On the trail for Texas screwstem …elusive, tiny, screwy

Date: Wednesday, March 10, 2021
Time: 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Kim Taylor
Conservation Seed Bank Manager
Botanical Research Institute of Texas and Fort Worth Botanic Garden

Texas screwstem (Bartonia paniculata ssp. texana) is a federally petitioned plant species occurring in eastern Texas and western Louisiana. This obscure member of the Gentian family was first discovered in 1965 and has proven to be elusive ever since. Texas screwstem was petitioned to be listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act in 2010. With the deadline for a listing decision fast approaching, botanists at the Botanical Research Institute of Texas went on the hunt for this tiny plant. During this webinar we will discuss the current status of this elusive species. Join us as we recap our trek through the wilds of East Texas in our quest to understand, and ultimately save, Texas screwstem.

Kim Taylor is the Manager of the Conservation Seed Bank at the Botanical Research Institute of Texas (BRIT) and Fort Worth Botanic Garden. Kim joined BRIT in 2010, following completion of her Master’s Degree in Botany from Austin Peay State University. Kim took over management of the newly opened Conservation Seed Bank in 2020. Her main focus is on research and conservation of rare Texas plants and ecosystems. As seed bank manager, she conducts rare plant surveys, tracks and monitors populations of rare plants in North Texas, collects seeds of rare species to preserve genetic diversity, and works with partner institutions to fight plant extinction in Texas. 

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This project was funded in part by a grant generated from sales of Conservation Licence Plates.

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