Summary: This edition of Aquilegia reflects on a highly successful year for the Colorado Native Plant Society, highlighting growth in membership engagement, educational programming, and conservation advocacy. The issue reviews the Society’s annual meeting focused on medicinal and ethnobotanical uses of plants, celebrates the accomplishments of local chapters and committees, and showcases expanding workshop opportunities that continue to attract participants from across the region. Articles explore the revitalization of the University of Northern Colorado Herbarium and the development of innovative tools such as an interactive Colorado flora identification key. Additional features encourage members to strengthen their botanical skills through classes and field experiences while emphasizing the importance of volunteerism, stewardship, and collaborative conservation efforts. Collectively, the newsletter demonstrates CoNPS’ dedication to advancing botanical knowledge, preserving Colorado’s native flora, and building an active, informed community of plant enthusiasts.

Plant Species: Plant species, genera, families, and plant groups mentioned in this issue include soy (Glycine max), ephedra (Ephedra spp.), red vinca (Catharanthus roseus), American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius), medicinal herbs, grape ferns (Botrychium spp., including Botrychium lunaria), Eriogonum pelinophilum, Lomatium concinnum, orange hawkweed (Hieracium aurantiacum), cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon), Ute ladies’-tresses (Spiranthes diluvialis), Helleboraceae, Chenopodiaceae, Polemoniaceae, Carex, Asteraceae, gooseberries (Ribes spp.), willows (Salix spp.), Colorado ferns, Rhinocyllus conicus, Cirsium, watercress (Nasturtium officinale), Poa, Astragalus, Physaria, Lesquerella, cottonwoods (Populus spp.), Astragalus osterhoutii, maple (Aceraceae), sweetflag (Acorus spp.), fig-marigolds (Aizoaceae), sumacs (Anacardiaceae), dogbanes (Apocynaceae), asparagus (Asparagus spp.), birches (Betulaceae), sennas (Caesalpinaceae), water starworts (Callitriche spp.), hornworts (Ceratophyllum spp.), morning glories (Convolvulaceae), stonecrops (Crassulaceae), fumitories (Fumariaceae), geraniums (Geraniaceae), hydrangeas (Hydrangeaceae), frogbits (Hydrocharitaceae), St. John’s wort (Hypericaceae), arrowgrasses (Juncaginaceae), bladderworts (Lentibulariaceae), meadowfoams (Limnanthaceae), loosestrifes (Lythraceae), mimosas (Mimosaceae), carpetweed (Molluginaceae), waternymphs (Najadaceae), waterlilies (Nymphaeaceae), olives (Oleaceae), broomrapes (Orobanchaceae), woodsorrels (Oxalidaceae), grass-of-Parnassus (Parnassiaceae), plantains (Plantaginaceae), pickerelweeds (Pontederiaceae), buckthorns (Rhamnaceae), ditchgrass (Ruppiaceae), quassia (Simaroubaceae), smilax (Smilax spp.), burreeds (Sparganiaceae), meadowrues (Thalictraceae), nettles (Urticaceae), valerians (Valerianaceae), grapes (Vitaceae), and horned pondweeds (Zannichelliaceae).

Keywords: year in review, annual meeting, ethnobotany, medicinal plants, herbal medicine, workshops, botanical illustration, plant identification, herbarium collections, interactive flora, conservation advocacy, volunteerism, chapter activities, native plant education, conservation policy, wilderness proposals, restoration projects, weed management, publications, communications, donor recognition, sustainability, fire ecology, lichen studies, taxonomy, botanical keys, field classes, volunteer recruitment, and community engagement.

Summary: This edition of Aquilegia focuses on the Colorado Native Plant Society’s annual meeting exploring the plant evolution and natural history of the Colorado Plateau. The newsletter highlights presentations by leading botanists and ecologists addressing biodiversity, rapid speciation, rare plants, cryptobiotic crusts, and Plateau ecology. Society business updates include board activities, conservation funding, research grants, and organizational initiatives supporting rare plant protection and education. Chapter announcements promote workshops, stewardship projects, invasive species monitoring, and conservation outings across Colorado and neighboring states. The issue also emphasizes responsible field practices, volunteer engagement, and public outreach through events such as the Lookout Mountain Wildflower Festival. Together, these articles illustrate the Society’s commitment to advancing botanical knowledge, supporting research, conserving native habitats, and fostering a statewide community dedicated to the appreciation and protection of Colorado’s native flora.

Plant Species: Plant species, genera, and plant groups mentioned in this issue include Eriogonum spp., blackbrush, cryptobiotic crust-associated native plants, Aquilegia chrysantha, Lupinus crassus, Eutrema penlandii, Geum rossii, yellow star-thistle (Centaurea solstitialis), Aquilegia saximontana, Botrychium spp. (grape ferns), Dryopteris spp. (shield ferns), Gaura neomexicana ssp. coloradensis (Colorado butterfly plant), sphagnum mosses (Sphagnum spp.), ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa), Gambel oak (Quercus gambelii), cliff primrose (Primula specuicola), helleborine (Epipactis gigantea), death camas (Zygadenus vaginatus), Kachina daisy (Erigeron kachinensis), Phacelia indecora, Habenaria zoethcina, lady’s tresses (Spiranthes romanzoffiana), bottle gentian (Pneumonanthe parryi), sedges (Carex spp.), Altai cottongrass (Eriophorum altaicum), bladderwort (Utricularia minor), Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense; Breea arvensis), paintbrush (Castilleja spp.), golden ragwort (Senecio spp.), columbine (Aquilegia spp.), and toadflax (Linaria vulgaris).

Keywords: annual meeting, Colorado Plateau, plant evolution, natural history, biodiversity, rapid speciation, rare plants, conservation funding, research grants, native plant education, chapter activities, stewardship, invasive species management, weed monitoring, field trip policy, volunteerism, public outreach, wildflower festival, cryptobiotic crusts, pollination biology, floristic surveys, botanical workshops, restoration, habitat conservation, rare plant monitoring, ecological research, herbarium resources, native plant appreciation, community engagement, and conservation partnerships.

Summary: This edition of Aquilegia focuses on the evolving science of plant taxonomy, conservation research, and the Colorado Native Plant Society’s ongoing support of botanical education and stewardship. The featured article explains how advances in phylogenetic systematics and molecular research have reshaped the classification of the figwort family, resulting in significant changes affecting the Rocky Mountain flora. Additional articles highlight research funded through the John W. Marr Fund, including a major floristic survey of south-central Colorado and a genetic study of Colorado’s rare green sedge. Society news emphasizes grant opportunities, memorial funds supporting rare plant research, ecological restoration initiatives, and volunteer engagement. Chapter programs address topics ranging from invasive species and fire ecology to floristic exploration and international botanical discoveries, reflecting the Society’s commitment to scientific understanding, conservation, and public education.

Plant Species: Plant species, genera, plant families, and plant groups mentioned in this issue include Scrophulariaceae (figwort family), Orobanchaceae (broomrape family), Plantaginaceae (plantain family), Castilleja, Mimulus, Pedicularis, Veronica, Penstemon, Agalinis, Orthocarpus, Cordylanthus, Antirrhinum, Besseya, Callitriche, Chionophila, Collinsia, Digitalis, Hippuris, Limosella, Linaria, Lindernia, Leucostoma, Rhinanthus, Veronicastrum, Verbascum, Scrophularia, grasses (Poaceae), Aquilegia chrysantha, dwarf milkweed (Asclepias uncialis), Colorado larkspur (Delphinium alpestre), Gray’s Peak whitlowgrass (Draba grayana), Smith whitlowgrass (Draba smithii), showy prairie gentian (Eustoma grandiflorum), spiny aster (Herrickia horrida), rock-loving neoparrya (Neoparrya lithophila), alpine poppy (Papaver radicatum ssp. kluanensis), pictureleaf wintergreen (Pyrola picta), Altai stitchwort (Stellaria irrigua), Cymopterus constancei, Oonopsis puebloensis, green sedge (Carex viridula), native thistles (Cirsium spp.), and members of the myrtle family (Myrtaceae).

Keywords: phylogenetic systematics, molecular taxonomy, classification changes, Rocky Mountain flora, plant evolution, floristic surveys, herbarium collections, rare plant conservation, genetic diversity, wetland ecology, botanical research, ecological restoration, grant funding, memorial funds, invasive species, fire ecology, volunteer opportunities, chapter programs, public education, native plant stewardship, workshops, field studies, membership engagement, restoration strategies, and conservation science.