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Native Plant Society of Texas

Ricky Linex

Ricky Linex retired in 2021 as a wildlife biologist for the Natural Resources Conservation Service and now works as a range and wildlife consultant.

With NRCS, Linex worked 52 counties in north central Texas covering the Rolling Plains, Cross Timbers, Blackland Prairie, and Post Oak Savannah vegetational regions. He worked 38.5 years with NRCS in Goldthwaite, Snyder, Abilene, and Weatherford.

He is the author of Range Plants of North Central Texas, A Land Users Guide to Their Identification, Value and Management, a plant identification book for Texas. Range Plants was recognized in 2015 as an outstanding publication by the Texas Chapter – The Wildlife Society, the Native Plant Society of Texas, and the Texas Section – Society for Range Management.

Contact Ricky Linex

Weatherford, TX, USA

Native Plant Society of Texas - Cross Timbers Chapter; Society for Range Management - Certified Professional in Range Management; Texas Chapter, The Wildlife Society - Certified Wildlife Biologist; Presenter at Texas MN, MG, NPSOT Native Prairies Association chapters across North, West and Central Texas

  • Consideration: Honorarium
  • Driving Distance: 200 miles
  • Online Presentation: Yes
  • Online Platforms: Zoom, Webex
  • Recording Allowed: Discuss with Speaker
  • Uploading Allowed: Discuss with Speaker

Presentations Offered:

Creek Walk Across Texas

In this 30 minute presentation, riparian vegetation is highlighted across several major creeks and vegetational regions of Texas. The good, bad, and ugly will be shown as we take a virtual walk across Texas inspecting creeks and rivers. Creeks in different stages of erosion and deposition, along with the resulting vegetation, will be shown and […]

Edible Plants of North Texas

Participants will learn about 42 common edible plants that can be found in north Texas pastures and rangelands, as well as across much of the rest of the state. Using natives, and a few introduced, forbs and woody plants we’ll show what parts are edible and when to harvest. Many of these plants may be […]

Fifty Shades of Green: 50 Neat Natives for Your Landscape

Presentation will feature 50 species of native plants that are beautiful, and sometimes unusual, that can be used in your native landscaping. Some of these can be purchased, but many are uncommon and will have to be collected in the wild. A one page handout listing common and scientific names, as well as whether the […]

Important Food Plants for Deer, Quail, and Turkeys

Discusses identification and value of 50 forb and woody species for the three categories of wildlife. Clear photos will enable identification and show details needed to know these plants. Many of these species can be found across all of Texas. Plants will be scored on a scale with 1 being excellent food value and 4 […]

In Search of a Perfect Red

The story of how the insect cochineal and prickly pear cactus forged a dyeing industry that lasted for centuries. Presentation looks back through American and foreign history as nations sought to find the greatest red color dye. 500 years ago, Spanish explorers discovered a bright red dye in the markets of the Aztecs in Central […]

Medicinal Applications of Native Plants by Native Americans

Presentation showcases 45 native Texas forbs, shrubs and trees that were used medicinally by many tribes across Texas and the southern US. The treatment method and the illness or disease treated will be discussed for each plant. Resources will be shown that can be used to research plants you are interested in to see what […]

Native and Introduced Plants – the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Discussion and photos of desirable native plants along with introduced and invasive grasses and forbs. Builds awareness of invasive and noxious invaders showing up in Texas. The importance of establishing photo points, showing ten years growth of a native prickly pear plant will be discussed.

Native and Introduced Plants of the Rolling Plains of Texas

Showcases 43 native and introduced plants of the Rolling Plains. Some will be well known and common, while a few will be less known but found within this area. Distribution maps will also show where the plants are most commonly known to occur.

Native Grassland Restoration – How Plants Grow and How to Improve Them

Presentation discusses how our native grasslands declined and factors affecting the success of grass re-establishment. Using Web Soil Survey, we’ll see what plants were native on the speaker’s land, what PLS (pure live seed) is and why it’s important when calculating a seeding mixture to restore grasslands, and conversion from exotic grasses to native grasses.

Native Plants for Building Pollinator Habitat

This 1.5 hour presentation shows 55 native plants beneficial for pollinator habitat across the northern half of Texas. Many of the species shown in the Fifty Shades of Green presentation are repeated here.

Plant Identification by Family Association and Use of Written and Online Botanical Keys

In this 2 hour presentation, participants will gain an understanding of how Texas Plants have been collected and identified through the past 200 years. Plants will first be identified by use of Family Associations, followed by written and online botanical keys. Participants will learn how to quickly key out plants using traditional written botanical keys […]

Pollinators and Native Plants – Who Are the Real Managers of Wildlife Habitats?

Landowners and land managers often believe that by reducing stocking rates of livestock, or controlling numbers of deer on their property, they’re managing the habitat. Participants will learn of the true importance of the many species of pollinators in keeping healthy forbs, flowering shrubs, and trees. Without pollinators our food supply would be significantly reduced […]

Using Reading the Land to Understand Land Stewardship

Presentation introduces how to first “read the land” to understand what has happened in the past, what is happening now and what may be in the future meshing with an introduction to Land Stewardship through the years.

  • In Search of a Perfect Red The story of how the insect cochineal and prickly pear cactus forged a dyeing industry that lasted for centuries. Presentation looks back through American and foreign history as nations sought to find the greatest red color dye. 500 years ago, Spanish explorers discovered a bright red dye in the markets of the Aztecs in Central […]
  • Using Reading the Land to Understand Land Stewardship Presentation introduces how to first “read the land” to understand what has happened in the past, what is happening now and what may be in the future meshing with an introduction to Land Stewardship through the years.
  • Medicinal Applications of Native Plants by Native Americans Presentation showcases 45 native Texas forbs, shrubs and trees that were used medicinally by many tribes across Texas and the southern US. The treatment method and the illness or disease treated will be discussed for each plant. Resources will be shown that can be used to research plants you are interested in to see what […]
  • Pollinators and Native Plants – Who Are the Real Managers of Wildlife Habitats? Landowners and land managers often believe that by reducing stocking rates of livestock, or controlling numbers of deer on their property, they’re managing the habitat. Participants will learn of the true importance of the many species of pollinators in keeping healthy forbs, flowering shrubs, and trees. Without pollinators our food supply would be significantly reduced […]
  • Fifty Shades of Green: 50 Neat Natives for Your Landscape Presentation will feature 50 species of native plants that are beautiful, and sometimes unusual, that can be used in your native landscaping. Some of these can be purchased, but many are uncommon and will have to be collected in the wild. A one page handout listing common and scientific names, as well as whether the […]
  • Native and Introduced Plants – the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly Discussion and photos of desirable native plants along with introduced and invasive grasses and forbs. Builds awareness of invasive and noxious invaders showing up in Texas. The importance of establishing photo points, showing ten years growth of a native prickly pear plant will be discussed.
  • Native Grassland Restoration – How Plants Grow and How to Improve Them Presentation discusses how our native grasslands declined and factors affecting the success of grass re-establishment. Using Web Soil Survey, we’ll see what plants were native on the speaker’s land, what PLS (pure live seed) is and why it’s important when calculating a seeding mixture to restore grasslands, and conversion from exotic grasses to native grasses.
  • Native Plants for Building Pollinator Habitat This 1.5 hour presentation shows 55 native plants beneficial for pollinator habitat across the northern half of Texas. Many of the species shown in the Fifty Shades of Green presentation are repeated here.
  • Plant Identification by Family Association and Use of Written and Online Botanical Keys In this 2 hour presentation, participants will gain an understanding of how Texas Plants have been collected and identified through the past 200 years. Plants will first be identified by use of Family Associations, followed by written and online botanical keys. Participants will learn how to quickly key out plants using traditional written botanical keys […]
  • Edible Plants of North Texas Participants will learn about 42 common edible plants that can be found in north Texas pastures and rangelands, as well as across much of the rest of the state. Using natives, and a few introduced, forbs and woody plants we’ll show what parts are edible and when to harvest. Many of these plants may be […]
  • Creek Walk Across Texas In this 30 minute presentation, riparian vegetation is highlighted across several major creeks and vegetational regions of Texas. The good, bad, and ugly will be shown as we take a virtual walk across Texas inspecting creeks and rivers. Creeks in different stages of erosion and deposition, along with the resulting vegetation, will be shown and […]
  • Native and Introduced Plants of the Rolling Plains of Texas Showcases 43 native and introduced plants of the Rolling Plains. Some will be well known and common, while a few will be less known but found within this area. Distribution maps will also show where the plants are most commonly known to occur.
  • Important Food Plants for Deer, Quail, and Turkeys Discusses identification and value of 50 forb and woody species for the three categories of wildlife. Clear photos will enable identification and show details needed to know these plants. Many of these species can be found across all of Texas. Plants will be scored on a scale with 1 being excellent food value and 4 […]

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