Spring 2008 A publication of the Wildlife Diversity Program—Getting Texans Involved
Texas Plant Conservation:
Issues and Challenges
What animals come to mind when you read the words: Rare. Threatened. Endangered. Extinct? Many people say the dodo or the dinosaurs. Some people say panda bear or Siberian tiger. Still others say the grey wolf, American eagle, or the Texas horned lizard.
Native Plants,
the Key to Great Wildlife Habitat
Texans have many reasons to brag. One of the things Texas can boast about is our tremendous bounty of native plants. These trees, shrubs, vines, wildflowers, forbs, grasses, sedges and cacti provide habitat for an amazing array of wildlife species. This rich abundance of wildlife is absolutely dependent on native plants for their survival and well being.
How to write a
Rare Plant Book
in seven easy years
In 2000 when Pat Morton, then head of education and outreach for the Wildlife Diversity Program, approached me about publishing a book on the rare plants of Texas, I was excited. Years before David Riskind and I had written a rare plant identification guide for about 45 species, so how hard could it be to add another 200?
We're under attack -
Aliens in the Landscape
Everyone is familiar with big name alien invasives we fear or detest: fire ants, house sparrows, feral hogs, West Nile virus, piranhas, and Africanized honey bees, to name a few. However, what might not be as high-profile, but are equally menacing, are some species of invasive plants.
The Back Porch
Historical and Current Assessment of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's Private Lands Assistance Program
Since the 1930’s Texas Parks and Wildlife Department biologists have provided habitat management assistance to landowners. In the early years, work consisted of collecting data for hunting/fishing regulations, trapping and transporting wildlife, population studies, wildlife research, and vegetation surveys.
Did You Know?
Interesting information about the following plants:
- American Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana)
- Wax Myrtle (Morella cerifera)
- Rusty Blackhaw Viburnum (Viburnum rufidulum)
- Candelilla (Euphorbia antisyphilitica)
- Apache Plume (Fallugia paradoxa )
- Havard Agave (Agave havardiana)
- Hackberry, Sugarberry (Celtis laevigata)
- Post Oak (Quercus stellata)
- Mistletoe, Hairy Mistletoe (Phoradendron tomentosum)
Wild Stuff!
For Wildlife Posters and Hummingbird Wheels, visit www.tpwd.state.tx.us/shop for order form.
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, 4200 Smith School Road, Austin, TX 78744
