Sego Lily March 2009 32 (2)

Gardening for

March 2009

Vol. 32, No. 2

In this issue:

Chapter News ...... 2 New UNPS Chapter Sprouting in Cedar City . . 4 Bulletin Board ...... 4 Gardening for Humming- Birds ...... 5 What’s in a Name? Edwin James and ...... 8 var. rosea in ? ...... 9 Noteworthy Discoveries Suaeda linifolia in Utah . 10 occidentalis in Box Elder County ...... 11 Uinta Basin Rare : Can they be Sustained? . 11

Left: The red-flowered Fire- cracker or Beardlip (Penstemon barbatus) is native to canyons and mountains of southern Utah. Like many spe- cies with tubular, red , Firecracker penstemon is polli- nated by hummingbirds, such as this Rufous , (Selasphorus rufus). Five hummingbird regularly occur in Utah. Illustration by Walter Fertig.

Copyright 2009 Utah Native Society. All Rights Reserved. Utah Native Plant Society

Committees For more information on UNPS contact Communications: Larry Meyer Bill King (582-0432) or Susan Fitts Conservation: Bill King and Tony (356-5108). Frates Education: Ty Harrison Sego Lily Editor: Walter Fertig Horticulture: Maggie Wolf ([email protected]). The deadline for the Invasive Weeds: Susan Fitts May 2009 Sego Lily is 15 April 2009. Rare Plants: Walter Fertig Scholarship: Bill Gray Copyright 2009 Utah Native Plant Soci- PO Box 520041, Salt Lake City, UT, ety. All Rights Reserved 84152-0041. Email: [email protected] Chapters and Chapter Presidents Cache: Steve Ripple The Sego Lily is a publication of the Officers Cedar City: Winnie Washburn Utah Native Plant Society, a 501(c)(3) President: Bill King (Salt Lake Co) Escalante (Garfield Co): Harriet not-for-profit organization dedicated to Vice President: Walter Fertig (Kane Priska conserving and promoting stewardship Co) Fremont (Richfield area): Maria Ulloa of our native plants. Use of content ma- Treasurer: Charlene Homan (Salt Manzanita (Kane Co): Walter Fertig terial is encouraged but requires permis- Lake Mountain (Summit Co): Mindy sion (except where exempted by statute) Co) Wheeler and must be correctly credited and cited. Secretary: Mindy Wheeler (Summit Price (Carbon Co): Mike Hubbard Articles, photographs and illustrations Co) Salt Lake: Kipp Lee submitted to us remain the property of Board Chair: Dave Wallace (Cache Co) Southern (Washington Co): Margaret the submitting individuals or organiza- Malm tions. Submit permission requests to UNPS Board: Robert Fitts (Utah Co), Utah Valley (Utah Co): Celeste Ken- [email protected]. We encourage readers Susan Fitts (Utah Co), Bill Gray (Salt nard to submit articles for potential publica- Lake Co), Marie Griffiths (Salt Lake tion. By submitting an article, an im- Co), Ty Harrison (Salt Lake Co), Website: For late-breaking news, the plicit license is granted to print the arti- Celeste Kennard (Utah Co), Kipp Lee UNPS store, the Sego Lily archives, cle in the newsletter or other UNPS pub- (Salt Lake Co), Margaret Malm Chapter events, links to other websites lications for reprint without permission (Washington Co), Larry Meyer (Salt (including sources of native plants and (in print and electronic media). When Lake Co), Therese Meyer (Salt Lake the digital Utah Rare Plant Field submitting an article, please indicate Co), Jeff Mitchell (Utah Co), Leila Guide), and more, go to unps.org. whether it has been previously pub- Shultz (Cache Co), Maggie Wolf (Salt Many thanks to Xmission for lished or submitted for consideration to Lake Co), Loreen Woolstenhulme sponsoring our website. other publications. (Utah Co). ______

Chapter News pectinata (prairie cordgrass), Er- in the plantings along Main Street, agrostis trichodes (sand love- as well as in city parks, schools, and Cache: The next chapter meeting grass—NEW), Calamovilfa longi- private gardens. A walking tour of will be on Tuesday, March 3rd at folia (prairie sandreed—NEW), the native plant gardens will be 7PM in the Cache Valley Learning Setaria leucopila (streambed bris- printed for the Escalante Heritage Center, 75 South 400 West, Logan. tlegrass—NEW), and Andropogon Festival on May 23rd. We will have a business meeting to hallii (sand bluestem). Also new Our 10 February meeting fea- discuss chapter goals and new offi- this year will be hardy cacti and tured Escalante native Elray Nixon, cers, followed by Bill Varga talking succulent seedlings. Several vege- a retired botanist, who showed us about Native American Uses of tatively propagated species will be his 2001 publication on keying out Plants. available too, as well as instruc- conifers in Garfield County and a Our Native and Waterwise tions on how to do it yourself— book of photos of the Escalante Can- Propagation Workshop will be held Steve Ripple yon area. Larry Glickman, park on two days this year: March 20 ranger with the Grand Staircase- Escalante (Garfield Co.): The (two sessions 9AM and 1PM) and Escalante NM, gave an excellent talk Escalante Chapter met in January March 25 (one session 7 PM). Some about the importance of pollinators and elected Harriet Priska as their of the plants this year (depending on and why they are disappearing. Our new president, succeeding Allysia the success of pre-treatments) are: March 10th meeting will be pre- Angus. Several new projects were Geranium viscosissimum (sticky sented by Terry Tolbert, biologist discussed at the meeting, including geranium), Penstemon tubiflorus with GSENM who will speak on publishing a large poster showing (white wand penstemon—NEW), ―Potato Valley Grasses‖. For our the native plants best suited for Penstemon palmeri (Palmer pen- April 14th meeting, Allysia Angus the area to post in a window down- stemon), Cleome serrulata (Rocky will talk about what to do to effec- town for local folks to see. A plant Mountain beeplant), Pistacia vera tively landscape a yard and how and marking project was initiated to (Pistachio—NEW), Acer grandiden- when to plant. - Harriet Priska identify the native plants growing tatum (bigtooth maple), Spartina 2 Sego Lily March 2009 32 (2)

Fremont (Richfield Area): Wayne Whaley, Professor of Zool- Fremont Chapter will host Allysia ogy at Utah Valley University and Angus, Landscape Architect for a member of the Utah Lepidopter- Grand Staircase Escalante Na- ists Society. Dr. Whaley's research tional Monument, on March 19, at concerns the Indra Swallowtail 7:00 p.m. in the USU Extension Butterfly (Papilio indra), a beauti- Office in Richfield. Ms. Angus will ful species which occurs in Utah give a hands-on presentation on and other parts of the western US. the basics of planting design. Butterflies tend to be very picky Those in attendance will prepare a about where they lay eggs because simple planting plan using the plants produce many chemical concepts shared. deterrents. As a consequence, seri- In addition Fremont Chapter ous lepidopterists necessarily be- will host Lisa Ogden White on come very familiar with our native April 16 at 6:30 in the USU Exten- plants. sion Office in Richfield. Ms. April Meeting: Wednesday Ogden works with the Zion Can- April 1st, 7:00pm REI - UNPS yon Field Institute as Landscape member Ellen Hartz will give a Architect for the National Park presentation on urban beekeeping. Service and is Chairman of the She will discuss life history, main- Green Team Her presentation is taining a hive, and ways to attract entitled "Bloomin' Natives" and them to our urban gardens. She will focus on native plant use in will also bring a demonstration landscaping design. hive with live bees! - Kipp Lee plants, , trees and grasses We recently completed our will begin to show off for the pub- ―Celebrate the Wild‖ 2009 calen- Southern (Washington Co.): lic. We also will continue to nur- dar (see sample at right). Sales Our March 2 monthly meeting will ture the natives we planted around have been brisk, but we have a few feature Eric Lassance who will the Sevier County Administration left, so if anyone still wants a copy, discuss Zion National Park's weed Building last spring. All in all, it's e-mail me at [email protected] control—past, present, and fu- going to be a busy season for Fre- and I'll take care of the shipping ture. The meeting will be at 7 p.m. mont Chapter. --Janet Nielson and billing. We are particularly in the Canyon Community Center, appreciative of those sponsors Springdale (435-772-0525 for Manzanita (Kane Co.): On Sat- who so generously underwrote the info.). urday, 28 February, we will hold project: BLM, Fremont Indian Zion Canyon Field Institute our yearly plant propagation work- State Park, Great Basin Natives, (ZCFI) would like to invite you to shop at the Best Friends green- Intermountain Native Plant Grow- attend their extensive selection of house. Becca Leiberg, horticul- ers Association, Maria Ulloa and 2009 botany classes. As an added tural specialist from Zion NP will George Cruz, Rugged Plant Nurs- inducement, they are offering be on hand to answer questions ery, Sun Mountain Growers, USU UNPS members a 10% discount on and help participants plant Extention Services, Wildflowers all ZCFI botany classes for 2009. from 17 different native , Unltd, Wildland Nursery, and These include: April 3 - 4: Lytle grass, and wildflower species. For Xeriscape Design. Preserve (Mohave Desert flora, more information, contact me at We are planning another calen- geology, and great birding), April 435-644-8129 or [email protected]. dar for 2010, hoping to have it 10: Zion’s Low Desert Wildflow- Tuesday, March 3, Larry Baer will ready the first of November. If ers, April 18: Native Plants & present a talk on gardening in any person or business wishes to Xeriscaping, April 25 Mojave Kanab. Larry is head of the Master sponsor a page, please e-mail Wildflowers, May 9 - 10 Zion 101 Gardener program in Kane County Janett Warner (www.wildland (natural history and geology of the and purveyor of prize-winning nursery.com). park), May 15: Kolob Wildflowers, produce at the summer farmer’s We'll be starting our annual June 13: Hanging Gardens of market. Please note that this yard clean-ups soon. Our chapter Zion, July 11: Cedar Mountain meeting will be in the basement members meet at a home and Wildflowers, Oct17 - 18: Zion 101. meeting room of the old United rake, prune, trim, etc. for a couple Please note that if you are already Church (530 S Hwy 89) rather of hours to raise funds for our a member of Zion Natural History than our usual meeting site—W. yearly project. We'll soon be re- Association you will NOT receive Fertig. turning to Sam Stowe Camp- this 10% discount in addition to ground at Fremont Indian State Salt Lake: March Meeting: your 20% ZNHA discount. Regis- Park to continue work on our na- Wednesday, March 4th, 7:00pm at ter at the ZCFI website tive plant garden. We're hoping REI (33rd East and 33rd South, (www.zionpark.org) or call 435- that our carefully tended flowering SLC). Our speaker will be Dr. 772-3264 —Barbara Farnsworth.

3 Utah Native Plant Society

New UNPS Chapter mulch. The evening concluded Bulletin Board with a short talk about pollinators Sprouting in Cedar City and how these insects and birds 5th Southwest Rare Plant Con- are partners with plants. We ference—March 16-20, 2009. By Neal Smith and Winnie learned how urgent it is to choose There is still time to register for the Washburn native plants that attract birds, conference, being held during spring bees, butterflies, and other insects break at the University of Utah. See On Wednesday, February 18th, so that we, the stewards of the the conference website (via the link the first meeting of the Cedar City Earth, can know how to partner on the UNPS homepage at Native Plant Chapter brought to- plants with pollinators. www.unps.org) for the final agenda gether an overflow of eager Cedar We have several programs and details on housing, food, and City and Valley gardeners, all with a planned this year. In March, Dr. other activities being sponsored by common interest in water conserva- Martin will help us learn to recog- UNPS. tion and a desire to learn how to nize a wide variety of native plants propagate drought-resistant native that not only grow well in the val- Uinta Basin Rare Plant Forum plants, shrubs, and trees. Over 55 ley but are also attractive to polli- sponsors volunteer plant sur- attendees were present, requiring us nators. In April, Candace Schaible vey: On May 9-10, the Uinta Basin to move to a larger room in South- will help us to prepare our gardens Rare Plant Forum (see more about ern Utah University’s Science build- and learn how to plant and wa- this group on page 11) will lead a ing. Dr. Ron Martin, chairman of ter. In May our nursery friends, volunteer team to survey for the rare the Biology Department of SUU Tim and Denise, will help us to Horseshoe milkvetch (Astragalus kindly acted as our mentor and ar- learn about drip systems and land- equisolensis) (discussed in detail in ranged for the meeting place. Other scaping. Later in May we will have the September 2008 issue of the distinguished guests included Dr. Al a plant sale with Janett Warner of Sego Lily). Currently, this plant has Tait, retired botany professor; Dr. Wildland Nursery and several no official protection and oil Earl Mulderink, History Professor; other nurseries in the area, to be and gas development is proposed in Dr. Douglas Reynolds, who has or- held at the University parking its habitat. It is important to ganized the Cedar Breaks Wild- lot...only Native Plants will be for better map the plant's habitat to Festival for the past three sale. In June we will have a hands- protect it from being impacted by oil years, Christine Fletcher, of BLM, on study on recognizing weeds and and gas development. The Uinta Candace Schaible, County Agent for how to get rid of them, done by Basin Rare Plant Forum is also Water-wise Horticulture; Tim and Chad Reed, our County agent in working to protect eight other rare Denise McAlmond, of the Shadow charge of weed eradication. And plants in the Uinta Basin. Volun- Farm Nursery, and Cassie of the Big we plan to visit local native plant teers will be joined by experts from Tree Nursery. Our Pro-Tem Officers gardens later in the month. In the Bureau of Land Management, for the present (until a new slate is July we hope to meet with the four Fish and Wildlife Service and oth- elected) are: Marguerite Smith, other southern chapters of UNPS ers. After a full day of surveying we Treasurer; Alice Maas, Secretary; up on Cedar Breaks as Walt Fertig will camp and enjoy dinner together Joleen Wise, Hospitality Chairman; guides us around the wildflower - Joan DeGiorgio. Neal Smith, P.R. Chairman; Dr. Ron hollows during the Wildflower Martin and Dr. Terri Hildebrand, Festival. Penstemon festival: Merrill University Mentors; and Winnie Much more is planned, and we Johnson, proprietor of Great Basin Washburn, Coordinator. intend to have programs suggested Natives nursery in Holden, Utah, We currently have 45 paid UNPS by the members, based on a survey has scheduled a Penstemon Festival members in the Cedar City area and given during the meeting. We at the nursery. It will start in the expect to reach at least 60 mem- thank so many who have helped to evening of June 5 with a dinner and bers. Our Pro-tem officers have support and share their enthusi- program about the that worked hard to let the community asm for this important and urgent are growing in Eastern Millard know of our goals to promote water cause - to be knowledgeable stew- County. On Saturday, June 6, there conservation through the propaga- ards of this beautiful land. will be one or more field trips to tion of native plants and to use na- see the penstemons and other native tives that attract pollinators for plants. There will be a charge to healthy, long-lasting gardens. cover the cost of the dinner and a A great deal of knowledge and New Life Members: Don Feener few other incidental things. For experience was shared at our first and Sylvia Torti of Salt Lake City more information go to: meeting. A seasoned nurseryman and Renee Van Buren of Wood- penstemonfestival.blogspot.com. shared a tip for removing an un- land Hills are our latest UNPS life —Merrill Johnson wanted lawn (the first step in pre- members. Thank you ! paring a wildflower garden) by cov- ering it with cardboard and paper (so no grass gets light), then cover- ing with soil, and lastly with 4 Sego Lily March 2009 32 (2) Gardening for Hummingbirds By Walter Fertig

It is hard to find anyone who doesn’t like hummingbirds. What isn’t there to like about a tiny, iri- descent green, orange, red, or purple bird that can hover in mid-air or even fly backwards? Or that lays the smallest eggs of any bird and has, proportionally, the largest heart? Or that pollinates some of our prettiest wildflowers and consumes large quantities of pesky mosquitoes and gnats – all for free? Best of all, hummingbirds are not especially shy of people and will readily visit our suburban landscapes, so long as we provide for their basic needs. Like all wildlife, hummingbirds need three basic things to survive: food, water, and a secure place to rest and nest. In nature, humming- birds derive much of their suste- nance from nectar. Produced by flowers as a bribe to attract pollina- tors to pick up and unload pollen, nectar is like a high-energy sports Above: Red columbine (Aquilegia formosa) is a typical hummingbird-pollinated drink – loaded with carbohydrates. flower with protruding anthers to deliver pollen to the bird’s head as it probes for These carbs help power a humming- nectar deep in the five reddish-orange spurs. Photo by Bill Gray. bird’s rapid daytime metabolism and bursts of speed (in flight, a in a terminal spur or sac. Hum- fluid frequently to prevent spreading hummingbird strokes its wings up to mingbirds use their long beaks and disease. 90 times per second and can attain tongues to lap up the nectar re- Water and secure nesting and top speeds of 66 miles per hour). ward, and in the process get their foraging habitat can also be pro- A well-balanced hummingbird heads liberally dowsed with pollen provided by the careful humming- diet also includes protein, which from anthers borne near the rim of bird gardener. Hummers will enjoy comes in the form of small insects the flower tube. This pollen then a birdbath, especially if there is and spiders. Hummingbirds perch gets deposited on receptive stig- somewhere they can perch with on branches in wait of flying insects, mas of another flower when the their ridiculously undersized feet. much like a flycatcher, then take off hummingbird repeats the process. Alternatively, a mister or waterfall to snatch their prey in mid-air. Slow Hummingbirds may visit 1500 will allow them to drink while on the motion photography shows that flowers in a day, so a lot of pollen wing. Hummingbirds prefer rela- hummingbirds can spread their is getting moved around. tively open areas for feeding, but slender beaks open at a broad angle To supplement their nectar diet, also like a few scattered trees and to create a larger-than-expected hummingbirds will also feed on shrubs for perching and nest- gape, perfect for sucking in bugs sugar-water in specially designed building (too much brushy cover, (not unlike their distant relatives, hummingbird feeders. Some older however, encourages their preda- the swifts). gardening books recommend using tors). Willows, thistles, dandelions, Hummingbirds have almost no a honey-water mix, but honey fer- milkweeds, and other plants that sense of smell, relying instead on ments quickly and can grow a fun- produce fluffy or fuzzy down provide their exceptional vision to locate gus that is harmful to hummers. A raw materials for hummingbird flowers for feeding. They are espe- four parts water to one part table nests. cially fond of red or orange flowers, sugar mixture that is either boiled Even a modest yard can become a but will also visit blue, pink, or white or stirred until the sugar is com- beacon for neighborhood humming- blooms (though they tend to avoid pletely dissolved works best. In birds, if the three basics of good yellow). Flowers adapted to hum- hot weather, hummingbird juice habitat are provided. A number of mingbird pollination typically have can also go bad, so it is best to native western wildflowers are espe- elongate, cylindrical floral tubes and wash the feeder and refresh the cially well-suited for attracting hum- secrete precious nectar at its base or mers. These include (in no 5 Utah Native Plant Society

Desert Willow (Chilopsis lin- earis). Desert willow is a shrub with willow-like and clus- ters of large, pinkish-purple trum- pet-shaped flowers. In Utah, it is native only in the Mohave regions of Washington County. Chilopsis will thrive in direct sun and is drought tolerant (often shedding its leaves in late summer), but is not especially cold-hardy. Scarlet gilia (Ipomopsis aggre- gata or Gilia aggregata). This bi- ennial or short-lived perennial has long-flaring tubular flowers that are red, pink, salmon, or white and Above: thistle (Cirsium arizonicum), a showy, native thistle with carmine- can grow in a variety of habitats. colored disk flowers. Besides nectar, thistles provide nesting material for hum- It can be purchased from a native mingbirds from their cottony pappus. Photo by Bill Gray. plant nursery or grown from seed in sunny, well-drained sites. Once particular order): Paintbrushes are hemi-parasitic, established, it readily re-. Columbine (Aquilegia spp.). meaning that they derive some The related Carmine Gilia (Gilia Columbine flowers are specially (though not all) of their nutrition sunbuda or Aliciella subnuda) oc- built for hummingbirds, with their 5 by parasitizing the roots of other curs commonly across the Colo- nectar-packing spurs. Several red- plants. This can make them diffi- rado Plateau and blooms in mid flowered species occur in Utah, of cult to transplant from the wild which A. formosa is the most wide- (which we shouldn’t do under nor- spread. Some forms are available as mal circumstances anyway), Below: Cardinal flower (Lobelia cardi- nursery stock, or columbines can be though they can be grown from nalis) belongs to a sub-family of the grown from seed sown in shallow, seed provided they are planted Campanulaceae that is more widely well-drained soil in the fall (allowing next to a potential host plant, such distributed in the tropics. Photo by Bill for at least 60 days of cold stratifica- as sagebrush or rabbitbrush. Gray tion). Wild plants transplant poorly, Seeds require at least 30 days of so should be left alone. Most colum- cold stratification, and are best bines flower from late spring to late planted in the fall on the soil sur- summer. face to facilitate light exposure. Arizona Thistle (Cirsium arizoni- paintbrush (C. linariifo- cum). It might sound crazy for a lia, the state plant of Wyoming) is native plant society to advocate an orange-flowered, leggy species planting thistles, but bear in mind that is hardy in a variety of settings that the vast majority of thistle spe- and blooms from April to August. cies are actually native and not inva- Narrowleaf paintbrush (C. angus- sive. Thistles have large flower tifolia or C. chromosa) is consid- heads consisting of small, pinkish, ered a more attractive species and tubular disk flowers that can be co- flowers from April-July. pious nectar producers. Humming- Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardi- birds also like thistles for the cot- nalis). In Utah, Cardinal Flower is tony pappus on each seed that can restricted to hanging gardens and be used for lining nests. The car- moist seeps in the souther tier of mine-flowered Arizona thistle oc- counties. The brilliant scarlet curs primarily in canyon country of flowers have an unusual asymmet- southern Utah, though it is hardy in ric shape, with spreading corolla low elevation gardens over much of lobes and an erect tubular anther the state. It can be grown from seed column. This species can be culti- in sunny, well-drained soils. vated over much of the state, but Indian Paintbrush (Castilleja requires damp, humus-rich soil spp.). The corolla of an Indian and full sun. It is available from paintbrush is typically green, but is nurseries or can be grown from enclosed by brightly colored stem cuttings or cold-stratified or leafy that have assumed seed. Flowers are present from the role of attracting pollinators. mid-summer to fall.

6 Sego Lily March 2009 32 (2) spring (May-June) and often again in basin and foothills habitats in the fall. In its native habitat, this across the southern half of the species prefers rocky, well-drained state. It closely resembles Fire- sites. cracker penstemon (P. barbatus) Hummingbird flower or Califor- in having drooping, tubular flow- nia fuchsia (Zauschneria latifolia or ers with the lower lip curved back- Epilobium canum). With its inch- wards instead of protruding as in long, tubular, scarlet flowers and most penstemons (this shape de- preference for dry, rocky cliffs and nies a ready landing platform for talus, most people will be excused other pollinators). Firecracker is for missing the similarity between native to mountains and canyons Zauschneria and the common wil- of southern Utah, but is widely low-herbs or fireweeds of the grown in cultivation. Epilobium, but the two genera share One non-native of note is the traits and have recently been Trumpet-creeper (Campsis radi- lumped together. This aptly named cans), a vine native to the south- species is available from nurseries or eastern US from the same family grown from seed in the fall. It is as the Desert willow (Bignon- well-suited for rock gardens and can iaceae). Trumpet-creeper prefers Above: Bridges’ penstemon (Penstemon grow in full sun, though does best deep, rich soil and requires a rostriflorus) is one of four red-flowered with partial shade. structure for support. It blooms beardtongues native to Utah. Its tubu- Penstemon or Beardtongue over most of the summer and into lar, drooping flowers are specially adapted for hummingbird pollination. (Penstemon spp.). Though usually fall. In Utah, Trumpet-creeper is Photo by Bill Gray. blue or purple flowered, four penste- found mostly in gardens at low mons from Utah are red to scarlet- elevations (below 5200 feet). colored and very attractive to hum- Other non-native and cultivated quickly learn where good habitat is mingbirds. Eaton’s penstemon (P. species commonly grown in Utah located and return to the same spots eatonii) occurs widely across Utah that are attractive to humming- year after year. Some gardeners and displays its red-orange flowers birds include Red-hot poker worry that setting out sugar water in late May through July. It can (Kniphofia uvaria) from South and attractive plants may entice the grow in full sun to light shade and Africa, several red-flowered sages birds to stay too long in the fall, put- on a variety of droughty or alkaline (Salvia), and Balsam (Impatiens ting them at risk from unseasonably soils. Because of its size (growing to balsamina). cool weather. But not to worry – 3 feet tall) it makes a good back- Ideally, a hummingbird garden hummingbird brains are hard-wired ground planting. Utah penstemon should include a mix of species to day-length clues, prompting them (P. utahensis) is a low-growing that flower over the course of to begin winter migration well in Plateau species that flow- spring and summer to provide an advance of the first signs of bad ers in early to late spring (April- uninterrupted food supply. weather. Brains and beauty: just June). Bridges’ penstemon (P. For their size, hummingbirds two more admirable qualities of rostriflorus or P. bridgesii) occurs are remarkably intelligent and can these tiny little birds. It really is impossible not to like humming- birds!

References: Dorn, R.D. and J.L. Dorn. 2007. Growing Native Plants of the Rocky Mountain Area. Self-published. 252 pp. Kress, S.W. 1995. The Bird Garden. DK Publishing, NY. 176 pp. Kress, S.W. 2000. Hummingbird Gardens, Turning your Yard into Hum- mingbird Heaven. Brooklyn Botanic Garden, NY. 112 pp. Tufts, C. and P. Loewer. 1995. The National Wildlife Federation’s Guide to Gardening for Wildlife. Rodale Press, Emmaus PA, 192 pp. Wish you could see the Sego Lily in color? Want to read more on native plant society news and chapter events? Need to buy a Above: The aptly named Hummingbird flower (Zauschneria latifolia or Epilobium UNPS wildflower poster or cd-rom for canum) has the red color, long, tubular shape, and ample nectar rewards that are that special someone? Go to irresistible to hummingbirds. Photo by Bill Gray. www.unps.org. right away! 7 Utah Native Plant Society What’s in a Name? Edwin James and Jamesia By Walter Fertig (Pleuraphis), Solanum, Stellaria ranging J. americana with five pet- (Pseudostellaria), and Telesonix als and J. tetrapetala, a four-petaled Native Vermonter Edwin James (Boykinia). taxon restricted to the Highland, (1797-1861) trained to be a physician One of James’ new species from Grant, and Snake ranges in eastern when in college, and like most doc- the Colorado Front Range was a and the House Range in tors of his era received extensive handsome shrub with reddish, Millard County, Utah. Although training in natural history and bot- shredding bark and white, slightly first collected by Carl Albert Purpus, any. His botany instructors in- fragrant, rose-like flowers. This J. tetrapetala was not formally rec- cluded Amos Eaton and John Tor- plant defied ready classification ognized as a separate species for rey, two of the leading taxonomists and remained unnamed for 20 nearly 90 years, until named by of the day. James’ training served years after its discovery. In 1840, Noel and Patricia Holmgren of the him well in 1820, when he was se- Torrey and collaborator New York Botanical Garden in 1989. lected to replace the late William finally named the species Jamesia The Holmgrens recognized four Baldwin as botanist for the second americana to commemorate its varieties of Jamesia americana in year of the Stephen H. Long expedi- discoverer. Jamesia is one of 17 their 1989 monograph of the genus. tion, beating out the more experi- genera recognized in the Hydran- The typical form (the one first dis- enced Thomas Nuttall largely on gea family (), a covered by Edwin James) occurs account of his medical background. group closely related to the roses from the Medicine Bow Range in Originally, the Long expedition (Rosaceae) and saxifrages (Saxi- southeastern Wyoming through the was to ascend the Missouri River fragaceae)*. Commonly called Rocky Mountains of Colorado and and explore the Yellowstone coun- cliffbush or cliff jamesia, members to the mountains of try, but a series of setbacks and fi- of this genus can be distinguished southeastern Arizona and northern nancial problems caused the mis- from other members of the Hy- Nuevo Leon, Mexico. Var. ameri- sion to refocus on finding the head- drangea family in having 8-10 sta- cana can be recognized by its waters of the Platte, Arkansas, and mens with uniformly flat, unta- shreddy bark, finely toothed leaves, Red rivers in the southern Rocky pered filaments lacking a forked and inflorescence of 15-35 white Mountains. During 1820 the party tip below the anther. flowers. The other three varieties explored much of the Colorado Unfortunately in 1897 Amos have much more restricted ranges, Front Range, but ultimately failed in Heller discovered that the notori- bark that splits into plate-like seg- finding the head of any of the rivers. ous Rafinesque** had already pub- ments, and inflorescences with James, however, enjoyed much per- lished the name Jamesia in error fewer flowers that may be white or sonal success. Along with two com- for a species in the pea family. rosy-pink. Variety macrocalyx with panions, he was the first white ex- Under taxonomic rules, a new ge- white flowers and small leaves is plorer to reach the summit of Pike’s nus name was needed. The clever endemic to the canyons of the Wa- Peak (previously considered uncli- Heller transferred Jamesia to Ed- satch and Deep Creek mountains of mable by Zebulon Pike and his Na- winia, a new genus that would still northern Utah. This form is re- tive American guides) and the first maintain the connection to Edwin placed by var. zionis in Zion Na- botanist to explore the alpine tundra James. In 1930 the genus name tional Park and canyons west of in western North America. Over the Jamesia was restored in a ruling Kanab in southwestern Utah. Var. summer of 1820 James discovered by the International Botanical zionis differs in having relatively nearly 100 species of plants previ- Congress, the Supreme Court of large leaves (3-5.5 cm long x 2-4 cm ously unknown to science, such as botanical . wide) and grows in rocky hanging Blue columbine (Aquilegia coerulea, Fossils considered to represent gardens. The third form, var. rosea eventually the state flower of Colo- an extinct Jamesia-like plant are combines the small leaves of macro- rado), Limber pine (Pinus flexilis), known from the Oligocene age calyx with rosy-pink flowers and Rocky Mountain maple (Acer gla- Creede fossil beds in southwestern grows in granitic or limestone cliffs brum), Narrow-leaved cottonwood Colorado. Today, only two species in the Sierra Nevada and desert (Populus angustifolia), Small- of Jamesia survive: the wide- mountain ranges of southeastern geranium (Geranium caespitosum), and southern Nevada (but Lance-leaved stonecrop (Sedum *Welsh et al. follow tradition and place see sidebar on page 9). lanceolatum), and Streamside blue- the Hydrangeaceae within an ex- Cliff jamesia is an attractive bell (Mertensia ciliata). Several of panded Saxifragaceae in A Utah Flora, shrub that can be cultivated in most fourth edition. The two families differ his new taxa would ultimately be areas of the Southern Rocky Moun- in technical features of the carpel and named in James’ honor by John in their growth habit, with the hydran- tains, Great Basin, and Colorado Torrey or George Bentham, includ- geas typically being shrubby and the Plateau. Plants can be grown from ing a Chionophila (a genus in the saxifrages herbaceous forbs. greenwood cuttings or seed that has Scrophulariaceae resembling Pen- been cold stratified for 1-2 months. stemon), Cryptantha (C. cinerea **See ―Rafinesque and Rafinesquia‖ in Jamesia does best in partial shade the July 2008 Sego Lily for more on var. jamesii), Eriogonum, Hilaria and moist, well-drained soils and this character. 8 Sego Lily March 2009 32 (2) especially among rocks or boulders Jamesia americana var. rosea: New to Utah? that simulate its natural habitat.

Following his return from the On July 30, 2008, Doug Rey- Long expedition, Edwin James pub- nolds and I were exploring the lished several of his new species, but slopes above Tri-Story Canyon in left the bulk of the taxonomic work a remote corner of Cedar Breaks to his mentor, . James National Monument, searching wrote a popular account of his west- for a population of Jamesia ern travels in 1823 and a catalogue americana var. zionis reported of his botanical collections two years previously by Cathie Jean during later. He attempted one more expe- her graduate research on the dition with Long in the 1820s, but vegetation of the monument in missed his meeting date with the 1989. We had failed to locate this party and was left behind. He re- species in two previous trips into mained a surgeon with the US Army the canyon in 2007, but this time until the mid 1830s before settling we were exploring some different on a farm in Iowa. In his last years plant communities. While drop- James became involved in the aboli- ping off a steep ledge of hard, tion and temperance movements, light lavender Claron limestone and advocated for Native Americans Doug and I simultaneously no- and religious causes. ticed a small shrub growing out of a shady crack and immediately knew we Aside from his botanical contri- had found our elusive quarry. Or had we? butions and first ascent of Pike’s Doug took a series of photos and recorded the position of the plant with Peak*, James may be best remem- our hand-held GPS unit, while I took copious notes on the habitat and con- bered for the name he and Stephen dition of the population and prepared a sample in my field press (we had a Long gave to the western Great collecting permit from the National Park Service as part of our work on Plains on the east side of the Rocky documenting rare species in the monument). The Jamesia plants were re- Mountain Front: the Great Ameri- stricted to a distinct band of Claron that was much harder and less eroded can Desert. This assessment was than the typical white or orangish-red layers above and below (these readily based on their own first hand obser- erode into fine clay). Although the original patch was found in a partially vations of the area’s limited timber open Douglas-fir/Limber pine forest, subsequent populations were found and water, which they felt made the on cliff ledges in Bristlecone pine/cushion plant communities. The habitat area poorly suited for agriculture or contrasted with the mesic hanging gardens typically associated with var. permanent settlement. Naturally, zionis in Zion National Park. this did not sit well with boosters It was not until a few days later when I opened my press that I began to advocating western expansion. question whether our plants really were var. zionis. Typical zionis has rela- James’ words slowed but did not tively large leaves and white flowers. The material we collected from Cedar prevent the ultimate settling of the Breaks National Monument and the adjacent Ashdown Gorge Wilderness region and its large scale conversion Area on Dixie National Forest had much smaller and narrower leaves and to irrigated farmland (thanks largely small, rosy-pink flowers. I ran the specimens through the Jamesia key in to the Ogallala Aquifer). The long- volume Three, Part A of the Intermountain Flora and immediately went to term accuracy of his assessment will var. rosea, a taxon previously known only from southeastern California and be learned by future generations. southern Nevada. I emailed Doug’s photo to Noel and Pat Holmgren at the

New York Botanical Garden for their opinion and they promptly wrote back References Holmgren, N.H. and P.K. Holmgren. saying that it indeed did appear to be var. rosea. 1989. A taxonomic study of Jamesia In early September, I hiked back to the bottom of Tri-Story Canyon from (Hydrangeaceae). Brittonia 41(4):335- the Rattlesnake Trail on the north side of Cedar Breaks National Monument 350. to collect additional specimens of the unusual Jamesia. In a more thorough Williams, R.L. 2003. ―A Region of search, I found several dozen plants growing along steep, south-facing cliffs Astonishing Beauty”, the Botanical Ex- of the same light lavender bed of Claron limestone, but alas, the plants were ploration of the Rocky Mountains. Rob- all in fruit. I plan to return again this summer to collect flowering material erts Rinehart Publishers, Lanham, MD. for positive confirmation. 209 pp. If the Cedar Breaks population is var. rosea, it would represent a new

* Long attempted to rename Pike’s Peak variety for Utah (clearly making Utah the Jamesia capitol of the world, with for James, but the name never took. 4 of the 5 named species and varieties present in the Beehive State). The There is a James Peak today in Colorado population in Iron County is nearly 125 miles northeast of the nearest in the same mountain range with several known occurrence in the Sheep Mountains of Clark County, Nevada. – other notable 19th Century botanists: Walter Fertig Gray, Torrey, Engelmann, and Parry. Photo of Jamesia americana var. rosea from Tri-Story Canyon, Cedar Breaks NM, Iron County, Utah, by Douglas N. Reynolds, 30 July 2008. 9 Utah Native Plant Society Noteworthy Discoveries aria salina (Caryophyllaceae), and Suaeda linifolia Cordylanthus maritimus var. canes- (Chenopodiaceae) in Utah cens (Scrophulariaceae). How did Suaeda linifolia get By Noel and Patricia Holmgren here? All known populations of S. lini- In September 1999 in Sweetwater folia are relatively close to the trans- County, Wyoming, Walt Fertig and continental railroad, which suggests Jim Glennon collected a Suaeda that the species may have been dis- (Chenopodiaceae) unknown to them persed by trains (Schenk, personal along the banks of the Blacks Fork communication). If so, additional of the Green River (Fertig & Glen- populations of S. linifolia are ex- non 19011, at NY!). Walt had a pected in moist alkaline areas near hunch that it might be exotic, per- the tracks and the old railroad grade haps from Russia. He contacted across northern Nevada and north- Noel, asking him to look at the ern Utah. The population found in specimen and suggesting that it Box Elder County is along the old might key to S. glauca, S. linifolia, abandoned railroad grade not far or S. paradoxa in Flora USSR. Walt from the Golden Spike National His- also told Noel that their collection toric Site. This route has been aban- was a good match for the one taken doned since the 1940s, when the in 1985 in Elko County, Nevada, by railroad trestle across the northern Above: Inflorescence of Suaeda linifo- end of the Great Salt Lake was com- Arnold Tiehm (10013, Tecoma Val- lia. Flowers in this species are often ley, about 7.5 air miles NE of Mon- fused to the floral bracts, making pleted. tello, seepages on SW side of Dake them appear as if borne on the Would it be fanciful to think that Reservoir, 27 Jul 1985, at Y!). Noel surface, rather than its axil. Illustra- the seeds may have been acciden- compared their specimen with Asian tion by W. Fertig. tally introduced to this country by Chinese immigrants, who labored specimens of Suaeda in the New York Botanical Garden Herbarium mightily in building the western link and confirmed Walt's suspicion that that of the native S. calceoliformis of the transcontinental railroad from they had collected the non-native S. (Hook.) Moq. (broom seepweed or Sacramento to the low saddle in the linifolia Pall. (native to Kazakhstan horned sea-blite), and the two Promontory Range between 1863 and adjacent parts of western Sibe- grow together, so it is easy to see and 1869? Ambrose (2000) reports ria and NW China). Tiehm's collec- why the specimens collected by that the Chinese paid for their own tion and one by Bev Albee (5786, Albee and Tiehm were originally food while working on the railroad, about 6.5 mi NE of Montello in Te- misidentified as a native spe- which enabled them to demand and coma Valley, Elko Co., Nev., 18 Sep cies. Both S. linifolia and S. cal- receive an astonishing variety of 1984, at UT!) were probably the first ceoliformis are annuals with as- foods, including vegetables, from collections of this species in North cending branches, but they are Chinese merchants in San Fran- America. easily distinguished with a hand cisco. It seemed logical that S. linifolia lens. The small flowers of S. should also grow in alkaline areas of linifolia are borne on the apex of Is Suaeda linifolia likely to be- northern Utah, so this became one the bract petioles, and the calyx come invasive? of our goals this past summer. Suc- lobes are equal and rounded on We recently learned that Dr. cess! We found a population in Box the back. The flowers of S. Jochen Schenk (http://biology. full- Elder County (Holmgren & Holm- calceoliformis are borne in the erton.edu/jschenk/), specialist in gren 15881, Bear River Valley, State axils of the bracts, and the calyx the genus Suaeda, identified the non Route 83, 0.16 km w. of the junction lobes, in addition to having horn- -native S. linifolia in North America with State Route 102, 22 km air dis- like projections on the back, have earlier than Walt and Noel, but his tance WNW of Corinne, 17 Aug the upper lobe larger than the oth- report of the discovery was not pub- 2008, at BRY!, NY!, RENO!, ers. lished until later (Ferren & Schenk UTC!). Images of the Tiehm, Fertig Other Chenopodiaceae found 2003) than that of Fertig (2000). In & Glennon, and Holmgren speci- growing with S. linifolia include 1997, Schenk saw a specimen of S. mens are viewable at Allenrolfea occidentalis, Atriplex linifolia while studying the genus in http://sciweb.nybg.org/science2/ dioica, Bassia hyssopifolia, Kochia the herbarium at the Natural His- hcol/intf/index.asp. scoparia, Salicornia rubra, and tory Museum in London. He could The habit of the non-native Suaeda calceoliformis. Species in not believe his eyes when, only Suaeda linifolia (pin-leaf seepweed other families include Helianthus weeks after his European visit, he or flax-leaved sea-blite) resembles petiolaris (Asteraceae), Spergul- found a population of S. linifolia 10 Sego Lily March 2009 32 (2) near Wells, Nevada, in an area being anism. She suggests that it could Nitrophila occidentalis in used as an unofficial dump near the become a local problem, but ap- Union Pacific tracks. According to pears unlikely to become aggres- Box Elder County, Utah him, S. linifolia forms dense, mono- sively invasive. Vearrier returned specific stands, suggesting that it to the Wells population in 2008 to Noel and Pat Holmgren found a might be invasive and could have make additional measurements, population of Nitrophila occiden- displaced native species. To test this and she and Schenk are preparing talis (Moq.) S. Watson (Holmgren possibility his student, Nicole Vear- a manuscript for publication later & Holmgren 15861, at NY) at the rier (2006) studied the ecology of this year. Rabbit Springs area in Box Elder the Wells population from 2003 to County (about 9 mi. e. of the Ne- 2005. She noted that although the References: vada border along the old Central Nevada populations increased in Ambrose, S. 2000. Nothing like it in Pacific Railroad grade) on 15 Aug size during the period of her study, the world. The men who built the 2008. This represents a county re- they did not appear to be ruderal trans-continental railroad. 1863- cord and northern extension of its 1869. New York: Simon & Schuster. and did not spread into adjacent distribution in Utah. The species Ferren, W. R., Jr., and H. J. Schenk. has previously been known from disturbed sites along roads. Helmut 2003. Suaeda. In: Flora of North Freitag, who knows S. linifolia America Editorial Committee. Flora of Juab and Millard Counties, but from his work in central Asia, re- North America north of Mexico 4: Welsh (A Utah Flora, 4th edition) ported to Schenk that this species is 390-398. New York: Oxford University predicted that "the distribution un- an alkaline wetland species with no Press. doubtedly extends north into Tooele ruderal tendencies in central Asia. Fertig, W. 2000. Noteworthy collec- County, and possibly to Box Elder According to Vearrier, plants of S. tions from Wyoming. Suaeda linifolia. County as well." The herbarium linifolia show high fecundity and a Castilleja 19(3): 7. specimen is viewable at Vearrier, N. J. 2006. Ecology and wide tolerance of salinity, soil char- http:// sciweb.nybg.org/science2/ potential invasiveness of Suaeda virtualherbarium.asp. - Noel and acteristics, and temperatures, but linifolia in the Great Basin desert, the species appears to lack an effec- USA. M.S. dissertation. California Patricia Holmgren tive long-distance dispersal mech- State University, Fullerton. 54 pages.

Uinta Basin Rare Plants – Can They Be Sustained?

By Joan DeGiorgio, TNC stakeholders, including The Na- are ranked and strategies identified I was tempted to begin this story ture Conservancy (TNC), Bureau for viability enhancement and threat with lines like ―a modern day David of Land Management, US Fish and abatement. The Forum is now at the and Goliath – passionate plant lov- Wildlife Service, Uinta County, stage of prioritizing its almost 70 ers vs. well-supported energy indus- Independent Petroleum Associa- strategies. try‖, but instead took a hint from tion of Mountain States, Utah Na- The CAP planning process has ―no-drama Obama‖ and will just tive Plant Society, Utah Heritage been open to everyone and its re- focus on the sobering-enough facts program, consultants, researchers sults and process have been 100% and the need for cooperation. The and others formed the Uinta Basin transparent. It has also been based facts are these - the Uinta Basin in Rare Plant Forum. The Forum’s on the best available science. While Utah’s NE corner has become a fo- goal is to better understand what the Plan captured the known, it also cus of oil and gas production, and ecological conditions these plants made clear how little we know about possibly oil shale development. This need to survive, and to work with how these plants function and what vast semi-arid landscape is also land managers and industry they need. A logical question arises: home to many rare plant species, groups to find solutions to protect if we don’t know what they need, including the Shrubby reed mustard habitat and guide development. how can we guide industry? Much of and the White River penstemon that As a way to work towards both the plan is directed to answering are found nowhere else on Earth. enhancing the plants’ viability and these sustainability questions. It will There is a real question if these, and addressing threats to the species, take everyone working together to 7 other at-risk plants, can be sus- the Forum has engaged in a plan- answer these critical questions and tained while also advancing energy ning process using TNC’s conser- then apply the knowledge to best development and its associated vation action planning tool (CAP). direct where and how energy devel- problems: habitat fragmented via an Mining the treasure trove of opment proceeds. Hopefully, the extensive spider-web of roads and knowledge the Forum collectively Forum represents a new version of well pads, dust generated from these possesses, the Uinta Basin Rare an old story where David and Goli- vehicles, improved access for poach- Plant CAP captures current and ath sit down together and work out ers - to name just a few. desired conditions for the key eco- their differences using science as In the face of these uneven odds, logical attributes needed for plant their guide. The Forum and its CAP three years ago a large group of survival. Threats to plant function is a start. [see related story, pg 4]. 11 Utah Native Plant Society

Utah Native Plant Society PO Box 520041 Salt Lake City, UT 84152-0041

Return Service Requested

Want to see the Sego Lily in color? Or read late breaking UNPS news and find links to other botanical websites? Or buy wildflower posters, cds, and other neat stuff at the UNPS store? Go to unps.org!

Utah Native Plant Society Membership

__ New Member Name ______Renewal Street ______Gift Membership City ______State ______Zip ______Membership Category Email ______Student $9.00 __ Senior $12.00 Chapter ______Individual $15.00 __ Household $25.00 __ Please send a complimentary copy of the Sego Lily __ Sustaining $40.00 to the above individual. __ Supporting Organization $55.00 __ Corporate $500.00 Please enclose a check, payable to Utah Native Plant __ Lifetime $250.00 Society and send to:

Mailing Utah Native Plant Society ___ US Mail PO Box 520041 ___ Electronic Salt Lake City, UT 84152-0041

Join or renew on-line at unps.org

12