Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Provisional Plant Checklist tabulation for McGee Peak, Shasta County.

Magee Peak, Shasta County is a subalpine summit situated about 20 miles northward from Mt. Lassen. MaGee Volcano exploded with a caldera eruption about 220kA ago. The peak has an extensive cirque on the north facing caldera wall and floor, and a blast zone to the north containing about 70 lakes of various sizes. McGee Peak (8549 ft) and Crater Peak (8683 ft) are the highest summits on the rim of the caldera. The region is designated as the Thousand Lakes wilderness, although about 930 lakes shy of that number.

This checklist is based on CCH specimen records and on my 1974-1975 collections: Frank W. Peirson collected on Magee Peak in 1932. A total of 318 specimen records are databased.

My intention is to complete a florula of the region, for comparison with nearby Lassen Volcanic National Park, which is well documented.

  1. Aceraceae Acer glabrum var. torreyi
  2. Apiaceae Osmorhiza chilensis
  3. Apiaceae Perideridia lemmonii
  4. Apiaceae Perideridia parishii subsp. latifolia
  5. Apocynaceae Apocynum androsaemifolium
  6. Apocynaceae Cycladenia humilis
  7. Apocynaceae Cycladenia humilis var. humilis
  8. Aristolochiaceae Asarum hartwegii
  9. Asclepiadaceae Asclepias cordifolia
  10. Asteraceae Ageratina occidentalis
  11. Asteraceae Antennaria corymbosa
  12. Asteraceae Antennaria media ssp. media
  13. Asteraceae Antennaria rosea ssp. confinis
  14. Asteraceae Arnica dealbata
  15. Asteraceae Chaenactis nevadensis
  16. Asteraceae Chrysothamnus humilis
  17. Asteraceae Chrysothamnus nauseosus X Ericameria bloomeri
  18. Asteraceae Ericameria nauseosa ssp. speciosa
  19. Asteraceae Erigeron compositus
  20. Asteraceae Hieracium albiflorum
  21. Asteraceae Hulsea nana
  22. Asteraceae Madia glomerata
  23. Asteraceae Oreostemma alpigena var. andersonii
  24. Asteraceae Stephanomeria tenuifolia
  25. Boraginaceae Cryptantha affinis
  26. Boraginaceae Cynoglossum occidentale
  27. Boraginaceae Plagiobothrys hispidulus
  28. Boraginaceae Plagiobothrys hispidus
  29. Brassicaceae Boechera howellii
  30. Brassicaceae Boechera lemmonii
  31. Brassicaceae Boechera platysperma
  32. Brassicaceae Boechera retrofracta
  33. Brassicaceae Boechera sparsiflora
  34. Brassicaceae Boechera suffrutescens var. suffrutescens
  35. Brassicaceae Cardamine bellidifolia var. pachyphylla
  36. Campanulaceae Campanula scabrella
  37. Caprifoliaceae Lonicera conjugialis
  38. Caprifoliaceae Sambucus nigra ssp. cerulea
  39. Caprifoliaceae Sambucus racemosa ssp. racemosa
  40. Caryophyllaceae Eremogone congesta var. congesta
  41. Caryophyllaceae Eremogone kingii var. glabrescens
  42. Caryophyllaceae Minuartia nuttallii ssp. gracilis
  43. Caryophyllaceae Silene douglasii
  44. Caryophyllaceae Silene lemmonii
  45. Cupressaceae Cupressus bakeri
  46. Cyperaceae Carex brainerdii
  47. Cyperaceae Carex breweri var. breweri
  48. Cyperaceae Carex deflexa var. boothii
  49. Cyperaceae Carex festivella
  50. Cyperaceae Carex gymnoclada
  51. Cyperaceae Carex lenticularis var. impressa
  52. Cyperaceae Carex lenticularis var. lipocarpa
  53. Cyperaceae Carex luzulina var. ablata
  54. Cyperaceae Carex mariposana
  55. Cyperaceae Carex multicostata
  56. Cyperaceae Carex nebrascensis
  57. Cyperaceae Carex phaeocephala
  58. Cyperaceae Carex spectabilis
  59. Cyperaceae Carex straminiformis
  60. Cyperaceae Carex subfusca
  61. Cyperaceae Carex utriculata
  62. Cyperaceae Carex vesicaria
  63. Cyperaceae Carex whitneyi
  64. Dryopteridaceae Athyrium alpestre var. americanum
  65. Dryopteridaceae Polystichum kruckebergii
  66. Ericaceae Arctostaphylos nevadensis
  67. Ericaceae Arctostaphylos patula
  68. Ericaceae Cassiope mertensiana ssp. californica
  69. Ericaceae Kalmia polifolia ssp. microphylla
  70. Ericaceae Phyllodoce breweri
  71. Ericaceae Vaccinium cespitosum
  72. Ericaceae Vaccinium uliginosum ssp. occidentale
  73. Euphorbiaceae Euphorbia crenulata
  74. Fabaceae Trifolium kingii var. productum
  75. Grossulariaceae Ribes nevadense
  76. Hydrophyllaceae Phacelia hastata ssp. compacta
  77. Hyperciaceae Hypericum anagalloides
  78. Juncaceae Juncus drummondii
  79. Juncaceae Juncus indet.
  80. Juncaceae Juncus mertensianus
  81. Juncaceae Juncus mexicanus
  82. Juncaceae Juncus nevadensis
  83. Juncaceae Juncus orthophyllus
  84. Juncaceae Juncus parryi
  85. Juncaceae Luzula comosa
  86. Juncaceae Luzula divaricata
  87. Lamiaceae Monardella odoratissima
  88. Lamiaceae Scutellaria nana
  89. Liliaceae Allium campanulatum
  90. Liliaceae Calochortus nudus
  91. Liliaceae Fritillaria atropurpurea
  92. Loasaceae Mentzelia dispersa
  93. Loasaceae Mentzelia montana
  94. Malvaceae Sidalcea oregana subsp. spicata
  95. Onagraceae Clarkia rhomboidea
  96. Onagraceae Epilobium hallianum
  97. Onagraceae Epilobium obcordatum
  98. Onagraceae Gayophytum diffusum ssp. parviflorum
  99. Onagraceae Gayophytum humile
  100. Orobanchaceae Boschniakia strobilacea
  101. Poaceae Achnatherum lemmonii
  102. Poaceae Achnatherum occidentale ssp. californicum
  103. Poaceae Achnatherum occidentale ssp. occidentale
  104. Poaceae Agrostis variabilis
  105. Poaceae Bromus
  106. Poaceae Bromus orcuttianus
  107. Poaceae Danthonia californica var. americana
  108. Poaceae Danthonia intermedia
  109. Poaceae Danthonia unispicata
  110. Poaceae Deschampsia cespitosa ssp. cespitosa
  111. Poaceae Deschampsia elongata
  112. Poaceae Elymus elymoides ssp. elymoides
  113. Poaceae Elymus glaucus
  114. Poaceae Elymus multisetus
  115. Poaceae Elymus scribneri
  116. Poaceae Festuca idahoensis
  117. Poaceae Koeleria macrantha
  118. Poaceae Leymus cinereus
  119. Poaceae Leymus triticoides
  120. Poaceae Melica bulbosa
  121. Poaceae Poa fendleriana ssp. longiligula
  122. Poaceae Poa pringlei
  123. Poaceae Poa secunda subsp. juncifolia
  124. Poaceae Poa secunda subsp. secunda
  125. Poaceae Poa wheeleri
  126. Poaceae Trisetum canescens
  127. Poaceae Trisetum spicatum
  128. Polemoniaceae Collomia tinctoria
  129. Polemoniaceae Ipomopsis aggregata ssp. formosissima
  130. Polemoniaceae Ipomopsis congesta ssp. congesta
  131. Polemoniaceae Leptodactylon pungens
  132. Polemoniaceae Linanthus harknessii
  133. Polemoniaceae Navarretia divaricata
  134. Polemoniaceae Navarretia leptalea subsp. leptalea
  135. Polemoniaceae Phlox diffusa
  136. Polemoniaceae Polemonium pulcherrimum var. pilosum
  137. Polygonaceae Aconogonon davisiae var. davisiae
  138. Polygonaceae Eriogonum marifolium
  139. Polygonaceae Eriogonum ovalifolium var. ovalifolium
  140. Polygonaceae Eriogonum umbellatum var. dumosum
  141. Polygonaceae Eriogonum umbellatum var. humistratum
  142. Polygonaceae Eriogonum ursinum
  143. Polygonaceae Oxyria digyna
  144. Polygonaceae Polygonum douglasii
  145. Polygonaceae Polygonum kelloggii
  146. Polygonaceae Polygonum minimum
  147. Polygonaceae Polygonum polygaloides ssp. kelloggii
  148. Polygonaceae Polygonum shastense
  149. Portulacaceae Calyptridium umbellatum var. umbellatum
  150. Portulacaceae Lewisia nevadensis
  151. Portulacaceae Lewisia triphylla
  152. Pteridaceae Cryptogramma cascadensis
  153. Pyrolaceae Chimaphila menziesii
  154. Pyrolaceae Orthilia secunda
  155. Pyrolaceae Pyrola picta ssp. dentata
  156. Ranunculaceae Anemone drummondii
  157. Ranunculaceae Aquilegia formosa
  158. Ranunculaceae Delphinium nuttallianum
  159. Ranunculaceae Ranunculus alismifolius var. alismellus
  160. Ranunculaceae Ranunculus alismifolius var. hartwegii
  161. Ranunculaceae Ranunculus eschscholtzii var. oxynotus
  162. Ranunculaceae Ranunculus eschscholtzii var. suksdorfii
  163. Ranunculaceae Ranunculus flammula
  164. Ranunculaceae Ranunculus occidentalis var. ultramontanus
  165. Rhamnaceae Ceanothus prostratus var. prostratus
  166. Rhamnaceae Ceanothus velutinus
  167. Rhamnaceae Rhamnus rubra ssp obtusissima
  168. Rosaceae Amelanchier pallida
  169. Rosaceae Drymocallis rhomboidea
  170. Rosaceae Holodiscus microphyllus var. glabrescens
  171. Rosaceae Horkelia fusca var. brownii
  172. Rosaceae Horkelia tridentata ssp. tridentata
  173. Rosaceae Ivesia gordonii var. alpicola
  174. Rosaceae Luetkea pectinata
  175. Rosaceae Potentilla bruceae
  176. Rosaceae Potentilla flabellifolia
  177. Rosaceae Potentilla fruticosa
  178. Rosaceae Prunus emarginata
  179. Rosaceae Prunus virginiana var. melanocarpa
  180. Rosaceae Purshia tridentata var. tridentata
  181. Rosaceae Rubus leucodermis
  182. Rosaceae Sanguisorba occidentalis
  183. Rosaceae Sibbaldia procumbens
  184. Rosaceae Spiraea densiflora
  185. Rosaceae Spiraea douglasii
  186. Rubiaceae Galium aparine
  187. Rubiaceae Galium bolanderi
  188. Rubiaceae Kelloggia galioides
  189. Salicaceae Salix lemmonii
  190. Salicaceae Salix scouleriana
  191. Saxifraga Micranthes aprica
  192. Saxifragaceae Micranthes tolmiei
  193. Saxifragaceae Saxifraga aprica
  194. Scrophulariaceae Castilleja arachnoidea
  195. Scrophulariaceae Collinsia torreyi var. latifolia
  196. Scrophulariaceae Collomia grandiflora
  197. Scrophulariaceae Mimulus breweri
  198. Scrophulariaceae Penstemon davidsonii var. davidsonii
  199. Scrophulariaceae Penstemon gracilentus
  200. Scrophulariaceae Penstemon neotericus
  201. Scrophulariaceae Penstemon newberryi var. newberryi
  202. Solanaceae Chamaesaracha nana
  203. Violaceae Viola purpurea ssp. integrifolia
  204. Viscaceae Arceuthobium campylopodum f. abietinum
  205. Viscaceae Phoradendron densum


Thursday, May 19, 2011

Recognize the Chelonaceae

Classification is a system of coding and organizing objects, be they books, species or whatever. In the library stacks, we expect to find books with largely corresponding subject matter shelved together. Similarly, in a local, regional or continental flora, we expect to find similar plants 'shelved' together. Placement of Penstemon and allied genera in the Plantaginaceae is the funcitonal equivalent of placing floras in with the cookbooks: it does not serve direct discovery.

Users of floras use floras because they want to know the name of a plant. Although polyphylletic, the "Scrophs" served this objective. Find a tubular corolla, often brightly colored, often 2-lipped, capsular fruit plant and fish about in the key to Scrophs...

Taxonomy and classification are often incorrectly equated, to do so is to conflate. Taxonomy is a system of classification, A taxonomic system is a particular type classification: a classification based on phyllogenetic relatedness is one system. An alternative 'system' often used in flora guidebooks is flower color.

Placement of Penstemon, Collinsia, Kecklilla, Tonella (California plants) and others (Chelone, Chinophila, Russelia,
Tetranema etc) in the Plantaginaceae, along with dozens upon dozens of equally diverse tribes and genera creates a discordant grouping. An expanded Plantaginaceae is a discordant grouping. Recognizing Plantaginaceae becomes difficult. What key feature does one use to equate these plants? In my opinion, none!

The point: in a regional flora, if one is such dire need to use a phyllogenetic system, why be bashful? After all, we no longer grumble about splitting up artificial, aggregate genera (vis Stipa into many genera) although sometimes revert to these aggregates.

Penstemon is a member of the Chelonaceae Martinov, containing Chelone, Chinophila, Collinsia, Keckiella, Pensteomon, Russelia, Tetranema, Tonella and Uroskinnera. All are New World, bird or bee pollinated, large showy flowered (or for Collinsia, unusual in their "pseudo-papillanceous flowers). Placement of Brookea auriculata of Asia is the only outlier in that genus should it belong here.

The problem with an expanded Plantaginaceae is that is a library where no two books shelved next to one another share much information. Make families that are closely related lineages consisting of groupings of genera and their radiant species. The expanded Plantaginaceae is not a natural family.

California botanists, recognize the Chelonaceae.

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Brodiaea matsonii in cultivation

Brodiaea matsonii has been maintained in cultivation since 1997. I was originally given a single one-gallon pot by Gary Matson which contained about 30 or so corms with leaves present. In growing this plant, its tendency to propagate vegetative became quickly apparent. From the original lot of corms, by the onset of the first summer in cultivation, many young corms had begun to form from offests. Vegetative reproduction is not uncommon in many native California liliaceous endemics: several taxa of Brodiaea do this, others do not.

The offset corms arise at the ends of short (10 cm or so) threadlike structures (rhizomes?), which terminate in a new small corm, which then puts up a leaf. A second season of growth, and this corm is sufficiently large to itself produce more offsets. Larger corms, about 3 yr, flower.

In the space of three or so years, the original pot was packed, and so it was divided when the corms became dormant in late summer. Replanted, that original pot became several one-gallon pots. In 2007, one of these was referred to Dr Robert Preston, a botanist familiar with the taxonomy of Brodiaea, whom has recently described California’s newest, and perhaps most-narrow endemics.

In cultivation in Aptos, Brodiaea matsonii flowers readily in cultivation in pots. The plants have been maintained just as they were given to me: one gallon plastic pots, about 2/3rds full with potting soil mixed with pea gravel.

More on Brodiaea matsonii soon...