Bulletin of the Native Plant Society of Oregon Dedicated to the enjoyment, conservation and study of Oregon’s native plants and habitats VOLUME 37, NO. 10 NOVEMBER 2004 Summer Intern Report The Ecology and Demography of a Rare Woodland Orchid, Cypripedium fasciculatum By Cara Benfield The following is the first in a series of three articles in which NPSO/Institute for Applied Ecology (IAE) interns discuss their activ- ities during the 2004 field season. Interns participated in rare plant monitoring, restoration, floristic surveys, and other research proj- ects conducted by IAE staff throughout Oregon during the past summer. In this article, Cara Benfield discusses our efforts in collabora- tion with the Medford District BLM to evaluate population status and demographic trends in a rare forest-dwelling orchid. For more information on internship opportunities, please contact IAE at [email protected], 541-753-3099 or visit www.appliedeco.org. Thanks again to NPSO for contributing to botanical education and work experience. Tom Kaye, Institute for Applied Ecology, Corvallis, Oregon hat is known about the rare among lady’s slipper orchids because of not survive even low-intensity blazes. W clustered lady’s slipper? its short stature, two opposite, oblong- Human activities may affect or Immediately following my ap- elliptic leaves that are sessile to a hairy alter the biotic and environmental pointment as an NPSO/IAE summer stem, and a tight cluster of flowers, conditions that C. fasciculatum requires intern, I left civilization behind and each subtended by a bract. The down- for survival, growth, and development. entered the forest, joining population ward-drooping flowers, which are no Because C. fasciculatum rhizomes are monitoring teams led by IAE Botanist bigger than a 50-cent piece, have shallow (3-12 cm deep), physical Karin Rohland. Cypripedium fascicula- greenish lanceolate-acuminate petals continued on page 114 tum Kellogg ex S. Watson, commonly and sepals that are heavily striped or known as clustered lady’s slipper, is one mottled in purple. They hang loosely of three Cypripedium species endemic over the engorged greenish-yellow la- to western North America. This wood- bellum, which is marked with brown- In This Issue land orchid occurs in small, scattered ish-purple strokes at its margin, form- populations throughout the Cascade ing the namesake lady’s slipper. Grant Proposals Range in Washington and Oregon, While this species’ range does not Requested......................108 extending south to California’s Santa seem narrowly limited by elevation, soil Cruz Mountains, and east into the type, or plant community, C. fascicula- Chapter Calendar ............109 Rocky Mountains of Idaho, Montana, tum may be locally restricted by specific Colorado, Wyoming, and Utah. In microhabitat factors. This orchid seems NPSO Items for Sale........111 Oregon, C. fasciculatum is typically to prefer high canopy shading of 60 to found in association with older, closed- 100% cover (Knecht 1996), and re- Other Events ..................112 canopy Douglas-fir forests on moist quires a mycorrhizal symbiont for seed stream terraces or dry rocky slopes, germination and survival to an auto- New Members.................116 from 330 m to 1745 m elevation. This trophic state (Whitridge pers. comm.) Request for NPSO shady habitat is frequently shared with It may need a duff layer to provide pro- other understory plants like sword fern, tection and moisture for its shallow Fellows Nominations.......116 Oregon grape, dogwood, hazel, and rhizome. Finally, C. fasciculatum ap- NPSO Contacts................117 poison oak (Seevers and Lang 1998). pears to be altogether intolerant of high Cypripedium fasciculatum is unique intensity fire, and in some cases may November 2004 107 Grant Proposals Great Opportunity OCIE T S TY N O A F Requested to Serve NPSO! L P O R E E V he Native Plant Society of Oregon o you love NPSO? Do you live G I O T will continue to sponsor small field or work near the Portland area? A N T D N research grants. The objectives of the NPSO is looking for someone to serve program are: 1) to stimulate basic field as our NPSO representative at Earth- research into the biology and distribu- Share. What is EarthShare? EarthShare Fo 1 unded 196 tion of Oregon’s native and naturalized is a federation of leading non-profit flora and vegetation, particularly in the environmental and conservation or- more remote areas of the state, and 2) ganizations that work to promote Native Plant to promote native plant conservation environmental education and charita- Society of Oregon through better understanding of ble giving through workplace giving Oregon’s flora and vegetation and the campaigns. NPSO receives a large factors affecting their survival. proportion of its annual income from World Wide Web Persons interested in applying for EarthShare. We need a representative http://www.NPSOregon.org funding can obtain a copy of the pro- that will attend EarthShare meetings gram policy and guidelines from Dan (in Portland) every month. For more E-mail Discussion List Luoma, Field Research Grants Com- information about this opportunity, To join send a message to mittee Chair, 3740 NW Harrison Ave., please contact Shane Latimer at [email protected], with the Corvallis, OR 97330. The material may [email protected]. following in the body of the message: also be obtained at NPSO’s World subscribe npso Wide Web site, http://www.npsore- gon.org/comm/FRGC.htm. Research General Business Address proposals are due by March 1, 2005. P.O. Box 902 Eugene, OR 97440 or correspond directly with Officers and Committee Chairs listed on the inside of the back page. Membership Inquiries Only Clayton Gautier 3927 Shasta View St. Eugene, OR 97405-4442 Bulletin of the Native Plant Society of Oregon Editor: Tanya Harvey ISSN 0884-599. Published 11 times per year. Subscription price $18/year. Date and issue number on page 1. The submission date is the 10th of each month for the following month’s issue except for the Aug./Sept. issue which is July 24. Send submissions by e-mail to [email protected]. Opinions expressed in this publica- tion are those of the authors of the ANYA HARVEY ANYA articles. They do not represent the T opinions of the Native Plant Society Draba aureola is a rare plant of high alpine volcanic areas. Its low stature and pubescent of Oregon, unless so stated. hairs help protect it from the harsh conditions of this habitat. While these lovely rosettes are similar to those of plants in many families, the remains of the seed pods give this away as a member of the mustard family (Brassicaceae). 108 NPSO Bulletin NPSO CALENDAR State Corvallis November 8, Monday, 7:30 pm Meeting: Symbioses of Mushrooms January 22, 2005, Saturday November 7, Sunday, 1:00 pm and Truffles with Vascular Plants. Board Meeting: The Cheahmill chap- Workshop: Propagating Perennials Dr.Dan Luoma will be presenting his ter will host the winter board meeting and Shrubs. Loren Russell and Esther research into interactions between which will be held from 10:00am to McEvoy will lead a propagation work- kingdoms. This will get us all into the 2:00pm at the McMinnville Library, shop at Willamette Gardens, 3290 SW proper fungal frame of mind for Dan’s 225 NW Adams St., McMinnville. Willamette Avenue, Corvallis from field trip the following weekend. For 1:00 - 3:30pm. Bring gloves, a trowel, any information contact John Syring at clippers and any gallon pots you might 541-752-0414. Blue Mountain have around the house. There will be November 14, Sunday, 8:00 am For information on the Blue Mountain plenty of native cuttings to take home Chapter call Jerry Baker at 541-566- and grow. Contact Esther McEvoy at Field Trip: Mushrooming to Cascade 2244. 541-754-0893 to register. Head and Vicinity. Ride out to the coast for a trip led by Dan Luoma dur- ing one of the best fungal years in re- Cheahmill cent history. Corvallis area folks meet at the OSU parking lot SW of the November 18, Thursday, 7:00 pm Beanery, 26th and Monroe, Corvallis, Meeting: Oregon Flora Project Up- at 8:00am. This will be an all day IMPORTANT NOTE TO event. For more information contact date. Linda Hardison, Chairperson of FIELD TRIP PARTICIPANTS the Friends of the Oregon Flora Project, Dan Luoma at 541-752-8860. Field trips take place rain or shine, will talk about the goals encompassed December 4, Saturday, 9:00 am by the Project; the progress that has so proper dress and footwear are been made toward those goals; and essential. Trips may be strenuous Workshop Series: The Ferns of how the data collected for the project and/or hazardous. Participation is Oregon and beyond with Dr. Dave can be used by a variety of users. at your own risk. Be prepared to Wagner. Please bring dissecting equip- Carnegie Room, McMinnville Library, sign a release form indicating this. ment, and copies of Hitchcock & 225 NW Adams St., McMinnville. For a sample copy check out the Cronquist and the Jepson manual. Due For more information contact Susan NPSO website. Please contact the to physical limitations, class size will be Williams at [email protected] or trip leader or chapter representative limited to 20 people and participants 503-538-1865. about difficulty, distance, and terrain will be required to have current NPSO to be expected on field trips. Bring memberships (new memberships November 20, Saturday, 9:00 am water and lunch. All NPSO field trips encouraged). Workshops will be held Field Trip: Mushroom Walk. Dr. Jack are open to the public at no charge in 1070 Cordley Hall, OSU campus, Murphy of Linfield College will lead a (other than contribution to carpool enter through northwest door by herb- mushroom walk at Charles Metsker driver) and newcomers and visitors arium.