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Focus on Partnerships The Great Sneezeweed Mystery

pages 1, 8, and 9 page 5

Autumn 2003 Volume 16, Number 4 Conservation


Recovery from Terrorism, Recovery for Rare Plants
Seattle’s Center for Urban Horticulture recommits to conservation goals
with a new building and labs more than two years after fire-bomb attack
In mid-May of 2001, things seemed ber 1, university
to be going just peachy for Sarah deans and private do-
Reichard and other Rare Care botanists nors shoveled dirt to

Image couresy of Miller Hull Architectural Partnership


at the University of Washington’s Cen- commemorate the
ter for Urban Horticulture in Seattle. start of work on what
Reichard and staff had just celebrated will be the new
the news that the Miller Foundation Merrill Hall, provid-
would fund a new state-of-the-art seed ing dedicated lab and
vault at CUH. Years of work with a cap- office space once
tive population of Showy stickseed again, and utilizing
(Hackelia venusta) had finally yielded sustainable building
tissue culture protocols, and Reichard techniques to con-
had just collected stem tissue specimens serve energy, water
from the single remaining wild popu- and materials.
lation of this extremely rare plant. “I’m really ex- An artist’s rendition of the planned rebuilding of Merrill Hall.
Things were looking up. cited about this,”
And then it happened. At three in the says Reichard. “When the first anniver- ing our values. I thought it was going
morning, on May 21, 2001, the Center’s sary came around, our nerves were on to be painful, but I felt renewed; the
Merrill Hall was fire-bombed by eco- edge, and we had an event reconfirm- Continued on page 12
terrorists claiming to be fighting genetic
engineering. Everything went up in
smoke – the building, labs, materials,
Lions and Tigers and … Plants!
data. Years of work. Even those showy
stickseed specimens – burned beyond
CPC forges partnerships with natural allies: Zoos
recognition. “The stem tissue has to be Focus on Partnerships logical lesson: native plants and habi-
collected before the plants flowered, so Of the thousands of school children tats may not be so cute and cuddly, but
after the fire it was too late,” says who know and love the Giant Panda, a they’re important, too.
Reichard. “It was just all so devastat- good many probably also know a little The potential for public outreach in
ing.” bit about bamboo. Maybe they saw a the link between plant and animal con-
Two and a half years later, Merrill panda in a zoo munching the leafy servation is inspiring a new wave of
Hall is getting a new lease on life, and canes; maybe they learned about the partnerships between CPC and zoologi-
Reichard and her group are finally get- mountainous bamboo habitat pandas cal organizations around the country. In
ting a chance to fully operate their plant need to survive in the wild. And so, October, CPC President Kathryn
conservation programs once again. At learning about an adorable furry crea- Kennedy spoke to the American Zoo-
a ground-breaking ceremony on Octo- ture, kids also learn an important eco- Continued on page 10

Recovering America’s Vanishing Flora


Director’s Letter: Clearly the job of restoring our vulner- signed a Memorandum of Understand-
As Director of able plant species is a big one, and while ing with the American Association of
the Center for achievable, no entity in America today Botanical Gardens and Arboreta,
Plant Conserva- can achieve it on its own. Botanic Gardens Conservation Interna-
tion, I think about CPC as a network has many agency tional, and the Canadian Botanical
the values that partners in projects large and small. We Conservation Network, to work coop-
drive public ser- have agreements with the U.S. Fish and eratively on communication and edu-
vice, and the ele- Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Land cation projects. This Fall, we had op-
ments of success- Management, the U.S. Dept. of Agricul- portunities to reach out to zoos and
ful programs. Kathryn Kennedy ture (Agricultural Research Service), and other plant-user groups to explore how
Over the years at the U.S. Forest Service. Just last month we can work together.
CPC we have come to value several we signed our newest agreement with the In a very real sense, everything CPC
core elements that are essential to our National Park Service. The power of these does is accomplished with partner-
success in restoring vulnerable species. partnerships is remarkable. Working in ships. The network itself is a partner-
One element is good science. With- partnership we can plan more strategi- ship with institutions sharing our ob-
out inquiry and record keeping we can- cally, and implement more efficiently. We jectives and standards. Our donors are
not understand, interpret, and restore extend precious conservation dollars by partners in our work, giving us stabil-
nature. Without good science we may supplementing staff efforts and avoiding ity and capacity to get real work done.
unwittingly do harm instead of good. duplication of effort. Together, we are Our partnerships have never been
Good information supports success. more effective. stronger, or more promising. Thanks to
Good communication is also a core We have worked to extend the power each of you who are a part of our work.
element. Knowledge that is not shared of partnerships to education, communi- CPC looks forward to more partner-
is of little value. We recognize the need cation and advocacy as well. We have ships and projects that help us grow,
to keep ourselves and others in the sci- productive joint ventures with other or- and make us even more effective for
entific and citizen community informed. ganizations such as the American Hor- plant conservation.
With good communication we can in- ticultural Society, Plant Conservation
form, inspire, advise and advocate. Alliance, Garden Club of America, and
Another element is partnerships. Native Plant Societies. We recently
Board of Trustees Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum University of California Warren Wagner, Ph.D.
C.W. Eliot Paine, Chairman The Arnold Arboretum of Botanical Garden Christina Walters, Ph.D.
Kathryn L. Kennedy, Ph.D., Harvard University Waimea Valley Audubon Center George Yatskievych, Ph.D.
President and Executive The Berry Botanic Garden St. George Village Botanic National Office Staff
Director Brooklyn Botanic Garden Garden, Affiliate Institution Kathryn L. Kennedy, Ph.D.,
Polly Pierce, Vice-President Center for Urban Horticulture Science Advisory Council President and Executive Director
Emmy White Seymour, Chicago Botanic Garden Barbara A. Schaal, Ph.D., Chair Maria Bradford, Development
Secretary Denver Botanic Gardens Marie Bruegmann Manager
Hooker Talcott, Jr., Treasurer Desert Botanical Garden John Fay, Ph.D. Elizabeth Garcia-Dominguez,
Jack Baker Fairchild Tropical Garden Gary Knight Communications Coordinator
Robert Breunig, Ph.D. Harold L. Lyon Arboretum Richard Koske, Ph.D. Megan Cotter, Conservation
Patricia R. Bush Historic Bok Sanctuary Eric Menges, Ph.D. Programs Technician
Ann Coburn The Holden Arboretum Clifford Morden, Ph.D. Donna Key, Administrative
Paul Alan Cox, Ph.D. Honolulu Botanical Gardens Larry Morse, Ph.D. Assistant
Richard H. Daley Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Peggy Olwell Volunteers
Julia Bissell Leisenring Center Bruce Pavlik, Ph.D. Lois Batchelder, Marie Bergmann,
Richard Lighty, Ph.D. Mercer Arboretum and Botanic Valerie Pence, Ph.D. Lori Calcaterra, Nancy Fetter,
Jonathan Loring Gardens Jackie Poole Benjamin Kennedy, David
Andrew S. Love, Jr. Missouri Botanical Garden George Proctor, Ph.D. Kennedy, Dorothalyn Key, David
John McPheeters The Morton Arboretum James Shevock Lehleitner, Sylvia Rolloff, Mary
Carolyn O’Malley National Tropical Botanical Vincent Tepedino, Ph.D. Serbi, Sue Slivka, Kathy White
Janet Meakin Poor Garden
Edward Schneider, Ph.D. New England Wild Flower The Center for Plant Conser- Telephone: (314) 577-9450
Jocelyn Sladen Society vation is a national not-for-profit E-mail: cpc@mobot.org
Mary Ann Streeter The New York Botanical Garden organization hosted by the Mis- Website:
William A. Truslow, Esq. The North Carolina Arboretum souri Botanical Garden in St. Louis www.centerforplantconservation.org
Peter S. White, Ph.D. North Carolina Botanical Garden and governed by an independent
Peter Wyse Jackson, Ph.D. Rancho Santa Ana Botanic board of trustees. Plant Conservation is published quar-
Peter Ashton, Ph.D., Trustee Garden A network of more than 30 bo- terly. If you’d like to submit articles, pictures,
Emeritus Red Butte Garden and tanical gardens and arboreta, the or announcements, please contact CPC at
Participating Institutions Arboretum Center’s mission is to conserve and (314) 577-9450 or cpc@mobot.org. Or mail
Amy B.H. Greenwell Regional Parks Botanic Garden restore the rare native plants of the items to CPC, P.O. Box 299, St. Louis, MO
Ethnobotanical Garden San Antonio Botanical Garden United States. 63166.
This newsletter is printed on recycled
The Arboretum at Flagstaff Santa Barbara Botanic Garden paper with soy ink.

Plant Conservation, Autumn 2003 2


Along the Road to Recovery
Seed Banking: A Good Investment
By Megan Cotter, CPC intern and then classify the seeds by storage
Do you ever wonder why your chil- needs. Seeds are generally classified
dren look so much like you? Or won- into two categories: orthodox (the ma-

photo courtesy of the National Center for Genetic Resources Preservation


der why you look more and more like jority of seeds) and recalcitrant; those
your parents every year? You probably that can survive the drying and those
know that our families resemble each that cannot.
other because we have the same genetic “The first step is to collect them and
information in our DNA, and this in- make sure they are mature,” says
formation has been passed from parent Walters. “Then you make sure you can
to child for many generations. Much germinate them. If you can, you know
like the children humans create, plants you have viable seed. This seems like
pass on their genetic information in an easy step, but it is actually quite hard
their seeds. The seeds of endangered to get some seeds with deep dormancy
and imperiled plants are so valuable to germinate. If the seeds are dried on
because there are no other plants in the the plant, you have a good idea it is or-
world with that same genetic makeup, thodox. If you can dry it down and get
and we are at risk of loosing these ge- it to germinate, it is also probably or-
netic resources forever. But preserving thodox. The rest is fine-tuning.”
Christina Walters prepares seed for
the genetic diversity of some species Orthodox seeds can be stored at ex-
cryostorage at the USDA seed bank.
can be quite difficult. tremely cold temperatures and low hu-
When researchers and conservation- midity for long periods of time. These “We don’t really know why these seeds
ists preserve a plant, one of their goals seeds are the easiest to place in liquid ni-
age with time, but we test the seeds to
is to preserve genetic variety. trogen storage, where temperatures are insure the genetic integrity of these
“By preserving the genes of these between –120°C to –150°C in the vapor plants.”
plants, we preserve the possibility for above the liquid nitrogen, and at –196°C The Center for Plant Conservation
adaptations in the future,” explains Dr. if seeds are immersed in the liquid. has a partnership program with the Na-
Christina Walters, a plant physiologist Recalcitrant seeds, however, require tional Center for Genetic Resources
at the USDA National Center for Ge- a unique balance of temperature and Preservation (NCGRP) to store base
netic Resources Preservation and a humidity for storage. They cannot tol- collections of endangered and imperiled
member of the CPC Science Advisory erate dehydration or traditional storage plants in their facility.
Council. methods. Most tropical rainforest plants Active seed collections, on the other
After collecting the seeds, they must fit into this category, as they do not hand, also known as working collec-
be stored for future use: planting or re- experience cold, dry dormant periods tions, are stored in-house at CPC par-
search. Since seeds begin to grow when in their natural habitat. Additional re- ticipating institutions. They are stored
it is warm and wet, scientists store seeds search must be completed on these in medium-to-long-term conditions and
in places that are cold and dry. This is seeds to determine their optimum stor- can be sampled more frequently for re-
called freezing and desiccation of the age conditions. search, plantings, and recovery efforts.
seeds and is done in a seed bank. Many Factors in how the seeds were col-
seeds naturally acquire the ability to Base or Active? lected affect how easy it is to store them.
survive drying and freezing, because Depending on the uses or needs for If the seeds are collected too early, they
this is what they must do to survive the the seed, seed banks can be classified may not be mature or able to withstand
winter. These types of seeds are easily as base collections or active collections. desiccation. If they are collected too
put into storage by optimizing the hu- Base collections usually store seed for late, there is a risk of infection within
midity and then lowering the tempera- the long-term, and seeds are used as the seed, or even germination. An ex-
ture. When cool and dry, seeds stop voucher specimens, for backup or for ample of this is Pritchardia, a group of
metabolizing and enter into a state of needs in the distant future. These seeds
Continued on page 11
suspended animation. But not all seeds are left undisturbed except for periodic
survive the drying and freezing treat- viability tests. If seed viability reaches “Along the Road to Recovery” is a CPC
ments, and care must be taken so that a dangerously low level, regeneration series highlighting the steps to recovery
they are not harmed during banking. or recollection may need to be imple- for imperiled plant species. For an
When researchers attempt to store a mented. overview of the road to recovery, see the
seed, they examine what is known “Even when stored under the best Winter 2003 issue of Plant Conservation,
about the growth habits of the plant, its conditions possible, seeds will die available on the CPC Web site at
habitat and geographical distribution, slowly over decades,” says Walters. www.centerforplantconservation.org.
3 www.centerforplantconservation.org
Meet the Network:
David Orr, Waimea Valley Audubon Center
Last summer CPC heralded the open- there who took me under
ing of the Waimea Valley Audubon Cen- their wing.
ter, which signaled a change in man- Then in 1987 the
agement at this Oahu botanical institu- school lost its lease, so I
tion and re-established the conservation decided to return to
goals of a priceless collection of native Southeast Asia. Before I
Hawaiian flora. Previous management left, Lyon and Waimea
had focused on converting the stunning gave me $100 each and a
natural resources of the valley into an letter of introduction and
entertainment-focused tourist attraction, said, “Send back any gin-
which was often not compatible with gers you find.” That was
protecting both the unique site and the before 1992 Rio conven-
extensive collection it housed. Conser- tion restricting interna-

photo by Kelly Perry


vationists were thrilled that a long tional plant exchange, so
struggle to re-direct focus on Waimea’s I was just going around,
original mission, passive recreation and with permission, digging
botanical study and education, had fi- up gingers in the forests
nally paid off. and private collections, David Orr points out the hidden petals on Hidden-
But perhaps no one was as grateful and sending them back to petaled Abutilon (Abutilon eremitopetalum), one of the
as David Orr, longtime botanical cura- Hawaii to be lodged, at rare Hawaiian plants he cares for at Waimea Valley
tor at Waimea. For Orr, preserving the first, in Waimea’s quaran- Audubon Center.
imperiled plants housed at Waimea has tine house. I didn’t find anything re- What motivated your commitment
been a labor of love for many years, and markable, but I did visit lots of botanic through these tough times?
he brought vital determination, energy, gardens. I started here when Waimea was at
and passion to the fight to save When I came back, I spent six its prime: the perfect mix of botany and
Waimea’s conservation program. Orr’s months sleeping on friends’ couches horticulture. The plant records were,
hard work was joined by the efforts of while I mapped the collections at and still are, excellent, and the gardens
conservationists and volunteers, and his Waimea in the hopes I would get a job were immaculately maintained. There
commitment has been an inspiration for here. I started as a research assistant in was a wonderful esprit des corps among
many. August 1989, and then in 1992 I was the employees, a feeling that we were
Recipient of this year’s CPC Star elevated to superintendent of collec- all serving a higher mission that ben-
Award for his dedication to the plants tions. In 1993, I took an eight-week efited the future. So I had a memory of
of Waimea, Orr has a fascinating back- course in botanic garden management how good this place could be. I knew
ground. We thought we’d give you a at Kew Gardens. Most of what I’ve how special this sacred valley was and
peak at the long and twisty road he’s learned has been on the job, especially that we were sitting on a very well-
taken to Waimea Valley Audubon Cen- from former director Keith Woolliams. documented plant collection of great
ter: I’ve had a lot of hands-on experience value to the future. And we had an ob-
How did you get your start in con- planting, mapping and label-making. ligation to all the people who had given
servation botany? What happened to shift the focus us plants over the years, expecting them
My Dad taught me early about veg- away from conservation at Waimea? to be preserved for future research.
etable gardening, and I’ve never minded In 1996 the management changed Now that Audubon has taken over
getting my hands dirty. But I was never with a new owner. After two years, the management, what changes do you
really aware of the biodiversity crisis propagation and botanical records staff see?
until my mid-thirties. I don’t have any were taken off salary. The Waimea Ar- It’s been a wonderful transition. The
formal botanical training. I spent many boretum Foundation had been in exist- valley is peaceful and quiet with bird
years traveling the tropics, first as an ence since 1977 and they helped sup- songs and flowing water replacing the
exchange student in southern India, then port us; plus we got two grants from loudspeakers and chugging trams. Plus,
a year backpacking in South America, the city. We were really on a shoestring, we’re getting so much positive feed-
as well as travels through Africa and maintaining the plants on our own. It back from volunteers and visitors. We
China. was an incredibly tense situation. Dur- thought maybe the tour buses would
In the mid-80’s I was teaching at a ing that lean period, the annual checks stop coming, but the wonderful thing
Montessori school in Honolulu and from CPC, for the nine sponsored taxa is that the drivers are happy to walk
started attending courses at Lyon Arbo- we maintain in the national collection, their passengers through the gardens,
retum. There were some great staffers were very welcome. Continued on page 13

Plant Conservation, Autumn 2003 4


The Great Sneezeweed Mystery
It was a dark and stormy night. As lished on land which offers long-term
the rain beat down and the lightning protection and addresses or removes the
flashed on Missouri’s Ozark mountains, conditions that threaten the plant, like
a shadowy form emerged from the dark- drainage alterations, industrial pollu-
ness: elusive… intriguing… unex- tion, or urban development.
pected… it’s a Virginia sneezeweed Last April, half of those greenhouse-
plant, long thought endemic to the state propagated plants were planted on land
of Virginia! Looks like another case for owned by the Missouri Department of

photo by Kim McCue


CPC detectives – otherwise known as Conservation. The other half were
conservation botanists. planted this fall. “Nobody knows the
Perhaps that’s a slight exaggeration. optimum planting time, so we were
But plant conservation often does re- hedging our bets,” explains McCue.
quire quite a bit of detective work— Virginia sneezeweed thrives when nearly As it turns out, April planting seems
and the case of Virginia sneezeweed submerged in water for parts of the year. to suit the sneezeweed just fine. “So far
(Helenium virginicum) is no exception. they’ve done remarkably well,” reports
This rare plant, called “sneezeweed” cycle of its habitat, and on the low-nu- McCue. “We saw very low mortality
by early settlers who used the plant as trient conditions that give it a competi- with the April plants. They’re big, ro-
snuff by grinding up the yellow flow- tive edge over other plants. Land uses bust, and stunning, with tons of flow-
ers, was thought to exist primarily in like grazing, agriculture, industry, or ers.”
Virginia, growing along the edges of development can hurt these plants by
shallow limestone sinkhole ponds. causing erosion, siltation, run-off of Stalking the Sneezeweed
These ponds are usually flooded half toxics or nutrients, permanent flooding, But meanwhile, the big mystery re-
of the year, from January to July, and or draining. Little was known about the mained: what was a Virginia endemic
are filled with poorly drained, low-nu- plant, and there were few resources to doing in Missouri? Was this an isolated,
trient acidic soil. address the problem. chance occurrence, perhaps a transplant
The Virginia sneezeweed is uniquely Nobody expected to find Virginia that had hitchhiked on an animal or hu-
adapted to live in this flood-prone en- sneezeweed in Missouri, but after care- man? Or was it a remnant of a much
vironment: Plants can survive for long ful investigation, researchers identified larger population that had disappeared?
periods completely submerged under- an unusual spiky-leaved plant sprout- “It’s not that uncommon to discover
water, and seeds remain “stored” in the ing at the edge of an Ozarks limestone populations of a plant where no one
soil during high-water years. Popula- pool as belonging to the rare species. thought there were any,” McCue ex-
tion levels then spring back when the CPC botanist Kim McCue at the Mis- plains. “For a species that has not been
water levels retreat. souri Botanical Garden was called in thoroughly studied, it may be the case
Field workers in Virginia have iden- to collect seed from these Missouri that simply no one had ever looked be-
tified only about 25 populations of the plants. McCue planned to build a seed fore.”
sneezeweed, and loss of habitat is a ma- bank and enter the species in the CPC In the case of Virginia sneezeweed,
jor threat to the species as a whole. Vir- National Collection, thus preserving this was especially true because the
ginia sneezeweed depends on the flood our options for restoration. plant, with its yellow composite flow-
Seed banks like this serve as insur- ers, can easily be mistaken for any of
Virginia sneezeweed (Helenium virginicum) ance against un-foretold crises in the the many other yellow composites. But
wild population, and in fact, the first when the state conservation department
year that McCue planned to collect went out looking, the results were stun-
seeds, she saw just why seed banking ning: at least twenty-nine previously
is so vital: the plants failed to set seed unknown populations of Virginia
that year. Luckily, the following grow- sneezeweed have been located in Mis-
ing season saw better results, and seeds souri. Based on this research, the Fish
were collected for both a permanent and Wildlife Service has proposed
seed bank and for use in propagating downlisting the status of this rare plant
plants in the greenhouse. from endangered to threatened. Land-
Although the private land-owner owner cooperation has helped make this
had opened his property to researchers research a real success story.
collecting seed, this federally listed “This is very exciting for a number
species can not be considered safe un- of reasons,” says McCue. “Given the
til a wild population has been estab- Continued on page 12

5 www.centerforplantconservation.org
The Hidden Value of America’s Vanishing Flora
CPC plants may yield food and medicinal benefits
What is the value of America’s na- Cheryl Peterson of

photo courtesy of the Conservation Program of Historic Bok Sanctuary


tive flora? Here at CPC, we could talk Historic Bok
your ears off about the role native plants Sanctuary tends to
play in maintaining balanced ecosys- Okeechobee gourd
tems for clean water, healthy air, and (Cucurbita
wildlife populations. Or we could lift okeechobeensis)
your spirits with gorgeous photos of plants. Now found
native wildflowers, proving that our im- in the wild in only
periled flora brings a wealth of beauty two locations in
to our lives. But in this Thanksgiving Florida, this
season, as we remember early settlers wetlands plants
and Native Americans, let’s consider could hold genetic
the value of these natural resources as secrets to grow
food and medicine. better cucumbers.
It was native plants, and the agricul-
tural knowledge and assistance of Na- was found to be $9 billion in ‘98. Another plant that is being studied
tive Americans, which made the first Having a wild-growing native rela- for its potential value in strengthening
Thanksgiving possible. The pilgrims tive can be a boon for a crop species. food production is Texas wild-rice
may not have enjoyed a hearty pie or Agricultural plants are vulnerable to (Zizania texana). Wild rice, the only
filling stew cooked with any plants now disease and insect attacks that wild cereal grain native to this country, may
endangered, but many endangered plants may have developed adaptations have been used as sustenance by na-
plants have a wealth of food and me- to fight off. Using traditional plant tive cultures living near the San Marcos
dicinal value that is part of our nation’s breeding techniques, botanists can cross River, where Texas wild rice once grew
natural bounty even to this day. wild natives with developed crop spe- from bank to bank. We know for sure
Over 50 percent of species in CPC’s cies to grow a stronger, more resilient that this imperiled native is closely re-
National Collection of Endangered strain. As Phillips and Meilleur wrote, lated to northern wild rice (Z. palustris),
Species are related to species that are “Since many crops require periodic which is harvested for food. And what’s
cultivated for commercial use, accord- genetic infusions from close relatives more, new research shows that white
ing to a CPC report published in 1998 to combat threats from climatic change rice, a hugely important source of food
by Oliver Phillips and Brien Meilleur. and disease, or to supply features like around the globe, shares many traits
Plus, of the nearly 3,000 U.S. plants of improved nutritional value, we con- with its wild cousins.
conservation concern, two-thirds are clude that the threats to the rare wild At Historic Bok Sanctuary, conser-
related to (found within the same gen- plants of the U.S. also constitute threats vation biologist Cheryl Peterson works
era as) economically important species. to the future of many contemporary with a number of imperiled plants that
In fact, the yearly U.S. wholesale farm crops.” could have some tasty and healthy ben-
value of food crops related to rare plants Within the national collection, thir- efits. The Okeechobee gourd
Etonia rosemary (Conradina etonia), a
teen plants have specific food-related (Cucurbita okeechobeensis) remains in
member of the mint family, may have
properties. One such species is Price’s only two locations in Florida, and even
been used by Native Americans.
ground nut (Apios priceana), which there this wetlands plant suffers from
CPC botanist Kim McCue of the Mis- alterations to the hydrologic cycle. The
photo courtesy of the Conservation Program of Historic Bok Sanctuary

souri Botanical Garden has been work- Bok Sanctuary maintains seeds from
ing to restore. “Price’s ground-nut has this at-risk plant in the CPC national
a potato-like tuber,” she says. “Native collection, and if healthy populations
Americans may have used it as a plant are restored in the wild, it could help
source, and a more common related scientists in their quest for hardier cu-
species is being looked at as a crop spe- cumbers or squash. That’s because the
cies. If you develop one species as a Okeechobee gourd, while not edible it-
crop species and then it gets a disease, self, is resistant to many of the diseases
if you’ve maintained the wild related that affect these economically impor-
species, that wild species may be har- tant crops.
boring a genetic resource. That’s hap- Peterson also works with several
pened with maize, and many of our crop rare, dwindling species of paw-paw, a
species are very vulnerable.” Continued on page 11

Plant Conservation, Autumn 2003 6


Beattie Fellowship Open
CPC Welcomes New Staff The Garden Club of America and the
Join the CPC national office in wel- Center for Plant Conservation are seek-
coming two valuable colleagues to our ing applicants for the 2004 Catherine
team. H. Beattie Fellowship for Conservation
Maria Bradford is CPC’s new devel- Horticulture. Each year, the grant en-
opment manager. A certified fund-rais- ables a graduate student in biology, hor-
ing executive, Maria had previously ticulture, or a related field to conduct
served as the managing director of the research on a rare or endangered U.S.
St. Louis Black Repertory Company, plant.
public information specialist of the Preference is given to students fo-
Missouri Arts Council, resource devel- cusing on the endangered flora of the
opment director of the Jackie Joyner- Carolinas or the southeastern United
Kersee Boys and Girls Club, and direc- States. Fellowships may vary from
tor of Public Relations of Grand Cen- Megan Cotter, CPC Intern, and Maria $1,000 to $4,000, and will serve as com-
ter, Inc. Bradford, CPC Development Manager pensation for work done by a graduate
Maria also brings a long-standing seeds,” she explains, “But I can go out student, often at a botanical garden,
conservation ethic. As a teenager, she and look for funding to support these jointly serving CPC and that student’s
worked for several years at the St. Louis wonderful programs. Fundraising is curricular studies.
Zoo, where she says she gained a deep simply a matter of communicating the Completed applications must be re-
appreciated for the natural world. “The mission and the passion you feel. CPC ceived by CPC no later than December
idea of working for a conservation or- really sells itself – it’s so clearly im- 31, 2003. More information can be
ganization is very attractive to me be- portant.” found on CPC’s website at http://
cause, especially as a parent, I see more Also joining the staff is Megan Cot- www.centerforplantconservation.org/
and more the importance of preserving ter, CPC’s new national office intern. beattie.html
our natural resources for the future,” Megan graduated last Spring with a BS
Maria says. in Biology from Truman State Univer- servation efforts,” she says, “But I have
Maria has already forged ahead to sity, and is now pursuing a non-thesis MS always had a passion for plants. Some
improve CPC’s development program, in Biology at St. Louis University, with people think they’re really boring, but
and she reports she’s enjoying every a concentration in conservation botany. they’re not. In fact, they’re fascinating.”
minute of it. “I look at the mission of Her goal is to develop a career in conser- Megan is working hard to help coor-
CPC, and I realize, I can’t grow those vation outreach and education. dinate many of CPC’s data-collection and
plants or go out and collect those “Plants are often overlooked in con- partnership programs.

CPC Annual Meeting, Small but Active, Builds on Partnerships


CPC Board Chairman Eliot Paine Kennedy noted, as the first ever CPC
welcomed attendees to the CPC annual annual report shows, the network is
meeting on Thursday, October 16 in making significant progress on conser-
Cleveland, Ohio. As the former direc- vation, and the strength of network
tor of The Holden Arboretum, Paine partnerships is growing.
noted it gave him special pleasure to Kayri Havens of the Chicago Botanic
host colleagues once again in Cleve- Garden presented the meeting’s skill-
land, nine years after CPC last met building workshop on pollination biol-
there. “This gives us the opportunity to ogy, and the Holden education depart-
show what we’ve done and to learn ment hosted a workshop on conservation
from you how we can continue to im- education. A panel discussion offered Joan Seveers (left) of the BLM with Kayri
prove,” he said. suggestions for managing natural areas, Havens of Chicago Botanic Garden at the
Kathryn Kennedy, CPC Executive and conservation officers discussed up- CPC 2003 annual meeting.
Director, thanked the meeting’s Cleve- coming projects including recovery on cade of commitment to preserving the
land hosts, the board of directors, the public lands partnerships. priceless collections of imperiled native
network participants, and the Bureau A highlight of the meeting was the flora at Waimea valley…Due to his un-
of Land Management, a federal part- awards dinner, during which the CPC swerving loyalty to these plants and a
ner which sent a representative to the Star Award for 2003 was presented to conservation vision for this unique site,
meeting. She reflected on the low turn- David Orr of Waimea Valley Audubon he has provided a beacon of hope that
out, an indication of tight budgets Center. The Board of Trustees passed a has proved vital to the long-term sur-
around the network. However, resolution commending Orr for “a de- vival of this conservation resource.”
7 www.centerforplantconservation.org
network ne
Working Together to Save Rare
Natives of the Pacific Northwest
Focus on Partnerships ing provides an insurance policy of
The Pacific Northwest offers a num- sorts, so that if there is any accident to
ber of unique climate systems and habi- the plants in the wild, we have the ge-
tats that many rare plants, adapted to netic resources for restoration. The For-
these often-harsh conditions, call home. est Service wants special attention for
But growing suburban development their rare plants, so we work in collabo-

photo by Linda McMahan


and intensive agriculture often threat- ration.”
ens these fragile places. At the Berry Planning and conducting seed col-
Botanic Garden, CPC botanists are lection for this annual work often in-
working in partnership with public volves many partners. “Our work is
agencies to conserve several of these done in conjunction with whomever Pale blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium
priceless resources. else is working on that plant,” explains sarmentosum)
The garden holds an annual contract Raven. “With the Arabis, for example,
with the U.S. Forest Service to collect our team of seed collectors included population and used to propagate seed-
seeds from rare plants on Forest Ser- Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife lings in the greenhouse. Garden staff
vice land. Last summer, botanists fo- and Berry Garden botanists. Forest Ser- and interns then outplanted seeds and
cused on the Siskiyou and Umpqua vice and Fish and Wildlife botanists will small plants at the wild population and
National Forests, home of continue to monitor these plants.” Berry Garden’s rock garden. The suc-
MacDonald’s rock cress (Arabis Seed collection was completed dur- cess of seeds and plants planted directly
macdonaldiana), one of the first plants ing the summer months, when 120-de- in the wild is being compared to the
to be listed as Endangered under the gree weather made the work particu- success of garden-grown plants.
historic Endangered Species Act of larly challenging. The seeds are then At the same time researchers are col-
1978. MacDonald’s rock cress is one prepared for frozen storage back at lecting a wealth of other data. “We are
of several CPC National Collection Berry, and also tested for germination looking at a lot of habitat variables –
plants that botanists worked with this rates in laboratory germination cham- basically, asking plants where they
summer. bers. The exquisite Umpqua mariposa want to live. Since this population oc-
“The Forest Service wants to safe- lily (Calochortus umpquaensis) and the curs on a rocky hillside, we measured
guard as many of their rare species as Way-side aster (Eucephalus vialis; for- how steep the slope was, what compass
they can,” explains Berry conservation merly Aster vialis), two other CPC direction the plants are facing, and how
biologist Andrea Raven. “Seed-bank- plants, were also collected as part of this high they are on the hill. Are they more
research project. likely to get grazed where deer could
Effect of grazing on Pale blue-eyed grass
In another federal agency partner- reach? We note other substrate vari-
(Sisyrinchium sarmentosum).
ship, Berry Conservation Director Ed ables, such as whether the plant is
Guerrant is working with another im- growing in cracks and whether soil or
periled plant, Koehler’s rock cress moss is present .” These measurements
(Arabis koehleri var. koehleri), a tough, will help botanists determine the best
tiny shrub, which grows only in the protocols for planning a full restoration.
nooks and crannies of craggy rock faces
overlooking the Umpqua River. Roads, Grading Grazing
quarries, agriculture and grazing prac- Another project at Berry is just fin-
tices have all diminished the natural ishing – and the resulting research will
habitat of these tufted plants, and so the be used by decision-makers facing an
Bureau of Land Management asked immediate conservation challenge. Pale
photo by Linda McMahan

Guerrant and his colleagues to augment blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium


an existing population on BLM land. sarmentosum) is a beautiful, delicate
“The basic questions is, ‘Is it better member of the iris family and not re-
to use seeds or plants?’” Guerrant says. ally a grass at all. It grows in open, wet
Seeds were collected from the wild Continued on page 13

Plant Conservation, Autumn 2003 8


ews & notes
A Collaborative Approach to Conservation Planning in New England
Focus on Partnerships plans, they’re all reading
“By doing conservation planning for the plans, using them,
one species, we’re in fact planning for and talking to each
all plants in a number of habitats,” says other,” Farnsworth ex-
Elizabeth Farnsworth, senior research plains. “When it comes
ecologist at the New England Wild to a species that’s found
Flower Society. She’s talking about the in multiple states, now

photo by Christopher Mattrick


NEWFS Conservation and Research we can have more col-
Plan project, an ambitious undertaking laboration, and when re-
to publish 110 plans for the conserva- search is being done, we
tion of rare native flora throughout New can disseminate that to
England. Eighty of these plans have all the states and to the
now been written, and the results could conservation and scien-
spell good news for a number of vul- tific community as a Christopher Mattrick, plan author for Rotala ramosior,
nerable CPC flora – and for wild places whole.” leads enthusiastic volunteers in management of purple
in general. One such species is loosestrife near a Rotala occurrence. Plan
“In the case of New England Long’s bulrush (Scirpus recommendations are being translated rapidly into action.
Boneset (Eupatorium leucolepis var. longii), a wetlands bulrush in the CPC tain maidenhair fern (Adiantum
novae-angliae), a coastal plain ponds national collections that is endemic to viridimontanum), for example, the atten-
plant, we’re doing planning for indi- the eastern United States, mainly along tion this project has brought means that a
vidual occurrences of the plant, but at the coastal plain, from Nova Scotia to plant listed as globally endangered within
the same time the plans point out the southern New Jersey. “In the course of the last ten years already has a conserva-
need for management of this special- writing the plan, the author, Tom tion plan – whereas some species have
ized type of habitat. There needs to be Rawinski, who works with the Massa- had much longer waits. Endemic to rocky
integrated habitat management in areas chusetts Audubon Society, went out serpentine habitats, this bright, glossy fern
like these; an increasing population of and found new populations, some of is threatened by mining and roads and re-
people in coastal areas demands more them fairly large,” reports Farnsworth. quires collaboration across borders, be-
land and water; as a result water draw- “He was able to give us some brighter tween U. S. and Canadian conservation-
down profiles are changing in the news. That’s the kind of new informa- ists, to ensure its survival.
ponds, affecting plant species compo- tion we get via the process. The authors In fact, many of the conservation
sition. are fabulous and they do a lot of field- plans could help imperiled native plants
“By doing conservation planning for work and herbarium research, to check outside of New England. “The planning
that one species, you’re in fact plan- on and verify historic occurrences.” addresses the New England popula-
ning for many coastal plain pond spe- Another rare, vulnerable plant ben- tions, but the first part of each plan pro-
cies. In a way, the New England efiting from the research generated by vides a regional and North American
Boneset becomes emblematic for many the NEWFS project is Parker ’s outlook,” Farnsworth says. “We ask au-
species on the coastal plain ponds. They Pipewort (Eriocaulon parkeri). thors to place the plant in its whole
all need the same T.L.C.” An undergraduate student supported range context. This way, the plans can
The conservation plans are being by a National Science Foundation grant be a model for all the states that have
written by botanists across the New that grew out of the project has found populations of these plants.”
England region, coordinated by several new sub-populations of this Some plan authors and volunteers really
NEWFS, and reviewed by scientific delicate aquatic wildflower in Maine got into their work!
committees that include botanists from at Merrymeeting Bay. Now, work will
Natural Heritage programs, academic continue with this species to gather pre-
scientists, and botanical consultants in liminary information on its basic life
all states involved. This high level of history and potential pollination
involvement engenders a collaborative mechanisms.
photo by NEWFS staff.

approach that can greatly multiply ef- For other plants, even if the list of
forts to save dwindling plants. known occurrences does not grow
“Because these experts are integral through the plan-writing process, there
to the review of these conservation are other benefits. For the Green Moun-
9 www.centerforplantconservation.org
Plants and Zoos results are often healthy
plants that start their lives
Continued from page 1 in test tubes.
logical Horticultural Society (AZH), As part of its Center for
promoting the possibility of high-syn- Conservation and Re-
ergy partnerships between zoos and search, the Henry Doorly
conservation botanists. Some produc- Zoo in Omaha has a lab
tive partnerships are already bearing for rare and endangered
fruit around the country. plants and is working on
“By working with zoos, we can reach cryopreservation tech-
a different audience,” Kennedy says. niques for North Ameri-
“It’s so appropriate for our organiza- can orchids of conserva-
tion to partner with zoos because tion concern such as the
they’re already working on many of the Western Prairie Fringed
same issues that we are.” Orchid (Platanthera
In fact, some zoos may be so closely praeclara).

photo courtesy of CREW


aligned with CPC goals that they could Other zoos help pro-
even become participating institutions, mote plant conservation
just like the current 32 participating in- by offering their visitors
stitutions. interpretive information
“Any zoo that can meet admittance about America’s vanish- At the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden, scientists
criteria and is interested in developing ing flora. At the Cleve- bank genetic material in a “Frozen Garden” to preserve
a conservation program for U.S. plants land Metroparks Zoo, resources for vital restoration projects in the future.
is welcome to discuss preparing an ap- horticulturalists have
plication,” Kennedy told the AZH. created the Endangered Plants of the Hanes is working with conservation
Many zoos have horticultural arms Midwest Garden, highlighting three botanists at Berry Botanic Garden to
that are already engaged in researching, CPC National Collection plants and create upland prairie habitat featuring
propagating, and interpreting native flora, their companion plant species. The CPC the threatened Kincaid’s Lupine
and may work in conjunction with the plants, forking aster (Aster furcatus), (Lupinus sulphureus var. kincaidii) and
zoo’s conservation efforts to restore na- Kankakee globe-mallow (Iliamna other rare, imperiled plants of the
tive habitats. Partnerships with CPC bota- rivularis), and Royal Catchfly (Silene Willamette Valley.
nists can enhance these goals and accel- regia), are displayed with informative “The upland prairie of Willamette
erate conservation efforts. signs telling visitors a little bit about Valley has been encroached upon by ag-
At the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical these unique natural treasures. The CPC riculture and cities, and it’s now down
Garden, The Plant Research Division logo is included on the signs. to 1 percent of its original range,” ex-
of the Center for Conservation and Re- In the Pacific Northwest, two zoos plains Hanes. “It’s thought to be the
search of Endangered Wildlife (CREW) have forged partnerships with local most threatened habitat in the state. We
has already collaborated several times CPC institutions to promote plant con- got involved because the endangered
with CPC botanists to help propagate servation in innovative ways. At the Fender’s Blue Butterfly relies on the
rare and difficult species in the CPC Oregon Zoo, senior gardener Rick Kincaid’s Lupine, but developing the
National Collection, such as plant habitat turned out to be just a re-
Cumberland sandwort (Arenaria Four-petal pawpaw (Asimina tetramera), ally perfect fit for us. We’re really ex-
cumberlandensis) Roan Mountain bluet an endangered Florida tropical fruit, is cited about it.”
(Hedyotis purpurea var. montana), grown in tissue culture at CREW . When the zoo’s prairie habitat exhibit
Four-petal pawpaw (Asimina is finished, visitors will be able to view
tetramera), Todsen’s pennyroyal (He- conservation research underway right
deoma todsenii), Mead’s milkweed (As- under their noses. Interpretive signage
clepias meadii), Avon Park harebells will introduce the plants and Berry
(Crotalaria avonensis), and Ute’s la- Botanic Garden’s rare native plant con-
dies’ tresses (Spiranthes diluvialis). If servation programs, and researchers will
an imperiled species is not setting seed, be able to monitor the growth and repro-
or if researchers cannot succeed in duction rates of the plant species, some
growing plants from seeds using tradi- of which have been difficult to grow out-
photo courtesy of CREW

tional methods, CREW’s tissue culture side of the greenhouse.


lab can often help. CREW scientists “Here at the zoo, we had the ‘location,
place a small amount of tissue from an location, location,’ and Berry had the
existing plant on culture media contain- Continued on page 11
ing nutrients, hormones and water. The
Plant Conservation, Autumn 2003 10
Hidden Value to be anti-fungal, anti-herbivore, and
allelopathic. In the plant, these could
“Echinacea in general is very popular
in the herbal trade,” McCue says. “By
Continued from page 6 function to deter rot, insects, and com- and large the Echinacea that is processed
native tree that bears juicy fruit similar petitor species in the soil around the is wild-collected. There’s a perception
to custard apples. There’s also the plant. “These plants potentially have that whatever benefit you could get is
Florida ziziphus (Ziziphus celata), re- very valuable roles in the chemical ecol- going to be stronger in a wild-collected
lated to the Chinese ziziphus that is a ogy of their habitats,” she says, “and plant, but there’s no proof of that. Col-
powerful element in Chinese medicine. they may have filled medicinal roles for lectors dig out the roots, and they’re not
And Florida mints like the short-leaved Native Americans.” particular about which species they’re
rosemary (Conradina brevifolia) or the But, of course, this does not mean we digging.
toothed savory (Calamintha dentata) should head for the field in search of a “Echinacea tennesseensis gets hit be-
make soothing, potentially therapeutic rare mint when we come down with the cause if you don’t really pay attention, it
teas. sniffles. Remedies, even natural, are best looks like any other coneflower. I’ve seen
“There’s a lot we don’t know,” prepared and prescribed by profession- it on glades: holes where the plants have
Peterson points out. “Most of the in- als, and proper identification and sustain- been dug up. There’s no incentive to har-
formation on ethno-botany has been able harvesting of native plants is ex- vest sustainably.” Uncontrolled harvest-
lost, but I’d be surprised if Native tremely important. The case of the popu- ing, along with habitat loss and develop-
Americans didn’t use these mints. They lar herbal remedy Echinacea provides a ment, threatens many rare plants.
haven’t been tested for medicinal value, warning against uncontrolled collection. For some plants, the stakes may be
but they have unique chemistry in them Over-collection of a vulnerable plant even higher. Virginia sneezeweed
that includes anti-fungal and perhaps because of possible medical value is ex- (Helenium virginicum ), another CPC
anti-inflammatory elements.” tremely harmful to the plant’s survival plant, may have anti-cancer properties.
Using gas chromatography and – and could prevent our ever knowing There are some indications that it may
mass-spectrophotometry, Petersen about the plant’s beneficial effects. retard tumor growths, and if healthy
identified essential oils in mint plants McCue works with Tennessee purple populations can be restored, scientists
and found compounds that are known coneflower, (Echinacea tennesseensis), could take advantage of these healing
a federally endangered wildflower with properties. Yet another reason to give
Seed Banking bright purple petals very similar in ap-
pearance to common Echinacea.
thanks for our valuable, vanishing natu-
ral resources.
Continued from page 3

Hawaiian palms. Their seeds were


thought to be recalcitrant, but research-
ers were harvesting them too early,
when they looked healthy and mature.
However, when researchers harvested
them later, when they were dried up,
the seeds responded much better to or-
thodox storage methods.
There are still many species whose

photo by Casey Galvin


optimum storage conditions are un-
known. Recalcitrant species are a fur-
ther problematic area. While problem-
atic seeds are currently maintained by
growing plants and tissue cultures, Dr. Okeechobee Gourd (Cucurbita Tennessee purple coneflower
Walters reminds us that there is a risk okeechobeensis) (Echinacea tennesseensis)
of genetic erosion in using this method.
Once the seed category has been dis- Zoos at the Center for Urban Horticulture
covered and good quality seed are col- Continued from page 10 partners with the Woodland Park Zoo
lected, it is not too difficult to manage expertise,” says Hanes. “So it was a good to present an annual wildflower celebra-
seeds in seed banks. “It is really impor- opportunity to publicize their programs, tion. The June event offers games, ac-
tant for people to understand that bank- and at the same time do something ben- tivities, and information about rare
ing the seeds of endangered plant spe- eficial towards restoring these at-risk wildflowers, all free with zoo admis-
cies is a means to an end,” Walters plants. Plus, it’s an opportunity to edu- sion.
points out. “It is not a substitute for cate the public. It’s not just the old- Nationwide, eight American zoos
habitat restoration, but rather a way to growth forest we’re going to lose—it’s hosted events for international plant
preserve genetic diversity. [Seed bank- literally your backyard.” conservation day last year. As Kennedy
ing] is a method of conserving a non- In, Seattle, the Washington Rare told AZH members, “All zoos can help
replenishable natural resource.” Plant Care and Conservation Program conservation of our U.S. flora!”

11 www.centerforplantconservation.org
Merrill Hall
Continued from page 1
healing began. Now, “We found that some clones of this
we are taking the plant take to tissue culture really well,
next step. Yes, we are and others don’t,” she explains. “We’re

photo courtesy University of Washington


going to rebuild, and capable of producing lots of plants, but
yes, we will continue they tend to be clones of only two or
to exist.” three plants, and that’s not good
In the intervening enough. To do reintroduction, you need
years, Reichard and to have good genetic representation, so
other CUH scientists that’s our real challenge. Once we get
have made do the the lab in the new building, we’ll be
best they could. Us- able to do that.”
ing temporary trail- As firefighters doused the flames of an incendiary bomb in The new Merrill Hall promises to be
ers as office space, 2001, botanists mourned a major setback in conservation work. a boon not just for Reichard and her
they’ve borrowed lab facilities when Now, Reichard will be able to con- staff, but for plant conservation in gen-
possible from university researchers. duct her own tissue culture work – in- eral. “This is an important step in re-
“The people on campus have been very cluding further studies with Showy turning this valuable institution to its
gracious,” says Reichard, “But you Stickseed. role in conserving and restoring the
know what they say about the guest who This beautiful plant, the rarest in the natural resources of the Pacific North-
stayed too long.” state of Washington, currently only west,” says Dr. Kathryn Kennedy, ex-
Plus, workspace in the trailers was grows in the wild in one site, a sharply ecutive director of the Center for Plant
cramped – extremely so. Stacks of col- slanted embankment near a major high- Conservation.
lections and field results pile up on the way. “We all agree that it’s essential for “It will return a valuable part of the
floor, and volunteers could only work it’s survival that new populations are Center for Plant Conservation network
one at a time preparing seeds for stor- introduced in the wild, but the current to full, productive status. And their
age. The Miller seed vault was built as population isn’t producing viable seed,” work is urgently needed.”
planned, and is now operational, but ac- she says. The new labs will allow botanists to finally return to full capacity
quisitions have been slower than antici- So, in 2002 restoring vulnerable plants like the Showy Stickseed (Hackelia
pated due to the shortage of workspace. Reichard and venusta), which exists in the wild at only one site.
Reichard has also turned to private her colleagues
lab facilities to continue the tissue cul- were out on the
ture work so vital to saving some of the slope once again
Pacific Northwest’s imperiled plants. collecting stem
Once again, colleagues have stepped up tissue, and what
to lend a hand, and commercial scien- she found with
tists have volunteered to conduct some the help of a pri-
studies in their private labs. vate tissue lab
“We’ve been very grateful for the pri- may spell good

photo by Ed Guerrant
vate people who were doing it on a vol- news for this
unteer basis, because they’ve been re- federally listed
ally great,” Reichard says. “But there’s e n d a n g e r e d
no substitute for doing it yourself.” plant.

Sneezeweeed sinkholes, botanists have discovered


that sinkhole habitat is not obligatory
“For one thing, it gives us a chance
to learn about this plant’s life history,
Continued from page 5
for Virginia sneezeweed. Some indi- seed setting success, seed dispersal, and
number of sites being found, maybe the vidual plants are able to survive in wet more,” McCue says.
Missouri populations are not as disjunct swales (low marshy areas) as well. Since private land sites are not cur-
as we had thought. We need to look These new finds could spell a happy rently secured against future develop-
between here and Virginia to see if there ending for Virginia sneezeweed. But ment, working on conservation agree-
is actually a continuous range.” since nearly all of the discovered popu- ments or creating secure sites on pub-
Researchers are also learning more lations are located on private land, craft- lic land is vital to secure the long-term
about the plant’s natural history. While ing agreements for protection and study survival of this unique plant.
most of the newly located plants have or reintroducing the plant to protected Until then, CPC plant detectives are
been found growing in the margins of public land is still vital. on the case.

Plant Conservation, Autumn 2003 12


Pacific Northwest
Continued from page 8
David Orr
Continued from page 4
meadows in eleven locations in Wash- pointing out what’s in bloom.
ington State, eight in Oregon, and pos- The first day Audubon opened, we
sibly a few in Canada. were expecting about 100 volunteers,
But many of these occurrences have but 300 showed up. I think everyone
shown significant decline in recent has wanted to help Waimea all along,

photo by N. A. Fredricks
years, reaching sizes too small to be but they didn’t want to work with pre-
self-sustaining, and several have appar- vious management. Now the floodgates
ently disappeared. The two largest re- are open. One great thing about
maining populations are found on land Audubon is they’ve hired a full-time
owned by the U.S. Forest Service that Umpqua mariposa lily (Calochortus
volunteer coordinator, which takes a
is currently being grazed by cattle. umpquaensis)
huge weight off my back.
Now, the allotment that allows for cattle So, take us on a tour of the vul-
grazing is being reconsidered, and the eyed grass, and grazing cattle have a nerable Hawaiian plants at Waimea.
future of this beautiful, delicate wild- much bigger impact on the plant than On the tours, I explain CPC’s work,
flower hangs in the balance. native wildlife like elk, deer, and ro- and then I take them through the Ha-
“The Forest Service is making a de- dents. Blue-eyed grass plants in a waiian plants – for example Brighamia
cision whether or not to renew a ten- fenced cattle-exclusion plot produced insignis, which look like cabbage on a
year grazing permit on the land where twice as many new plants. Because the baseball stick. I show the old plants that
blue-eyed grass occurs,” explains plant’s periods of emergence, flower are plants that we grew from even older
Raven. “We’re wrapping up a five-year production and seed development over- ones that we hand-pollinated, but the
project with this plant, and we’ve found lap with cattle grazing months, these younger are wild collected from the
there’s practically no fruit production plants are vulnerable throughout the north shore of Kauai; so they can see
when they’re being grazed by cattle. season. Research found that just one that older ones are not really suitable
Reproduction is significantly reduced.” month of grazing resulted in the re- for a conservation collection.
Marked by bright flowers with peri- moval of nearly half of all leaves and I show Pritchardia munroi, and ex-
winkle petals and a yellow center, the nearly all flowers and fruits from grazed plain there were not originally any co-
plant is capable of reproducing asexu- plants. conuts on Hawaii, only one genus of
ally by sending out underground rhi- Raven has presented these findings palms. And I usually show the rare
zomes that grow into clones. Grazing to the Forest Service, and now the de- Chamaesyce skottsbergii var.
forces plants to rely more heavily on cision rests in their hands. If all goes kalaeloana, which was thought to be
this method. Cloning will make the well, the pale blue-eyed grass could join extinct, then rediscovered a few years
population seem larger, but the genetic the ranks of vulnerable Northwest na- ago. The only population is found on a
resources of the population will remain tives being given a firmer footing by US Naval Air Force property where
relatively constant since many indi- CPC botanists. they’re going to clear off the top six
vidual plants are simply genetic copies The Center for Urban Horticulture’s inches of soil because it used to be a
of their parents. When there are fewer Rare Care team at the University of shooting range.
genetic variations in individual plants, Washington also works with many na- I’d like to do more reintroductions of
populations are all the more vulnerable tive Pacific Northwest plants, includ- these rare plants, and once we get the
to disease, predation, and disturbances. ing the Wenatchee Mountains checker- staffing back, the sky’s the limit. But for
As Raven’s report told the Forest Ser- mallow (Sidalcea oregana var. calva). right now, we’re holding our own.
vice, “Copying a lottery ticket does not CPC botanists at Rare Care have
increase the odds of winning.” worked to establish seedlings of this
Researchers found that cows particu- bright pink wildflower, which got a
larly like to eat the fruit of the pale blue- boost two years ago when the U.S. Fish
Way-side Aster (Aster vialis) and Wildlife Service designated 6,135
acres of seasonal wetlands as “critical
habitat” for the plant.
Another important and vulnerable
Northwest species being researched at
Rare Care is the Showy Stickseed
photo by K. Wood

(Hackelia venusta). For more informa-


photo by Ed Florance

tion on challenges and achievements of


research with this, one of the rarest plants
in the state of Washington, see the front- Pu aupaka (Brighamia
page article of this newsletter. insignis), on view at Waimea.
13 www.centerforplantconservation.org
Give Thanks for a Natural Bounty Worth Preserving
The first Thanksgiving feast in-
Unsponsored Plants in the National Collection

photoby Lynda Pritchett-Kozak


cluded many native foods that the Pil-
grim Fathers and Mothers learned to Pine Hill flannelbush Tumamoc globe-berry
grow and cook from Native Americans. (Fremontodendron decumbens) (Tumamoca
In fact, our natural resources could still Pine Hill macdougalii) A
help America grow stronger, healthier flannelbush member of the gourd
foods, but many native flora are at risk is a member family.
of dying out unless we step in to save of the cacao
them. family, Nevin’s barberry (Berberis

photoby Dieter Wilkin


The Center for Plant Conservation’s which nevinii) This species is a federally-
National Collection of Endangered includes the listed endangered species that is also
Plants includes several plants that are tropical and popular in
closely related to food species and subtropical gardens and
could hold genetic secrets for longer plants that are used to make cola and widely
plant life or more nutritional value.

photoby Bart O’Brien


chocolate cultivated, in
Through traditional plant breeding part for its
techniques, botanists may be able to Sand food (Pholisma sonorae)
Stems of this mushroom-like plant bright red
capture the economic value of these edible berries.
vulnerable native treasures--but only if were historically eaten raw or roasted
we work now to preserve wild popula- by native American tribes.
’Ala’alahua (Alectryon macrococcus
tions for the future. Pecos sunflower (Helianthus var. auwahiensis) The mild, sweet
You can help by fully or partially paradoxus) Because this wild seeds and scarlet-colored fruit of this
sponsoring a species in the National sunflower is in the same genus as our tree provided food for the early
Collection. The unsponsored species domestic sunflowers, their genes are Hawaiians.
featured on this page all have food-re- known to be invaluable in improving
lated properties, and many other fasci- characteristics like yield, oil content, Saiya (Amoreuxia gonzalezii) The
nating and valuable plants awaiting and disease resistance of cultivated starchy roots of this species were
sponsorship can be found in online at sunflowers. The Pecos sunflower is eaten by the Seri, Pima and Tohono
www.centerforplantconservation.org. found growing in brackish saline O’odam people living in the Ameri-
Give us a call at (314) 577-9457 if waters, which is proving useful in can Southwest.
you’d like to learn more about spon- developing a cultivated sunflower
soring a little piece of America’s natu- which will Mann’s gardenia (Gardenia mannii)
ral bounty. grow This member of the coffee family is a
For information on two more
photoby Pattie Leslie

under tree that grows to a height of up to


unsponsored plants with value to crop saline fifty feet with creamy, fragrant
species (Texas wild rice and condi- blossoms that open in the late after-
Okeechobee gourd), see our article on tions. noon and last for about two days.
the hidden value of plants on page 6.

How you can help the Center for Plant Conservation recover native plants
There are many ways to help the to giving appreciated stock directly. out their help. The Center for Plant
Center for Plant Conservation continue Gift Friendships: CPC Friendships Conservation accepts gifts in the form
to recover America’s vanishing flora. make great gifts! A way to say you care, of cash, check, credit card, or transfer
Every gift counts and is important to a gift Friendship can be sent for any of securities.
us. occasion.
Unrestricted Giving: These gifts are Plant Sponsorships: Plant sponsor- If you would like to know more
not designated for a particular program ships provide the funding to get the about donating to CPC, please contact:
or project. Funds are used where there “hands on” work done for plants in the
is the greatest need. National Collection. Maria Bradford
Honorary and Memorial Oppor- Development Manager
tunities: You can choose to make your Our Friends and Donors are the Center for Plant Conservation
gift in honor or memory of a friend or backbone of our native plant conserva- P.O. Box 299
loved one. tion efforts, providing the help we need St. Louis, MO 63166-0299
Stock Gifts: As your financial advi- to run a national plant conservation or- (314) 577-9457
sor can confirm, there are advantages ganization. CPC could not exist with- or e-mail cpc@mobot.org
Plant Conservation, Autumn 2003 14
With iGive, You Give More than Holiday Gifts
We wanted to let you know about an When you log on to igive.com, you
opportunity that will help raise funds for must register to ensure that funds will go

photo by Greg Wieland


the Center for Plant Conservation, while to the charity of your choice. There is no
providing you with a convenient way to cost or obligation to you when you reg-
shop for holiday gifts (or anything else, ister, and the process is simple. Just be
for that matter). When you shop at sure to use the keyword “plant” to help
iGive.com a percentage of your purchases you find and designate the Center for
are donated to a charity of your choice. Plant Conservation as the recipient of any You could help sponsor Clay’s Hibiscus
So you can send your Aunt Tilly a gift funds generated by your purchases. You (Hibiscus clayi), a Hawaiian endemic in
pack from Hickory Farms and CPC will can get more information by visiting the the CPC National Collection.
receive a donation of six percent of the web site www.iGive.com. help sponsor a plant in the CPC National
value of the purchase. You can buy that And, while we are on the subject of Collection of Endangered Plants, or it can
adorable outfit from Baby Gap for your the holidays, there are other ways to be used to help offset the costs of coor-
grandson and CPC will receive two per- honor your loved ones while supporting dinating our national program of species
cent of the value of the purchase. Or, you CPC’s efforts to restore imperiled native preservation and research. Your gift can
can pamper yourself with some luxuri- plant species. be made by check, credit card or through
ous bath oil from Bath-and-Body and You can give a CPC gift membership a gift of securities. (Check with your fi-
CPC will receive six percent of the value to a friend or family member. The person nancial advisor about the advantages of
of the purchase. you designate will receive all the benefits giving appreciated securities.)
More than 450 stores participate in the of CPC membership, including a one- You might be able to increase the
iGive.com program, so you won’t have year subscription to Plant Conservation. value of your gift through an employee
any trouble finding the perfect gift for ev- So if you know someone who cares about matching gift program. Many employ-
eryone on your list. You don’t have to plants, what better gift than membership ers will match employee gifts dollar for
fight the crowds at the mall. You don’t in the first national organization dedicated dollar (and some even more). Check with
have to stand in line at the post office to solely to preventing the extinction of your human resource department to see
mail your gifts to people in far off places. America’s most vulnerable plants? if your company will match your gift to
And, best of all, you are supporting the You can also make a year-end contri- CPC.
Center for Plant Conservation with ev- bution to support CPC. Your tax-deduct- Thank you for your past support and
ery purchase -- a win-win situation. ible contribution can be designated to best wishes during the coming season!

Give the gift that keeps on growing!


The Center for Plant Conservation’s efforts are made possible benefits feature artwork by botanical illustrator Bobbi Angell.
by the Friends of CPC. All Friends receive a complimentary sub- Please use the form below either to renew your support or
scription to Plant Conservation, the CPC newsletter. Plus, Friends enroll as a new Friend. Your gift will contribute in an im-
will receive our new Friends benefits, with distinticive botanical portant way to the vital work of saving America’s most
illustrations of the imperiled plants that your gifts support. The imperiled plants.

$35 ............. Friends .................... 4 notecards Enclosed is my check for $ _______________ made payable
$75 ............. Family Friends ........ above and 3 magnets to the Center for Plant Conservation.
$150 ........... Sustaining Friends .. above and canvas lunch bag Please charge my: VISA Mastercard
$250 ........... Benefactors ............. above and 15” boat bag
$500 ........... Preserving Donors* Card No.
$1,000 ........ Conserving Donors* Name on card
$5,000 ........ President’s Circle Donors* Expiration date
*
These Donors will receive periodic informational updates about the progress
of the Center. Please print your name as you wish it to appear in the newslet-
ter Honor Roll.
This is a gift membership for a new Friend. (Please list name,
address and phone number of recipient on the form at right.)
Your name
(Dr., Mr., Mrs., Ms., Miss, Anonymous)
Friend’s name (if needed)
(Dr., Mr., Mrs., Ms., Miss, Anonymous)

Please send this completed form and payment in enclosed envelope, Address
or mail this form to: Center for Plant Conservation, P.O. Box 299, St. City State
Louis, MO 63166
Zip Telephone
15 www.centerforplantconservation.org
Plant Profile: Vine Hill Clarkia
Society’s Vine-Hill Preserve, but a sig-
By Megan Cotter, CPC intern
nificant effort needs to be made to save
Many people associate the Vine Hill the surviving native population.
area of Sonoma County, California with To compound the problem, the clar-
fields of grapes and fantastic wines. To kia seeds require a special kind of soil
one little plant, however, it is a last ref- to germinate and grow, decreasing the
uge in a losing battle. Vine Hill clarkia probability that these plants will be able
(Clarkia imbricata) belongs to the to come back after a significant distur-
evening primrose family, and is listed bance. The soil must be an acidic loamy
as endangered by the U.S Fish and soil with an undisturbed crust. The

photo by Roger Raiche


Wildlife Service. single native population is on privately
Clarkia is an annual plant that pro- owned land. However, the California
duces white or pink flowers late in the Department of Fish and Game is seek-
season. Historically, there have only ing cooperation to acquire this land in
been two known populations of this the hope of preserving this highly en-
species in the Vine Hill area of Cali- dangered plant. Vine Hill clarkia is currently not
fornia. However, one of these popula- The University of California Botani- sponsored. To sponsor or partially
tions has been recently destroyed, leav- cal Garden, a participating institution sponsor this plant, please contact
ing a lone population. A few hundred at Berkeley, is the primary custodian for CPC at (314) 577-9540, or
plants have been rescued and trans- the clarkia in the National Collection cpc@mobot.org.
planted at the California Native Plant of Endangered Plants.

Address Service Requested

St. Louis, MO 63166-0299


P.O. Box 299
Permit No. 1039
St. Louis, MO Conservation
PA I D
U.S. Postage
Nonprofit Org.
Center for

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