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Native Plant Society of Texas

Dallas Chapter

February 2021 Meeting – Adam Black with “Chasing Elusive Blackland Prairie Plants for Ex-Situ Conservation”

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Join us on Zoom for our February meeting on the 15th at 6:30 for social time, 7:00 for quick announcements, then our program.  This month we’ll have horticulturalist, Adam Black with “Chasing Elusive Blackland Prairie Plants for Ex-Situ Conservation”.  Register in order to get the meeting link via https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUkf-yupzMvHtYOejDKDUM4iB87ZzlbKPx6

The remaining fragments of blackland prairie habitat harbor a variety of plants that are of great conservation concern. Even if not technically listed as endangered or threatened, many species that now survive in randomly isolated tracts of blackland prairie are still important candidates for preservation due to isolated genetics and the uncertain future of land management. Join Adam Black as he explores these habitats in search of rare orchids, wildflowers, and other interesting or inconspicuous plants with the mission of ethically collecting propagation material for collaborative ex-situ conservation for both seed banking and for backup of living material in botanic garden safe sites around the country.

Adam Black is a lifelong plant enthusiast with a passion for the rare, unusual and esoteric. Based in Navasota, Texas, Adam combines his experience in the fields of botany and horticulture by promoting diverse landscapes while also collaborating with various gardens and universities collecting imperiled plant species for the purposes of research and ex-situ conservation. Currently he is self-employed as a botanical/horticultural consultant while also serving as program coordinator for the Smithsonian-led Global Genome Initiative for Gardens. He previously worked at several botanic gardens, most notably as director of The John Fairey Garden (formerly Peckerwood Garden) in Hempstead, Texas where he assisted with the transition of this internationally-acclaimed private garden into a public garden. Originally from Florida, he previously managed the forest pathology and forest entomology laboratories at the University of Florida and with his late wife owned a collector-oriented mail-order nursery that introduced many new plants now preserved ex-situ in botanic collections and general horticulture from Adam’s international and domestic explorations.

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About the Region

New Braunfels, the location of our Fall 2024 Symposium, straddles both the Edwards Plateau Ecoregion and the Blackland Prairie ecoregion. Interstate 35 divides the city of New Braunfels; its path through the city closely parallels the boundary of these two ecoregions, with the Edwards Plateau on the west side and the Blackland Prairies region to the east. The Edwards Plateau area is also called the Hill Country; however, this general term covers a much larger area extending farther north. Spring-fed creeks are found throughout the region; deep limestone canyons, rivers, and lakes (reservoirs) are common. Ashe juniper is perhaps the most common woody species found throughout the region. Additional woody species include various species of oak, with live oak (Quercus fusiformis) being the most common. Sycamores (Platanus occidentalis) and bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) border waterways. This area is well known for its spring wildflower displays, though they may be viewed in spring, late summer, and fall, as well. According to Texas Parks and Wildlife, average annual rainfall in the Edwards Plateau ranges from 15 to 34 inches.

The Blackland Prairie extends from the Red River south to San Antonio, bordered on the west by the Edwards Plateau and the Cross Timbers, and on the east by the Post Oak Savannah. Annual rainfall averages 30 to 40 inches, with higher averages to the east. This region is dominated by prairie species. The most common grass species include little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) and Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans) in the uplands and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) in the riparian areas and drainages. Common herbaceous flowering plants include salvias, penstemons, and silphiums. This area has suffered greatly from overgrazing and agricultural use. Few intact areas remain, though many of the plants can be found along county roadsides throughout the region.

Our four host chapters (New Braunfels, Lindheimer, Guadalupe, and the Hill Country chapters) are located in one or both of the ecoregions above. However, the eastern portion of Guadalupe County also falls within the Post Oak Savanna ecoregion. Annual rainfall averages 35 to 45 inches, with higher averages to the east. A wide variety of hardwood trees are found, including several species of oaks, elms, and in the Bastrop area, loblolly pine (Pinus taeda). Grasses and forbs dominate in the open savannas, with most common grass being little bluestem. Ranching, agriculture, and fire suppression have allowed woody species to encroach on the once-open savannas.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason