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PROGRAMSEveryone is welcome to attend membership meetings in the Recreation Room of the San FranciscoCounty Fair Building (SFCFB) at 9th Avenue and Lincoln Way in Golden Gate Park. The #71 and #44buses stop at the building. The N-Judah, #6, #43, and #66 lines stop within 2 blocks.Before our programs, we take our speakers to dinner at Chang�s Kitchen, 1030 Irving Street, between11th and 12th Avenues. Join us for good Chinese food and interesting conversation. Meet at the restaurantat 5:30 pm. RSVP appreciated but not required. If you wish to notify, please call Jake Sigg at 415-731-3028.
SEPTEMBER 7, THURSDAY, 7:30 PMRestoring Habitat for San Francisco�s Rare Endemic ManzanitasSpeaker: Michael ChasséSan Francisco hosts two of the rarest manzanitas in the world: Raven's Manzanita (Arctostaphylos montanasubsp. ravenii) and Franciscan Manzanita (Arctostaphylos franciscana). These endangered species grewtogether in a distinct maritime chaparral habitat that once covered the serpentine hilltops of San Francisco.Their story is one of loss, salvage, rediscovery, and serendipity. Michael Chassé will share the story ofhow San Francisco's rare endemic manzanitas were brought back from the brink of extinction and howcurrent efforts are returning these species to the San Francisco landscape.Michael Chassé is a vegetation ecologist for the National Park Service at the Golden Gate NationalRecreation Area, where he has coordinated natural areas stewardship and rare plant monitoring forclose to 20 years. He is a graduate of San Francisco State University's Department of Geography. Hismaster's thesis focused on San Francisco's rare endemic manzanitas.
OCTOBER 5, THURSDAY, 7:30 PMBees, ZomBees, and Citizen ScienceSpeaker: Dr. John HafernikConcern about threats to honey bees and other pollinators is mounting. The honey bee is not native tothe United States, but it is an important pollinator of agricultural crops and the mainstay of commercialand backyard honey production. In the U.S., hive failure rates are increasing as honey bees deal withintroduced mites, diseases, pesticides and other stressors. These and other factors also threaten nativebees. Recently a new threat to honey bees, the parasitic phorid fly Apocephalus borealis (AKA the ZombieFly), was discovered in San Francisco. Bees infected by the fly (Zombees) show disoriented zombie-like behavior leaving their hive at night to die under nearby lights. San Francisco State�s John Hafernikwill discuss the importance of native bees and honey bees as pollinators, as well as implications ofzombie fly parasitism for honey bees in California and beyond. He will also provide information onhow the public can get involved in tracking prevalence of zombie fly parasitism across North Americathrough the citizen science project ZomBee Watch (zombeewatch.org).Dr. John Hafernik is Professor Emeritus of Biology at San Francisco State University and a past President
of the California Academy of Sciences. He is also a former president of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, PacificDivision; and of the Pacific Coast Entomological Society. He served as chair of the SF State Biology Department from 1992-2005 and asInterim Director of the SF State Romberg Tiburon Center for Environmental Studies from 2013-2014. John became fascinated with insectsand the natural world as a young boy growing up in Texas.
OCTOBER 17, TUESDAY, BUFFET LUNCHEON @ 12:30 PM, Lecture at 2 PMThe Long-Lived Bristlecone Pines of the Eastern SierraSpeaker: Mila StroganoffIn response to numerous requests from members from Pacifica, here is a program for you. Fellowmembers and friends of the Yerba Buena Chapter, please join Pacifica members for lunch and alecture in sunny Pacifica for a warm get-together.30 people must pay in advance for lunch or luncheon/lecture will not take place. The Ancient Bristlecone Pine trees(Pinus longaeva) are found in the California White Mountainsin the Ancient Bristlecone Pine forest, within the Inyo National Forest. Some of these treesare almost5,000 years old and have survived in a harshenvironment at elevations of 10,500� 11,500 feet above sea level. The bristlecone pine trees have taught us a great deal aboutpast climates. Dr. Edmund Schulman, dendrochronologist and climatologist, was thefirst to document their longevity in 1953.We will take a detailed look at these fascinatingtrees. Mila Stroganoff is a long-time member of CNPS and a Yerba Buena Chapterboard member for over 25 years. She is Poster and Book Sales Chair and ProgramsCo-Chair and wears other hats as needed. She has a piano performance degreein classical music from the Royal Conservatory of Music at the University ofToronto and a biology degree from the College of San Mateo. Lunch is buffetstyle consistingof vegetarian lasagna, chicken scaloppini, green salad, vegetables,fruit salad for dessert, tea and coffee. (Wine is not included, but is availablefor purchase.) The cost for buffet lunch is $20.00 per personand a check payable to CNPS-YBC must be
N E W S
Y E R B ABUENA
THE YERBA BUENA
CHAPTER OF THE
C A L I F O R N I A
N A T I V E P L A N T
S O C I E T Y F O R
SAN FRANCISCO
AND NORTHERN
SAN MATEO COUNTY
CONTENTSPrograms � pages 1,2Field Trip � page 2Activities � pages 2,3Conservation News � pages 3,6-7Focus on Rarities � page 4Mountain Journal � page 5Habitat Restoration � page 6Chapter News � page 7
Vol. 31 No. 3 September 2017
NO PROGRAM in December or JanuaryPlease join us in February, 2018
(PROGRAMS continued on page 2)
PinuslongaevaBristleconepine
PinuslongaevaBristleconepine
WELCOME BACK PLANT ID WORKSHOPSSecond Thursday of the month 6 � 7:30 pm on
September 14,October 12, November 9, and December 14San Francisco State University1600 Holloway AvenueHensill Hall, Botany Lab, Room 440
It�s the beginning of the Fall Semester and we head back to plant IDworkshops on the second Thursday of the month throughout the fall.These workshops are a collaboration between Yerba Buena Chapterand San Francisco State University. The workshops are a great relaxingplace to learn about botany. We normally start with a PowerPointpresentation discussing diagnostic characteristicsof a plant family,aspects of its ecology, distribution, and evolutionary history.Botanygraduate students will also assist us to key out live specimens. Markyour calendars for September 14th,October 12th, November 9th, andDecember 14th. Join us. The workshops begin at 6 pm and run until7:30 pm. The location is San Francisco State University, Hensill Hall,Botany Lab, Room 440.
JEPSON HERBARIUM WORKSHOPSFor 2017, the Jepson Workshop Series is proud to offer course offeringsin botany, plant taxonomy, regional floras, ecology and more. Join usfor another great year of learning about the flora of California!
September 23, 2017Climate Change in California: Past, Present, and FutureCynthia Looy, David Ackerly, Ivo DuijnsteeUC Berkeley
October 7, 2017Insect�Induced Plant Galls of CaliforniaKathy Schick, Diane Erwin, Joyce GrossUC Berkeley
October 20�22, 2017GIS for BotanistsMichelle Koo, Heather ConstableBlue Oak Ranch Reserve, Mt. Hamilton, California
To register visit:http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/workshops/2017/regform_2017.html
ACTIVITIES
FIELD TRIP COORDINATOR NEEDEDThe chapter is seeking a volunteer to keep our field trips program going strong. This fun and importantjob could be done by one individual, or shared by two or more people. The job mainly involves planningand scheduling trips, and attending them is purely optional. We have a core of excellent, experiencedtrip leaders, and the coordinator(s) will be more than welcome to contribute their own ideas fordeveloping new trip leaders and new destinations. Please contact Gail Wechsler at [email protected] more information or to volunteer.
received on or before September 25th. No email or telephonereservations will be accepted. Your name,telephone number and emailmust be included with the check.A minimum of 30 people is requiredfor lunch. If not enough people sign up, the event will be cancelled,you will be notified, and the checks shredded. Please mail your contactinformation and check to Mila Stroganoff, 1 Alviso Court, Pacifica,CA 94044.
NOVEMBER 2, THURSDAY, 7:30 PMBotanical Exploration of Coastal North America of the 18th and 19th CenturiesSpeaker: John KippingWhile immersing ourselves in our native floras, we encounter numerousspecies whose botanical names commemorate people. Who wereDouglas, Clark, Fremont, Menzies, and Eschscholtz? Join the Novembermeeting as we trace the history of botanical exploration of western
North America from the mid-1700s through 1855. We shall learnabout the oceanic voyages of Bering, Cook, Collnett, Vancouver,Malaspina, de la Perouse, Kotzebue, Beechey, and Wilkes as well asland-based journeys of Lewis and Clark, Douglas, Nuttall, Fremont,Hartweg, Loeb, and Whipple. We will join naturalist and arborist JohnKipping as he describes the times and tales of pioneering collectorsand botanists.Residing in the foothills of Gold Country, John is a member of the ElDorado Chapter of CNPS with deep roots in the Bay Area. Johnworked in nature education for nearly 30 years at the Randall JuniorMuseum, San Francisco Botanical Garden and Audubon Canyon Ranch.After earning an MA in biological sciences at San Francisco State, hebecame an instructor in the Natural Environment Program of theUniversity of California Extension at Berkeley, Santa Cruz, Davis, andLos Angeles for over two decades and has led nature tours in ourwestern states as well as New Zealand, Ecuador, Baja California,British Columbia and Alaska where he spends summers aboard a smallexcursion vessel. He has authored over fifty articles about plants andthree small books for children.
PROGRAMS (continued)
(ACTIVITIES continued on page 3)2
ACTIVITIES (continued)FALL PLANT SALEThe Yerba Buena Native Plant Sale is an opportunity to finda great many native plant species that aren�t readily availableat garden centers. Our focus and offerings, as always, willbe native plants local to our chapter area: San Franciscoand northern San Mateo County, including Montara andSan Bruno Mountains. These are the species already adaptedto our area�s climate, soils, and habitats--and are alsoimportant to our local fauna.
Many of the plants for sale will have been grown by chaptervolunteers from seeds, cuttings, or divisions-- from gardenplants or other sources from our chapter area. Great effortsare made to learn the provenance of the plants at our sale,as we understand the importance of maintaining a localgene pool.
Growing locally native plants is an important way to:Attract pollinators, including native bees, butterflies,moths, and birds-for your pleasure and their benefitProvide for endangered species (such as by growinghost and nectar plants for the Green Hairstreakbutterfly)Enhance corridors for native wildlifeUse less water (and less energy pumping that water)Save money on utility billsReduce the use of fertilizers and pesticidesHave a beautiful, colorful, lively gardenInspire your neighbors to do the same!
Fall is the ideal time for planting. The Annual Plant Sale isYerba Buena Chapter�s primary source of funding; it enablesus to put on our programs --and strive to fulfill our mission.Get great plants for your garden and help support CNPS!
Cash, checks and credit cards will be accepted for plantand book sales. For additional information, or to volunteerto help with the plant sale, contact Ellen Edelson (415-531-2140 or [email protected]).
CONSERVATION NEWSThe Endangered Fountain Thistleby Jake Sigg
In 2008 the GGNRA Endangered Species Big Year was created toincrease public awareness of rare species of plants and animals. Itwas a contest to see how many listed rare species occurring in theGGNRA people could actually see, and the rules required participantsto help protect those species.As part of this effort, the CNPS Yerba Buena and Santa Clara Valleychapters banded together to restore habitat for the state- and federally-listed fountain thistle, Cirsium fontinale fontinale, growing in a serpentineseep on Caltrans right-of-way at the intersection of Highway 92 andI-280. The formerly huge population had shrunk to fewer than twodozen plants because it was being pushed out by two acres of jubatagrass, which was about to deliver the coup de grace to the thistle.Caltrans agreed to do three sprayings of Roundup. They did that,and CNPS volunteers moved in to do the mopping up. Count ofseedlings in the next two years yielded >6,000 plants (!), at whichpoint we stopped counting. A clear success story. Volunteers haveremained dedicated and show up twice yearly for follow-upmaintenance. We can now confidently say that jubata grass is eradicatedfrom the site for the time being�everything in the plant world is
temporary�and we would like to keep it that way.Our sister chapter is now providing the bulk of the volunteers. Overthe years there has been an erosion of Yerba Buena Chapter members,until now only two or three participate�and age will prevent mefrom continuing indefinitely. (The decline of our numbers is largelymy fault because of failure to publicize.) If we want to continue thetwo-chapter collaboration we must increase our participation. Thenext event is scheduled for Saturday October __.If you are interested in this ongoing effort to save a plant species,please email [email protected].
Pedro Point Headlands Restorationby Kathy Kellerman
The coming rainy season marks the culmination of a three-yearRestoration and Trails Project for Pedro Point Headlands (PPH), thepromontory dividing Pacifica and Montara along the Pacific coast.The Pacifica Land Trust, working with the landowners CA CoastalConservancy and the City of Pacifica, has obtained $1.5 million ingrantsto restore erosion gullies to sheet water flow and establish safe,sustainable trails.What makes Pedro Point Headlands special?
(CONSERVATION continued on page 6)3
4
Tiny Pygmy DaisyPentachaeta alsinoidesby Michael Wood
In past articles, I�ve introduced such topicsas the meanings of rarity (2000, vol. 13, nos.3 and 4), endemism in the California flora(2001 vol. 15, nos. 03 and 04), extirpationverses extinction (2014, vol. 28, no. 2), andlocal rarity (2009, vol. 23 no. 3). Not wishingto overhype the subject of this quarter�s article,but tiny pygmy daisy is one species aboutwhich all of these topics apply.
Plant and animal species that are endemic toa specific geographic region or habitat occurnowhere else. Endemism is typically the resultof physical, climatic and/or biological factorsthat restrict the expansion of species into newregions. The California Floristic Province(CFP), that portion of our state with aMediterranean-type climate, is consideredone of the Earth�s 33 biodiversity hotpots. Afull 30 percent of the 7,031 plant species (i.e.,species, subspecies and varieties) occurringin the CFP are endemic. Why is endemismsignificant? Aside from the evolutionary storiesto be gleaned from examples of endemism,the more restricted a species is, the lower itschances are for surviving ecological disruption,whether by natural or human causes.Endemism draws the attention of biologistsinterested in understanding the factors leadingto the isolation of species. Explanations mayinclude environmental, ecological, biologicalphysiological, geological, and/or evolutionaryfactors. Isolated and endemic species pose amyriad of riddles that challenge theimagination. Consider the (r)evolutionarythinking that resulted from Charles Darwin�sobservations of the finches on the GalapagosIslands!
Tiny pygmy daisy, an annual member of thesunflower family (Asteraceae), is endemic tothe CFP. Although it been recorded from 18of California�s 58 counties, it is described asbeing uncommon in most of the publishedregional floras that I have in my library.1 Infact, only five of the counties from which thespecies has been collected have ten or morerecords in the Consortium of CaliforniaHerbaria (CCH); seven counties have onlyone or two records. There are very fewmodern collections of this species on file inthe CCH and, surprisingly, there are nophotographs of the species in CalPhotos(http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/).
A member of the aster tribe (Asterae), thegenus is related to the gumplants (Grindelia),telegraph weed (Heterotheca), golden rod(Solidago), rabbit brush (Chrysothamnus), and,of course, the asters, to name a few. Formerlyassigned to the genus Chaetopappa, there areonly six species of Pentachaeta and four
subspecies, all restricted to California andnorthwestern Baja California.Of the tennamed taxa, six appear on the CNPS�sInventory of Rare and Endangered Plants.
The genus is characterized as more or lesshairy annuals developing from a slendertaproot. Growing 3-14 cm (1.2-5.5 in) tall,the stems of tiny pygmy daisy are hairy belowthe heads, with narrow, simple, alternateleaves about 2.5 cm (1 in) long. Although thename means �five bristles� in Greek, membersof Pentachaeta can have 0-20 pappus bristles.Tiny pygmy daisy produces inflorescenceswithfive inconspicuous, light yellow rayflowers with red tips, and four three-lobed,reddish disk flowers. Flowering occurs fromMarch through June.
Tiny pygmy daisy is found primarily along theCentral Coast from Santa Barbara to Sonomacounties and infrequently in the foothills ofthe Sierra Nevada in Amador, El Dorado,Butte and Mariposa counties. It occurs below550 m (1800 ft) in elevation in grassy areas,openings in woodlands and chaparral. Someauthors also record it as occurring in coastalscrub, coastal sage scrub, coastal prairiehabitats as well.Found on shallow, rocky orgravelly soil, and even serpentine substrates,most authors describe the species asoccasional, inconspicuous, and likelyoverlooked.
Which leads me to wonder if it has beenoverlooked in San Francisco.The CCH listsnine records for the species collected in SanFrancisco from between 1890 and 1957.Locally, the species has been recorded asoccurring at Hunters Point, McLaren Park,Potrero Hills, and Bayview Hills (Howell, etal., 1958).Katherine Brandegee (1891)described the species as occurring in theMission Hills, an area that includes McLarenPark. Because tiny pygmy daisy has not beencollected here since 1957, it is presumed tohave been extirpated from the county (Wood,2014). A focused survey for the species at thelocations listed above could very well resultin its rediscovery.
Tiny pygmy daisy is not particularly rare orgeographically restricted. However, it appearsto be uncommon enough to warrant inclusionon the CNPS Inventory of Rare andEndangered Plants. It certainly warrantsinclusion on our Chapter�s list of locallysignificant species, on which it scored asignificance value of 20, earning it a spot onthe most threatened rank, A1 (Wood, 2015).In developing this list, we created 11 filteringcriteria and four formal rarity rankings(seeChapter Newsletter 2015, vol. 29, no. 3). Wethen crunched the numbers for 730 species(540 extant and 190 extirpated). Followingthe criteria we developed, A1-ranked speciesare those with a Significance Index (SI) scoreof ³'3d20. Any project that would impact this
species must be analyzed pursuant to theguidelines of the California EnvironmentalQuality Act (CEQA).
Lest you think there is nothing left to discover,let me remind you of two incredible tales ofthe rediscovery of local species long thoughtto be extinct. In 2010, there was the amazingdiscovery of Franciscan manzanita, foundhidden in plain sight.2 And in the East Bay,Mt. Diablo buckwheat was found in 2005after not having been seen for 69 years.3 Then,in 2015, a huge population of Mt. Diablobuckwheat was discovered at a location nobodywould have even thought to look.4 So, let�sget out there next spring and see whatdiscoveries there are still to be made.
Literature Cited
Brandegee, T.S. 1891. Catalogue of theFlowering Plants and Ferns GrowingSpontaneously in the City of SanFrancisco. Zoe II 91:334-386.
Howell, J.T., P.H. Raven, and P. Rubtzoff.1958. A Flora of San Francisco,California.Univ. of San Francisco. 157 pp.Available online athttp://digitalcollections.usfca.edu/cdm/ref/collection/p15129coll11/id/285
Wood, M.K. 2014.The Extirpated Plants of SanFrancisco.Co-chairman, Rare PlantCommittee, California Native PlantSociety, Yerba Buena Chapter. April 1.Available online at http://www.wood-biological.com/san-francisco-plant-checklist/
Wood, M.K. 2015.Locally Significant PlantSpecies of San Francisco County. Rare PlantCommittee, California Native PlantSociety, Yerba Buena Chapter. Versiondated July 4. Available online athttp://www.wood-biological.com/san-francisco-plant-checklist/
1 Santa Barbara County, San Luis Obispo County,Monterey County, Santa Cruz Mountains, SanFrancisco County, the East Bay (Alameda andContra Costa counties), Marin County, SonomaCounty2 https://baynature.org/article/the-presidios-miracle-manzanita/3 https://baynature.org/article/the-mount-diablo-buckwheat-one-year-later/4 https://baynature.org/article/ivory-billed-woodpecker-rare-wildflowers-now-unlikely-symbol-success-era-extinction/
FOCUS ON RARITIES
4
A Chronicle of Natural History on San Bruno Mountainby Doug Allshouse
As the end of the annual rainfall-season was nearing, June 30, theanxiety of reaching the 3-foot mark increased dramatically. Thanksto a small one-day storm and 7 foggy nights we surpassed the magicmark with 36.22 inches in the books on 117 days of precipitation.The 2013-14 season was our last dreadfully dry year, 13.85 incheson just 40 wet days. The past three seasons have averaged 27.34 incheson 84 wet days. An average year of rainfall for San Bruno Mountainis 20-24 inches. A lot of rain evidently meant a whole lot of mice andvoles this year. It seemed you couldn�t take five steps on a trail withoutseeing a vole or a mouse scurrying to shelter.
One of the most frustrating feelings is reading or hearing that a plantexists on the Mountain and not being able to find it. One that wasavoiding me was bladder parsnip, Lomatium utriculatum, a plant withan umbel of many tiny lemon-yellow flowers with a leaf on the stem.Alkali parsnip, L. caruifolium, has a similar inflorescence but has anaked stem. In the past, when I read the annual Habitat ConservationPlan reports, L. utriculatum was always mentioned and every time myeyes saw those gorgeous lemon-yellow clusters, I immediately droppedto my knees and stroked the stem between my thumb and indexfinger. And every time I was disappointed to find that it had the nakedstem of alkali parsnip. Imagine my excitement when, in a meadowbelow Radio Road, I finally found a leaf along the stem and my huntfor bladder parsnip was over. There seems to be an unwritten rulethat as soon as you find a plant that has avoided you for 15 years, youwill find more of them close by. Who knew that this meadow and anadjacent meadow were filled with them?
The same storyline involved iris-leaved rush. There are two localrushes with flattened linear leaves that have cross walls; iris-leavedrush, Juncus xiphioides, and brown-headed rush, J. phaeocephalus. Whenyou run your thumb and finger along the blade you can feel slightbumps. Brown-headed rush is very common and is typically less thana foot tall with narrow leaves about 6mm wide. One Saturday in lateJune David and I were in Juncus Seep, which is next to the Terra Baydevelopment on the South San Francisco side. We were walking upa creek that drains rainwater away from the nearby houses when Iencountered a rather tall rush with long and very wide flattenedleaves and large brown flowerheads. I immediately stroked a leaf andfelt those cross walls; it was iris-leaved rush!!The leaves really resemblethose of Douglas iris, Iris douglasiana, and are much larger and longerthan those of brown-headed rush.
Ranger Michele is our County Parks Natural Resource Specialist whohappens to like the very small plants. She told us about a populationof Oregon timwort, Cicendia, on a trail in Buckeye Canyon. It isindeed a very tiny plant about 2-3 cm tall with a very interestingbright yellow flower. It has 4 widely-ovate petals that form a perfectsquare about 6 mm wide. Is it no wonder that its species name isquadrangularis? You really must look hard for plants like these and it�sunderstandable that most people are charmed by the bigger, moreobvious plants with spectacular inflorescences. But I think these littleguys and gals deserve some respect, and they are fascinating.
Are you starting to get the idea that it may be better to be lucky thangood? You will get no argument from me when it comes to the nextunusual discovery. There is a small open meadow just above thebottom of Owl Canyon. For many years it has been known to housea rather nice population of summer lupine, Lupinus formosus, whichis one of three larval host plant species for the endangered MissionBlue butterfly. This perennial lupine differs from silver and variedlupine by not having a stem with a woody base; it dies completelyback to the ground in dormancy. It�s also very hairy (something a
female Mission Blue cherishes) and it blooms later in the year, whichextends the breeding season. A couple of years ago a blooming stockof a rare orchid, ladies� tresses, was discovered there. As I was checkingout the possibility of seeing it, I spied a brodiaea with yellow bell-shaped flowers on an open umbel; literally a yellow Ithuriel�s spear.At lunch under a gorgeous oak tree we identified the newbie as goldenbrodiaea, Triteleia ixioides. It was not mentioned in the 1990 flora,making it a new plant for the Mountain. As I said�lucky!!
My mornings on the Mountain are always nice whether it�s sunny,foggy, or raining. There is always something to catch my eye or piquemy curiosity. I find immense beauty in poison oak this time of year.What?!! It is around the 4th of July when PO decides to become aChameleon and change color, not to hide or blend in, but to put ona show and shout, �Look at me!!� Those mottled dark-green leaveswith splotches of burgundy to the blood-red leaves look ever-moreintimidating against the deep green leaves of coffee berry, ormesmerizing when mixed in with bare grayish-brown naked branchesof a dead coyote bush. A seemingly nondescript solitary willow-herbbecomes a statement when it forms a large patch of fiery-red sunlitplants. Its genus Epilobium is home to species with the common namefireweed.
Discovering new or purported extirpated species is always gratifying,but when all is said and done, you never lose your appreciation foran old friend. You know that plant�the one that�s always there foryou�to lift your spirits and make you feel happy.
See you on the mountain...
DOUG�S MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
5
Triteleia ixioidesgolden brodiaeaTriteleia ixioidesgolden brodiaea
�We have receipt of fernseed, we walk invisible.��Shakespeare 1596
Henry IV, Part 1, Act II, Scene 1
xv
Alemany Natives at Alemany FarmsCommunity workdays held from Noon to5pm every 1st & 3rd Sunday of the monthand the Saturdays in-between, plus everyMonday afternoon from 1:00-5:00. [email protected]
Bayview Hill2nd Saturday, every other month. [email protected]
Bernal Hill2rd Saturdays, every month. 10am-noon.Contact [email protected]
Buena Vista Park1st Saturdays, every month, [email protected]
Candlestick Point State Park Nursery1st Saturdays, every month. 10am-1pmContact Patrick Marley Rump [email protected].
Candlestick Point Recreation Area2nd Saturdays, every monthContact Patrick Marley Rump [email protected].
Corona HeightsLast Saturdays, every month. 10am-noon.Contact [email protected]
Friends of San Pedro Valley Park:Trail Restoration2nd Saturday 9 am - 12 pm, every month,meet in front of Visitor Center
Friends of San Pedro Valley Park:Habitat Restoration3rd Saturday 9 am � 12 pm, every month,meet in front of Visitor Center
Golden Gate Audubon SocietyVarious opportunities:https://goldengateaudubon.org/volunteer/
Golden Gate National Recreation AreaWeekdays and weekends around the Bay Area.
Contact [email protected] or415-561-3044
Glen Canyon Park3rd Saturdays, every month. 9am-noon.Contact [email protected]
Golden Gate Park Oak Woodlands2nd Saturdays, every month. 10:00am-12:30pmContact [email protected]
Green Hairstreak Corridor, GoldenGate HeightsPeriodically. [email protected]
Half Moon Bay State BeachVarious restoration and nursery opportunities.Contact [email protected]
Heron�s Head ParkVarious opportunities athttp://sfport.com/herons-head-park
Lake Merced1st Saturdays, every month 1:30pm-3:30pmContact [email protected]
Linda Mar Beach, Pacifica4th Saturdays, 10am-noon. Visitpacificabeachcoalition.org
Marin Headlands Native Plant NurseryWeekdays and weekends. Contact (415) 561-3044 or [email protected]
McLaren Park2nd Saturdays of even months, 10am-noon.Contact [email protected]
McKinley Square Hillside
3rd Saturdays, 10am-12:30. [email protected]
Mission Creek South BankGenerally Saturday mornings. ContactGinny Stearns for times. Call 415-552-4577 or [email protected]
Mt. SutroWednesdays 9:30am-12:30pm at the nursery;1st and 3rd Saturdays 9:00am-1pm, visitsutrostewards.org
Pacifica�s Environmental FamilyVarious opportunities. See events calendar:http://www.pacificasenvironmentalfamily.org
Rockaway Switchbacks, Pacifica1st Fridays, October-May, 10am-noon.Contact [email protected]
San Bruno MountainGuadalope Valley Stewards, Tuesdays 10am-12pm; Mission Blue Nursery, Wednesdays,10am-12:30pm; Stewardship Saturdays,10am-1pm; South San Francisco WeedWarriors, last Fridays and Saturdays of themonth, 9am-noon. See events calendarmountainwatch.org
SF Recreation and ParksVolunteer calendar:http://sfrecpark.org/support-your-parks/volunteer-program/
San Mateo County ParksStewardship Core calendarhttp://parks.smcgov.org/smc-parks-stewardship-corps
Save the BayVarious opportunitieshttps://www.savesfbay.org/volunteer
Starr-King Open Space2nd Saturdays every month, 9:30am-noon.Visit starrkingopenspace.org
Tennessee Valley Restoration2nd ,4th & 5th Tuesdays, 10am-2pm.Visit parksconservancy.org
Yerba Buena Chapter Restoration TeamWednesdays, noon-3pm. Contact Jake Siggat [email protected]
HABITAT RESTORATION
CONSERVATION NEWS (continued)
Not only does PPH provide the backdrop to Pacifica�s layers ofridgelines and valleys, not only does it boast spectacular views andwild trails, but it is perfectly situated to be resilient in the face ofclimate change.Two features are critically important- First, the land must have avariety of ecosystems in close proximity. This gives plants and animalsthe opportunity to move to nearby locations when conditions in theiroriginal home become intolerable. With windswept bluffs andprotectedvalleys, fog shrouded slopes and sun blasted summits, and elevationsfrom sea level to 650 feet, Pedro Point Headlands has a wealth ofmicroclimates packed into its 255 acres. PPH has rare and sensitiveCoastal Bluff Scrub, Pacific Reed Grass Prairie and Red FescueMeadows, as well as xeric and mesic scrub, riparian and novelEucalyptus/native shrub habitats. Pedro Rock is breeding ground forharbor seals and seabirds, and has the only known population of bird-rock goldfields in San Mateo County.
Second, wildlife corridors. Free movementof plants and animalsprevents fragmentation and loss of genetic diversity. Pedro PointHeadlands is one of the few sizable wildlands West of Highway 1, andsince the tunnels have diverted traffic, animals can freely move fromcoastal PPH to Montara Mountain, GGNRA lands and the SF PUCCrystal Springs watershed. Deer, bobcats, mountain lions and coyotescan roam through large territories amid an otherwise heavily populatedarea.Pedro Point Headlands will also meet an ever-growing need forurbanites to escape to nature. San Mateo County Parks is in theprocess of acquiring PPH as an extension of Devils Slide Trail. Soonthe California Coastal Trail will skirt the headlands and provide safehiking, bicycling and equestrian passage from Pacifica to points South.The Pacifica Land Trust has received abundant support for the PPHRestoration and Trails Project. California Division of Off-HighwayVehicles has funded restoration of damaged lands, San Mateo County
(CONSERVATION continued on page 7)6
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BOARD MEETINGSBoard meetings are open to all Chapter members. They are heldon the second Monday of every month (except August andDecember) at 350 Amber Drive (SF Police Academy) and start at7 pm. Contact Ellen Edelson ([email protected]) for moreinformation.
If you prefer electronic delivery:Send an email indicating your wish to:
Make the switch to the Electronic Newsletter!
Measure A funds have provided for trail improvements and re-vegetation support, and California Coastal Conservancy has supportedplanning and permitting of the Project. Through this public andprivate partnership, Pedro Point Headlands will be preserved as arefuge for people and wildlife alike.This is a terrific opportunity to be involved in restoring PPH whileexploring its many beauties before the crowds move in. To becomeinvolved in planning, propagation and re-vegetation of PPH, contactKathy Kellerman [email protected] For more information:http://pedropointheadlands.org/http://vppt.org/http://www.pacifica-land-trust.org/
Sutro Forestby Jake Sigg
The University of California San Francisco has been wrestling withwhat to do with its aging tree plantation on Mt Sutro. The largetrees�mostly Tasmanian blue gums, Eucalyptus globulus�are tall,beautiful, and grand and much loved by many, including the writer. They are also afflicted with a number of problems: overcrowdingfrom seedling proliferation, ivy climbing into tree crowns, aging, anddrought. Many have died or are stressed by a succession of dry years,and climate projections point to long-term drying trends.
The University is trying to manage this troublesome situation in theface of determined opponents who don�t want any trees cut. Agrowing number of the public would like to see biodiversity as a maingoal, which means planting native plants that support wildlife, likecoast live oak, shrubs, and perennials.
Unfortunately, politics will be a strong determinant in the final plan,and we need people to express their views on the final managementplan. The rounds of public hearings are apparently over, so yourcomments must be in writing. Here is the url for information:
https://www.ucsf.edu/cgr/cgr-projects/mount-sutro-open-space-reserve?ct=t(SutroNews817)#latest-news--updates
If you have questions, please email [email protected], and wewill endeavor to provide helpful information.
Community ThriftThank you to all who have donated furniture, clothing, books,CDs, and housewares to Community Thrift and designated CNPSas the beneficiary. Donating is easy. Simply drop off clean andsaleable items at the CT donation door, open from 10 am to 5 pmevery day, and ask them to list CNPS (charity #152) as thebeneficiary. The donation door is located on the south side ofthe building on Sycamore Alley, parallel to 18th Street andperpendicular to Mission and Valencia Streets. Sycamore runs oneway from Mission toward Valencia. Please note that, because of theFebruary 2009 Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, CTcan no longer accept any children�s items. CT is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Your donations are tax-deductible, and producemore chapter income than you might think.
CHAPTER NEWS
OFFICERS & CONTACTSPresidentEllen Edelson [email protected]
Vice PresidentGerry [email protected]
TreasurerAdrian Stroganoff [email protected]
SecretaryPosition vacant
Chapter Council DelegateEllen Edelson [email protected]
Conservation ChairJake Sigg [email protected]
San Mateo CountyConservationMike Vasey [email protected]
Education CoordinatorPosition vacant
Field Trips ChairPosition vacant
Garden TourCoordinator needed
Hospitality CoordinatorsPosition vacant
Invasive ExoticsMark Heath [email protected]
Legislation ChairLinda Shaffer [email protected]
LepidopteristLiam O�Brien [email protected]
Membership DevelopmentPosition vacant
Membership RecordsGeorge Suter [email protected]
Newsletter EditorKipp McMichael [email protected]
Photo DocumentationMargo Bors [email protected]
Greg Gaar [email protected]
Plant Sale CoordinatorEllen Edelson [email protected]
Posters and Book Sales ChairLudmila Stroganoff [email protected]
Programs Co-ChairJake Sigg [email protected]
Programs Co-ChairLudmila Stroganoff [email protected]
PublicityRachel KeselBob Hall [email protected]
Rare Plants Co-ChairPeter [email protected]
Rare Plants Co-ChairMichael Wood [email protected]
Rare Plants ChairSan Mateo CountyDavid Nelson [email protected]
San Bruno Mountain ChairDoug Allshouse [email protected]
Technology Co-ChairsEddie [email protected] [email protected]
WebmasterKipp [email protected]
CONSERVATION NEWS (continued)
Candidates for 2017 Chapter Election
President � Gerry Knezevich
Vice President � Eddie Bartley
Secretary � Kathy Kellerman
Treasurer � Bob Hall
The election will be held at the October 5th member meeting.
Learn to understand California�s unique flora and help topreserve this rich heritage for future generations.
____Yes, I�d like to join.
Affiliation: Yerba Buena Chapter
Membership Category____ $1,500 Mariposa Lily____ $ 600 Benefactor____ $ 300 Patron____ $ 100 Plant Lover____ $ 75 Family____ $ 45 Individual____ $ 25 Limited Income/Student
Make your check out to �CNPS�and mail with this form to: California Native Plant Society 2707 K Street, Suite 1 Sacramento, CA 95816-5113
Name ____________________________Address ________________________City _____________________ State _______Zip __________ Telephone _____________email _________________________________
Dues above the $12 for publications are tax deductible. You willreceive the Yerba Buena News, the informative triannual journalFremontia, and a statewide news bulletin. Members of otherchapters may subscribe to the Yerba Buena News alone for $10per year, renewable annually. Send a check made out to �CNPS�to 1 Alviso Court, Pacifica, CA 94044-4239.
JOIN THE CALIFORNIA NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY
California Native Plant SocietyYerba Buena Chapter338 Ortega StreetSan Francisco, CA 94122
Visit: www.cnps-yerbabuena.org
N E W S
Y E R B ABUENA
THE YERBA BUENA
CHAPTER OF THE
C A L I F O R N I A
N A T I V E P L A N T
S O C I E T Y F O R
SAN FRANCISCO
AND NORTHERN
SAN MATEO COUNTY
Printed on recycled paper ALL ADDRESS CHANGES TO: [email protected] - subject: Member Address Change
YERBA BUENA NEWSVolume 31, number 3 (September 2017)
Published quarterly by the Yerba Buena ChapterCalifornia Native Plant Society
Design & Production � Kipp McMichaelProofreading � Doug Allshouse
Masthead design � Barry DeutschChapter logo � Nancy Baron
DEADLINES FOR DECEMBER NEWSLETTERArticles & general copy �October 25
Time-dependent material � November 5Late-breaking news � By arrangement
Corylus cornutavar. californicaCalifornia hazelnut
