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Native Plant Society of Texas

Big Bend Chapter

Sierra Club Social – Saturday, Sept 28

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[from Dallas Baxter]

Modesta Canyon at CDRI
Great hiking at Modesta Canyon at the CDRI Nature Center

Photo credit: CDRI Nature Center

The Sierra Club group in the Big Bend will host a social from 6-8 p.m. on Saturday, September 28 at the Ritchey Wine Bar, 5th and Murphy Streets in Alpine.

After several years of not having regular meetings, the club is reorganizing to offer monthly meetings and outings as well as work on projects environmentally important to the Big Bend area.

Old members, current members and anyone interested in learning more is invited to attend. There will be a cash bar and light snacks as well as opportunities to suggest programs and sign up for areas of environmental interest. A suggested donation of $5 to defray the cost of food and ongoing club expenses is requested.

Membership and general information about the Sierra Club will be available.

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**ARCHIVED POST AUTHOR: billarmstrong

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