1997 MEETING OF THE ALASKA RARE PLANT FORUM

The meeting of the Alaska Rare Plant Forum in Anchorage on April 2-3 was an enjoyable opportunity to meet with other Alaskan and Yukon botanists and to catch up on what everyone is doing. Alan Batten presented results from the upland sites of last summer's fieldwork for BLM in the Yukon-Tanana Uplands. Carolyn Parker summarized the high points of the whole 3-year inventory of the Yukon-Tanana Uplands alpine floristic survey as well as presenting her work with Yukon-Charley National Park in the Ogilvie Mountains and along the Yukon River. These combined surveys have resulted in a new species for the state flora, Draba ogilviensis, and several new localities for species listed 'Species of Concern' by USFWS and/or being tracked by the Alaska Natural Heritage Program.

Mike Emers of the USFWS reported on the Porcupine River trip that he and David and Barbara Murray took last June investigating the flora of the dry south-facing bluffs along the river. The flora of these bluffs has some striking differences from similar bluffs along the Yukon River. Two new species, a fleabane (Erigeron) and a hepatic (Asterella) will eventually be described from this area.

Bruce Bennett of the Canadian Wildlife Service, Whitehorse, talked about issues affecting rare plants in the Yukon, and about distributed a preliminary list of rare plants for the Yukon.

Donna DiFolco of NPS reported on populations of Aster yukonensis that have been located in the Brooks Range over the last couple of years.

Randy Meyers of BLM in Kotzebue summarized the status of Oxytropis arctica var. barnebyana and reported on her fieldwork along the Squirrel River in northwest Alaska.

Rob DeVelice and Bev Shulz of the US Forest Service talked about the ecosystem mapping project that the Forest Service is working on.

Connie Hubbard of the Forest Service talked about their inventory of Arnica norbergii, a taxonomic entity that may or may not be distinct from A. lessingii, that occurs along the right of way of the road being built from Portage to Whittier.

Steve Talbot, of USFWS, gave an account of the work he is doing with CAFF. (Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna). CAFF is an international group trying to come up with a list of Arctic rare species. Much of their effort has to do with reconciling different taxonomies as well as balancing different ideas of rareness and different ideas of "arctic" espoused by different nations. Dave Murray has also been involved in this work.

Rob gave us the latest list from the Alaska Natural Heritage Program of Alaskan species ranked S3 and rarer. He also reported on fieldwork with Dave Murray on the Seward Peninsula, and described several rare taxa known from that area, including a new species for Alaska, Douglasia beringensis."

[Thanks to Bruce Bennett for sending me this article, and to the authors for permission to post it on BEN. - AC]

SIX NEW INTRODUCED SPECIES IN BRITISH COLUMBIA

1. Anchusa arvensis (L.) M. Bieb. - Boraginaceae

   Found growing around a Post Office box at the corner of Highway 3 and Highway 41 (south to USA) next to Rilkofs Store, Almond Gardens, a few km west of Grand Forks. A bristly hispid plant that looks a lot like Amsinckia, but has clear blue flowers. A few more plants were seen in an adjacent pumpkin field. Collected September 20, 1996 (Lomer 96-157).

2. Chenopodium pumilio R.Br. - Chenopodiaceae

   This Australian weed looks a lot like C. botrys except that the flowers appear in small glomerules at the base of the reduced upper leaves, instead of branched panicles as in the latter species. First seen in Urands Nursery (a very good plant shop), Highway 3 at the south end of Christina Lake, east of Grand Forks. C. pumilio is sparsely established along the beach in front of the private lots west of Christina Lake Provincial Park. It grows in sandy ground when the lake has receded in late summer. There were also quite a few large plants in soil piles along a dirt road nearby. Collected September 20, 1996 (Lomer 96-160).

3. Hordeum murinum L. ssp. glaucum (Steudel) Tzvelev - Poaceae

   A small clump of this weedy annual grass was growing in sand by the beach path in front of the tennis courts, Kitsilano Beach, Vancouver. H. murinum ssp. murinum is abundant along the same beach. Subspecies glaucum has a wider inflorescence that is purplish tinted in summer. The central spikelet is stalked and the central floret is somewhat less than the lateral florets. Collected July 4, 1996 (Lomer 96-099).

4. Rudbeckia laciniata L. - Asteraceae

   Collected on Lion Island, west of Annacis Island in the south arm of the Fraser River between Richmond and Delta, on October 16, 1996 (Lomer 96-181). About 6-10 plants were seen on this uninhabited island along the tidal shore in swampy ground with Phalaris arundinacea and cattails. Grown in gardens and frequently escaped in temperate regions. A single plant was also reported from the ponds at Jericho Beach Park in Vancouver.

5. Soliva sessilis Ruiz & Pavon - Asteraceae

   A South American weed that has the appearance of a small umbellifer. Growing on seasonal moist, trampled ground in a natural grassy area near the amphitheater in Ruckle Point Provincial Park, Saltspring Island. Collected May 18, 1996 (Lomer 96-007). This species formed a relatively large patch with many hundreds of small, more or less prostrate plants. This population has achenes with slight wing margins formerly known as S. daucifolia Nutt., but The Jepson Manual includes it along with S. pterosperma (Juss.) Less. as been merely forms of S. sessilis. More common in California.

6. Trifolium striatum L. - Fabaceae

   Collected by Terry Taylor next to Village Bay Ferry booth, Mayne Island, June 1, 1996 (Taylor 96-7).

NEW BOOK: THE NATURAL HISTORY OF POLLINATION

Proctor, M., P. Yeo, & A. Lack. 1996.

The natural history of pollination. Timber Press, Portland, Oregon. 479 p. ISBN 0-88192-352-4 [Hardback], ISBN 0-88192-353-2 [Paperback] Cost: US$ 42.95 [Hardback], US$24.95 [Paperback]

Ordering information: Toll-free number for credit card orders (US+Canada) 1-800-327-5680; in Canada call Cavendish Books: 1-800-665-3166.

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