NEWSLETTER CALIFORNIA NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY Dedicated to the Preservation of California Native Flora Vol. IV, No. 2___________________________________________________March 1968 SANTA LUCIA PERSONALITY—BRISTLECONE FIR For more than a century pilgrims have trudged into Monterey County's Santa Lucia Mountains seeking botanical novelties. One of the most dramatic examples awaiting them is the bristlecone fir,,Abies bracteata. Willis Jepson remarked that these firs give this distinctive mountain range a singular interest and are the quest of botanical travelers from all parts of the world. In 1831 Thomas Coulter collected this species on the ridge west of Mission San Antonio. The following year David Douglas probably found the tree at the same locality. Both botanical explorers sent their specimens off to England, and compet- ing names (bracteata versus venusta) were published in I836. The name based on Coulter's material appeared in print first and is the accepted scientific name. Geographically isolated from all other firs in California, this spire-like tree is also morphologically distinct in many ways. No other fir has such large, spindle shaped, non-resinous twig buds. No other fir has such sharply tipped needles. Also the long, spiny bracts poking out of the cones, which prompted the common name, are unique among the firs. George Sudworth called bristlecone fir the most curious fir tree in the world. Because of its rarity, he pleaded for protection and encouragement of the species. Fortunately, the species does have a high degree of protection from human hazards. More than 95$ of its distribution lies within the Los Padres National Forest. The most extensive stands are now within the Ventana Wilderness Area and out of the reach of non-hiking vandals. In fact, no real stand can be reached by public road. If the recommended extension of the wilderness boundary is completed, well over half of the species' area will be included. Around the Ventana country the species is common in many kinds of habitat, particu- larly the more fire resistant spots. On the foggy west side of the mountains it mixes with redwoods on the middle reaches of the Little Sur River. At this wide end of its range, fir groves are sprinkled Ik miles across the slopes to Chews Ridge. The eastern outpost is in Anastasia canyon at the foot of a dry chamise chaparral patch. The species ranges southward along the main axis of the Santa Lucias for a total of 50 miles. Its main distribution stops on Salmon Creek near the Monterey County line. At least one grove, however, is south of the line. In 1930 a Vegetation Type Map crew found bristlecone firs along a tributary of Estrada Creek 3 miles into San Luis Obispo County. Larger trees periodically produce abundant cone crops—in the extreme tips of their narrow crowns. The dangerous climb and the masses of prickly foliage keep all but the most adventurous souls from trying to gather seeds. Even if you can get ripe cones in hand, many of the seeds are empty or damaged by insects. Yet, some good seeds must drop into favorable spots over the years. Young trees of many age classes can be found over most of the species' range. Those who have called bristle- cone fir a vanishing species may have been too hasty. In the absence of repeated fires or unforeseen insect or disease attacks, this fascinating tree will probably increase its hold on the Santa Lucia landscape. One attractive grove has been planted in the Tilden Park Botanic Garden. It is growing well and flowers regularly. —James R. Griffin - 2 - RARE PLANT HAHDBOOK In keeping with its function of helping to preserve rare native plants by dis- seminating useful information about them, our Society has begun the work of prepar- ing a handbook about rare natives. The handbook will include information on appearance and identification of between 500 and 800 species that are selected because of restricted range, either entirely in California or rare in California though more common elsewhere. The places where these plants occur will be given, though with care not to reveal exact localities for species that might suffer from unscrupulous collecting. More important, the handbook will contain information on the degree that these localities are now preserved from future disturbance, the type of action that will be necessary to preserve them, the dates last seen, their usefulness, if any, as garden plants, and information about propagation and care in home and public gardens. Work has been under way at two organization meetings held at the University of California Herbarium, through the kind invitation of its Curator and Assistant Curator, Professors Lincoln Constance and Robert Ornduff. The project is directed by a Committee of which the Chairman is Roman Gankin. Most of the species names have been placed on 5" by 8" cards for filing; these cards are being distributed to all members who wish to help in gathering information for the project. For assistance in the work, Mr. Gankin has prepared a careful list of 90 items of in- formation that are needed. This list is distributed with the cards. Information gathered can be classified on punch cards with the aid of this list, and in this way lists of species having distinctive locations, degrees of preservation, useful- ness for particular horticultural purposes, etc., can be compiled. We hope to assemble and publish a volume that will be useful in many ways. Anyone who wishes to aid in the project is encouraged to write to Mr. Roman Gankin, University Arboretum, University of California, Davis, 95&L6. —G. Ledyard Stebbins CHAPTER AFFAIRS Bay Area Group: Walter Knight has given us the following most interesting and informative report on Redwood Regional Park. For many years, F. Marshall Jencks has derived much pleasure from hiking the trails of Redwood Regional Park. Perhaps no one knows the trails of this area in Contra Costa and Alameda Counties as well as Mr. Jencks, and over a period of time he has noted interesting vegetation. Some of it is rare and unexpected. With this in mind, one could become very concerned about the preservation of these plants, inasmuch as the park district must maintain the trails by trimming away vines and shrubs which periodically cause impediments to traffic circulation. Also, poison oak and three species of obnoxious thistles are occasionally sprayed. However, the park district spray and trail crews are alert to the problem of con- serving the plants which enhance the landscape. A hiker does not have to traverse many miles in Redwood Regional Park to realize that careful supervision is given to the proper maintenance of trails and landscapes, as well as picnic and recreational facilities. Mr. Jencks has submitted a trail reference list which he considers of special interest to anyone desiring to become better acquainted with native plants in the San Francisco Bay Region. - 3 - FRENCH TRAIL - Athyrium filix-femina, Lady Fern, in a small, damp area southeast of Chown Trail. Iris douglasiana, Douglas Iris, a few clumps between West Ridge and Tres Cendes Trail. Myriea californica, Wax Myrtle, usually grows much closer to the coast, and it is a surprise to see the shrubs at this location. Thalictrum polycarpum, Meadow Rue, about five plants southeast of Chown Trails These have beautiful fern-like foliage with panicles of delicate brownish-yellow flowers. STREAM TRAIL - Clintonia andrewsiana, Red Clintonia, in an area 50 ft. by 50 ft. above trail near Fern and Mill Trails. This is an extremely temperamental plant, and scarce. It is in the lily family, about 20 inches tall, with beautiful red flowers during May to July. Calochortus albus, White Fairy Lantern, a few on bank of bridle path. Clematis ligusticifolia, Virgins-Bower, a few vines climbing on trees near southeast end. Ribes divaricatum, Straggly Gooseberry, one near south end. Rosa californica, California Rose, one near Orchard Trail. Zauschneria californica, California Fuchsia, on steep bank at rear of park yard. Many red flowers in September and October. Lonicera involucrata var. ledbourii, Twin Berry, one or two shrubs near south end. WEST RIDGE TRAIL-A few Rein Orchids west of junction with Orchard Trail. California fuchsia is in the first half mile west of north park entrance. Perideridia gairdneri, Yampah, in the carrot family, near north entrance. Lomatium dasycarpum, Woolly-fruited Lomatium, another member of the carrot family, in two patches south of Chown Trail. Aralia californica, Elk Clover, one large cluster on rocky water course below trail near north end. Gaultheria shallon, small clump at Bowmen Center. Ceanothus sorediatus, Jim Brush, widely scattered shrubs to fifteen feet tall. Lonicera hispidula var. vaciHans, Honeysuckle, climbing on adjacent shrubs. Dirca occidentalis, Leatherwood, northwest end between Stream and West Ridge Trails. This is one of the rare shrubs of the world. DUNN TRAIL -Fritillaria lanceolata, Mission Bells, a few on bank under trees. Berberis pinnata, California Mahonia, a clump near West Ridge Trail. Viola pedunculata, Johnny Jump-Up, a yellow colony-forming wild pansy on a grassy hillock. Stephanomeria virgata., Tall stephanomeria, between the main office and corner of Skyline. TRES CENDES TRAIL-A few Lady Ferns at bottom of stream. Actaea rubra ssp. arguta, Baneberry, this little member of the buttercup family can be seen in several places along the trail. TATE TRAIL - Cirsium coulteri - a magnificent clump near top. GRAHAM TRAIL -Calochortus umbellatus, Oakland Star Tulip, few along the trail here at its type locality. Aquilegia formosa,' #ed Columbine, few on west half of trail. Viola glabella, Stream Violet, and Viola sempervirens, Redwood Violet, scattered. MILL TRAIL - Pedicularis densiflora, Indian Warrior, on both sides at top. PEAK TRAIL -Woodwardia fimbriata, Chain Fejrn, scattered. Centaurium muhlenbergii, Monterey Centaury, in the gentian family, has not been seen in the park since 19^2. Antirrhinum vexillo-calyculatum, Wiry Snapdragon, has not •:. been around since 19^8. Since 1966, Saxifraga californica, California saxifrage, has not been observed. - It - The most important plant in Redwood Regional Park is Gutierrezia californiea, Matchweed. It is a shrub about eighteen inches tall and has a tendency to partially lie on the ground. It is covered with yellow flowers in August and inhabits a ser- pentine outcrop on Dunn Trail about two hundred yards from the main office toward Skyline. Its type locality is Redwood Regional Park, and it is also found on West Ridge Trail in a large patch near Chown Trail. The only other places in the world where this plant grows are Point Bonita, in Marin County, and Angel Island. The latest treatment of California gutierrezia species by Otto T. Solbrig (Madrono, Vol. 18, No. 3, July 1965» pages 75-8M indicates that the species listed on page II67 of Munz's California Flora as G_;_ californiea should actually be G^ bracteata. Mr. Jencks will be leading a botanical field trip in Redwood Park on a Sunday later in the spring. BAY AREA GROUP FIELD TRIPS - All are invited The trips scheduled are all on good roads and stops are made at points least hazardous so that participants may enjoy frequent plant inspections. Specimen collecting will be authorized by the leader in appropriate areas. All trips are subject to cancellation due to inclement weather. Check until the last minute by telephone (a.c. 1j15, 8U8-0^30) and Walter Knight will declare whether or not the weather will permit the adventure. These excursions are designed for one easy day's drive. March 2k - Meet at the little camp in Mt. Diablo State Park a few yards past north gate kiosk at about 10 a.m. We will caravan to Juniper Camp on Mt. Diablo and look around the area until lunch time. Be sure to bring lunch and beverage. Also bring a canteen with water in case it is a hot day. A scouting trip to be made a few days before will determine our course in the afternoon. April 7 - Meet at the junction of Tesla Road and Mines Road near the rodeo grounds in southeastern Livermore, 10:30 a.m. Will head out Mines Road, seeing cypresses and junipers and many early spring wildflowers. At Del Puerto Canyon Road we will probably go toward Patterson. Bring lunch and beverage. April 20 - A Saturday, for a change. Marshall Jencks will lead a hike which will start at 9:00 a.m. from 11500 Skyline, Oakland, East Bay Regional Park District headquarters. Mr. Jencks will lead the group over some of the trails mentioned in an accompanying article in this Newsletter and the hike will terminate about three miles away at the entrance to Redwood Regional Park on Redwood Road. Bring lunch and beverage. This one requires a car shuttle. April 28 - Meet at main intersection in downtown Middletown in Lake County, 10:30 a.m. Figure about 2 1/2 hrs. from Bay Area. We will aim to be at the first hairpin turn on Mt. Konocti Road a bit before noon (near Kelseyville). We will see styrax, squaw bush, red bud, dogwood and Konocti manzanita. Leader: Wayne Roderick. May 26 - Meet at Bootjack Camp parking lot, Mt. Tamalpais, 10 a.m. Hike to West Point, Mountain Theater and return. See manzanitas, ceanothus and other interesting chaparral. Bring lunch and beverage. Probably to be led by Fred Nora. - 5 - June 23 - Meet at the corner of Los Alamos Road and Sonoma Highway 3 miles east of Santa Rosa. Will inspect vegetation of very unusual quality on serpentine at the Chas. Newman Rancho. Will have lunch at the John Joost Rancho at 31^0 Calistoga Road. Those who can't he on the Newman seigment of the trip in the morning, try to join the party at Joost's at noon. At Joost*s we will hike to Lover's Leap and see spectacular plants and return to Bay Area via Spring Mountain Road and through Napa Valley. Gualala Chapter: Dorothy King Young, former President, gave us a report on the major events of her chapter during 196?: February - Fire and Flood films were shown by John Walker, District Highway Safety Supervisor, and Bob McNamee, Willitts Forestry Foreman; March - trip with Bay Area Group to Pitkin Marsh and Zimmerlin Ranch, Easter Week Calypso Caravan and open house at Grandpa Charley's Park; April - joined Sierra Club's Cow Mountain field trip; May - trip to see and photo- graph Havensneck; June - trip over Sugarstick Trail to Piper Ranch on Mt. View Road; July - trip to Chetco River near Brookings, Oregon; August - Gentian Jaunt to Havensneck and nearby mountain meadow; November - collecting for and selling at the CNPS Plant Sale in Oakland, and sponsoring Richfield"s Wildflowers of the West film for the Point Arena elementary and high schools and an evening run for the com- munity. Throughout the year Mr. and Mrs. Young showed their wildflower slides to many groups from Santa Rosa, California to Cave Junction, Oregon. Coming up in 1968: April J-lk Calypso Caravan in Grandpa Charley's Park, telephone 707-881*-3^90. On or about May 1, chapter trip to Booneville and Stinson Beach Wildflower shows; June 23 - Sugarstick Trail and Piper Ranch; July k*J - Indianpipe trip to Brookings, Oregon; August - Gentian Jaunt, August 2k-25 "Art in the Redwoods." The first chapter meeting of 1968 was on February 25. Clyde Akey showed two Richfield films - Wildflowers of the West and Let's Keep America Beautiful. Edgar and Evelyn Waltenspiel gave a detailed report of their accomplishments at Natureland near Windsor. Fred Sehuler is the Chapter's new President. He is a senior in high school and has lead field trips to Havensneck, a fantastic wind-carved botanical paradise on Mendocino County's southcoast, owned by CNPS members Millard and Mary Sheets. Leils Romer is the Vice President and Winifred Sehuler is Secretary-Treasurer. Monterey Bay Chapter: Beatrice Howitt announces results of the January 30, 1968 election of chapter officers: Beatrice Howitt will continue as President; Winona Trason, 1st Vice President; James Griffin, 2nd Vice President; Joyce Stevens, Recording Secretary; Paul Jones, Corresponding Secretary; Richard Robinson, Treasurer. Dr. James Griffin gave an interesting talk on "The Digger Pine: a Foothill Renegade," and accompanied his talk with colored slides. He explained the history, distribution, identifying and differential features of this tree, Pinus sabiniana. The chapter is looking forward to its native plant sale on Saturday, April 20, from 1 to 5 P«m. Interested persons from the Bay Area and elsewhere are welcome. The sale will take place in Jewel Park, Pacific Grove, across the street from the Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History that will have its annual wildflower show while the sale is taking place. In case of rain go to the Boy Scout Hall on the corner near the park. Many small plants in cans will be available, including several kinds of gooseberries, currants, ferns, blue witch, some succulents, and a number of trees, also manzanitas and huckleberries. - 6 - Sacramento Valley Chapter: Field trips coming up: March 16 - Sierra foothills of Tuolumne County See the rare Tuolumne Pawn Lily, Erythronium tuolumnense. Meeting Place: Parking area at Columbia, north of Sonora Time: 10:30 A.M. Leader: Dean Taylor, Stockton, California, phone 1*63-8906 Coordinator: Joe Aparicio, ^951 Tufts Street, Sacramento, California 958iU, phone 332-5030 April 13 - Table Mountain, near Oroville, Butte County We will drive four miles from meeting place, leave cars and walk about six miles round trip over rolling open terrain. Small vernal pools, rock outcrops, and a 50-foot waterfall support a varied flora, including possibly undescribed endemic entities in Streptanthus, Jewel flower, and Allium, wild onion. Meeting Place: South end of Oroville, junction of Highway 70 and Orodam Blvd. Time: 10:00 A.M. Leader: Kingsley Stern - from Chico State College Coordinator: Ledyard Stebbins - U.C., Davis, Phone 752-0202 (Day) 753-2665 (Evening) May 12 - Walker Ridge, west of Leesville, Colusa County The Walker Ridge area has just recently become accessible due to a new road which was constructed by the Bureau of Land Management. The area contains serpentine type chaparral and knob-cone pine. Several rare endemic species have been found in the vicinity. We hope this field trip will allow us to find some of these. Meeting Place: Center of town - Williams, Calif., junction of interstate 5 and state highway 20. Time: 9:30 A.M. Leader and Coordinator: Ledyard Stebbins - U.C. Davis, Phone 752-0202 (Day); 753-2665 (Evening) June 8 and 9 - Indian Valley, Plumas County, slightly north and east of Quincy Feather River Canyon, elevation approximately 3000'. This site contains a rich flora of plants typical of the northern Sierra. There is a possibility of finding a rare species of the genus Arabis (rock cress). In addition, we will look for an animal and plant fossil bed. Camping Facilities: Details for camping will be announced in our next bulletin. Meeting Place: June 8 (Sat,) - Keddie Resort on Highway 70 Time: 11 A.M. Leader: W. D. Dakan - Box 6, Keddie, California 95952 Coordinator: Ledyard Stebbins The Sacramento Valley Chapter has elected new officers: Albert L. Delisle, Department of Biology Sacramento State College, is President, and Mrs. Warner L. Marsh, 916-1*89-9231, is Secretary, evening meetings will be held at Sacramento State College on the last Friday of each month. San Luis Obispo County Chapter; 1968 officers and committee chairmen: President...........................................Louis Wilson Vice President......................................Isaac Farfel Recording Secretary....................................Mary Ford Corresponding Secretary............................Eileen Kengel Treasurer...........................................Larry Harley Historian and Telephone..........................Margaret Bender Parliamentarian....................................Evelyn Baxley Membership Committee..............................Lillian Wilson Outings Committee.................................Patrick Holden Photography Committee................. .H, L.' Bender, Nancy Scheu Lee Wilson, Louis Wilson Eileen Kengel, Corresponding Secretary, gives us the following report: In December, in spite of the fast-approaching holidays, eleven members of the San Luis Obispo County Chapter met at 8 o'clock in the morning to proceed up Lopez Canyon to dig native plants, which were transferred to the town's civic center park which was being landscaped. Lopez Canyon is the site of a new dam under construc- tion and the area from which the plants were taken will be under water. Over 60 native plants were brought out and successfully transplanted. The Chapter enjoyed an outing to Redwood Gulch on February 3 to see the southern- most stand of Redwoods along Highway One. Traffic goes zipping by this small canyon, but once back from the road a ways (there is no trail but we scrambled up the stream bed), there are many trees, with a typical quiet redwood forest under- growth of ferns, etc. After a short walk, we returned to our cars and sat on the cliff top overlooking the Pacific to eat lunch. Weather was warm and balmy. We stopped near Pt. Reyes on the way home to do some tide-pooling. Sunday, March 3, we trekked the 100 miles from San Luis Obispo to Santa Baraara to visit the Botanical Gardens and the Batural Science Museum. These are both out- standing. The Botanical Gardens are all native plants, most of which have their names on small signs by each plant. If you are driving through Santa Barbara, take time out to visit both of these places. Hext trip—Mt. Abel, Saturday, March 30th. Meet at junction Highways 101 and 166 (just north of Santa Maria) at 8:00 A.M. Among other highlights of the trip will be a visit to the grave of Hancy Kelsy, the first white woman to reach California. Leader, Louis Wilson, 1080 Pismo Street, SLO. Phone 5^3-8330. Outings Chairman Pat Holden and the former Susan Finch were married during the month of February. Sierra Santa Monica Chapter: Helen Funkhouser reports on two excellent meetings: Dr. Barbara Collins showed beautiful slides of the wild flowers of the Cascades. The photography was outstanding and she told of her hikes to get into the various areas where such things as Anemone Pulsatilla Pasgue flower peeked through the snow. Then the second meeting was at the Yarbers, where Marcella Juhren lectured and showed slides on the ecological observations she made on Cistus in the Mediterranean vegetation. Since we of the Soil Conservation district have been recommending Cistus for plantings on the slope for both fire and erosion control, we were much inter- ested in her findings. "Species of Cistus, tolerant of all climatic conditions - 8 - defined as Mediterranean, and of a wide variety of soils, from an important element of the woodland and shrub associations of the Mediterranean vegetation. When these associations are destroyed, Cistus forms a stage in the succession leading back to the climax. On overgrazed land with degraded soils, certain species—C^ monspeli- ensis, C. salvifolius, C. ladaniferus—may form dense extensive stands. Such stands protect the soil from erosion, add humus and provide a cooler microclimate. The soil improves, shade germinates trees and shrubs start and ultimately restore the climax. A suggested explanation for the difference in inflammability reported for some stands in Europe is the presence of terpene in the exudate of C^ ladaniferus which were not found in C_;_ monspeliensis or C^ albidus. Experiments using Cistus as cover have been made in the San Gabriel Mts. Some eleven species were used as part of the Cover Improvement Program of the Angeles watershed. They succeeded where native Chaparral would not take hold. Two species, C^ villosus and C. laurifolius were found to have altitudinal limitations. In fire tests it was found that Cistus species showed a lower imflamma.bility than did Chaparral species." The slides shown to illustrate her lecture were excellent and all of us felt as though we knew a great deal more about this plant recommended to us for hillside plantings. We have been using the two C. ladaniferus varieties and also the lovely pink C^ villosus. C. ladaniferus have the one that is pure white and the other -. with the blotch of deep color in the center. The pink C. villosus has the soft gray foliage while the white is sticky like Mimulus, monkey flower. COMMITTEE REPORTS Plant Sale Committee: Dr. Leo Brewer, CUPS member, has made a suggestion that has been approved by the Plant Sale Committee: an All Year Rare Plant Auction. The procedure is as follows: (l) Any CNPS member may send in to the Newsletter at any time during the year the name of one or more rare California natives the member wants and at that time make a money bid the member would be willing to pay for the plant; (2) the plant list with bids would be printed in the Newsletter with the hope that some CUPS member could donate seedling(s) or rooted cutting(s); (3) members with available plant(s) would notify the Newsletter and such information would be published; (k) other members could also send in a bid for the plant, which bid would be published; (5) at the annual sale these plants would be auctioned starting with the highest written bid. The following benefits should result: insure interest in a particular plant at least by the bidders; competitive bidding for rare plants resulting in more funds for CNPS; increase propagation experience, range and number of specimens of rare natives. Let's give this a try - send in names and bids for rare native plants you want. Spring is here - support the nurseries that contributed to our sale: Berkeley Horticultural Nursery Flowerland Nursery, Albany Burton's Oak Grove Nursery, Orchard Nursery, Lafayette Saratoga Horticultural Foundation Country Garden Nursery, Santa Rosa (Wholesale only - ask for its plants where you shop.) Area Preservation Committee: Efforts at Plant Preservation by other Societies and Agencies. CNPS is not the only group interested in preserving rare and threatened California native vegetation types and species stands, (l) The Society of American Foresters (S.A.F.) has a committee concerned with preservation of typical examples -9 - Deforest types. Donald Lynch of the Pacific Southwest Forest and Range Experiment Station, U.S. Forest Service, Berkeley, is on this national committee of the S.A.F. and should be helpful where CNPS and S.A.F. recommendations coincide. (2) Everett Wieslander, a member of this CUPS committee, is chairman of a similar committee in the American Society of Range Management California chapter. The Range Society committee is concerned with reserving areas of herbaceous and brush type vegetation that are typical or unusual and rare, and is preparing a list of proposed areas. (3) The Bureau of Land Management in the U.S. Department of Interior wants to develop a list of proposed areas on its lands that could be designated as reserves for preservation of representative vegetation types. If any CUPS member knows of such areas on Bureau of Land Management lands, please advise this CLfPS Committee of the location (if possible by section and township) and the vegetation involved. (k) The National Park Service, U.S. Department of Interior, is making an inventory of areas that currently have a reserved status. (5) The U.S. Department of Agri- culture, U.S. Forest Service, California Region, has a committee of which Donald Lynch is chairman, that appraises objectives and areas needed to reserve typical areas of major forest and range vegetation types in California. Under this program, four areas already have been reserved. Most likely, similar societies with comparable committees, exist. If you know of any others, please advise this CNPS committee, for CNPS should maintain a continuing liaison with these groups with similar interest. CUPS must also advise our governmental agency counterparts of areas in which we are strongly interested—particularly in reservation of native plant species stands of which they are relatively unconcerned or unaware. —Paul Zinke Program Committee: At a CNPS general meeting in San Jose on January 25, Dr. Richard S. Hartesveldt presented an illustrated lecture titled "Ecology of the Giant Sequoia." The slides and accompanying discussion were fascinating. The present natural range ofcjfche big trees averages 5*000-7,000 feet elevation, with the highest known speci- men at 8,800 feet and the lowest 15 miles away at 2,700 feet in a streambed (an increment boring shows the seed starting this tree to have germinated in the late l880*s shortly after a catastrophic flood uprooted many of the trees and swept them and their seeds downstream). The Sequoia gigantea has few natural enemies. No mature trees have been found that have succumbed from insect attacks, though such attacks may affect seedlings and young trees. Occasionally extra heavy snows burden large limbs that may pull the tree down. Though fungi attack fallen wood in some cases, carbon lk date readings showing 2,100 years since death have been made of almost undecayed wood. Piles of sawdust from trees felled around 1900 look the same as though deposited yesterday. Lumbering was, of course, its greatest enemy. The Converse Basin grove is the best example—we saw a slide of a hugh fallen tree— dead and useless—its brittle wood had shattered on impact. Before Dr. Hartesveldt began his studies, it was thought that tourist foot and vehicle traffic might doom the trees. However, several interesting findings shed doubt on that gloomy prospect. Though comparison of old and recent photographs showB that foot traffic has compacted and worn away a considerable amount of soil and litter from the base of several popular specimens, some of this soil and litter had been pushed higher than normal into peripheral preserve ridges by circumference growth of the trees. Excavation studies have shown that root depth is approximately four feet, and many small feeder roots accumulate at the surface to catch summer showers. Though foot traffic compaction decreases the rate of water penetration, it also decreases evaporation, and in addition tramples and eliminates plants that compete with the big trees for available water. The same effects result from blacktop near the trees. One blessing for the Giant sequoia is its wonderful resistance to fire. The bark is nonflammable on the tree, and though many of the - 10 - trees are marked by fire, it is difficult to find a tree that has burned to death. In fact, for several reasons, fire seems to be one product of nature that Sequoia gigantea forests need badly. The seeds, weighing approximately 1/91,000 of a pound with an annual fall of 200,000 per acre, rarely germinate in the trees' 2-1*.5 inch deep litter. In past centuries fires every 20-25 years consumed this litter. One slide showed us a multitude of young trees several feet tall growing on an area cleared by fire in the recent past. Old photographs and writings show and describe open groves; recent photographs and writings show the same groves obscured at their base by white fir trees, which grow in their own shade. Fires of the past cleaned out the litter and white fir, giving the big tree seeds a chance to germinate and grow. Controlled burns organized and carried out by Dr. Hartesveldt and others already are tending to establish that fire may be the major manipulative feature available for long-range preservation of this largest of living things. March 28 at 8 p.m., at the University of California in Berkeley, Em. 101 Morgan Hall, J. E. D. McClellan, Esq., will give an illustrated talk on "Native Plants, Variations within a Genus." Mr. McClellan., who has long been interested in our native flora, began to take photographs of botanical subjects about ten years ago, assisted by his wife. He has more than ^,000 slides, many of which show all species of a genus during different stages of its growth. —Wayne Roderick Treasurer's Report - November l6, 1967, through January 11, 1968. INCOME On hand and in bank Nov. 16 $3,652.52 Dues and contributions 198.00 Membership Committee fund 27.76 Total $3,878.28 DISBURSEMENTS Officers' expenses Treasurer 15.00 Committees Membership and mailing 72.32 Total 87.32 ACCOUNTS PAYABLE Plant Sale Committee 50.00 Mrs. W. L. Marsh 16.85 Membership and mailing 5U.89 Total $ 121.71). Income less disbursements and accounts payable: $3,669.22 Items of Interest: THE POUR SEASONS is an occasional journal devoted to botanical research, explora- tion, conservation and horticultural progress in California. The primary concern of its writers is the advancement of knowledge of California's native plants. Subscription price: $5.00 for four issues; back issues available at $1.25 each. Inquire to James Roof, Director, Regional Parks Botanical Garden, Berkeley, California 9^708. - 11 - Wildflower and Wild Tree Seed Catalog, 1968-January 1970 issue, 50$. Lists hundreds of varieties, many choice kinds and many very rare. Scientific name, common name, bonsai section, some photo reproductions, trade secrets on germinating difficult seeds. An 87-page reference "booklet of permanent value. Clyde Robin, P. 0. Box 2091, Castro Valley, California. Correction: The January 1968 Newsletter was Vol. IV, No. 1, not Vol. Ill, No. 1. Letters, articles, notes, comments or observations about any matters concerning California native flora are solicited and will he welcomed for consideration for inclusion in your Newsletter. Do you have a particular or several species of native plants with which you have had interesting experiences? Tell other members ahout them. Do you have special knowledge about location of rare natives, or have ideas to share about plant conservation—including preservation or propagation informa- tion? Let us hear from you! Why not plan to travel to Pacific Grove for the Monterey Bay Chapter's Spring Native Plant Sale on April 20? See Chapter News for details! All members and interested persons are invited to attend field trips of any chapter. DIRECTORS John S. Bryant Alice Howard Clifford Schmidt Nathan Cohen Baki Kasapligil G. Ledyard Stebbins Jenny Fleming Clyde Robin Fred Tarp August Fruge Wayne Roderick Grady L. Webster Richard S. Hartesveldt James Roof Victor C. Wykoff, Jr. Lawrence R. Heckard Wayne Savage Paul Zinke OFFICERS AND COMMITTEE CHAIRMEN Honorary President............................,.....................Lester Rowntree President.......................................................G. Ledyard Stebbins Vice President.........................................................August Fruge* Recording Secretary....................................................Alice Howard Corresponding Secretary............................................Lawrence Heckard Treasurer..............................................................Wayne Savage Gualala Chapter, President.............................................Fred Schuler Monterey Bay Chapter, President.....................................Beatrice Howitt Sacramento Valley Chapter, President.............................Albert L. Delisle San Luis Obispo County Chapter, President..............................Louis Wilson Sierra Santa-Monica Chapter, President.............................Helen Funkhouser Area Preservation........................................................Paul Zinke Chapter Affairs.................................................G. Ledyard Stebbins Education...............................................................John Bryant Field Trips...........................................................Walter Knight Horticultural Advisory...................................................James Roof Membership and Mailing..............................................Richard Loosely Newsletter Editor.............................................Victor C. Wykoff, Jr. Tl,v:.t ?:;3.,-n ... ,,,,..,.,................................Susan Fruge and Jenny Fleming. California Native Plant Society BALLOT June 1968 Election of Directors Vote for not more than 17 persons. John Bryant, Heights Elementary School, Pittsburgh Nathan Cohen, Director, Letters & Science Extension, U.C. Berkeley Jenny Fleming, Homemaker, Berkeley August Fruge1, Director, U.C. Press, Berkeley Lawrence R. Heckard, Jepson Herbarium, U.C. Berkeley Alice Howard, Secretary, U.C. Herbarium •Walter Knight, East Bay Regional Park District, Oakland; California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco Clyde Robin, Teacher and Native Plant Seed Collector, Castrp Valley Wayne Roderick, U.C. Botanical Garden, Berkeley James Roof, Director, Regional Parks Botanic Garden, Berkeley Wayne Savage, Dept. Biological Sciences, San Jose State College Clifford L. Schmidt, Dept. Bio- logical Sciences, San Jose State College *Carl Sharsmith, Professor of Botany, San Jose State College G. L. Stebbins, Dept. of Genetics, U.C. Davis Fred Tarp, Dept. Biology, Contra Costa Junior College Victor C. Wykoff, Jr., Attorney, Oakland Paul Zinke, School of Forectry, U.C. Berkeley Voting Directions: The Nominating Committee has nominated for the 17 Director positions, 17 persons, two of which, noted by asterisks, are not presently Board members. No member petition nominations were received. CNPS by-laws provide for election by mail ballot. Mark the above ballot and mail it to Recording Secretary, CNPS, Room 202, 2490 Channing Way, Berkeley, by June 12, 72 hours prior to the June 15 general meeting. This is a secret election; do not sign your ballot. - 12 - You are the best means we have to increase our membership. Use this membership blank to encourage and enable someone else to join CUPS and to help in the good work you are doing. MEMBERSHIP - Check One jTJ Individual, $6 [J Family, $8 jTJ Student, $4.50" £7 Life, $250 [J Supporting, $20 fj Sustaining, $50 [J Contributing, $100 fj Patron, $250 [J Donor, $500 / / Benefactor, $1,000 Detach and mail application to: Treasurer CUPS Room 202 2^90 Charming Way- Berkeley California 9k70k CALIFORNIA IMTVE PLANT SOCIETY Membership Application Blank HAME _______________________ ADDRESS ____ CITY, STATE Zip Code Special Interest: Chapter Affiliation: Payment of is enclosed Dues and contributions are deductible for tax purposes. CALIFORNIA NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY ¦ # •* ly Room 202, 2U90 Channitig Way- Berkeley, California 9hJ0k RETURN REQUESTED