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PO Box 577, Gualala CA 95445
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CALYPSO
Volume 2005, July -August 05
NE
Printed on Recycled Paper
NEWSLETTER OF THE DOROTHY KING YOUNG CHAPTER
CALIFORNIA NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY
CALENDAR
No field trips are planned for July and August.
Anyone interested in leading field trips, or wanting
to nominate a local naturalist willing to show us a
favorite local native plant haven, please let me
know: Peter Warner, P. O. Box 603 Little River,
CA 95456 (707) 937-2278.
DKY Chapter FALL PLANT SALE!
Saturday October 8th
Gualala Community Center
10:00 am – 2:00 pm
HOT TOPICS
Local regulation of seeds is under attack. As
reported in the May-June issue, our chapter voted
to oppose any seed legislation that would override
local initiatives such as Measure H. See page 4,
Legislative News, for recent updates on current
Sacramento legislation.
In related public health news, a recent decision by
the Mendocino County Public Health Advisory
Board may lead to the County’s adoption of the
Precautionary Principle. San Francisco passed a
Precautionary Principle ordinance in 2003. The
precautionary approach asks whether a given
product or practice is safe, whether it is really
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necessary, whether products or practices with less
environmental impact would perform as well. See:
www.environmentalcommons.org/precaution-
background.html;
http://www.greenaction.org/cancer/alert061803.shtml
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Precautionary_principle;
Grass Posters
CNPS grass posters are now available. There are
four separate posters per set. All four posters
have beautiful watercolor illustrations of grasses
found growing in California with artwork by Kristen
Jacob.
Three of the posters feature California native
grasses and one has non-native or introduced
species. On the back side of each one of these
posters is information on the grasses featured as
well as accurate and detailed anatomical features
of grasses with each structure identified which
helps immensely when identifying members of this
taxonomically challenging family to species,
subspecies or variety.
We have non-laminated sets for $12.00 + tax to
CNPS members and $15.00 + tax for non-
members. Laminated sets are selling for $15.00 +
tax to CNPS members and $20.00 + tax to non-
members. If you are interested in getting your
hands (and eyes) on these posters, they can be
purchased at our upcoming programs or contact
Lynn Tuft at 785-1150.
--- Jon Thompson
 IN MEMORIUM – JOAN CURRY

It is with much sorrow that we note the passing of

Joan Curry, longtime DKY volunteer and
Mendocino Village activist. A resident of the town
of Mendocino since 1989, Joan passed away at
her residence on June 20, 2005 of heart failure.
Over the years, Joan worked for public acquisition
of some important parcels of land, including Glass
Beach, Big River and the Mendocino Headlands.
Her work with CNPS included serving as Director-
At-Large on the CNPS state board of directors,
and two stints as DKY chapter president. She
also led efforts to control invasive, exotic plants in
wildlands. Though her health prevented her from
bashing weeds, she organized conferences, wrote Joan Curry 1928 - 2005
articles, and tried to increase public awareness of
weed problems.
Joan achieved legendary status as the champion
of historic preservation in Mendocino Village,
fighting for architectural integrity, appropriate land
use and the preservation of scenic views. If she
was unequivocal in expressing her beliefs, she
was also honest and straightforward. There was
never anything phony or dissembling about Joan –
she was genuine and solid, with her own personal
integrity.
Joan’s friend, Mary Weaver, wrote a novel called,
A Mendocino Mystery, in which one character, a
feisty, determined town preservation activist, is Jessie Stephenson and Joan Curry at the Annual
surely based on Joan. Dinner, 1993.
After a full life as world traveler and travel agent,
ballet and tennis fan, fond dog owner and avid art
collector, people will remember Joan as both
cantankerous and valiant. CNPS members are
likely to recall her as a cheerful field trip leader
with a deep love of wild places and the plants and
birds that dwell there.
---Lori Hubbart
---Photographs by Ramona Crooks

Among friends, including Joan’s little dog, Vuvvy. Castle

Crags State Park, 1998.
2 July – August ’05
CONSERVATION NEWS
---Lori Hubbart
We Need YOU to Make Conservation Happen!
What about plant conservation issues in the
northern portion of our chapter? All sorts of things
go on in the Mendocino/Fort Bragg area, but the
DKY conservation chair happens to live in the
southern portion of the chapter’s range. DKY can
comment on projects, and try to influence
outcomes, but only if we know about the issues in
the first place!
For example, our chapter is notified by Mendocino
County of Coastal Development Permit
applications. Are there significant plant issues
with any of these projects on which we should
comment? If you know of a CDP with plant-
related problems, or other northerly plant
conservation issues, please let me know.
To get involved with plant conservation in the
Mendocino/Fort Bragg area, please call Lori
Hubbart at 882-1655 or at lorih@mcn.org.
Fort Bragg Mill Site – Let’s Make Native Plants
Part of the Plan
The City of Fort Bragg Plans is well on its way
toward reclaiming and developing a portion of the
former Georgia Pacific Mill site. New buildings,
public trails, beach access and landscaping can
provide opportunities to showcase native plants.
Fort Bragg residents can do their part to ensure
that any native plant habitats on the site are
preserved, and advocate for the use of native
plants in landscaping. Please send letters to:
Linda Ruffing, City Planner
City of Fort Bragg
416 N. Franklin
Fort Bragg, CA 95437
Redwood Region Forest Science Symposium
In March, the University of California held a
symposium for the first time in a decade aimed at
striking a balance between the economic viability
of private redwood forestland and protecting this
unique California treasure.
Teresa Sholars, our chapter’s rare plant
coordinator, and Clare Golec, botanist with the
3 July – August ’05
local California Department of Fish and Game
(and CNPS activist), presented a paper at the
conference. It is titled Rare Plants of the Redwood
Forest and Forest Management Effects, and we
can look forward to reading the full text when
proceedings for the symposium are published.
Below is a summary of the paper:
Coast redwood forests are predominately a timber
managed habitat type (90 percent are privately
owned), frequently subjected to repeated
disturbances and entries, and short rotation
periods. What does this repeated disturbance
mean for rare plants associated with redwood
forests?
Rare plant persistence through forest
management activities is influenced by many
factors. These factors include degree and type of
impacts (direct, indirect, and cumulative),
topography, slope aspect, canopy cover,
hydrology, soil type and exposure, predation,
pollinators, mycorrhizae, dispersal, and seed
banking.
Persistence of rare plants in a managed
landscape is not in itself an indication of viability,
but may reflect an overall increase, equilibrium, or
decline in numbers. Although the persistence of
some species can seemingly mimic weedy
behavior, it is important to distinguish pioneer
species behavior from the weedy behavior of
invasive exotics.
Individual species will have different responses to
impacts from disturbance based on their
successional roles and habitat requirements, as
well as the type, intensity, size and frequency of
disturbance. Habitat requirements for rare plants
vary from species dependent on the sheltered,
shady, and moist understory of the forest to
species dependent on periodic disturbance events
in the forest.
Human disturbance and natural disturbance
regimes are not homogeneous; forest
management impacts are often more frequent and
less variable. In addition, human disturbance
regimes commonly create habitat opportunities for
invasive exotics that readily out-compete rare
species for habitat.
The persistence of rare plants in the redwood
forest is dependent on healthy forest
management, which necessitates understanding
the distribution and life history of rare species. It is
important to manage for maintenance of
heterogeneity in forest micro and macro habitats,
species composition, and age.
Legislation News
The CNPS lobbyist, Vern Goehring, has been
hard at work in Sacramento, advocating for native
plants. This last days of June are hectic at the
Capitol because last minute “gut and amend”
changes to bills AB1508 and SB1056 by Senator
Dean Florez included strong preemption language
that would serve to eliminate local control of
seeds-- including genetically engineered ones.
Vern Goehring wrote this letter 6/30/05 to Senator
Florez in response to SB1056:
Dear Senator:
The California Native Plant Society, and its
10,000 members including scientists and laypeople
supporting conservation of California’s native plants,
oppose SB 1056, which would preclude local
communities taking steps to protect their local
economies and environments from potentially
destructive plant cultivation.
Your bill makes the California Seed Law superior to
any other regulation or ordinance that may be
enacted by a local government regarding cultivation
of seeds within its jurisdiction. Several communities
have adopted restrictions on the cultivation of
certain seeds because of known and, in many
cases, unknown unintended consequences from
raising engineered seeds/plants.
The potential for “gene flow” or the successful
incorporation of genes from one plant population
into another has long been recognized as a
potential problem in maintaining healthy and viable
crop varieties and native plant communities.
Therefore, agricultural industries such as the
California rice industry have gone to great lengths to
protect the integrity of specific rice varieties critical
to the economic stability of their industry.
Similar cross-pollination from cultivated seeds and
plants to native wild plants is also a common
occurrence. Weedy plants are most susceptible to
gene flow due to an abundance of pollen.
4 July – August ’05
Communities and landowners across the State are
well aware of the public and economic costs
involved in controlling invasive species.
Science has demonstrated that gene flow rates vary
depending the crop, wild species, and local
environmental conditions. Therefore, it is critical
that local communities retain the ability to analyze
their local circumstances to protect local economies
and natural areas that provide significant value to
their citizens.
For these reasons we oppose SB 1056.
Sincerely,
Vern Goehring
Legislative Advocate
According to Britt Bailey, Director of
Environmental Commons, “The amendments to
both AB 1508 (which was thrown out) and SB1056
(which was postponed) have only one purpose: to
prohibit county ballot initiatives, ordinances, or
resolutions adopted by county supervisors or city
officials that limit the use of genetically engineered
seeds. The amendments fly in the face of the
California Constitution, which guarantees the right
of cities and counties to “make and enforce within
its limits all local, police, sanitary and other
ordinances and regulations not in conflict with
general laws”
The Chair of the Committee on Agriculture,
Barbara Matthews, stated that because the
preemption amendment is controversial and that
opposing viewpoints did not have time to prepare
a special hearing on SB1056 is to be scheduled.
Check on the progress of senate hearings at
http://www.senate.ca.gov.
Natives in Capitol Park? A native plant garden
in Capitol Park might just be a reality, thanks to
Senator Sheila Kuehl. Her office recently
contacted Vern, asking for CNPS help in
establishing a sizable garden of natives to display
the beauty and wisdom (water conservation, cost,
etc.) of using native plants in landscaping
applications.
Vern has begun working with the Sacramento
Valley Chapter to identify the many issues and
questions that need attention anticipating the
major effort to get authority to proceed with the
project later this year and in 2006.
State bills sponsored by CNPS are moving
through the legislature:
SB 502 (Kehoe) -- removes bias against native
plants in current statutes dealing with maintaining
fire breaks around structures and local weed
abatement actions. These laws now suggest that
native plants are the problem. SB 502 came out
of a suggestion from the San Diego Chapter.
AB 1466 (Laird) -- authorizes the state to enter
into a cooperative program with the federal
government and other Colorado Basin states to
undertake the removal of tamarisk from the basin
and re-establish native plants.
AB 2717 Landscape Task Force -- in 2004, AB
2717 (Laird) created a special task force to
examine and recommend ways to improve water
use efficiency in landscaping practices. One
member of the task force contacted CNPS
recently for help in promoting a recommendation
for legislation to establish the right of any
homeowner to have a well-maintained garden of
native plants, thereby discouraging any local
government or home-owners association from
adopting any rule or ordinance that would prevent
native plant landscaping.
Landscaping Resolution -- in preparation for the
Landscape Task Force-recommended legislation
in 2006, Vern is working with Senator Denise
Ducheny, of San Diego, to submit a legislative
resolution this year establishing the value of
landscaping with natives and encouraging local
entities to review their rules and ordinances to
purge any unnecessary restrictions on the use of
native plants.
INVASIVE PLANTS
The Mendocino Coast Weed Management Area
(WMA) is off and running, thanks to Peter Warner,
our chapter field trip chairperson and an ecologist
with State Parks. A number of agencies and
nonprofits are participating.
The WMA applied for a grant from the National
Fish and Wildlife Federation for removal of exotics
from local public lands. The application was
5 July – August ’05
approved, and now awaits approval from the
Mendocino County Board of Supervisors.
The grant includes money to pay Tara Athan, of
the Sanhedrin Chapter, to be project coordinator.
She has very capably steered the group through
the whole grant process, demonstrating her
commitment and superb administrative skills.
Another exciting aspect of the WMA’s work:
opportunities for public education on weed issues.
Look for more weed news as the WMA gains
momentum.
--- Lori Hubbart
FIELD TRIPS
Past 4 May: On a day when no self-respecting
Behrens’s silverspot butterfly (Speyeria zerene
behrensii) was about to take flight, a few DKY
stalwarts slogged across Manchester State Park
to tour the existing environmental campsite trail,
and to walk along part of the proposed
realignment of this trail.
We found the butterfly’s primary larval host, dog
violet (Viola adunca), dripping in the light rain, and
also spotted a few specimens of Lotus
formosissimus, thought to be a larval host plant of
the possibly extinct lotis blue butterfly (Lycaeides
argyrognomon lotis).
Along with measures proposed to preserve habitat
of the federally endangered Pt. Arena mountain
beaver (Aplodontia rufa nigra), a proposed State
Parks campground and trails project must also
address potential impacts to the two endangered
invertebrates.
While admiring the native wildflowers in bloom, we
also discussed the management of invasive
species, primarily iceplant and Monterey pines, as
well as additional measures proposed by State
Parks to improve mountain beaver and butterfly,
habitat. Latest update: the proposed trail plan has
been abandoned, with improvements to the
existing environmental camp trail forthcoming–all
for the sake of the butterflies and the Pt. Arena
mountain beaver!
4 June: While one side of Main St. in Mendocino
puts on its best face for area visitors, the other
provides habitat for a notorious list of undesirable ever ring-necked snake. We also did some birding
visitors – invasive plants that have severely (but Dard’s dipper wasn’t sighted) and butterfly
damaged the integrity and quality of the coastal spotting. Had a great campfire, great food, good
headlands. Due to a long history of human- potluck and a relaxing time. The Reserve is a
related physical disturbance, acres of beach, beautiful place and is recommended to all for all
coastal prairie, and scrub in Mendocino kinds of environmental observations.
Headlands State Park now serve as a virtually We got a special commendation from Peter Steele
complete museum of the area’s worst weeds. for the clean-up job we did before leaving. We left
These include Cape-ivy (Delairea odorata), the place a lot cleaner than when we got there.
English or Algerian ivy (Hedera spp.), what-was- Thanks to everyone.
once-Himalayan-is-now-Armenian blackberry
(Rubus armeniacus), Cotoneaster, iceplant --- Diane Wickstrom
(Carpobrotus spp.) and periwinkle (Vinca major) –
to say nothing of the dominance of non-native
grasses.
A small group of concerned citizens waded
through the waves of weeds to ponder what could
be: with no magic wands handy, we all agreed
that a sustained effort involving community and
State Parks support, local education including
hands-on restoration projects, civic pride, and
committed leadership, would be necessary to
restore the habitat potential of the Headlands.
We managed to see a few small patches of this
potential, though ‘twas not so easy to see the
wildflowers (checker bloom, Nuttall’s milkvetch, Angelo Reserve, Campers. Front Row: Jon Thompson,
Douglas iris, angelica) for the weeds. Perhaps Roan Sias, Mary Rhyne, Clare Wheeler Sias, Dorothy
with the commitment of a few more concerned Scherer. Middle Row: Roberta Rams, Elaine Mahaffey,
citizens, this landscape can one day do justice for David Tiffany. Back Row: Linda Tiffany, Diane
the scenic seaside splendor of the Mendocino Wickstrom, Jack O'Rourke, Dard Hunter, Don
Headlands. Blumenthal, Dick Scherer, Don Mahaffey.
--- Peter Warner
THE FUTURE OF FOOD
CAMPING The Future of Food is the title of a film directed,
written and produced by Deborah Koons Garcia.
Here is the report of our activities at the camp-out
The following synopsis is from the website: This
May 13-15 at the Angelo Coast Range Reserve in
film offers an in-depth investigation into the
Branscomb. There were 17 people in attendance,
disturbing truth behind the unlabeled, patented,
including Jon Thompson, Roberta Rams, Frank
genetically engineered foods that have quietly
Meany, Jack O’Rourke, Mary Rhyne, Don
filled U.S. grocery store shelves for the past
Blumenthal, Elaine and Don Mahaffey, Dard and
decade.
Mary Hunter, Dorothy and Dick Scherer, Diane
Wickstrom, Claire Wheeler-Sias and Roan Sias, From the prairies of Saskatchewan, Canada to the
Linda and David Tiffany from the East Bay chapter fields of Oaxaca, Mexico, this film gives a voice to
joined us. farmers whose lives and livelihoods have been
negatively impacted by this new technology. The
We discovered three plants not on the Reserve’s
health implications, government policies and push
list, and reported them to the wonderful, friendly
towards globalization are all part of the reason
steward, Peter Steele. Many of us saw our first
6 July – August ’05
why many people are alarmed by the introduction
of genetically altered crops into our food supply.
Shot on location in the U.S., Canada and Mexico,
THE FUTURE OF FOOD examines the complex
web of market and political forces that are
changing what we eat as huge multinational
corporations seek to control the world's food
system. The film also explores alternatives to
large-scale industrial agriculture, placing organic
and sustainable agriculture as real solutions to the
farm crisis today. -- end of synopsis.
Some of the advisors for this film include: Andrew
Kimbrell, Executive Director, Center for Food
Safety; Dr. Charles M. Benbrook, Former Director,
Board on Agriculture, National Academy of
Science; Fred Kirschenmann, Director, Leopold
Center for Sustainable Agriculture, Iowa State
University; Dr. Ignacio Chapela, Microbial
Ecologist, University of California, Berkeley.
For further information see:
www.thefutureoffood.com. The Future of Food
DVD is available in the Mendocino County Public
Library system at www.mendolibrary.org.
MT. DIABLO BUCKWHEAT
REDISCOVERED
Reprinted from article at www.savemountdiablo.org.
Media release 5/24/2005
The list of extinct species just dropped by one.
Representatives of U.C. Berkeley's Jepson
Herbarium, Mt. Diablo State Park (MDSP), and
Save Mount Diablo (SMD) announced the
rediscovery of the Mount Diablo buckwheat
(Eriogonom truncatum), a pretty wildflower last
seen in 1936 and presumed globally extinct.
On May 10, 2005, Michael Park, a botanist and
graduate student at U.C. Berkeley rediscovered
the buckwheat in a remote corner of Mt. Diablo
State Park, at a location previously unrecorded.
“We've been calling the Mount Diablo buckwheat
the holy grail for botanists working in the East
Bay, both for professionals and for dedicated
volunteers—it's been the number one priority that
we've been trying to relocate,” said Barbara Ertter,
Curator of Western North American Flora at U.C.
Berkeley's Jepson Herbarium.
7 July – August ’05
All but one of the historic records of the plant—
there were just seven records of the plant from
1862 to 1936—are from Mt. Diablo or the Antioch-
Brentwood area; one record is from Solano
County. Until Park's rediscovery, the last record
of the wildflower was by SMD co-founder and
botanist Mary Bowerman, sixty-nine years ago.
“California has about 6300 native vascular plant
species, about 1/3 are endemic (found only) in the
state. Mt. Diablo has 900 plant species of which a
quarter are non-native, yet non-natives represent
a vast majority of what you see in grassland
areas. Twenty-nine plant species on Mt. Diablo
are considered rare or endangered and eleven are
endemic to the Mt. Diablo region, including the
Mount Diablo buckwheat,” said Ertter.
The Mount Diablo buckwheat (Eriogonom
truncatum) is an annual herb, 10-70 cm in height,
with white to rose-colored flowers from mid-April
to May (although records show April to December,
with May most common). It was historically found
in Chaparral, Valley Grassland, and Northern
Coastal Scrub habitats, in sandy soil and
grassland slopes.
It is thought that competition by introduced non-
native plants is responsible for its rarity. In recent
years its historic habitat has been threatened by
development pressure.
The buckwheat family has over 1000 species
worldwide and is well represented in California,
with approximately 113 species. Some buckwheat
species are edible; the seeds of some members of
the family are eaten and ground into flour like
cereal grains.
The three-sided achenes (or fruits) resemble
miniature nuts from the beech tree. This
resemblance led to the German name
'buchweizen' (beech-wheat) which was
corrupted to 'buckwheat.'
Contact: Barbara Errter for more information
Jepson Herbarium, U.C. Berkeley 510 642-2465
OFFICERS 2005 MEMBERSHIP
President: Jon Thompson 884-4847 New Members:
Vice President: Roz Bray 785-2694 Jed Ivy Point Arena
Secretary: Rich Schimbor 785-9626 Dorothy Gregor The Sea Ranch
Treasurer: Mary Hunter 785-1150
Total members: 145
STANDING COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSONS --- Submitted by Bob Rutemoeller
AT LARGE OPEN
DKY CHAPTER WEBPAGE at www.dkycnps.org
CAMPING Diane Wickstrom 884-4556
displays beautiful wildflower photographs by Bob
CONSERVATION Lori Hubbart 882-1655
Kellers, Tony Rizzo and others. You may view the
fax:882-1645;
current issue of Calypso (with color photos!) as well a
Greg Jirak 882-1660
past issues. Norm Jensen, DKY webmaster,
EDUCATION Heidi Marshall 884-3831
encourages you to send in photos.
FIELDTRIPS Peter Warner 937-2278
HISTORIAN Ramona Crooks 884-3585
HOSPITALITY: CNPS MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION
North Coast OPEN DOROTHY KING YOUNG CHAPTER
South Coast Beverly Sloane 785-3134 Membership in the California Native Plant Society is open
Roberta Rams 884-4847 to all. The task and mission of the Society is to increase
INVASIVES Peter Warner 937-2278 awareness, understanding, and appreciation of California
JUBATA ERADICATION Roz Bray 785-2694 native plants. The challenge is to preserve their natural
LEGISLATION OPEN habitat through scientific educational, and conservation
MAILINGS Linda Jones 785-1743 activities. Membership includes subscription to the
MEMBERSHIP Bob Rutemoeller 884-4426 quarterly Fremontia, as well as our local chapter
NEWSLETTER Julia Larke 964-2845 newsletter, the Calypso.
PLANT SALE Jon Thompson 884-4847 Name ______________________________________
PLANT WATCH Heidi Marshall 884-3831 Address ____________________________________
POSTERS Lynn Tuft 785-3392 City ________________________ Zip ___________
PROGRAMS OPEN; Lori Hubbart (pro tem) Tel ___________ e-mail _____________________
PUBLICITY OPEN
RARE & ENDANGERED: I wish to affiliate with the DKY Chapter _______
North Teresa Sholars 962-2686 or, other chapter _____________________________
Inland Clare Wheeler-Sias 895-3131 (Please check, or name a chapter; CNPS will make
Sea Ranch Elaine Mahaffey 785-2279 assignment if none is specified by applicant.)
Sonoma Co. Dorothy Scherer 882-2850
South Coast Mary Rhyne 884-3043 MEMBERSHIP CATEGORY
VEGETATION Student/Retired/Limited Income $20
North & South OPEN Individual/Library $35
WEBMASTER Norm Jensen Family/Group $45
webmaster@dkycnps.org Supporting $75
All phone numbers are Area Code 707. Plant Lover $100
Patron $250
NEXT BOARD MEETING: 10:00 a.m. Wednesday Benefactor $500
August 17th, Coast Library Community Room, Point Mariposa Lily $1000
Arena. All members are welcome. For information, Make check out to the California Native Plant Society;
please contact Jon Thompson 884-4847. mail check and application to:
Bob Rutemoeller, Membership Committee
CALYPSO Sept-Oct Deadline: Please send DKY Chapter, CNPS
newsletter items by August 20th. Contact J. Larke at PO Box 577
964-2845, P.O. Box 1631, Fort Bragg, CA, 95437. Gualala, CA 95445

8 July – August ’05