Lightning has struck twice in Walnut
Creek, CA, at Lime Ridge Open Space, a biodiversity hot
spot of just three square miles but including roughly 35
rare species. David Gowen, an amateur botanist
associated with the California Native Plant Society, has
discovered two new plant species never before described
by science, near downtown Walnut Creek. The discovery is
startling because the area is easily accessible and it
has been studied by botanists for 150 years.
Conservation efforts are underway.
Representatives of the California Native
Plant Society (CNPS), Save Mount Diablo (SMD), the
Walnut Creek Open Space Foundation (WCOSF), the City of
Walnut Creek (city), and U.C. Berkeley’s Jepson
Herbarium (Jepson Herbarium), announced the discovery of
two new plants, two pretty and related wildflowers in
the phlox family, which resemble star shaped
flower-studded pin cushions.
The plants, the Lime Ridge Navarretia (
Eriastrum
sp. nov.) miraculously survived a hundred years of
quarrying and other activities until their habitat was
protected as the cities of Walnut Creek and Concord’s
jointly owned Lime Ridge Open Space. Both have been
confirmed as new species by genetic and other testing.
Both are critically and globally endangered given tiny
habitats and small numbers.
“This is a marvelous discovery that demonstrates the
wisdom of those who more than 30 years ago worked so
hard to protect the open space areas in and around
Walnut Creek,” said Bob Simmons, President of the Walnut
Creek Open Space Foundation. “It also underscores the
importance of very carefully managing this special area
with a primary emphasis on protecting and preserving the
unique biological resources that are present at Lime
Ridge. The discovery of two new species together with
the several dozen other rare species on Lime Ridge is a
fascinating mix for a City that has one of the hottest
shopping districts in the state of California, but this
mix is one of the things that makes Walnut Creek such a
special place to live, work and play.”
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