No. 125 February 4, 1996

"COYOTE TOBACCO" - NICOTIANA ATTENUATA IN BRITISH COLUMBIA

Nicotiana attenuata Torrey, "Coyote tobacco", has been collected in B.C. many years ago from Spence's Bridge and Lytton, but has not been seen for quite some time.

N. attenuata is listed in Endangered, Threatened and Sensitive Vascular Plants of Washington (Washington State Department of Natural Resources; January 1994) as "S2 - Sensitive: imperiled because of its rarity or because it is vulnerable to extinction or extirpation." There is a single old collection at UBC: August 2, 1912 from Spence's Bridge collected by J.A. Teit (Teit # 55).

In July 1991 I found N. attenuata growing around the rocky hills northeast of Osoyoos Lake. There were about 6 healthy plants growing under the shelter of a large Douglas fir. I did not collect any specimens. In 1992 I returned to the same spot and found no plants. On July 12 1993, a few days after a major fire had hit the area, I found a single small insect-damaged plant under the same Douglas fir. In 1994 I could find no plants at this site. Further south, however, in an area I had not looked before, I found a number of plants scattered in flat depressions on the rocky outcrops at the edge of sandy Purshia flats. Another small population grew in a sandy area at the base of the rocky hills and I collected a branch: N.E. Osoyoos Lake July 1, 1994 (Lomer # 94-089).

On July 19, 1995 I collected N. attenuata about 1 km. south of the Pattullo Bridge in Surrey, about 12 km. east of Vancouver (Lomer #95-039). A single large plant with many seeds was growing in a large sand landfill that was dredged from the Fraser River. This plant probably arose from seed that was washed down the Fraser River from the interior of B.C. This means that N. attenuata very likely still grows somewhere in the Fraser drainage, perhaps it can still be found around Lytton.

FIELD GUIDE TO WETLAND PLANTS

Guard, B. Jennifer. 1995.

Wetland plants of Oregon and Washington. With contributions from John Cristy, photos by Trigve Steen. Lone Pine Publishing, Vancouver, B.C. 239 p. ISBN 1-55105-060-9 (softcover) Price: US $19.95. Description of more than 330 plant species with over 300 colour photographs.

This concise and easy-to-use field guide provides a wealth of information about the plants of rich aquatic and wetland ecosystems of our region. Grouped by the habitat this guide describes wooded wetland, wetland prairie, marshy shore, shrub swamps, and the submerged and floating community.

Lone Pine Publishing's phone number is 1-800-661-9017.

DIGITAL MUSHROOMS: A NEW WWW SITE: DIGITAL EXSICCATE OF FUNGI

The Institute of Biology, "Spezielle Botanik und Mykologie", of the University of Tuebingen, Germany, offers a new WWW site for mycology. Our WWW pages are an online help for determination and information of fungi including descriptions, keys, TEM/SEM photos and illustrations. The pages are in development. Species, preferably types are added from time to time. The language of the pages is English.

The "Digital Exsiccate of Fungi" is located at the URL: http://www.uni-tuebingen.de/uni/bbm/index.html

RE: INTERNET SEARCH ENGINES :BEN # 124:

A very fast and efficient search engine is to be found at Digital's Alta Vista site: http://www.altavista.digital.com/ You might like to add that to the list in BEN.

SUMMER JOBS IN BOTANY: WESTERN WASHINGTON AND OREGON

The College of Forest Resources, University of Washington and Department of Forest Science, Oregon State University will be offering summer jobs in field botany and forest ecology (western Washington and Oregon). Please direct questions and applications to the individuals listed below.

1. FIELD BOTANIST, western Oregon (13 June-31 August, or later)

Assist with long-term ecological studies of green-tree retention harvest, Umpqua National Forest, OR. Establish plots, sample understory vegetation, measure trees, and quantify site characteristics. Requires familiarity with the flora of western Oregon (experience with mosses, lichens, and grasses desirable); experience in vegetation sampling and use of floristic keys; training in plant systematics/ecology. Requires attention to detail, legible handwriting, ability/willingness to work long hours under strenuous conditions and to work/live cooperatively. Housing provided; days/hours negotiable; salary $8.00/hr.

2. FORESTER, western Oregon and Washington (13 June-15 September, or later)

Measure tree heights/diameters and obtain tree ages in mature forests throughout western Oregon and Washington as part of ecological study described above. Must be able to identify western Cascade tree species. Ability/willingness to learn to operate a Criterion laser instrument to precisely measure tree heights and an increment borer to obtain tree ages. Attention to detail, legible handwriting, ability/willingness to work in steep and brushy terrain, willingness to camp for most of the summer (housing may be available at some sites). Days/hours negotiable; salary $7.50/hr.

3. FIELD BOTANIST, western Washington (1 June, or later-31 August, or later)

Assist with studies of plant composition and diversity in managed forests on Weyerhaeuser lands in western Washington. Establish plots, sample understory vegetation, measure trees, and quantify site characteristics. Requires familiarity with the flora of western Washington; experience in vegetation sampling and use of floristic keys; training in plant systematics and ecology. Requires attention to detail, legible handwriting, ability/willingness to work long hours under strenuous conditions and to work/live cooperatively, willingness to camp all summer. Days/hours negotiable; salary $1400/month.

For more information on Jobs 1-3 contact: Shelley Evans, E-mail: saevans@u.washington.edu, Phone: (206) 616-4095.

4. FOREST ECOLOGY FIELD ASSISTANT, western Oregon and Washington (17 June-6 September)

Assist in studies of upland and riparian forests in the mountains of western Oregon and Washington. Research sites range from recently disturbed areas to old-growth forests. Will be based at the H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest, Blue River, OR. Duties include measuring trees and snags, and assessing causes of tree mortality. Requires college courses in Forestry, Botany, or related fields; field experience in forest or other vegetation sampling; skill in tree identification; ability/willingness to work long hours in difficult terrain. Junior or higher standing desirable. Housing provided at the Andrews Forest; several camping trips away from the Andrews required. Salary $7.00/hr or more, depending on experience.

For more information on Job 4 contact: Dr. Steve Acker, E-mail: ackers@fsl.orst.edu, Phone: (541) 750-7325

To apply for any/all jobs send the following to both addresses below by March 1, 1996:

1. Handwritten cover letter: describe interests/qualifications; state which job(s) you wish to apply for; indicate dates of availability; list names and phone numbers of two references (see below),
2. Resume (typewritten),
3. Copies of college transcripts and/or professional work product,
4. Have two letters of reference sent to BOTH addresses:

 Shelley Evans Dr. Steve Acker
 College of Forest Resources Department of Forest Science
 Box 352100 Oregon State University
 Univ. of Washington FSL 020 Corvallis, OR 97331-7501
 Seattle, WA 98195-2100

Submissions, subscriptions, etc.: aceska@freenet.victoria.bc.ca. BEN is archived on gopher freenet.victoria.bc.ca. The URL is: gopher://freenet.victoria.bc.ca:70/11/environment/Botany/ben
Also archived at http://www.ou.edu/cas/botany-micro/ben/