DAVIS BOTANICAL SOCIETY LASTHENIA

LASTHENIA, the Newsletter of STUDENT GRANTS UPDATE the Davis Botanical Society, is Due to changes in our newsletter nia poppies in Chile and subsequent published by the Society in format and publication time, we have morphological changes in the . collaboration with the staff of not yet reported the outcome of our Jon Price was awarded the G. the UC Davis Herbarium and Botanical Conservatory. 2001 student grant competition. Ledyard Stebbins Award for his Four graduate students in three dissertation research testing potential OFFICERS graduate groups were selected in factors relating to biodiversity in the President: Art Shapiro Spring 2001 to receive Davis Botanical Hawaiian flora. Jon has collected data Society Student Research Grants. from herbaria and in situ and President-elect: Barry Meyers-Rice Leslie Allen, Ecology Graduate has added much information about Membership Vice President: Bill Group, is the first masters degree species he has found in degraded and McCoy student to receive a research grant. threatened locales. Jon is a member of Secretary: Jean Shepard Her study of pollination ecology and the Geography Graduate Group, Treasurer: Bill McCoy/Ellen Dean genetic identity of Chryothamnus working with Debbie Elliott-Fisk. nauseosus, rabbit brush, on the While we are reporting on the Past President: Judy Jernstedt western slope of the Sierra Nevada recipients of the Society’s 2000-2001 Members at Large: Evelyn Healy, received the E. Eric Grissell Award. grants, it is also timely to announce Ernesto Sandoval, Emily Griswold She works with Art Shapiro. the imminent competition for next Student Member at Large:Tanya Esteban Bortiri of the Biology year. In 2001-2002 four awards of Scharaschkin Graduate Group was named to the $500 each will be available, thanks to Ex officio: Ellen Dean, Tim first Larry Mitich award for field generous donors and the newly Metcalf, Jackie Schad, Kate studies of the seven native species of endowed grant in memory of Prof. Mawdsley Prunus in . Esteban works Jack Major announced elsewhere in with Dan Potter. this issue. Application information is Contributors: E. Dean, J. Schad, Elizabeth Leger of the Ecology available at the Herbarium; deadline G.L. Webster, D. Rizzo, L. Huiet, Graduate Group won the DBS award. for submission is mid-March. T. Metcalf, K. Mawdsley She will study the invasion of Califor- Publisher: Susan Gloystein K. Mawdsley

UC Davis Herbarium Section of Plant Biology One Shields Avenue University of California Davis, CA 95616 0942

8 No. 19 Winter 2002 LASTHENIA

NEWSLETTER OF THE DAVIS BOTANICAL SOCIETY

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION BOTANICAL FUNDS HERBARIUM EQUIPMENT, JACK SOCIETY NETS MAJOR STUDENT GRANT ENDOWED A PRESIDENT We happy to announce that the UC We have a butterfly expert leading the Davis Herbarium has received a Botanical Society this year—what’s $350,000 grant from the National going on? Well, if you were lucky Science Foundation to fund the enough to attend Art Shapiro’s Botanical purchase of herbarium cases, library Society talk on butterflies in botanical shelving, and a movable aisle storage art (Fall, 2000), you will have realized system. The equipment will be that Art isn’t just an expert on butter- installed in the Herbarium’s new flies. He is a true Renaissance man with collections area in the Sciences Labora- an avid interest in almost any topic, tory Building in 2004, and move-in is especially natural history and biogeog- planned for the fall of that year. The raphy. Art has been at UCD since 1971, Herbarium’s specimen capacity will first as faculty in the Zoology Depart- expand by about 30 percent, which will ment, and since the early 1990s in the both allow the collections to grow and Section of Evolution and Ecology (with help protect the specimens from a secondary affiliation in Entomology). damage due to compression. He teaches popular courses on evolu- Site clearance for the Sciences tion and systematics and spends an Laboratory Building began in Decem- admirable amount of time with either a ber, and ground-breaking will occur in coffee cup or a butterfly net in his hand. May. The Sciences Laboratory Building Each winter, he sponsors a contest for is expected to be the most modern spotting the first cabbage butterfly of sciences teaching facility in California, the new year—and usually wins it Floor Plan of New Herbarium Space in and the new herbarium will be an the Science Laboratory Building. himself. important resource for students and Art grew up on the outskirts of faculty, the agricultural community, and Philadelphia. While roaming the local the general public. especially in the areas of plant ecology, woods, he developed a very early The campaign to raise private plant systematics or plant geography. continued on page 2 support for the new Herbarium ended Income from a founding endowment of the year with almost $500,000 in gifts $10,000 will support a new Jack Major and pledges towards the $2.5 million Award as one of the annual student IN THIS ISSUE goal. As part of this effort, friends and grants awarded by the Davis Botanical colleagues of June McCaskill have Society. Fund raising continues for this Society Profiles ...... 1 donated nearly $80,000 towards the effort, which has a goal of $25,000. Directors’ Corner...... 2 $150,000 needed to name the new plant For details on how you can support Forest Health in California...... 3 identification room in her honor. the herbarium or the conservatory with In another fund-raising area of great a gift, please contact Jackie Schad at Mendocino Pass Tour ...... 5 interest to DBS members, a year-end gift (530) 754-9254 or [email protected]. Oak Field Trip Report ...... 5 of more than $7,000 from an anony- mous donor helped establish the Jack J. Schad and E. Dean Yolo County Bookshelves ...... 6 Major Memorial Endowment to support Student Grant Update ...... Back page student field research in , 1 DIRECTORS’ CORNER

Herbarium fundraising team, please contact me or (one of our NSF interns from the Jackie Schad (Director of Development summer of 2000) working with us again The good news in the herbarium is that for the Division of Biological Sciences). all fall. She helped us with many our plans for a new space are continuing We were very lucky to have long- different curatorial tasks. smoothly. We have final architectural time student employee Melissa Cheung Our volunteers continue to be of plans, and groundbreaking for the new working with us all summer. Last spring immeasurable help. We were happy to Laboratory Sciences Building will take Melissa curated our oak collection, and host two student interns this past fall— place in late spring. I submitted a before she left us for pharmacy school, Rebecca Wenk and Katrina Bradley— collections grant to the National Science she labeled hundreds of collections from both of whom will be continuing with Foundation in September for new cases the 1980’s. In October, we hired 11 us in the winter quarter. Graduate and a compact storage system for the student mounters, and although it made student and Arboretum staff member new herbarium facility, but we still have our small space quite busy and crowded Mark Bibbo helped collect and identify some fundraising to do to secure the at times, we were happy to see all the specimens from Quail Ridge this past space. If you have any ideas for our specimens that were mounted. We were summer. Layne Huiet continues to also fortunate to have Kate Carpenter curate our fern collection on weekends and her days off. Before being whisked SOCIETY PROFILES Art Shapiro away to a paid position in the conserva- tory, Eva Bayon helped us curate our lichen collections and re-label our grass BOTANICAL SOCIETY cabinets. New to our volunteer force is Denny Nolet, who wandered in with an NETS A PRESIDENT interest in conifers. He has finished (CONT FROM PAGE 1) curating all of our gymnosperms, and he is now refoldering our angiosperms. interest in the natural world, settling Kook-Hyun Chung continues as a on by age 9 and butterflies by volunteer filer, and the unmatchable age 11. As an undergraduate at the Kate Mawdsley helps us with just about University of Pennsylvania, he anything you can think of. We were worked with the renowned ecologist/ happy to honor Kate, Layne, Eva, Kook- biogeographer Robert MacArthur, Hyun and Susan Gloystein, who designs ending up in Arizona investigating Lasthenia, at our fall meeting, and we the distribution of butterflies on thank them for their dedicated service altitudinal gradients. He also devel- over the past year. If you are interested oped his growing interest in botany, in volunteering in the herbarium or an interest that continues to this day. helping us collect specimens, please During his graduate work on contact Ellen Dean or Jean Shepard at sympatric speciation at Cornell, Art 530-752-1091. Dr. Art Shapiro, net in hand. took an excellent course in Tropical E. Dean Botany, which began his life-long interest in the New World tropics. Since Conservatory his arrival at UCD, he has had two main thrusts to his work. The first Our dream of labeling the collection deals with the evolution and biogeography of New World cabbage butter- with photo-engraved black anodized flies (especially of cool temperate and high Andean regions); the second aluminum labels, which are much easier focuses on the monitoring of the butterfly fauna along an established east- to read, less obtrusive, and more west transect in Northern California. He also has had a number of projects permanent than flimsy white plastic on the role of butterfly host plants in butterfly speciation (an interest that labels, is on its way to realization. We goes back to his graduate days at Cornell). have never had adequate funds for the Art has always been a keen supporter of the UC Davis Herbarium. Back labels, engraving charges, or staffing to in the 1970’s, he began a tradition of bringing the “weed of the week” to do the needed collection-wide speci- then-Curator, June McCaskill. He specializes in finding weird range men-by-specimen name verification. extensions—plants growing out of their normal . He also has an Thanks to a combination of a Genetic amazing eye for weeds recently introduced from outside of California. One Resources Conservation Program grant of his proudest weed moments was in the early 1970’s, when he noticed for $2,300, a record-breaking return the noxious weed “giant foxtail” (Setaria faberi) growing in Rocklin. He from the Plant Faire (over $12,000) and reported it, and it was quickly eradicated, saving Rocklin from at least one the availability of Dr. Eva Bayon, this new weed. We have dozens of Shapiro herbarium specimens in our project is currently under production. collections, mostly from California, but also from Chile and other areas of Dr. Bayon has accepted the challenge South America. We thank Art for his dedicated service to the Botanical of researching and verifying current Society and look forward to many other botanical contributions from him. and accurate names for our several thousand plants and forty years of E. Dean 2 continued on page 7 SPRINGTIME FLORAL EXUBERANCE Two articles in this issue initiate an accent. Red maids (Calandrinia ciliata), there are portable toilets for hikers and occasional feature sharing favorite cream cups (Platystemon californicus), river rafters. Highway 140 is a clearly botanical locations and outings with several Phacelias, tomcat clover signaled exit from US99 at Merced. DBS members. Look for Prof. Art (Trifolium willdenovii) and bird’s eye The main route into Yosemite National Shapiro’s enticing description of the gilia (Gilia tricolor) also added color. Park, it is heavily traveled on week- challenges and rewards of Mendocino Evident but not yet blooming were soap ends. Pass, the destination for the Society’s plant, several lupines, a Linanthus, a A useful illustrated guide to the late Spring field trip. The other sugges- fritillary, fiesta flower (Pholistoma flora of the trail was published in 1985 tion, the walk along the Hite’s Cove auritum), and probably dozens of others by the Merced Canyon Committee, a Trail in Merced County, is well known I didn’t recognize from leaves alone. group advocating protection of the and remarkable for lavish displays of While much of the trail is in full sun South Fork of the Merced River. foothill wildflowers from March to May, (bring a hat, water and sun screen), Wildflowers of the Hite’s Cove Trail by depending on the vagaries of the there are a couple of shaded, wetter Steven J. Botti and Ann weather. It comes at the end of a long areas, one of which sparkled with star- Mendershausen contains keys, drive, although it uses familiar major like waterfall buttercup (Kumlienia illustrations and descriptions of over highways, and makes a pleasant stop on hystricula). Side trails descend to rocks 40 species, and a comprehensive plant a trip to or from Yosemite Valley. along the river at a couple of points, a list. Terminology, of course, follows Hite’s Cove Trail is a gently sloping good location for snacks or a picnic. I Munz rather than the 1993 Jepson 3.5 mile dirt trail paralleling the south should admit that I’ve never gone all the Manual. I bought my copy at Savage’s. fork of the Merced River from Highway way to the end of the trail; a couple of Norman Weeden’s Sierra Nevada Flora, 140 to the site of a former hotel. The miles have usually sated my appetite for 4th ed., 1996, Wilderness Press is also trail, along the north side of the river, spring color and consumed the available helpful, widely available, and a has steep slopes above and below it time. portable alternative to the Jepson which are densely covered with flowers The trailhead for the Hite’s Cove Manual. in a good year. On my most recent visit, Trail is at Savage’s Trading Post, a store If traffic along 140 going east past in mid-March 2001, I found carpets of now specializing in art and jewelry, 23 Mariposa is slow, there’s a compensa- poppies (Eschscholtzia cespitosa), miles east of Mariposa on Highway 140. tion. Sharp vertical ridges on both lacepod (Thysanicarpus cruvipes), and There are good signs along the highway sides of the road were vibrant, almost popcorn flower (Plagiobothrys for the trading post, and the trailhead is fluorescent with poppies last March. nothofulvus) with blue dicks easily visible to the left of the building. What a spectacle! (Dichelostemma capitatum) as a vivid Parking is along the highway, where K. Mawdsley

FOREST HEALTH IN CALIFORNIA AND SUDDEN OAK DEATH SYNDROME AN EXCERPT FROM OUR FALL SEMINAR There are many impacts and pressures common form of disturbance in these Valley. Wildfire suppression and on the forests of California. These range forests driving both understory and meadow draining were implemented from development pressures of urbaniza- overstory mortality, increasing forest during the first century of management tion and agriculture to the impacts of gap size and mortality of large, old- by Euroamericans. These practices logging and fire suppression. In addition, growth overstory trees. A number of created conditions which encouraged there are numerous diseases that impact studies have suggested that increases in the development of a dense conifer the health of California forests. These stem density and reduction of tree forest within the valley. Tree removals diseases include those caused by native species diversity with fire suppression for vista clearance, campground and pathogens as well as exotic pathogens. increase the scale and severity of pest lodging construction, and bark beetle Forest health in western conifer mortality. control projects created thousands of forests has become a significant concern Yosemite Valley serves as a good stumps. Many of these stumps have as large-scale mortality has increased in example of how a native pathogen has been infected with spores of the last decade. While there are many “emerged” in recent years by interact- Heterobasidion annosum, a fungal definitions of forest health, most ing with human caused changes to the pathogen which causes root decay in mention that unhealthy forests have pest landscape. Root disease is now among conifers. The fungus has since spread and mortality levels outside the range of the most important vegetation manage- from initial infection sites into the historical variability. Historically, pest ment considerations in Yosemite Valley. surrounding forest creating hundreds of mortality of individual or small groups Large trees with root decay have fallen enlarging tree mortality gaps. Park of overstory trees may have been a in the valley causing human fatalities resource managers have established a significant influence on the fine-scale and property damage. Many of the program of hazard tree removal, but species composition characteristic of problems associated with root disease efforts continue to reconcile natural mixed-conifer forest. However, with fire can be traced back to the history of ecosystem processes with public safety. suppression pests may now be the most vegetation management in Yosemite Gaining an understanding of the current continued on page 4 3 RECENT GIFTS TO FOREST HEALTH IN CALIFORNIA (CONT FROM PG 3) THE JUNE MCCASKILL disturbance regime and how human affect entire ecosystems. In some mixed- MEMORIAL FUND management has influenced disturbance evergreen forests nearly all woody in Yosemite Valley will be important in plants can serve as host for P. ramorum. planning restoration strategies and re- The origin of P. ramorum is un- Frederick Addicott establishing the historic fire regime. known, although preliminary data Lori K. Allessio Within the context of larger resource support the idea that it is an exotic in Susanne Armstrong management goals in the valley, disease- California forests. Exotic species of Gary & Mary Breckon and insect-initiated gaps may provide Phytophthora have been considered future opportunities for en- responsible for extensive tree mortality John W. Brinley hancement and meadow restoration. and negative ecological impact in forests Eleanor M. Buehler California forests are also impacted of Australia, Europe and . M. Dale Christensen by several exotic pathogens. Such exotic Phytophthora cinnamomi has devastated Eric Conn pathogens can be particularly destruc- the jarrah forests of western Australia, Elizabeth L. Corbin tive because the host plants have not killing over 50 % of all plant species evolved any sort of resistance to the over several hundred thousand acres. Alva Day pathogen. Some of the most important The broad host range of P. ramorum that Ellen Dean exotic pathogens in California forests we have discovered in California forests Frank R. Drysdale include: white pine blister rust suggests that this pathogen has the Bill B. Fischer (Cronartium ribicola) on 5-needle pines potential to cause similar, long-term Michael D. Fleschner (e.g. Pinus lambertiana, P. albicaulis, P. landscape level changes in these forests. Thomas & Mary Fuller monticola), pitch canker (Fusarium Loss of oaks and other overstory trees circinatum) on Monterey pine (P. and shrubs will have cascading effects Ernest M. Gifford radiata) , and Phytophthora lateralis root on these ecosystems including increased Louis & Georgette Grivetti disease on Port-Orford-cedar fire hazards, soil erosion, and loss of Cole C. Hawkins (Chamaecyparis lawsoniana). Each of habitat for wildlife. Developing restora- Judy Jernstedt these diseases has had a major impact tion plans for these ecosystems will Ann Johnson on plant populations as well as on how represent a significant future challenge these species are managed. for forest managers. Prevention of Franz R. Kegel Over the past seven years, a new spread of the pathogen to areas outside Donald & Yoshie Kyhos disease of tanoak (Lithocarpus the known range will also be a challenge Mary Cecil Major densiflorus), coast live oak (Quercus and has brought together numerous Kate Mawdsley agrifolia) and California black oak (Q. state and federal agencies. Canada and William F. McCoy kelloggii) has killed tens of thousands of South Korea have already implemented Charlotte Mitich trees in central California. The whole quarantines. crown of affected trees often appears to Whether exotic or native, each of Gene Miyao die rapidly, and the foliage may turn the diseases discussed here (and many Terence Murphy from an apparently healthy green to more not discussed) points to the Evelyn B. Neithercutt brown within a few weeks. Named importance of humans in changing Robert & Roswita Norris ‘Sudden Oak Death’ in the popular host-pathogen interactions. This change Patricia L. Piper press, the disease has been shown to be could be a human-mediated change of caused by a recently described patho- the environment (e.g., fire suppression) James & Nancy Pollock gen, Phytophthora ramorum. In Califor- leading to the emergence of a native Warren G. Roberts nia, the disease has been found from Big pathogen or humans bringing a new Frederick J. Ryan Sur to southern Mendocino County. The pathogen in contact with a susceptible H.A. & Maxine Schmalenberger furthest inland sites are in Solano host through global movement of Arthur M. Shapiro County. Recently the pathogen has been ornamental plants. While plant diseases Jean V. Shepard found in isolated areas in southern have received considerable attention in Oregon. Initially, research on the disease agricultural situations, they have less Paul Smith concentrated on oaks. However, in often been considered in natural Marian J. Stephenson December 2000, it was learned that the ecosystems. If we are to address issues Roberta Stevenson pathogen occurred in Germany and the of forest health in coming years, we will John M. Tucker Netherlands on landscape rhododen- need to examine the role pathogens will John L. Vankat dron and viburnum. Since then the host play in any sort of management range of P. ramorum in California has schemes. Marilyn L. Wilson been greatly expanded and now Toshimasa Yutani includes rhododendron, madrone, D. Rizzo Section of Plant Biology huckleberry, manzanita, California bay laurel, buckeye, toyon, honeysuckle and bigleaf maple. On these hosts, P. Ed. Note: We thank Professor Rizzo ramorum causes a variety of foliar and for preparing this resume of his talk at the Thank you branch symptoms. Thus, what was once Society’s Fall program meeting. considered an oak problem actually may 4 MENDOCINO PASS FOR BEGINNERS One of the most amazing—and least Colusa-Lake County line, one encoun- aspect, but in flora as well. Here occur known—botanical and ecological ters dense White Fir forest. At the only Coast Range colonies of the transects one can do in northern Mendocino Pass one finds old-growth subalpine sagebrush, Artemisia California in a car in one day is the Shasta Red Fir, with elevations over arbuscula, and Orthocarpus copelandii, trip from the Central Valley across the 2000m and a winter snow pack that a purple-and-white flowered owl’s high North Coast Range to Covelo on often exceeds four meters and persists clover with a pagoda-like appearance. the combination of Highway 162 and locally into early summer. Slightly further west, there is an USFS road FH7. DBS will do it as an Most of us also think of the Inner isolated colony of daggerpod, organized field trip on Saturday, June Coast Range as appallingly dry in Phoenicaulis cheiranthoides, a striking 29, 2002. Unless, that is, the road is summer—so it comes as a revelation subalpine mustard with pink phlox- still blocked by snow. that the Mendocino Pass area possesses like flowers, which, like the other Most of us tend to think of the a series of boggy montane meadows to species mentioned, is familiar to hikers Coast Range in low-elevation terms— rival anything at comparable elevation on the volcanic mudflows of the oak woodland and chaparral. But from in the Sierra for the diversity and central and eastern High Sierra. But northern Colusa County northward, flamboyance of their wildflower what is it doing here? the crest rises ever higher and the displays. And at the high point on the Beyond the barrens are the Bald ecological zones become ever more road is a remarkable edaphic barren that Hills, a remarkable combination of boreal. By Goat Mountain, on the simulates a Sierran tree-line, not only in continued on page 6

OAKS OF THE COAST RANGE FOCUS OF FALL TRIP The society’s fall field trip, a day focused Road for a lunch stop on the ridge and on identification of oaks of the North some delicious Quercus XX acorn bread Coast Ranges, was not to be missed. The made by Evelyn Healy. Here we again trip was led by the fine team of Dr. John found Quercus durata, but it wasn’t on Tucker, emeritus professor of botany, obvious serpentine. Also present was and Dr. Pam Muick, Director of the our first Quercus kellogii, the California Solano Land Trust and co-author of black oak. We were able to find both Oaks of California. first year and second year acorns on John, Pam and Herbarium Director some of these trees. Black oak acorns Ellen Dean had prepared a wonderful were traded by Indians throughout the handout including an overview of oak state. Our location provided views of subgenera, descriptions of species, maps the Sierras to the west; to the east we of geographic ranges, drawings and keys could see across Solano and Napa for the species we would see, including counties to San Pablo Bay. Definitely a glossary. When we arrived at our first worth a return trip in the spring! stop our leaders began by going over the Pam Muick and John Tucker measure On our way down from the ridge characteristics of the two major a valley oak during our fall field trip. we made a stop for another Quercus divisions within the oaks, the white oak wislizeni and a beautiful canyon live and red oak groups. These groups have oak, Quercus chrysolepis, the only their own distinctive leaves, acorns, intermediate oak that we would see. bark and wood. White oaks have warty to two oak species that look similar but Interestingly we learned that this oak acorn cups, while red oaks have flat, differ in their substrate specificity. has the widest distribution of any of the imbricated scales on the acorn caps. The Quercus berberidifolia is a tall shrub, California oaks. inside of the mature acorn is wooly for widespread, usually on sedimentary The finale of the trip was definitely the red oaks, while the whites are rock, while Quercus durata looks similar impressive. We visited a site on private glabrous. Leaf lobes, lobe shape and but is found on serpentine. Both are property with a valley oak approxi- margins differ too, and this is where it white oaks. Also at this site we were mately seven feet in diameter (measured becomes difficult for the beginner. We introduced to the interior live oak, at the time by Pam). According to Pam also learned that there is a third group, Quercus wislizeni (red oak group), often this is the second largest Quercus lobata the intermediate oaks, which share confused with the previous two species in Solano County. In addition we saw characters of both the red and white and sometimes with the coastal live oak, our first blue oak, Quercus douglasii, up groups. Surprisingly, we learned that the Quercus agrifolia, although they don’t close. What a great day to learn more oaks do have limits to their wanton usually grow together. And another about this wonderful but sometimes ways and only hybridize within their species at this site was Quercus x confounding group we all struggle with subgenera. morehus, the oracle oak, a fertile hybrid identifying. Thanks to John, Pam and Our first stop was a special site between Quercus kelloggii and wislizeni. Ellen for a memorable outing. where serpentine and sedimentary rock After the first stop we headed back are adjacent. Here we were introduced to Solano County and up Mix Canyon ` L. Huiet 5 MENDOCINO PASS FOR YOLO COUNTY BOOKSHELVES BEGINNERS (CONT FROM PG 5) pygmy Oregon Oak-bunchgrass- CALIFORNIA BOTANICAL TREASURES: rabbitbrush-Ericameria savanna with a bizarre admixture of montane THE SAGA CONTINUES and “High Sierran” wildflowers, 2001 has been a very good year for book by Stuart and Sawyer shows both with occasional boggy seeps filled California botany. In addition to the two similarities and differences, both of a with Lupinus polyphyllus and almost new books reviewed below, this year has positive and negative nature. For pure native fescue also seen the publication of the Sixth example, a comparison of the treat- grassland…and…and say, was that edition of the California Native Plant ments of the Pacific Dogwood (Cornus Monument Plant, Frasera speciosa? Society’s Inventory of Rare and Endangered nuttallii) in the two works is instructive. How about knee-high pink Plants of California, Elizabeth McClin- The distribution map in Stuart and shooting stars with (usually) only tock’s Trees of Golden Gate Park and San Sawyer shows the dogwood occurring four , that key out to Francisco, and the sumptuous Illustrated throughout most of California outside Dodecatheon jeffreyi but probably are Flora of Yosemite National Park. These of the deserts, in contrast to that of something new? will be reviewed in later issues. Elias, where it occurs mainly in the The ecology of the Bald Hills Klamath and Sierra, with spotted was described by Harold Clark in disjuncts elsewhere. The map of Elias 1937 (Ecology vol. 18: 214-229). A Trees and Shrubs of California. clearly comes closer to reflecting where great deal of both vegetational and By John D. Stuart and John O. Sawyer. the dogwood actually grows in Califor- floristic information can be gleaned California Natural History Guide 62. nia. The “cosmopolitan” distribution in from Gladys L. Smith and Clare R. University of California Press, Berkeley. Stuart and Sawyer would give the Wheeler, 1991, A Flora of the 467 pp. 2001. $22.50. uninitiated reader the impression that Vascular Plants of Mendocino County, This attractive book is a true field guide, mountain dogwoods flourish among the California, even though much of the somewhat in the format of such woody vernal pools of the Central Valley, which area isn’t in Mendocino County. plant guides as the Golden of course the authors Papers by Heckard and Hickman on Book Trees of North know is not the case. It is the nearby Snow Mountain flora America published by clear from their discussion (1984, Madrono 31:30-47; 1985 Frank Brockman in 1968 in the introductory section Wasmann Journal of Biology 43:1-42) (still in print). It is in that Stuart and Sawyer are are also very useful. closer lineal relationship indicating in their maps To access the area, take I-5 to to Jepson’s Trees of the “bioregions” in Willows. Turn west on 162 to just California (1923) and California where each north of Elk Creek. 162 jogs right, Howard McMinn’s An species occurs, even then abruptly left. It remains paved Illustrated Manual of though the plant popula- and in excellent condition several California Shrubs (1939), tions may occupy only a km past Grindstone Lookout and but in size and binding is fraction of the area that is into mixed conifer forest. The more truly a field manual shaded. The advantage of pavement ends abruptly and the that can be carried in the the mapping system in road thereafter is more or less pocket. The flexible Trees and Shrubs of recently graded dirt. Follow the binding appears likely to California is that it links the geographic “FH7” signs throughout. The road be resistant to the challenges of trans- distribution to the ecological zones and will eventually take you to Covelo, port via canoe, horseback, or rappelling areas in California, but in my opinion where you can hook up with paved up Half Dome. the trade-offs involved make adoption 162 again and go home on Highway With the exception of the books by of the new system questionable. 101, if so inclined. Beware! Between Jepson and McMinn, books on Califor- The description of Cornus nuttallii in Elk Creek and Covelo are about 80 nia trees and shrubs have covered only Stuart and Sawyer is more concise than km of road with no services and no parts of the state. Many of these that of Elias, but is peculiar in conclud- people, except the occasional “partial” floras have also been published ing with features of twigs, after the logging truck. One thing you should in the California Natural History Guide flowers and fruits, contrary to usual definitely expect in summer is a series: Native Trees of the San Francisco botanical practice. On the other hand, thick coating of dust—on you, your Bay Region by Woodbridge Metcalf (no. economic uses and ecological informa- car, your lunch…. 4; 1959); Native Trees of Southern tion given by Stuart and Sawyer are The area is on pages 65 and 66 California by Victor Peterson (no. 14, useful, even though brief. The keys to of the DeLorme Northern California 1966); Native Shrubs of Southern dicot genera are rather unusual in being Atlas and Gazetteer. The high California by Peter Raven (no. 15, overwhelmingly reliant on vegetative country is snowed shut much of the 1966); Native Shrubs of the San Francisco characters, flowers and fruits being winter. Camping is available at Bay Region by Roxana Ferris (1968); mentioned only occasionally and Plaskett Meadows in season; inquire and Native Shrubs of the Sierra Nevada incidentally. This has the advantage that via the Mendocino National Forest by John Thomas and Dennis Parnell trees and shrubs can be readily identi- headquarters at Willows (530/934- (no. 34. 1974). fied at all seasons of the year, but it may 3316), or feel free to contact me Compared with earlier field guides be puzzling to many users, who may (530/752-2176). such as The Complete Trees of North expect atThank least mention of flower you colors. A. Shapiro American by Tom Elias (1980), the new It is evident that Stuart and Sawyer 6 have written their book with the An unusual aspect of Selected Rare amateur, not the professional botanist, Plants of Northern California is its in mind. The alphabetical arrangement authorship by a consortium of botanists of genera is a feature reflecting this. It from a variety of government agencies. will probably irritate some botanists at a Ellen Dean is the sole academic botanist more advanced level, who would prefer credited as co-author, so although Yolo to have genera in the same family County is not included within the together. However, this is not much of a geographical scope of the book, the problem in the conifers, and for the Davis Herbarium was involved in its flowering plants it is mitigated by the preparation. The book reflects great systematic synopsis in Appendix B. The credit on the authors and on the colored photographic plates are University of California Division of attractive, and give varyingly effective Agriculture & Natural Resources. I hope pictures of the plants involved. The line that in the coming years it will be joined drawings of Andrea Pickart are excel- by complementary volumes that will lent, and greatly increase the value of others in its focus on endangered treat the threatened and endangered the book for identification. species. It is a remarkable hybrid work: plant species in the other regions of Overall, the coverage of California on one hand, it is an interesting offshoot California. taxa appears appropriate, outside of the of the six editions of the Inventory of G. L. Webster desert areas in the southeast. The Rare and Endangered Vascular Plants of authors note in the preface that desert California (1974-2000). At the same scrub is less well covered than other time, it is a field guide to identifying areas. The four species of Yucca, which wildflowers on the model of A Field DIRECTORS’ CORNER are common, are included, and the three Guide to Pacific States Wildflowers by (CONT FROM PAGE 2) species of Agave are omitted, perhaps Niehaus and Ripper (1976). because of their succulent habit. For the The introductory section has a sometimes ambiguous records. We look woody plants in the arid areas, Ronald succinct overview of the state and forward to reporting to you when these Taylor’s Desert Wildflowers of North federal programs for documenting the labels are installed. America, which includes desert trees status of rare and endangered plant For squirming grammar and middle and shrubs, is more helpful. Only one species. This is made intelligible to the school students on outreach tours we glaring omission was noted: reader by three very informative tables have found limiting group size to eight Lyonothamnus, one of the most striking that list the legal endangered status of or less to be essential for good commu- of the Californian endemic genera, is each species treated, and its occurrence nication and interaction. Because we completely omitted from the text. Since in geographic and vegetational regions had staff and docents available, Ernesto the introduction states that all native of northern California. For each species, suggested subdividing the Plant Biology tree species are included, this omission a descriptive treatment includes Latin 1 and Biological Science 1C lab tours is inexplicable. However, the treatments and common names (with synonyms), this year into 3 groups of 10 instead of 2 of the taxa that are included appear geographical and ecological data, groups of 15. The lab review tours have well-designed and informative. diagnostic features, a line drawing, a always been well received and effective, Trees and Shrubs of California is a distribution map, and paired photo- but working with 8-10 rather than 12- commendable volume of the California graphs of the habitat and habit of the 15 students at a time has greatly Natural History Guide series. A well- plant. Genera are arranged alphabeti- increased our ability to engage those on designed and illustrated, durable book, cally, and in addition to the general the margins of our tight aisles and to it will be very useful for anyone index there is also a systematic index in respond to more individual questions. travelling around California to become which species are listed under the The Conservatory interns’ projects acquainted (or reacquainted) with the appropriate families. There are no keys Fall quarter were very practical for both diverse woody flora of California. It to taxa, as Selected Rare Plants of them and us. Meghan McGinty, in could also be profitably consulted by Northern California is designed to be preparation for spending six months naturalists in adjacent parts of Oregon used in coordination with statewide with Education Abroad in Costa Rica, and Nevada. identification manuals such as The assembled an English-Spanish, Spanish- Jepson Manual or local ones such as English glossary of botanical terms. Flora of the Trinity Alps. Illustrated Field Guide to Selected Huong Kim Ding, who is applying for Rare Plants of Northern California. The layout of the book is attractive, especially for the generally excellent pharmacy school, compiled an extensive By Gary Nakamura and Julie Kierstead photographs; the line drawings are taken report on toxicologically safe and toxic Nelson (eds.). University of California from a variety of sources and vary in plants for use in the home interior and Agriculture & Natural Resources quality. The ring binding makes it easy to exterior landscape. Along with the Publication 3395. Oakland, CA. 370 pp. rapidly flip pages in search of a particular report she included a summary of 2001. $36.00 . species. The cardboard covers, however, symptoms and treatments for exposure This attractive volume joins a consider- are probably not waterproof, so the book to those plants’ toxins. able throng of field guides to California should probably be carried in a plastic plants, but is different from all the bag or envelope. T. Metcalf 7