1997-06-13_REPORT - M1981302 (17)

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Willi Jennings William F . J ennig 360 Martin Dr . Boulder , Colorado 80303 303-494-5159 September 9. 1986 Dick Antonio Open Space Agricultural Manager Real Estate Services/Open Space 1405 S. Foothills Hwy Boulder , Colorado 80303 Dear Dick: Other commitments have prevented my doing anything but a very cursory look at the Open Space areas east of 75th St. and south of Boulder Creek. I have been unable to find any .Spiranthes diluvialis, however , the habitat looks good, and I still think there is a chance the orchid may be found there eventually. It is probably too late in the season to search now, since the plant is in fruit and much harder to see. I will try again next year. Regarding Eustoma grandiflorum (prairie gentain) , which is rare in eastern Colorado, 1 did find one patch of the plant in the area east of 75th St. The location is 165 steps north of the UP railroad tracks and 120 steps east of the fence. The proper place to pace eastward is at an H-brace, more or less opposite street paintings marking the upcoming (for southbound traffic ) railroad crossing. This is a very showy plant . The flower is reminiscent of a tulip, and tulip gentian is one of its common names . There is a specimen at the Colorado State University herbarium from this area , collected by G.A. Brown, July 21 , 1972. The label information says "common on marginal areas between wet and dry spots . " Judging from Brown' s label , chances are good that other patches exist . I suggest that in conjunction with search for S. diluvialis. the gentain should be looked for as well . There are only a couple dozen known localities for the gentian in the state, and its floodplain habitat near the urban areas of the Front Range is fast disappearing. like S. diluvialis , due to extensive gravel operations. 1 have had a couple of calls from the Highway Department. I think they should be watched very closely as they rework the bridge to make sure that construction materials do not contaminate the area beyond the right-of-way and that erosion of the right-of-way fill does not end up as a mud slide onto Open Space.