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CALYPSO
PERMIT NO.21

P.O. Box 577, Gualala, CA 95445


$5.00 per year, non-members NEWSLETTER OF THE DOROTHY KING YOUNG CHAPTER
Volume 2009 Jan-Feb ‘09
CALIFORNIA NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY
Printed on recycled paper

California Native Plant Society


Conservation Conference: Strategies and Solutions
Notes from the Conference
Nearly 800 enthusiastic native plant lovers spent three packed days hearing keynote speakers and reports in
concurrent sessions, and reading nearly a hundred posters. DKY Chapter members Lori Hubbart, Nancy Morin,
Teresa Sholars, Julie Verran, and Peter Warner were among the participants. Julie had a poster on the two
varieties of coast morning glory, Julia Larke contributed a poster on gorse, and Peter Warner did a poster on
Tracyina rostrata, a rare plant of inland Mendocino County. The next several issues of Calypso will include notes on
issues or information DKY members thought particularly interesting.

Manzanitas, Arctostaphylos spp. were the topic of at least seven


papers. Many environmental factors affect the health of manzanitas.
Lori Hubbart‘s take home message from a paper by Mike Vasey on
manzanitas of the central coast was that we should not be trying to
conserve them strictly on the basis of species. We need to use a
large, landscape metric, rather than piecemeal efforts. Vasey noted
that climate change calls for resilience in management, which
conservation programs currently lack. In a talk by Ted Swiecki of
Phytosphere Research, Peter Warner learned about the increasing
incidence of the water mold Phytophthora cinnamomi (SOD
pathogen) in native California vegetation. Hosted by hundreds of
plant species, this introduced pathogen poses an immediate threat
to the rare Ione manzanita (Arctostaphylos myrtifolia), and is already
confirmed in the demise of several plants.
The mold has also infested coast live oaks around Lake Hodges
in southern California, and is likely to infect and kill a number of
native species and vegetation types, including manzanita-dominated
chaparral and oak- and madrone-dominated woodlands. Lori
Hubbart adds that further research revealed that this pathogen is
killing A. pallida in the Oakland hills, plus madrones and manzanitas
in the Marin Sudden Oak Death (SOD) zone Phyptophthora
cinammomi also attacks chinquapin. It can kill California bay trees,
which act as reproductive pathways for SOD but are not killed by it.
Three rare manzanitas in San Mateo County are also threatened by
P. cinammomi. [An update on Sudden Oak Death by F. Lavoipierre
of Sonoma State University was published in the most recent issue
of Pacific Horticulture, Vol. 70, p. 13.--ed]
Climate change as it impacts native plant conservation was the
The DKY Chapter sponsored this illustration of focus of many of the talks. Nancy Morin heard a talk by Constance
Arctostphylos columbiana for Flora of North America Millar, USDA Forest Service Sierra Nevada Research Center, on
Vol. 8.
―Climate change: confronting the global experiment,‖ Millar noted
that climate is highly variable and historically plant species have adapted to changes by moving over the landscape
following favorable conditions, a strategy that may not work given rapid climate change. She pointed out that mean
global temperature has increased 0.76°C since 1850, peak snowpack is 45 days earlier, peak streamflow is earlier.
Forests have become denser due to fire suppression, warmth, and CO2 increase. (continued on p. 5)
Finding lost plant populations The first canyon they checked in 2006 was too
steep. They found no plants. They went up the second
by Julie A. Verran canyon from the bottom, and found 300-500 F.
mexicanum. What do you do then? ―Smile about it,
Otay Mountain, just southeast of San Diego, is a
and tell people about it,‖ Snapp-Cook said. They invited
patchwork of protected areas including a federal
Southern California Botanists on a search in May,
wilderness established in 1999. In 2004, the Center for
2007. The group went down from the top, and found
Biological Diversity and CNPS sued in federal court
300 more F. mexicanum, plus plants from the old
seeking critical habitat designations for five rare plants
Woodwardia Canyon list. Those finds confirmed the lost
statewide. One was Fremontodendron mexicanum,
location.
Mexican Flannelbush, which was known in the U.S.
His advice to the audience was: search herbarium
only from one canyon on Otay Mountain, and reported
records, check trail guides, look for plant lists, field
from another.
notes and maps; ask public agencies, groups and
Jonathan Snapp-Cook gave a talk at the recent
individuals. How does this advice apply to DKY
CNPS Conservation Conference on the search he and
Chapter?
Gary Wallace, both of the USFWS Carlsbad office,
We too have steep terrain, unusual plants, and
made for the lost population of Mexican Flannelbush
reports of old collections. The California Consortium of
reported in Woodwardia Canyon, a name not on current
Herbaria may have some local records. Most, including
maps. It is a large shrub, reaching 30 feet in height,
records from Milo Baker‘s time at Santa Rosa Junior
bearing large, yellow-to-orange flowers.
College, are at Sonoma State University, which is not in
A 2003 firestorm opened up the chaparral in the
the consortium. Other local records may be at the
rugged canyons. In 2005, they found that the known
California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco or at
population in Cedar Canyon, some 1,000 individuals,
the Fort Ross Visitor Center.
had burned to the ground, then re-sprouted, with some
Friends of Schooner Gulch has made copies of the
individuals reaching 12 feet.
about 1876 maps of Sea Ranch to Point Arena
To find Woodwardia Canyon, they searched
available for copying at Copy Plus, 884-4448, upstairs
archives, mainly at Rancho Santa Ana Botanical
in the Sundstrom Mall in Gualala. A set of four poster-
Gardens. They found three herbarium specimens from
sized maps, showing old shorelines and even some
1935-36, and a plant list with 84 species including the
individual trees used for navigation, costs about $25 to
listed plant. Studying aerial photos, they picked four
copy. Ask for the ―Old Gualala Maps‖ file.
likely canyons.

.

President’s Corner
by Lori Hubbart the hand-written or typed lists will need to be entered
into a computer. Please send her email -
Our chapter has some exciting dwickie@mac.com - if you have plant lists to share. Of
activities coming up! Vegetation and course, all this plant data will help us as we gear up to
flora surveys are being scheduled for create an up-to-date version of the Flora of Mendocino
key plant communities in the north County, with plant keys, latest scientific nomenclature
and south ends of our chapter range. and lots of new information.
We‘ll go out and do surveys, have picnics and end up We are planning another weeding party at the Point
with valuable data about our coast‘s flora. The Arena Lighthouse, which will also include a plant
vegetation survey results will be sent to the CNPS state survey. Our weeding targets are the alien iceplants,
Vegetation Program and the Department of Fish and Carpobrotus spp., which are fairly easy to pull up.
Game. The vegetation databases need information While we don‘t expect to eradicate all of it, at least we
that only we can provide. can give the rich native flora on the point a chance to
Sightings of birds, insects, amphibians and more are flourish.
the kind of extra bonus you get for being out there. We Spring field trips are also being planned, including
also hope to have short programs connected with our another visit to Haven‘s Neck just for DKY members, in
surveys, so participants can experience these special April. If you have an idea for a great field trip, or would
places in depth. like to lead an outing, please contact Lori –
DKY has also started a repository of plant lists for lorih@mcn.org. It is wonderful to spend time in our
the special places along the coast. Diane Wickstrom beautiful wild places with fellow nature lovers! I hope to
will be collecting and keeping these lists online, though meet you out there on the flower trail soon.
2 Jan-Feb ‗09
LaBanca sheds light on below stage, all species of Orchidaceae at the seed and
seedling stage.
ground relationships by Nancy Morin The North Coast is home to many such species.
The DKY Chapter Annual Meeting and Potluck was Mendocino County alone sports sugar stick (Allotropa),
great fun. Speaker Tony LaBanca,botanist with the pine sap (Monotropa), pinedrops (Pterospora), ghost
California Department of plant (Hemitomes), pinefoot (Pityopis), fringed pinesap
Fish and Game‘s Northern (Pleuricopsora), and wintergreen (Pyrola). The plants
Region, gave a fascinating may be connected to more than one fungus species,
program on mycohetero- and the fungi may be connected to more than one host
trophs—plants that do not plant. An unusual situation is found in Del Norte
photosynthesize at all but County for Monotropa uniflora, however, which seems
get their nutrients directly to be obligately associated with the fungus Russula
from fungi, which in turn brevipes and Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii); they
have mycorrhizal occur together only in mature forests that are 30 years
relationships with plants old or more. Research by mycologists has shown that
that do photo-synthesize. clumps of trees smaller than 2.5 acres retained in
Monotropa uniflora, Such relationships are clearcuts in northwestern forests may be too small for
photo by T. LaBanca
found especially where the mushrooms to flourish, which means
there is lots of organic matter but little light, conditions mycoheterotrophs, such as Indian pipe, disappear as
common in our northwestern forests. Many plants are well. Such complex ecological associations present
myco-heterotrophs at some stage of their life cycle— considerable challenges in developing land
bryophytes, lycophytes, and ferns in their gametophytic management and native plant conservation plans.


Environmental Partners Annual DKY Field Trip: Fish Rock Road
Potluck Date: Saturday, April 4, 2009
Time: 9:00 AM--noon
Date: Monday, March 23
Place: 2 mi east of Hwy 1 on Fish Rock Road; Nancy
Time: 6:00 PM for dinner, 7:30 PM for program
and Rich Trissel‘s home.
Place: Saint Anthony‘s Hall – Upper Lansing Street in
What we’ll see: This area has hybrid swarms of
Mendocino (up on the hill).
Arctostaphylos, intriguing oaks, and other treasures.
Speaker: Dr. David Imper, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service
Program: Livestock Grazing in Wildlife Habitat DKY Program: Creating and
Dave Imper is an agency botanist who is also Maintaining a Wildlife Pond
passionate about native plants, wildlife and Date: Thursday, April 9th
conservation. In the course of his job, he has Time: 7:00 PM
conducted some interesting research projects, including Place: Gualala Community Center
the planting of endangered lily seeds recovered from Speaker: Kathy Biggs, the ―Dragonfly Lady‖
cow dung. Kathy Biggs, known for her expertise on California‘s
This year‘s event is hosted by the Mendocino Coast dragonflies, returns to the coast with a program on
Audubon Society, and co-sponsored by, Mendocino ponds for wildlife. Managing a pond for wildlife is
Area Parks Association and Mendocino Land Trust, different than managing a pond for edible fish like trout,
and CNPS. ornamental fish like koi, or decorative plants like water
Please come early and help with setting up the lilies. She will cover what to plant (with emphasis on
room, or stay late and help with take-down. We‘ll need native plants, of course), pond construction,
people to organize the serving area, make coffee and maintenance, understanding the local food web and
hot water, take donations at the door and more. Bring more. Her book Common Dragonflies of California, will
your own dishes and flatware, plus a main dish, salad have an updated version out later this year. Before
or dessert to share. she blazed this trail, there were no field guides to
Saint Anthony‘s is the big white church at the top of dragonflies. The story of how Kathy fell in love with
the hill on upper Lansing Street in Mendocino. dragonflies and became an advocate for them is truly
Because of road construction, the best route may be to inspiring. Much of what Kathy has to say about ponds
take the Lansing exit from Hwy. 1 that is north of the is also useful for those who have natural wetlands and
Little Lake Rd. exit. want to maximize their wildlife value.
3 Jan-Feb ‗09
DKY Field Trip: Haven’s Neck Conservation Notes by Lori Hubbart
Date: Saturday, April 25, 2009 It‘s hard to think of a time when prospects for native
Time: 9:00 AM--noon plants (and nature in general) have included such
Place: Haven‘s Neck extremes. Instead of mere good news and bad news,
On this field trip, for Chapter members and their guests we have really encouraging news and very scary news.
only, we will visit this wonderful botanical spot slightly On the positive side, President Obama, in his
earlier than we did last year—which was a wonderful inaugural speech, vowed to ―restore science to its
trip. We’ll see earlier wildflowers as well as seeing rightful place.‖ With an administration that seems to
many manzanitas and their hybrids. The consortium of understand the economic and scientific aspects of
Haven’s Neck homeowners has again graciously given conservation, we can hope some of the worst
us permission to visit the site, and will appreciate any depredations in our wildlands will cease.
plant identifications or ideas for good land stewardship CNPS itself is in good shape, with a new, highly-
that we can give them. This trip to a private reserve is qualified Executive Director, a Development Director,
for chapter members only and it will not be advertised and good volunteers in all key state positions. A very
to the general public. To reserve a spot and get generous bequest from a longtime Society member has
meeting place details, please call Lori Hubbart at 882- helped CNPS get on a sound financial footing.
1655. In Sacramento for the CNPS conference, I had a
strong feeling of people coming together to celebrate
DKY Chapter to host Vegetation their core values. California may never have seen so
Assessment Training May 2 & 3 many native plant people assembled in one place, and
chattering like a vast rookery, too. Monday was Martin
Date: Saturday and Sunday, May 2 & 3, 2009
Luther King Day, and families thronged the streets,
Time: 10:00 AM—4 PM Saturday; 10:00 AM—2 PM
celebrating Dr. King‘s legacy, and joyfully anticipating
Sunday
the coming inauguration of America‘s first black
Place: Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens
president.
The protocols developed by the CNPS vegetation So, the hopeful indicators are there, nationwide,
program have been used to map and inventory millions statewide, and even locally. It‘s up to all of us to take
of acres of California vegetation. The cumulative that positive energy and weave it into strong values and
knowledge gained by these projects has greatly new understandings for a green and blooming future.
extended our understanding of vegetation in the state Northwest Forests in Peril - Trees in old growth
and allowed us to develop new detailed data-driven forests across the West are dying at a slowly increasing
classifications. These projects also are affording us the rate, and researchers suspect the cause is longer,
ability to conduct conservation planning with local and hotter summers due to climate change.
regional cooperating agencies and organizations using The trees‘ death rate is doubling every 17 to 29
defensible vegetation types. Volunteers from local years, and this is from a decades-long study recently
chapters play a key role in this effort. CNPS Vegetation published in the journal, Science.
Assessment staff will lead a 1½ day training session on Other possible causes for this decline might be air
the most current methodology for assessments. DKY pollution, overcrowding of young trees, logging impacts
Chapter members will use these methods as we assess or fire suppression. However, data showed the death
the health and distribution of local vegetation. Space is rate applied to trees of all ages, in clean or dirty air, in
limited. To pre-register, email nancy.morin@nau.edu. sparse or dense stands at varied elevations.
The article, simply reporting on research, did not
propose any solutions for this situation. It is not clear
Anderson Valley Wildflower what can be done, though forest management practices
Show that exacerbate the situation should be halted.
Fort Bragg Golf Course – The new golf course off
The Anderson Valley Wildflower Show will be held on Summers Lane has been stalled out due to a lack of
Saturday and Sunday, April 25th and 26th, 2009 at the funds within the Mendocino Coast Recreation and Park
Mendocino County Fairgrounds in Boonville. Many District. The economic downturn is clearly a factor in
wildflowers are collected and identified. There are delaying the project.
plants and books for sale; a tearoom offering good The project has a certified Environmental Impact
food; and a raffle which funds scholarships for high Report (EIR) with various mitigation measures for the
school students for college or camp. Admission is expected impacts of the project. The EIR sets out a
free. The show is open from 9 am to 4 pm on the west conservation easement of 181 acres, with 56 acres of
side of highway 128 right in the middle of town. (continued p. 5)

4 Jan-Feb ‗09
(Conservation, continued from p. 4)
Northern Bishop Pine Forest. The easement is now
OTHER ACTIVITIES THAT MAY
missing six acres of this rare plant community. INTEREST YOU
The District sold those six acres a developer, who
logged half of it without benefit of proper THP Audubon Bird Walks at Mendocino Coast Botanical
procedures, turning it into building pads for homes – Gardens 1st Saturday at 9 a.m., third Wednesday at
i.e., an unauthorized conversion. 8:30 a.m.
It is all under the jurisdiction of CalFire (Department
February 19, 7 p.m. Milo Baker Chapter Program
of Forestry and Fire Protection), which is deciding if it
―Treasures of our Local Flora,‖ by Reny Parker, Ukiah
can be handled through a minor amendment to a THP
Civic Center, 300 Seminary Avenue, Ukiah. Contact
(the District‘s THP, presumably), or whether it requires
katem@mcn.org.
something more, including public comment. Certainly
the conservation easement boundaries will be adjusted, February 21, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.. Big River
but DKY will advocate for public input. Stewards Invasive Plants Removal Workday. Contact:
mcoleman@mendocinolandtrust.org
 February 28: 9:00 a.m. Milo S. Baker Chapter Field
Trip, Lake Sonoma, Little Flat trail: Doris Golden
(Notes from the Conference, continued from p. 1)
leader. For directions contact Natasha Granoff, 707-
We can expect 70—95% loss of alpine and subalpine
542-9670, njgranoff@comcast.net.
forests. She noted that ―down‖ is often colder (think
cold air drainage). Plants may be able to migrate down March 14: Audubon Field Trip: 9:00 am, Van Damme
rather than up. We need to embrace change, accept Beach and State Park. Meet at the Van Damme Beach
uncertainty in ecomanagement. She identified five parking lot.
adaptation strategies: 1. Increase resistance to change
(the Homeland Security Approach). 2. Promote March 22: North Coast Chapter Field Trip "Redwood
resilience to change (the Health Care Approach) and Creek day hike". Redwood National Park (Trailhead at
improve capacity of ecosystems to return to prior the bottom of Bald Hills Rd.). Meet at 8:30 a.m. at
condition after disturbance. 3. Enable ecosystems to Pacific Union School (3001 Janes Rd., Arcata).
respond to change (the Beginner‘s mind approach). Contact: Carol 822-2015.
This may include assisted migration, require that we March 27, Climate Change and the California Deserts
anticipate and plan for associated risks, and experiment Conference, National Parks Conservation Association.
creatively and learn from experiments. 4. Realign
conditions to current dynamics (the Auto mechanics
approach). 5. Reduce greenhouse gasses/ecological
The DKY CHAPTER NEEDS YOUR
footprint. HELP!
Nancy Morin thought that a paper by Susan Harrison We have WAY too many open positions on the
on changes in the flora on serpentine outcrops in the DKY Chapter team! Please consider volunteering for
Klamath-Siskiyou region reflected strategy #5. (1) Programs (this year is partially organized already,
Harrison resampled plots set up by Robert Whittaker in the Programs chair would just make sure final
1949 to1951 and concluded that topography has a arrangements are set and would oversee setup). (2)
fundamental influence on microclimates. North-facing Field Trips (again, partially organized, we need
vs. south facing slopes at 40° latitude have the same someone to be point person). (3) Camping—what
heat load difference as going from 40° to 60° latitude. could be more fun than planning a camping trip for a
She found that the herbaceous cover was dramatically bunch of plant fanatics? Lori says she wants to return
lower on both serpentine and diorite, most likely due to to Cook and Green Pass in Del Norte County, so you
warming. She also found a decrease in Arcto-tertiary already have a suggestion to start with! (4) Invasive
plants (thought to have originated in northern regions) Plants—keeping your ear to the ground, weed-wise,
whereas Madro-tertiary (southern origin) plants have organizing weed removal parties or educational
not declined. Species at northern or southern limits activities, keeping your fellow chapter members alert to
decreased. Serpentine endemics declined in terms of weed issues. (5) Education—providing leadership for
% coverage and herbaceous species shifted to cooler educational activities that the chapter should have.
slopes. Overall, herbaceous community composition Contact any DKY Chapter officer if you might be
has gotten more like those found on warmer sites.  interested.

5 Jan-Feb ‗09
Membership Directory CALYPSO DEADLINE: Send newsletter items to Nancy
Morin @ nancy.morin@nau.edu, 882-2528.
In the last issue of Calypso we said we would provide a
membership directory to help members contact each MEMBERSHIP: Renewal - your renewal date is listed on
other. The Directory is in the mail to you now. Let us the address label of your CNPS Bulletin. Give a friend or
neighbor a gift membership! If you have any question, please
know what you think! contact Bob Rutemoeller at 884-4426 or brutem@mcn.org.

THANK YOU JULIA!! CNPS MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION


DOROTHY KING YOUNG CHAPTER
Julia Larke was a wonderful, creative, and informative Membership in the California Native Plant Society is open to all.
editor of The Calypso for five years. Her love of native The task and mission of the Society is to increase awareness,
plants and her deep interest in the ecology of the coast understanding, and appreciation of California native plants. The
shone in articles she authored as well as her choice of challenge is to preserve their natural habitat through scientific,
pieces to include. We owe an enormous debt of educational, and conservation activities. Membership includes
gratitude to her. Julia has agreed to continue to help subscription to the quarterly Fremontia, as well as our local
chapter newsletter, the Calypso.
whoever is editing The Calypso, so we still benefit from
Name_____________________________________
her thoughtfulness and interest. Address___________________________________
City _______________________ Zip ___________
Tel. ___________ E-mail_____________________
OFFICERS 2009 I wish to affiliate with the DKY Chapter___________
President: Lori Hubbart 882-1655 fax 882-1645 or, other chapter ____________________________
Vice President: Mario Abreu 937-3155 (Please check, or name a chapter; CNPS will make
Secretary: Nancy Morin 882-2528 assignment if none is specified by applicant.)
Treasurer: Mary Hunter 785-1150 MEMBERSHIP CATEGORY
COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSONS Student/Retired/Limited Income $25
CAMPING OPEN Individual $45
CONSERVATION Lori Hubbart 882-1655 Family/Group/Library $75
EDUCATION OPEN Plant Lover $100
FIELD TRIPS Mario Abreu & Nancy Morin(temp) Patron $300
HISTORIAN Ramona Crooks 884-3585 Benefactor $600
HOSPITALITY: North Coast - OPEN Mariposa Lily $1,500
South Coast Roberta Rams 884-4847 Make check out to the California Native Plant Society;
INVASIVE PLANTS OPEN mail check and application to:
JUBATA ERADICATION Bob Rutemoeller, Membership Committee
at Sea Ranch Roz Bray 785-2694 DKY Chapter, CNPS PO Box 577
LEGISLATION OPEN Gualala, CA 95445
MAILINGS Roberta Rams 884-4847
MEMBERSHIP Bob Rutemoeller 884-4426
NEWSLETTER Nancy Morin(temp) 882-2528 Meet Tara Hansen, CNPS‘s new Executive Director.
PLANT SALE Mario Abreu 937-3155 Tara has worked with local volunteers on a number of
PLANT WATCH OPEN conservation projects, and
POSTERS Lynn Tuft 785-3392 also serves as a board
PROGRAMS Lori Hubbart (pro tem) member of ECOS,
PUBLICITY OPEN Environmental Council of
RARE & ENDANGERED: Sacramento. Prior to
Coordinator Teresa Sholars 962-2686 coming to CNPS, Tara
Inland Clare Wheeler-Sias 895-3131
worked as a senior analyst
Sea Ranch Elaine Mahaffey 785-2279
Sonoma Co. OPEN
and project manager in the
South Coast Mary Rhyne 884-3043 banking and financial
VEGETATION North & South OPEN services industry, and has
WEBMASTER Norm Jensen:webmaster@dkycnps.org developed and managed
All phone numbers area code: 707 business operations and
programs for both national
CHAPTER WEBPAGE: www.dkycnps.org. Send in photos and local financial
and articles to Norm Jensen.
institutions in executive and
NEXT BOARD MEETING: The next Board is meeting is management roles.
Thursday, February 26, 2009, 1:00 p.m. at Mendocino Coast
Botanical Gardens.
6 Jan-Feb ‗09

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