Vascular Plants of the Crooked Creek Area Mary DeDeckerl

1 t has never been easy to know the White-Inyo Range intimately. Not only is it the highest range in the Great Basin, but its precipitous canyons on all sides have made access difficult. Some canyons carry perennial streams, but far more of the water courses are dry. There are no significant bodies of water to lure visitors or, happily, to tempt development.

The earliest explorers were prospectors. The first roads and trails were built for access to mine sites. Sheep herders followed soon after, keeping their flocks on the open slopes of the higher elevations all summer long. There was not enough large game to make it a popular hunting region. It is probable that the lack of water, more than any other factor, saved the natural values from exploitation. There were extensive meadows and riparian stringers, however, which have been utilized for grazing cattle until the present time.

It was far too early for realization that the plant lifeof the White-Inyo Range would make the White Mountains famous. The sparse forests of weathered trees, minute annuals, and hardy little perennials did not impress the few people who reached the higher elevations.

Place names were mostly derived from the mining and sheepgrazing periods. It was not until 1913 that the United States Geological Survey sent teams of surveyors to complete the topographic mapping of the White Mountains. The surveyors arrived in Bishop on July 4th of that year.

There were two U.S. Geological Survey teams: one to do the lower elevations along the east side of the White-Inyo Range, and one to work the higher elevations along the crest of the range. Their assignment was to determine elevations and place bench marks. One member of the "high team" was Perry Mulholland, eldest son of William Mulholland of Los Angeles aqueduct fame. He was one of two surveyors of that party. They were supported by a packer and a cook. Although their equipment and supplies were carried by mules, ascents of the peaks were done on foot. In a letter home, dated September 12,1913, Perry Mulholland wrote that he had worn out one pair of shoes, a pair of boots, and was nearly barefoot before new boots arrived. His letters home described the harsh conditions under which they worked. That team had considered itself fortunate to be working the high country where they would escape the summeis heat, but by the time they had endured weeks of cold, wet weather, they longed for some of that warmth. They labored in rain, including a cloudburst and hail (five inches of it in one storm; an impressive scene, but very cold). A snow flurry drove them back from their first attempt on White Mountain Peak. He mentioned seeing a few Bighorn Sheep, and even a herd of wild horses that was running free that long ago. But he made no comments on the plant life.

Their first camp was made at Prospector Meadow, very near the present WMRS Crooked Creek facilities site. They worked northward from there until the project was completed about November 7, 1913. That was close to the date that his father was celebrating completion of the Los Angeles aqueduct.

140 Pavilion Street, HCR 67, Box 35, Independence, California 93526.

100-MARY D E D E C K E R

By the turn of the century, California botanists had become aware of the White Mountains. During the next twenty years such well-known names as W. L. Jepson, A. C. Shelton, and Roxanna Ferris appeared in collections from those mountains. Then came Victor Duran, a graduate student at the University of California, Berkeley, who was studying under Dr. Jepson. He made extensive collections throughout the range from 1926 to 1933, working toward a complete floristic study. Unfortunately, that goal was aban- doned when his career took a turn in another direction. Nevertheless, his work provided a valuable base for any later botanical project. The first published flora, A Flora of the White Mountains, California and Nevada, by R M. Lloyd and R. S. Mitchell, was published by the University of California Press in 1973. The floristic portion was taken largely from Duran's records. While the work was far from a complete compilation of the flora of that complex range, it was a significant beginning. Its greatest value is in its introductory chapters on plant communities, phytogeography and comparative floristics, and guide to the geology. Since that time, the White Mountains have become famous as the site of the ancient Bristlecone Pine (Pinus longaeva). Growing recognition of the contrast between the flora which occurs on dolomite and that which is found on granite or weakly metamorphosed sedimentary rock has resulted in an irresistible fascination for the botanical world.

The WMRS Crooked Creek facilities are located within thesagehen Flat pluton, so most plant species in the vicinity are those adapted to thrive on granitic soils. Some areas of dolomite of the Wyman Formation have persisted, however, and may be identified by the plants which thrive there. These include the famous Bristlecone Pine, Pinus longaeva. An excellent display of such species occurs on a slope just beyond the gate, 0.6 km (0.4 mi) down the road from the facilities. Meadow and wetland species occur along the course of Crooked Creek and on flats which do not drain rapidly. All together, the flora surrounding the facilities site is rich and varied. Its pristinenature has been altered to some extent by grazing cattle. It is best to observe the early-blooming plants before the cattle arrive in early summer. One may not find the late-blooming species once the cattle begin grazing.

The Natural History of the White-lnyo Range, Eastern California, published by the Univer- sity of California Press in 1991 considers the plant zones, trees, and shrubs and flowering plants of the region. Many of the species listed below are figured in that volume.

Following is a list of plants that occur within about one mile of the Crooked Creek facilities. It is arranged by families in alphabetical order. The list of plants includes ferns, pine and juniper trees, and monocotyledons, as well as dicotyledons. Names are updated to conform with those used in The Jepson Manual of 1993.

ASTERACEAE (Sunflower Family) Agoseris glauca par. monticola Pumice Dandelion

Antennaria u brinella Brown Everlasting Flower

Arnica chamissonis ssp. foliosa Meadow Arnica

Arnica parryi ssp. sonnei Nodding Arnica

Artemisia dracunculus Tarragon

V A S C U L A R P L A N T S O F THE CROOKED CREEK AREA-I01

Artemisia nova Artemisia rothrockii Aster occidentalis Ch ysothamnus paryi ssp. vulcanicus Ch ysothamnus viscidiflorus ssp. viscidiflorus Circiurn nidulum Circium scariosum Crepis intermedia Ericameria sufiuticosa Erigeron clokey~ Erigeron compositus var. discoideus Erigeron cornpositus var. glabratus Hulsea vestita ssp. inyoensis Hymenoxys lemmonii Machaeranthera canescens var. canescens Machaeranthera canescens var. shastensis Pyrrocoma apargioides Senecio canus Senecio multilobat us Senecio scuorzonella Senecio s m a Senecio spartioides St enotus acaulis Tetradymia canescens

BORAGINACEAE (Borage Family) Cryptantha cinerea var. abortiva Cryptantha circumscissa Cryptantha echinella Cyptantha flavoculata Cryptantha glomeriflora Cryptantha watsonii Lappula redowskii var. redowskii

BRASSICACEAE (Mustard Family) Arabis drummondii var. drummondii Arabis lemmonii var. Iemmonii Arabis lyallii var. lyallii Barbarea orthocereus var. orthocereus Hutchinsia procumbens Lesquerella kingii ssp. kingii

Broom Sagebrush Timberline Sagebrush Western Mountain Aster Volcanic Rabbitbrush Curly Rabbitbrush Red Thistle Ek Thistle Limestone Hawksbeard Alpine Goldenbush Cokey Daisy Cut-leaf Daisy Cut-leaf Daisy Inyo Hulsea

Gray Goldenflower Sticky4ster Shasta Sticky Aster Golden Aster Rock Senecio Basin Senecio Sierra Senecio Tall Butterweed Mono Broom Groundsel Limestone Aster Gray Horsebrush

Bow-nut Cryptantha Capped Cryptantha Prickly Cryptantha Sulphur-throated Cryptantha Truckee Cryptantha Watson Cryptantha Stickseed

Drummond Rock-cress Lemrnon Rock-cress Lyall Rock-cress Meadow Halimolobus Meadow Mustard Beadpod

lU2-MARY D E D E C K E R

Rorippa curvipes var. curvipes Rorippa curvisiliqua St reptanthus cordat us

CARYOPHYLLACEAE (Pink Family) Arenaria kingii var. glabrescens Stellaria longipes

CHENOPODIACEAE (Goosefoot Family) Chenopodium atrovirens Chenopodiurn foliosum Chenopodium hians Chenopodium leptophyllum Chenopodium rubrum Monolepis nuttalliana

CUPRESSACEAE (Cypress Family) Juniperus osteosperma

CYPERACEAE (Sedge Family) Carex douglasii Carex leporinella Carex micopfera Carex rossii Eleochuris pauciflora

DRYOPTEPIDACEAE (Wood Fern Family) Cyst opyteris fragilis Woodsia scopulina

FABACEAE (Legume Family) Astragalus calycosus Astragalus lentiginosaus var. semotus Lupinus argenteus var. argenteus Lupinus lepidus var. utahensis Lupinus tegiticulatus var. tegeticulatus Oxytropis oreophila Trifolium andersonii ssp. monoense Trifolium Zongipes Trifolium monanthum

Flat Yellow-cress Western Yellow-cress Pinyon Strep tan thus

Palmer's Campion Creek Stellaria

Mountain Goosefoot Strawberry Spinach Smelly Goosefoot Narrowleaf Goosefoot Red Goosefoot Poverty Weed

Utah Juniper

Douglas Sedge Sierra hare Sedge Small-winged Sedge Short sedge Dainty Spike-rush

Fragile Fern Rocky Mountain Woodsia

Little Gray Milk-vetch Little Paper-pod Silver Lupine Dwarf Lupine Silver Moss Rounded Oxytropis Mono Clover Summer Clover Loose Carpet Clover

V A S C U L A R P L A N T S OF THE CROOKED CREEK AREA-103

GENTIANACEAE (Gentian Family) Swertia puberulenta

GLOSSULARIACEAE (Gooseberry Family) Ribes cereum

HYDROPHYLLACEAE (Waterleaf Family) Phacelia hastata ssp. hastata Nama densum var. densum

JUNCACEAE (Rush Family) Juncus balticus Juncus mexicanus Juncus nevadensis Juncus paryi

LAMIACEAE (Mint Family) Monardella glauca

LILIACEAE (Lily Family) FritiIlaria atropurpurea Fritillarea pinetorum

LINACEAE (Flax Family) Linum lewisii

ONAGRACEAE (Evening Primrose Family) Epilobium ciliaturn ssp. ciliaturn Gayophytum decipiens Gayophytum di@sum ssp. parviforum Oenothera avita Oenothera cuespitosa ssp. marginata

PINACEAE (Pine Family) Pinus flexilis Pinus longaeva

POACEAE (Grass Family) Achnatherum hymenoides Achnatherum pinetorum

Inyo Gentian

Wax Currant

Gray Hairy Phacelia Matted Nama

Wire Grass Mexican Wire Grass Sierra Rush Parry Rush

Mountain Pennyroyal

Wood Brownies Mountain Fritillary

Blue Flax

Valley Epilobium Gravel Gayophytum Summer Snowflakes Gray Desert Primrose Large white Primrose

Limberpine Bristlecone Pine

Indian Ricegrass Pine Needlegrass

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Bromus anomalus Descharnpsia cespitosa ssp. cespitosa Elymus elymoides ssp. califomicus Festuca kingii Festuca minutiflora Hesperostipa comata Hordeum branchyantherum ssp. californicus Koeleria macrantha Leymus tritioides c

Melica bul bosa Melica strida Poa compressa Poa fendleriana ssp. longiligula Poa secunda ssp. secunda

POLEMONIACEAE (Phlox Family) Ipomapsis congesta ssp. montana ZRptodactylon pungens Linanthus floribundus ssp. floribundus Linanthus nuttallii Phlox hoodii

POLYGONACEAE (Buckwheat Family) Eriogonum cernuum var. cernuum Eriogonum esmeraldense Eriogonum gracilipes Eriogonum latens Eriogonum ovalifolium var. nivale Eriogonum spergulinum var. reddingianum Eriogonum umbellatum var. dicrocephalum Eriogonum umbellatum var. umbellatum

PORTULACEAE (Purslane Family) Calyptdium parryi var. nevadense Montia chamissoi Montia fontana ssp. variabilis

PRIMULACEAE (Primrose Family) Androsace sepfentrionalis var. subumbellata Dodecaf heon redolens

Nodding Brome Tufted Hairgrass Squirreltail Spike Grass Alpine Fescue Needle and Thread California Barley Junegrass Creeping Wildrye Oniongrass Nodding Melic Canadian Bluegrass Mutton Grass Varied Bluegrass

=e -

White Globe Gilia Prickly Phlox Chaparral Linanthus Bushy Linanthus Wooly Phlox

Nodding Buckwheat Esmeralda Buckwheat Raspberry Buckwheat Ball Buckwheat Fell-field Buckwheat

Spuny Buckwheat Pale Yellow Buckwheat Sulphur-flower

Nevada Sand-cress Toad Lily Mountain Water Chickweed

Alpine Androsace Meadow Shooting Star

V A S C U L A R P L A N T S OF THE CROOKED CREEK AREA-I05

PTERIDACEAE (Wood Fern Family) Pellaea breweri

RANUNCULACEAE (Buttercup Family) Myoserus minimus ssp. montanus Ranunculus cymbalaria var. saximontanus

ROSACEAE (Rose Family) Cercocarpus Iedifolius var. intermontanus Chambaebatiaria millefolium Holodiscus microphyllus Potentilla biennis PotentilIa drumrnondii ssp. brucea Potentilla pennsylvanica

SAXIFRAGACEAE (Saxifrage Family) Heuchera duranii

SCROPHULARIACEAE (Figwort Family) Castilleja applegafei ssp. pinetorum Casfilleja linarifolia Castilleja nana Collinsia parviflora Mimulus mephificus Mimulus primuloides ssp. primuloides Mimulus suksdorfii Pensfemon hetorodoxus var. hefrerodoxus Penstemon speciosus Scrophula ria desert orum

SELAGINELLACEAE (Spike-moss Family) Selaginella watsonii

Brewer Cliff-brake

Sedge Mousetail Desert Buttercup

Mountain Mahogany Fern Bush Cream Bush Green Cinquefoil Alpine Cinquefoil Fell-f ield Po tentilla

Duran Alumroot

Applegate Paintbrush Wyoming Paintbrush Dwarf Paintbrush Blue-eyed Mary Gravel Mimulus Meadow Mimulus Miniature Mimulus Whorlflower Penstemon Showy Penstemon Figwort

Alpine Spike-moss

REFERENCES Hall, C. A. 1991. Natural histo y of the White-lnyo Range, eastern California. University of California

Press, Berkeley, 536 p. Hickrnan, J. C. 1993. The Jepson manual. University of California Press, Berkeley. Lloyd, R. M., and R. S. Mitchell. 1973. A flora of the W i f e Mountains, California and Nevada.

University of California Press, Berkeley, 202 p. Mulholland, P. 1913. Personal correspondence (undated, August 23, September 12, and

November 5).