Among some interesting plants sent me this spring by Mr. Ivan Johnston, an acute and enthusiastic botanical student at Pomona College, were specimens of Pilularia americana A. Br. and of an Isoetes, which one naturally expected to be I. orcutti A.A. Eaton, a little known species founded on plants collected by Orcutt in winter pools on the mesa of San Diego. But on comparison with Eaton’s description it was found to be distinct from that species. Mr. Maxon, to whom I sent specimens, informs me that they match well with material in the U.S. National Herbarium also collected by Orcutt in the San Diego pools, and which Mr. A.A. Eaton had referred to I. melanopda var. pallida Engelm., the type of which was collected long ago in Texas by E. Hall. That, however, is described as having leaves 20 cm. long, while those of Mr. Johnston’s plants are very slender and but 3-5 cm. long. But for the present it may bear that name. It is now first reported from the state.

Mr. Johnston found these plants growing in winter pools at a place near Upland, locally known as Red Hill. By his kindness I was enabled to visit the place on the fourth of May in the present year There are four or five of these pools, none of them more than a few yards wide in any part, and in depth less than two feet below the surface of the red clay mesa in which they are situated.At the time of my visit all the water had evaporated, but the black loamy muck which forms the bottoms of the pools was still moist. Both Isoetes and Pilularia had nearly disappeared, so that by diligent search only a few withering plants could be found. But the other vegetation of the pools amply rewarded our visit. In all of them was an abundnat growth of Psilocarphus globiferous Nutt. and Navarretia prostrata Greene, and in two of them patches of Callitriche longipedunculata Morong, the type of which was also collected by Orcutt in pools of this kind on the San Diego mesas. The slender stems creep on the surface of the mud bottoms, forming a close carpet, and are submerged when the pools are full. They were now beginning to wither, and were without flowers, but the black fruits were abundant. These are buried in the mud, a character not noted by Morong, and which classes this species with C. sepula Wats. and C. nuttallii Torr. So far as I am aware the present species is known only from the type station, but a Callitriche collected by Hasse in pools near Santa Monica is probably the same.

Over the dried pools waved the slender panicles of a Deschampsia. I do not forgive myself for neglecting to collect specimens of this grass, for it is likely to be D. gracilis Vasey, another plant which was first found by Orcutt in the San Diego pools.

Red Hill offers on a small scale a very clear example of the ecological limitation of plant growths. The vegetation of the mesa is composed of the native and naturalized plants common everywhere in the region in similar places. Not one of them had intruded on the pools, from which they are excluded by the presence of water at the time when their seeds sprout. It would be interesting to observe if they are able to enter in those very dry seasons when the deficient rainfall fails to fill the pools. Of course none of the plants of the pools are able to pass beyond their narrow limits. With two exceptions they are among the least known plants of southern California. The exceptions are Psilocarphus globiferous and Navarretia prostrata, which appear to be not uncommon in desiccated pools in the coastal district of Los Angeles county. But neither the commoner nor the rarer species have been found elsewhere at any but places remote from this station. Botanists who are acquainted with the location of such winter pools should examine them with care early in the rainy season to ascertain if the rarer plants are not to be found in them. After the more conspicuous plants are in condition for collecting the smaller ones will probably have entirely disappeared.

In four paragraphs of a short two page article on “vernal pools” we have the budding field of vernal pool ecology, in a classic historical article, laid out for scientists and the public alike. This is the truly marvelous nature of Samuel Parish, one of the first Los Angeles’ local residents to become a botanist, ecologist, and naturalist of southern California. Although his contributions are not diminished by the fact that his study was limited to plants, which simply means that he was not a general ecologist, but elevates rather elevates hima as a specialized plant ecologist. It does indicate that an insect ecologist, bird ecologist, reptile ecologist, amphibian ecologist, mammal ecologist, invertebrate ecologist, marine ecologist, and cryptogamic ecologist, would all be needed to obtain the general ecology and holistic view of nature in a region such as a Los Angeles coastal wetland. A soil scientist, geomorphologist, and hydrologist would be helpful additions too, but they would only be supplementary, and not an excuse or substitute for not having the other 8 specialist ecologists involved in the Playa Vista project. Any restoration project or recovery project at the Ballona Wetlands for example, would require this group of 9 specialist ecologist to understand and manage the Ballona ecosystem. At this time, there is basically only one plant ecologist, Edith Read, speaking for ecology as a whole. It is a terrible thing that Edith Read is isolated in this way, trapped so to speak, and there is blame to spread on the corporation for cutting corners and cutting costs, of not having 8 other specialist ecologists on salary at all times for the last several years. The developers and real estate speculators of Playa Vista and Playa Capital have made a mockery of nature and ecology at the Ballona Wetlands. This alone should make the public and the politicians skeptical of all the proposals of Playa Vista and Playa Capital.

On May 4, 1917, while a World War is raging in Europe with poisonous mustard gases being used, Samuel Parish explored in Upland, adjacent to Claremont, a place called Red Hill. He found six species of plants living there. Samuel Parish also explored for plants during his life at Catalina Island, high peaks of San Gabriel Mountains, San Bernardino Mountains, Ballona wetlands, Newport Bay, Bolsa Chica, and many more places. It can be discerned that he explored Santa Monica in the 1880s and again in the early 1900s. He discovered vernal pools that once occurred in Santa Monica.

Notice that the ecological scientific phrase of “vernal pools” for a special habitat was not coined yet in 1917. He used the phrase of “winter pools” or just simply “pools.” It would not be until the 1930s that the phrase of "vernal pool" would be coined by an ecologist. There is also an indication to use the geographic name as an adjective for the “pools” in question. For example, there is the Red Hill Pools, San Diego Pools, and Pools near Santa Monica (Santa Monica Pools). Some areas east of Lincoln Boulevard would have made great locations for vernal pools and winter pools. I think15-20 vernal pools covering an area of one mile in length and 1/4 mile wide should be set aside east of Lincoln Boulevard and south of Jefferson Boulevard. You would be ecological wise and nature sensitive, if you scraped the development plans as now planned. Begin over again with vernal pools as a priority for restoration and recovery on the east side of Lincoln Boulevard and just below the bluffs of Loyola University. What happened to your sensitivity toward vernal pools, and their special group of inhabitants of reptiles, amphibians, insects, snails, cryptogams, plants, mammals, birds, and marine-related invertebrates of crustaceans?

Plant List of Pools in Parish Article
1. Pilularia americana
2. Isoetes orcuttii
3. Psilocarphus globiferous
4. Navarretia prostrata
5. Callitriche longipedunculata
6. Deschampsia gracilis

Notice the compliment paid to Ivan Johnston, who later became an expert on the Heliotropes, including Seaside Heliotrope. In addition, it is to be noted that Edith Purer and Ivan Johnston kept a correpsondence over several years in the 1930s regarding vernal pool studies and research that Edith Purer conducted in the San Diego region. I’m so saddened that the vernal pools of Los Angeles and Santa Monica are nearly completely destroyed. The vernal pools of the LAX airport may soon to be destroyed if airport expansion occurs. The public must be allowed to visit these vernal pools if they are to cherish them and care about them. The LAX Aiport vernal pools must not be kept off-limits to scientists, botanists, naturalists, and nature lovers. It is as though government in Los Angeles, from the mayor to the Councilmember, to the Supervisor, to the State Assemblymember and State Senator, do not want us to have nature in our city of Angels. I can only ask why? It will be so harmful to children, who are our future, to live impoverished lives with diminishing nature in our city. If I didn’t know better I would say that our local politicians really do not care about children and their wonderous connection to nature. I especially address the comments to Councilmember Ruth Galanter, who is not married, has no children, and is as selfish and greedy as a rich ‘_____.’

Postscript: “All nature is local ...and ... All politics is local too!”