September 2009 Lady Bracknell Says in Oscar Wilde's the Importance of Being Earnest "To Lose One Parent Lost and Found In

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Sego Lily September 2009 32 (5)

Lost and Found in Salt Lake County

by Bill Gray

September 2009 Vol. 32, No. 5

In this issue: Lost and Found in Salt Lake County ...... 1 Chapter News ...... 2 Help Wanted! ...... 4 Dinosaur National Monument TNC White Dome Preserve Native Gardens and Native Animals ...... 5 Species Richness and Complement- arity: Sizing Up Utah‘s National Parks, Monuments, Recreation Areas, and Historic Sites ...... 6 Mighty Phragmites: USU Researcher Studies Wetlands Invader ...... 8 What‘s in a Name: Pursh and Purshia: ...... 10 Above: Bitterroot (Lewisia rediviva) grows on well-drained, coarse gravely areas in the foothills in late spring to early summer. Lewisia was named for Meriwether Lewis by Frederick Pursh. For more on Pursh, see the article starting on page 10. Photo by Bill Gray

Lady Bracknell says in Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest "To lose one parent is a tragedy, to lose both parents is just plain carelessness." The same may be said of some of our lovely wildflowers – we don't always care enough to keep track of where they are, and sometimes they get lost for ever. This year I have been delighted to encounter two gorgeous little plants in Salt Lake County that were on my 'most wanted' list. Neither are rare globally, and I had seen both of them occasionally away from my home territory, but each had a particular appeal related to my now 12-year old project of photographing all the plants of our local area. My reference source for this was Lois Arnow's 1980 edition of Plants of the Central Wasatch Front, as this is what I built my Cyberflora CD upon. Most challenging was Woodnymph (Moneses uniflora of the Wintergreen family) that adorned the cover – the only plant illustrated in the entire book! The cover shows a full face view of a distinctive 5-petaled flower on a diminutive plant. The real clincher, though, was the text which noted "This plant was last collected in our [continued on pg 9]

Education: Ty Harrison Sego Lily Editor: Walter Fertig Horticulture: Maggie Wolf ([email protected]). The deadline for Invasive Weeds: Susan Fitts the November 2009 Sego Lily is 15 Rare Plants: Walter Fertig October 2009. Scholarship: Bill Gray Copyright 2009 Utah Native Plant Chapters and Chapter Presidents Society. All Rights Reserved Cache: Amy Croft and Michael Piep Cedar City: Marguerite Smith The Sego Lily is a publication of the Officers Escalante: Harriet Priska Utah Native Plant Society, a 501(c)(3) President: Bill King (Salt Lake Co) Fremont: Maria Ulloa not-for-profit organization dedicated Vice President: Walter Fertig (Kane Co) Manzanita: Walter Fertig to conserving and promoting steward- Treasurer: Charlene Homan (Salt Lake Mountain: Mindy Wheeler ship of our native plants. Use of con- Co) Price: Mike Hubbard tent material is encouraged but re- Secretary: Mindy Wheeler (Summit Salt Lake: Marni Ambrose quires permission (except where ex- Co) Southwestern/Bearclaw poppy: Mar- empted by statute) and must be cor- Board Chair: Dave Wallace (Cache Co) garet Malm rectly credited and cited. Articles, Utah Valley: Celeste Kennard photographs and illustrations submit- UNPS Board: Loreen Allphin (Utah ted to us remain the property of the Co), Robert Fitts (Utah Co), Susan Fitts Website: For late-breaking news, the submitting individuals or organiza- (Utah Co), Bill Gray (Salt Lake Co), UNPS store, the Sego Lily archives, tions. Submit permission requests to Marie Griffiths (Salt Lake Co), Ty Harri- Chapter events, links to other websites [email protected]. We encourage read- son (Salt Lake Co), Celeste Kennard (including sources of native plants and ers to submit articles for potential (Utah Co), Kipp Lee (Salt Lake Co), the digital Utah Rare Plant Field publication. By submitting an article, Margaret Malm (Washington Co), Larry Guide), and more, go to unps.org. an implicit license is granted to print Meyer (Salt Lake Co), Therese Meyer Many thanks to Xmission for the article in the newsletter or other (Salt Lake Co), Jeff Mitchell (Utah Co), sponsoring our website. UNPS publications for reprint without Leila Shultz (Cache Co), Maggie Wolf For more information on UNPS: permission (in print and electronic (Salt Lake Co). Contact Bill King (582-0432) or Susan media). When submitting an article, Fitts (356-5108), or write to UNPS, PO please indicate whether it has been Committees Box 520041, Salt Lake City, UT, 84152 previously published or submitted for Communications: Larry Meyer -0041 or email [email protected] consideration to other publications. Conservation: Bill King and Tony Frates

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Chapter News Washburn, founder of both the Ce- dar City and Escalante chapters, Cache: Saturday, September 19: who moved to Monte Vista Grove, activity to be announced. Join us in CA, on August 5th. Mayor Sherratt a surprise outdoor activity. We are spoke briefly about the wonderful keeping this one under wraps until it contributions Winnie made during is ready to hatch. One hint though— her ‗too few‘ years in Cedar City. it will be happening up Logan Can- Winnie was presented with a mem- yon! bership in the Huntington Botanical Saturday, October 17—Annual Gardens. Many comments were UNPS Members Meeting hosted by made about Winnie‘s boundless en- the Cache Chapter and to be held at ergy, positive impact, and the many the Cache Valley Learning Center. contributions she made to the com- Time and Speaker to be announced. munity. Herbarium activities: White Pine Thanks again to Winnie for her Lake Walk, Saturday, September 5, charitable donations of all proceeds 9 AM. Meet at Tony Grove Lake from her garage sale to the local Parking Lot. This enjoyable walk is chapter (a very generous $700). loaded with wildflowers and will be On September 15-16, a Waterwise led by Dr. Mary Barkworth. We rec- Cedar City: Last month‘s pro- Workshop will be held for profes- ommend lots of water and a lunch. gram featured Bill Gray of the sionals and homeowners at the Fes- The hike usually takes 4 hours UNPS state board and his exqui- tival Hall, 105 N 100 E in Cedar City. round trip. Contact Mary Bark- site photographs taken in Australia Topics will include planning and worth at [email protected] for of exotic wildflowers that only designing your landscape, turf op- more information. —Michael Piep grow in that area. The presenta- tions, efficient irrigation design, and tion was followed by a reception more. Register on-line or pick up honoring the remarkable Winnie forms from Iron County Extension by 11 Sept.—Alice Maas 2 Sego Lily September 2009 32 (5)

Escalante: Saturday, August 22, 9 AM: Seed collecting and propagat- ing field trip with Maria Ulloa, bota- nist from the Richfield BLM office. Meet downtown at the marquee and bring interested friends and family. We will be going up the Main Can- yon Road into the Dixie National Forest. Please bring your own water and sack lunch, plus paper enve- lopes and markers. Afterwards, join us for a BBQ potluck at the Delt- hony‘s west of Escalante. Saturday September 19, 9 AM: ―The Fungus Among Us!‖ field trip. Search for edible mushrooms with Craig Sorensen around the Barker Reservoirs. See the wonderful variety of colors and shapes of fungi. Craig will identify the only two species that he is certain are good for the September 11-13 hike and Above: UNPS members experience Ari- human consumption! Meet at the campout at Deep Creek in zona willow (Salix arizonica) up close marquee and we will carpool. Bring Millard County. Contact Bob at and personal at Cedar Breaks NM on water, a sack lunch, and your cam- 435-527-1099 for further infor- the Society’s annual field trip (july 18) sponsored by the Cedar City chapter. era. mation. Photo by Harriet Priska. September 23-24, 10 AM—5 PM: We are sponsoring a Member Escalante Art Festival. Please advise Appreciation Dinner on Septem- wildflowers for our viewing enjoy- us if you can work one or two hour ber 26. Location is to be an- ment (and many will be in fruit). shifts at the ENPS table. Thank you nounced. Meat will be furnished Meet at the Best Friends Welcome for thinking of things to donate to by the chapter and potluck by Center (on the lower road parallel- sell. Proceeds will be split 50/50 the members. If you are plan- ing Kanab Creek) at 6 PM to view between ENPS and the Main Street ning to attend, please contact the gardens before leaving at 6:30 Committee. This is our only fund- Maria Ulloa at 893-2176. PM to carpool to Diana‘s Throne.— raiser for both activities and your Since our 2009 calendar was Walter Fertig support is appreciated.—Harriet highly successful, the chapter Priska will be creating a new calendar. Salt Lake: Kipp Lee has stepped We are inviting all chapters in down as chapter president to con- Fremont (Richfield area): The the state to submit dates of ma- centrate on finishing his botany xeric plantings at the Sevier County jor 2010 events for their chap- studies at the U of U. Thanks Kipp courthouse in Richfield have flour- ters so they can be added to the for all the work you did to help get ished and the county commissioners calendar. Submissions should be the chapter moving again after a are pleased with the results. Espe- sent to jbnielson@sisna. com by long quiescence. Our new president cially showy have been the Fire- September 15.—Janet Nielson will be Marni Ambrose, and we hope cracker penstemon, Missouri prim- to put together a varied program of rose, and Nepeta. The south parking Manzanita (Kane County): winter talks and summer walks. strip is eye-catching with sprouts of The chapter‘s fall plant sale will In late May Kipp and Bill Gray Little bluestem alternating with be held on Saturday, September organized a camping trip to the mounds of Apache plume. 5 in conjunction with the Kanab Wedge Overlook in San Rafael Also the native plant garden at Farmer‘s Market. Janett Warner Swell, which was attended by 9 Sam Stowe Campground in Fremont of Wildland Nursery will be on members. We had a great time get- State Park is in its second year, hand with her usual eclectic se- ting away from Salt Lake's unsea- showing real development. We‘re lection of native shrubs, grasses, sonably wet Spring. Although the finding which plants are happy in and wildflowers grown in Jo- diminutive Pediocactus despainii this location, which are not, and seph, Utah. had already finished blooming it was which ones are delicious treats for On Tuesday, September 29 we a treat to see the tiny balls starting rabbits, rockchucks, and deer. All will have an evening field trip to to bury themselves as they dry out penstemons are thriving and resist- Diana‘s Throne and The Sand for the summer. There were great ing local critter attacks. Oakleaf su- Hills, north of Hwy 89 and Coral displays of the Lavender-leaf Sun- mac and Ephedra are also making Pink Sand Dunes. This area al- drops (Calylophus lavandulifolius) the lovely red rock canyon home. ways has a good show of fall and the always intriguing Gilia We invite anyone interested to flowering composites and other stenothyrsa. - Bill Gray join us and our hikemaster Bob for 3 Utah Native Plant Society Help Wanted!

Dinosaur National Monument Can Grow—With Your Help

Although John Wesley Powell‘s flotilla had passed through the area in 1869, the Green River drainage in Utah‘s northern Uinta Basin was still largely unexplored in the early 20th Century. Paleontologist Earl Douglass of the Carnegie Museum had a hunch that the exposures of Morrison Formation rocks in the vicinity of Split Mountain (where the Green saws through massive rock walls) might be a good place to hunt for dinosaur bones. Douglass hit paydirt in the summer of 1909, and his dinosaur quarry eventually became the centerpiece of Dinosaur National Monument when it was created by President Woodrow Wil- son in 1915. would impact their survival, as Above: Dwarf bear poppy (Arctomecon Earl Douglass purchased a small well as potentially detract from the humilis) just visited by a departing bee. farm near his beloved quarry, which paleontological and historical val- Photo by Shirley Surfus. has remained in his family to this ues of the monument itself. day despite the expansion of the Earl Douglass‘ heirs have of- dwarf bear poppy (Arctomecon hu- monument in the 1930s and 1960s. fered to trade the Orchard/Orchid milis), an endangered wildflower This 80 acre inholding is centered Draw inholding to the federal gov- found in Washington County, Utah, on Orchard Draw (as the family ernment for BLM lands in Colo- and nowhere else on Earth. The called it) or Orchid Draw (as de- rado that would transfer to a local Conservancy and its partners have picted on USGS maps) and is lo- ranching family. If approved by already secured protection for 330 cated just west of the monument‘s Congress, the inholding would be acres of critical habitat in south St. quarry visitor center. For botanists, incorporated into Dinosaur Na- George, creating the White Dome Orchard Draw is as significant a tional Monument and be added to Nature Preserve. Thanks to recent motherlode of rare and endemic an existing Special Botanical Inter- federal funding, the Conservancy is plant species as the adjacent Quarry est Area on the south side of Split now poised to acquire an additional is for dinosaur bones. At least 9 rare Mountain. 470 acres—completing the preserve and unusual plant species are If you would like to see this bo- and establishing a viable oasis for a known from Orchard Draw, includ- tanically important area protected range of at-risk Mojave desert spe- ing Jones‘ amsonia (Amsonia jone- in perpetuity, please contact our cies. sii), Duchesne milkvetch (Astrag- state congressional delegation and To make these vital land pur- alus duchesnensis), Dinosaur milk- ask them to support the Orchid chases, the Conservancy must still vetch (A. saurinus), Uinta Basin Draw land swap. - Walter Fertig raise more than $300,000 in private cryptanth (Cryptantha breviflora), donations from supporters. In bur- Duchesne spring-parsley geoning Washington County, human (Cymopterus duchesnensis), Giant Help Needed to Save the impacts have already destroyed 50 helleborine orchid (Epipactis gigan- Dwarf Bear Poppy percent of the dwarf bear poppy‘s tea), Orchard snakeweed historic habitat. The White Dome (Gutierrezia pomariensis—which Editors Note: In the July issue, we Nature Preserve will not only pro- was first discovered as a new species mistakenly reported that the funding tect precious land for the poppy, but by Stan Welsh from a specimen for TNC’s White Dome Preserve near it will give scientists a chance to taken at Orchard Draw), and the St. George was already complete. study the plant‘s life cycle and polli- Larrisa Barry, communication direc- nation processes, creating a restora- federally Threatened Ute ladies‘- tor with TNC offers a correction and tresses (Spiranthes diluvialis). an appeal for help! tion plan to ensure the poppy‘s long Many of these species are highly term survival. To help the Conser- threatened in the Uinta Basin and The Nature Conservancy needs vancy complete the White Dome are only protected within Dinosaur your help to protect some of the Nature Preserve, contact Heidi Mos- National Monument. Loss of this last remaining habitat for the burg at [email protected] or (801) critical inholding to development 531-0999. 4 Sego Lily September 2009 32 (5)

Native Gardens and Native Animals

By Peter Lesica Reprinted from the Summer 2009 issue of Kelseya, the newsletter of the Montana Native Plant Society

Development has converted mil- lions of acres of native vegetation to urban and suburban landscapes. Preservation of the remaining native habitat is critical, but allowing for the survival of native species in altered environments also has a major part to play in conservation. Recent studies have shown that gardening with natives can play a role in conserving native diversity in urbanized landscapes. The most commonly mentioned reason for using natives in landscaping is that exotic plants can escape cultivation and become troublesome or even destructive weeds. Indeed, more than half of the noxious weeds in the United States were first introduced for horticultural purposes. But there are other ways that gardening Native pollinators are not as Above: Milbert’s tortoiseshell butterfly with natives can help conserve bio- dependent on native flowers as (Aglais milberti) on Cut-leaved ground- logical diversity. Evidence that na- herbivorous insects are on their sel (Senecio eremophilus) at Brian Head tive urban landscaping results in food plants. For example a mon- Peak on Cedar Mountain. Photo by Ken greater animal diversity and abun- arch caterpillar must feed on milk- Kingsley. dance is beginning to accumulate. weed, but the monarch butterfly Douglas Tallamy and colleagues will sip nectar from many different It is clear that additional studies at the University of Delaware com- flowers. Furthermore, some exotic on the thousands of introduced pared a half dozen Pennsylvania plants are actually beneficial to ornamentals are needed to sort out suburban yards landscaped with native pollinators. For example, which species can be beneficial for native plants to similar yards with leafy spurge, which was introduced native animals. Many may be as conventional exotic ornamentals as an ornamental, produces copi- good as some natives. But right now and turf. They found that there ous, easily-accessible nectar and is it‘s a good bet that, all else being were three times more species of regularly visited by native bees. equal, natives will do more for our native butterfly and moth larvae and Nonetheless, non-native ornamen- birds and bees than conventional twice as many insectivorous bird tals often will have flowers that are landscaping. species in the native compared to not beneficial to native pollinators. conventional yards. Moreover, both A team of Oxford researchers com- References native birds and butterflies were pared native pollinator visitation Burghardt, K.T., D.W. Tallamy, and W.G. Shriver. 2008. Impact of native more abundant in the native yards. to five native and several non- plants on bird and butterfly biodiversity This should not be surprising be- native horticultural plants in Eng- in suburban landscapes. Conservation cause the vast majority of herbivo- land. They found that all five na- Biology 23:219-224. rous insects, such as butterfly larvae, tives were commonly visited by are specialists—they thrive on only native bees and flies. On the other Corbet, S.A., J. Bee, K. Dasmahapatra, S. one or a few closely-related plant hand, one of the exotics was of Gale, E. Gorringe, B. La Ferla, T. Moor- species. Non-native plants, no mat- subtropical origin and was bird house, A. Trevail, Y. Van Bergen, and M. ter how pretty they are, just won‘t do rather than insect-pollinated. In Vorontsova. 2001. Native or exotic? for a meal. And since non-native addition, some of the non-native Double or single? Evaluating plants for species failed even to produce nec- pollinator-friendly gardens. Annals of yards have fewer insect species, Botany 87:219-232. there are fewer insectivorous birds tar. as well. 5 Utah Native Plant Society

Species Richness and Complementarity: Sizing Up Utah’s National Parks, Monuments, Recreation Areas, and Historic Sites

By Walter Fertig Rank of Park Units in Protection also tends to be biased Plant Species Richness towards species found in habitats of low economic value. In the Colo- In order to stave off the threat of (based on data through 2008) rado Plateau area, 70% of the unpro- widespread species loss, conserva- tected plant taxa occur in just 12 tion biologists hope to eventually Park # Vascular Size (ha) hotspots of endemism (the La Sal, create a network of protected areas Plant Taxa Abajo, Henry, Tushar, Boulder, and across North America that will pre- 1. GSENM 999 761,070 Pine Valley mountains, Book Cliffs, serve a representative sample of the 2. ZION 991 59,900 Tavaputs and Fish Lake plateaus, continent‘s full native plant and ani- 3. GCNRA 889 505,868 Sevier Valley, Uinta Basin, and San mal diversity. National park units (863 in UT) Rafael Swell). Many other unpro- are an important component of this 4. CARE 888 97,895 tected species are found on low ele- network, as they are among the 5. DINO 757 85,096 vation private lands. most highly protected of all lands (485 in UT) Comparing Floras—the Im- and are managed with an emphasis 6. CANY 600 136,610 portance of Complementarity: on preserving native species. Utah 7. BRCA 587 14,502 While small parks tend to have has one of the highest concentra- 8. ARCH 523 30,966 fewer species, their contribution to tions of national parks and monu- 9. NABR 428 3,099 the overall protected area network ments in the United States, as well 10. CEBR 354 2,491 may greatly exceed their diminuitive as one of the richest biotas. 11. HOVE 340 318 size due to the concept of comple- But how effective is the existing (240 in UT) mentarity. Also called beta diver- system of Utah parklands in meeting 12. TICA 235 101 sity, complementarity measures the the goal of full representation of bio- 13. RABR 224 65 degree of dissimilarity between the logical diversity? To find out, I com- 14. GOSP 149 1,107 piled vascular plant species check- floras of different parks. The fewer lists for 14 national parks, monu- species that two parks have in comments, recreation areas, and historic est floras (see table above). Like- mon, the greater the degree of com- sites in the state managed by the wise, the six smallest units had the plementarity and the more impor- National Park Service and the Bu- lowest species richness. These tant the contribution of the park reau of Land Management into a patterns generally hold if park area with the most unique flora. Parks master species database derived is normalized by taking the natural with high beta diversity tend to have from the 4th edition of A Utah Flora log of the area, though Zion Na- relatively high numbers of endemic (Welsh et al. 2008). I wanted to see tional Park then emerges as having or rare species that might not other- how many species were present in the richest flora with 90.1 species/ wise be represented in the protected these parklands, what sort of species ln(area), followed by Capitol Reef area network. were absent, and how important National Park and Grand Stair- The table on page 7 documents each park was to the overall net- case*. the degree of similarity (or dissimi- work. I hoped that patterns might Protection Status: The 14 larity) between each of the 14 park- emerge that would help guide future parklands studied here contain at lands I analyzed. The data in the protection efforts for geographic least 2007 of the state‘s 3659 na- upper right hand columns show the areas, habitats, and species that re- tive and naturalized vascular plant number of species shared among main inadequately protected. species (54.8% of the flora of parks. This number can be deceiv- Species Richness: Not surpris- Utah). Rare or endemic species ing because of the disparity in size ingly, I found that larger parklands, (those with ranges limited to a between many parks. Jaccard‘s Co- on average, had the greatest number small geographic area) are more efficient of Similarity (JCS) is a use- of species (also called species rich- than twice as likely as common or ful way to compare the size of floras ness or alpha diversity). Based on widespread species to be missing by taking into account disparities in data current through 2008, Grand from the protected area network. overall species richness. Based on Staircase-Escalante National Monu- JCS, two of the smallest parks ment (GSENM) had the highest spe- *New discoveries in Zion NP in 2009 have (Golden Spike NHS and Cedar increased the park‘s flora by nearly a dozen Breaks NM) are the least similar to cies richness of any of the parklands species and have enabled the park to pass I examined, with 999 taxa. At over GSENM in total plant species richness. The other parks, and thus make signifi- 761,000 ha, GSENM is also the larg- complete list of new species will be pub- cant contributions of unprotected est protected area in Utah. Overall, lished in a future issue of the Sego Lily at species to the network. the conclusion of the field season. the six largest parks all had the larg- 6 Sego Lily September 2009 32 (5)

Number of Species in Common Park ARCH BRCA CANY CARE CEBR DINO- GLCA- GOSP GSENM HOVE- NABR RABR TICA ZION UT UT UT ARCH 215 402 414 73 260 425 75 418 182 293 160 80 324 BRCA 0.24 250 390 227 229 288 81 423 126 224 85 111 365 CANY 0.557 0.267 455 83 261 495 80 482 198 342 179 83 367 CARE 0.415 0.359 0.44 168 321 547 90 648 204 353 178 129 499 CEBR 0.091 0.318 0.095 0.156 92 103 29 172 37 89 32 75 202 DINO- 0.347 0.272 0.317 0.305 0.123 293 90 329 137 220 95 110 281 UT GLCA- 0.442 0.248 0.511 0.454 0.092 0.278 87 630 201 360 208 96 469 UT GOSP 0.125 0.124 0.12 0.095 0.061 0.165 0.094 108 63 66 27 62 97 GSENM 0.378 0.364 0.432 0.523 0.146 0.285 0.511 0.104 214 357 195 140 613 HOVE- 0.313 0.18 0.308 0.221 0.066 0.233 0.223 0.193 0.209 162 88 42 180 UT NABR 0.445 0.283 0.499 0.367 0.128 0.317 0.387 0.129 0.334 0.32 137 79 299 RABR 0.272 0.117 0.278 0.191 0.059 0.155 0.237 0.078 0.19 0.234 0.266 22 157 TICA 0.118 0.156 0.11 0.13 0.146 0.18 0.096 0.193 0.128 0.097 0.135 0.05 156 ZION 0.272 0.301 0.3 0.362 0.177 0.235 0.339 0.093 0.445 0.171 0.267 0.148 0.146 ARCH BRCA CANY CARE CEBR DINO- GLCA- GOSP GSENM HOVE- NABR RABR TICA ZION UT UT UT Jaccard’s Coefficient of Similarity Annotated checklists for 16 parks, monuments, and historic sites managed by the National Park Service in the Northern Colorado Plateau Network (NCPN) are now available as downloadable pdfs from the NCPN website (http://science.nature. nps.gov/im/units/ ncpn/). These checklists were developed from 2004- 2008 and include information on species confirmed for each park with an herbarium voucher, plants reported in literature (without a voucher), species that are falsely reported or questionable, and species that may potentially occur in the park based on records from the vicinity. Each list is annotated with information on synonyms, common name, growth form, geographic distribution, nativity, abundance, flowering period, habitat preferences, and other data of interest.

Left: Map of Utah showing the distribution of parklands examined in this study and their standard ab- breviations: ARCH (Arches National Park), BRCA (Bryce Canyon National Park), CANY (Canyonlands National Park), CARE (Capitol Reef National Park), CEBR (Cedar Breaks National Monument), DINO (Dinosaur National Monument), GLCA (Glen Canyon National Recreation Area), GOSP (Golden Spike Na- tional Historic Site), GSENM (Grand Staircase- Escalante National Monument), HOVE (Hovenweep National Monument), NABR (Natural Bridges Na- tional Monument, RABR (Rainbow Bridge National Monument), TICA (Timpanogos Cave National Monument), ZION (Zion National Park).

7 Utah Native Plant Society

Mighty Phragmites: USU Researcher Studies Wetlands Invader

By Mary-Ann Muffoletto Reprinted with permission from Utah State Today

When Utah State University researcher Karin Kettenring tells rela- tives in her native New Jersey that she moved to the Intermountain West to teach and study wetland ecology, she receives incredulous stares and a few unsuppressed chuckles. ―‘Utah? They ask—‘Isn‘t that a desert?‘‖ says Kettenring, who joined USU‘s Department of Water- shed Sciences faculty in August 2008. ―I have to explain that, yes, Utah has wetlands and they‘re among the state‘s most critical eco- systems.‖ Wetlands are especially impor- Above: Karin Kettenring, assistant tant in an arid region, she says, as professor in the Department of Wa- they supply many of the basic needs tershed Sciences, walks through an of wildlife—food, water, a breeding invasive grass called Phragmites in a ground and shelter from predators— Logan, Utah, wetlands area. Photo in a surprisingly compact space. courtesy Utah State University. mites can reproduce by seed or rhi- Right: Phragmites australis from Among Kettenring‘s current re- zomes,‖ she says. ―Left alone, it can Manual of the Grasses of the United search projects is the investigation States, second edition, revised, by take over a large area in just of a prolific invasive plant known as Agnes Chase, 1950. a few years.‖ Phragmites australis. The white- Rhizomes are fleshy underground tasseled plant is often referred to as stems that grow horizontally to form Common reed. The pesky perennial, ment that‘s accelerating Phrag- extensive reed beds. Highly adapt- which is threatening native ecosys- mites growth?‖ able, Phragmites can form reed beds tems, is a type of grass. Kettenring says increased fertil- in a variety of soils and water types. ―When I first flew in to the Salt izer and sediment runoff from ―Lateral shoots from Phragmites Lake International Airport and farms, residential developments may grow as much as 16 feet per drove up to Logan, I noticed Phrag- and industrial areas could explain year‖ Kettenring says. ―And it grows mites all along Great Salt Lake,‖ she Phragmites’ proliferation. Climate stalks that rise 10 to 15 feet tall.‖ says. ―I knew they had a stronghold change may also be contributing to Uncontrolled, Phragmites pre- back East but didn‘t know they were the plant‘s spread. vents the growth of native plants, so pervasive in this region.‖ Phragmites secretes gallic acid, including varied species of bulrush Prior to joining USU, Kettenring which is toxic to native plants. that provide critical food and nest- studied the plant extensively in the Researchers at the University of ing habitat for birds. ―Wildlife man- Chesapeake Bay area, where she Delaware recently announced find- agers typically use herbicides such served as a postdoctoral fellow for ings that increased ultraviolet rays as glyphosate to control Phrag- the Smithsonian Environmental Re- from the sun, a possible conse- mites,‖ Kettenring says. ―Comm- search Center. She‘s continuing her quence of warming temperatures, ercial applications of glyphosate are study of Phragmites here in the degrades gallic acid and produces approved for use near wetlands but West. another toxin, mesoxalic acid, they‘re not always effective. Among ―With my students and col- which also hinders the growth of the things we‘re investigating is leagues, I‘m investigating how this native plants. when the best time is to spray herbi- plant is spreading, why it is so suc- Aside from toxins, Kettenring cides and how much should be ap- cessful, and what the best ways are says Phragmites crowds out native plied. We‘re also investigating other to control it‖ she says. ―Among the plants with its sheer physical size methods of control, including flood- questions we‘re asking is has some- above and below ground. ―Phrag- ing of wetland areas.‖ thing changed about the environ- 8 Sego Lily September 2009 32 (5) Lost and Found in Salt Lake County [continued from page 1] range in 1906 (Garrett 2022 both successful in locating a small UT)*". From that point I kept it in population in full bloom. mind while hiking in the spruce-fir Slender half inch succulent leaves communities of our local Wasatch are all that can be seen above Mountains in late summer, but drew ground in early Spring, and these a complete blank until this year. may be shriveled by the time buds Was it very rare? Had we already appear. The buds seem to grow di- destroyed its habitat? Or was it rectly out of the ground, then burst merely very elusive? open into stunning two-inch wide Then in early August, while I was wonders that have a passing resem- leading a wildflower walk for Save blance to cactus flowers: the Our Canyons, one of the group told Purslane and Cactus families are me she had seen some Wood- closely related. This population nymphs by a trail in Big Cottonwood seems very vulnerable, growing on Canyon. The habitat sounded right, an outcrop of unusual soil. Its best and I knew her to be a good ob- chance for survival is probably for it server, so I immediately planned a Above: Woodnymph (Moneses to be forgotten again for a while, visit. Thanks to good directions we uniflora). Look for it in late summer rather than to be loved to death. found 2 small populations by the on cool shady slopes in high spruce-fir So both of these plants, though forest. Woodnymph likes loose crum- trail. As implied by the epithet bly leaf litter similar to that enjoyed uncommon locally, have a very wide 'uniflora' a single flower was on by other members of the Wintergreen distribution, and are in no danger as each stem. Five wavy white petals family. Photo by Bill Gray. species. However, both are very pre- and 10 large stamens surrounded a cious as local examples of the beau- dark green female center that could and were removed by a Mr. M'Ma- ties that are out there awaiting one's be taken for a medieval hand hon, and planted. They grew back own individual discovery. It helps weapon. All flowers were facing de- to life - hence the epithet 'redi- tremendously to spend time with murely downwards, but the stems viva'! Sadly, M'Mahon's gardening other flower enthusiasts who can will progressively straighten as they skills were not up to the task of share their knowledge of where the develop further, until the ripe seed cultivating a dry land species in gems are to be found. I feel fully rec- capsule will be facing upwards. The the humid East and the plant did ompensed for the time spent show- flowers are about ¾ inch across, on not survive more than a year. ing others how to look, and what to a 2-3 inch stem. Since the plants Arnow's description finishes look for. were sufficiently numerous I col- with the comment "Known in our Other plants are not so lucky with lected a couple to add to Garrett's range from a single population their choice of living quarters. Our own 1906 collection in the U of U near the southern boundary of Salt foothill and stream habitats around Herbarium that bears his name. Lake County (Woodruff 1469 the valleys are prime targets for de- There we discovered that Lois Ar- UT)". Dorde was able to give me velopment, or have been severely now herself had also been inspired general directions, but I did not altered by grazing and water man- to go searching for Woodnymphs find the plant until this year. From agement. Two beautiful plants that and had located some in 1980! her description it seemed unlikely may survive only in protected areas The other challenge was Bitter- that the habitat would have been around the Salt Lake Valley are Yel- root (Lewisia rediviva of the disturbed greatly by human activi- low Lady Slipper orchid (Cypri- Purslane family). This is another low ties since her discovery. A flurry of pedium calceolus) now known only -growing plant with beautiful white/ coincidences led to a successful from Red Butte Canyon Research pinkish flowers. It was first collected trip in late May. First, a visitor to Natural Area, and Beckwith's Violet on July 1, 1806 by Meriwether Lewis the UNPS website sent photos of a (Viola beckwithii), which was redis- on his epic exploration of the North- plant in Washington County, that covered by Faye Rutishauser in Red west. His original specimen, more proved to be Bitterroot. Second, Butte Garden natural area two years than 200 years old, still sits in the non-blooming plants were found ago. Despite a lot of searching by Lewis & Clark herbarium in Phila- near I-15 in Tooele County. Then, Salt Lake Chapter members over delphia. Or at least the petals do. while helping to make a plant list several years this once fairly com- The fleshy roots had sprouted in for Corner Canyon Regional Park mon native has not been found out- Lewis's dried herbarium specimen in southeast Salt Lake County I side the confines of the garden. was told about a plant that grew Do you have seldom seen plants further along the trail towards in your area? Would you be willing * Herbarium specimens are identified by the Lone Peak, and we knew it had to to share stories about them? If so, name of the collector, his/her specimen num- please contact Bill Gray (cyberflora ber, and an abbreviation to indicate the her- be the one. Bill Nelsen and I were barium where the collection is deposited. @xmission.com). 9 Utah Native Plant Society

What’s in a Name? Pursh and Purshia

By Walter Fertig of the names Pursh gave to these specimens are still accepted, includ- Frederick Pursh sought botanical ing three new genera he described: fame in North America, but due to Lewisia (bitterroot) and Clarkia some unscrupulous deeds achieved (clarkia) named for the explorers, greater infamy instead. Despite and Calochortus (literally ―beautiful publishing one of the first floras to grass‖). Pursh‘s book included cover North America, he died penni- nearly 3100 species from North less at the age of 46 with the reputa- America and was well received by tion of a drunkard and a cheat. Per- the botanical community as the haps it is no surprise that ―bitter- leading flora of its time. brush‖ is a common name of the Pursh might be forgiven for ab- genus named in his honor. sconding to London with the Lewis Pursh was born in Saxony in 1774 and Clark material, given that Bar- and was educated in the ways of ton had failed in his publishing re- horticulture and taxonomy at the sponsibilities. Where Pursh got into Royal Botanical Gardens in Dres- trouble, however, was in helping den. At the age of 25, Pursh emi- himself to collections of undescribed grated to the United States where he Above: Bitterbrush (Purshia triden- species sent to England for safe- was employed at several botanical tata), a widespread yellow-flowered keeping by English collectors Tho- gardens in Baltimore and Philadel- member of the rose family with ache- mas Nuttall and John Bradbury. nes having a simple style (lacking the phia. feathery ornamentation of Cliffrose). Pursh took the liberty of publishing In 1805, Pursh was hired by Ben- Purshia was named by DeCandolle to his own names for their materials, jamin Smith Barton to work as a commemorate Frederick Pursh, a denying both men their rights to plant collector and assist with the famous (some might say notorious) name the plants as they saw fit. preparation of Barton‘s planned taxonomist of the early 19th Century Nuttall would overcome this slight flora of North America. Barton had who described 40 new species from by publishing his masterpiece Gen- previously written the first Ameri- the Lewis and Clark expedition— era of North American Plants in can textbook of botany and was re- including Bitterbrush. Illustration by 1818, which supplanted Pursh‘s flora garded as one of the young repub- A.E. Hoyle from Range Plant Hand- as the preferred reference for the book (US Department of Agriculture lic‘s leading botanists. President 1937). continent. Bradbury never recov- Jefferson had tapped Barton to pro- ered and abandoned his pursuits in vide training in botany and medi- completed) prompted Lewis to botany altogether. He remained cine to Meriwether Lewis and to de- hire Pursh for the task. Pursh was bitter for the rest of his life and his scribe any new plant species docu- paid $70 to organize the collection, angry correspondence regarding mented by the Corps of Discovery. prepare illustrations, and write Pursh did much to tarnish the Ger- The elderly Barton‘s days as a field new species descriptions as part of man‘s reputation. collector were well past, and he a planned publication on the scien- Pursh returned to North America hired several capable younger bota- tific findings of the Lewis and in 1816 to establish a botanic garden nists (including Thomas Nuttall) to Clark expedition. in Montreal and to collect specimens go into the wilds seeking new plant Unfortunately, this publication towards a flora of Canada. His species. Pursh spent two years ex- was never completed. Lewis com- specimens were destroyed in a fire ploring eastern North America from mitted suicide in the fall of 1809. and the project was never com- South Carolina to New Hampshire Barton failed to live up to his obli- pleted. He died in 1820 having and the Great Lakes, collecting hun- gations to publish the collections never restored his reputation from dreds of specimens for his mentor of the Lewis and Clark expedition that of a botanical charlatan. and gaining valuable first-hand ex- before his own death in 1815. One of the Lewis and Clark plants perience with the flora. Meanwhile, Pursh continued to that Pursh described as a new spe- Meriwether Lewis returned to work on the collections, but left cies was Tigarea tridentata, a yel- Philadelphia in 1807 with about 150 Barton‘s employment and eventu- low-flowered shrub with three- botanical specimens in need of iden- ally returned to England. Pursh lobed, wedge-shaped leaves in the tification and publication. Techni- ultimatelly published 94 of Lewis‘ rose family, collected by the explor- cally, Barton remained in charge of collections as new species in his ers west of Lewis and Clark Pass in publishing Lewis‘ discoveries, but 1813 publication Flora America- western Montana in 1806. The ge- his advanced age, poor health, and nae Septentrionalis (latin for nus name proved to be illegitimate decreasing productivity (Barton‘s ―Flora of North America‖). Forty under the technical rules of nomen- flora never came close to being clature and was replaced with 10 Sego Lily September 2009 32 (5) Purshia by Decandolle in 1816. Originally, the concept of Purshia was restricted to two shrubby species from western North America with one or two achenes lacking an elongated, feathery style. Recently, the genus has been expanded to ab- sorb four species formerly placed in the genus Cowania based on evidence that the genera are capable of hybridization. Purshia tridentata, the bitterbrush or antelope bitterbrush, is a multi-branched woody shrub that often grows nearly prostrate to the ground and occurs widely across western North America, from southern Canada to northern Arizona and New Mexico. True to its name, the foliage of the plant is extremely bitter tasting to us, but quite palatable to deer, elk, and livestock. The plant specimens. His collections Above: Cliffrose (Purshia stansburiana stunted habit is often a consequence are among the earliest to come out or P. mexicana var. stansburyana) in of heavy browsing, as bitterbrush of Utah. flower. The aromatic blossoms of cliff- can become tall and upright where Bitterbrush and cliffrose can rose may cover the entire plant and be smelled from several feet away. Photo protected or in favorable, sandy hybridize when they grow together soils. Bitterbrush is also important by W. Fertig. and the two taxa are thought to ecologically for the nitrogen-fixing have given rise to a third species, densely yellowish-woolly below, bacteria that live in specialized nod- Purshia glandulosa or Desert rather than whitish hairy in Purshia. ules on the plant‘s roots. bitterbrush. This species strongly Fallugia is also distinctive in having Cliffrose (Purshia mexicana var. resembles P. mexicana in flower separate male (staminate) and fe- stansburyana or P. stansburiana) and leaf characters but has the male (pistillate) plants and unisex- resembles bitterbrush, but tends to fruit traits of P. tridentata. In ual flowers (this is the ‗paradox‘ of F. be a taller shrub with one main Utah, Desert bitterbrush is found paradoxa!). Hybrids between trunk, five-lobed leaves, and creamy primarily in the Beaver Dam Apache plume and Cliffrose have white petals. It also differs in having Mountains west of St. George. been reported in the past from numerous achenes, each tipped at Cliffrose is a popular garden northern Arizona. Recently, the va- maturity with an elongated, feathery ornamental in the west because of lidity of these hybrids has been style that helps disperse the fruit. the beauty and sweet aroma of its questioned, as they appear to be P. The leaves of cliffrose are frequently flowers. Plants are often available mexicana plants with aberrantly coated in a resin-like varnish which from native plant nurseries or can developed stamens. Though closely helps impart an unpleasant taste to be grown from seed following 30 related, the two genera are in no humans, but less so to browsing ani- days of cold stratification. P. danger of being combined. mals. Southwestern Indian tribes mexicana thrives in rocky soils used the bitter leaves to induce vom- and full sun, though in hot cli- References: iting, to make cough syrup, and to mates may do better on a shadier Dorn, R.D. and J.L. Dorn. 2007. Grow- wash wounds or treat skin prob- north aspect. ing Native Plants of the Rocky Moun- lems. Leaves and twigs were also Though less showy, bitterbrush tain Area. Mountain West Publ., Chey- used to make a gold dye and the is also used in cultivation. It can enne, WY. shredded bark was valuable as stuff- be grown from stem cuttings or Meyer, S.E., R.K. Kjelgren, D.G. Morri- ing for pillows and baby beds. seed that is cold stratified for 90 son, & W.A. Varga. 2009. Landscaping on the New Frontier. Utah State Univ. The type locality of Purshia mexi- days. Plants do best in full sun or cana var. stansburyana is Stans- Press, Logan, UT. light shade on moist, well-drained Phillips, H.W. 2003. Plants of the Lewis bury Island in the Great Salt Lake. soils. and Clark Expedition. Mountain Press The plant was collected there by Cliffrose is sometimes confused Publishing Company, Missoula, MT. Captain Howard Stansbury in 1850 with Apache plume (Fallugia Reveal, J.L. 2003. Frederick Traugott during his survey of a potential rail- paradoxa), another shrubby spe- Pursh (1774-1820). http://lewis- road route around the Great Salt cies in the rose family with clark.org/ Lake. Stansbury was a topographi- enlarged, feathery styles in fruit. Williams, R.L. 2003. ―A Region of As- cal engineer by training, but like Apache plume is distinct in having tonishing Beauty‖: The Botanical Ex- ploration of the Rocky Mountains. Rob- many other early explorers in the white flowers and leaves that are west kept an eye out for unusual erts Rinehart Publ., Lanham, MD. 11 Utah Native Plant Society

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