and
Compiled by
Robert 'Roy' J. van de Hoek, Field Biologist & Geographer
Southern California Academy of Sciences
Sierra Club, Wetlands Action Network, National Audubon Society
Los Angeles, California
**Helianthus parishii. One clump exists at Oak Knoll, Pasadena (McClatchie). Mr. Parish, I believe, was the first to suggest that this plant is identical with H. oliveri. Last summer I planted roots of both species in my garden. They grew as luxuriantly as they might have done in their native haunts. The stems, from 8 to 15 feet high, blossomed freely, and were quite showy. I could detect no difference between the species.**
**The Cienega between Los Angeles and Santa Monica is the type locality for Oliveri. There it still grows in diminished numbers, and the very tomentose forms seem distinctive enough, but all degrees of pubescence may be found in the space of a few yards. The most characteristic feature of these plants are the large, tuberous roots that resemble somewhat those of a dahlia. These are alike in both. In their natural habitat, the moist peaty swamps of the cienega, the tubers are quite close to the surface and are usually wholly submerged during the wet season. The swamps around here are fast being drained in the interest of "civilization." In the process of clearing by burning the tules, the tubers of the Helianthus readily perish in the conflagration. In a few years it will be totally extinct here. In the old Kurtz St. Marsh, in the city, a large number grew, but the filling up of the marsh necessary to the extension of the railway yards has completely exterminated them there.**
**Footnote Source = Southern California Academy of Sciences Bulletin, 1903,Volume 2, page 29-30.**
It is always good to see what interested the Southern California Academy of Sciences about 100 years ago. In 1903, there was no automobile and no airplane in Los Angeles. Most of the roads were dirt roads and dirt air-fields. The Cienega on Wilshire Boulevard between Santa Monica and Los Angeles was still intact, but is now shrunken down to being called the La Brea Tarpits. Could we restore and recover the close relative of the Los Angeles Sunflower at this location? How will we restore and recover the Kurtz Street Marsh, just east of USC and west of the Los Angeles River at the railroad yards. Perhaps the acquisition of Taylor Yard for the Los Angeles River State Park is the spot to bring back the Los Angeles Sunflower.
I'm beginning to think that not only the Los Angeles Sunflower but the Narrow-leaved Cat-tail (described in an adjoining web page article) could be restored and recovered together nearby to each other.
In 1935, Dr. Phillip Munz of the Rancho Santa Botanic Garden, wrote his Manual of Southern California Botany, in which he stated the following about the Los Angeles Sunflower: "Swampy places near the coast, Orange & Los Angeles Counties." Could seeds of the Los Angeles Sunfloer still be viable? The plant specimen of 1937 with seeds, presumably is in a temperature and humidity-controlled environment at Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden, just waiting for a restorationist and and endangered species (recovery) biologist and Botanic Garden specialist to attempt the project of germinating some seeds of the Los Angeles Sunflower.
As a field biologist and geographer, I am curious to know why the Los Angeles Sunflower or its close relative is not being discussed in "restoration conversations" of various urban wetlands projects taking place around southern California. For example, what about the the supposed freshwater portion of Playa Vista's Ballona Wetlands, which is actually a retention water basin? Is there an inadequacy in the the Playa Vista Project's restoration scientists? Are they paid not to find and discuss possibilities of bringing back plants to the Ballona Wetlands "supposed restoration." Not just the Los Angeles Sunflower, but similarly, Narrow-leaved Cat-tail is not discussed for Ballona, nor for restoration at Sepulveda Wildlife Area on the Los Angeles River nor anywhere else on the Los Angeles River. Could it be that the Army Engineer's own scientist and bioilogist are inadequate? A unique and wonderful opportunity is being missed at restoration and recovery if these unique plants are left out of the equation of restoration of the Los Angeles River and Ballona Wetlands. It may very well be that the Sunflower and Cat-tail are habitat for the California Black Rail, one of the most endangered birds of California. Perhaps this Sunflower and Cat-tail is better for the Red-winged Blackbird as well? Where is the research that links zoology and botany, or birds to plants, is it ecology and geography?
Today, in 2001, 98 years after 1903, "Los Angeles Sunflower" is extinct in Los Angeles, but there is an excellent opportunity for restoration and recovery of the close relative of this plant, Helianthus parishii, if someone would adopt a program to make it so.
Today, in 2001, 98 years after 1903, The California Native Plant Society believes that the last time the Los Angeles Sunflower was found was in 1937 Similarly, the Jepson Manual of 1993, also reported that the Los Angeles Sunflower was last seen in 1937, and is thus considered as "presumed extinct." What have we done to Los Angeles and her beautiful nature? I have learned that a very close relative of the Los Angeles Sunflower, that grows in marshy-swampy places in the San Gabriel Mountains could be brought back to the Los Angeles River, Cienegas, Ballona Creek, Ballona, Bolsa Chica, and other freshwater wetlands from Los Angeles to San Diego.
Today, in 2001, 98 years after 1903, La Brea Tarpits is an opportunity to be called a Cienega, rather than a Tarpit. It could be restored and recovered to a natural freshwater marsh. If only we can wrestle Hancock Park and the Museum away from LA County and LA City and turn it over to California State Parks. It is impossible for me to fathom the County and City government turning to nature history for this Park on Wilshire Boulevard. Time will tell! Humans have only been here with their cover of cement and asphalt for less 85 years. For thousands of years, if not millions of years before 1903, the Los Angeles Sunflower and "Narrow-leaved Cat-tail" lived in Los Angeles. This recreation of an article written 98 years ago, reproduced as a web page, is now a permanent statement for all the world to see and which can now not be erased from a growing number of individuals who visit the web page, and then make a pilgrimage to the Kurtz Street Marsh and La Cienega Marsh. Once upon a time, only about 65 years ago, there were rare plants growing in wetland marshes around Los Angeles.
Today, in 2001, the Sierra Club leads the fight for wetlands and open space by lending support to grassroots environmental groups such as the Wetlands Action Network, Friends of the Los Angeles River, and Ballona Watershed Council & Conservancy.
In 2001, the Sierra Club filed an amicus brief at the United States Supreme Court, very friendly to the Wetlands Action Network and California Public Interest Group, but not friendly to the United States Corps of Engineers. In Los Angeles, the Army Corps of Engineers is the enemy, and nature lovers and liveable city advocates at the Sierra Club, Wetlands Action Network, and CalPIRG, have joined forces to take on Engineers at the US Army. Abolishing the "Army Engineers" as an agency will not work, but lessening its power in civilian matters in Los Angeles is a proper goal. As we replace the "Army Engineers," we need two newer federal agencies to take over. The best choices would be the USEPA (Environmental Protection Agency) and USFWS (Fish & Wildlife Service) to take the lead in open space, liveable cities, and nature protection in Los Angeles.
Today, in 2001, 98 years after 1903, it is important to link the historical Ballona and Los Angeles wetland ecosystems, not just in acquiring the open space and stopping development, but in the spirit of the early resident's landscape names such as Arroyo Sacatella to the Arroyo Ballona and Arroyo Los Angeles. Perhaps it is time to begin to use more historical spanish names for our rivers and wetlands. Wouldn't Arroyo Los Angeles and Rio Los Angeles, but also Arroyo Ballona and Rio Ballona, be better than the Los Angeles River and Ballona Creek. It is too harsh sounding to have a spanish word juxtaposed with an english word. It is also not healthy in our mind to mix the words. Even better, would be to use the Native American word for placenames, and their are still some that exist in the LA landscape, such as Malibu, Topanga, Cahuenga, Cucamonga, Tujunga, and Pacoima.
Los Angeles Sunflower Anthology
Los Angeles Sunflower Discovered, an Article in the Los Angeles Times, September 21, 2002