Ranunculus glaberrimus, the Sagebrush Buttercup

Ranunculus glaberrimus, the Sagebrush Buttercup. A small fleshy plant with most of the leaves at the base and shiny yellow flowers. Among the first wildflowers to bloom in the spring. The very smooth, rather fleshy leaves are characteristic. The toxin in buttercups is unstable and is rendered harmless by drying or boiling the leaves. (Lady Bird Johnson Wildflowers)

This pretty little buttercup was photographed recently in the South Hills of the Sawtooth National Forest. Not to be confused with its invasive counter-part, Ranunculus testiculatus, Bur Buttercup. (photo below)

Native Focus: Banana Yucca, Yucca baccata

Native Focus: Banana Yucca, Yucca baccata

This yucca usually occurs as a single, stemless plant but sometimes grows in clumps with short, reclining stems. The narrow, spine-tipped leaves are up to 30 in. long and occur in an open cluster which is often wider than the leaves are high. The flowering stem is up to 40 in. tall and bears large, pendant, fleshy, white flowers with a red-purple tinge. Fruits are fleshy and banana-shaped. Rigid, spine-tipped leaves in 1 or several rosettes, and a long cluster of large whitish flowers on a stalk about as tall as the leaves.

Identification of the many Yucca species is often difficult. Those with broad leaves are sometimes called Spanish Daggers, a name generally applied to the tree-like species of western Texas. Plains Yucca (Y. angustifolia), common from the eastern edge of the Rocky Mountains eastward almost throughout the plains and prairies of the central United States, is a small species with narrow, gray-green leaves. Yucca (Y. angustifolia), common from the eastern edge of the Rocky Mountains eastward almost throughout the plains and prairies of the central United States, is a small species with narrow, gray-green leaves.

Species Reference: Lady Bird Johnson Wildflowers
Photos taken by the CSR Biology Department

Curlycup Gumweed (Grindelia squarrosa) Seed

Curly Cup Gumweed (Grindelia squarrosa) seed, collected by the CSR Seed Department.

The seeds of Curlycup Gumweed are of two types; one which germinates more readily, and another that is more recalcitrant in its germination needs. The difference lies in the two different types of composite flowers within the Aster family. One type is found in the middle of a typical Sunflower head and is called a “Disk” flower. The second type is found on the edge and attached to the long petals and called a “Ray” flower. In the Curlycup Gumweed, this allows seeds from the same plant to employ two different survival strategies for germinating in following years.

Although a native composite species, Curlycup gumweed is considered undesirable as forage & unpalatable to livestock. It is, however, an excellent example of seed distribution of the Asteraceae (Sunflower) Family.

Learn more about Composite Flowers…

Invasive Focus: Hoary Cress, Cardaria draba

Invasive Focus: Hoary Cress, Cardaria draba.
Hoary cress, or whitetop, is a perennial forb in the mustard family that can grow up to 2 ft. tall. The leaves are soft, gray-green, 1.5-3 in. long with fine hairs and heart-shaped bases. The lower leaves tend to have more hairs than the upper leaves. The upper leaves clasp to the stem of the plant. Flowering occurs in early spring to early summer, when white, four-petaled flowers develop in clusters at the apex of the stem. The fruit are heart-shaped seed pods.

Hoary Cress invades rangelands, pastures, streambanks, and open forests primarily in the western United States, although it does occur in the East. It can form large infestations that can displace native species and reduce grazing quality. Hoary cress is native to Central Europe and Western Asia and was first introduced into the United States in the early 20th century.

Source: Invasive.org, Invasive Plant Atlas

Netleaf Hackberry Seed Collection, by William Schlegel

On my fourth day of work as Seed Department Manager at Conservation Seeding and Restoration, Kevin Osborne and I were out collecting Netleaf Hackberry (Celtis laevigata var. reticulata) at the local Twin Falls area Blue Lakes Country Club and Golf Course.

James, the Nursery Manager, needed at least 100 seeds, preferably 200. In a short time, we had exceeded that goal and GPS points were taken for future reference.

Netleaf Hackberry fruits retain their seeds well through the winter months. This is a natural dispersal pattern for some berries and provides migrating fruit, feeding birds a spring meal. Perhaps some of the birds already did some snacking as the berries were a little sparse.

A very informative book for the seed collector: Collecting Processing and Germinating the Seeds of Wildland Plants, by Young and Young.

Growing in the Greenhouse

Water Birch, Betula occidentalis

Skunkbush Sumac, Rhus trilobata

Scarlet Globemallow, Sphaeralcea coccinea

Nettle-leaf Horsemint, Agastache urticifolia

Blue Wildrye, Elymus glaucus

Native Focus: Pallid Milkweed, Asclepias cryptoceras

Native Focus: Pallid Milkweed, Asclepias cryptoceras. A species of Milkweed known by the common names Pallid Milkweed and Humboldt Mountains Milkweed. It is native to the western United States, where it grows in many types of habitat, especially dry areas. This is a perennial herb growing low against the ground or drooping. It arises from a fleshy, woody rhizome-like root. The thick leaves are round to heart-shaped and arranged oppositely on the short stem. The inflorescence is a cluster of small flowers with centers of bright to dull pink hoods surrounded by pale-colored reflexed corollas. The fruit is a follicle(fruit) held erect on a small stalk.

This Milkweed plant was photographed in Utah by CSR’s Biology Team.
Info source: Wikkipedia

14th Annual Boise Flower and Garden Show

We invite you to join us at the 14th Annual Boise Flower and Garden Show: March 26, 27 and 28th

…We will be offering special show discounts…

Conservation Seeding and Restoration Inc. will be entering the Lunaria League container design contest.

Steven Paulsen, one of the CSR, Inc founders, will be giving a free presentation on “Wildlife Habitats in Your Yard” at the Edwards Greenhouse on Saturday the 27th,  at 1:30 PM.

Invasive Focus: Houndstongue, Cynoglossum officinale

Invasive Focus: Houndstongue, Cynoglossum officinale

Houndstongue is a biennial invader from Europe that rapidly spreads along trails, roadsides, pastures, and similar disturbed sites.
Houndstongue forms a rosette the first year and a 1 to 4 foot tall stem develops the second year. The leaves are 1 to 12 inches long, 1 to 3 inches wide, smooth edged and hairy. The reddish-purple flowers form at the tips and develop seed clusters that contain 4 seeds. The seeds are about 1/4 inch long, brown, teardrop shaped, flat and covered with short barbs. These barbs easily attach to clothes, wool, and hair.

This weed is toxic to animals and causes liver cells to slowly die. Animals may live for six months or longer after consuming a lethal dose.

Help STOP the spread of noxious weeds…

• Drive only on established roads and trails away from weed infested areas.
• When using pack animals, carry only feed that is certified weed free.
• Remove weed seeds from pack animals.
• Don’t pick the flowers of noxious weeds and take them home.
• Don’t pick and transport wild flowers that you can’t identify.
• Don’t camp or drive in weed infested areas.

Species Reference: USDA Sawtooth National Forest

Bringing Home Nature, A Must Read.

Bringing Nature Home, How you can Sustain Wildlife with Native plants. by Douglas W. Tallamy

From the smallest to the large scale landscape, this book shares the importance of native habitats and why diversity matters. By adding just a few native plants, we can all welcome more wildlife into our yards.

This title is a must-read inside of CSR Inc. It says in words what we, CSR Inc, do as a company. Exceptionable example of what we all could be doing in our urban landscapes.