A Botanical Waltz Across Texas: Biological Crossroads and Floral Wonders

Presented by Barney L. Lipscomb, Dorothea L. Leonhardt Chair of Texas Botany for Botanic Research Institute of Texas

A Botanical Waltz Across Texas by the ever-entertaining Barney L. Lipscomb will give a broad overview of the 10 vegetational areas of Texas and highlight some of the unique and fascinating ecological systems, plus give a closer look at some of the more rare plants in the Lone Star State. As always, all of our meetings are free and open to the public.

A major biological crossroads of America, Texas has a variety of landforms and habitats with diverse flora and fauna. Lipscomb will overview the physiographic provinces that converge in Texas — Great Plains, Central Lowlands, Basin & Mountains, and Coastal Plain — to create approximately 5,500 taxa of native and naturalized vascular plants. This includes nearly half of the grass species indigenous to the U.S. and over 300 taxa that are endemic to the state. Nearly 250 Texas plants have been identified as rare and of conservation concern and 33 species are listed as threatened or endangered.

About the speaker: Editor, author, writer, public speaker, and researcher, Barney L. Lipscomb is the Leonhardt Chair of Texas Botany at the Botanical Research Institute of Texas (BRIT) and Director of their scientific press. He is a co-author of the Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas, Illustrated Flora of East Texas, and Ferns and Lycophytes of Texas. He has an interest and expert knowledge of poisonous plants and serves on the board for the North Texas Poison Center. He also has an interest in forensic botany, and has provided expertise and assistance in several criminal cases.

Location for September:

• Brookhaven College
• 3939 Valley View Lane Farmers Branch, TX 75244
• Miles Building H, room 125.
• 

Date:

Wednesday, September 4, 2019

• 6:30 Meet and eat
• 7:00 Introduction and Announcements
• 7:20 Featured Presentation
• 8:45 Adjournment

Hope to see YOU there!

wbw 08/19