Sage Notes Idaho Native Plant Society - Inside this issue Annual Meeting 2ndAnnouncement - Registerby June 1 2006 Election - Ballot Enclosed - Vote by June 2 Volume 28 (1) Spring 2006 Contents Editor’s Note: Manythanks to all that have ConsSecriveanttiisotnsBDreicefrsy Attempts to Weaken Endangered Species cNoonttersib-uttehdetportehmiiseirsnseuwesolfetStaegreon conservation of Idaho native plants Act 1 and their habitats. Endangered-plant lovers unite 1 National Conservation Group Calls for Opposition to There is a general consensus within Kempthorne Appointment 4 the Societythat Sage Notesshould Land Sale Program Opposed by Many 5 be produced bya committee. Thejob is too much foroneperson to take on Features - for any length oftime orin a Member Profile: A Tribute to Lois Wythe 6 sustainable manner. Rather, we Scotchman Peaks Wilderness 7 need ateam offolks, all contributing small or large pieces to the whole; News and Notes either in a series of contributions (produced reliablyfor sequential Plant Species Named 8 issues) or as a single installment. 2006 Idaho Rare Plant Conference 8 Ecological Society of America Position Paper on Invasive Sage Notes is open to all. Avast Species 9 amount of opportunity is here: little Deer Flat to Host BioBlitz 9 ideas, big dreams, stories, technical papers, white papers on Society News and Activities conservation issues, personal Idaho Native Plant Society reflections, artistic renderings, Annual Meeting 10 imagery, book reviews, lists (of plants, people, orplaces; lists of INPS Board Highlights 12 lists), poetry, field reports, meeting Kinnikinnick Chapter 13 reports, and advertisements. BALLOT - mail by June 2. Opportunityabounds! Please consider submitting to Sage Notes. Betteryet- please consider serving on the Sage Notes Editorial Editorial Committee Chair Committee. INPS Sage Notes Thanks, PO Box 9451 SKR. Boise, ID 83707 days: (208) 287-2726 evenings: (208)342-2631 Committee Members/ Contributing Editors Nancy Cole Cyndi Coulter Cleve Davis Tom Jefferson Marlene Fritz Chris Murphy Steve Rust Mark Shumar Sarah Walker Sage Notes is published quarterlyby Idaho Native Plant Society,incorporated since 1977 underthe laws ofthe State of Idaho. Ads: Personalads:$2; Commercial ads: $5 for 1/8 page, $8 for1/4 page, $15 for 1/2 page, and $25 for full page. Ads should besentwith payment. Submissions: Members and others are invited to submitmaterialforpublication. Articles in anyform, even hand-written, are welcome, as is artwork. Please provide a phone number in case there are questions. Material willbe returned upon request. Pleasetryto submititems forcoming issues bythe following dates: Spring, FDeebcreumabryer1, 2020060;6.Summer, May 1 2006; Fall, September 1, 2006; Winter, 1, Cover: Lupinusargenteus. Line drawing by Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. Illustrated flora ofthe northern states and Canada.Vol.2: 348. Courtesy of KentuckyNative PlantSociety. Scanned byOmnitek Inc. From USDA NRCS PLANTS Database. Opposite: Lupinusseed. Line drawing courtesy ofUSDA ForestService. From USDA NRCS PLANTS Database. Spring 2006 SAGE NOTES Quarterly Journalofthe Idaho Native Plant Society - Volume 28(1) Conservation Briefs The scientists creditthe success ofthe ESAto its reliance on the best available science, and caution that recent congressional proposals-particularly those Compiled by Tom Jefferson that seekto narrowly define or limitthe science used to enforce the ESA-will result in extinctions. The letter Scientists Decry Attempts to Weaken emphasizes that, "The current Endangered Species Endangered Species Act - Leading Act standard of"best available science" has worked well and has been flexible enough overtime to Biologists Release Sign-On Letter accommodate evolving scientific information and practices." Thescientists recommend theSenate can By Union ofConcerned Scientists best protect and strengthen the ESA by ensuring sound scientific practices in five areas: species Leading scientists released a letter signed by 5,738 listings, habitat, scientifictools, recovery plansand biologists across the United States urging the Senate scientific advances. to stand by scientific principles that are crucial to species conservation in the Endangered Species Act "The Endangered Species Act has protected many (ESA). The letter (representing scientists from all 50 species overthe last 30 years. The bald eaglewas on states and more than 900 institutions) asks Congress the brinkof extinction in the 1970s and is nowfound to stop efforts to weaken the ESA. in all the lower48 states," said Dr. JenniferHughes Martiny, Assistant Professor, Dept, of Ecology and "Thanks to a strong scientific foundation, for 30 years Evolutionary Biology and Centerfor Environmental the Endangered Species Act has protected wildlife, Studies, Brown University. fish and plants onthe brinkof extinction," said Dr. Stuart PIM, Doris Duke Chairof Conservation Biology, "By limiting the science that can beused to enforce Duke University. "We should protect biodiversity by the ESA, the House of Representatives has put strengthening andfully funding the ESA, ratherthan endangered species ateven greaterrisk," said Dr. attacking it." Dennis Murphy, Research Professor atthe University of Nevada, Reno. "Losing these species means losing "The Endangered Species Act has been effective the potential tosolve some oftheworld's most because it is based on good science," said Dr. intractable problems. Species diversity has provided Gordon Orians, Professor Emeritus in the Biology humankind withfood, fiber, medicines, clean water, Department atthe UniversityofWashington. "Since it and numerous otherservices thatmany of us takefor was enacted, less than one percent of species listed granted." underthe ESAhave gone extinct, while 10 percent of species waitingto be listed have been lost." The list of signers includes 12 MacArthur "genius award" recipients, six National Medal of Science recipients, 39 National Academy of Science members, and 20 Pew Marine Science Fellows. Endangered-plant lovers unite in effort to boost U.S. protection By Eric Hand, St. Louis Post-Dispatch The kodachrome bladderpod and Hoover's spurge; the fleshy owl's clover andthe four-petal pawpaw; the sensitivejoint-vetch, the showy stickseed, Virginia sneezeweed and Michigan monkey-flower - the total spending for all ofthese at-risk plants is still less than the money spenton an endangered riverclam called the fat pocketbook. It's notthateasy being green. Plants make up morethan half ofthe 1,290 plant and animal species on thefederal endangered or threatened list. But animals get 97% ofthe money, according to the 2003 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service expenditure report, which includes moneyspent by all federal and stateagencies. Philadelphuslewisii. Photograph by S. Rust. 1 Spring 2006 SAGE NOTES Quarterly Journalofthe Idaho Native Plant Society - Volume 28(1) Some call it zoo-chauvinism. Others call it plant obscure locations togather rare seed pods - blindness. Eitherway, thedisparity irksthe staff ofthe sometimes wadingthrough waist-deep water and Centerfor Plant Conservation, a nonprofit climbing to rockoverhangs. She brings seeds back organization atthe Missouri Botanical Garden that and, on herdesk, counts them all with tweezers, even banks rare seeds and reintroduces plants to former when thereare thousands smallerthan a pinhead. ranges.On a gray day earlierthis month atan aging airport hotel, the centerstafftried to rallya motley Some she sends in sealed foil envelopes to the crew of horticulturists, botanists and bureaucrats to National Centerfor Genetic Resources Preservation invigorate a loose confederation known as the Plant in Colorado. Others, she germinates in Petri dishes, ConservationAlliance. sometimes rubbing them with sandpaperto getthem to sprout. The conferenceseemed low-budget. Some ofthe attending organizations have lowbudgets. Onlyby On a recent morning, she lovinglywashed the leaves connecting these disparate plant lovers through of an endangered Hawaiian plantto rid it ofmites. collaborative efforts will greater plant awareness arise, said centerdirector Kathryn Kennedy. Animals For Gosejohan, conservation is an ethical obligation. have plentyof advocates, shesaid. Plants don't. Earth is in the midstof its sixth period of massive extinction -and most ofthoseextinctions are because While the federal endangered listprovides some of humans, she said. plants protection, many more deserve it, according to NatureServe, a nonprofit organization thattracks Kennedy saysplant conservation is notjust a conservation data. NatureServe says there are 16,100 "greeny" issue -there are plenty of practical reasons native plant species in the United States. Ofthose, to care aboutthem. Humans use plants forfood, 5,474 - more than one-third -are considered atrisk. fibers, waxes, oils and building materials. Plantsare often "keystone"species that hold together entire Plant blindness - In 1998, a botanist named James ecologies. And a rare plant might hold the genetic or Wandersee coined the term "plant blindness" to chemical keyto somefuture discovery. describe the way plants are neglected. He sought reasons for it. "I would hate to say thattodaywecould judge what uses we mightneed them for," she said. Some ofthe reasons are evolutionary, he has written. The human eye notices color, movement and danger - Who gets the most money in short, animals. Top 5 animals: "Plants tend to be the green backdrop," Kennedy said. Bruce Rittenhouse, the center's conservation program Chinook salmon: $122,620,000 manager, has a simplerexplanation: "You can pet an Steelhead: $101,449,000 animal." Steller sea lion: $54,811,000 Coho salmon: $30,242,000 The government has shown animals the money. Fish Bull trout: $29,296,000 getthe most - $382 million - followed by mammals and birds. Afewexamples: The leasttern, abird, Top 5 plants: didn't getthe most, but it gota lot - $4 million. The whooping crane got awhopping $5 million. Even the Johnson's seagrass: $3,164,000 kangaroo rat gotnearly half amillion bucks. Pondberry: $1,175,000 Western prairie fringed orchid: $350,000 By contrast, the decurrentfalse astergot$97,561. It's Seabeach Amaranth: $260,000 a 5-foot-tall perennial that grows in onlythree spots in Ko'oloa'ula:$257,000 Missouri nearthe confluence ofthe Mississippi and Missouri rivers. The entire species was underwater Source: 2003 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service during the Flood of 1993. expenditure report. Not only doesthe governmentspend more on animals, but, legally, it can do moreforthem. In old English law, animals were the propertyofthe king, Kennedy said. She said that attitude is embedded in the Endangered Species Act. The government can force private landowners to maintain habitatfor endangered animals. But private landowners can cutdown as many endangered plants as theywant. Banking seeds - Meredith Gosejohandoesn't suffer from plant blindness. If anything, she's blinded by love forthem. A researcherforthe center, Gosejohan goes to 3 Spring 2006 SAGE NOTES Quarterly Journalofthe Idaho Native Plant Society - Volume 28(1) National Conservation Group Calls for endangered wolfto the stateof Idaho, Kempthorne Opposition to Kempthorne sreolmeeaspeadckasp.laKnetmopetxhtoerrnmeinbatleam7e5d%thoeftehnedawnolgveersedin Appointment wolves foradecline in elk populations, but elk had been declining in those areas since beforewolves had Conservation biologists representing the Centerfor been reintroduced, and biologists stated thatthe Biological Diversity made a callfor letters and support available habitatcouldn’t support increased elk herds. of opposition to the nomination of Idaho Governor Kempthorne to the post of Secretary of United States Introduced Senate bill to underminethe Endangered Department ofthe Interior. The call forsupport of Speci—es Recoverv-Specifically. the 1997 bill S. opposition focuses on endangered species and 1180 supported bythe American Forest and Paper habitat conservation issues relatedto the Endangered Association, American Petroleum Institute, National Species Act. Mining Association, and otherindustry lobbies—would exempt recovery implementation plans for Kempthorne’s Dismal Record on Endangered endangered species from judicial review, thereby Species and Habitat Conservation1 -Throughouthis leaving them entirely atthewhim of political career, Dirk Kempthorne has maintained close ties to manipulation, eliminating scientific scrutiny, and timber, mining, and development corporations. abandoning the recovery standard. The bill would Before runningfor public office, Kempthorne worked also exemptrecovery implementation agreements as public affairs managerforthe agricultural chemical with federal agencies from Section 7 consultation, company FMC Corp. andvice president ofthe Idaho thereby eliminating the process bywhich U.S. Fish Homebuilders Association. In his 2002gubernatorial and Wildlife Service biologists update federal agency reelection campaign, Kempthorne received more management strategies and modifythem as moneyfrom timber, mining, and energy industries necessaryto prevent serious harm to endangered than any otherwestern gubernatorial candidate. species. Fortunately, this bill did not pass. Perhaps not coincidentally, his League of Conservation Voters environmental voting record in Voted to eliminatethe federal ESA listing budqet-As the U.S. Senate was a low 1% for his six years in the a senator, Kempthorne voted infavorof an Senate (6% thefirst year and 0% each following amendmentto HR889 (1996) Defense Supplemental year), and as governor of Idaho he has a poor record Appropriations to eliminate the remaining funding for on conservationofwildlifeand habitat. the ESA listing budget available thatyear. Fortunately, this amendment did not pass. Opposed recovery ofThreatened grizzly bears-As governor, Kempthorne sued the U.S. Fish andWildlife Voted to eliminatefederal fundingfor endangered red Service in an attemptto stop the reintroductionof wolf recoverv-As a senator, Kempthorne voted in grizzlies into the remote Bitterroot Wilderness Area. favor of an amendmentto the Fiscal 1996 Interior Kempthorne said, “Canyoubelieve theClinton Appropriations bill HR 1977 (1996) to eliminate the Administrationproposalto re-introduce flesh-eating recovery budgetforthe red wolf, with thejustification grizzlybears into theSelway-Bitterroot Wilderness? thatthe wolf is too dangerous. Fortunately, this Folks, this couldbethe firstlandmanagementaction amendment did not pass. in historyto resultin sure deathandinjuryofcitizens. We willchallenge thisblatantconfrontation to our Voted to open environmental regulations to a new state sovereigntyinfederalcourt."2 round oftakings claims-As a senator, Kempthorne voted in favor of S. 2271 (1998) to overrule Supreme This exaggeration ignoresthe factthatthe entirety of Court decisions that require developers to attemptto Idaho is within the threatened bears’ historic range, resolve land disputes through administrative means and ignores the factthatthe 1.3 million-acre Bitterroot before going tothe courts with “takings” claims. The Wilderness Area is federal public land. bill would allowdevelopers to override federal environmental laws and local zoning. Fortunately, this Opposed recovery of Endangered wolves-As bill did not pass. governor, Kempthorne signed amemorial asking the U.S. Department ofthe Interiorto remove all wolves Voted repeatedlyto open Arctic National Wildlife from Idaho, and calling forthe eradication ofwolves in Refuge to drillinq-As a senator, Kempthorne Idaho "byanymeans necessary," and claiming that repeatedlyvoted to open theArctic NationalWildlife recovery ofimperiled wolves and grizzly bears “has Refuge to oil and gas exploration (1995 and 1996). no basis in common sense, legitimate science, or free-enterpriseeconomics."3 Days aftersigning an Wants to open roadless areas to logging and agreementto shiftfederal managementofthe development-As governor, Kempthornejoined forces with Boise-Cascade timbercompany to suethe USDA Forest Service in 2001 to blockimplementation ofthe Roadless Area Conservation Rule thatwould protect ' Prepared by Centerfor Biological Diversitystaff. aranrdedreovaedlleospsmeanrte;ashenahtaiosnaalctfiovreelsytssufprpoomrtreodadt-hbeuiBludsinhg 220S0t1ate of the State address to the Idaho legislature Jan 8, AKdemmipntishtorrantieond’esriedfefdorttshetorurleepeaaslath“efeRdeoraadlleedsisct,R”ule. ignoring the factthatthe rule affects only federal lands. 3 Idaho House Joint Memorial No.5 by Resourcesand Conservation Committee (2001) 4 . Spring 2006 SAGE NOTES Quarterly Journalofthe Idaho Native Plant Society - Volume 28(1) Miscellaneous: The Forest Service posted on its websitethe location • As governor, Kempthorneonce threatened to throw of 300,000 acres itwas evaluating forsale, with a sale the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency outof of 200,000 acres contemplated. The agencythen Idaho when it proposed to listpolluted mines there as took public commentthrough May 1 a Superfund site. • On the four-member Idaho State Board ofLand Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), ranking Democrat on the Commissioners, Kempthorne repeatedlyvoted to Senate subcommitteeon Public Lands and Forests, ignore court decisions and withhold grazing leases did not submitformal comments to the Forest Service, from conservation groups to award them instead to but he didn't have to, said an aide to Wyden, "He has ranchers at lower prices. said in public hearings on several occasions he would • As a senator, Kempthorne repeatedly voted to sell block any legislation to authorize land sales." offfederal public lands, including lands managed by the Departmentof Interior (1995, 1996, 1998). The Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 allocates more than Land Sale Program Opposed by Many4 $400 million each yearto compensate forest communities for losttimber sale revenues. CorfiNtiactsioonfaal BFoursehstadSmyisnitsetmraltainodncpornotpeonsadltthoatseslolmtreacotfs Aflrloomcatthieonpsasatr.e based on 25 percent of sale revenues those tracts have high conservation values and Because the Secure Rural Schools law expires atthe should not be sold. end offiscal year 2006 in September, Congress is Organizations such as the Nature Conservancysay nowworking on legislationto extend it. (See previous article on legislation to rescue theprogram.) the Forest Service should studythe planned sales more rigorously. "Absent a careful, science-based analysis of individual tracts proposed for sale, the Forest Service risks harm to itsconservation mission," said conservancy President Steve McCormickin an April 28 letterto the ForestService. Like other program critics, the Conservancy cited specific examples of high-risk lands that might be sold. On Wenatchee National Forest in Washington, for instance, McCormick said the Forest Service includes in its inventory atractthat borders Swauk Creek, an areaof important aquatic and fish species. Rep. Rik Keller®-Fla.) recently opposed the administration forincluding in the sale inventory 1,000 acres of Ocala National Forest in Florida. "They say these lands are not'crown jewels,"' hesaid on the Housefloor. "While our budget shortfall is temporary, ruining pristine national lands is permanent. We cannot sell nationalforest lands everytime there is a budget shortfall. This is adangerous precedentfor Congress to set." Finally, powerful fishing and hunting groups that usually side with the Republican Party wrote Congressional appropriators May 3 objecting to the proposal because ofpossible habitat loss. "Hunters and anglers simplywill not support any proposal that could further exacerbate this overwhelming problem," said the Theodore RooseveltConservation Partnership on behalf of hunting and fishing groups. Acerglabrum.USDA-NRCSPLANTS The Bush administration proposedthe land sale Database/Britton,N.L.,andA.Brown.1913. program in its fiscal year 2007 budget February6 to CIlalnuastdraat.edVafll.or2a:o4f9t7h.enorthernstatesand provide $800 million to sustain theSecure Rural Schools Act of 2000 for afewmore years. The administration would letthe program expireafterfour years. 4 Adaptedfrom FS LandSale Program Takes a Lashing fromMany Quarters, Public Lands News 31(9), Resources Publishing Co.,Arlington. 5 2 Spring 2006 SAGE NOTES Quarterly Journalofthe Idaho Native Plant Society - Volume 28(1) Features A Tribute to Lois Wythe By PhilHough Sandpoint’s native plant arboretum has become a true regional treasure, a place to go for an introduction to native plants and for quiet contemplation. Because the trees, plants and the serene setting take center stage, it’s easyto forget the dedication and hours of toil that have gone on behind the scenes to make this wonderful place possible. Let’s take a moment to recognize Lois Wythe and the original team of “straw bosses” she recruited for all their efforts in creating and maintaining this special place. Lois’s dream for an Arboretum moved toward reality in the mid-1990’s with her impassioned plea for others to join her in "signing away one summer morning per week forthe rest LoisWythe Photograph byp. Hough, of their lives.” This produced 1 . dedicated volunteers. Through hard work and sheer force of will they endured the trials of selecting and acquiring a site, planning and coordinating all the details, and soliciting both community support as well as sponsorship. With the bureaucracy behind them they set about creating, maintaining and continually improving a place where native plants, and our appreciation of them, can flourish. Their never-ending work continues to this day. Their work quickly grew into creating the Kinnikinnick Chapter of the Idaho Native Plant Society. Most of these individuals are still giving heart and soul everyweek to the arboretum, testimony to the loyalty and commitment that Lois inspires. Many more carry on other chapter work including local landscaping projects and conservation work. We thank all these many volunteers for their dedication and perseverance. The legacy of Lois’s dream, drive, and passion will be the continued growth and strength of the arboretum, the Kinnikinnick Chapter, and the Idaho Native Plant Society. The dedication and ongoing efforts carried out by Lois continue to inspire new volunteers and bring about improvements to the arboretum and the society. We salute Lois and supportthe fulfillment of her vision! Violoa. PhotographbyP.Hough. 6 Spring 2006 SAGE NOTES Quarterly Journalofthe Idaho Native Plant Society - Volume 28(1) Recommending a Scotchman Peaks cedar, hemlock and white pine to drysouthern slopes Wilderness dotted with ponderosa pines, to inland temperate rainforestto fragile alpine lichensand delicate wildflowers. Found hereare giant cedars, hidden By PhilHough glens, clear streamsand rocky cleftswhich shelter small and fragile lichens and sedges. These Since 1987, the Idaho Panhandle National Forest and mountains, rolling north to Canadaand eastto the Kootenai National Forest have managed the Montana, are a natural corridorfor native species of Scotchman Peaks areaas “Recommended flora and fauna, forming avital link in the Yukon to Wilderness.” The Friends ofScotchman Peaks Yellowstone corridor. The Scotchmans are asource Wilderness, which formed aboutayear ago, believes of clean water and a place ofunparalleled beauty. thatthis unique place deserves permanent protection as part ofthe national wilderness system. Grizzliesand wolveswhose presencedefines “wild”to many people arefound here, alongwith mountain Currentlythere are no lands in Northern Idaho, and goats, bull trout, wolverine and Canada lynx. Soare a onlyverylimited lands in Western Montana, which wide arrayofwildflowers and unique native plants. have been set aside forwilderness. This region has This area is atthe convergenceofthe northern more unprotectedwild countrythan anyother place in Rockies ecosystem, the southern reaches ofthe the contiguous United States. Lying just north of northern borealforest and atthe extreme inland edge Clark Fork, Idaho, the Scotchmans, atthewest end of influenced by maritime climes. Disjunctive flora The Scothman Peaks. Photograph by P. Hough. the Cabinet Mountains, hold steep and deepvalleys species are frequently found here. Manyplant and with pristine microcosms ofwild native plants and animal species call theScotchmans home; all are vital animals, clearflowing streams and precious solitude. links in the chain oflife. The Scotchmans cover parts of3 counties, 2 states Leaving this unique place undisturbed protects plants, and 2 National Forests, plus several watersheds, and wildlife, waterquality, and wonderful views. It numerous habitats and life zones. The Scotchmans preserves a place for us to go when we needto get form the rugged backbone ofthe northern Idaho/ away. In atime when we face population growth and Montana border. Theydefine the word “diverse.” rapid change, we wanttobe certain thatthis special They also bring new meaning to the words “steep” place remains available for ourselvesto grow along and “rugged.” Perhaps because they cross overso with our native flora and fauna. The Scotchmans many borders they have been forgotten. And, should continue to be a refuge forthat part ofthis perhaps being forgotten has been good until now. entirewebof life that grows wild and yearns for Should we continue to forgetthe Scotchmans we risk wilderness. losing them to thosewho will discover newuses for their resources. Or, at least, we risk losing those For information about Friends of Scotchman Peaks qualities that make the Scotchmans so special. Wilderness, go online to: www.scotchmanpeaks.org. This part ofthe West Cabinet Mountains has an abundantvariety of nativeplants and native plant habitat, rangingfrom deep valleys of old growth 7 Spring 2006 SAGE NOTES Quarterly Journalofthe Idaho Native Plant Society - Volume 28(1) News and Notes Sacajawea’s bitterroot was not always considered a unique species. It was originally New Plant Species Named after known as Kellogg’s bitterroot, also found in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains. Recent Sacajawea! research on the plant’s genetic and physical characteristics confirmed that the Idaho plants By Edna Rey-Vizgirdas are indeed distinct from the Sierra plants. Sacajawea’s bitterroot is smaller than its A species new to science -- Sacajawea’s California relatives, and about half the size of the sbiptetceirreosotto(Lbeewinsaiamesdacianjhaowneoarnao)f Sisactahejafwiresta.plant common bitterroot. Idahoans can now celebrate both Sacajawea — An Idaho native, this rare and beautiful plant and this unique rare plant named in her honor occurs nowhere else in the world but central 200 years after the Lewis and Clark Expedition! Idaho. Just over two dozen populations o—f Sacajawea’s bitterroot are known to exist Results of the 2006 Idaho Rare Plant roughly 3/4ths of them on the Boise National Conference Forest. Scattered populations also occur on the Payette, Sawtooth, and Salmon-Challis National By MichaelMancuso Forests. A high country resident, Sacajawea’s bitterroot The 22nd Idaho Rare Plant Conference was held craanngibnegfforuonmd 5i,n0m0o0nttoa9n,e50a0ndfesetu.balTphienephlaanbtitiasts HFeeabrduqaurayrt1e4rsanbduil1d5inagt tinhedoIwdnahtoowPnowBeorise. dormant most of the year, like its relative, the Approximately 75 people interested in rare plant common bitterroot, Lewisia rediviva (Montana’s conservation in Idaho attended the annual INPS-sponsored event. state flower). Shortly after snowmelt, a rosette of succulent leaves emerges, followed by showy white flowers that hug the ground. After The primary purpose of the conference is to fdlioswaeprpienga,ra-llwaitbhovtehegrtouubnedrosuisgncsarorfott-hleikeplraonott pIrNePsSenrtarneepwlainntfolirsmt.atTihoen oapbeonutfsopreucmiefsoromnatthoef hidden just below the surface. the conference allows information about field The name Lewisia was originally developed in surveys, monitoring projects, protection 1813 by botanist Frederick Pursh to honor measures, conservation strategies, threats, Meriwether Lewis. Although Lewis collected a taxonomy, and other issues to be reviewed and discussed. The conservation status of several handful of bitterroot plants during the historic journey, Sacajawea’s bitterroot was apparently species on the list typically change as a result of not one of them. this review process. The annual review and updating of the INPS rare plant list helps ensure its relevancy and usefulness. The list is dynamic (even after over 20 years) and reflects the ongoing accumulation and synthesis of information concerning Idaho's rare flora. The conference is also an opportunity forthe INPS to make recommendations to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for those plant species needing the most conservation attention. The INPS Rare Plant List contained 324 species (287 vascular and 37 non-vascular/lichens) prior to the 2006 conference, plus an additional 1 17 Review category species. A total of 56 (17%) of these species were discussed at the 2006 conference. Based on the group review process, the majority of species discussed at the conference had no change made to their conservation status on the Lewisia sacajaweanaon Boise National Forest. Photograph byS. Rust. 8