Vol. 40 No. 1 March 2018 Newsletter of the Idaho Native Plant Society • Promoting Interest in Idaho’s Native Flora An Ecological Assessment of Water Howellia and its Habitat By Cat Wiechmann, Ecologist, Watershed Consulting LLC, Missoula, Montana Water howellia (Howellia aquatilis) is living Washington, California, Montana, and Idaho. By proof that size doesn’t always matter. Okay, light¬ 2005, there were 214 known occurrences. Since en up, it’s just botany people! Water howellia may then, five more populations were discovered in not be big, but it has proved to be a mystery for temporary floodplain ponds in Latah and Bene¬ Pacific Northwest scientists. Specifically, how can wah counties, Idaho. These were the populations there be a robust population of water howellia in my study focused on. one pond, but an absence of the species in an ap¬ Features of water howellia’s life cycle strongly parently identical-looking pond a quarter-mile influence its rarity and ability to grow in various away? habitats. Earlier monitoring and other studies re¬ As a graduate student at the University of vealed that successful reproduction for the species Idaho, I took on this question through an ecologic¬ is dependent on the wetting and drying cycles of al study comparing pond systems with and the seasonally ephemeral ponds that it inhabits. without water howellia populations to inform con¬ Specifically, germination occurs in the fall under servation management strategies and goals. The dry conditions when seeds are exposed to an aer¬ study also aimed to narrow the knowledge gap re¬ obic environment and resume growth in an anaer¬ garding basic ecological and biological informa¬ obic environment when the ponds fill with water tion for water howellia by assessing the environ¬ in the spring. Plants mature and produce seed mental variables that positively correlate with this mid-summer. In addition to specific life cycle re¬ rare, endemic Pacific Northwest wetland plant quirements, water howellia is challenged by hu¬ species. A single growing season of funding was man impacts in and around its habitat. Specific available, requiring the study to be intentional and human-related impacts thought to negatively im¬ concise in its strategy. pact water howellia include livestock grazing, ag¬ Water howellia is a winter-annual emergent riculture, timber harvest, and manipulation of aquatic herb in the Campanulaceae family endem¬ waterways. Erosion, compaction of soil and ger- ic to the Pacific Northwest region of the United Continued on Page 6 States. It roots in the pond substrate with extens¬ In this issue: ively branched stems that are either submerged or An Ecological Assessment of Water Howellia.1 floating. Water howellia produces two types of Letter from the President.2 flowers: cleistogamous (non-showy, self-pollinat¬ Announcements.3 ing) flowers beneath the surface, and chasmogam- 2018 INPS Annual Meeting.4 ous (showy, large) white flowers born on the Native Seed Interns Collect Native Idaho Forbs.9 emergent stems (Figures l and 2). The fruit is a Palouse Prairie Remnant Restoration.10 small capsule with around 5 brown seeds. In 1994, Spring Brings Byrophytes.12 water howellia was federally listed as threatened Book Review.13 under the Endangered Species Act. At that time it Chapter News.14 was known from 107 occurrences in Oregon, IDAHO NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY Letter from the President PO Box 9451, Boise, ID 83707 www.idahonativeplants.org As part of my job on the faculty at the University of Idaho, I collect [email protected] native plants, grow out acquired seeds, and evaluate landscape potential of INPS BOARD many species in field plots. These duties can be physically demanding. Each President: Stephen Love year, as the growing season wanes and fall arrives, I am ready to take up my Vice-president: Tony McCammon pencil and move into a more sedate winter season. In the brittle cold of Secretary: Janet Bala winter, I sit in my office, drink hot chocolate, and write up the results of the Treasurer: Karen Getusky previous summer’s work. Slowly, as time passes, the edge wears off of my Past-president: LaMar Orton Member-at-Large: Mel Nicholls feelings about the past summer’s labors. As the days begin to lengthen and a Chapter Presidents first inkling of a spring glows in the distance, I begin to get restless. An CALYPSO CHAPTER 821 W. Mustang Ave. intense desire emerges to pound Hayden, ID 83835 the ground in search of new plant President: Derek Antonelli accessions, to see the green of fresh Vice President: Vacant foliage, to photograph dazzling Secretary: Karen Williams blooms, to observe the winter Treasurer: Janet Benoit response of newly acquired species, Newsletter: Vacant and even to grab the business end LOASA CHAPTER of a hoe and go to battle with the 340 E 520 N. weeds. I am guessing I am not the Shoshone, ID 83352 only INPS member who traverses President: Bill Bridges Vice President: Valdon Hancock Lithospermum ruderale, commonly known this annual emotional path. I am Secretary/Treasurer: Lois Rohay as puccoon or stoneseed, Boise Foothills. guessing there are many of you Illustration by Karie Pappani. who are right now in the midst of PAHOVE CHAPTER planning your next summer wildflower excursion. I’ll repeat to you what I PO Box 9451, Boise, ID 83707 [email protected] tell myself every late-winter day—the season of wildflowers will come. President: Karie Pappani As you plan your outings for this coming summer, don’t forget to include Vice President: VACANT in your schedule time for a few days with your fellow native plant Secretary: Daniel Murphy connoisseurs at our annual meeting. This year the meeting will be held up Treasurer: Caroline Morris north at the Bumblebee Campground near Coeur d’Alene. The Calypso SAWABI CHAPTER Chapter, led by Derek Antonelli, has put together an outstanding program. 1506 N. Mink Creek Road Included in the program is an evening of plant identification. So, bring your Pocatello, ID 83204 botany manuals and specimen containers to cany during the tours so you Co-Pres: Karl Holte and Paul Allen can collect some “unknowns.” This will be a wonderful opportunity to rub Vice President: Geoff Hogander Secretary: Barbara Nicholls shoulders with like-minded people. Hope to see you there! Treasurer: Ruth Moorhead Stephen Love, INPS President UPPER SNAKE CHAPTER Currently Inactive WHITE PINE CHAPTER ERIG needs YOU! PO Box 8481, Moscow, ID 83843 Want to help INPS support great projects? The Education, Research, and [email protected] Inventory Grant (ERIG) program relies on funding from various sources President: Judy Ferguson Vice President: Pam Brunsfeld such as memberships, workshops, and private donations. If you, your busi¬ Secretary: Bettie Hoff ness, or your employer would like to make a donation to INPS to help keep Treasurer: Susan Rounds the ERIG program successful, send your tax deductible donation to: ERIG WOOD RIVER CHAPTER Program, INPS P.O. Box 9451, Boise Idaho 83707. Checks should be made PO Box 3093, Hailey, ID 83333 out to INPS. Please be sure to specify that your donation is to be used for President: Cynthia Langlois ERIG projects. Or, you can make a secure online payment using PayPal on Vice President: Lisa Horton the INPS website. Thank you for your help! Secretary: Jeanne Cassell Interested in applying for an ERIG in 2018? More information on how Treasurer: Carol Blackburn and when to apply is available at https://idahonativeplants.org/erig-news/. Sage Notes Vol. 40 (1) March 2018 2 Announcements College of Idaho Field Botany Class Idaho State Univ. Botany Field Camp The College of Idaho is offering a course in Field Bot¬ Idaho State University/Idaho Museum of Natural any for the May 2018 term. BIO 322 Field Botany will be History is offering a 2-week, 3-credit field botany class taught by Dr. Don Mansfield. The course will run May 21- for summer, 2018. The first week will be based from the June 14, including several one-day field trips and a 4-day ISU campus in Pocatello; the second week from the Lost field trip. This is an intense, 4-week, 4-credit course that River Field Station north of Mackay, Idaho. Both weeks meets at the College of Idaho Herbarium Monday- will be a mix of field trips and classroom time. The course Thursday (with one exception). Roughly every other day focus will be acquiring field plant identification skills and we will go into the field to view different ecosystems and the collection and preparation of botanical specimens. collect plants while contributing to botanists' collective The course will be valuable for individuals interested in understanding of the flora of Idaho. In the lab on alter¬ botany, ecology, conservation, education, or related nate days, we learn about major groups (mainly families) careers. of plants and identify the plants that we collected in the Week 1: June 18-22 - Idaho State University field. One four-day field trip (May 31-June 3) is included Week 2: July 1-8 - Lost River Field Station as part of the Idaho Botanical Foray. Course instructors are Janet Bala and Michael Man- People who are not currently enrolled as students at cuso. The course is open to degree seeking students from The College of Idaho can take the class. The prerequisite ISU and elsewhere and to non-degree seeking students or for College of Idaho students is the introductory biology professionals. Enrollment limited. Preference will be giv¬ course. For a non-enrolled student, there would be an en to students who register by April 30, 2018. Join us for expectation of some prior introduction (even if long ago) exploring and learning the Idaho flora! to biology, which includes some basic plant biology OR a To register, visit: https://www.isu.edu/registrar/cal- strong interest in pursuing background information as endars/academic-calendar/. More information about the needed (e.g. orientation to basic plant anatomy, such as course will be posted soon to: flower parts, etc.). https: / / www.isu.edu / imnh / Contact the College of Idaho’s Registrar’s office (208) https://www.facebook.com/IMNH208/ 459-5400 or [email protected] to receive a Also, take a look at the Lost River Field Station Facebook Non-Degree Seeking Student Application and a Registra¬ page at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lost-River- tion form for BIO 322.1 Field Botany. The tuition and Field-Station. • fees for this course is $1255. • www.webpages.uidaho.ed u/d ta n k/A F B divisioncredily University of Idaho Field Campus McCall, Idaho June 15-27, 2018 BIOL 460/560 Upper division undergraduate/ early career graduate students Advanced K , ■ S ■ Field Botany ^ . *not your standard botany class'5’ Please visit http://webpages.uidaho.edu/dtank/AFB/for more information, including the course description and the online application form. 3 Sage Notes Vol. 40 (1) March 2018 Announcements (cont'd) 2018 Idaho Native Plant Society Annual Meeting The 2018INPS annual meeting will be held June 29-July forest fire swept through the grove in 2015. We will be 2, 2018. It will be hosted by the Calypso Chapter, Coeur able to observe the resilience of this ecosystem. d’Alene, Idaho. The meeting will be held at the USFS 8:30 am to 4:00 pm Twin Crags/Mount Wiess- — Bumblebee Campground Group Site, Coeur d’Alene Na¬ ner Hike tional Forest. The focus of the event will be the Swedish This hike will be to one of the original sites that John American pioneering botanical collector, forester, and Leiberg encountered during his expeditions through the bryologist, John Leiberg. Leiberg was responsible for region. Naturalist Jack Nisbet, our evening’s guest documenting flora throughout the Pacific Northwest, but speaker, will provide interpretation on the hike. The particularly North Idaho. Many of the oldest herbaria views and flowers will be spectacular and the story will be specimens for species in our area were collected by fascinating. The road into the area is challenging and Leiberg. He collected several species new to science. may be blocked by snow. Only rugged vehicles should at¬ tempt this trip. We will try to augment with additional Directions vehicles, but the number of participants will be limited in Take the Kingston exit 43 from Interstate 90 and proceed any case. Those earliest to register will be given priority. north on the Coeur d’Alene River Road for 5.4 miles. If road conditions preclude access to the area, a suitable Turn left across the Coeur d’Alene River onto the Little alternative will be selected. North Fork Road and proceed for 3.0 miles. The Bumble¬ 12:00 noon to 4:00 pm Coal Creek Hike — bee Campground is on the right. The trail up Coal Creek provides a pretty little hike in a riparian zone. The path is well shaded and passes a series Schedule of Events of waterfalls—perfect for a hot afternoon. There are car¬ Friday. June 29 (Event times subject to change.) pets of mosses and ferns. Our vascular plant list from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm Camp Check In previous trips is approaching 100 species. It provides a — As you check in you will receive your camp site assign¬ good representation of North Idaho mesic forests. The ments. We will collect any fees that have not already been trail is up and back so you only need to go as far as you paid. You will get the details on the hikes and various choose. Participants in the Settler’s Grove walk will be activities you will be participating in. able to take part in this hike as well. 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm - Informal Activities 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm - Dinner meal From time to time during this period we will lead short We will have our dinner meal catered by the Snake Pit walks around the campground area. You can participate Restaurant at the Bumblebee Campground Group Site. in the “scavenger hunt” to see who can find the most spe¬ The Snake Pit has been in operation since the gold/silver cies on the campground plant checklist. For those in¬ rush days in 1880 and is famous in the area. The meal volved in the INPS Board, the meeting will be in will consist of BBQ brisket, pulled pork, beans, salad, and Pinehurst Library at 107 Main Street starting at 3:00 pm. lemonade. You are welcome to bring other beverages of 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm Informal Dinner your choice. A vegetarian meal of vegetable rice pilaf will — We will be cooking up hamburgers, sausages, and bean be available on request. The cost of the meal is $16 per burgers. Please bring something to share with the group person. Purchase of the meal is optional. Your reserva¬ (salad, dessert, or chips). Seating maybe limited so tion needs to be received by June 15. Seating is limited so please bring a camp chair if you have one available. bring your camp chair for use during the meal. 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm Campfire 7:15 pm to 8:30 pm Annual Meeting — — Following the informal dinner there will be the tradition¬ The Idaho Native Plant Society Annual Meeting will be al gathering of friends around the campfire. held at the Bumblebee Campground Group Site. We will be in the open so bring your camp chair or blankets for Saturday. June 30 seating. The meeting will start by addressing the business 8:00 am to 11:00 am Settler’s Grove of Ancient of the Idaho Native Plant Society. Following the formal — Cedars Walk business portion of the meeting, Jack Nisbet (teacher, We will caravan to the site of this old cedar grove where author, and naturalist) will give a presentation on John giant cedar trees date back to when Columbus landed. Leiberg. Jack has written several well-received books of This will be a relatively easy walk through the grove. A great interest. His topics have included David Thompson Sage Notes Vol. 40 (1) March 2018 4 (British fur trader, explorer, and map maker) and David Many species of plants are to be found including the rare Douglas (plant collector and botanist for whom the deer fern (Blechnum spicant). Douglas-fir and many other Northwest plants are 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm - Informal Plant Identifica¬ named). Jack is currently researching another book on tion Session the exploits of John Leiberg. John Leiberg was born in For the plant geeks among you, we will set up an area Sweden. After coming to the United States, he settled within the Bumblebee Group Camp for people to bring near Lake Pend Oreille. He collected plant specimens for their plant materials and share in the efforts to identify the New York Botanical Gardens and various US govern¬ these. You are welcome to wander in and out during the ment agencies. His work was responsible for document¬ session. ing the flora of North Idaho. Much of his work was 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm — Campfire centered on the site of this year’s INPS annual meeting. We will start up the campfire for another traditional Jack will draw upon his research findings for his presen¬ gathering of friends. Be sure to bring your best big plant tation at the annual meeting. that got away story. Sunday. July 1 Monday. July 2 8:00 am to 4:00 pm — RevettLake Hike 8:00 am to 11:00 am-Ad hoc Activities The trailhead for Revett Lake is 38 miles from Bumble¬ Let us know if there is anything special you want to see or bee Campground and is very near Thompson Pass on the do. Perhaps we can set something up. Idaho-Montana border. The hike into Revett Lake is very 11:00 am - Campground Check Out scenic with a climb of less than 700 feet and is less than two miles long one-way. Our plant list from previous Contact Information hikes has well over 100 species and provides a good Registration form can be found below or on the INPS representation of local subalpine forest flora. website. The registration fee is $30 per adult with no 9:00 am to 2:00 pm - Deception Creek Experi¬ charge for children. Calypso Chapter President, Derek mental Forest Antonelli, can be contacted at [email protected] The Deception Creek Experimental Forest is 19 miles or (208) 682-6139. Alternate contacts are Karen Willi¬ from Bumblebee Campground. The forest was estab¬ ams, (208) 667-8790, and Janet Benoit, (208) 683-2407. lished in 1933 when large, old western white pines were Please complete and submit registration forms as soon as important for producing lumber products. Research at possible. Make checks payable to INPS Calypso Chapter. the experimental forest focused on the ecology and silvi- Mail to: INPS Calypso Chapter, c/o Derek Antonelli, cuture of western white pine. The 291-acre Montford 6723 W Eden Ct, Rathdrum, ID 83858. • Creek Research Natural Area is located within the forest. 2018 INPS ANNUAL MEETING REGISTRATION FORM Name(s)_ Address_ Phone_Email_ Registration Fee: $30 per adult participant_ Meal Requests: Number of meals at $16 per person_ Vegetarian meals_ John Leiberg (Courtesy of Camping Requirements: Recreational Vehicle/Trailer_Size_ Tent_ New York Botanical Please Indicate Activity Preferences: Garden) Saturday: Twin Crags/Mount Wiessner Hike_ Settler’s Grove Walk_ Coal Creek Hike Sunday: Revett Lake Hike_ Deception Creek Experimental Forest Hike_ Please mail this registration form with payment to: INPS Calypso Chapter, c/o Derek Antonelli, 6723 W Eden Ct, Rathdrum, ID 83858 5 Sage Notes Vol. 40 (1) March 2018 Water Howellia.Continued from Page 1 petition, hydroperiod, and overall habitat assessment. mination substrate, alteration of pond hydrology, and the My work focused on the floodplain populations and wet¬ transport/introduction of weed seeds, especially reed ca- land habitat attributes in Latah and Benewah counties, naiygrass (Phalaris arundinacea), are some of the ways with an emphasis on the maturation and germination water howellia habitat may be impacted by these distur¬ stages. The research questions I asked were: bances. Although water howellia grows in freshwater ponds • What are the environmental abiotic/biotic factors that fill and dry annually, the hydrology and landscape that drive water howellia presence over a flood- type vary greatly plain? across its range. In California, populations • What are the environmental abiotic/biotic factors grow in freshwater that drive water howellia presence within a pond? marshes and swamps. Water howellia was • What is the optimum temperature and moisture re¬ thought to be extir¬ gime for water howellia germination? pated from Oregon, Figure 1. Water howellia flowers. but in 2002 was found The study was conducted in floodplain wetlands of the Photo by Kristen Dubois. in vernal pools and Palouse River and the Spokane River where water howel¬ oxbow sloughs at the William Finley National Wildlife lia populations had been located and monitored by the Refuge. In Washington, populations are found in depres- Idaho Natural Heritage Program (INHP). Juanita Lich- sional scabland wetlands that depend on precipitation for thardt, an INHP botanist, had also identified ponds that their sole source of water. In Montana’s Swan River Val¬ represented potential habitat due to their proximity to ley, over 140 populations occur in glacially carved de¬ ponds with known water howellia populations and their pressions that fill with rainwater and groundwater ecological similarity to these occupied ponds. Ponds with annually. The six known Idaho occurrences inhabit sea¬ water howellia are unique floodplain wetland resources sonal floodplain ponds in the Palouse River and Spokane that fill and drain annually from overbank flow and fluvi¬ River floodplains. Idaho populations are unique because al groundwater. Many of these wetlands are actually occupied ponds are entirely dependent on fluvial (river) channel scars representing relic depressions from where hydrology through bank overflow and fluvial groundwa¬ the rivers used to flow, but remain connected to the hy¬ ter. drology of the river. Coming up with a research question that addresses Most water howellia ponds are surrounded by ripari¬ the problem you are interested in is not always straight¬ an shrubs and trees such as black hawthorn (Crataegus forward. In order to nar¬ douglasii), thin-leaf alder (Alnus incana), Pacific nine- row the objectives of our bark (Physocarpus capitatus), Bebb’s willow (Salix work for this study, we bebbiana), and Drummond’s willow (Salix drummondi- considered water howel- ana), with some conifers around the edge. A number of lia’s unique ecology, as ponds are lacking this surrounding riparian vegetation well as previously suc¬ buffer due to land-uses and vegetation removal. Typical cessful rare plant inves¬ vegetation in these ponds includes common spikerush tigations. The variation (Eleocharis palustris), reed canarygrass, simple stem of water howellia habitat bur-reed (Sparganium emersum), short-awn foxtail in different regions de¬ (Alopecurus aequalis), water plantain (Alisma plantago- Figure 2: Water howellia with mands assessment in aquatica), northern mannagrass (Glyceria occidentalis), emergent stems and flowers. each hydrologic regime. water buttercup (Ranunculus aquatilis), water parsnip Photo by USFS. We also must under¬ (Sium suave), inflated sedge (Carex vesicaria), duck¬ stand the ecological dynamics of the wetlands that water weed (Lemna minor), liverwort (Ricciocarpos natans), howellia occupies to advise management decisions. Wet¬ and common rush (Juncus effusus). Watching these land plant community structure can be influenced by a floodplain wetlands and their plant communities evolve variety of factors such as hydrology, surrounding land as the seasons change is fascinating (Figure 3). In doing use, seed sources, and dispersal dynamics. Factors to work like this, you get to know your sites like old friends, take into account include abiotic, biotic, resource com¬ with quirks that you come to expect, like excessively Sage Notes Vol. 40 (1) March 2018 6 buggy or thick riparian buffers, or steep edges to be higher the average soil bulk density (less pore space), walked cautiously. likely due to a combination of compaction from cattle Based on our sampling method, we found water and motor vehicles as well as soil type, the lower the fre¬ howellia frequency averaged 51% during the growing sea¬ quency of water howellia. Soil water content (moisture son in the 14 water howellia ponds sampled. A couple of percentage of soil) was strongly related to soil bulk dens¬ ponds had only a trace amount of water howellia, but ity, in that soils with higher bulk densities had less mois¬ other populations were more robust and had consistent ture. Germination trials, although not statistically growth throughout the pond. Reed canaiygrass had in¬ significant for moisture, backed up this point, that higher vaded all but one of the ponds with a mean cover of 30%. moisture content yielded higher germination rates. Mean total vegetation cover in the sample quadrats was Water howellia seed is clearly susceptible to desiccation 50%. Pond size and distance to the river varied greatly, in the fall if there is not sufficient moisture. Overall, it is but elevation difference to the river encompassed a smal¬ clear that the life cycle of water howellia depends on a ler range. During water howellia maturation, pond depth hydrology regime that is “just right”—where ponds dry, varied from 3 cm to 79 cm, with a mean of 27 cm. Depths but not too soon; and retain some soil moisture, but do of 150 cm were recorded in the spring season. Most not have standing water or soil saturation—talk about ponds had some mineral soils ranging from loam to clay, goldilocks! with the majority of ponds containing silty clay or silty Our results showed there were specific micro-habitats clay loam. within water howellia ponds best suited for the species. There were a number of important and intriguing dif¬ We found the presence or absence of reed canarygrass ferences regarding ponds with water howellia and those (RCG) and water depth interacted to drive howellia pres¬ without water howellia. ence. The frequency of water howellia consistently de¬ Ponds that had water creased as RCG density and cover increased, results howellia populations: (1) consistent with past research in Montana. Water howellia were 1-2 meters higher in is able to coexist and compete with RCG until a certain elevation from the river density threshold. Once this threshold is crossed, RCG compared to ponds with outcompetes water howellia (Figure 4). We observed that no water howellia; (2) while water howellia can grow in a range of depths ran¬ had shorter hydroperiods ging from very saturated soil with no standing water to (number of days the 45 cm, it was most robust and has less competition with ponds are wetted per Figure 3. C. Wiechmann and R. year) by an average of 30 Hutchinson installing water days compared to ponds depth gauges in ice-covered with no water howellia; ponds in the spring. (3) had pond substrate with lower soil bulk density (a measure of compaction WOTMKi of fruwenc, ei PHA* and pore space in soil sample) compared to ponds with ■portion olfrujuency of MOAQ no water howellia; and (4) were more shaded (by 20- 40%) compared to ponds with no water howellia. Our results highlighted the unique habitat of water howellia, especially the requirement for complete inund¬ a 1-— 0-5 610 11 15 16-10 11-15 16-10 31 15 3640 41-45 *650 >50 ation to grow and mature, as well as periods with no Depth bins [Increments of 5 centimeters) standing water during the germination season. Study re¬ Figure 4. Graph showing relationship between reed sults also showed that the majority of howellia-contain- canarygrass cover and water howellia frequency as water ing wetlands dry by the end of July. Those wetted longer depth increases. than this do not supply suitable hydrologic regimes. We RCG at depths of 16-45 cm. Therefore, water depth is not also found there may be an elevation distance to the wa¬ as limiting to water howellia as competition for space, ter source that provides this specific hydrologic timing. light, and nutrient resources. However, other factors may also be at play as we did not So, what do we do with all this information? Man¬ assess any sub-surface water sources. aging for a specific species is not an easy task, so it is im¬ Soil factors and how they impact moisture play an im¬ perative to gather the right information before man¬ portant role in water howellia habitat. For example, the agement decisions are made. For water howellia, Continued on Page 8 7 Sage Notes Vol. 40 (1) March 2018 Water howellia.Continued from Page 7 still many questions regarding the long-tern conservation managing for RCG is a necessity. RCG invades and dom¬ of water howellia. It is easy to create excitement about inates habitat resources, and can dramatically alter site grizzly bears, but not as convincing when it comes to a hydrology. Annual layers of the roots and stems of dense tiny plant most people have never seen. The presence of RCG stands that build up over time may decrease pond water howellia seems to indicate a relatively healthy, less depth and change the pond’s hydrologic regime. RCG’s invaded wetland system. Rare plants such as water how¬ impact is not limited to water howellia, as it has been ellia may serve as indicator species for wetland ecosystem shown to take over native wetland vegetation globally. health. We may not have all the answers yet, but with a The most successful removal strategies for RCG are partnership of scientists, resource managers, attentive manual excavation or weed mats. land owners, and informed concerned citizens, the con¬ A proactive approach to land management in regards servation of this tiny, rare aquatic plant species stands a to wetland health is essential for water howellia’s long¬ fighter’s chance. • term viability. Keeping cattle and motorized vehicles out of occupied wetlands is important to avoid further soil This study was funded by U.S. Fish and Wildlife and compaction and hydrology alterations. Maintaining ri¬ the National Science Foundation. Dr. Alex K. Fremeir, parian buffers and replacing them where lost is import¬ Associate professor at Washington State University, ant to provide shade and maintain soil moisture, was my advisor. Please email cat@watershedconsult- stability, and wetland community structure. There are ing.com with any questions! 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Sharp bristly hairs in the in¬ planted over many decades. Non-native species have long florescence made seed collecting a challenge. Leaves for been favored in rangeland restoration due to their estab¬ silverleaf phacelia have distinct parallel veins and are lished history of agricultural use. Weed invasions and coated in beautiful silvery hairs. The purple flowers are wildfires continue to disrupt natural ecosystems at an arranged in tight coils that resemble fiddleheads. Each ever increasing scale while planted non-natives are un¬ flower houses one tiny seed with a unique surface tex¬ able to perform important roles in the landscape. Sage- ture. grouse have diminished greatly from their native range Showy fleabane has heads with light purple ray and pollinator species such as bees, butterflies and other flowers surrounding bright yellow disk flowers. It attracts insects, are all on the decline. Researchers and land man¬ many pollinators from the diverse habitats where it agers have long identified a need to include more native resides in all four forests. It reproduces both sexually forbs in restoration seedings for these and other wildlife through seed, and asexually through underground species. rhizomes creating dense clusters of plants. The linear to In the summer of 2017, two aspiring botanists roamed lanceolate leaves often have a slight twist and usually through the Boise, Payette, Salmon-Challis, and Saw¬ have short hairs on their margins. Seeds are topped by tooth National Forests in search of native seed. Jill Pavlik numerous long, slightly barbed hairs. and Lia Leibman served as Forest Service interns in part¬ Lastly, we collected seed from hoary tansyaster, found nership with the Chicago Botanic Gardens and the Con¬ in small clusters in sagebrush habitats on the Boise, Sal¬ servation Land Management Program (CLM). We were mon-Challis, and Sawtooth National Forests. This forb stationed at the Forest Service’s Rocky Mountain Re¬ has sticky little hairs covering the stems and leaves. search Station in Boise. Similar pairs of CLM interns Flower heads have bright purple ray flowers surrounding were coordinated across Forest Service Region 4 and yellow disk flowers, adding bright pops of color to the across BLM districts in Nevada. sagebrush-steppe. Seeds are similar to showy fleabane, We collected seeds from five native forb species: with numerous white hairs surrounding the seed. Douglas’ dustymaiden (Chaenactis douglasii), nettleleaf As we enter 2018, plans are in the works for a new giant hyssop (Agastache urticifolia), silverleaf phacelia crop of interns to scout and collect seeds for additional (Phacelia hastata), showy fleabane (Erigeron speciosus), species. In time, these seeds will help us better incorpo¬ and hoary tansyaster (Machaeranthera canescens). rate native forbs into major restoration projects. • These species were chosen for their benefit to sage- grouse chicks and to pollinators. In addition, these spe¬ cies have wide distributions throughout the Intermoun¬ tain Region, growing in a variety of habitats from low elevation desert scrub to subalpine meadows. Douglas’ dustymaiden is covered in fine woolly hairs, has fern-like leaves, and heads of tiny white disk flowers. We found this plant clinging to steep, dry hillsides on the Salmon-Challis and Boise National Forests. The seeds are narrow black achenes topped with tufts of thin, dry scales. Nettleleaf giant hyssop is a tall, fragrant plant found in large populations along creek beds and woodland meadows throughout all four forests. This handsome Large selection of Idaho and Great Basin native plants. plant has dark green lance-shaped leaves with clusters of Cold hardy cacti, yuccas and other succulents. white to pink flowers arranged in a spike. The seeds are Our 5-acre drought tolerant botanical garden is open by appointment April l to Nov l. tiny black nutlets that resemble poppy seeds. When Open house and plant sale held the last two weekends in May. collecting, we would cut off the flower clusters from the K67 Filer Avc W,T>vin Falls, Idaho 83JLH stems and the tiny seeds would pour out in abundance Phone: 20&-734-7959, cell: 20&-308-6840 Website: wvviv.ortonhntanicalaorden.com into our bags. Email: lortDnl@msn,com 9 Sage Notes Vol. 40 (1) March 2018 Palouse Prairie Remnant Restoration By Sarah Metcalf, White Pine Chapter Between 2008 and 2012, the Idaho Natural Heritage 3. Mark and spot-spray invasive perennials with the Program partnered with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Ser¬ herbicide Opensight. vice (USFWS) to identify and survey for Palouse Prairie 4. This process resulted in a healthy, but incomplete remnants in northern Idaho. An altered Palouse Prairie stand of natives, with bare ground between them. remnant at my place was one of the areas investigated as 5. After fall rains arrived, we inspected again to see part of this project. My property is located in Idaho on what non-native plant seeds might have germinated. the south face of Lonejack Butte, about a mile from the Surprisingly, there were very few fall-germinating annual Washington border, approximately equidistant from the grasses. The modest number of weedy annual forbs towns of Potlatch, Idaho, Garfield, Washington, and Pal¬ present were spot-sprayed with Glyphosate in late fall ouse, Washington. when it was hoped that desirable native perennials would In the spring of 2017, a restoration project was initi¬ be dormant and less likely to be harmed. ated for the Palouse remnant on my property with the 6. A mixture of native grass and forb seed was broad¬ help of a USFWS grant and the Latah Soil and Water cast, hoping to fill in between those native plant species Conservation District. The official project consisted of 11 already present. acres. My personal extended project included an addi¬ This may sound like a lot of work, depending on your tional 49 acres of mixed open woods and open areas. definitions of work and play. Also how much time you It is super fun to go out on the hill and see what’s hap¬ have, and want, to spend on it... and if you are lucky pening in the world of plants. The discovery of a plant enough to have a few excellent employees. that is new to me is especially interesting. Sometimes it is an undesirable species such as field bindweed, red sorrel, Notesfrom the first season: or rush skeletonweed. Other times it is an astonishing 1. This is not a one-year project, or a 3-year project, surprise such as the beautiful greenbanded mariposa lily but a 10-year project. The first year is for figuring out (Calochortus macrocarpus) or rare Palouse goldenweed how to do it—an ongoing process. (Pyrrocoma liatriformis). Every week during the grow¬ 2. This past spring I entirely missed the opportunity ing season is a different “plant show." to control bulbous bluegrass (Poa bulbosa). It was up, The prairie remnant on my property has never been dropping bulblets, and dormant almost immediately. cultivated, but has been influenced historically by log¬ Late this fall we marked a test area where the bulbous ging, grazing, and trail building activities. It is too rocky bluegrass was greening up and spot sprayed it with and steep to be accessible to equipment which means Glyphosate, trying to avoid the bluebunch wheatgrass, weed control is done by hand pulling or backpack spray¬ which hopefully was dormant anyway. It took about 10 er; seeding is done with a frontpack broadcaster. days, but the bulbous bluegrass finally turned yellow. It In contrast to a “field conversion” project, we started will be interesting to see if it is truly dead this next spring. out with a highly variable mixture of natives, non-na¬ 3. In some places what I had assumed to be ventenata tives, annuals, perennials, grasses and forbs. While both (Ventenata dubia) was actually bulbous bluegrass. field conversions and remnant restorations are creative Worse, in my opinion, but good to know because differ¬ research endeavors, remnant restoration in particular is ent control methods are needed. Fall-germinating annual not amenable to a pre-formulated course of action. There grasses can be nicely controlled by pulling them up be¬ is a great deal of standing around, puzzling over what to fore they go to seed. They are easy to pull, whereas do, what to do first, waiting for inspiration, becoming bulbous bluegrass is not. If it can be killed with Gly¬ overwhelmed, going away, and resuming the next day. phosate in the late fall when all else is dormant, then that is going to be my choice. 2017 work done in 4 select areas, about 2 acres: 4. The prairie remnant has billions of small-flowered 1. Rake, pile, and burn all the old vegetation from the cranesbill (Geranium pusillum) plants, a tiny non-native previous year so that we could see what was under it and annual. It was initially very confusing to identify because identify plants. the seedlings look a lot like prairie star (Lithophragma 2. Hand weed, rake; repeat; repeat. When the going- sp.). In many areas, it forms a solid ground cover to-seed process started getting ahead of us, we used a between individual native plants and is hard to pull up weedeater, trying to avoid patches of native plants. because of its tiny size. I set up two experiments. One Sage Notes Vol. 40 (1) March 2018 10