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Native Plant Society of Texas

Our magazine is now on Kindle

NPSOT Archive

**ARCHIVED POST **

You can now get the latest issue of the Native Plant Society of Texas magazine delivered directly to your Kindle reading device.

Click to go to Amazon For some time, we’ve wanted to offer a digital version of our magazine. Many members prefer the convenience of a digital version. The publication will be distributed through Amazon and can be read on any of the varieties of Kindle devices. It can also be read on free reading apps which can be installed on desktop computers, Apple products, and many other tablets and phones. The digital version contains all the text and photos that is in the print edition.

This will have no effect on the print edition of the magazine, which will continue to be mailed free to all members.

Click on the image of the cover to go to Amazon and get the digital edition.

 

**ARCHIVED POST**

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

**ARCHIVED POST AUTHOR: Bill Hopkins

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