Wednesday, September 11, 7:30 to 9:00 p.m.Organic chemistry professor Kjirsten Wayman will tell us how the floral scents of western sessile-flowered Trillium differ by species, and how floral scent can help to distinguish among visually similar members of this group. These plants have sweet, fruity, or spicy-smelling flowers and occur in California, Oregon, and Washington. … [Read more...] about Evening Program—Floral Scents of Western Sessile Trillium
Evening Program: Wildflowers on the Trail
May 8, Wednesday. 7:30 pm. "Wildflowers on the Trail". Energetic explorer, botanist, photographer, and speaker Dana York will lead a virtual botanical adventure through the PCT’s ecoregions in California. As co-author with Jim André of two field guides to the vascular plants along this part of the trail (Timber Press), he has many stunning photographs to share as he weaves a … [Read more...] about Evening Program: Wildflowers on the Trail
From Bees to Hummingbirds: Convergent Evolution in Penstemon Flowers
April 10, Wednesday. 7:30 pm “From Bees to Hummingbirds: Convergent Evolution in Penstemon Flowers.” Among penstemons, hummingbird pollination has evolved from bee pollination over a dozen times. Retired ecology and evolution professor Paul Wilson will discuss these two pollination syndromes involving color, nectar rewards, and dispensing of pollen, and he will explore the rate … [Read more...] about From Bees to Hummingbirds: Convergent Evolution in Penstemon Flowers
California Desert Plants: Ecology and Diversity
Wednesday – February 14 The desert areas of California include the northwestern portion of the Sonoran Desert, the largest part of the Mojave Desert, and the western margin of the Great Basin. Michael Kauffmann, co-author of California Desert Plants (Backcountry Press 2022) will take us on a journey to explore these vast and intimate desert landscapes through their … [Read more...] about California Desert Plants: Ecology and Diversity
How to Use Natural History and Population Modeling to Save an Endangered Milkvetch, and other Similar Species
A recently graduated Master's student at Cal Poly Humboldt, Sean Stewart, will present his findings on the difficult life of Applegate's milkvetch (Astragalus applegatei). Once believed extinct, A. applegatei, was rediscovered in the 1980s in and around Klamath Falls, Oregon despite massive changes to its historical habitat. While little is known about this plant, the … [Read more...] about How to Use Natural History and Population Modeling to Save an Endangered Milkvetch, and other Similar Species