Utah native plant society
Encyclopedia
The Utah Native Plant Society (UNPS) is a non-profit organization dedicated to the appreciation, preservation, conservation and responsible use of the native plant
s and plant communities found in the state of Utah and the Intermountain West. Its goal is to foster public recognition of the spectacularly diverse flora of the state.
The organization was founded in 1978. W. Richard ("Dick") Hildreth was the primary founder (then director of the State Arboretum of Utah
and later the first director of Red Butte Garden and Arboretum
, see also University of Utah
). UNPS recognized Hildreth with a lifetime achievement award in March 2005. The first president was botanist N. Duane Atwood. UNPS is a 501(c)(3) organization.
Since January 1982, the Sego Lily has been the official newsletter and primary publication of the organization. From its inception, rare plants (particularly those under consideration for listing under the Endangered Species Act
of 1973 as amended) and the horticulture of native plants have been the primary areas of focus. The Sego Lily newsletter has been a reference source for various Federal Register and other publications. The Sego Lily (see Calochortus nuttallii
) is also the state flower of Utah
. Other state flowers are listed in the List of U.S. state flowers.
Under the leadership of Susan Meyer, the society embarked on an ambitious "heritage garden program" that led to the creation of numerous native plant gardens typically in association with educational institutions in the 1990s. The organization has regularly provided grants to others related to activities associated with rare plant research and other native plant related work. One of the society's first grants was in connection with the endangered dwarf bearclaw poppy, Arctomecon
humilis.
UNPS hosted annual rare plant conferences throughout the 1980s. It resumed that role in 2000, and since 2001 has co-hosted rare plant conferences with Red Butte Garden. In 2003 the society completed the initial phase of digitizing and updating the Utah Endangered, Threatened, and Sensitive Plant Field Guide (by Duane Atwood et al., 1991) which was funded in part by a Bureau of Land Management
challenge grant. This led to the publication of the Utah Rare Plant Guide. In 2007, it received a further grant to complete further work in conjunction with that project.
UNPS continues to advocate the use of local, native plants in the landscape and in revegetation projects as well as for the preservation of endangered and threatened plant species and native ecosystems generally.
Native plant
Native plant is a term to describe plants endemic or naturalized to a given area in geologic time.This includes plants that have developed, occur naturally, or existed for many years in an area...
s and plant communities found in the state of Utah and the Intermountain West. Its goal is to foster public recognition of the spectacularly diverse flora of the state.
The organization was founded in 1978. W. Richard ("Dick") Hildreth was the primary founder (then director of the State Arboretum of Utah
State Arboretum of Utah
The State Arboretum of Utah is an arboretum located across the campus of the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, Utah, as well as on an additional site at the Red Butte Garden and Arboretum. The campus grounds and the Red Butte Garden are open to the public every day. The conservatory is open...
and later the first director of Red Butte Garden and Arboretum
Red Butte Garden and Arboretum
Red Butte Garden and Arboretum is a botanical garden and arboretum operated by the University of Utah, in the foothills of the Wasatch Range in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. It is open year-round to the public. Red Butte Garden contains of botanical gardens and several miles of hiking trails through...
, see also University of Utah
University of Utah
The University of Utah, also known as the U or the U of U, is a public, coeducational research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The university was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret by the General Assembly of the provisional State of Deseret, making it Utah's oldest...
). UNPS recognized Hildreth with a lifetime achievement award in March 2005. The first president was botanist N. Duane Atwood. UNPS is a 501(c)(3) organization.
Since January 1982, the Sego Lily has been the official newsletter and primary publication of the organization. From its inception, rare plants (particularly those under consideration for listing under the Endangered Species Act
Endangered Species Act
The Endangered Species Act of 1973 is one of the dozens of United States environmental laws passed in the 1970s. Signed into law by President Richard Nixon on December 28, 1973, it was designed to protect critically imperiled species from extinction as a "consequence of economic growth and...
of 1973 as amended) and the horticulture of native plants have been the primary areas of focus. The Sego Lily newsletter has been a reference source for various Federal Register and other publications. The Sego Lily (see Calochortus nuttallii
Calochortus nuttallii
The Sego Lily, Calochortus nuttallii, is a bulbous perennial which is endemic to the Western United States. It is the state flower of Utah.-Description:...
) is also the state flower of Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
. Other state flowers are listed in the List of U.S. state flowers.
Under the leadership of Susan Meyer, the society embarked on an ambitious "heritage garden program" that led to the creation of numerous native plant gardens typically in association with educational institutions in the 1990s. The organization has regularly provided grants to others related to activities associated with rare plant research and other native plant related work. One of the society's first grants was in connection with the endangered dwarf bearclaw poppy, Arctomecon
Arctomecon
Arctomecon is a genus of the poppy family Papaveraceae commonly called the bear poppies or bear-paw poppies, after the distinctive appearance of the leaves...
humilis.
UNPS hosted annual rare plant conferences throughout the 1980s. It resumed that role in 2000, and since 2001 has co-hosted rare plant conferences with Red Butte Garden. In 2003 the society completed the initial phase of digitizing and updating the Utah Endangered, Threatened, and Sensitive Plant Field Guide (by Duane Atwood et al., 1991) which was funded in part by a Bureau of Land Management
Bureau of Land Management
The Bureau of Land Management is an agency within the United States Department of the Interior which administers America's public lands, totaling approximately , or one-eighth of the landmass of the country. The BLM also manages of subsurface mineral estate underlying federal, state and private...
challenge grant. This led to the publication of the Utah Rare Plant Guide. In 2007, it received a further grant to complete further work in conjunction with that project.
UNPS continues to advocate the use of local, native plants in the landscape and in revegetation projects as well as for the preservation of endangered and threatened plant species and native ecosystems generally.
External links
- Utah Native Plant Society homepage
- Utah Rare Plant Guide
- Washington County, Utah rare plants
- Red Butte Garden
- California Native Plant Society
- http://www.wnps.org/Washington Native Plant SocietyWashington Native Plant SocietyThe Washington Native Plant Society is a non-profit organization dedicated to the protection and appreciation of the native plants of the U.S. state of Washington. The society has participated with the state and local government agencies, as a non-governmental organization, for the protection of...
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