December 2012 Number 1 - Utah Native Plant Society

Calochortiana December 2012 Number 1
The Taxonomic Distinctness of Eriogonum corymbosum
var. nilesii
Mark Ellis, Biology Department, Utah State University,
Logan, UT.
Abstract: We examined populations of perennial,
shrubby buckwheats in the Eriogonum corymbosum
complex and related Eriogonum species in the subgenus
Eucycla, to assess genetic affiliations of the recently
named variety E. corymbosum var. nilesii. We compared
AFLP profiles and chloroplast DNA sequences of
plants sampled from Colorado, Utah, Nevada, northern
Arizona, and northern New Mexico. We found evidence
of genetic cohesion among Nevada's Clark County
populations as well as their genetic divergence from
populations of other E. corymbosum varieties and
Eriogonum species. The genetic component uncovered
in this study supports the morphological findings upon
which the nomenclatural change was based, attesting to
the taxonomic distinctness of this biological entity.
Drymocallis and Other Generic Segregates from
Potentilla (Rosaceae)
Barbara Ertter, UC Berkeley, Curator of Western North
American Flora
Abstract: Generic delimitation in tribe Potentilleae
(Rosaceae) has historically vacillated between a
broadly circumscribed Potentilla and recognition of
various segregate genera. Recent convergence of morphological
and molecular studies has shown that several
segregates are in fact more closely related to Fragaria
than to core Potentilla. These are accordingly treated as
Comarum palustre, Dasiphora fruticosa, Sibbaldia procumbens,
Sibbaldiopsis tridentata, and multiple species
of Drymocallis in a pending volume of Flora of North
America (FNA). The last genus includes Potentilla arguta,
P. fissa, and P. glandulosa in North America, as
well as 10-20 Eurasian species (e.g., D. rupestris). However,
rather than simply transferring the existing subspecies
or varieties of P. glandulosa into Drymocallis, a
provisional revision was undertaken to more closely
approximate the natural variation that occurs in western
North America. As a result, 15 species of Drymocallis
are recognized in FNA, some with additional varieties:
D. arguta, D. arizonica, D. ashlandica, D. campanulata,
D. convallaria, D. cuneifolia, D. deserertica, D. fissa,
D. glabrata, D. glandulosa, D. hansenii, D. lactea, D.
micropetala, D. pseudorupestris, and D. rhomboidea.
Some species and varieties are newly described, and
additional variation was noted as potentially deserving
taxonomic recognition or conservation attention. This
revision of Drymocallis acknowledges the existence of
wide zones of intergradation and ambiguous populations,
countered by the philosophy that conservation and
other needs are poorly served by too broad taxonomic
circumscriptions that gloss over valid components of
biodiversity in an ecogeographic setting.
Doing Adaptive Management: Improving the Application
of Science to the Restoration of a Rare
Tahoe Plant
Bruce Pavlik and Alison Stanton, BMP Ecosciences,
South Lake Tahoe, CA
Abstract: Tahoe yellow cress (Rorippa subumbellata),
a plant endemic to the shores of Lake Tahoe, has been a
candidate for protection under the Endangered Species
Act since 1999. In 2002, a conservation strategy that
described an adaptive management process for directing
research, management, and restoration of the species
was adopted by 13 signatory stakeholders. Although the
implementation phase is at least four years from completion,
we believe it provides an operative example of
science-driven decision making. Specifically, we have
found that implementation of adaptive management can
be successful if: 1) the conceptual model of the adaptive
management process is modified to include benefits to
biological resources in situ, 2) all stakeholders are included
upfront in the adaptive management working
group to participate in the strategy and design of the
whole program, 3) key management questions are used
to focus data collection and identify essential management
actions, and 4) information flow and the sequence
of project stages (actions) are designed to facilitate
stakeholder responses. In addition, the chance of success
is greatly increased when agencies carefully choose target
resources that meet several corollary requirements.
A program of experimental reintroductions of Tahoe
yellow cress from 2003 to 2006 not only produced a
wealth of knowledge useful to managers, it also released
1.5 million new seeds and 10,000 new plantlets into appropriate
habitats around Lake Tahoe. Such tangible
benefit to the species prompted the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service to downgrade the priority status of the species
under ESA.
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