darlingtonia newsletter, winter 2006 ~ north coast chapter, california native plant society

8/9/2019 Darlingtonia Newsletter, Winter 2006 ~ North Coast Chapter, California Native Plant Society

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DarlingtoniaWINTER-06-07

Newsletter of the North Coast Chapter of the California Native Plant Society

Dedicated to the Preservation of California Native Flora

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Monthly ProgramsInteresting talks by local botanists. FREE! See Page 4

Chapter Field TripsExplore the North Coast with other plant enthusiasts!See Page 2

Get Involved with the Northcoast Chapter of CNPSSee Page 8

Northern California Botanists SymposiumResearch and ManagementSee Page 3

WET FEET AND WETLAND PLANTS IN THE MAD RIVER ESTUARYA Field Trip Report by Carol Ralph

In March, 1999, the Mad River reversed a 30-year trend of northward migration, breaking through the sand spit at thelocation of a former mouth opposite Hiller Rd., over 2 miles south of where the river had been meeting the ocean belowVista Point. Suddenly the riverbed from there north no longer had a river! A new wetland to explore! On Sept. 23, anidyllic fall day with a record high, no wind, and the gentle roar of the surf beyond the dunes, seven of us plus three out-door-proficient kids explored about two miles of this new wetland, from the end of Murray Road, past Widow WhiteCreek, and around the first big, shallow pond at the base of the bluff. In a few places we found pockets of dune plants

(Continued on page 12)

The pond, fed by seepage from the bluff, in which we foundLudwigia. Scirpus pungens in foreground.


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FEBRUARY 17, Saturday. 10 a.m.-12 noon. BRYOPHYTE WALK in the Arcata Community Forest. Mosses andlichens are at their lushest in the wet months. Sunny Loya will show us a good variety of these diminutive and impor-tant forest dwellers along the trail up Jolly Giant Creek. Meet at 10 a.m. in the parking lot behind USFS Redwood

Sciences Laboratory, left at the top of 17th St (above HSU), Arcata. Be ready for the weather and wet trails. 441-9545.

MARCH 31, Saturday. STONY CREEK DAYHIKE. Spring will be springing in this favorite and unique site re-cently acquired by the Siskiyou Land Trust (see summer 2006 issue ofDarlingtonia). The fawn lilies could be spec-tacular. Other treats expected are calypso, brook wakerobin, Oregon anemone, iris, violets, azalea, andDarlingtonia. An easy hike of about one mile takes us through open forest to a patch of serpentine and Darlingtonia fen whereStony Creek joins the North Fork Smith. Dress for the weather; bring lunch and water. Meet at 8:30 a.m. at PacificUnion School (3001 Janes Rd., Arcata), 10:15 at the Hiouchi visitor's center of Redwood National Park, or about11:00 at the Gasquet ranger office (headquarters of Smith River National Recreation Area). It helps if you tell CarolRalph (822-2015) you are coming. (This is Aleutian Goose Days weekend in Crescent City.)

APRIL 15, Sunday. GUTHRIE CREEK DAYHIKE. Let's see what this new trail offers, accessing BLM's LostCoast Headlands unit south of Ferndale. The brochure promises coastal prairie, coastal bluffs, a creek, and a smallbeach, plenty of good flowers habitat. The trail is only one mile long, but steep. Dress for the weather; bring lunchand water. Meet at 8:30 a.m. at Pacific Union School (3001 Janes Rd., Arcata) or 9:00 a.m. at the south end of Bay-shore Mall parking lot. It helps to know that you're coming: Carol Ralph 822-2015.

MAY 19, Saturday. Destination to be announced.

JUNE 9-10, Saturday-Sunday. IRIS HEAVEN DAY TRIP or OVERNIGHT. Our goal is a bed of vari-colorediris along Forest Service Road 17NO5 between Highway 199 east of Gasquet and Bear Basin Butte. We hope to studyIris douglasiana, inominata, and bracteata, their variation and mixing. Weather and road conditions will determinewhere we actually go, but there's a lot of fine country in the drainage of the Smith River. We might camp at Patrick

Creek, where there is also a lodge. Details later. Carol Ralph 822-2015.

JULY 8, Sunday. CHILDS HILL DAY TRIP with optional overnight and Saturday exploration. Laura Julian willtake us deep inland in Redwood National Park out MillCreek to serpentine balds andDarlingtonia fens and the manytreats these habitats offer. Details later. Carol Ralph 822-2015


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THE INTERFACE BETWEEN RESEARCH AND MANAGEMENT IN

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA BOTANY SYMPOSIUM

BE PART OF THIS HISTORIC FIRST SYMPOSIUM OFFERED BY NORTHERN CALIFORNIABOTANISTS, LINKING THE WORLDS OF APPLIED AND ACADEMIC BOTANY!!!

Northern California Botanists* present a two-day symposium: THE INTERFACE BETWEEN RE-SEARCH AND MANAGEMENT IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA BOTANY18 19 January 2007,California State University Chico Performing Arts Center (PAC 134)

Learn from two days of speaker presentations and panel discussions! Network and meet other botanists atthe Thursday evening reception and the banquet with Keynote Talk.

Topics addressed:

THE NEED FOR BOTANISTS

RARE PLANT CONSERVATION

INVASIVE SPECIES

BOTANICAL ETHICS

VEGETATION MANAGEMENT

REVEGETATION AND RESTORATIONNORTHERN CALIFORNIA BOTANICAL DISCOVERIES

KEYNOTE SPEAKER Dr. Dan Potter, Evolutionary Botanist, UC Davis Topic: "Taxonomic Implica-tions for Management"

For a detailed program and for registration information, see: http://www.csuchico .edu/biol/ Herb/norcalbot/ index.htm Cost: $15 Students / $50 public

*Northern California Botanists: A Cooperative Association of Federal, State, Academic, Consulting, andOther Botanists in the Northern California Region, with the purpose of increasing communication aboutbotanical issues.

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OOOTHERTHERTHER EEEVENTSVENTSVENTS

CommunicationsNorth Coast CNPS members have three ways to share information with each other: the Darlingtonia News-

letter (quarterly), our chapters website (www.northcoastcnps.org - updated regularly), and e-mail lists/forums(Announcements, Business, and Gardening subscribe from the E-mail lists and Forums page onwww.northcoastcnps.org).

The Darlingtonia is the quarterly newsletter of the North Coast Chapter of CNPS. Items for submittal toDar-lingtonia should be sent to [email protected] by each quarterly deadline: December 1,March 1, June 1, and September 1. Botanical articles, poetry, stories, photographs, illustrations, sightings,news items, action alerts, events, factoids, tidbits, etc. are welcome and appreciated.


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CCCHAPTERHAPTERHAPTER PPPROGRAMSROGRAMSROGRAMSANDANDAND MMMOREOREORE

MONTHLY MEETINGS & PRESENTATIONS

The North Coast Chapter of CNPS holds free Public Programs on the second Wednesday of each month (September throughMay) at the Six Rivers Masonic Lodge, 251 Bayside Rd., Arcata. Refreshments at 7:00 and program at 7:30 p.m. You donthave to be a CNPS member to attend!

Contact Audrey Miller, Programs Chairperson at [email protected] or 786-9701, with speaker or botanical sub-ject suggestions.

January 10Sudden Oak Death: Why Its the Wrong Name

Chris LeeChris Lee, Sudden Oak Death Program Coordinator for UC Cooperative Extension in Humboldt County, will have the latest in-formation on Sudden Oak Death.

February 14Beyond The Ancient Meeting GroundDr. John O. Sawyer

Dr. John O. Sawyer, renowned HSU botanist, explores the biological and geographical richness of Northwestern California.

March 14The Successful Lifestyle of Local Fungus Robbing Plants

Tony LaBancaTony LaBanca, Environmental Scientist California Department of Fish & Game Northern California - North Coast Region Habi-tat Conservation Planning, has been lucky enough to work at conserving botanical resources for almost 20 years in northern Cali-fornia, work with Humboldt State University, the National Park Service, the California Dept. of Fish & Game, Friends of theDunes, and CNPS.

Most plants are green and work to make their own food. Others are red, white or even purple and live together in symbiotic rela-tionships with green plants. But there are cheaters that give nothing, letting their neighbors do all the work, getting plenty fromtheir hosts in return. Join us as we take a closer look at some of the members of the North Coast flora, including Indian pipe,pinesap, sugarstick, and the gnome plant that have abandoned the photosynthetic lifestyle and instead exploit fungi and otherplants.

April 11To Be Announced

May 9So You Think You Know Conifers!

Dr. Dennis WalkerDr. Dennis Walker, retired Professor of Botany at HSU, gives the historical perspective on conifers, their relationship to ferns,etc. followed by slides of interesting conifers.

Chapter Business MeetingThe North Coast Chapter of CNPS holds business meetings to discuss a variety of topics related to running the organization. Thenext scheduled meeting is on January 16 from 7:00-8:30 p.m. at the Northcoast Environmental Center, 575 H St, Arcata, CA95521. You must be a North Coast CNPS member to attend.


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THE LASSICS IN AUGUSTBy Melanie Johnson and Carol Ralph

A late spring visit to the Lassic Mountains a fewyears ago found cold winds blowing from snowymountain tops and delicate, early bloomers such asfawn lilies huddling on a protected slope. August 6this year was delightfully warmer, a pleasantly hot,still day in the mountain air. Seven outdoor enthusi-asts assembled at Dinsmore Store and drove on tomeet the four campers in our group. Along the way,looking through the white fir along the road, wecaught a glimpse of the dramatic, pyramidal, blackpeak we would be climbing later in the day.

At Mt. Lassic trailhead, up a short, bumpy, un-marked forest road, we got our bearings in this un-usual, serpentine landscape and met three dominant

conifers, white fir (Abies concolor), Jeffrey pine(Pinus jeffreyi), and incense cedar (Calocedrusdecurrens). We were greeted briefly by a

quickly-departing, blue skink. We too departed,up the gently graded trail. A scattering of forbs,blooming and not, amused us through the open,coniferous forest and then the brushy slopes, e.g.a mass of orange, stringy dodder (Cuscuta sp.), aparasite, its blooms alive with bees; the bright redblossoms of the sprawling Indian pink (Silenecalifornica). The brush was mostly manzanita(Arctostaphylos sp.) but also included choke-cherry (Prunus virginiana), with long flower clus-ters, bittercherry (Prunus emarginata), with flat-topped flower clusters, and huckleberry oak

(Quercus vaccinifolia), with acorns to prove theskeptics that it is an oak. We arrived at the gentle

(Continued on next page)

Snowplant (Sarcodes sanguinea) entertaining two delighted CNPSers (Carol Ralph and Ron Johnson)


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summit, also called Signal Peak, only one hourlater, at botanical speed.

While we ate lunch and took in the views fromthis 5,870-ft vantage point, Dave Reckess of theCalifornia Wild Heritage Campaign told the his-tory of efforts to designate the Lassics and otherpublic lands as protected wilderness. Rep.MikeThompson worked hard for this, and justrecently President Bush signed this legislation.The ATVs we saw along the road are now dou-bly unwelcome here, in the Mt. Lassic side ofthe Lassics Botanical and Geologic Area of SixRivers National Forest. Dave told us that our

thank-you letters to politicians would be greatlyappreciated. The Black Lassic side of theBotancial Area is in Trinity County and is notincluded in the wilderness bill, since it is not inRep. Thompsons district. Meanwhile, RickTolley got out his pencils and brushes andopened his sketchbook and watercolors for aplein aire session to capture views from Mt.Lassic.

Rick continued his art on the mountain while the

rest of us headed down, missing the new trail wecame up and instead scrambling down the loose,green-gray serpentine rock on the east slope.There, on the barren, moon-like expanse ofgravel were strange sights. Is that a cage?Whats that bright pink and green stuff? Wehad stumbled upon research the new trail in-tended us to miss. Chicken wire cages over thelow, gray-leaved Lassics lupine (Lupinus con-stancei) were to keep out seed-eating squirrelsand mice. The camera aimed at a lupine was torecord rodent activity. The neon pink powder on

bird seed in a tray was to track how far rodentscarry seed they find. These esoteric questionsare relevant to keeping alive a population of aplant that lives nowhere else on Earth.

After a quick descent to the cars and a 2-minutedrive to Black Lassic Camp, we began the trekup Black Lassic Peak. The winds increasedwhere the trail continues up an exposed ridge of

(LassicsContinued from page 5) loose, black rock and the peak appears barren andgray. As we ascended, holding onto our hats, a blastof color brought out the cameras. Large mats of

bright, red-orange California fuchsia (Epilobiumcanum) clung to the rocks. Some in our group wentbelly-down to get the perfect shot! We marveled atwhat can live and even look happy in this barren,exposed situation: narrow-leaved milkweed(Asclepias fasciatus), a phacelia, a lupine, dodder onthem, Brickellbush (Brickellia, a yellow-floweredcomposite), Keckiella (red-flowered penstemontype), a buckwheat, andLomatium californicum (anumbellifer with big, flat seeds on a robust stalk withleaves and swollen top; foliage gray, smelling ofcelery).

At the peak we all signed the visitors registry foundin a Mason jar under a rock and located landmarksfrom the 5,700 ft. vantage point. To the west wasMt. Lassic, where we had lunched a few hours ear-lier. To the south was Red Lassic. And even withsmoke coming toward us from the forest fires in thenortheast, we had pretty good views of the YollaBollys in the southeast. We were thirsty and gettingtired and must have looked bedraggled because asmall group of hikers just beginning up the hill

(youngsters wearing flip-flops) told us about water-melon back at camp. We all laughed. Wouldntthat be great!

On the way down we detoured toward a small springand its tiny meadow. In a dry gully exactly wherewe found it two years ago was a cluster of 16 stemsof blood-red snowplant (Sarcodes sanguinea) bear-ing fruits up to an inch diameter. Corn lily(Veratrum sp.) gave the patch of green grasses,sedges, and forbs a montane look. A tidy, dense,green fern just above the meadow looked like Polys-tichum scopulinum, a hybrid between P. imbricansand P. lemmonii.

Back down at the campsite, Rick had returned fromMt. Lassic. He showed us his just-completed water-color paintings, while we inhaled the watermelon(Citrullus lanatus) he had kept cool for the occasion.The kids in the flip-flops hadnt been joking, but wedidnt save any watermelon for them!


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KKKEEPINGEEPINGEEPING UUUPPP WWWITHITHITH TTTHEHEHE CCCHAPTERHAPTERHAPTER

GARDEN TOUR HELP NEEDED -NEW COMMITTEE FORMING

For the past few years, the Redwood Region Audubon Society and the North Coast Chapter of the Cali-fornia Native Plant Society have joined forces to host the Wildlife & Native Plant Garden Tour. Thistour, showcases about 9 gardens that demonstrate the ability to incorporate native and wildlife friendlyplants into the landscape.

Each year we get lots of feedback on how great this tour is. The garden owners enjoy sharing theirknowledge and people touring enjoy seeing exactly how one can garden with natives and wildlifefriendly plants. Additionally, the tour helps raise approximately $1000 for each group.

But events dont just happen. They require a cadre of dedicated volunteers. Qualified gardens need to befound, a brochure needs to be designed and written, and publicity needs to be generated.

Does this sound like something that interests you? If so, please contact Pete Haggard at 839-0307.

NATIVE PLANT

CONSULTATION SERVICEAre you wondering which

plants in your yard are native? Areyou unsure if that vine in the corner isan invasive exotic? Would you like to

know some native species that wouldgrow well in your yard? The NorthCoast Chapter of the California NativePlant Society now offers the NativPlant Consultation Service to answerthese questions and to give advice ongardening with natives. If you are amember of CNPS, this service is free,if not, you can join or make a donationto our chapter.A phone call or e-mail to

our coordinator, Kathy Dilley (825-7665 or [email protected]), will putyou in touch with a team of volunteerconsultants who will arrange a visit toyour property to look at what you haveand help choose suitable plants for

your garden.


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RETIRING TALENT--THANK YOUGreg Jennings for mastering MicrosoftPublisher and the quirks of getting it toCentral Office and for conscientiously pro-ducingDarlingtonia four times per yearfor three years.Kyle Wear for being our point man forinvasive plant questions for two years.

Karen Mayer for applying her talent as aneducator to sharing flowers with childrenat three wildflower shows.

WELCOME ABOARDMarisa D'Arpino as Editor of this news-letter.Suzanne Isaacs as Invasive Plants Chair.

GGGETETET IIINVOLVEDNVOLVEDNVOLVED

SPRING WILDFLOWER SHOW--Wheel needs cogs

The spring wildflower show is one of the most important ways our chapter educates the public about

the California flora. We are proud of it. Like the garden tour, it generates a lot of positive feedback,and like the garden tour, it requires lots of help.

We are currently setting in motion the wildflower show "wheels," reserving the hall and finding thepeople to be some of the "cogs" on the wheels. Some of these "cogs" don't need to do much rightnow, but we would like to know who they will be, and they can help make decisions along the way.Right now we need people to plan school visits, interact with Manila Community Center, write public-ity, design fliers, and modify signs. In spring we will need collectors, identifiers, and telephoners,and then the myriad volunteers at tables and the booth. Would you like to join this team? Or even beour central contact person? Please phone one of these: Larry 822-7190, Tony 826-7208, Nezzie 445-5883, or Carol 822-2015.

THANK YOUTamara Camper for continuing toserve as treasurer while we find herreplacementKim Imper for fixing up the com-puter-projector situationGwynneth Carothers for stuffingenvelopesFelicity Wasser for printing ourlapsed member mailingJen Kalt for staying on top of theSierra Pacific road and TrinidadHead issuesSuzanne Isaacs and Nick Skye fordesigning and manning a Biodiver-sity Day table

HELP WANTEDContact Carol Ralph or another appropriate person on the list.

Treasurer: If you keep your checkbook up-to-date, you are qualified to do this important job for us.About 2 hrs./month.

Wildflower Show Coordinator: See SPRING WILDFLOWER SHOW above

Garden Tour Planner: See GARDEN TOUR HELP NEEDED Volunteering article on page 7.

Writers, photographers, editors for a field guide to redwood flora. Yes,you can help produce a real,valuable book. Contact Kim Hayler at 441-2058 work, 839-3481 home or [email protected]


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CCCONSERVATIONONSERVATIONONSERVATION NNNOTESOTESOTES

Preserve your land and get a

significant tax benefit

Landowners can now obtain a significant tax benefit for making the charitable dona-tion of a conservation easement (applies to easements donated in 2006 and 2007).On August 3, 2006 the U.S. Congress approved a tremendous expansion of the fed-eral conservation tax incentive for conservation easement donations. On August 17,the President signed it into law.

The new law:Raises the deduction a landowner can take for donating a conservation easement

from 30% of their income in any year to 50%;Allows qualifying farmers and ranchers to deduct up to 100% of their income;

and

Extends the carry-forward period for a donor to take tax deductions for a volun-tary conservation agreement from 5 to 15 years.

A conservation easement (or conservation restriction) is a legal agreement between alandowner and a land trust or government agency that permanently limits uses of theland in order to protect its conservation values (for example, precludes inappropriatedevelopment) while keeping the landowners private ownership of the property (itallows you to continue to own and use your land and to sell it or pass it on to heirs).

California has 1,732,471 acres of land conserved by state and local land trusts (as ofDecember 31, 2005 per the Land Trust Alliances 2005 Census report) which is thehighest in the nation. You may also help conserve land by donating money, donat-

ing land, or selling land to a land trust.

For more information, visit the Land Trust Alliance website (www.lti.org) or contactone of our local land trusts:

Friends of the Dunes www.friendsofthedunes.org

Golden State Land Conservancy www.gslc.us

Humboldt North Coast Land Trust www.hnclt.org

Jacoby Creek Land Trust [email protected]

Mattole Restoration Council www.mattole.org

Northcoast Regional Land Trust www.ncrlt.org

Sanctuary Forest www.sanctuaryforest.org

Save the Redwoods League www.savetheredwoods.org

Siskiyou Land Conservancy www.siskiyoulandconservancy.org

The Buckeye Conservancy www.buckeyeconservancy.org

Protecting NativePlants of Impor-tance to Tribes

California Senate Bill 18(Burton 2004) providesprotection for traditionaltribal cultural places inconservation easementsand open space plans. Thebill, which went into effectin 2005, enables CaliforniaIndian tribes to acquireand hold conservationeasements, whereas previ-ously only non-profitgroups or local/state agen-cies were authorized tohold conservation ease-ments.

Of particular interest forprotecting native plants intheir natural habitats is thenew definition of tradi-tional tribal culturalplaces, which now in-cludes present-day tradi-tional gathering sites. Cul-tural plants of importanceto local tribes include tan-oak, hazel, beargrass, Sitkaspruce, alder, maidenhairfern, chain fern, willows,and many other plants withmedicinal properties.

The bill also requires pro-tection of traditional tribalcultural places in openspace elements of countygeneral plans. SB 18 alsorequires city and countyplanning agencies to con-sult with California NativeAmerican tribes during thepreparation or amendmentof General Plans.


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BBBOOKOOKOOK RRREVIEWSEVIEWSEVIEWS

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Book review: Northwest California: A Natural Historyby John O. Sawyer [2006. University of California Press]

By Michael Mesler, Biological Sciences HSU

How John Sawyer sees the world

I have been waiting for this book for a long time. If youve ever been out in the field with its author, a long-time member of the North Coast Chapter and Professor Emeritus of Botany at HSU, you will understand why.Field excursions with John Sawyer are always informative, fun, inspiring, and humbling. Stand with him fora few minutes on some remote mountain top (the higher, the better), and he will tell you just about anythingyou want to know about the surrounding country its plants and animals, geology, soils, rivers, cultural his-tory, and more. After 40 years of fieldwork and study, he simply knows more about the rich biotic landscapeof Northwest California and the forces that have it shaped it than anyone else. Now we can be grateful

that John has distilled this impressive knowledge into a beautiful and very useful book.

We can be grateful also that Northwest California is home to more than 3500 kinds of plants, a large numberof which occur no place else. Although there are useful discussions of amphibians, reptiles, birds, fish, andmammals (tragically, no mention of bees!), the book mainly tells the story of this spectacular flora. It is arichly detailed, multifaceted story featuring a landscape that has changed dramatically over both geologicaland historical time scales. In two masterful beginning chapters, John teaches us about the contrasting geo-logical histories of the Klamath Mountains and North Coast, and then describes the 12 major watersheds ofthe two areas. Next is an account of the broad correlations that link vegetation type, elevation, rainfall, dis-tance from the coast, and soil parent material. This chapter is followed by one that relies on paleobotanicalevidence for insights into the history of the flora, and ultimately asks (and plausibly answers) one of the bigquestions: why is our flora so diverse? Except for the final two chapters, which report on the current status

of our flora and vertebrate fauna (we still have much worth saving) andpresent Johns views on the best hope for the future (continue restora-tion efforts, let people know about our natural wonders, and keep theroads out!), the remainder of the book focuses on the many naturalevents and people-related activities that have altered the land and theflora. Here you will find fascinating accounts of the histories andvarying roles of fire (and fire suppression), gold mining, Native Ameri-cans, population growth, agriculture, dam building, ranching, treepathogens, and, of course, logging. Much of the discussion is informedby detailed studies carried out by John and his graduate students overthe years; I counted 36 masters theses in the bibliography. In the end,

all of these threads weave together into exactly the kind of book I hadhoped for a personal natural history of our area, replete with charm-ingly idiosyncratic insights, written by our most experienced and per-ceptive local ecologist.

If you are a serious naturalist, you should own this book. Yes, it wouldbe better to stand on that mountain top with John, but his book is thenext best thing. Read it, study it, enjoy it.


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IIINVASIVESNVASIVESNVASIVES/E/E/EXOTICSXOTICSXOTICS

WANTED: ENGLISH IVY INFESTATION REPORTSIs there a local ivy patch you are worried about?

The North Coast Chapter (CNPS) is currently compiling a working list of local ivy infestations with the goal offacilitating shock-and-awe ivy-whacking projects.

Please contact Suzanne Isaacs, the CNPS Invasive Plant Chair, at [email protected] or 668-1821.Include the exact location of the infestation, who you think the landowner is, and your contact info.


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against the bluff, and the older bluff was densely cov-ered with coastal scrub (Look for your native bank-stabilizers here!), but our focus was the wetland.

Along Widow White creek, here running south to jointhe Mad River, in the fine mud and sand banks andbars we met the invasive Phalaris arundinacea (reedcanary grass), a tall, sturdy, untidy grass with wide,bent or droopy leaves and swollen nodes. We alsosaw both pampas grasses, Cortaderia selloana with itswhite plume among a fountain of leaves that are paleron the back than the front, and C. jubata with purplishplume high above leaves that all arch down to theground and are the same color back and front. Thesethree invasive species were not abundant...yet. Threecommon, grass-like, 1-2-ft tall natives were in thishabitat. Lush, succulent, floppy, green beds ofTriglochin striata (three-ribbed arrow-grass) hid theirflower stalks among the leaves (unlike the larger, sea-side arrowgrass). The flowers and fruits were likelittle green beads set closely, alternating along thestalk. Eleocharis macrostachya (spikerush) made sin-gle, round, very upright, green stems from a runningrhizome, each with a little brown "bud" (the inflores-cence) right on top. Scirpus pungens (three-squarebulrush), similarly sprouted single stems from a rhi-zome, but these were blue-green, triangular with con-

cave sides, and the inflorescence was a tight cluster ofhalf-inch-long, brown clubs at least an inch below thetip (which is really a bract).

Farther from the creekside were flat expanses ofmuddy sand dotted with tiny tufts which turned out tobe a 2-inch tall version ofT. striata and a similarlysized Scirpus cernuus (low clubrush, or I saw it oncein nursery pots labeled fiber optic plant). It was a tuftof stiff, spaghetti-thick stems, each with a tiny, brownor green "bud" (the inflorescence) that looked like itwas on the tip but really had a tiny bract alongside it.

Some tufts wereJuncus bufonius (toad rush), slender,radiating, branching stems, an annual rush. Here alsowas a 6-inch tall mat of bright green, floppy, soft, suc-culent, flat, segmented "stems" (really petioles) ofLilaeopsis occidentalis . Parting the "stems" we foundthe 1" tall starburst umbel with about 5 BB-sized,green fruits, demonstration of its Apiaceae family af-filiation. Taller plants stood above these midgets:

(Continued from previous page) Cyperus eragrostis (nutsedge, or informally, parkinglot sedge), a cluster of long, keeled, wide, sharp-edgedleaves from which erupted a triangular stem topped

with a golf-ball-size cluster of dark brown spikes cen-tered where three long, narrow blades radiate out; theagressive Scirpus microcarpus (small-fruited bulrush),which made large beds of swishy, tall, bright greenleaves around triangular stems with open clusters ofsmall brown spikes.

Thick beds near the pond included a fourth Scirpus, S.maritimus (seacoast bulrush) and the abundant Carexobnupta (slough sedge). A surprise here was a brilliantyellow brush of flowers above a rich, dark green, finelyleaved foliage--Euthamia occidentalis (grass-leaved

goldenrod).

The water of the shallow pond was well choked withfloating plant life around the edges. Here wereHydro-cotyle ranunculoides (marsh pennywort),Azolla (waterfern),Lemna (duckweed), Utricularia (bladderwort),and the mystery of the day, clambering among the pen-nywort, a plant the texture ofVeronica americana withreddish stems but leaves alternate and the flower one-inch diameter, yellow, 5-petaled, arising single fromthe axils. Andrea Pickart researched it to beLudwigiapeploides ssp.peploides (water primrose), a native sub-

species.

Thank goodness it was native. There were plenty ofinvasive species around, notably on the bluff belowhouses, obviously tossed over as yard waste: e.g. esca-lonia, English ivy, cape ivy, broom.

A lot has happened in the seven years since the rivermoved, and it is still changing. Thickets of foot-tallalders will soon be groves. Thinly vegetated flats willbe meadows. This dynamic riverbed is a great place tosee a diversity of wetland species, many more than I

could list here. (Did I mention three species ofEquise-tum, the rushes, theBidens...).


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Ludwigia peploides ssp.peploides, found as part of the floating mat at the edge of the pond. Like more familiarmembers of the evening primrose family, the flower is bright yellow. This was a new species even for the wet-land expert among us

Diligent plant hunters scout for treasures, Jepson in hand, on the rapidly vegetating flats. Jubata grass plumeswave in the background. The bluff partly covered with coastal scrub looms behind.


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JOIN CNPS NOW!North Coast Chapter

Membership in the California Native Plant Society,a statewide nonprofit organization, is open to all.The task and mission of CNPS is to increase aware-ness, understanding, and appreciation of Californianative plants. The challenge is to preserve theirnatural habitat through scientific, educational, andconservation activities. Membership includes sub-scriptions to the informative quarterly journal Fre-montia, the statewide newsletter Bulletin, and ourlocal chapter newsletter Darlingtonia.

Name________________________________________

Address______________________________________

City________________________ Zip______________

Phone________________________________________

I wish to affiliate with the North Coast Chapter____

Or, (other chapter_____________________________

MEMBERSHIP CATEGORY

Student/Retired/Limited Income... $25

Individual or Library. $45

Family or Group.... $75

Dues to CNPS are tax deductible.

Please make check payable to CNPS and mail to:

2707 K Street, Suite 1Sacramento, CA 95816 5113

Or, join on-line at www.northcoastcnps.org

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!


By joining CNPS you add your voice to that of other native plant enthusiasts wishing to in-

crease awareness, understanding, appreciation, and conservation of California's native flora.Members receive the quarterly journal Fremontia, the statewide newsletter, and our chapternewsletter,Darlingtonia.

Membership fees: Individual $45; Family $75; Student or Limited Income $25(Membership fee minus $12 is tax deductible). Send your name and address, check(payable to CNPS) or credit card information to CNPS, 2707K Street, Suite 1, Sacramento,CA 95816-5113

Please notify the state office and/or our Membership Chairperson if your address changes.

JJJOINOINOIN CNPS TCNPS TCNPS TODAYODAYODAY!!!


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NORTH COAST CHAPTER, 2007 STEERING COMMITTEE MEMBERS/CONTACTSWEB SITE: HTTP://WWW.NORTHCOASTCNPS.ORG


Please Submit(to this newsletter)

Darlingtonia is the quarterly newsletter of the North Coast Chapter of CNPS. Items forsubmittal to Darlingtonia should be sent to [email protected] byeach quarterly deadline: Dec 1, March 1, June 1, and Sept 1. Botanical articles, poetry,stories, photographs, illustrations, sightings, news items, action alerts, events, factoids,tidbits, etc. are welcome and appreciated!

PRESIDENT CAROL RALPH 822-2015 [email protected]

VICE PRESIDENT FELICITY WASSER 826-7712 [email protected] STEVE NORMAN 822-2910 [email protected]

TREASURER POSITION OPEN CONTACT CAROL RALPH, PRESIDENT

MEMBERSHIP STEPHEN LAZAR 476-8681 [email protected]

INVASIVE PLANTS SUZANNE ISAACS 668-1821 [email protected]

NATIVE PLANT GARDENING PETE HAGGARD 839-0307 [email protected]

NATIVE PLANT CONSULTATION KATHY DILLEY 825-7665 [email protected]

PLANT SALES JENNIFER KALT 839-1980 [email protected]

SUNNY BENNETT 441-9545 [email protected]

EDUCATION POSITION OPEN CONTACT CAROL RALPHFOR DETAILS

LEGISLATION MARISA DARPINO 601-0898 [email protected]

CONSERVATION JENNIFER KALT 839-1980 [email protected]

PROGRAMS AUDREY MILLER 786-9701 [email protected]

FIELD TRIPS CAROL RALPH 822-2015 [email protected]

RARE PLANTS KIM IMPER 444-2756 [email protected]

DAVID LOYA 834-5013 [email protected]

PLANT COMMUNITIES TONY LABANCA 826-7208 [email protected] EDITOR MARISA DARPINO 601-0898 [email protected]

WEBPAGE & PUBLICITY LARRY LEVINE 822-7190 [email protected]

BOOK & POSTER SALES FELICITY WASSER 826-7712 [email protected]

WORKSHOPS GORDON LEPPIG 839-0458 [email protected]

TAMARA CAMPER (ACTING) 839-0665 [email protected]


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CNPS,NorthCoastChapter

P.O.Box1067

Arcata,CA95518

Non-ProfitOrganization

U.S.PostagePAID

PermitNo.33

ArcataCA95521


ADDRESSSERVICEREQUESTED

Date Event Page Date Event Page

Jan 10 Wed Monthly Program: ChrisLee, Sudden Oak Death,Why its the Wrong Name

4 Apr 11 Wed Monthly Program: To BeAnnounced

4

Jan 16 Tue Business Meeting 4 Apr 15 Sun Day Hike: Guthrie Creek 2

Feb 14 Wed Monthly Program: Dr.John O. Sawyer, Beyond

the Ancient MeetingGround

4 May 9 Wed Monthly Program: Dr.Dennis Walker, So You

Think You Know Conifers?

4

Feb 17 Sat Plant Walk:BryophyteWalk, Arcata CommunityForest

2 May 19 Sat Field Trip: To Be An-nounced

2

Mar 14 Wed Monthly Program: TonyLaBanca, The successfulLifestyle of Fungus Rob-bing Plants

4 Jun 9-10 Sat-Sun Field Trip: Iris Heaven 2

Mar 31 Sat Day Hike: Stony Creek 2 Jul 8 Sun Field Trip: Childs Hill 2

WWWINTERINTERINTER CCCALENDARALENDARALENDAR

darlingtonia newsletter, winter 2006 ~ north coast chapter, california native plant society

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