Small-flowered sand-verbena COSEWIC assessment and status report: chapter 17
Other Alberta Areas Surveyed
Lost River (figure 4 site 1)
The proper Lost River site was not located although several areas were surveyed by the author (August 31, 2002). In later communication with Clifford Wallis, who discovered the original site, the author realized she missed the site by approximately 1 km or less, turning south towards the Lost River instead of continuing west towards the Lost River site. Mr. Wallis assured the author that small-flowered sand-verbena had been observed at this site last year or the year before, but very recently, nonetheless. The site is very small in size and consists of a few old, partially stabilized sand blowouts (Clifford Wallis, personal communication, Sept. 14, 2002).
Wolf Island (figure 4 site A)
First observed by Wallis in 1987 (Wallis and Wershler 1988). The area north of the site was typified by Rumex venosus, Artemisia cana (4 ft.), Rosa woodsii. The area is badly infested with downy chess (Bromus tectorum) and badly trampled by cattle. The area south of the site was typified by badland near the Oldman River. Rumex venosus was scattered on river banks. No potential sites were noted on either the north or south approach. All surrounding areas were agricultural. This site was not relocated and may be lost as a result of the process of dune stabilization. The Wolf Island site is apparently fully stabilized and contains no functioning habitat.
Purple Springs Sandhills
One of the Purple Springs Sandhills sites surveyed during 2002 was an area containing three northeast-running (N48°E) dunes adjacent to the Oldman River. These sandhills were typified by the following species: Rumex venosus, Artemisia cana (2-3 ft.), Oryzopsis hymenoides, Erysimum cheiranthoides, Psoralea lanceolata, Cryptantha fendleri, Cleome serrulata, Stipa viridula, Agropyron trachycaulum, Chenopodium pratericola, Lygodesmia juncea, Rosa woodsii, Euphorbia glyptosperma. Dominant association: Artemisia cana, Rosa woodsii, Cryptantha fendleri, Stipa viridula. Taller shrubs on dune tops and backs, grassy in dune hollows (Glycyrrhiza lepidota, Agropyron trachycaulum, Artemisia frigida, Artemisia cana). Although this area contained habitat which was apparently suitable for small-flowered sand-verbena no plants were found during the authors 2001 or 2002 surveys. Rumex venosus is common on sandy soils to the apparent exclusion of small-flowered sand-verbena.
Several additional sites were investigated within the Purple Springs dune field which extends southwest from the above site towards the town of Purple Springs. All were covered with Rumex venosus, often heavily trampled by cattle. Only two good sandy sites with small-flowered sand-verbena were discovered within the dune field (described as the Grassy Lake and Purple Springs small-flowered sand-verbena sites in this report), although several other sites were surveyed. There are yet other potential sites within the dune field which should be surveyed. Time limitations and distance to these dune sites did not allow them to be surveyed in the 2002 field season.