Brigham Young University BYU ScholarsArchive Theses and Dissertations 1975-04-01 Manual of the flora of the east Tintic Mountains, Utah Glen T. Nebeker Brigham Young University - Provo Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd BYU ScholarsArchive Citation Nebeker, Glen T., "Manual of the flora of the east Tintic Mountains, Utah" (1975). Theses and Dissertations. 8097. https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd/8097 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by BYU ScholarsArchive. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of BYU ScholarsArchive. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected]. MANUALOF THE FLORAOF THE EAST TINTIC MOUNTAINS,UTAH A Thesis Presented to the Department of Botany Brigham Young University In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Science by Glen T. Nebeker April 1975 TABLEOF CONTENTS Page ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS iii INTRODUCTION. • 1 TAXONOMICTREATMENT 3 Pteridophyta 9 Gymnospermae 9 Dicotyledoneae • 10 Monocotyledoneae 47 SUMMARY 55 BIBLIOGRAPHY. , . 56 i This thesis, by Glen T. Nebeker, is accepted in its present form by the Department of Botany of Brigha Young University as satisfying the thesis requirement for the degree of Master of Science. ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The author wishes to express gratitude to all those who have helped to make this work possible. The author would like to thank Dr. S. L. Welsh of Brigham Young University for his guidance in the selection of the study, counsel and aid in the identification of plant specimens. The author would like to thank Kennecott Copper Corporation, Tintic Division for permission to collect on their property. The author wishes to express his appreciation to his wife for her support, encouragement and companionship. iii To Cedar Fort ',, \' ..... :- ,, ,' :. :: :: : N<E.THt ,, . , ,, , ,, ",,,,, ,, To Tooele Ut. To Goshen 36 ilvei·,:i,ass Road ·, ___ us 50 & 6 - '' ' ltest. ...- .Area - '' - ' Paul ,- Buny~ns Woodp.j.le East Tintic Mountains Manual of the Flora of the East Tintic Mountains, Utah INTRODUCTION Statement of Problem The study of the East Tintic Mountains was undertaken because no extensive research concerning the plant species of the region has ever been done, The area has been visited by botanists, but no list of the flora has been published. I.E. Diehl, an amateur botanist, lived at Mammoth where he maintained his own herbarium. He collected plants in the East Tintic Mountains and in much of the western United States. His plant specimens are now incorporated into the Brigham Young Univer- sity Herbarium, Due to the extensive mining activites in the region the geology of the area has been thoroughly explored. (Morris 1957, Morris and Lovering 1961, Lovering 1965) Geographical Characteristics The East Tintic Mountains are situated in central Utah in Juab, Utah and Tooele Counties, lying between meridians 112° and 112°15' west and parallels 39°40' and 40°15 1 north, Eureka, which is in the central part of the range, is about 55 air miles south-southwest of Salt Lake City. The range is one of a series of mountain ranges trending north and south in the Basin and Range Province. This series includes the Promontory Mountains, Antelope Island, the Oquirrhs, the East Tintics, the Gilson Mountains, and the Canyon Range. The East Tintic range is 1 2 Y-shaped with the two arms extending north. Eureka is located near the junction of the two arms. The range is approximately 42 miles long and from 1 1/2 miles to 12 miles wide. Geologic Features The general form of the East Tintic Mountains suggests an origin by simple block faulting. Internal structures of the range record a complex history of stratigraphic and structural development that consid- erably antedates the block faulting. The Fish Haven Dolomite and Opohonga Limestone (Hintze 1973) are folded, faulted and partly over- lain by various types of volcanic materials. Most of these rocks are concealed under alluvial deposits of several types. The central part of the range was the site of principal volcanic activity during the late tertiary period. The youngest volcanic rocks are of Oligocene age and are located in the northern and south-central parts of the range. Ecology There are several different vegetation types found on the East Tintic Mountains. All of these except for the pinyon-juniper community occupy small areas. The pinyon-juniper community occurs from the flanks of the range to the top of some of the highest peaks. All other commun- ities form a mosaic of patterns within the pinyon-juniper. There seem to be two main factors which greatly influence the vegetation type. These are direction of exposure and the presence and duration of water in the intermittent streams. The entire mountain range is drained by intermittent streams in small canyons and gullies. There are no streams which flow continuously e~cept for short distances below the small number of springs. Because 3 of the increased moisture along stream courses, the drainage bottoms support a very different flora. The north facing slopes have a variety of different vegetative communities. Apparently, the communities differ depending on the amount of moisture available. Some of these communities are dominated by Douglas fir, bigtooth maple, sagebrush, birchleaf mountain mahogany, curlleaf mountain mahogany, and snowberry. All of these communities are very small in areal extent except the bigtooth maple and the sagebrush communities, which are also smaller than the pinyon juniper community. Procedure An attempt was made to collect representatives of all vascular plants found on the mountain range. Collecting trips were made several times during each month during the growing seasons of 1972 and 1973, and several times during the spring and summer of 1974. Most of the area is accessible by secondary roads and where possible these were followed. Regions of the range not accessible by vehicles were visited on foot. Pertinent specimens in the herbarium of Brigham Young Univer- sity were examined. Representatives of all specimens collected are deposited at Brigham Young University (BRY). TAXONOMICTREATMENT Key to Higher Taxa la. Plants not producing seeds, reproducing by spores------------ Div. Pteridophyta (1. Polypodiaceae) lb. Plants producing seeds-----------------(Div. Spermatophyta) 2 2a(lb). Seeds borne on the surface of scales arranged in a cone, 4 ovules not enclosed in an ovary----Key A. Class Gymnospermae 2b. Ovules enclosed in an ovary in a flower---------------------- (Class Angiospennae) 3 3a(2b). Embryo with one cotyledon; floral parts usually in 3's; veination usually parallel----------------------------------- E. Subclass Monocotyledoneae 3b. Embryro usually with two cotyledons; floral parts normally in 4 1s or 5's; veination usually net-like------------------- (Subclass Dicotyledoneae) 4 4a(3b). Corolla lacking; calyx sometimes petaloid or sometimes lacking--------------------------------Key B. Petals lacking ~- Corolla and calyx present, often different in texture or appearance--------------------------------------------------4 5a(4b). Petals separate--------------Key D. Petals present, separate 5b. Petals more or less united-----Key C. Petals present, united Key A. Gymnospermae la. Stems jointed, green--------------------------3. Ephedraceae Th. Stems not jointed-------------------------------------------2 2a(lb). Leaves needle-like-------------------------------4. Pinaceae 2b. Leaves scale-like----------------------------2. Cupressaceae Key B. Petals Lacking la. Plants parasitic on branches of trees or shrubs-------------- 29. Loranthaceae Th. Plants not parasitic----------------------------------------2 2a(lb). Plants woody, trees or shrubs-------------------------------3 2b. Plants herbaceous-------------------------------------------8 5 3a(2a). Flowers borne in catkins----------------------4O. Salicaceae 3b. Flowers not borne in catkins--------------------------------4 4a(3b). Leaves opposite; fruit a double samara---------5. Aceraceae 4b. Leaves alternate; fruit not a double samara----------------5 5a(4b). Leaves compound---------------------------------31. Oleaceae Sb. Leaves simple-----------------------------------------------6 6a(5b). Ovary inferior or appearing so; pubescence stellate--------- 2O. Elaeagnaceae 6b. Ovary superior----------------------------------------------7 7a(6b). Ovary of one carpel; fruit a plumose achene----------------- 38. Rosaceae (Cercocarpus) Th. Ovary of 2 or more carpels; fruit a samara-----45. Ulmaceae 8a(2b). Ovary inferior-------------------------------4O. Santalaceae ~. Ovary superior----------------------------------------------9 9a(8b). Plants with milky juice; ovary 1 loculed------------------1O 1Oa(9b). Fruit a utricle---------------------------16. Chenopodiaceae lOb. Fruit an achene--------------------------------------------11 lla(lOb). Style and stigma single-----------------------47. Urticaceae llb. Stigmas 2 or 3------------------------------35. Polygonaceae Key C. Petals Present, United la. Plants woody shrubs-----------------------------------------2 lb. Plants herbaceous-------------------------------------------3 2a(la). Flowers in involucral heads; fruit an achene---------------- 17. Compositae 2b. Flowers borne individually; fruit a berry-like drupe-------- 13. Caprifoliaceae 6 3a(lb). Ovary inferior---------------------------------------------4 Th. Ovary superior---------------------------------------------6