NORTHERN CALIFORNIA BOTANISTS BOTANICAL LEAFLETS

ISSUE 15 SPRING 2015

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE It’s beginning to look like sored by the Klamath and NCB has just completed it’s summer and with the Shasta Trinity National For- review of the 2015-2016 OFFICERS drought it will be interesting ests. Both shows had plenty research scholarship applica- to see what the bloom is like of specimens for people to tions and have selected the President: Linnea Hanson farther upslope. I helped see and were well attended. award recipients. Again, we Vice President: Samantha teach a Families work- received numerous fantastic Hillaire I was able to attend the shop in April for the Friends applications. We want to Southern California Bota- Secretary: Jessica Hammond of the Chico State Herbari- thank the Shasta Chapter of nists meeting last fall and Treasurer: Gail Kuenster um. We went up Highway the California Native Plant the California Native Plant 70 into the Feather River Society for sponsoring a MEMBERS-AT-LARGE Society Conference in San Canyon to collect flowers for scholarship for research Barbara Castro Jose this past January. It was the class since the flowers in relative to their area. What great to attend both events Matt Guilliams the Sacramento Valley were a wonderful collaborative and see so many of you. Brett Hall finished blooming by that effort! Plans are underway for our Lawrence Janeway time. I also helped with the next Symposium which will Have a great summer pursu- Mt. Lassen Chapter CNPS Julie Kierstead Nelson be held on January 11-12, ing your many vast botani- Wildflower Show in Chico in Robert Schlising 2016 with optional work- cal adventures. April and the Siskiyou Wild- shops on the 13th. Daria Snider Linnea Hanson flower Show in Yreka spon- Jane Van Susteren Jenn Yost WELCOME JULIE KIERSTEAD NELSON TO THE NCB Newsletter Editor: BOARD! Gail Kuenster

After four years of serving on the Board, Chase Lentz (Bureau of Land Management) has INSIDE THIS ISSUE: stepped down. Chase served on the Board from 2011 to 2015. Thank you Chase! Northern California Botanists is pleased to announce the appointment of our newest Board Member, Julie Kierstead Nelson. Julie is the Forest Botanist for the Shasta Trinity National PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE 1

Forest and has helped plan and give presentations at many of our past Symposia. WELCOME JULIE KIERSTEAD 1 NELSON TO THE BOARD

MYSTERY PLANT MYSTERY PLANT 1 This knee-high plant represents a monotypic NCB 2016 SYMPOSIUM 2 2015-2016 SCHOLARSHIPS and is also the only representative of its family in 2 California. Its range is restricted to northern Cali- AWARDS ANSEWER TO “MYSTERY fornia, where it is found under 600 m elevation, 2 PLANT” sometimes on serpentine soils. Flowers have 6 , 6 , and a superior ovary. This BOTANISTS IN ACTION 3 geophyte pulls its seedling’s deeper into the TADPOLE FEN 4-5 soil with a contractile root. RARE /PRESCRIBED BURNS IN WHISKEYTOWN 6-7 Photo by Robert Fischer (Answer on Page 2) NRA PAGE 2 BOTANICAL LEAFLETS

NCB 2016 SYMPOSIUM UPDATE & KEYNOTE SPEAKER The seventh Northern California Bota- be our Keynote Speaker. Dr. Harri- ning talk, please send one or two sen- nists Symposium will be held January son’s research focuses on the processes tences about your topic, a title, and 11-12, 2016. The theme: Plant Adap- that shape and maintain plant species your contact information to lin- tations: Research, Conservation, and diversity at the landscape scale. She will [email protected]. Management will include sessions on discuss climate-induced changes to CA The Reception on Monday evening Botanical Genetics, Local Rarity: Dis- plant communities with a focus on di- will be held in Colusa Hall, just a few junct and Marginal Populations, Resto- versity loss in a grassland community. minutes walk from the BMU. The ration, Climate Change, Evolutionary As our last session on Monday, we will poster session will be on Tuesday California Groups, And Now Some have a half hour of six 5-minute long morning. Coffee and breakfast food Good News, and New Discoveries. lightning talks. This is patterned after a will be available. We are happy to announce that Dr. similar session at the CNPS conference. We hope to see you next January! Susan Harrison of UC Davis will If you are interested in giving a light-

2015-2016 STUDENT RESEARCH SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS

Northern California Botanists provides monetary scholarships for students doing research on botanical subjects in northern and central California. We received 31 applications this year and as usual there were many great research projects to choose from. We will be awarding eight scholarships which includes one sponsored by the Shasta Chapter of CNPS* for research in their Chapter Area (Shasta, Siskiyou, Modoc, and Lassen Counties). Abstracts and photos of each recipient and project will be included in our Fall newsletter. Congratulations to these students and thank you to all that submitted applications!

2015-2016 NCB RESEARCH SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS

Degree Recipient College Title of Research Project Program Kyle Christie PhD University of California, Cryptic diversity and integrative of the Strepthanthus Davis breweri complex Julia Michaels MS University of California, Grazing for vernal pool plant diversity across a heterogeneous Davis landscape Kristen Nelson MS California Polytechnic Allelopathic inhibition in understory vegetation in California University, San Luis eucalyptus groves Obispo Moria Robinson PhD University of California, Trickle-up economics: effects of resource availability and quality Davis of plant traits and trophic networks Tommy Stoughton PhD Claremont Graduate Evolution and systematics of Claytonia lanceolata: untangling *Shasta Chapter University polyploidy origins in a challenging species complex CNPS Scholarship* Devon Thrumston Undergrad Mills College Is herbivory driving a genetic bottleneck in Calochortus tiburonen- sis? Crystal Weaver MS San Francisco State Uni- The effects of sediments and their associated microbial commu- versity nities in eelgrass (Zostera marina) restoration Andrew Weitz PhD University of California, The phylogenetic, ecological, and physiological determinants of Berkeley disease pressure in rapidly changing plant communities

Answer to “Mystery Plant”: Odontostomum hartwegii, Hartweg’s Odontostomum (, Tecophilaea Family) ISSUE 15 PAGE 3

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA BOTANISTS IN ACTION Botanists in Action is a continuing series featuring well-known to possibly less-well-known botanists, with pictures from the present to several decades back. If you have unpublished pictures of Northern California Botanists to share, please send jpegs and relevant information to [email protected]

Jim Shevock, a retired botanist with the US Forest Ser- Clare Golec is an Environmental Scientist with the Cali- vice and US National Park Service, is now a Research Asso- fornia Department of Fish and Wildlife, in the coastal ciate with the California Academy of Sciences. In 1997, his Habitat Conservation Program, where duties include research shifted to bryophytes (which he has collected CEQA reviews for rare plants. Past positions include throughout the world), with one specialty being bryophytes re-vegetation specialist with Caltrans, staff botanist for a of fast-flowing private consulting streams. His nu- firm in Northwest- merous publications ern California, and include a (co- survey and forestry authored) book technician with “California Mosses.” USFS Pacific Many plant species Northwest Experi- are named for him, mental Station and including a new three National genus of moss Forests. She is an (Shevockia). Jim active conference- gives quality lec- goer and has tures and workshops chaired a session at on bryophytes— a NCB symposium. including at NCB symposia.

Robert Fischer, a building contractor in Chico, is an Josephine Guardino runs a consulting firm in Los excellent amateur botanist—as expert in lichens as in seed Molinos with her husband John Dittes, doing contracts plants—shown here field-keying in the Warner Moun- for federal, state, and private groups. Here she is point- tains. He is active in local checklisting and CNPS rare ing at the bear claw scratches on a Populus trunk during a plant searches, and does complete local florulas (e.g. for survey near Lake Ahjumawi Lava Davis. She has Springs State served as President Park in North- of the Mount Las- eastern Shasta sen Chapter of County). He is CNPS and is active known as a relia- in several botanical ble provider of groups in Northern fresh plant mate- California. In the rial from the field summer of 2014, for research pro- Jo was a team lead- jects on the West er in the botanical Coast. Robert survey for the has presented Stanislaus National posters at NCB Forest Rim Fire symposia. Recovery Project. PAGE 4 BOTANICAL LEAFLETS

TADPOLE FEN RESTORATION FOR MINGAN MOONWORT, BOTRYCHIUM MINGANENSE

By Kathy Van Zuuk, West Zone Botanist, Tahoe National Forest (photos by American River RD staff except as noted)

Tadpole Fen is located on the Tadpole Fen in August 2011 with bog orchid (Platanthera Tahoe National Forest, dilatata var. leucostachys) and wandering daisy (Erigeron pere- American River Ranger Dis- grinus). trict near Duncan Peak. Fens are unique plant communities and are on the Tahoe National Forest watch list. A fen is a wetland that has at least 40 centimeters of peat. There are less than five fens known to occur on the entire Ameri- can River Ranger District. Tadpole Fen is the only known location of Mingan Moonwort (Botrychium min- Mingan Moonwort ganense) on Tahoe National (Botrychium minganense). Forest system lands. Botrychi- Photo by Tim Ditzman um minganese is a small fern with sterile and fertile por- In April of 2013, at least two the hydrology is one of the tions and is a Tahoe National Forest sensitive plant species. 4-wheel drive vehicles illegal- most important elements of ly entered Tadpole fen dam- fen maintenance and health. aging this important ecosys- Direct damage to the tem. Some ruts were over a Botrychium minganense occur- foot deep and all ruts had rence did not occur. How- running water during the ever, the hydrologic changes spring of 2013. within the fen were indirect- ly impacting it. David Merritt, USDA Rocky Mountain Research Station Kathy Van Zuuk, West Zone and Colorado State Universi- Botanist, Tahoe National ty, and David Cooper, Colo- Forest, was the technical rado State University, both advisor for the American experts in riparian ecosystems River Ranger District. Emer- were contacted to determine gency restoration activities the best restoration tech- were needed to prevent fur- Motorized vehicle damage to Tadpole niques for this site. It was ther damage. Therefore, the Fen in April 2013. determined that raking the restoration activities were

peat back into place and categorically excluded from blocking future access were the National Environmental the best methods to use. Res- Policy Act process. The toration needed to happen district paid for this project quickly since maintenance of using existing district funds. ISSUE 15 PAGE 5

In early May of 2013, Ameri- Tadpole Fen prior to raking of can River Ranger District the ruts. employees and the Green Corp, a program designed to take veterans and retrain them for civilian work, raked in the ruts and blocked access to the fen. Monitoring of this restoration in 2013 showed that restricting the vehicle access was working and that the vehicle ruts had revegetat- ed.

Tadpole Fen after ruts were raked in.

Access to Tadpole Fen blocked using logs.

In 2014, the barricades were checked to make sure they were keeping vehicle access out of the fen. The barricades were indeed working and the fen looked great. The ruts were continuing to revege- New vegetative growth tate. in the ruts in May 2013.

Note: Kathy Van Zuuk has been a botanist on the Tahoe National Forest since 1985 and will retire on June 16, 2015. She has worked for the Forest Service for 33 years and 8 months. We wish Kathy well in her retirement! PAGE 6 BOTANICAL LEAFLETS

RARE PLANT SPECIES RESPONDING FAVORABLY TO PRESCRIBED FIRE AND FUELS TREATMENT IN WHISKEYTOWN NATIONAL RECREATION AREA

By Jennifer Gibson, Ecologist, Whiskeytown National Recreation Area (photos by Jennifer Gibson and Whiskeytown NRA staff except as noted)

Whiskeytown National Recre- implemented a fuels manage- ation Area borders an urban ment program designed to re- interface that is comprised of duce hazardous fuels adjacent homes and structures within a to developed areas and restore diverse assortment of oak fire-dependent ecosystems. woodland, chaparral, and This is accomplished with a knobcone/ponderosa pine veg- combination of prescribed fire etation types. The combination and a network of shaded fuel- of hot and dry summers, steep breaks, which are constructed slopes, and frequent fire starts by the cutting and pile-burning has created a situation in which of small diameter trees and wildfire is inevitable. It is be- understory shrubs along ridge- cause of this threat that the lines and roadsides. Prescribed fire in urban interface (above) and National Park Service has Shasta County arnica habitat (below). CNPS listed rare plant species that benefit from these activi- ties include the Klamath en- demic, Shasta County arnica (Arnica venosa). Typically found along road cuts, the largest population of Shasta County arnica at Whiskeytown is ap- proximately 7 acres and makes up a significant portion of the understory plant community along the oldest shaded fuel- break in the park. This fuelbreak has been re- peatedly treated with pre- scribed fire and understory thinning since the early 1990’s with the overarching goal of Shasta County arnica (Arnica venosa) in a roadcut preventing a large wildfire (above) and in a fuelbreak (below). from leaving the park bounda- ry and posing a threat to near- by communities. Fire crews have worked laboriously to remove a once impenetrable thicket of dense whiteleaf manzanita from under mixed conifers and large diameter Prescribed fire in Shasta County black oaks, resulting in a di- arnica habitat (note the cut verse understory of native stumps of manzanita in the fore- grasses and herbaceous spe- ground). cies. ISSUE 15 PAGE 7

In nearby prescribed burn Similarly, Sanborn’s onion units, Shasta County arnica (Allium sanbornii var. sanbornii) appears to be a “fire follower” has responded favorably to the in that seedlings have germi- select thinning of dense stands nated within the first few years of whiteleaf manzanita and post fire. Fire effects monitor- chamise around park structures ing data also revealed new on dry, south-facing slopes. populations of Shasta County Since the manual cutting and arnica in areas that have removal of overstory shrubs burned multiple times over the can mimic the effects of fire on past ten years – either with the structural patterns of prescribed fire or in combina- woody vegetation, native per- tion with wildland fire. In the Shasta County arnica seedlings germinate in an ennial herbaceous species, such absence of treatment, these area recently treated with prescribed fire. as Sanborn’s onion, have clear- populations appear to fade ly taken advantage of the avail- with time as the succession of ability of sunlight in the areas native shrubs and trees takes that have been repeatedly hold. treated. Unfortunately, annual exotic grasses have invaded, but appear to not have an ad- verse impact on Sanborn’s on- ion. Whiskeytown staff care- fully time their defensive space projects so as to not negatively impact Sanborn’s onion before it has a chance to flower and go to seed.

Sanborn’s onion habitat (Allium sanbornii var. sanbornii) (far left) and closeup. (photo by Sean Smith)

NPS fire effects monitoring photopoints of the Monarch Mountain Prescribed Burn Unit demonstrating conditions before treatment in 1995 (left) and after three prescribed burns in 2010 (right). Shasta County arnica and understory native grasses and herbaceous species thrived after multiple prescribed fire treatments. NORTHERN CALIFORNIA BOTANISTS

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