A RARE CAT-TAIL AT SIERRA CLUB LOS ANGELES OFFICES
Wilshire Boulevard at Normandie Avenue
in
1916: 85 Years Ago
by
Charles F. Richter
Los Angeles, California

compiled by
Robert 'Roy' J van de Hoek
Field Biologist & Geographer
Sierra Club, Wetlands Action Network, National Audubon Society

**I have recently come upon a number of specimens of Typha angustifiolia, the narrow-leafed cat-tail. This species is noted by Professor Abrams, in his Flora of Los Angeles and vicinity, as being found in places similar to those in which T. latifolia, the broad-leaved or common cat-tail grows, but he notes it as "not common. T. angustifolia differs from T. latifolia in having narrower leaves and a longer and narrower spike, which constitutes the "tail." This spike consists of a great number of small flowers, of which the upper contain stamens but not pistils, while the lower contain only pistils. In T. latifolia the parts of the spike which contain these two kinds of flowers are usually not separate, but intergrade, while in T. angustifolia there is a gap in the spike, dividing it into two distinct segments. **

**The specimens referred to above were found along the Arroyo Sacatella (a marshy creek) about fifty feet south of Wilshire Boulevard, opposite Normandie Avenue, in Los Angeles.**

**Footnote Source = LORQUINIA, Published by the Lorquin Natural History Club of Los Angeles. Volume 1, Number 2, page 10, September 1916.**

Please note also that the Lorquin Natural History Club was founded in 1913 in Los Angeles, published a monthly magazine called LORQUINIA, and led monthly field trips for science, hiking, and exploring nature around Los Angeles. It was a "Progressive Era" attempt to educate the citizenry of Los Angeles about the natural and wild beauty that is in Los Angeles.

Closing Comment
by
Robert 'Roy' J. van de Hoek
Field Biologist and Geographer

It is always good to see what interested a Los Angeles Natural History Club of 85 years ago. In this case, in 1916, there was barely the automobile and airplane in Los Angeles. Most of the roads were dirt roads and dirt air-fields. Wilshire Boulevard at Normandie was obviously quite natural as a wetland marsh with a rare cat-tail still occurred there. I have not been able to find the "Narrow-leaved Cat-tail" anywhere in Los Angeles in these last two years of 1999-2001. And obviously as a field biologist, I am curious to know why it is not being discussed in the restoration of the Ballona Wetlands by the developers of Playa Vista? And similarly, this rare Cat-tail is not discussed for restoration at Sepulveda Wildlife Area on the Los Angeles River nor anywhere else on the Los Angeles River. A unique and wonderful opportunity is being missed at restoration and recovery if this unique Cat-tail is left out of the equation. It may very well be that this is the Cat-tail that the California Black Rail, one of the most endangered birds of California would prefer as habitat in Los Angeles. Perhaps this 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, 85 years after 1916, "Narrow-leaved Cat-tail" is virtually extinct in Los Angeles, but there is an excellent opportunity for restoration and recovery of this unique plant if someone would adopt a program to make it so.

Today, in 2001, 85 years after 1916, "Broad-leaved Cat-tail" is the only Cat-tail common in Los Angeles.

Today, in 2001, 85 years after 1916, "Arroyo Sacatella (a marshy creek" no longer exists, but a small project of proper landscaping and watering at Wilshire and Normandie could bring this unique Cat-tail back to it historic haunt.

Today, in 2001, 85 years after 1916, "fifty feet south of Wilshire Boulevard, opposite Normandie Avenue, in Los Angeles" is an opportunity waiting to happen for some restoration and recovery. Time will tell! Humans have only been here with their cover of cement and asphalt for 85 years. For thousands of years, if not millions of years before 1916, the "Narrow-leaved Cat-tail" lived at Arroyo Sacatella. This recreation of an article written 85 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 Wilshire and Normandie. Once upon a time, only 85 years ago, there was a rare plant growing there in a small wetland marsh. Today, in 2001, the Sierra Club has their Los Angeles headquarters offices there. The fight for wetlands and open space is spearheaded from this office. In 2001, the Sierra Club filed an amicus brief at the United States Supreme Court, 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 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, 85 years after 1916, it is important to link the historical 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, or, wouldn't 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. 1