KNPS talk explores rare plants' history

The Kinnikinnick Native Plant Society and Sandpoint Parks and Recreation presents a program on Sept. 23 on “Natural History of Two of Idaho’s Rarest Plants: Idaho Phlox (Phlox idahoensis) & Water Howelia (Howellia aquatiilis)” .

The talk, which begins at 9:45 a.m. at Sandpoint Community Hall, features Juanita Lichthardt, a former plant ecologist for the Idaho Natural Heritage Program and a General Botany instructor at Univ of Idaho.

The Idaho Natural Heritage Program tracks rare plants, animals, and, to some extent, rare plant communities in Idaho; their biologists make recommendations for conservation. Funding for the program comes primarily from Federal grants. With respect to North Idaho, a list of the rarest plants would have to include Idaho phlox and water howellia.

Idaho phlox is a perennial that reproduces by seed and rhizomes.

Water howellia is an annual, so it reproduces by seed only and has very specific germination requirements.

The habitat requirements and life histories of these two rare species help inform our assessment of threats and recommendations for conservation.

Information: NativePlantSociety.org