Join / Renew / Gift Donate Shop Member Portal Language

Search
npsot_bluebonnet_full_color

Native Plant Society of Texas

Dallas Chapter

March 2017’s Meeting – Brett Johnson with “Natural Resources of Dallas”

**ARCHIVED POST **

March’s Meeting

On Monday, March 20th, Brett Johnson will be presenting “Natural Resources of Dallas”

In this talk he will highlight the natural resources found in Dallas, and especially highlight those things found on Park’s property.  Dallas Park and Recreation properties have everything from a globally rare plant community, to the escarpment zone that is ecologically more similar to the Texas Hill Country.

Brett Johnson is the Urban Biologist with the City of Dallas Park and Recreation Department.  He went to Texas A&M University earning a BS in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences, and later an MS in Interdisciplinary Studies from Texas Tech University. He has also worked for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department as an Urban Wildlife Biologist.

**ARCHIVED POST**

**ARCHIVED POST LINKS & PICTURES MAY NOT WORK**

**ARCHIVED POST AUTHOR: 179

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