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Native Plant Society of Texas

Austin Kelly

Austin R. Kelly is President and Lead Biologist for ARK Ecological Consulting, botanical and environmental consulting group that works across the US, focused on plant and wildlife inventories and conservation, invasive species control, and sustainable private-land management practices. Austin is also an instructor and PhD student at Texas A&M University studying plant ecology, particularly rangeland ecosystem management in the Edwards Plateau, including grazing, burning, and ecohydrology. Austin has taught 9 different undergraduate courses in botany and ecology over 8 years. He was the coach for the Texas A&M Plant Identification Team for 4 years, and his team placed 2nd in the US in 2025. Austin is also a Research Associate with the S.M. Tracy Herbarium where he conducts research on Texas plant biogeography and floristics. He is on the Board of Directors for the Society of Ecological Restoration and is passionate about environmental education, working with many youth organizations teaching about plants and ecosystems. Willing to do presentations, classes, lectures, webinars, or field trips.

Contact Austin Kelly

Bandera, TX, USA

ARK Ecological Consulting, Texas A&M University, S.M. Tracy Herbarium, NPSOT, Society for Ecological Restoration, Society for Range Management, The Wildlife Society, and Texas Brigades

  • Consideration: Open to Discussion
  • Online Presentation: Yes
  • Online Platforms: Teams, Webex, Zoom, GoTo Meeting
  • Recording Allowed: Yes
  • Uploading Allowed: Yes

Presentations Offered:

Plant Ecology and Botany (various topics)

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