Botanizing the Grasslands of the Palouse, Columbia Basin, old Lake Missoula and the Cascade Mountains

For the Love of Grass VII

Jack Carlson, Fred Gaffney, Bob MacLauchlan, Wendell Hassell, Curtis Sharp, Wendall Oaks, and Larry Holzworth

June 23 – 30, 2015

Table of Contents 

Introduction

The eighth botanizing trek for the “Love of Grass” geathered June 23 16, 2015 in Spokane, Washington. According to Gonzaga University the largest floods ever to occur in the history of the planet passed right through downtown less than 10,000 years ago. These cataclysmic floods swept periodically across eastern Washington and down the Columbia River Gorge at the end of the last ice age. The glacial lake outburst floods were the result of periodic, and sudden ruptures of the ice dam on the Clark Fork River that created Glacial Lake Missoula. After each ice dam rupture, the waters of the lake would rush down the Clark Fork and the Columbia River, flooding much of eastern Washington. Spokane not only offers evidence of its distant past, but evidence of a World’s Fair in 1974, and a unique and attractive cityscape. This we enjoyed well into the twilight hours of July 23^rd.  

Jack Carlson, who was the plant materials specialist in Washington in the late 1970’s, laid out our route and site locations. As with California in 2014, the weather man altered the plan, forcing us into higher and cooler elevations for one day as temperatures reached 111 F in the valleys. 

Our inventory mission at each site remained the same as previous treks; we identify every plant within a reasonable area, sometimes up to several acres, and leave only when satisfied that this had been accomplished. Time is our only enemy. Sometimes we take specimens for later identification. Although referenced are usually ample, tedious hours of field identification is not practical. Unfortunately, plant lists for the selected sites was limited. Species and common names in this report are generally taken from PLANTS (http://plants.usda.gov). Sometimes common names do not match those commonly used in the region of the trek. 

During the six days of inventorying the team traveled about 1,200 miles, inventoried 12 sites and identified ???

plants of ??? species. The most frequently encountered species are listed below, with those not native

(introduced) marked with an asterisk. 

Inventory sites 1 and 2 are located in Palouse and Nez Perce Prairies Major Land Resource. The average annual temperature is 48 to 54 degrees F in most of the area. In most areas the freeze-free period averages 190 days and ranges from 130 to 245 days. The average annual precipitation is 13 to 28 inches in most of this area. It can be as low as 9 inches along parts of the western border and as high as 43 inches on the southern border. Principal land use of private land is 58% cropland, and 30% grassland. 

Inventory sites 3 – 7 and 10 -12 are in the Columbia Plateau MLRA. Land use is evenly split between private cropland and private (38%) and federal (6%) grassland at 42%. More than two-fifths of this area is cropland, which is mostly dry-farmed. Where the annual precipitation is less than about 14 inches a cropping system of alternate grain and summer fallow is used. The average annual precipitation is 13 to 28 inches in most of this area. It can be as low as 9 inches along parts of the western border and as high as 43 inches on the southern border. The average annual temperature is 47 to 54 degrees F. 

Inventory sites 8 and 9 are in MPRA Olympic and Cascade Mountains. Land use is 90% forest (63% Federal). The average annual precipitation is 60 to 140 inches in most of this area and is as much as 280 inches on Mt. Olympus. Some small areas in the northeast corner and the southernmost tip of the area receive only13 to 45 inches. Most of the rainfall occurs as low-intensity, Pacific frontal storms during fall, winter, and spring.  The average annual temperature is 27 to 53 degrees F decreasing with elevation. The freeze-free period averages 189 days and ranges from 72 to 307 days. Frost may occur during every month of the year at the higher elevations.

To honor yet another trek Larry Holzworth presented each with the following bumper sticker. 

The anticipated 2016 trek will rendezvous in Boise, ID the last week of May, and visit sites in southern Idaho and northern Utah and Nevada. 

Day 1 – Wednesday, June 24, 2015

Inventory Site 1 – Steptoe State Park, Whitman County, WA

By 8:00 AM we departed Spokane, driving south through the nearly treeless Palouse hills, which rolls in waves of green or brown wheat fields, depending on time of year. Sprawling near the Idaho border, the region is known for its uncommonly rich farmland. Once an extensive prairie composed of mid-length perennial grasses such as bluebunch wheatgrass (Agropyron spicatum) and Idaho fescue (Festuca idahoensis), today virtually all of the Palouse Prairie is planted in agricultural crops. Only a little over one percent of the original prairie still exists. 

The peculiar and picturesque silt dunes which characterize the Palouse Prairie were formed during the ice ages. Blown in from the glacial outwash plains to the west and south, the Palouse hills consist of more or less random humps and hollows. The steepest slopes, which may reach 50% slope, face the northeast. The highly productive loess ranges from 2 to 51 inches deep. Large areas of level land are rare. Early farming was extremely labor-intensive and relied heavily on human and horse-power. An organized harvesting/threshing team in the 1920s required 120 men and 320 mules and horses. By this point, the combine had been invented and was in use, but few farmers had enough horses to pull such a machine, which required a crew of 40 horses and six men to operate on level ground. Because of this, use of combines on the Palouse lagged behind other farming communities. 

As we drove south Steptoe Buttes seemed to rise up out of the earth. It is a high-promontory in the Palouse Hills, and has served as a dramatic viewpoint for countless generations. It was our first inventory site. The quartzite butte is some of the oldest rock in the Pacific Northwest, and marks the border of the original North American Continent. Once known as Pyramid Peak, the landform was renamed Steptoe Butte after Colonel Edward J. Steptoe (1816-1865), who fought in the nearby 1858 Battle of Rosalia. The term “steptoe” has gone on to be used by geologists worldwide to describe an isolated hill or mountain surrounded by lava. At one time it supported a two story hotel with a glass observatory. Recognizing its national significance, the National Park Service designated Steptoe Butte as a National Natural Landmark in 1965. This Washington State Park Heritage Site offers a unique glimpse into the deep geologic past of Washington State. 

In late morning we were met by plant materials specialist serving Washington, Richard Fleenor. The inventory proceeded but unfortunately was cut short in order to make our next appointment. Plant species inventoried at the Steptoe site were:

Scientific Name	Common Name	Type	Origin
Achillea millefolium L.	common yarrow	Forb	Native
Acer negundo L.	boxelder	Tree	Native
Aegilops cylindrica Host	jointed goatgrass	Graminoid	Introduced
Allium acuminatum Hook.	tapertip onion	Forb	Native
Alopecurus pratensis  L.	meadow foxtail	Graminoid	Introduced
Amelanchier alnifolia  (Nutt.) Nutt. ex M. Roem.	Saskatoon serviceberry	Shrub	Native
Apocynum androsaemifolium L.	spreading dogbane	Forb	Native
Balsamorhiza sagittata (Pursh) Nutt.	arrowleaf balsamroot	Forb	Native
Bromus inermis Leysis.	smooth brome	Graminoid	Introduced
Bromus secalinus L.	rye brome	Graminoid	Introduced
Bromus tectorum L.	cheatgrass	Graminoid	Introduced
Centaurea diffusa Lam.	diffuse knapweed	Forb	Introduced
Chamerion angustifolium (L.) Holub	fireweed	Forb	Native
Chondrilla juncea L.	rush skeletonweed	Forb	Introduced
Cicuta maculata L. var. angustifolia Hook.	spotted water hemlock	Forb	Native
Cirsium arvense  (L.) Scop.	Canada thistle	Forb	Introduced
Clarkia pulchella Pursh	pinkfairies	Forb	Native
Clematis ligusticifolia Nutt.	Western white clematis	Vine	Native
Comandra umbellata (L.) Nutt.	bastard toadflax	Forb	Introduced
Convolvulus arvensis L.	field bindweed	Vine	Introduced
Crepis atribarba A. Heller	slender hawksbeard	Forb	Native
Dipsacus fullonum L.	Fuller’s teasel	Forb	Introduced
Elymus elymoides (raf.) Swezey	squirreltail	Graminoid	Native
Elymus repens (L.) Gould	quackgrass	Graminoid	Introduced
Erigeron divergens Torr. & A. Gray	spreading fleabane	Forb	Native
Eriogonum heracleoides Nutt.	parsnipflower buckwheat	Forb	Native
Erodium cicutarium (L.) L’Hér. ex Aiton	redstem stork’s bill	Forb	Introduced
Festuca idahoensis Elmer	Idaho fescue	Graminoid	Native
Gaillardia aristata Pursh	common gaillardia	Forb	Native
Geranium viscosissimum Fisch. & C.A. Mey. ex C.A. Mey.	sticky purple geranium	Forb	Native
Grindelia squarrosa (Pursh) Dunal	curlycup gumweed	Forb	Native
Heracleum maximum W. Bartram	common cowparsnip	Forb	Native
Heuchera cylindrica Douglas ex Hook.	roundleaf alumroot	Forb	Native
Hieracium scouleri Hook. var. albertinum (Farr) G.W. Douglas & G.A. Allen	Scouler’s woollyweed	Forb	Native
Hordeum jubatum  L.	foxtail barley	Graminoid	Native
Hypericum perforatum L.	common St. Johnswort	Forb	Introduced
Koeleria macrantha (Ledeb.) Schult.	prairie junegrass	Graminoid	Native
Lomatium dissectum (Nutt.) Mathias & Constance	fernleaf biscuitroot	Forb	Native
Lotus unifoliolatus (Hook.) Benth.	American bird’s-foot trefoil	Legume	Native
Lupinus sericeus Pursh	silky lupine	Legume	Native
Phalaris arundinacea L.	reed canarygrass	Graminoid	Introduced
Philadelphus lewisii Pursh	Lewis’ mock orange	Shrub	Native
Phlox speciosa Pursh	showy phlox	Forb	Native
Pinus ponderosa C. Lawson	ponderosa Pine	Tree	Native
Poa bulbosa L.	bulbous bluegrass	Graminoid	Introduced
Poa compressa L.	Canada bluegrass	Graminoid	Native
Poa secunda J. Presl	Sandberg bluegrass	Graminoid	Native
Potentilla glandulosa Lindl.	sticky cinquefoil	Forb	Native
Prunus viginiana L.	chokecherry	Shrub	Native
Pseudoroegneria spicata (Pursh) A. Löve	bluebunch wheatgrass	Graminoid	Native
Pyrrocoma carthamoides Hook.	largeflower goldenweed	Forb	Native
Rosa canina L.	dog rose	Vine	Introduced
Rosa rubiginosa L.	sweetbriar rose	Shrub	Introduced
Rosa woodsii Lindl.	Wood’s rose	Shrub	Native
Rumex crispus L.	curly dock	Forb	Introduced
Salix scouleriana Barratt ex Hook.	Scouler’s willow	Shrub	Native
Sambucus nigra L. subsp. cerulea (Raf.) R. Bolli	blue elderberry	Shrub	Native
Silene douglasii Hook.	Douglas’s catchfly	Forb	Native
Solidago missouriensis Nutt.	Missouri goldenrod	Forb	Native
Spiraea betulifolia Pall.	white spirea	Shrub	Native
Symphoricarpos albus (L.) S.F. Blake	common snowberry	Shrub	Native
Tanacetum vulgare L.	common tansy	Forb	Introduced
Thinopyrum intermedium  (Host) Barkworth & D.R. Dewey	intermediate wheatgrass	Graminoid	Introduced
Tragopogon dubius Scop.	yellow salsify	Forb	Introduced
Typha latifolia  L.	broadleaf cattail	Forb	Native
Ventenata dubia (Leers) Coss.	North Africa grass	Graminoid	Introduced
Veratrum californicum Durand	California false hellebore	Forb	Native
Verbascum thapsus L.	common mullein	Forb	Introduced
Vicia americana  Muhl. ex Willd.	American vetch	Legume	Native
Vicia villosa Roth	winter vetch	Legume	Introduced

Inventory Site 2 –Pullman Plant Materials Center, Whitman County, WA

The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) was established in 1933 to do emergency conservation work. Through the influence of the Dean of the College of Agriculture, E. C. Johnson, the Palouse CCC demonstration project was headquartered at Pullman under the leadership of William Rockie, with Johnson as Chief Engineer. The initiation of large scale grass seed production soon got under way. Harry Schoth, with the Bureau of Plant Industry, Soils, and Oregon State College personnel at Corvallis was called upon for assistance. Native seed collection program under got under way in 1934 under the direction of Dr. Lowell Mullen, a Washington State College graduate, with four teams of two men each spending the late summer collecting native plant seeds throughout the Pacific Northwest. Additionally, two foreign plant expeditions to Mongolia and Russia, the Westover-Enlow and Roerich Expeditions, were initiated. 

During 1934 and early 1935, negotiations with the Agronomy Department of Washington State College were completed for the use of some college land on which to plant the new collections and introductions. A group of local citizens, led by banker George Gannon, backed the purchase of additional acres. Through a cooperative agreement, land plus office space in Wilson Hall was made available for the grass and tree testing and production personnel. 

A 200-man CCC camp had been established at the present Pullman Airport and a labor force of twenty-five men with a foreman was assigned to the Pullman nursery. The Pullman CCC camp was closed in October 1938 and labor was then supplied by the Moscow, Idaho camp. Construction of the Pullman nursery residence, seed house and shop was completed in 1937 at a cost of $75,000.

Dr. A. L. Hafenrichter, WSC Agronomy Department Professor, was hired as the Palouse Demonstration Project agronomist in 1933 and in 1935 he was appointed regional nurseryman with Dr. Paul Lemmon, a forester, as assistant. By December 1935, the USDI, Soil Erosion Service, under which the demonstration project had been started, was transferred to the Soil Conservation Service. While the demonstration project continued, Hafenrichter and the Pullman production nursery initiated the search for superior conservation plants. The production side of the nursery ended in 1954 but the conservation plant development is continuing. 

The conservation production results from 1935 through the 1970s are legendary, led by Hafenrichter, John Schwendiman, Virgil Hawk, Harold Miller, Donald Douglas and other Pullman employees. It will remain a hihj water mark of accomplishments. 

We were warmly welcomed by the Pullman staff, including Manager Allen Casey, Agronomist Pamela Pavek, and Farmer Dallas Spellman. Additionally, there are two summer employees. We learned that Pullman is one of several PMCs that will have a limited (reduced) staff and consequently a limited program. Current projects are addressing soil health through the use of cover crops and pollinator forbs for their ability to be propagated, grown, and increased, for use in conservation practices. 

Note keeper Carlson identified the following plants:

Scientific Name	Common Name	Type	Origin
Achillea millefolium L.	common yarrow	Forb	Native
Agastache urticifolia (Benth.) Kuntze	nettleleaf giant hyssop	Forb	Native
Agropyron cristatum (L.) Gaertn.	crested wheatgrass	Graminoid	Introduced
Agropyron fragile (Roth) P. Candargy	Siberian wheatgrass	Graminoid	Introduced
Agrostis gigantea Roth	redtop	Graminoid	Introduced
Alopecurus pratensis  L.	meadow foxtail	Graminoid	Introduced
Bromus inermis Leysis.	smooth brome	Graminoid	Introduced
Bryonia alba L.	white bryony	Vine	Introduced
Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop.	Canada thistle	Forb	Introduced
Cirsium vulgare (Savi) Ten.	bull thistle	Forb	Introduced
Crataegus douglasii Lindl.	black hawthorn	Shrub	Native
Dasiphora fruticosa (L.) Rydb. subsp. floribunda (Pursh) Kartesz	shrubby cinquefoil	Shrub	Native
Elymus hoffmannii K.B. Jensen & K.H. Asay	RS wheatgrass	Graminoid	Introduced
Elymus lanceolatus (Scribn. & J.G. Sm.) Gould	thickspike wheatgrass	Graminoid	Native
Elymus wawawaiensis J. Carlson & Barkworth	Snake River wheatgrass	Graminoid	Native
Eriogonum heracleoides Nutt.	parsnipflower buckwheat	Forb	Native
Eriophyllum lanatum (Pursh) Forbes	common woolly sunflower	Forb	Native
Fagopyrum esculentum Moench	buckwheat	Forb	Introduced
Festuca brevipila Tracey	hard fescue	Graminoid	Introduced
Gaillardia aristata Pursh	common gaillardia	Forb	Native
Galium boreale L.	northern bedstraw	Forb	Native
Geranium viscosissimum Fisch. & C.A. Mey. ex C.A. Mey.	sticky purple geranium	Forb	Native
Geum triflorum Pursh	old man’s whiskers	Forb	Native
Helianthus annuus L.	common sunflower	Forb	Native
Heuchera cylindrica Douglas ex Hook.	roundleaf alumroot	Forb	Native
Hieracium scouleri Hook. var. albertinum (Farr) G.W. Douglas & G.A. Allen	Scouler’s woollyweed	Forb	Native
Hordeum vulgare L.	common barley	Graminoid	Introduced
Lactuca serriola L.	prickly lettuce	Forb	Introduced
Leymus cinereus (Scribn. & Merr.) Á. Löve	basin wildrye	Graminoid	Native
Leymus racemosus (Lam.) Tzvelev subsp. racemosus	mammoth wildrye	Graminoid	Introduced
Linum lewisii Pursh	Lewis flax	Forb	Native
Lotus corniculatus L.	bird’s-foot trefoil	Legume	Introduced
Lupinus sericeus Pursh	silky lupine	Legume	Native
Penstemon eatonii A. Gray	firecracker penstemon	Forb	Native
Penstemon venustus Douglas ex Lindl.	Venus penstemon	Forb	Native
Phacelia heterophylla Pursh	varileaf phacelia	Forb	Native
Philadelphus lewisii Pursh	Lewis’ mock orange	Shrub	Native
Physocarpus malvaceus (Greene) Kuntze	mallow ninebark	Shrub	Native
Pinus ponderosa C. Lawson	ponderosa Pine	Tree	Native
Pisum sativum L.	garden pea	Legume	Introduced
Poa bulbosa L.	bulbous bluegrass	Graminoid	Introduced
Poa compressa L.	Canada bluegrass	Graminoid	Native
Poa secunda J. Presl	Sandberg bluegrass	Graminoid	Native
Populus tremuloides Michx.	quaking aspen	Tree	Native
Potentilla arguta Pursh	tall cinquefoil	Forb	Native
Prunus viginiana L.	chokecherry	Shrub	Native
Pseudoroegneria spicata (Pursh) A. Löve	bluebunch wheatgrass	Graminoid	Native
Rhus trilobata Nutt.	skunkbush sumac	Shrub	Native
Ribes aureum Pursh	golden current	Shrub	Native
Rosa woodsii Lindl.	Wood’s rose	Shrub	Native
Schedonorus arundinaceus (Schreb.) Dumort., nom. cons.	tall fescue	Graminoid	Introduced
Senecio vulgaris L.	old-man-in-the-Spring	Forb	Introduced
Sidalcea oregana (Nutt. ex Torr. & A. Gray) A. Gray	Oregon checkerbloom	Forb	Native
Sisymbrium altissimum L.	tall tumblemustard	Forb	Introduced
Solidago missouriensis Nutt.	Missouri goldenrod	Forb	Native
Symphoricarpos albus (L.) S.F. Blake	common snowberry	Shrub	Native
Symphyotrichum spathulatum (Lindl.) G.L. Nesom	western mountain aster	Forb	Native
Taraxacum officinale F.H. Wigg.	common dandelion	Forb	Introduced
Thinopyrum intermedium (Host) Barkworth & D.R. Dewey	intermediate wheatgrass	Graminoid	Introduced
Thinopyrum ponticum (Podp.) Z.-W. Liu & R.-C. Wang	tall wheatgrass	Graminoid	Introduced
Tragopogon dubius Scop.	yellow salsify	Forb	Introduced
Trifolium incarnatum L.	crimson clover	Legume	Introduced
×Triticosecale Wittm.	triticale	Graminoid	Introduced
Ventenata dubia (Leers) Coss.	North Africa grass	Graminoid	Introduced
Vicia americana  Muhl. ex Willd.	American vetch	Legume	Native

From Pullman we drove to and spent the night in Clarkston, WA, nestled at the confluence of the Snake and Clearwater Rivers in southeast Washington.

Day 2 – Thursday, June 25, 2015

Found by Hassell on his morning run, Alpowai Interpretive Center is located on the site the Alpowai encampment of the Nez Perce Indian Tribe. It was the home of Chief Timothy, who was a trusted friend of the early settlers in the area. The Interpretive Center is built near the original site of the village that existed in the mid 1800’s.

It was an unplanned activity, but too close to our lodging, and too filled with history to be passed up. There were several labeled plants plus volunteers along the Snake River, plus the favorite mode of transportation of the time; a dugout canoe. (maybe a picture with Jack in boat. I recall someone taking it – maybe Fred)

Inventory Site 3 – Wawawai County Park, Clarkston, Whitman County, WA

Wawawai County Park sits in the Snake River Canyon approximately three miles upstream from Lower Granite Dam. The Free Online Encyclopedia of Washington State offers some interesting history of the site. Small bands of Indians from both the Palouse and Nez Perce tribes had periodically lived at the site in the years prior to the arrival of white settlers in the 1870s. The first settlers called the settlement Wawawa, a Nez Perce term meaning “council grounds.” But the name soon changed to Wawawai. The first settler, Isiah Matheny, arrived at Wawawai in 1875 and planted an apple orchard. Settlement began to increase in 1877 and by 1880 a number of orchards — apples, pears, prunes, and other soft fruits — had been established along the riverbank and some were starting to bear fruit. 

The Snake River was a link to the world for early Wawawai settlers. Sturdy, squat sternwheel steamboats were the lower Snake’s main transportation link to the world. Local produce such as grain and fruit were delivered to the river for transport while essential supplies and mail were brought to Wawawai with returning steamboats. When steamboats docked, it was considered a welcome change of pace. After the work of loading and unloading, the boat became a floating civic center where dances, card games, and other fun things happened. In 1908, a new era of transport began–the iron horse.

Hot lava had covered the land between 30 and 10 million years ago. The River carved this canyon long before any people even came to Wawawai. The rocks we observed across the river were basalt, cold lava. If you imagine a layer cake made of basalt with a soil frosting that’s what these cliffs resemble. Each layer in this “cake” is about 80 to 100 feet thick. Wind blown loess is the ‘frosting.”

This was indeed a pleasant, productive and picturesque site, not withstanding the contamination of cereal rye suppressing the natives. A fine stand of bluebunch wheatgrass was present, plus an unidentified snake who objected to our presence. This peaceful location provided a time to relax and count our blessings. (Oaks table picture?)

Scientific Name	Common Name	Type	Origin
Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle	tree of heaven	Tree	Introduced
Amelanchier alnifolia  (Nutt.) Nutt. ex M. Roem.	Saskatoon serviceberry	Shrub	Native
Bassia scoparia (L.) A.J. Scott	burningbush	Forb	Introduced
Celtis laevigata Willd. var. reticulata (Torr.) L.D. Benson	netleaf hackberry	Tree	Native
Elaeagnus angustifolia L.	Russian olive	Tree	Introduced
Frangula purshiana (DC.) A. Gray	Cascara buckthorn	Shrub	Native
Lactuca serriola L.	prickly lettuce	Forb	Introduced
Medicago sativa L.	alfalfa	Legume	Introduced
Morus alba L.	white mulberry	Tree	Introduced
Parthenocissus quinquefolia (L.) Planch.	Virginia creeper	Vine	Introduced
Philadelphus lewisii Pursh	Lewis’ mock orange	Shrub	Native
Pinus ponderosa C. Lawson	ponderosa Pine	Tree	Native
Rosa nutkana C. Presl	Nootka rose	Shrub	Native
Rubus armeniacus Focke	Himalayan blackberry	Shrub	Introduced
Secale cereale L.	cereal rye	Graminoid	Introduced
Symphoricarpos albus (L.) S.F. Blake	common snowberry	Shrub	Native
Thinopyrum intermedium  (Host) Barkworth & D.R. Dewey	intermediate wheatgrass	Graminoid	Introduced
Thuja plicata Donn ex D. Don	western redcedar	Tree	Native
Acer negundo L.	boxelder	Tree	Native
Achillea millefolium L.	common yarrow	Forb	Native
Agropyron cristatum (L.) Gaertn.	crested wheatgrass	Graminoid	Introduced
Allium douglasii Hook.	Douglas’ onion	Forb	Native
Amaranthus albus L.	prostrate pigweed	Forb	Introduced
Artemisia dracunculus L.	tarragon	Forb	Native
Artemisia rigida (Nutt.) A. Gray	scabland sagebrush	Shrub	Native
Balsamorhiza sagittata (Pursh) Nutt.	arrowleaf balsamroot	Forb	Native
Bromus hordeaceus L.	soft brome	Graminoid	Introduced
Bromus tectorum L.	cheatgrass	Graminoid	Introduced
Centaurea solstitialis L.	yellow star-thistle	Forb	Introduced
Chamaesyce glyptosperma (Engelm.) Small	ribseed sandmat	Forb	Native
Chondrilla juncea L.	rush skeletonweed	Forb	Introduced
Convolvulus arvensis L.	field bindweed	Vine	Introduced
Cynoglossum officinale L.	gypsyflower	Forb	Native
Digitaria sanguinalis (L.) Scop.	hairy crabgrass	Graminoid	Introduced
Dipsacus fullonum L.	Fuller’s teasel	Forb	Introduced
Elymus wawawaiensis J. Carlson & Barkworth	Snake River wheatgrass	Graminoid	Native
Ericameria nauseosa (Pall. ex Pursh) G.L. Nesom & Baird	rubber rabbitbrush	Shrub	Native
Eriogonum compositum Douglas ex Benth.	arrowleaf buckwheat	Forb	Native
Eriogonum niveum Douglas ex Benth.	snow buckwheat	Forb	Native
Erodium cicutarium (L.) L’Hér. ex Aiton	redstem stork’s bill	Forb	Introduced
Festuca brevipila Tracey	hard fescue	Graminoid	Introduced
Festuca rubra L.	red fescue	Graminoid	Introduced
Frangula purshiana (DC.) A. Gray	Cascara buckthorn	Shrub	Native
Helianthus annuus L.	common sunflower	Forb	Native
Koeleria macrantha (Ledeb.) Schult.	prairie junegrass	Graminoid	Native
Lomatium farinosum (Hook.) J.M. Coult. & Rose	northern biscuitroot	Forb	Native
Lupinus sericeus Pursh	silky lupine	Legume	Native
Mahonia repens (Lindl.) G. Don	creeping barberry	Shrub	Native
Medicago sativa L.	alfalfa	Legume	Introduced
Neslia paniculata (L.) Desv.	ballmustard	Forb	Introduced
Onopordum acanthium L.	Scotch cottonthistle	Forb	Introduced
Panicum capillare L.	witchgrass	Graminoid	Native
Plantago patagonica Jacq.	woolly plantain	Forb	Native
Poa bulbosa L.	bulbous bluegrass	Graminoid	Introduced
Poa pratensis L.	Kentucky bluegrass	Graminoid	Introduced
Poa secunda J. Presl	Sandberg bluegrass	Graminoid	Native
Polygonum douglasii Greene	Douglas’ knotweed	Forb	Native
Pseudoroegneria spicata (Pursh) A. Löve	bluebunch wheatgrass	Graminoid	Native
Robinia pseudoacacia L.	black locust	Tree	Native
Rubus armeniacus Focke	Himalayan blackberry	Shrub	Introduced
Rumex crispus L.	curly dock	Forb	Introduced
Salix exigua Nutt.	narrowleaf willow	Shrub	Native
Sambucus nigra L. subsp. cerulea (Raf.) R. Bolli	blue elderberry	Shrub	Native
Schedonorus arundinaceus (Schreb.) Dumort., nom. cons.	tall fescue	Graminoid	Introduced
Secale cereale L.	cereal rye	Graminoid	Introduced
Sisymbrium altissimum L.	tall tumblemustard	Forb	Introduced
Sporobolus cryptandrus (Torr.) A. Gray	sand dropseed	Graminoid	Native
Taeniatherum caput-medusae (L.) Nevski	medusahead	Graminoid	Introduced
Taraxacum officinale F.H. Wigg.	common dandelion	Forb	Introduced
Tragopogon dubius Scop.	yellow salsify	Forb	Introduced
Vicia americana  Muhl. ex Willd.	American vetch	Legume	Native

Inventory Site 4 – Palouse Falls State Park, Whitman County, WA

Wawawai County Park was very nice, but lacked the dramatic scenery of our next inventory site, Palouse Falls. It took our breath away when we gazed upon its powerful flow amidst a rugged canyon. As discussed in the Introduction, repeated glacial floods swept across eastern Washington carving out the unique scablands landscape we see today. Amongst the coulees, potholes, buttes, and plateaus, Palouse Falls remains as one of the magnificent and lasting remnants of these glacial floods. It is the only major waterfall left along this thousands of years old glacial flood path. Standing at a height of 198 feet and surrounded by striking basalt cliffs, the powerful waterfall lies on the Palouse River upstream of the confluence with the Snake River. It was formerly known by the Palouse Indians as Aput Aput, meaning Falling Waters.

As you gaze upon power and precipitous gorge it is hard to believe that someone managed to kayak over this falls and still live! This happened in April 2009.

Although the inventory was rewarding, the most depressing part for Wendell Hassell was that we were late into Day 2 and we had were yet to find any smooth bromegrass. 

Scientific Name

Common Name

Type

Origin

Achillea millefolium L.	common yarrow	Forb	Native
Aegilops cylindrica Host	jointed goatgrass	Graminoid	Introduced
Aegilops cylindrica Host	jointed goatgrass	Graminoid	Introduced
Amaranthus albus L.	prostrate pigweed	Forb	Introduced
Aristida purpurea Nutt.	purple three-awn	Graminoid	Native
Artemisia dracunculus L.	tarragon	Forb	Native
Artemisia tridentata Nutt. subsp. tridentata	basin big sagebrush	Shrub	Native
Balsamorhiza sagittata (Pursh) Nutt.	arrowleaf balsamroot	Forb	Native
Bromus hordeaceus L.	soft brome	Graminoid	Introduced
Bromus tectorum L.	cheatgrass	Graminoid	Introduced
Centaurea diffusa Lam.	diffuse knapweed	Forb	Introduced
Chamaesyce glyptosperma (Engelm.) Small	ribseed sandmat	Forb	Native
Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus (Hook.) Nutt.	yellow rabbitbrush	Shrub	Native
Clematis ligusticifolia Nutt.	Western white clematis	Vine	Native
Cryptantha flaccida (Douglas ex Lehm.) Greene	weakstem cryptantha	Forb	Native
Elaeagnus angustifolia L.	Russian olive	Tree	Introduced
Elymus elymoides (raf.) Swezey	squirreltail	Graminoid	Native
Elymus trachycaulus (Link) Gould ex Shinners subsp. subsecundus (Link) Á. Löve & D. Löve	slender wheatgrass	Graminoid	Native
Elymus wawawaiensis J. Carlson & Barkworth	Snake River wheatgrass	Graminoid	Native
Ericameria nauseosa (Pall. ex Pursh) G.L. Nesom & Baird	rubber rabbitbrush	Shrub	Native
Erigeron pumilus Nutt.	shaggy fleabane	Forb	Native
Eriogonum compositum Douglas ex Benth.	arrowleaf buckwheat	Forb	Native
Eriogonum strictum Benth.	Blue Mountain buckwheat	Forb	Native
Festuca idahoensis Elmer	Idaho fescue	Graminoid	Native
Fraxinus pennsylvanica Marshall	green ash	Tree	Introduced
Helianthus annuus L.	common sunflower	Forb	Native
Hordeum jubatum  L.	foxtail barley	Graminoid	Native
Hypericum perforatum L.	common St. Johnswort	Forb	Introduced
Lactuca serriola L.	prickly lettuce	Forb	Introduced
Lepidium perfoliatum L.	clasping pepperweed	Forb	Introduced
Leymus cinereus (Scribn. & Merr.) Á. Löve	basin wildrye	Graminoid	Native
Lupinus leucophyllus Douglas ex Lindl.	velvet lupine	Legume	Native
Plantago patagonica Jacq.	woolly plantain	Forb	Native
Poa bulbosa L.	bulbous bluegrass	Graminoid	Introduced
Poa secunda J. Presl	Sandberg bluegrass	Graminoid	Native
Polygonum douglasii Greene subsp. majus (Meisn.) J.C. Hickman	large knotweed	Forb	Native
Populus alba L.	white poplar	Tree	Introduced
Prunus viginiana L.	chokecherry	Shrub	Native
Pseudoroegneria spicata (Pursh) A. Löve	bluebunch wheatgrass	Graminoid	Native
Ribes aureum Pursh	golden current	Shrub	Native
Salsola kali L.	Russian thistle	Forb	Introduced
Secale cereale L.	cereal rye	Graminoid	Introduced
Sisymbrium altissimum L.	tall tumblemustard	Forb	Introduced
Sporobolus cryptandrus (Torr.) A. Gray	sand dropseed	Graminoid	Native
Taeniatherum caput-medusae (L.) Nevski	medusahead	Graminoid	Introduced
Tribulus terrestris L.	puncturevine	Forb	Introduced
Ulmus pumila L.	Siberian elm	Tree	Introduced
Vicia villosa Roth	winter vetch	Legume	Introduced

(Jack’s Note: We saw oceanspray up on top in the Palouse on cuts with moisture… perhaps note in the narrative about the trek segment from Wawawai Landing to Palouse Falls.  We also encountered it later in the Cascades.)

Day 3 – Friday, June 26, 2015

Inventory Site 5 – Horse Heaven Hills, Tri City area, Benton County

This site was within a few miles of our lodging. The morning was cool and the skies clear. The forecast however was for temperatures well above 100 degrees. But not to worry, Jack had a plan.

The Horse Heaven Hills are a long range of high, rolling hills in Klickitat, Yakima, and Benton counties located west of the Columbia River between the Yakima River and the Wallula Gap. The hills are an anticline ridge in the Yakima Fold Belt formed by north–south compression of lava flows in the massive basalt covering the area. James Gordon Kinney, an early pioneer, is credited with officially naming the Horse Heaven Hills in 1881. He first came to the region in 1857. Impressed by the knee-high grass that fed the large bands of feral horses that roamed, he remarked “the area offers excellent forage and comparative isolation.. This is surely a horse heaven!” The surrounding hills, once replete with wild horses, were frequently covered with “a perfect sea of the finest bunch-grass”.

Benton County has owned a Horse Heaven vista site since the early 1960s on the crest of the Horse Heaven Rim. A two-acre site, Horse Heaven Vista is essentially a rest area and view point, with a small parking area and modest shelter.

Unfortunately the perfect sea of the finest bunchgrass is gone, but a most pleasant inventory site. 

Scientific Name	Common Name		Type	Origin
Achillea millefolium L.	common yarrow	Forb			Native
Achnatherum hymenoides (Roem. & Schult.) Barkworth	indian ricegrass	Graminoid			Native
Aegilops cylindrica Host	jointed goatgrass	Graminoid			Introduced
Agropyron cristatum (L.) Gaertn.	crested wheatgrass	Graminoid			Introduced
Agropyron fragile (Roth) P. Candargy	Siberian wheatgrass	Graminoid			Introduced
Allium robinsonii L.F. Hend.	Robinson’s onion	Forb			Native
Ambrosia acanthicarpa Hook.	flatspine bur ragweed	Forb			Native
Artemisia tridentata Nutt. subsp. tridentata	basin big sagebrush	Shrub			Native
Astragalus purshii Douglas ex Hook.	woollypod milkvetch	Legume			Native
Balsamorhiza rosea A. Nelson & J.F. Macbr.	rosy balsamroot	Forb			Native
Balsamorhiza sagittata (Pursh) Nutt.	arrowleaf balsamroot	Forb			Native
Bromus tectorum L.	cheatgrass	Graminoid			Introduced
Cenchrus longispinus (Hack.) Fernald	mat sandbur	Graminoid			Native
Centaurea diffusa Lam.	diffuse knapweed	Forb			Introduced
Centaurea stoebe L.	spotted knapweed	Forb			Introduced
Chondrilla juncea L.	rush skeletonweed	Forb			Introduced
Convolvulus arvensis L.	field bindweed	Vine			Introduced
Crepis atribarba A. Heller	slender hawksbeard	Forb			Native
Cryptantha pterocarya (Torr.) Greene	wingnut cryptantha	Forb			Native
Ericameria nauseosa (Pall. ex Pursh) G.L. Nesom & Baird	rubber rabbitbrush	Shrub			Native
Erigeron poliospermus A. Gray	purple cushion fleabane	Forb			Native
Eriogonum codium Reveal, Caplow & K. Beck	basalt desert buckwheat	Forb			Native
Eriogonum sphaerocephalum Douglas ex Benth.	rock buckwheat	Forb			Native
Eriogonum strictum Benth.	Blue Mountain buckwheat	Forb			Native
Grindelia squarrosa (Pursh) Dunal	curlycup gumweed	Forb			Native
Gutierrezia sarothrae (Pursh) Britton & Rusby	broom snakeweed	Shrub			Native
Hesperostipa comata (Trin. & Rupr.) Barkworth	needle and thread	Graminoid			Native
Lepidium perfoliatum L.	clasping pepperweed	Forb			Introduced
Lomatium canbyi (J.M. Coult. & Rose) J.M. Coult. & Rose	Canby’s biscuitroot	Forb			Native
Lupinus leucophyllus Douglas ex Lindl.	velvet lupine	Legume			Native
Phlox longifolia Nutt.	longleaf phlox	Forb			Native
Plantago patagonica Jacq.	woolly plantain	Forb			Native
Poa secunda J. Presl	Sandberg bluegrass	Graminoid			Native
Polygonum aviculare L.	prostrate knotweed	Forb			Introduced
Pseudoroegneria spicata (Pursh) A. Löve	bluebunch wheatgrass	Graminoid			Native
Salsola kali L.	Russian thistle	Forb			Introduced
Sisymbrium altissimum L.	tall tumblemustard	Forb			Introduced
Sporobolus cryptandrus (Torr.) A. Gray	sand dropseed	Graminoid			Native
Stephanomeria minor (Hook.) Nutt. var. minor	narrowleaf wirelettuce	Forb			Native
Townsendia florifer (Hook.) A. Gray	showy Townsend daisy	Forb			Native
Tragopogon dubius Scop.	yellow salsify	Forb			Introduced

We departed Horse Heaven inventory site late morning, traveling south to Paterson, a one eating place town, very close to the Columbia River. Planned or unplanned our vehicle wheeled into the long driveway of the Columbia Crest Winery. 

Nestled alongside the Columbia River in eastern Washington, Columbia Crest winery opened its doors in the heart of the acclaimed Horse Heaven Hills in 1983. According to their spoke person Washington State and the Columbia Valley represent the perfect grape-growing climate, from the weather to the soil to the vineyard sites. Out time there was almost as exciting and rewarding figuring as out the awn length of of an itty, bitty plant. We departed, laden with things to be enjoyed later, then enjoyed a more that adequate lunch at Paterson’s one eating place.

Our next inventory site was Horsethief State Park, roughly 60 miles down stream near the Oregon town of The Dalles. We arrived at out lodging place for the night mid afternoon. With the temperature well over 100, why not rest awhile, have supper and do the inventory in the cool of the evening, taking advantage of the long daylight hours. The plan worked perfectly, in spite of one trekker over sleeping. 

Inventory Site 6 – Horsethief Lake, Columbia Hills State Park, Klickitat County.

Oral history states that the park received its former name — Horsethief Lake State Park — from workers in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers who developed the site. The workers thought the terrain was similar to that of horsethief hideouts in popular 1950s Hollywood westerns. The abundance of horses kept on the premises by local Indians apparently gave the workers their inspiration. 

Our inventory site was below, but close to Horsethief Butte, which dominates the skyline. It stands over the lake like an ancient castle. The late day inventory had not only the advantage of cooler temperatures, but the older trek members felt the evening shadows improved their plant identifying skills.

Scientific Name		Common Name		Type	Origin
Achillea millefolium L.	common yarrow		Forb			Native
Achnatherum occidentale (Thurb.) Barkworth	western needlegrass		Graminoid			Native
Amsinckia menziesii (Lehm.) A. Nelson & J.F. Macbr.	Menzies’ fiddleneck		Forb			Native
Apocynum androsaemifolium L.	spreading dogbane		Forb			Native
Balsamorhiza sagittata (Pursh) Nutt.	arrowleaf balsamroot		Forb			Native
Bromus diandrus Roth subsp. rigidus (Roth) Lainz	ripgut brome		Graminoid			Introduced
Bromus tectorum L.	cheatgrass		Graminoid			Introduced
Chondrilla juncea L.	rush skeletonweed		Forb			Introduced
Comandra umbellata (L.) Nutt.	bastard toadflax		Forb			Introduced
Crepis intermedia A. Gray	limestone hawksbeard		Forb			Native
Cryptantha flaccida (Douglas ex Lehm.) Greene	weakstem cryptantha		Forb			Native
Danthonia intermedia Vasey	timber oatgrass		Graminoid			Native
Elymus elymoides (raf.) Swezey	squirreltail		Graminoid			Native
Festuca idahoensis Elmer	Idaho fescue		Graminoid			Native
Lactuca serriola L.	prickly lettuce		Forb			Introduced
Lomatium tamanitchii Darrach & Thie	Yakama biscuitroot		Forb			Native
Lomatium triternatum (Pursh) J.M. Coult. & Rose	nineleaf biscuitroot		Forb			Native
Lupinus bingenensis Suksd.	Bingen lupine		Legume			Native
Melica bulbosa Geyer ex Porter & J.M. Coult.	oniongrass		Graminoid			Native
Poa bulbosa L.	bulbous bluegrass		Graminoid			Introduced
Poa secunda J. Presl	Sandberg bluegrass		Graminoid			Native
Pseudoroegneria spicata (Pursh) A. Löve	bluebunch wheatgrass		Graminoid			Native
Quercus garryana Douglas ex Hook.	Oregon white oak		Tree			Native
Sisymbrium altissimum L.	tall tumblemustard		Forb			Introduced
Symphoricarpos albus (L.) S.F. Blake	common snowberry		Shrub			Native
Thinopyrum intermedium (Host) Barkworth & D.R. Dewey	intermediate wheatgrass		Graminoid			Introduced
Tragopogon dubius Scop.	yellow salsify		Forb			Introduced
Trifolium arvense L.	rabbitfoot clover		Legume			Native

Day 4 – Saturday, June 27, 2015

With the temperatures showing no signs of mercy the decision was made to ‘head for the mountains’, i.e. Mount St. Helens and Mt. Rainier. This meant a significant change in the ecological zone, species mix and the comfort level. 

As we made our way to Mt. St. Helens along the Wind River Highway, we noted the following plants. Not an official stop, although we briefly stopped a few times en route. We were somewhat struck by the relatively high number of introduced plants on road cuts, along logging roads, and the St. Helens overlook where we visited with some bikers; places where opportunistic plants (weeds) reside. One might speculate had the first inhabitants of North America built roads, removed mountain tops for minerals some 10,000 years ago, maybe some opportunistic plants would have evolved.

Scientific Name	Common Name		Type		Origin
Achlys triphylla (Sm.) DC.		sweet after death		Forb		Native
Agoseris elata (Nutt.) Greene		tall agoseris		Forb		Native
Agrostis scabra Willd.		rough bentgrass		Graminoid		Native
Alnus rubra Bong.		red alder		Tree		Native
Anaphalis margaritacea (L.) Benth.		pearly everlasting		Forb		Native
Anthoxanthum odoratum L.		sweet vernalgrass		Graminoid		Introduced
Calamagrostis stricta		slimstem reedgrass		Graminoid		Native
Digitalis purpurea L.		purple foxglove		Forb		Introduced
Festuca brevipila Tracey		hard fescue		Graminoid		Introduced
Festuca rubra L.		red fescue		Graminoid		Introduced
Hieracium aurantiacum L.		orange hawkweed		Forb		Introduced
Holcus lanatus L.		common velvetgrass		Graminoid		Introduced
Lathyrus latifolius L.		perennial pea		Legume		Introduced
Leucanthemum vulgare Lam.		oxeye daisy		Forb		Introduced
Lilium columbianum Leichtlin		Columbia Lily		Forb		Native
Lotus corniculatus L.		bird’s-foot trefoil		Legume		Introduced
Plantago lanceolata L.		narrowleaf plantain		Forb		Introduced
Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco		Douglas-fir		Tree		Native
Pteridium aquilinum (L.) Kuhn		western brackenfern		Forb		Native
Rubus leucodermis Douglas ex Torr. & A. Gray		whitebark raspberry		Shrub		Native
Rubus ursinus Cham. & Schltdl.		California blackberry		Shrub		Native
Senecio jacobaea L.		stinking willie		Forb		Introduced
Senecio triangularis Hook.		arrowleaf ragwort		Forb		Native
Taraxacum officinale F.H. Wigg.		common dandelion		Forb		Introduced
Thinopyrum intermedium (Host) Barkworth & D.R. Dewey		intermediate wheatgrass		Graminoid		Introduced
Thuja plicata Donn ex D. Don		western redcedar		Tree		Native
Tsuga heterophylla (Raf.) Sarg.		western hemlock		Tree		Native

Inventory Site 7 – Spirit Lake, Mount St. Helens, Skamania County

Most people alive today recall Sunday Morning, May 18, 1980, when Mount St. Helens erupted. Shaken by an earthquake measuring 5.1 on the Richter scale, the north face of this tall symmetrical mountain collapsed in a massive rock debris avalanche. In a few moments this slab of rock and ice slammed into Spirit Lake, crossed a ridge 1,300 feet high, and roared 14 miles down the Toutle River. This event altered the short term the life of three members of our inventory team. Plant materials were one tool needed in the rehabilitation process. (Jack, can you make some comments about your role as regional PMS, and other PM roles). Fred Gaffney, Plant Materials Specialist in New York was commissioned to collect seed in the area for use by plant materials centers that might have value, and Robert MacLaughlan coordinated this and other associated plant materials efforts. So it was sort of a home coming for these three.

Vegetation is slowly returning to the Mount St. Helens and the surrounding areas. And for 30 years, scientists have been studying the area to gather new insight into how restoration progresses from such catastrophic events. The following highlights are from: American Forest Blog; http://www.americanforests.org/blog/geology-vs-ecology/

• Legacies can regrow a forest: At the time of the eruption, scientists believed that Mount St. Helens’ ecology would renew the barren landscape with help from species once unknown to the area. Some did, but much of the regrowth can also be attributed to “biological legacies” — the fallen trees, buried seeds and amphibians that survived the blast and have been resilient restarters of the green spaces around the volcano

• Thousands of acres of dead trees don’t necessarily equal fire and insect outbreaks: Many advocated for rapid salvage logging of the trees destroyed by the eruption, but in the 110,000-acre Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument created in 1982, no such logging was completed — and no massive fire or insect outbreaks occurred. It turns out that volcano ash reduces flammability and repels insects.
• Native is better: Non-native seeds were spread around Mount St. Helens to help minimize erosion, but it wasn’t very successful. However, natural revegetation was successful in the area, showing that native seeds should always be considered first for erosion control efforts.

While 30 years might seem like a long time and many plants, trees and animals have repopulated this once-ravaged landscape, in ecological terms, recovery has only just begun. It’ll take centuries for the old-growth forest of firs and hemlocks to regenerate fully. It’s amazing how a natural event like this 5.1 earthquake, destroyed centuries of ecological work.

The team inventory site was in the vicinity of the visitors center, most bountiful in beauty if not in plants.  

Scientific Name	Common Name		Type		Origin
Achillea millefolium L.		common yarrow		Forb		Native
Agrostis pallens Trin.		seashore bentgrass		Graminoid		Native
Agrostis scabra Willd.		rough bentgrass		Graminoid		Native
Alnus viridis (Chaix) DC. subsp. sinuata (Regel) Á. Löve & D. Löve		Sitka alder		Shrub		Native
Anaphalis margaritacea (L.) Benth.		pearly everlasting		Forb		Native
Calamagrostis canadensis (Michx.) P. Beauv.		bluejoint		Graminoid		Native
Carex mertensii Prescott ex Bong.		Mertens’ sedge		Graminoid		Native
Carex microptera Mack.		smallwing sedge		Graminoid		Native
Castilleja miniata Douglas ex Hook.		giant red Indian paintbrush		Forb		Native
Centaurea stoebe L.		spotted knapweed		Forb		Introduced
Chamerion angustifolium (L.) Holub		fireweed		Forb		Native
Dactylis glomerata L.		orchardgrass		Graminoid		Introduced
Elymus elymoides (raf.) Swezey		squirreltail		Graminoid		Native
Elymus glaucus Buckley		blue wildrye		Graminoid		Native
Elymus trachycaulus (Link) Gould ex Shinners		slender wheatgrass		Graminoid		Native
Epilobium minutum Lindl. ex Lehm.		chaparral willowherb		Forb		Native
Equisetum palustre L.		marsh horsetail		Forb		Native
Erigeron compositus Pursh		cutleaf daisy		Forb		Native
Cistanthe umbellata  (Torr.) Hershkovitz		pussypaws		Forb		Native
Festuca rubra L.		red fescue		Graminoid		Introduced
Galium triflorum Michx.		fragrant bedstraw		Forb		Native
Hieracium aurantiacum L.		orange hawkweed		Forb		Introduced
Hieracium gracile Hook.		slender hawkweed		Forb		Native
Holcus lanatus L.		common velvetgrass		Graminoid		Introduced
Holodiscus discolor (Pursh) Maxim.		oceanspray		Shrub		Native
Hypericum perforatum L.		common St. Johnswort		Forb		Introduced
Leucanthemum vulgare Lam.		oxeye daisy		Forb		Introduced
Lolium perenne L. subsp. multiflorum (Lam.) Husnot		Italian ryegrass		Graminoid		Introduced
Lupinus latifolius Lindl. ex J. Agardh		broadleaf lupine		Legume		Native
Lupinus lepidus Douglas ex Lindl.		Pacific lupine		Legume		Native
Lupinus lyallii A. Gray		dwarf mountain lupine		Legume		Native
Minuartia tenella (Nutt.) Mattf.		slender stitchwort		Forb		Native
Noccaea fendleri (A. Gray) Holub subsp. glauca (A. Nelson) Al-Shehbaz & M. Koch		alpine pennycress		Forb		Native
Penstemon cardwellii Howell		Cardwell’s beardtongue		Forb		Native
Phacelia hastata Douglas ex Lehm.		silverleaf phacelia		Forb		Native
Plantago lanceolata L.		narrowleaf plantain		Forb		Introduced
Plantago major L.		common plantain		Forb		Introduced
Poa compressa L.		Canada bluegrass		Graminoid		Introduced
Poa pratensis L.		Kentucky bluegrass		Graminoid		Introduced
Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco		Douglas-fir		Tree		Native
Rorippa curvisiliqua (Hook.) Besser ex Britton		curvepod yellowcress		Forb		Native
Rubus idaeus L.		American red raspberry		Shrub		Native
Rumex acetosella L.		common sheep sorrel		Forb		Introduced
Salix commutata Bebb		undergreen willow		Shrub		Native
Salix sitchensis Sanson ex Bong.		Sitka willow		Shrub		Native
Sambucus racemosa L.		red elderberry		Shrub		Native
Sedum stenopetalum Pursh		wormleaf stonecrop		Forb		Native
Sibbaldia procumbens L.		creeping sibbaldia		Forb		Native
Symphyotrichum frondosum (Nutt.) G.L. Nesom		short-rayed alkali aster		Forb		Native
Taraxacum officinale F.H. Wigg.		common dandelion		Forb		Introduced
Thlaspi arvense L.		field pennycress		Forb		Introduced
Trifolium pratense L.		red clover		Legume		Introduced
Trifolium repens L.		white clover		Legume		Introduced
Xerophyllum tenax (Pursh) Nutt.		common beargrass		Graminoid		Native

Inventory Site 9 – Mt. Rainier, Pierce County

Ascending to 14,410 feet, Mount Rainier stands as an icon in the Washington landscape. An active volcano, Mount Rainier is the most glaciated peak in the contiguous U.S.A., spawning six major rivers. Subalpine wildflower meadows ring the icy volcano while ancient forest cloaks Mount Rainier’s lower slopes. Wildlife abounds in the park’s ecosystems. 

John Muir wrote of Mt. Rainier “–the most luxuriant and the most extravagantly beautiful of all the alpine gardens I ever beheld in all my mountain-top wanderings. Out of the forest at last there stood the mountain, wholly unveiled, awful in bulk and majesty, filling all the view like a separate, new-born world, yet withal so fine and so beautiful it might well fire the dullest observer to desperate enthusiasm. Long we gazed in silent admiration, buried in tall daisies and anemones by the side of a snowbank.” Such must be the feelings of the thousands who gaze upon this sight yearly, at the visitors center. The vegetation is indeed ‘– most luxuriant and the most extravagantly beautiful –‘. 

For those who reach the summit Muir had this to say: “The view we enjoyed from the summit could hardly be surpassed in sublimity and grandeur; but one feels far from home so high in the sky, so much so that one is inclined to guess that, apart from the acquisition of knowledge and the exhilaration of climbing, more pleasure is to be found at the foot of the mountains than on their tops. Doubly happy, however, is the man to whom lofty mountain tops are within reach, for the lights that shine there illumine all that lies below.”

Scientific Name		Common Name		Type		Origin
Abies lasiocarpa (Hook.) Nutt.	subalpine fir		Tree		Native
Alnus viridis (Chaix) DC. subsp. sinuata (Regel) Á. Löve & D. Löve	Sitka alder		Shrub		Native
Arnica latifolia Bong.	broadleaf arnica		Forb		Native
Calamagrostis canadensis (Michx.) P. Beauv.	bluejoint		Graminoid		Native
Carex nigricans C.A. Mey.	black alpine sedge		Graminoid		Native
Carex spectabilis Dewey	showy sedge		Graminoid		Native
Castilleja miniata Douglas ex Hook.	giant red Indian paintbrush		Forb		Native
Castilleja parviflora Bong.	mountain Indian paintbrush		Forb		Native
Erigeron peregrinus (Banks ex Pursh) Greene	subalpine fleabane		Forb		Native
Eriogonum pyrolifolium Hook.	Shasta buckwheat		Forb		Native
Erythronium grandiflorum Pursh	yellow avalanche-lily		Forb		Native
Eucephalus ledophyllus (A. Gray) Greene	Cascade aster		Forb		Native
Festuca viridula Vasey	greenleaf fescue		Graminoid		Native
Ligusticum grayi J.M. Coult. & Rose	Gray’s licorice-root		Forb		Native
Luetkea pectinata (Pursh) Kuntze	partridgefoot		Shrub		Native
Lupinus albicaulis Douglas	sicklekeel lupine		Legume		Native
Lupinus latifolius Lindl. ex J. Agardh	broadleaf lupine		Legume		Native
Lycopodium clavatum L.	running clubmoss		Forb		Native
Maianthemum stellatum (L.) Link	starry false lily of the valley		Forb		Native
Mimulus lewisii Pursh	purple monkeyflower		Forb		Native
Oreostemma alpigenum (Torr. & A. Gray) Greene	tundra aster		Forb		Native
Pedicularis bracteosa Benth.	bracted lousewort		Forb		Native
Pedicularis racemosa Douglas ex Benth.	sickletop lousewort		Forb		Native
Perideridia gairdneri (Hook. & Arn.) Mathias	Gardner’s yampah		Forb		Native
Phleum alpinum L.	alpine timothy		Graminoid		Native
Phyllodoce empetriformis (Sm.) D. Don	pink mountain heath		Shrub		Native
Polygonum bistortoides Pursh	American bistort		Forb		Native
Potentilla flabellifolia Hook. ex Torr. & A. Gray	high mountain cinquefoil		Forb		Native
Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco	Douglas-fir		Tree		Native
Rubus lasiococcus A. Gray	roughfruit berry		Forb		Native
Salix scouleriana Barratt ex Hook.	Scouler’s willow		Shrub		Native
Salix sitchensis Sanson ex Bong.	Sitka willow		Shrub		Native
Senecio triangularis Hook.	arrowleaf ragwort		Forb		Native
Solidago multiradiata Aiton	Rocky Mountain goldenrod		Forb		Native
Sorbus sitchensis M. Roem.	western mountain ash		Shrub		Native
Spiraea splendens Baumann ex K. Koch	rose meadowsweet		Shrub		Native
Trifolium wormskioldii Lehm.	cows clover		Forb		Native
Tsuga mertensiana (Bong.) Carrière	mountain hemlock		Tree		Native
Vaccinium deliciosum Piper	Cascade bilberry		Shrub		Native
Valeriana sitchensis Bong.	Sitka valerian		Forb		Native
Veratrum viride Aiton	green false hellebore		Forb		Native
Veronica cusickii A. Gray	Cusick’s speedwell		Forb		Native
Viola orbiculata Geyer ex Holz.	darkwoods violet		Forb		Native

From the heights of Mt. Rainier we fretfully descended to the first gas station we could find, enjoyed a late but delightful lunch at the Mt. Adams Café, which Carlson characterized as “the opposite of horrid” referring to the last plant identified which was Oplopanax horridus. We arrived in Yakima at 10:30PM. The most hardy of the group were resolve not to miss dinner and happy hour, both in the same day, but sounder judgment and tired bodies prevailed. 

Day 5 – Sunday, June 28, 2015

Inventory Site 10 – Ginkgo Petrified Forest / Wanapum Recreational Area, Kittitas County

Following a restful night’s sleep in our Yakima lodging, we traveled north about 30 miles, then east on I-90 for 20 miles and exited just before crossing the Columbia again. We found the Ginkgo Petrified Forest quite and peaceful on this lovely Sunday morning.

Petrified wood was discovered in the region in the early 1930s, which led to creation of the park as a national historic preserve. Petrified wood is a fossil in which the organic remains have been replaced by minerals in the slow process of being replaced with stone. This petrification process generally results in a quartz chalcedony mineralization. The Interpretive Center offers spectacular views of the Columbia River and surrounding Ice Age flood-carved basalt landscape. Indoor exhibits tell the geologic story of the Vantage Petrified Forest and display one of the most diverse petrified wood collections in North America. Our inventory site was the Trees of Stone Interpretive Trailhead, two miles west of the interpretive center. Here examples of entire cross sections of petrified trees were visible.

Scientific Name	Common Name		Type	Origin
Achillea millefolium L.		common yarrow	Forb		Native
Achnatherum hymenoides (Roem. & Schult.) Barkworth		Indian ricegrass	Graminoid		Native
Achnatherum thurberianum (Piper) Barkworth		Thurber’s needlegrass	Graminoid		Native
Amaranthus albus L.		prostrate pigweed	Forb		Introduced
Amsinckia lycopsoides Lehm.		tarweed fiddleneck	Forb		Native
Artemisia rigida (Nutt.) A. Gray		scabland sagebrush	Shrub		Native
Artemisia tridentata Nutt. subsp. tridentata		basin big sagebrush	Shrub		Native
Bromus tectorum L.		cheatgrass	Graminoid		Introduced
Chamaesyce glyptosperma (Engelm.) Small		ribseed sandmat	Forb		Native
Collomia grandiflora Douglas ex Lindl.		grand collomia	Forb		Native
Descurainia pinnata (Walter) Britton		western tansymustard	Forb		Native
Elaeagnus angustifolia L.		Russian olive	Tree		Introduced
Eriogonum niveum Douglas ex Benth.		snow buckwheat	Shrub		Native
Eriogonum sphaerocephalum Douglas ex Benth.		rock buckwheat	Shrub		Native
Eriogonum thymoides Benth.		thymeleaf buckwheat	Forb		Native
Gilia sinuata Douglas ex Benth.		rosy gilia	Forb		Native
Ginkgo biloba L.		maidenhair tree	Tree		Introduced
Grayia spinosa (Hook.) Moq.		spiny hopsage	Shrub		Native
Gutierrezia sarothrae (Pursh) Britton & Rusby		broom snakeweed	Shrub		Native
Hesperostipa comata (Trin. & Rupr.) Barkworth		needle and thread	Graminoid		Native
Horkelia fusca Lindl.		pinewoods horkelia	Forb		Native
Juniperus communis L.		common juniper	Shrub		Native
Juniperus scopulorum Sarg.		Rocky Mountain juniper	Tree		Native
Lomatium macrocarpum (Nutt. ex Torr. & A. Gray) J.M. Coult. & Rose		bigseed biscuitroot	Forb		Native
Lygodesmia juncea (Pursh) D. Don ex Hook.		rush skeletonplant	Forb		Native
Mahonia repens (Lindl.) G. Don		creeping barberry	Shrub		Native
Phlox hoodii Richardson		spiny phlox	Forb		Native
Pinus ponderosa C. Lawson		ponderosa pine	Tree		Native
Poa secunda J. Presl		Sandberg bluegrass	Graminoid		Native
Prunus armeniaca L.		apricot	Tree		Introduced
Pseudoroegneria spicata (Pursh) A. Löve		bluebunch wheatgrass	Graminoid		Native
Robinia pseudoacacia L.		black locust	Tree		Native
Sisymbrium altissimum L.		tall tumblemustard	Forb		Introduced
Sporobolus cryptandrus (Torr.) A. Gray		sand dropseed	Graminoid		Native
Ulmus pumila L.		Siberian elm	Tree		Introduced
Vulpia bromoides (L.) Gray		brome fescue	Graminoid		Introduced

Following the inventory our departure was regrettably delayed. Five team members had assembled for departure. A reasonable explanation of the two missing members was easy; one was the most tedious regarding plant parts, and the other was the abiding and tolerant fellow. The ready-to-go five evaluated their options. The SUV was crowded; two extra seats would be nice, so why not leave them. “No”, our leader explained, they are needed to help with the vehicle costs. So off he went, returning in due time with the missing duo.

Out next stop following lunch in Ephrata was an overlook of Dry Fall. Eventually, water in earlier discussed Lake Missoula rose high enough to float the ice dam until it gave way, and a portion of this cataclysmic flood spilled into Glacial Lake Columbia, and then down the Grand Coulee. It is generally accepted that this process of ice-damming of the Clark Fork, refilling of Lake Missoula and subsequent cataclysmic flooding happened dozens of times over the years of the last Ice Age. Dry Falls was created, a 3.5 mile long scalloped precipice, five times the width of Niagara. Dry Falls is thought by some to be the greatest known waterfall that ever existed. (The refilling of the Mediterranean five million years ago probably dwarfed it.) According to the current geological model, catastrophic flooding channeled water at 65 miles per hour through the Upper Grand Coulee and over this 400-foot rock face at the end of the last ice age. It is estimated that the flow of the falls was ten times the current flow of all the rivers in the world combined. Comprehending all that on this warm, peaceful Sunday afternoon exceeded our capacity, so we departed for Grand Coulee, WA.

We arrived in Grand Coulee just in time to join a tour of the Grand Coulee Dam. The magnitude of this endeavor dwarfs all 21^st century pump priming, and has immensely benefitted the country. Today, its production of electricity is only about one-third of its capacity. When ask why they did not function at 100 percent capacity and ship their surplus east, the answer was fuzzy but finely resolved that it was a mixture of technical difficulties, politics, and capitalism that prevented the obvious. 

The Grand Coulee Dam location has the greatest potential source of hydroelectric energy in the United States. Its total Generating Capacity is 6,809 megawatts compared to 2078 for Hoover Dam. Original plans considered ten dams on the Columbia River between the Canadian border and the mouth of the river. Grand Coulee Dam forms Lake Roosevelt, extending 151 miles upstream to the Canadian border, with a 600-mile shoreline and 82,000 surface area acres. The Dam provides water to irrigate approximately 600,000 acres in the Columbia Basin Project. In addition to its irrigation and power functions, Grand Coulee Dam is a primary factor in controlling the floods on the Columbia River.

The Dam is one of the largest concrete structures in the world. It contains nearly 12 million cubic yards of concrete. You could build a sidewalk four feet wide and four inches thick and wrap it twice around the equator (50,000 miles). You could build a highway from Seattle to Washington to Miami, Florida. You could build the Grand Coulee Dam, one of the modern wonders of the world.

Day 6 – Monday, June 29, 2015 

Following breakfast our first activity took us high above Grand Coulee Dam to Crown Point Overlook State Park. Crown Point was built with Civil Conservation Corp Funds in the early 1940’s and is currently managed and maintained by Washington State Parks and Recreation. Marking this most desirable point is a small, attractive structure. The Sun shines through a hole in the center of the roof letting a beam of light fall on one of the 12 roof support columns, which correspond to the 12 hours on the face of a clock. 

Our leader was observed making notes while there – no doubt a quick inventory.

Inventory Site 11 Crown Point Overlook

Scientific Name	Common Name		Type	Origin
Achnatherum thurberianum (Piper) Barkworth		Thurber’s needlegrass	Graminoid		Native
Artemisia tridentata Nutt. subsp. tridentata		basin big sagebrush	Shrub		Native
Bromus tectorum L.		cheatgrass	Graminoid		Introduced
Ericameria nauseosa (Pall. ex Pursh) G.L. Nesom & Baird		rubber rabbitbrush	Shrub		Native
Lactuca serriola L.		prickly lettuce	Forb		Introduced
Lomatium ambiguum (Nutt.) J.M. Coult. & Rose		Wyeth biscuitroot	Forb		Native
Poa secunda J. Presl		Sandberg bluegrass	Graminoid		Native
Pseudoroegneria spicata (Pursh) A. Löve		bluebunch wheatgrass	Graminoid		Native
Sporobolus cryptandrus (Torr.) A. Gray		sand dropseed	Graminoid		Native

Inventory Site 12 – Bunchgrass Prairie Nature Trail, Spring Canyon, Douglas County

The National Park Service created this one-half mile nature trail adjacent to a large RV Camping area. It overlooks Roosevelt Lake, and is a short distance from the dam. 

According to the NPS brochure the trail is on the edge of the bunchgrass prairie, and an excellent example of a Shrub-Steppe Ecosystem that once covered over 24,000 square miles – almost all of eastern Washington. By the early 20th century the region’s rich soils were discovered to be ideal for dry land wheat farming and today very little of the shrub-steppe ecosystem remains. Non-native species and plants now thrive here, most without any natural enemies. What remains is a unique diversity of flora and fauna that have adapted to the hot, dry summers and long, cold winters.

Scientific Name	Common Name		Type	Origin
Achillea millefolium L.		common yarrow	Forb		Native
Achnatherum occidentale (Thurb.) Barkworth		western needlegrass	Graminoid		Native
Agropyron fragile (Roth) P. Candargy		Siberian wheatgrass	Graminoid		Introduced
Amelanchier alnifolia  (Nutt.) Nutt. ex M. Roem.		Saskatoon serviceberry	Shrub		Native
Arenaria franklinii Douglas ex Hook.		Franklin’s sandwort	Forb		Native
Aristida purpurea Nutt.		purple three-awn	Graminoid		Native
Artemisia absinthium L.		absinthium	Forb		Introduced
Artemisia biennis Willd.		biennial wormwood	Forb		Native
Balsamorhiza sagittata (Pursh) Nutt.		arrowleaf balsamroot	Forb		Native
Bromus inermis Leysis.		smooth brome	Graminoid		Introduced
Bromus tectorum L.		cheatgrass	Graminoid		Introduced
Centaurea stoebe L.		spotted knapweed	Forb		Introduced
Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus (Hook.) Nutt.		yellow rabbitbrush	Shrub		Native
Comandra umbellata (L.) Nutt.		bastard toadflax	Forb		Introduced
Dermatocarpon reticulatum H. Magn.		reticulate silverskin lichen	Lichen		Native
Elymus wawawaiensis J. Carlson & Barkworth		Snake River wheatgrass	Graminoid		Native
Ericameria nauseosa (Pall. ex Pursh) G.L. Nesom & Baird		rubber rabbitbrush	Shrub		Native
Erigeron filifolius (Hook.) Nutt.		threadleaf fleabane	Forb		Native
Eriogonum heracleoides Nutt.		parsnipflower buckwheat	Forb		Native
Eriogonum niveum Douglas ex Benth.		snow buckwheat	Forb		Native
Festuca idahoensis Elmer		Idaho fescue	Graminoid		Native
Grayia spinosa (Hook.) Moq.		spiny hopsage	Shrub		Native
Grimmia montana Bruch & Schimp.		montane dry rock moss	Moss		Native
Grindelia squarrosa (Pursh) Dunal		curlycup gumweed	Forb		Native
Leymus cinereus (Scribn. & Merr.) Á. Löve		basin wildrye	Graminoid		Native
Lithospermum ruderale Douglas ex Lehm.		western stoneseed	Forb		Native
Lupinus sericeus Pursh		silky lupine	Legume		Native
Oenothera pallida Lindl.		pale evening primrose	Forb		Native
Opuntia fragilis (Nutt.) Haw.		brittle pricklypear	Shrub		Native
Poa secunda J. Presl		Sandberg bluegrass	Graminoid		Native
Pseudoroegneria spicata (Pursh) A. Löve		bluebunch wheatgrass	Graminoid		Native
Purshia tridentata (Pursh) DC.		antelope bitterbrush	Shrub		Native
Rosa woodsii Lindl.		Wood’s rose	Shrub		Native
Salsola kali L.		Russian thistle	Forb		Introduced
Sporobolus cryptandrus (Torr.) A. Gray		sand dropseed	Graminoid		Native
Tragopogon dubius Scop.		yellow salsify	Forb		Introduced
Vulpia bromoides (L.) Gray		brome fescue	Graminoid		Introduced

Inventory Site 11 – Wilson Creek, Washington Trails Association, Lincoln County

The following is an edited explanation by the Washington Trails Association of this inventory site.

“The BLM showed good sense in preserving this wonderful, if small, slice of desert paradise. Wilson Creek flows south of Govan (past an old turn-of-the-nineteenth-century schoolhouse in Govan). From the south access trailhead, you’ll find a lovely trail, great wildflowers, wonderful views up and down the Wilson Creek coulee, and an incredible vantage from which to view wildlife. Your route follows a marked trail for more than a mile, with nicely informative interpretive signs along the way.” 

At the end of the trail a debate arose about a vine growing among the basalt in the bottom of the coulee. Was it Virginia creeper or poison ivy? As those allergic to the latter looked on one of the team relics climbed down rocky slope to fetch a sample. An out cry for his safety was not heard- just get the sample. Check the list to see what it was. 

Scientific Name

Common Name

Type

Origin

The End

The bumper sticker gift by Larry says it all, plants indeed warms the hearts of this group. But all plants are not equal in this regard. For example bluebunch wheatgeass (Pseudoroegneria spicata (Pursh) Á. Löve), a welcomed plant at most inventory sites, hold a special meaning for our leader on this trek, Jack Carlson. Let us belabor the point by offering two pier review Carlson transcripts on the subject, which led to the recognition of a new species. Apologies for foregoing appropriate credits, references, etc.

First is an herbarium transcript generalizing on the divergence of the species. 

Plants perennial; usually cespitose, sometimes rhizomatous. Culms 30–100 cm, usually erect, sometimes decumbent or geniculate. Leaves evenly distributed; sheaths open; auricles well developed; ligules membranous; blades flat to loosely involute. Inflorescences terminal spikes, erect, with 1 spikelet per node; internodes (7)10–20(28) mm at midlength, lower internodes often longer than those at midlength. Spikelets (8)12–25 mm, 1.1–1.5(2) times the length of the internodes, usually appressed, sometimes slightly divergent, with 4–9 florets; disarticulation above the glumes and below the florets. Glumes unequal, from shorter to slightly longer than the lowest lemma in the spikelets, lanceolate to oblanceolate, (3)4–5(7)-veined, usually acute to obtuse, occasionally truncate, narrowing beyond midlength, veins prominent; lemmas inconspicuously 5-veined, unawned or terminally awned, awns straight to strongly bent and divergent; anthers 4–8 mm. x = 7. Haplome St. Name from the Greek pseudo, ‘false’, and the genus Roegneria, an Asian taxon often included in Elymus.

Pseudoroegneria includes 15–20 species, one of which is North American and the remainder either Eurasian or Asian. All species currently included in the genus are obligate outcrossers, and almost all are diploids or autotetraploids (Jensen et al. 1992) containing the St haplome (designation by the International Triticeae Consortium). This genome is the most widely distributed in the Triticeae, being found in all species of Elymus sensu lato as well as some species of Thinopyrum.

The limits of Pseudoroegneria are not well established, whether it is treated as a genus, as here, or included in Elytrigia (Tsvelev 1976) or Elymus (Melderis 1980). Two species that were originally included have been transferred to Douglasdeweya C. Yen, J.L. Yang & B.R. Baum (Chen et al. 2005), because specimens grown at agricultural experiment stations were found to be StP allotetraploids (Jensen et al. 1992; Wang et al. 1986; Chen et al. 2005).

There are also questions concerning the delimitation of species in Pseudoroegneria. For instance, Jensen et al. (1995) suggested that P. spicata, P. strigosa (M.-Bieb.) Á. Löve, P. geniculata (Trin.) Á. Löve, P. elytrigioides (C. Yen & J.L. Yang) Bao-Rong Lu, and Roegneria glaberrima Keng & S.L. Chen should be considered members of a single transberingian species complex. They presented cytological, but not morphological, analyses supporting their conclusion.

The second is an abstract proposing a new subspecies, which was accepted by the appropriate authorities

Chromosome counts were determined for 152 accessions of Pseudoroegneria spicata (Pursh) A. Löve and, combined with existing countdata, used to plot the distribution of diploid and tetraploid populations. Morphological variation of 55 characters was examined in five groups totaling 205 operational taxonomic units (OTU’s), using cluster, principal factor, and discriminant analyses. The five groups included diploid and autotetraploid spicata, an allotetraploid previously included in spicata, a control group including four Old World Pseudoroegneria species, and a small control sample of Elymus lanceolatus (Scrib. and Smith) Gould. The analyses were not able to separate diploid from autoploid spicata nor identify any clear sub-groupings within the diploids. However, the alloploid was separated from spicata and aligned with Elymus lanceolatus based on glume and spike characters. This study recommends the alloploid be included in lanceolatus as a new subspecies, Elymus lanceolatus ssp. wawawai. The chromosome count data indicate it is distributed in the canyons and tributaries of the lower Salmon and Snake Rivers of northern Idaho, northeastern Oregon, and southeastern Washington. The new subspecies keys to Elymus lanceolatus based on glume characters and is separated from subspecies lanceolatus and albicans by its cespitose growth habit.

Plants, like moving surplus megawatts east from Grand Coulee Dam, are complex.

Tuesday morning, June 30 we scattered, but not before settling on Trek IX for 2016: Location, southern Idaho and northern Nevada and Utah for early May.