Summer 2002 Kelseya Volume 15 No. 4 e i n Kelseya n o B : n Newsletter of the Montana Native Plant Society o i t a r t s www.umt.edu/mnps/ u l l I Frederick Pursh and the Lewis and Clark Expedition Part 2 By H. Wayne Phillips who was willing to share his exten- sive American botanical collections, son, the source document for known and A. B. Lambert, a benefactor will- plant species, and sometimes com- ing to finance Pursh in writing a flora ments and notes on the uses of of North America. The work, titled plants. For example, Pursh included Flora Americae Septentrionalis, was a long narrative describing the Native completed and presented to the Lin- American method of preparation and naean Society at its meeting in De- storage for Indian bread-root cember of 1813. Officially published (Psoralea esculenta Pursh), in part in 1814, the manual includes 3,076 from information supplied by Meri- American plant species, or almost wether Lewis. The book has three twice the number in Michaux’s 1803 indices, a Latin and English index, an manual. Pursh’s manual sold in Lon- English and Latin index, and a genus don for one pound, 16 shillings if un- and synonym index (Index Generum colored, and two pounds, 12 shillings Et Synonymorum). The English if colored. Today’s exchange rate is names are common names, like bear- about one pound equals $1.50 (U.S.). berry. The plant species are arranged in Pursh also indicated in his flora the Pursh’s flora according to the Lin- source of each of his plant descrip- naean Sexual System based on the tions with the abbreviations v.s. for number of pistils and stamens that vidi siccam (I have seen in a dried the plants bear. The entry for each state), and v.v. for vidi vivam (I have Clarkia pulchella, drawn and engraved by plant includes the Latin binomial sci- seen in a living state). Thus, he Frederick Pursh and published in 1814 in entific name by genus and species, a credited the plant descriptions from Flora Americae Septentrionalis. plant description in Latin, habitat the Lewis and Clark herbarium with requirements, geographic distribu- “M. Lewis v.s. in Herb. Lewis,” tion, a Linnaean symbol indicating meaning “I have seen the plant in a I n London in 1811, Pursh became the habit and life span (i.e. peren- dried state in the Herbarium of Meri- acquainted with Sir Joseph Banks, nial, annual, woody), blooming sea- (Continued on page 7) great diversity of penstemons makes them a great group WHAT GOOD IS A STERILE for gardening, but it also allows us to study how flowers evolve without having to go too far from home. STAMEN? Beardtongue is the common name applied to many By Peter Lesica members of the genus Penstemon. It refers to the fact that all penstemons have a sterile stamen called a “staminode” that is hairy to some extent in the majority P enstemons are one of our favorite and most familiar of species. Penstemon flowers are pretty simple, so the groups of native plants. That’s understandable because staminode is easy to see. Just peel open the corolla. there are lots of them and most have colorful, showy There are six slender, whitish stalks inside. Four have flowers. In fact, Penstemon is the largest genus of plants elongate sacs at their tips; these are the fertile stamens, among those found only in North America. Of the 250 and the sacs contain pollen. One of the two remaining species, the majority occur in the western U.S. The (Continued on page 5) Kelseya President’s Platform Betty Kuropat One Man's Weed is Another We all respond differently to there is another way, like “use it” weeds as well. Some of us are in instead of “kill it”. Maybe not. Man's Wildflower denial. We let our noxious weeds go The pretty plant that Neal and I "Would you like to swing on a star? to seed, increasing the problems for love to hate is Purple Loosestrife. Carry moonbeams home in a jar? our neighbors. Some of us are dili- There is no other way. Eradication And be better off than you are? gent pullers and use organic methods rules. Loosestrife out-competes the Or would you rather be a weed? to rid areas of weeds. Then there native vegetation in wetlands. A A weed is a plant that nobody likes. are those who nuke the heck out of Cattail marsh becomes a purple You always see them on your hikes. the land with herbicides, creating monoculture with no wildlife. We They're big and ugly with lots of more serious problems than inva- have been pulling Loosestrife with seed, sives. Personally, I tolerate the Flathead Audubon and Flathead MNPS Grow on dirt that native plants Hawkweed, weed-eat the Thistle, for 12 years now at two ponds in mow the Dandelion and pull the Ninepipe National Wildlife Refuge need. Knapweed. I like the Yarrow and and by golly, the Loosestrife is in If that's the kind of life you'd like to love when it out-competes the Or- recession. While it is a lofty dream lead, chard-grass. I don't like the Tansy to aspire to eradication, we know we Maybe you'd rather be a weed." and Burdock, yet I know they are can never pull it all. There is an in- The mention of WEEDS inspires medicinals and I wish someone would tegrated program in place that also wrath and aggression in most people come to my house and harvest them. has success with spraying and biologi- who care about plants. Basically, In an old How To Identify Plant book, cal control using beetles. But we they are plants someone doesn't like, I found a great definition of WEED, "A love to PULL and feel very proud of either native or non-native. I have troublesome or aggressive plant that our success. heard Yarrow and Goldenrod called intrudes where not wanted, espe- Your Chance to Help! weeds. I have seen Knapweed in a cially a plant that vigorously colo- Join the Flathead Chapter on Sat- bouquet. Audubon had a picture of nizes disturbed areas. To the range- urday, August 10 for a Purple Loose- Purple Loosestrife one year in their man a weed is a herbacious non-grass strife pull. See the calendar listing wildflower calendar. Some weeds -like plant on the range." Whatever on page 9 for the delicious details! are excellent medicinals; some are your subjective position is on weeds, Pattie Brown edibles. Dandelions make a fine understand your prejudice and learn MNPS Vice-president wine or tea. This is WEED season. more about what you hate. Maybe Betty can be reached at 2688 Witty Ln. Columbia Falls, MT 59912 406-892-0129 e-mail: [email protected] TURNING GREEN? NOMENCLATURAL NONSENSE? I read with great interest James R. Habeck's article about Montana Blue Violets in the Spring Kelseya and There are those who fondly embrace the nomenclatu- found it very interesting and informative. It was well ral changes going on in botany today (sick puppies). And, written and provided a great deal of information about there are those of us who find the rearrangement of fa- violets I had not known before. A question arose while I miliar names disagreeable, even though we understand was reading. James states that though violet flowers are what is driving the changes (healthy puppies). So, here edible and palatable, the leaves should not be con- is some good news and some bad news. The bad news is, sumed. I have long been under the impression that the according to the latest authorities, there are no longer leaves of Viola orbiculata are edible and I have often any members of the Aster genus in Montana (see Big Sky stooped down on the trail and grabbed a leaf here and Sketches on page 8). The Asters have been moved into there and stuck it in my mouth. To me they have good approximately 11 genera, some familiar like Solidago and flavor and texture and I delight in eating them. I don't Townsendia, and some new to Montana like Oreostemma. pick lots of these violet leaves for my green salads, but I So Aster engelmannii is now Eucephalus engelmannii; do partake of them from time to time, without any side Aster conspicuus is now Eurybia conspicua; and our much effects. Perhaps it is because I only eat a few now and beloved Aster occidentalis is now Symphyotrichum then that I have no stomach distress, but if greater quan- spathulatum. Sad but true! The good news is that re- tities of Viola orbiculata are consumed, will I be the one gardless of the name, they can still be enjoyed in an area turning green rather than my salad? near you. Dennis Nicholls Drake Barton If you have a letter-to-the-editor, send it to Kelseya at the address listed on page 12. 2 Kelseya Summer 2002 Conservation Limiting seed dispersal into COAL BED PROTECTING OUR “protected” areas is a large compo- HERITAGE nent of preventing establishment and METHANE ultimately conserving Montana’s heri- By Kim Goodwin and Roger Sheley, tage. However, it is not possible to The Montana Native Plant Society MSU, Bozeman entirely prevent weed seeds from recently commented on the Draft Montana Statewide Draft Oil and Gas Noxious weeds affect healthy eco- reaching these “protected” areas. Environmental Impact Statement systems by displacing native plants.