Summary: This issue of Aquilegia highlights the Colorado Native Plant Society’s commitment to conservation, education, and public engagement through advocacy, field exploration, and stewardship. Featured articles examine Bureau of Land Management proposals for additional wilderness protections in western Colorado and discuss threats facing rare plant habitats. Extensive field trip offerings introduce members to Colorado’s diverse ecosystems, including sandhills, sagebrush communities, lichens, burned forests, orchids, and endemic plant habitats. The newsletter also emphasizes responsible field practices, opportunities for citizen involvement, and the importance of balancing public education with the protection of sensitive species. Together, the articles reflect the Society’s dedication to fostering appreciation for Colorado’s native flora while encouraging active participation in conservation and scientific discovery.

Plant Species: Plant species and genera mentioned in this issue include Lomatium concinnum, Eriogonum pelinophilum, Physaria bellii, Cypripedium calceolus ssp. parviflorum, Limnorchis saccata, Calypso bulbosa, Penstemon versicolor, Asclepias sanjuanensis, Penstemon breviculis, Sclerocactus mesae-verdae, Phacelia splendens, Astragalus humillimus, Gilia formosa, Sclerocactus cloveriae var. brackii, Aletes sessiliflorus, Pediocactus knowltonii, Astragalus oocalycis, Astragalus proximus, Lilium philadelphicum, Stipa comata, Asplenium septentrionale, Aralia nudicaulis, Penstemon gracilis, Artemisia filifolia, Andropogon hallii, Calamovilfa longifolia, Chenopodium cycloides, Psoralea esculenta, Psoralea digitata, Psoralea hypogaea, Astragalus ceramicus, Saussurea weberi, Pseudoroegneria spicata ssp. inermis, Penstemon debilis, Mentzelia argillosa, Festuca dasyclada, and Sullivantia hapemanii var. purpusii.

Keywords: wilderness study areas, Bureau of Land Management, conservation policy, rare plants, endemic species, native plant conservation, field trips, field trip ethics, wilderness protection, Areas of Critical Environmental Concern, Research Natural Areas, sagebrush ecology, lichen communities, microbiotic soil crusts, habitat restoration, wildfire recovery, prairie ecology, sandhill ecosystems, orchid conservation, native grasses, botanical education, citizen science, volunteer stewardship, annual meeting, chapter activities, Colorado flora, public outreach, and sensitive species protection.

Summary: This issue of Aquilegia explores the intersection of botanical science, conservation, and public engagement through articles addressing plant identification, invasive species, and organizational planning. A featured article introduces an innovative computer-based taxonomic key designed to simplify and improve the identification of vascular plants across the western United States. Additional pieces examine the growing threat of invasive weeds in Colorado’s high country and emphasize the importance of early detection and volunteer stewardship. The newsletter also documents efforts to strengthen the Colorado Native Plant Society through strategic planning, educational outreach, and citizen participation. Announcements concerning herbarium development, weed management initiatives, and a native plant art competition further demonstrate the Society’s commitment to fostering appreciation, scientific literacy, and active conservation of Colorado’s native flora.

Plant Species: Plant species and genera mentioned in this issue include Asclepias uncialis, Chondrilla juncea (rush skeletonweed), Crepis nana, Taraxacum ceratophorum (horned dandelion), Taraxacum eriophorum (Rocky Mountain dandelion), Taraxacum lyratum (dwarf alpine dandelion), Malacothrix torreyi (Torrey malacothrix), Microseris nutans, Cirsium arvense (Canada thistle), Carduus nutans (musk thistle), Centaurea maculosa (spotted knapweed), Centaurea diffusa (diffuse knapweed), Acroptilon repens (Russian knapweed), Euphorbia esula (leafy spurge), and Linaria genistifolia and Linaria vulgaris (toadflaxes).

Keywords: taxonomic keys, plant identification, expert systems, vascular plants, invasive species, weed management, high country ecology, citizen science, volunteer botanists, herbarium collections, strategic planning, conservation initiatives, native plant education, ecological stewardship, early detection, biological control, host specificity testing, public outreach, annual meeting, field trips, native plant art, organizational development, habitat protection, botanical literacy, community engagement, and Colorado native flora.

Summary: This issue of Aquilegia focuses on the Colorado Native Plant Society’s future direction, educational initiatives, and the ecological importance of sagebrush ecosystems. A major feature outlines the Society’s emerging strategic plan, emphasizing membership growth, expanded public outreach, improved member services, and active conservation efforts. Coverage of the 1998 Annual Meeting highlights presentations on sagebrush ecology, hybridization in Artemisia, microbiotic soil crusts, sage-grouse conservation, native landscaping, and the restoration of degraded landscapes. The newsletter also presents an extensive discussion of the long-term ecological consequences of planting crested wheatgrass, raising concerns about reduced biodiversity and declining soil quality in Great Plains ecosystems. Upcoming workshops, chapter programs, and research opportunities reflect CoNPS’s ongoing commitment to botanical education, conservation science, and stewardship of Colorado’s native flora.

Plant Species: Plant species, genera, and groups mentioned in this issue include Clematis alpina, Pedicularis groenlandica, Sagittaria latifolia, Ptilagrostis porteri, Artemisia, Astragalus, Penstemon, Cirsium perplexum, Lesquerella viscina, Chenopodium, Gilia, Aliciella, Corylus, members of the Araliaceae, cyanobacteria, mosses, lichens, big sagebrush, pinyon, juniper, crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum, A. desertorum), western wheatgrass (Agropyron smithii), blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis), needle-and-thread (Stipa comata), Russian wildrye (Elymus junceus), tamarisk (Tamarix spp.), Russian olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia), purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria), African lovegrasses (Eragrostis lehmanniana, E. curvula), smooth brome (Bromus inermis), plains cottonwood (Populus deltoides subsp. monilifera), and Agropyron spicatum.

Keywords: strategic planning, membership growth, conservation partnerships, public outreach, environmental education, annual meeting, sagebrush ecosystems, sage-grouse habitat, microbiotic soil crusts, native landscaping, ecological restoration, hybridization, floristic inventories, grass identification, goosefoot family, missing flora, Polemoniaceae, botanical illustration, field sketching, crested wheatgrass, invasive species, biodiversity loss, soil quality, prairie ecology, research grants, chapter activities, stewardship, native plant conservation, and Colorado native flora.