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Austin Chapter

Wild Plants of Texas NPSOT Challenge Bioblitz 2023

As in the past years, we’ve wanted to see plants that are wild (not the ones planted in our landscapes) — I know folks love to show off their native plant gardens, and those are fantastic, but those plants have to be marked as “cultivated” even though they’re native.  This project is for finding all of those plants out in the ‘wilderness’ of Texas (even the ‘weeds’ in vacant lots in our cities)! Here is the link to the Wild Plants of Texas NPSOT BioBlitz page on iNaturalist.

Rules and FAQs:
Observations must be of a plant with a photo and must be in Texas during Oct 15 – 21. If cultivated, observation must be marked as cultivated.

How can I participate?
It’s easy! Just download iNaturalist on smartphone, create username and password. You can also go onto the website www.iNaturalist.org and create a username and password. You can use a camera if you don’t have phone; just put the observations on iNat using the computer. Use the app to make observations, but go to the website to look at the data!

Do I need to join the project?
No! Any and all observations of plants made in Texas during October 15 – 21 will automatically be added to the project. You don’t have to do any extra steps to add observations to the project.

How can I see the progress of the bioblitz?
Search this page that aggregates all of the observations that match the criteria (plants, Texas, photo evidence). You can filter results by your county/region or by individual or plant family or anything else.

Can I observe a native plant that I put in my landscape?
We would rather you observe plants that are wild and not planted… iNaturalist is best used for natural distributions of organisms, so if we do observe cultivated/planted, they need to be marked as cultivated or captive. After all, we do have elephants in Dallas — but they’re captive. So, observations of cultivated plants need to be marked as cultivated.

Why should non-natives or invasives count to this bioblitz?
So, this data is still important to know! This project is for documenting all wild plants.

Where should I go to make observations?
The best place to go includes those wild spaces like no-mow zones or ‘weedy’ spots. You can observe plants from around your home or roadside (no trespassing allowed!!!). Public parks are ideal – observations made in these public spaces can guide management.

How else can I help?
One of the most important things you can do is help with the identifications! If you know some plants, take a look at the observations that folks are making around Texas on the iNaturalist Wild Plants of Texas NPSOT BioBlitz page.

This is best done on the computer/PC. You need to have an iNaturalist account to identify observations.
Also, if you notice that folks are documenting cultivated/planted plants, you can mark these as cultivated/captive on the identify screen.

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About the Region

New Braunfels, the location of our Fall 2024 Symposium, straddles both the Edwards Plateau Ecoregion and the Blackland Prairie ecoregion. Interstate 35 divides the city of New Braunfels; its path through the city closely parallels the boundary of these two ecoregions, with the Edwards Plateau on the west side and the Blackland Prairies region to the east. The Edwards Plateau area is also called the Hill Country; however, this general term covers a much larger area extending farther north. Spring-fed creeks are found throughout the region; deep limestone canyons, rivers, and lakes (reservoirs) are common. Ashe juniper is perhaps the most common woody species found throughout the region. Additional woody species include various species of oak, with live oak (Quercus fusiformis) being the most common. Sycamores (Platanus occidentalis) and bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) border waterways. This area is well known for its spring wildflower displays, though they may be viewed in spring, late summer, and fall, as well. According to Texas Parks and Wildlife, average annual rainfall in the Edwards Plateau ranges from 15 to 34 inches.

The Blackland Prairie extends from the Red River south to San Antonio, bordered on the west by the Edwards Plateau and the Cross Timbers, and on the east by the Post Oak Savannah. Annual rainfall averages 30 to 40 inches, with higher averages to the east. This region is dominated by prairie species. The most common grass species include little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) and Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans) in the uplands and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) in the riparian areas and drainages. Common herbaceous flowering plants include salvias, penstemons, and silphiums. This area has suffered greatly from overgrazing and agricultural use. Few intact areas remain, though many of the plants can be found along county roadsides throughout the region.

Our four host chapters (New Braunfels, Lindheimer, Guadalupe, and the Hill Country chapters) are located in one or both of the ecoregions above. However, the eastern portion of Guadalupe County also falls within the Post Oak Savanna ecoregion. Annual rainfall averages 35 to 45 inches, with higher averages to the east. A wide variety of hardwood trees are found, including several species of oaks, elms, and in the Bastrop area, loblolly pine (Pinus taeda). Grasses and forbs dominate in the open savannas, with most common grass being little bluestem. Ranching, agriculture, and fire suppression have allowed woody species to encroach on the once-open savannas.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason