Chapters All Over the State Plan Treasure Hunts
by Danny Slakey and Kim Clark

The Rare Plant Treasure Hunt (RPTH) is a citizen-science program started by CNPS in 2010 with the goal of getting up-to-date information on many of our state’s rare plants, while engaging chapter members and other volunteers in rare plant conservation. Many of California’s rare plant populations have not been seen in decades and some parts of the state have seen little to no botanical exploration to date. This program helps conserve our rare flora by providing valuable data to the CNPS Rare Plant Program and the Department of Fish and Game (CNDDB).

We are looking forward to a field season with participation from chapters all over the state this year! Both botanical experts and interested beginners will have opportunities to join organized field trips to document California’s rare flora, with organized trips ranging all the way from the Klamath Mountains near the Oregon border to the San Diego coast and California’s deserts. Of course, those with some previous plant ID experience are always welcome to lead their own trips, and can contact Danny (Northern and Coastal California) or Kim (Southern California and Deserts) at treasurehunt@cnps.org for help in planning their own trips. Here is a sampling of opportunities to join organized chapter field trips in 2013.

Far North

Sierra Nevada

Sierra Foothills Chapter starts its second year of RPTHs, with a camping trip to Ebbetts Pass in the Stanislaus National Forest.

Alta Peak Chapter is planning a backpacking trip in Sequoia / Kings Canyon National Park, and a trip in the western part of the Sequoia National Forest.

Creosote Ring subchapter of the Bristlecone Chapter is scheduling trips to the beautiful subalpine meadows in the southern Sierra this summer.

Redbud Chapter is currently searching for a chapter member to coordinate a few RPTHs this year. They may even lead the first RPTH in search of a rare moss (Mielichhoferia elongata).

Southern California and Deserts

Channel Island Chapter is planning trips to search for Fritillaria ojaiensis and Ribes amarum var. hoffmanii in Santa Barbara County.

Kern County Chapter is on the hunt for Springville Clarkia in the Sierra Foothills, as well as searching for rarities on the Carrizo Plain.

San Diego Chapter is doing a flora of Del Mar Mesa, possibly including mosses and lichens. Who knows what they'll find!

Los Angeles/Santa Monica Mountains Chapter is taking steps to protect Braunton's milk-vetch (Astragalus brauntonii) in the Santa Monica and San Gabriel Mountains.

Orange County Chapter is heading into the Laguna Coast Wilderness Sunday, April 14 to hunt both Laguna Beach dudleya (Dudleya stolonifera) and Allen's pentachaeta (Pentachaeta aurea ssp. allenii) both of OC's two endemic native plants in one trip- a rare treat!

Rainfall Dictates Planning in California Deserts
by Duncan Bell

Rain has come to the California deserts. A few good storms passed over in December and January, and hopefully these will lead to some good blooms.

At the end of January, I observed my first rare plant occurrences for 2013; Mecca aster (Xylorhiza cognata) in the Mecca Hills and Robinson’s monardella (Monardella robisonii) to the north of Pioneertown in the proposed Black Lava Butte/Flat Top ACEC (Area of Critical Environmental Concern). It's never too early for rare plant exploring out in our California deserts!

Early in the season it's good to start at the lower elevations where plants tend to bloom first. I've been watching the weather intently to see where rains have been falling, and records indicate we could have productive trips in March in places such as the Coyote Mountains just outside of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. There we'll look for an elusive rock nettle (Eucnide rupestris) that's only known from a few places in California and hasn’t been seen there in over 30 years.

A trip to the southeastern section of the Chocolate Mountains, sometimes referred to as California’s “chin”, is another possibility to look for rarities such as fairyduster (Calliandra eriophylla), the mighty and majestic Saguaro (Carnegia gigantia) which is only known from a few locations in California, and the Chocolate Mountains coldenia (Tiquilia canescens var. pulchella) which is one of the newest additions to the CNPS inventory of rare plants and in much need of field research.

One of the only known Saguaros of Imperial County
Chocolate Mountains

Other potential field trips for the upcoming spring field season include the rugged hills outside of Barstow to look for the Mojave monkeyflower (Mimulus mohavensis), the largely unexplored Shadow Mountains of the east Mohave, or to Juniper Flats on the north side of the San Bernardino Mountains.

Bear poppy (Arctomecon merriamii) in the Shadow Mountains
One of the only known rare plant occurrences
for this underexplored mountain range.

Finally we may head off to the Algodones Dunes with some visiting scientists from Europe to look for the late blooming and bizarre Sonoran sand food (Pholisma sonorae). As the winter weather continues more trips will be planned in appropriate places. Follow the Rare Plant Treasure Hunt website for updates and trip additions.

Within the Algodones Dunes Wilderness
in the northern section of this massive dune system