown down the steep slopes. Here is Parks and Recreation, Edmonton, Alberta. Hiking back down a coulee draw, we another site begging to be resurveyed. Available at: https://www.albertaparks. found a stiff pinnate-leaved rosette with Is anyone interested? ca/albertaparksca/management-land- no fowers, growing in a tiny eroding use/alberta-conservation-information- seepage area. Stumped, we mulled this management-system-acims/tracking-watch- lists/ See Oldman Valley, page 9 8 www.anpc.ab.ca Iris ♦ The Alberta Native Plant Council Newsletter ♦ No. 80 March 2017 Oldman Valley, from page 8 Susan Glover Susan Glover

Searching for red three-awn (Aristida purpurea var. longiseta) New cottonwood seedlings growing at the edge of the Oldman River. above Country Club Road.

American pellitory (Parietaria pensylvanica) is a small weedy Rich Zollinger annual closely Waterpod (Ellisia related to nyctelea) is a small stinging nettle annual that thrives (Urtica dioica). in shady, damp,

C. Dana Bush disturbed conditions. C. Dana Bush C. Dana Bush

Iris is published three times a year by ANPC. The Council aims to increase knowledge of Alberta’s wild fora and to preserve this diverse resource for the enjoyment of present and future generations.

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Copyright remains with the authors except where noted. Permission to reprint is generally granted, but please contact the editors for details.

Submission deadline for the next issue: Evening star October 15, 2017 (Mentzelia decapetala) is a biennial that A subscription to Iris is included with blooms in the second membership in the ANPC. To join, contact the year. ♦ secretary, or check our website, www.anpc.ab.ca. C. Dana Bush www.anpc.ab.ca 9 Iris ♦ The Alberta Native Plant Council Newsletter ♦ No. 80 March 2017

Rare Plant Study Groups There are several rare plant ecology study News an vents groups associated with ANPC. Some meet throughout the year. One is a summer- ANPC Workshop, AGM & Plant Happenings only feld study group. And new groups PlantWatch Book Exchange 2017 Plant Happenings newsletter informs are just beginning in the Peace Region. Date: April 29, 2017 readers of a wide range of topics related Location: Ponoka Community Centre, to botany — meetings, conferences, Group participants nurture their interest in Ponoka, AB activities, publications and more. and expand their knowledge of Alberta’s Topic: Biodiversity in Alberta’s Changing native plants and communities and local Landscape Plant Happenings is available on ANPC’s ecology. Please contact facilitators for website http://anpc.ab.ca/?page_id=2795. details and to confrm attendance. Program specifcs will be posted at www.anpc.ab.ca and in the ANPC info- If you have submissions for Plant Peace Region Native Plant Study emails. Register online or use the mail- Happenings or want to subscribe via Group (Peace River) in registration form at the back of this email, please contact Anna at amozolik@ Location: NAIT Boreal Research Institute, newsletter. gmail.com. 8102 - 99 Avenue, Peace River (beside Northern Lakes College). Date: First PlantWatch Book Exchange: PlantWatch You don't have to be an ANPC member Wednesday of the month; March & April is hosting a botany book exchange again to receive this publication — all you have 2017. Time: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Facilitator: this year at ANPC’s workshop. If you have to do is ask. But we hope you'll consider Melanie Bird ([email protected]). botany books (plant ID books, feld guides, becoming an ANPC member. wildfower gardening books, medicinal Central Alberta Rare Plant Study and edible uses of plants (ethnobotany), Group (Edmonton) botany text books) that you’d like to trade Location: University of Alberta Herbarium, or to donate for PlantWatch to sell, please B-613 (botany wing), Biological Sciences contact Elisabeth at e.beaubien@ualberta. Building (east end), Saskatchewan Drive, ca before mid-April. The funds will be Edmonton. Date: Last Wednesday of the used to support Alberta PlantWatch (e.g., month; October to April inclusive. Time: paying for spring mailing to observers). 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Facilitator: Varina Crisfeld ([email protected]). Field Trip: Sunday, April 30 at J.J. Collett Provincial Natural Area. Southern Alberta Rare Plant Study Group (Calgary) Please plan to join us! Mixed Grasss Forum 2017 Location: University of Calgary Herbarium, Theme: Restoring the Native Prairie Biological Sciences Basement. Date: First Date: April 6, 2017 Saturday of the month; October to April Botany Alberta 2017 Location: Medicine Hat College inclusive (NO April meeting in 2017). Time: Date: June 2–4, 2017 noon to 4:00 p.m. Facilitator: Leslie Location: Big Sagebrush Natural Area Contact [email protected] for more Monteleone (lesliemonteleone@hotmail. Join us for a weekend of botanizing at information. com). Big Sagebrush NA, part of the newly designated Castle area complex of Medicine Hat Rare Plant Study provincial parks and one of ANPC’s ANPC Native Plant Source List Group stewardship sites. ANPC and Castle Crown ANPC is currently updating our native Location: Medicine Hat College Herbarium Wilderness Coalition are teaming up to plant source list. If you have approximately (L155). Date: Fourth Saturday of the proved a weekend of botanical delights. 20 hours to spare over the next month month, except December & February Check www.anpc.ab.ca for more details. and have good organizational skills & (LAST Sat. in March 2017) from noon experience with Excel AND are looking to to 3:00 p.m. Facilitator: Cathy Linowski support a short-term project such as this, ([email protected]). Native Plant Colouring Book Project please contact us at [email protected] .

The ANPC is developing a colouring book Northern Plant and Ecology Study If you are a vendor and would like to be for use at youth events. Volunteers are Group (NPESG) included in the list you can send your needed to create drawings that can be This is a feld-based study group, active contact information to [email protected]. used in the book. Contact info@anpc. through the growing season and into early The 2017 update is anticipated to be ab.ca (Subject: ANPC Volunteers) for more autumn. Contact Marsha Hayward for released in March. details. more information ([email protected]).

10 www.anpc.ab.ca Iris ♦ The Alberta Native Plant Council Newsletter ♦ No. 80 March 2017

PROGRAM TIMES: Check - in and Registraton: 8:00 am - 8:30 am Workshop Presentatons: 8:30 am - 4:15 pm Annual General Meetng: 4:30 pm - 6:00 pm “Mix and Mingle” Banquet: 6:15 pm Everyone is invited to atend the AGM. Learn about ANPC actvites. An informal botanizing foray will visit the JJ Collet Provincial Natural Area on Sunday, April 30, 2017, weather permitng. More details will be available on our website.

Alberta Native Plant Council 30th Workshop and Annual General Meeting

Saturday, April 29, 2017 Kinsmen Community Centre, 5009—46 Avenue, Ponoka, Alberta

You may register online for the workshop here: www.anpc.ab.ca/2017 Workshop

Photo: C.Bradley

Please watch our ANPC website for all the details about this year’s Kinsmen Centre workshop: www.anpc.ab.ca

Town of Ponoka

www.anpc.ab.ca 11 Iris ♦ The Alberta Native Plant Council Newsletter ♦ No. 80 March 2017

For WORKSHOP & REGISTRATION INFORMATION Contact: 403-485-1144 or [email protected] 30th Workshop and Annual To REGISTER by MAIL: General Meeting Mail registraton form and cheque or money order to: ”Biodiversity in Alberta’s Changing 2016 ANPC Workshop Landscape” Bo 1530 ulcan, AB T0L 2B0 Please make payment to Alberta Natve Plant Council Saturday, April 29, 2017 To REGISTER ONLINE with PayPal or credit card please see our Kinsmen Community Centre website page: www.anpc.ab.ca2017 Workshop 5009—46 Avenue, Ponoka, Alberta

REGISTRATION FORM: (Please print) WORKSHOP FEES: Applicable Early Bird Rate Regular Rate NAME: Box untl riday, aer riday, April 7, 2016 April 7, 2016

ALATN: ANPC members 75 $90

Non-members $90 $105 ADDRESS: Students $35 $45

Seniors $35 $45 CT:

inner Banquet $35 PRNCE: My diet is restricted please describe:

PSTAL CE: ANPC MEMBERSHIP FEES:

Applicable

PNE NMBER: Box

ndividual $25 EMAL ARESS: amily $45

Senior $10

Student $10

Registraton cancellaton will be accepted Corporate $100 untl April 14, 2017 and will be subect to a Lifetme $500 20 processing fee.

Total Enclosed $______

12 www.anpc.ab.ca