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Native Plant Society of Texas

Dallas Chapter

January 2018 Meeting: Rescheduled!

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Join us for the first meeting of the year, Monday, February 19th @ 7PM at Midway Hills Christian Church. (See our Meeting Location page for address and map.)  All invited, members and non-members alike. We’ll have a brief meeting then Suzanne Tuttle, our State Board VP Environmental Liaison, will present.

Identifying deciduous woody plants after leaf drop is a challenge. Suzanne will share tips for recognizing plants in the field based on bark color and patterns, bud shape, growth habits and more.

Suzanne Tuttle is a plant ecologist who retired in 2016 after a 23 year career at the Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from UT Arlington and an Associate of Applied Science degree in Horticulture from Tarrant County Junior College (now TCC). She has taught training classes for the Cross Timbers (Fort Worth) Chapter of the Texas Master Naturalist program since 1999 and is currently serving on the Boards of Directors for the Native Plant Society of Texas, the Fort Worth Chapter of the Native Prairies Association of Texas and the Chihuahuan Desert Research Institute located in Fort Davis, TX.

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About the Region

2026 Fall Symposium Logo

This low-elevations region of Texas extends inland from the barrier islands, about 60 or so miles, and stretches from Brownsville to Louisiana. In total, it covers about 9.5 million acres, with a high point of 150 feet in elevation. More than 1000 species of plants can be found in this region. On the southern end, species more common in Mexico (such as Sabal mexicana) and Central America occur.

The barrier islands provide us with dune systems, and clay flats to the inland side, which have species found in these areas alone. Many plants here, such as Ipomoea pes-caprae (beach morning glory), can be found throughout tropical regions of the globe. I’ve encountered the same species on the beaches of Guam.

Once inland, vast marshes and wet prairies occur. Occasionally, oak (Quercus fusiformis) groves can be found. Common grasses include species of Bothriochloa, Paspalum, and Sporobolus; eastern gamagrass (Tripsacum dactyloides); and switchgrass (Panicum species). Many rivers and creeks cut through the Gulf Prairies, and along these riparian areas various species of trees, Sabal minor, and other plants adapted to clay soils can be found. Due to overgrazing, farming, and fire suppression, woody species such as mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa) and huisache (Acacia farnesiana), and invasive species such as chinaberry (Melia azedarach), Brazilian pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius), and Chinese tallow (Sapium sebiferum) have increased and displaced our native flora.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason