Yellowstone Association E-Newsletter July 2008
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Sand verbena

After many years of drought, Yellowstone is enjoying the return of normal precipitation. The park starts off July looking green and lush. In the midst of all that green is an incredible diversity of plants, many of which we still know little about.

If you are especially watchful, you may notice mats of plants with small clusters of white flowers growing in the sand on the shores of Yellowstone Lake. But you would probably never guess that these plants are a part of what makes Yellowstone so mysterious.

The plants you see could well be sand verbenas, one of the park's three endemic plants-species found no where else in the world. The others are Ross's bentgrass and Yellowstone sulfur wild buckwheat, both of which are found in thermal areas. While most of Yellowstone's plants flower for only short periods, the verbena blooms from mid-June to late August. The reasons for this long flowering are unknown; possibly it allows verbenas to take advantage of pollinators, such as moths, that only visit occasionally. But this is a guess-nobody knows for sure how the plants are pollinated.

We shouldn't underestimate the importance of these small plants. We don't know what role they play in the ecosystem-or what benefits they may hold for humans. For example, many plants, such as the Pacific yew and mayapple have been shown to be effective in treating cancer. If the sand verbena, or any of Yellowstone's endemic plants, offers any such hope, we have yet to discover it.

Visitors to the park are rightly awed by the wildlife and amazed by the geothermal features. However, we should remember that some of the most incredible things in Yellowstone might be growing right by our feet.


In Search Of Winter Volunteers!
 
Lamar in Winter

Imagine the wildlife and scenic beauty of Yellowstone in winter, consider spending the season volunteering with the Yellowstone Association. We are looking for generous, hardworking, winter-loving individuals and couples to support our mission to inspire, educate, and preserve. Our volunteers play a valuable role in our organization, both as program assistants and park hosts and are an important part of our Yellowstone family. Positions vary; please see full position descriptions on our website for more information.


New Exhibits Funded at Norris Geyser Basin
 
Porcelain Basin

Yellowstone Association members provided support for seven new outdoor exhibits throughout the trail system at Norris Geyser Basin. These new trailside exhibits provide updated information about trails, accessibility, visitor safety, and educational information on the area's unique hydrothermal features. Please help support other Yellowstone National Park educational projects and programs and become a Yellowstone Association member. You can join by calling 307-344-2289 or on our website.


Secret Yellowstone: Explore Beyond the Tourist Hotspots
 
Secret Yellowstone

Yellowstone is filled with places that are known throughout the world including Old Faithful, Mammoth Hot Springs, and Norris Geyser Basin. However, Yellowstone is also filled with dozens of things that would be world famous if they were not overshadowed by their more famous neighbors. This DVD will bring you boiling mud pots, explosive geysers, secret waterfalls, and ecological mysteries that are rarely seen by tourists. With special satellite imagery and computer generated effects, this DVD reveals a side of Yellowstone you never imagined exists! Price: $24.99 ($21.24 for members)



Yellowstone Association

Phone: 307-344-2293
Phone: 877-967-0090
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