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Native Plant Society of Texas

Ruth O’Brien

NPSOT Archive

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Ruth Schott O’Brien died on December 26 at the age of 91.

Ruth’s deep-rooted interest in wild plants and taxonomy led her to a Master of Science in Biology in 1980 from Corpus Christi State University. A year later, she set up the University herbarium and became its curator in 1983. Through the years, the O’Briens donated monies to improve the herbarium and, in 2008, they started the Joseph A. and Ruth S. O’Brien Endowed Herbarium Internship.

The Native Plant Society of Texas presented O’Brien, Dr. Roy Lehman and Tammy White with the Donovan Stewart Correll Memorial Award for scientific writing in the field of native flora in Texas for their book Plants of the Texas Coastal Bend. O’Brien also wrote Plants of Webb County in 2002 and is co-author of recovery plans for two local endangered species by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Ruth was a 50-year volunteer of the Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History, donating her time as a docent, auxiliary officer, board member and honorary curator of the Museum’s herbarium.

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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