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CALYPSO
NEWSLETTER OF THE DOROTHY KING YOUNG CHAPTER
CALIFORNIA NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY
PROGRAM
ENVIRONMENTAL POTLUCK
Monday, March 19 6:00 PM
Recreation Hall, Russian Gulch State Park
Our chapter is hosting this year’s Annual
Environmental Potluck, co-sponsored by the
Mendocino Coast Audubon Society,
Mendocino Area Parks Association and
Mendocino Land Trust.
We will need help setting up and taking down,
coordinating the serving area, making coffee
and hot water, taking money at the door and
more. Please save the date and see the next
issue of the Calypso for program details.
PRESIDENT’S CORNER
by Lori Hubbart
As I put fingers to the keyboard, it’s like the
Siberian steppes outside – icy cold with dry,
relentless winds. All of us may be trying even
harder to conserve water if things don’t
change. Even drought-adapted native plants
need water during the winter months, though
it’s hard to imagine saving up water in plastic
jugs to use on native plants.
PAID
GUALALA CA
PERMIT NO.21
The New Year looks to be a good one for
CNPS, with opportunities for collaboration and
partnerships both statewide and locally (see
below). The question is, will it be a good year
for the plants themselves?
December Annual Meeting – Thanks to Peter
Warner! Our December Annual Meeting and
Potluck featured tastier-than-ever food and
good conversation, too. The program speaker
was Peter Warner of State Parks, who showed
pictures of his botanical ramblings throughout
California.
He focused on local and non-local species
within the same genera. For example, he
compared the coast sand verbenas in the
genus Abronia and then showed sand verbena
species from California’s deserts.
Peter conveyed a wonderful sense of the
relatedness of the plants throughout the state
and the ways they have adapted to their
particular environments. Many of the photos
were stunning, despite the speaker’s
disclaimer. Thank you, Peter, for a delightful
program!
Transition – Clare Golec, who reviewed
Timber Harvest Plans (THPs) for the California
Department of Fish and Game (DFG), is back
in Humboldt County. She has transferred to
Caltrans, where she will work on roadside
vegetation management issues in Del Norte,
Humboldt and (we hope) Mendocino Counties.
Surely THPs have never received such close
agency scrutiny as when Clare was on the job.
Local timber activists will miss her acute
observations and determination to see that
environmental regulations were followed.
Clare’s friends here will miss her hearty good
cheer. This is a loss to our chapter and the
local environment, but we can be happy for
Clare that she is back in Arcata with her family,
working in a less stressful position.
Definition:
Timber Harvest Plan (THP): The California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) of 1970 and
the California Forest Practice Act of 1973 are two
laws that were enacted to help protect
environmental quality and regulate timber harvest
in California on all non-federal land. If cutting
wood to sell, all landowners in California (both
private and commercial) must file a Timber
Harvest Plan (THP) with the California
Department of Forestry.
The plan outlines what timber an owner wants to
harvest, how it will be harvested, and the steps
that will be taken to prevent damage to the
environment. THPs are prepared by Registered
Professional Foresters and are carried out by a
Licensed Timber Operator. The THP process is
much abused because economics generally
override environmental concerns and many plans
are inadequate. THP’s are reviewed by
conservation-minded citizens in an effort to
identify plans that violate the law. If you have any
questions, please contact Greg Jirak or Lori
Hubbart, 882-1655.
NEW BOARD MEMBERS
We again thank out-going Secretary, Rich
Schimbor, for a job well-done and welcome our
new Vice President, Mario Abreu and new
Secretary, Nancy Morin.
Mario Abreu holds a degree in Letters and
Science and was an Instructional Aide
at Chabot College where he tutored
mathematics. He managed seafood
restaurants in the San Francisco Bay Area
before he and his wife, JoAnne, moved to
Albion in 1990. In 1993, Mario began
volunteering at the Mendocino Coast Botanical
Gardens and was hired in 1997 as the plant
nursery and propagation supervisor. He now
2 January-February ‘07
wears many hats including revegetation
coordinator of the gardens Natural Areas. He
has interned with the Department of Fish and
Game and served as a CA State Park Aide
with the Big River Management Project.
He is a member of the California Invasive Pest
Council (Cal-IPC) and bi-annually removes
Scotch Broom from Albion Ridge with other
weed warriors. From Mario, "We are fortunate
to reside in an area with a vast diversity of
plant communities and to have proactive
citizens among us that speak out against
threats that diminish the natural beauty that
inspires us all."
Dr. Nancy Morin is a plant taxonomist who
has worked at various botanical gardens and
related organizations and has been involved in
the Flora of North America project since its
beginning. Nancy wrote the treatment for the
Campanulaceae (except where specified) in
the Jepson Manual. She retired "to do botany"
and live year-round in Point Arena at the end of
2004.
She continues to work in various capacities on
the Flora of North America, studies
Campanulaceae, has courtesy appointments at
Northern Arizona University and California
Academy of Sciences, and is currently on the
Board of the Mendocino Coast Botanical
Gardens.
The Chapter is fortunate to have these two
exceptionally talented people on the DKY
chapter board and we look forward to working
with them in the coming year.
Our Chapter Needs You!
The DKY Chapter has volunteer opportunities for you.
Chairpersons are needed for the following areas:
AT LARGE
EDUCATION
HOSPITALITY - North Coast
LEGISLATION
PROGRAMS
VEGETATION - North & South
For further information, please contact Lori
Hubbart, 882-1655, lorih@mcn.org.
CONSERVATION NEWS –
by Lori Hubbart
Pygmy Forest – The final news on the lawsuit
over Mendocino County’s treatment of pygmy
forest in the permit process is that our attorney
had his fees paid by the County. So the
plaintiffs (Sierra Club, Albion River Watershed
Association and CNPS) all got their money
back. This means our chapter may have a bit
of money to use for another conservation
cause, should the need arise.
Meanwhile, the Pygmy Forest Working Group
is working to establish better communication
with county staff and better understanding of
county permit processes. The group met with
two planners from Mendocino County’s Coastal
Planning Office. Even though most pygmy
forest is outside the Coastal Zone, it seemed
best to start with people closest to home.
We had a very helpful exchange of information
and ideas, and got a much-needed lesson on
the workings of the county’s various
departments. In the coming year we plan to
expand our meetings with county staffers and
take public officials on educational tours of the
pygmy forest.
Gualala Retaining Wall Project - DKY has
supported establishment of the Gualala Bluff
trail in word and deed, including donating
money to the trail’s sponsoring organization,
the Redwood Coast Land Conservancy.
Work on the portion of the trail behind Surf
Supermarket has been postponed pending the
outcome of a permit application by the
landowner for a vast concrete retaining
structure along 285 feet of bluff and down the
cliff face.
DKY has sent a letter to Mendocino County
and the California Coastal Commission
pointing out the ways this project would have
significant environmental impacts. This means
it would need environmental review under the
California Environmental Quality Act.
Beyond any trail issues, the proposed
industrial-strength concrete structure would
cover much of the cliff face visible from Gualala
Point Park. It seems unlikely that such
3 January-February ‘07
massive concrete works are needed to repair a
failed retaining wall or support the structures
sited near the bluff edge. Regulations require
that the structure be designed to meet current
needs and not for some undisclosed, future
project.
Botany and Restoration – Several chapter
members attended a two-day symposium put
on by a new group called Northern California
Botanists. There were about 150 people there,
and the focus was on vegetation management,
professional ethics and botanical detective
work. We left the symposium hopeful that
CNPS will find ways to collaborate with NorCal
Bot to share knowledge and build awareness
of native plant issues. To learn more and join
this organization, please see its website:
www.csuchico.edu/biol/Herb/norcalbot/index.htm
Closer to home, the Noyo Headlands Unified
Design Group is planning its first workshop
about coastal habitat restoration – the GP Mill
site and beyond! It will bring environmental
professionals and activists together to discuss
restoration needs, setting up facilities for
growing local native plants and of course
funding challenges. DKY will be well
represented at the meeting, so look for a more
detailed report in a later newsletter.
Conservation Thoughts – DKY comments on
the Gualala concrete structure were late,
though it turned out the comment period was
extended anyway. Our letter was not written
sooner because CNPS was not on the county’s
notification list for this particular permit
application.
County planning staffers may have been under
the impression that CNPS is interested only in
rare plant issues. Since no rare plants were
found on the project site, CNPS was not
included on the distribution list.
The chapter will write to the county’s Ukiah and
Fort Bragg planning staff explaining that CNPS
tracks a variety of plant conservation issues.
As someone once pointed out, this is not the
“California Rare Native Plant Society” but an
organization working for conservation of our
state’s flora as a whole.
CNPS conservation concerns include rare
plants, rare vegetation types, functional
properties, habitat values, wetland issues, high
species diversity, restoration potential
(including weed issues), public appreciation,
proper botanical surveys and, in the Coastal
Zone, Environmentally Sensitive Habitat Areas
(ESHAs).
Let’s hope that all CNPS members share these
concerns, even though we don’t always have
the resources to do justice to them.
FIELD TRIPS
by Peter Warner
I'm working on a schedule for field trips this
coming spring and summer. Among them will
be trips to Ft. Ross State Park and the
Montgomery Woods State Reserve, as well as
a possible weekend trip to the Lassics, a
botanically interesting area astride the
Humboldt-Trinity Co. line in Six Rivers National
Forest. Anyone interested in leading a field
trip, locally or to exotic lands, please contact
me at 964-8242 or corylus@earthlink.net. I'll
have a full schedule of trips prepared for the
next Calypso.
Mendocino Coast Botanical
Gardens Schedule
For information call 962-9413 or 964-6362.
Weekly Docent Tours Mondays, 1:30 p.m.
1st Monday Natural History of the Gardens
2nd Monday Guided Garden Tour
3rd Monday Guided Garden Tour
4th Monday Birds in the Gardens
Mushroom and Wine Festival Special Walks
~ Mushroom Identification- Every Monday from
November 13 to January 30.
Birdwatching with the Audubon Society
Walks start at the Gardens Entrance. Tour is
included in the Gardens admission. Early Bird
walks are held on the third Wednesday of each
month, beginning at 8 am. Beginning Birding
walks are held on the first Saturday of each
month, beginning at 9 am.
Friends of the Mendocino Coast Botanical
Gardens (FOG) Meetings are held almost
4 January-February ‘07
every first Tuesday at 4pm (No meetings in
December and January.) in the Gardens'
Meeting Room. You are invited to join this
volunteer support group. For information about
FOG or to join in the fun, call Karen at
707.964.4352 ext 25.
Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens' Board
Meeting Are you interested in finding out more
about how MCBG works? You are welcome to
join us at a Board Meeting. Held in the
Gardens' Meeting Room. Please call 964.4352
ext 10.
Wildflower Course at
College of the Redwoods
Sign-up now for a wildflower course taught by
Peter Warner. For more information contact
College of the Redwoods at 962-2600.
Wildflowers/Coniferous Forests
Sat 9:00–1:30 3/31 and 4/21 and 5/5
This short course introduces students to the
common wildflowers and other dominant plants
of the closed-cone pine and redwood forests.
The biology and ecology of the species and the
plant communities in which they grow will be
discussed.
MENDOCINO LAND TRUST
Big River Stewards - Upcoming invasive plant
removal workdays are scheduled for Big River
on February 17th, March 17th and April 21st. We
meet at Big River Beach at 10 am for all
workdays and conclude by 2 pm. We’ve been
struggling a bit to keep the numbers up for our
workdays this winter and we can accomplish
so much more with more volunteers.
Contact: Matt Coleman, Big River Stewards
Coordinator, 962-0470,
mcoleman@mendocinolandtrust.
Navarro Point - In general, Navarro Point
workdays will be on the 2nd Wednesday of the
month. During the months of February and
March we will take a break from our invasive
removal efforts. I expect to start up again no
later than May, and possibly April. Contact:
Louisa Morris, Conservation Project Manager,
962-0470, lmorris@mendocinolandtrust.org.
SPECIES PROFILE: shorter in Scoliopus hallii. Populations of S.
bigelovii have been reported in old-growth
Scoliopus bigelovii Torrey redwood forest in Oregon near the California
California Fetid Adder’s Tongue, border.
USDA FS & USDI BLM. 1994b. Final supplemental
Slinkpod environmental impact statement on managing
by Julia Larke habitat for late successional and old-growth
species within the range of the northern spotted owl.
Scoliopus bigelovii, a perennial herb in the
Lily Family, is a plant with two great common The Pollinator Conservation Digital Library lists
names, fetid adder’s tongue and slinkpod. It is the range for Scoliopus bigelovii as Coastal
thought to be endemic to California; the only northern California and southern Oregon.
other species in the genus is S. hallii, endemic See http://libraryportals.com/ PCDL/plants/
to Oregon. Although S. bigelovii has a narrow scoliopus-bigelovii-1005
distribution (Outer Coast Ranges and San
Francisco Bay area) it is not considered rare.
It inhabits moist, shaded areas below ~1000 m
in understory slopes of redwood and coastal
coniferous forests where it occurs along mossy
streambanks and in cool moist leaf litter. It
flowers from late winter to spring.
Sources: Jepson Manual http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu
Flora of North America - www.efloras.org
includes illustration.

The strong scent of the flower gives rise to the

name “fetid” and the shape and color of the
narrow “petals” (tepals) of the flower evoke an
“adder’s tongue”. The mottled oblong leaves
nestled in the duff also suggest an adder’s Scoliopus bigelovii in mossy streambank habitat,
tongue to some (a very big adder indeed!). shaded coastal forest, May 2003, Sonoma County,
See: Marin County Chapter, CNPS CA . Photo by Bob Rutemoeller.
www.marin.cc.ca.us/cnps/Scoliopusbigelovii.html

Slinkpod refers to the interesting seed

dispersal mechanism in Scoliopus. As the fruit
stalk matures it bends with the weight of the
capsule and slinks down into nearby leaf litter
while still attached to the “mother” plant.
Fungal gnats are known pollinators (attracted
by the flower’s fetid scent). Ants and slugs,
attracted by the highly edible elaisome
appendage on the seed, are thought to aid in
dispersal from capsules that dehisce in the
upper layers of leaf litter. Source: BLM
http://www.blm.gov/or/plans/surveyandmanage/SP/Va
scularPlants/scoliopusbigelovii.htm

If you are botanizing in southern Oregon and

find a population of fetid adder’s tongue, try the
key in Flora of North America efloras.org: the The mottled leaves of Scoliopus bigelovii blend into
surrounding leaf litter. Mary Sue Ittner took this
leaves, pedicel, outer tepals and style are all
photo in March 2005.
5 January-February ‘07

Scoliopus bigelovii in cool moist duff under coast
redwoods, bigleaf maples. Jan 25, 2004, Nisene
Marks State Park, Santa Cruz County, CA
© Aaron Schusteff.
Aaron Schusteff writes about the above photo
in CalPhotos.org: “Close-up shot of flower
showing a pollinator (muscoid fly?) resting on
sepal at right. Note how smothered it is with
pollen! This fly lingered for many minutes on
this flower. The flowers have a peculiar odor
which presumably attracts its pollinators and
gives rise to another common name for the
plant, Fetid Adder's Tongue. (Adder's Tongue
referring to shape of the three long thin
ascending petals?). Some people find the
smell quite unpleasant, but it's not so bad to
me...the best description I can give is that it
smells like wet dog fur :-). For other interesting
information about this plant (e.g. ant and slug
dispersal of seeds) and detailed references
see the BLM website” (see previous page).
Further reading: Biology of Scoliopus (Liliaceae)-
Phytogeography and Systematics by Frederick H.
Utech.Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden,
Vol. 79, No. 1 (1992), pp. 126-142.
6 January-February ‘07
GARDEN NOTES
by Lori Hubbart
Last fall the deer seemed to invade gardens
earlier than usual. This was odd, since late
spring rains should have kept their wild food
plants green for a longer period. I could hardly
believe the stories of deer eating Dudleya
plants in gardens until it happened to me.
One night the “rats on stilts” got in and ate the
centers out of all the Dudleya rosettes in my
pots. Now you know why there were so few
Dudleyas at our plant sale. Deer like
succulents? Who knew?
They also chewed up some leaves and twigs
from a potted pitcher sage, Lepechinia
calycina, and even sampled the rosemary.
Deer are not supposed to like plants in the
mint/sage family! Ah, well, they don’t know
that - the creatures can’t read, after all.
Now I have an area fenced off (Callooh,
Callay!) to protect young plants, vegetables
and plants grown for the DKY plant sale. At
least the plants are protected from deer and
rabbits. Raccoons, squirrels, ringtails and
woodrats could probably still get in, and may
yet do so.
Another garden pest is the common snail,
originally brought here from Europe as culinary
escargot. Alas, they hitchhiked in on some
nursery stock, and they prefer to shelter in
plants of seaside daisy, Erigeron glaucus.
They don’t seem to eat this plant, just hide in it.
Weeds are pestiferous, too, and while you are
attacking the new crop, think about how to
practice conservation principles in the garden.
There are always ways to reuse and recycle.
For example, our chapter buys very few new
plastic pots for the plants sold at our sales.
(The exception being the narrow “root pots
used for tap-rooted plants.) Most containers
are donated by chapter members, returned to
us by customers, or bought dirt cheap at
recycle/thrift stores and yard sales. Even the
wildflower pots and dish gardens are in
containers begged from friends or relatives.
When traveling afar, on batched-up errands, be
on the lookout for sources of second hand
containers. It’s amazing what you can acquire
if you pay attention. I have been inspired by
the charming garden of our chapter historian,
Ramona Crooks. She loves to incorporate
“repurposed” items, and I sometimes run into
her at yard sales, looking for bargains.
NATIVE PLANT NURSERIES
A good time to transplant is during cooler rainy
months so that roots may establish before dry
summer months. The following nurseries carry
native plants for gardens or for land restoration.
If you know of a nursery not listed below that offers
natives, let us know.
Check in advance for hours of operation.
Anderson Valley Nursery
18151 Mountain View Rd
Boonville CA 95415
(707) 895-3853
Ken Montgomery has a great selection of beautiful,
healthy California natives & Mediterranean plants.
California Flora Nursery
Somers and D streets in Fulton, CA
(707) 528-8813
A small, unconventional nursery devoted to
California natives and Mediterranean’s.
Gualala Trading Company & Nursery
38700 South Highway 1
Gualala, CA 95445-0957
(707) 884.9633, ventrellat@aol.com
Check out their selection of California natives and
Sea Ranch approved plants.
Jughandle Creek Nature Center – Nursery
15501 North Highway 1
Caspar, California 95420
(707) 964-4630, www.jughandle.creek.org
The nursery is involved in restoration/education
activities with Mendocino County schools and
cooperating landowners.
Larner Seeds
P.O. Box 407
Bolinas, CA 94924
(415) 868-9407, www.larnerseeds.com
Mail order seed. Also, nursery plants, especially
coastal natives. Demonstration garden.
7 January-February ‘07
Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens
8220 North Highway One
Fort Bragg, CA 95437
(707) 964-4352, www.gardenbythesea.org
The retail nursery specializes in rhododendrons,
heathers, and native plants.
Mostly Natives Nursery
27235 Hwy One
P.O. Box 258
Tomales, CA 94971
(707) 878-2009, www.mostlynatives.com
Wholesale & retail plants, coastal natives and
drought-tolerant plants.
North Coast Native Nursery
Petaluma, CA 94953
(707) 769-1213 www.northcoastnativenursery.com
Native plants for woodland, coastal and riparian
habitats, wholesale & retail seed & plants.
Jepson Herbarium Workshops
For more information on the workshops, or to
register, contact Cynthia Perrine (510) 643–7008,
http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/workshops/2007/index.html.
Unless otherwise specified, workshops are held at
UC Berkeley. April–Nov. workshops to be listed in
coming newsletters.
Microbial Diversity: The Final Frontier
January 20, 2007 - Dan Buckley
Evolution and Genomics: The New Modern
Synthesis January 27, 2007 - Jeff Boore
Assembling (and using) the Fungal Tree of Life
February 3, 2007 - Dave Hibbett & Jason Slot
"Arm-chair" Tree-Building: Phylogenetic Analysis
Using Bioinformatic Resources
February 10, 2007 - Kirsten Fisher
Peatmosses (Sphagnum)
February 24–25, 2007 - Jonathan Shaw
Bryophyte Inventory and Sampling Techniques
March 1–4, 2007 - Jim Shevock
Vertebrate Phylogenetics
March 10, 2007 - Matt Brandley
Introduction to Morphology and Identification of
Flowering Plants
March 17–18, 2007 - Linda Ann Vorobik
Fifty Plant Families in the Field - This workshop is
FULL, wait list only - Linda and Richard Beidleman
March 24–25 and March 31–April 1, 2007 (2
consecutive weekends)
Basics of Botanical Illustration
March 24–25, 2007 - Linda Ann Vorobik
OFFICERS 2007
President: Lori Hubbart 882-1655
fax 882-1645
Vice President: Mario Abreu 937-3155
Secretary: Nancy Morin 882-2528
Treasurer: Mary Hunter 785-1150 MEMBERSHIP
COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSONS New members:
Becky Bowen Caspar
AT LARGE OPEN Linda Foote Mendocino
CAMPING Diane Wickstrom 884-4556 Mary Heibel Manchester
CONSERVATION Lori Hubbart 882-1655 Terrence Knaus Fort Bragg
Greg Jirak 882-1660 Susan Moon Point Arena
EDUCATION OPEN
FIELDTRIPS Peter Warner 964-8242 Renewal – renewal date is listed on the address
HISTORIAN Ramona Crooks 884-3585 label of your CNPS Bulletin or Fremontia.
HOSPITALITY: Gift Memberships - Give a friend or neighbor
North Coast OPEN a gift membership.
South Coast Beverly Sloane 785-3134 Please Contact Bob Rutemoeller, 884-4426;
Roberta Rams 884-4847 brutem@mcn.org if you have questions.
INVASIVE PLANTS Peter Warner 964-8242
JUBATA ERADICATION:
at Sea Ranch Roz Bray 785-2694 CNPS MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION
LEGISLATION OPEN DOROTHY KING YOUNG CHAPTER
MAILINGS Roberta Rams 884-4847
Membership in the California Native Plant Society is
MEMBERSHIP Bob Rutemoeller 884-4426
open to all. The task and mission of the Society is to
NEWSLETTER Julia Larke 964-2845
increase awareness, understanding, and appreciation
PLANT SALE
of California native plants. The challenge is to
PLANT WATCH Heidi Marshall 884-3831
preserve their natural habitat through scientific,
POSTERS Lynn Tuft 785-3392
educational, and conservation activities. Membership
PROGRAMS OPEN; Lori Hubbart (pro tem)
includes subscription to the quarterly Fremontia, as
PUBLICITY Gail Hamilton 884-3807
well as our local chapter newsletter, the Calypso.
RARE & ENDANGERED:
Coordinator Teresa Sholars 962-2686 Name_____________________________________
Inland Clare Wheeler-Sias 895-3131 Address___________________________________
Sea Ranch Elaine Mahaffey 785-2279 City _______________________ Zip ___________
Sonoma Co. Dorothy Scherer 882-2850 Tel. ___________ E-mail_____________________
South Coast Mary Rhyne 884-3043
I wish to affiliate with the DKY Chapter___________
VEGETATION
or, other chapter ____________________________
North & South OPEN
WEBMASTER Norm Jensen (Please check, or name a chapter; CNPS will make
webmaster@dkycnps.org assignment if none is specified by applicant.)
All phone numbers are Area Code 707. MEMBERSHIP CATEGORY
Student/Retired/Limited Income $25
Individual $45
NEXT BOARD MEETING: The next Family/Group/Library $75
meeting of the Executive Board is scheduled for Plant Lover $100
February 7th at the Point Arena Library. For details, Patron $300
please contact Lori Hubbart at 882-1655. Benefactor $600
Mariposa Lily $1,500
CALYPSO DEADLINE: Please send
newsletter items by March 10, 2007 to: Julia Larke, Make check out to the California Native Plant Society;
P.O. Box 1631, Fort Bragg, CA, 95437; 964-2845, mail check and application to:
jlarke@mcn.org. Bob Rutemoeller, Membership Committee
DKY Chapter, CNPS
CHAPTER WEBPAGE: www.dkycnps.org. PO Box 577
Please send photographs and articles for posting to
Gualala, CA 95445
Norm Jensen, webmaster@dkycnps.org.

8 January-February ‘07