John Gamon Natural Heritage Program Washington Department of Natural Resources P.O. Box 47016 Olympia, Washington 98504

Rare Vascular of the South Puget Sound Prairie Landscape John Gamon

Abstract

The Washington Natural Heritage Program (WNHP) currently tracks eighteen vascular taxa that occur, or have historically occurred, within the South Puget Sound Prairie Landscape (SPSPL). Six of these occur within grassland habitats and are the subject of this paper. The , and their WNHP status, are: Agoseris elata (Sensitive), Aster curtus (Sensitive), Castilleja levisecta (Endangered), (Sensitive), Meconella oregana (Threatened), and malviflora var. virgata (Possibly Extirpated from Washington).

Aster curtus and Castilleja levisecta are endemic to the Puget Trough/Willamette Valley region. Sidalcea malviflora var. virgata occurs primarily in and south of the Willamette Valley; there is one record from the early 1980’s from Thurston County. Agoseris elata, Githopsis specularioides and Meconella oregana all occur in , Oregon and Washington. However, in Washington they are not restricted to the SPSPL.

Three of the grasslands species are currently thought to be extirpated from the SPSPL: Agoseris elata, Meconella oregana, and Sidalcea malviflora var. virgata. Githopsis specularioides is currently known from on site within the region, and that site is a grassy bald isolated from the extensive prairie systems. Castilleja levisecta is known from only one site within the SPSPL. However, as the largest and healthiest of the world’s twelve remaining populations, it is extremely significant. Aster curtus is currently known from approximately 50 sites in Washington, most of which are from the SPSPL.

The grassland species in the SPSPL have been under threat since Europeans began settling the region. Conversion to agriculture, housing and business development, gravel extraction, grazing, recreational pressure, invasion of non-native species, fire suppression leading to undesirable plant succession have cumulatively accounted for a phenomenal loss of habitat for plants native to this ecoregion. What little habitat remains is increasingly isolated, fragmented, and further degraded.

The state Department of Natural Resources manages three Natural Area Preserves within the SPSPL that have grassland ecosystems and rare plants: Bald Hill (Githopsis specularioides), Mima Mounds (Aster curtus), and Rocky Prairie (Aster curtus and Castilleja levisecta). Fort Lewis, McChord Air Force Base, the Department of Fish and Wildlife, and Thurston County also manage areas with significant populations of Aster

J. Gamon Rare Vascular Plants 85 curtus. However, in order for the combined conservation efforts of agencies and organizations to be successful, more work is needed. In particular, we need to learn more about how these ecosystems function, and how the rare species respond to management activities and disturbances under both natural and disturbed conditions.

Introduction In addition to being listed by the WNHP, The Washington Natural Heritage three of these taxa have standing with Program (WNHP) currently tracks the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. eighteen taxa that occur, Castilleja levisecta has been formally or have historically occurred, within the proposed for listing as threatened under South Puget Sound Prairie Landscape the federal Endangered Species Act (SPSPL)(WNHP 1994; Rolph 1996). (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1994). Six of these occur within grassland A final ruling on its status is pending. habitats and are the subject of this paper. Aster curtus and Meconella oregana The species, and their WNHP status were previously identified as candidates (WNHP 1994), are: for listing under the Endangered Species Act (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Endangered 1993), but are presently considered species of concern (Thomas, pers. com.). Castilleja levisecta golden Indian Paintbrush Distribution patterns, occurrence Threatened summary information, threats, existing protection, and conservation needs of Merconella oregano white meconella these species are discussed below. Sensitive Distribution Pattern Agoseris elata tall agoseris Aster curtus white-top aster The rare vascular plants of the SPSPL Githopsis specularioides common bluecup exhibit a variety of overall distribution patterns. Two of the six taxa tracked by Possibly Extirpated WNHP are unquestionably globally rare species: Aster curtus and Castilleja Sidalcea malviflora rose checker-mallow levisecta. Both are endemic to the Puget var. virgata Trough/Willamette Valley region. A. These status categories (e.g., Sensitive) curtus occurs from Lane County, Oregon describe the status of the species within in the southern Willamette Valley to the Washington State. It should be noted southern tip of Vancouver Island, British that there currently is no state Columbia. C. levisecta, historically endangered species law in Washington known from the Willamette Valley that applies to plants. The status northward, is now restricted to the categories assigned by the WNHP are, northern portion of its former range, therefore, meant to be advisory and from Thurston County, Washington to descriptive only. the southern tip of Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Within the SPSPL, A. curtus is found much more consistently than C. levisecta. This is

J. Gamon Rare Vascular Plants 86 likely due to a combination of A. curtus The remaining taxon, Sidalcea having a somewhat broader ecological malviflora ssp. virgata, occurs primarily amplitude and its being less susceptible in and south of the Willamette Valley to disturbance than C. levisecta. (Hitchcock and Kruckeberg 1957). Its A second pattern is exhibited by occurrence within the SPSPL represents Agoseris elata, Githopsis specularioides a disjunction of at least 100 miles from and Meconella oregana. Each of these the nearest population in Oregon. occurs from California to Washington, Unfortunately, the Thurston County, but generally in small, relatively isolated Washington population is no longer populations. A. elata has the broadest extant. Its presence may simply have ecological amplitude of the three, represented an unsuccessful colonization occurring from the lowlands to moderate event. elevations in the mountains. It historically occurred in the Puget Occurrence Summary lowlands, on the Olympic Peninsula, and on both sides of the Cascades. The occurrence information presented below was summarized from files of the Githopsis specularioides also occurs in WNHP, including historic information several physiographic provinces, but obtained from old herbarium collection always at fairly low elevations and in records and information gained from similar habitat conditions. It is found in more recent inventory efforts. grass dominated sites in shallow soils over basalt. These sites are quite wet in Three of the grassland species that are spring, but dry rapidly as spring and the subject of this paper are currently summer progress. thought to be extirpated from the SPSPL: Agoseris elata, Meconella Meconella oregana is the most restricted oregana, and Sidalcea malviflora var. in Washington of this group, occurring virgata. . only in the Puget Trough and in the Columbia River Gorge in Klickitat Agoseris elata was collected in the late County. 1800s from the Rochester/Grand Mound The rarity of these three taxa (i.e., vicinity in southern Thurston County. It Agoseris elata, Githopsis specularioides, has apparently not been collected since and Meconella oregana) within that time from within the SPSPL. A. Washington is partially a function of elata was also collected in the late 1800s their being at the edge of their respective from Whidbey Island and from the ranges within our state. Additionally, Olympic Peninsula in 1931. Although Githopsis specularioides and Meconella A. elata is considered extirpated from oregana are both diminutive annuals that the SPSPL, several extant populations are visible for only very short periods are known from the Cascades of each year. This shared characteristic Washington. may contribute to a greater perceived rarity for both species than their actual Meconella oregana was collected by rarity. J.B. Flett near “Lucama” and near “Edison” in 1896 Although the exact location of the “Lucama” collection is

J. Gamon Rare Vascular Plants 86 unknown, it may have been from along remaining populations in the world. In Lacamas Creek south of Chehalis. addition to the known extant site within There is also some confusion regarding the SPSPL, it was collected in 1898 the “Edison” collection, although it from near Roy, Pierce County, seems likely that it was from near the Washington. Edison School, which is just west of I-5 south of the Tacoma Mall. M. oregana Aster curtus is currently known from was also observed within Deception Pass approximately 50 sites in Washington, State Park as recently as 1985. most of which are from within the Elsewhere in Washington, M. oregana is SPSPL. The individual occurrences known from the Columbia River Gorge range in size from just a few clumps in Klickitat County, where it occurs within an area of a few square meters to within open, savanna-like stands of thousands of clumps over hundreds of Quercus garryana and Festuca acres. It occurs in open grasslands as idahoensis. well as in areas that are a mosaic of grassland and oak woodland. Sidalcea malviflora var. virgata was observed by two very experienced and Githopsis specularioides was collected reliable botanists in the Scatter Creek by J.B. Flett in 1896 from “Prairie, Wildlife Area. No collections were Tacoma, Wash.” It is currently known made because of the extremely small from one site within the region, although number of plants present. Seen in the that site is a grassy bald isolated from early 1980s, several attempts since then the extensive prairie systems. The site to relocate the taxon have proven has scattered Quercus garryana and unsuccessful. There are currently no Arbutus menziesii with an understory known extant sites in Washington of this containing Festuca idahoensis. G. taxon. specularioides can be very difficult to inventory for, particularly in less than Of the three grassland species of interest optimal years. It tends to be quite small that are extant, Castilleja levisecta is the and the flowers often do not open highest priority. As stated in the entirely. Outside of the SPSPL in introduction, it has been proposed for Washington, G. specularioides is known listing as threatened under the federal from similar habitats on both sides of the Endangered Species Act (US Fish & Cascades and in the Columbia River Wildlife Service 1994). It is currently Gorge in Klickitat County. known from only twelve sites in the world: 10 in Washington and 2 in British Threats Columbia. Only one of the extant occurrences is within the SPSPL in The grassland species in the SPSPL have Thurston County. This population is been under threat since Europeans began currently the southernmost known extant settling the region. In 1833, the population. C. levisecta was historically Hudson’s Bay Company built a trading known from Clark County, Washington post, Fort Nisqually, near the present- and from the Willamette Valley in day town of DuPont. Cattle and sheep Oregon. The Thurston County were raised there, and some land was occurrence is one of the two best converted to crop production

J. Gamon Rare Vascular Plants 87 (Weyerhaeuser Real Estate Company are the ongoing invasions of Douglas fir 1990). By current standards, the (Pseudotsuga menziesii) and Scot’s development of Fort Nisqually was quite broom (Cytisus scoparius). Even casual small, but the changes in the landscape examination of aerial photographs taken were clearly underway. of prairies 10 to 20 years ago shows a dramatic increase in Douglas fir. Since that time, conversion to Kruckeberg (1991) presents a thorough agriculture, housing and business discussion of this topic, illustrating the development, gravel extraction, grazing, changes with photographs and maps. recreational pressure, invasion of non- The rapid invasion of the prairies is native species, and fire suppression have primarily attributable to aggressive fire cumulatively accounted for a suppression over the last 50 to 100 phenomenal loss of habitat for plants years. In addition to decreasing light native to this ecoregion. The extent and availability, conifer invasion eventually nature of the loss of prairie habitat is the changes soil characteristics, leading to a topic of a paper by Crawford and Hall change in the suite of species present. (1997) in these proceedings. They Aster curtus, with its extensive report that less than 10% of the original , can probably persist much prairie remains in a restorable (or better) longer than species with more limited condition. This outright loss of habitat root systems, such as Castilleja has probably been the most significant levisecta. However, even A. curtus will factor for the perennial species of rare eventually disappear from sites once plants. For the two annual species they become forested. Another potential (Githopsis specularioides and Meconella factor in the decline of C. levisecta is the oregana), competition with the many likelihood that the species utilizes non-native grass and herbaceous species mycorrhizal associations with other that accompanied early settlement and prairie species. If either the other livestock grazing may have been the vascular plant(s) or the fungus involved single most significant factor in such associations declines as a result contributing to their present-day rarity. of conifer invasion, then C. levisecta No matter what the cause or causes, the may also decline. small amount of habitat that does remain for all of these species is Scot’s broom is also posing a serious increasingly isolated, fragmented, and threat to all remaining prairie habitat in further degraded. the SPSPL, including habitats for rare plants. Unfortunately, this invader is All of the factors identified above are now ubiquitous within the SPSPL. Even familiar to those who have studied or if mowing and/or prescribed fire prove been involved in conservation issues. to be effective both at controlling Scot’s They are not unique to the SPSPL. broom and maintaining native However, some of these factors warrant vegetation, such management will need additional discussion because of their to be continued in perpetuity; there will significance to the region. likely always be a source of seeds close by. The primary existing threats to rare plants within grasslands of the SPSPL

J. Gamon Rare Vascular Plants 88 Although Scot’s broom is probably the Natural Area Preserves within the most notorious invader within the SPSPL that have grassland ecosystems SPSPL, other non-native species also and rare plants: Bald Hill (Githopsis pose significant threats to the rare plant specularioides), Mima Mounds (Aster species present. For example, curtus), and Rocky Prairie (Aster curtus Hieracium pilosella, a Class A noxious and Castilleja levisecta). The DNR weed (Washington Administrative Code manages Natural Area Preserves for 1996), is present within one area that their natural features. All three Natural harbors both Castilleja levisecta and Area Preserves are thus managed for Aster curtus. H. pilosella poses a direct both the rare plants and the high quality threat through competition, but efforts to of the native ecosystems found within control it also pose a threat. That is, them. Mima Mounds NAP has a spraying herbicides, or even pulling the developed recreational component, H. pilosella, may create a habitat more while use of Bald Hill and Rocky Prairie favorable for it and other weeds. is limited to approved scientific and educational endeavors. Various recreational pursuits also contribute to the endangerment of our Fort Lewis, McChord Air Force Base, native prairies and the rare plants that the Washington State Department of inhabit them. Horseback riding does Fish and Wildlife, and Thurston County occur within some prairie areas, even also manage areas with significant those managed for their natural features. populations of Aster curtus. Fort Lewis Mountain bike and dirt bike riding are is probably the single-most important potential uses of some prairie areas. area for the long term survival of A. One of the Aster curtus sites is within a curtus. The Fort contains more county run frisbee golf course. The area populations than any other single land is regularly mowed and receives managing agency, several of the considerable public use. Not populations are larger than those in other surprisingly, the A. curtus appears quite ownerships, and the populations are stressed at this site. probably better distributed in terms of long-term viability. Many of the rare plant sites within the two military installations within the The primary objective of management of SPSPL are subject to military training the Fort landscape is obviously to meet activities. The provisions for protecting the installation’s military mission. As a the rare plants at these locations are result, much of the habitat for A. curtus mentioned in the following section. is subjected to intensive military training activity. However, there is recognition Existing Protection by the Fort command and personnel of the importance of this species and the Each of the known extant rare vascular ecosystem within which it is found. plants in the SPSPL have some degree of Some of the A. curtus within the Fort is protection via land management policies located within areas identified as and practices of various governmental Research Natural Areas, although the agencies. The state Department of protection that such designation provides Natural Resources manages three within the Fort is uncertain. Some

J. Gamon Rare Vascular Plants 89 training activities continue within these continue to threaten the rare plants areas. present within existing managed areas. The populations of Aster curtus within McChord Air Force Base are much Conservation Needs smaller, more isolated and fragmented, and in habitat that is much more In order to be successful in retaining the degraded than many of those within Fort rare vascular flora of the SPSPL, at least Lewis. Populations are located within four distinct needs must be addressed. training areas, the approach zone to the First, inventory efforts should continue main airfield, and within areas open to within the SPSPL for the six rare the base-going public. A very small vascular plant taxa discussed in this occurrence of A. curtus is within an area paper, as well as for other potentially that has been recommended for special rare taxa. It is probable that additional management for its biological resource populations of rare plants will be values, including wetlands, rare plants, discovered within the SPSPL. etc. This occurrence of A. curtus, Additional populations of any of these however, is extremely small and taxa would increase the likelihood of probably cannot be considered viable. success in our collective attempts to retain viable populations within the The Scatter Creek Wildlife Area is SPSPL. managed by the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife. A Second, we need to have a much more large, healthy population of A. curtus is complete understanding of the biology scattered throughout the southern of the individual taxa. What are the portion of this area. The Department’s breeding systems of each species? How emphasis on managing the site for its is pollination carried out? What are the natural values has generally been habitat requirements of the various compatible with A. curtus. Mechanical pollinators? How do the individual control of Scot’s broom is a significant species respond to various disturbance component of that management. regimes? By answering these, and many other questions, we can begin to Thurston County manages the Glacial construct reasonable models of how the Heritage site for its natural features, ecosystems function. including both the vegetation and the mounded topography. A significant Third, our attempts to maintain viable commitment to managing the site to populations of these taxa will depend on control Scot’s broom, the greatest threat our ability to manage the prairie to A. curtus at this site, has been made ecosystem as a whole, using the by the county. ecological models as our guide. Armed with better information about the Unfortunately, property boundaries and individual species and how they interact land management designations are not with other species and the environment, necessarily adequate to defend against we can hopefully successfully manage at all threats. Weed invasions, the results an ecosystem level. Otherwise, we will of fire suppression activities, etc. simply be reduced to gardening remnants of our past.

J. Gamon Rare Vascular Plants 90 Finally, an overall conservation plan for Rolph, D.N. 1996. Designing a the region, such as that developed by landscape level protection The Nature Conservancy of Washington program for the South Puget (Rolph 1996), needs to be implemented. Sound Lowland Ecosystem. Individual conservation activities need Prepared and submitted by The to be carefully planned with the entire Nature Conservancy of ecoregion in mind. The full spectrum of Washington to the U.S. protection methods needs to be Environmental Protection employed, from simply providing Agency. Seattle. 41p. plus information to landowners, to appendices. acquisition of land for natural area preserve designation. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1993. Endangered and threatened Acknowledgments wildlife and plants; review of plant taxa for listing as Much of the information presented in endangered or threatened this report was gleaned from the files of species; notice of review. the Washington Natural Heritage Federal Register 58 (188):51144- Program, Olympia, Washington. Many 51190. individuals have contributed rare plant information over the years to the Natural U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1994. Heritage Program’s information system. Endangered and threatened Although too numerous to name, their wildlife and plants; proposed contributions are appreciated and threatened status for Castilleja acknowledged. The contribution of levisecta (golden paintbrush). herbarium label information from the Federal Register 59 (89):24108- University of Washington herbarium 24111. was particularly important for this report.. Washington Administrative Code. 1996. Chapter 16-750. State noxious References Cited weed list and schedule of monetary penalties. 12p. Crawford, R. and H. Hall. 1997. Changes in the South Puget Prairie Washington Natural Heritage Program. Landscape.>>>>> 1994. Endangered, threatened and sensitive vascular plants of Hitchcock, C.L. and A.R. Kruckeberg. Washington. Department of 1957. A study of the perennial Natural Resources. Olympia. species of Sidalcea. Univ. Wash. 52p. Publ. Biol. Vol. 18. 96p. Weyerhaeuser Real Estate Company, Kruckeberg, A.R. 1991. The Natural Land Management Division. History of Puget Sound Country. 1990. Northwest Landing: A University of Washington Press. Weyerhaeuser Planned Seattle. 468p. Community. 13p.

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