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Mercer shelters over 24 rare native plants and several of these plants are on display in the Endangered Species Garden.
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Bog Coneflower
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Plant Name: Bog Coneflower (Rudbeckia scabrifolia)
Status: On Texas rare plant watch list
Plant Family: Sunflower (Asteraceae)
Habitat: Angelina, Jasper, Newton, Sabine, and Shelby counties in TX and in Natchitoches, Sabine, Vernon, and Winn parishes in LA
Threats: Loss of habitat.
Description: The Bog Coneflower is found in seepage areas and bogs along hillsides and forests.
Corkwood
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Plant Name: Corkwood (Leitneria floridana)
Status: On Texas rare plant watch list
Plant Family: Corkwood (Leitneriaceae)
Habitat: Brazoria, Chambers (historic), Fort Bend, Galveston (introduced), Harris (introduced), and Jefferson counties in Texas. Also in AR, FL, GA, and MO
Threats: Loss of habitat
Blooms: Nonflowering
Description: A small tree that inhabits coastal and inland wetlands
Correll's False Dragon-head
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Plant name: Correll's False Dragon-head (Physostegia correllii)
Status: On Texas rare plant watch list
Family: Mint (Lamiaceae)
Habitat: Historically occurs in Bexar and Montgomery counties and although reported in Galveston, Travis, Val Verde, and Zapata counties in Texas, no plants recently have been seen. P. correllii presently occurs in St. Charles and Cameron parishes in LA and the status is unknown in Coahuila, Nuevo Leon, and Sonora states in Mexico.
Threats: Road widening, herbicide run-off, and channelization of ditches
Blooms: June through August
Description: P. correllii historically occurs in many diverse wetland habitats in its range. Now possibly extinct from Texas.
Glen Rose Yucca
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Plant name: Glen Rose Yucca/Brazos River Yucca (Yucca necopina)
Status: On Texas rare plant watch list
Family: Agave (Agavaceae)
Habitat: Hood, Parker, Somervell, and Tarrant counties in Texas
Threats: Loss of habitat
Blooms: May
Description: Found in sandy areas and fencerows of North Central Texas
Long-sepaled False Dragon-head
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Plant name: Long-sepaled False Dragon-head (Physostegia longisepala)
Status: On Texas rare plant watch list
Family: Mint (Lamiaceae)
Habitat: Hardin, Jasper, Newton, Orange, and Tyler counties in Texas, and Acadia, Beauregard, Calcasieu, and possibly Allen and Bienville parishes in LA
Threats: Loss of habitat
Blooms: May through June
Description: This perennial occurs in many diverse wetland habitats in its range.
Louisiana Quillwort
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Plant name: Louisiana Quillwort (Isoetes louisianensis)
Sponsored by: Partially sponsored by: The Woodlands G.R.E.E.N., Mary Lou Klene in honor of Mr. and Mrs. A. Mercer Rogers, and Blue Bonnet Garden Club of The Woodlands, TX
Status: Endangered
Family: Quillwort
Habitat: Washington and St. Tammany Parishes in LA and in two counties in MS
Threats: Clear-cutting of stream banks and timber and sand/gravel mining
Blooms: Nonflowering species
Description: This primitive, nonflowering relative of the mosses, ferns, and horsetails is a living fossil. Found most often on sandbars in streams. Note: Mercer maintains a rescued population from Louisiana for the USFWS and the Louisiana Natural Heritage program. Mercer will return the plants to Louisiana once the habitat is restored.
Navasota False Foxglove
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Plant name: Navasota False Foxglove (Agalinis navasotensis)
Status: On Texas rare plant watch list
Family: Figwort (Scrophulariaceae)
Habitat: Grimes and Tyler counties in Texas
Threats: Road widening
Blooms: Summer
Description: Annual, partly parasitic on native grasses, and is a host plant for Buckeye butterflies. The A. Navasotensis occurs in open grassy areas.
Neches River Rose-mallow
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Plant name: Neches River Rose-mallow (Hibiscus dasycalyx)
Status: Species of Concern
Family: Mallow (Malvaceae)
Habitat: Cherokee, Harrison, Houston, and Trinity counties in East Texas
Threats: Herbicide run-off and loss of wetland habitat
Blooms: June through August
Description: Hibiscus is a host plant for butterflies including the Hairstreak. Plants are being reintroduced at the Davy Crockett National Forest.
Rough-stem Aster
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Plant name: Rough-stem Aster (Aster puniceus var. scabricaulis)
Status: On Texas rare plant watch list
Family: Sunflower (Asteraceae)
Habitat: Anderson, Franklin, Henderson, Hopkins, northeast Texas, and LA and MS
Threats: Drainage of its bogs/pond habitats
Blooms: October through November
Description: This perennial is a host for butterflies including the Painted Lady and serves as a nectar species.
Scarlet Catchfly
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Plant name: Scarlet Catchfly (Silene subciliata)
Status: On Texas rare plant watch list
Family: Pink (Caryophyllaceae)
Habitat: Hardin, Jasper, Jefferson (historic), Liberty, Newton, Polk, Sabine, Shelby, and Tyler counties in Texas, and Allen, Beauregard, DeSoto, Natchitoches, Sabine, and Vernon parishes in LA
Threats: Loss of habitat
Blooms: July through October
Description: This perennial species is often found in oak-farkleberry sandylands in open woodlands and sand-hills.
Slender Gay-feather
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Plant name: Slender Gay-feather (Liatris tenuis)
Status: On Texas rare plant watch list
Family: Sunflower (Asteraceae)
Habitat: Angelina, Hardin, Jasper, Newton, Orange, Sabine, San Augustine, and Tyler counties in Texas, and also LA
Threats: Certain kinds of logging and development
Blooms: June through August
Description: This lovely perennial is found in well-drained sites in pine forests and on road-sides
Texas Golden Glade Cress
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Plant name: Texas Golden Glade Cress (Leavenworthia aurea var. texana)
Status: Species of Concern
Family: Mustard (Brassicaceae)
Habitat: Inhabits the unique geological outcrop of the Weches formation in San Augustine and Sabine counties, and in an introduced site in Nacogdoches County, Texas
Threats: Destruction from open pit mining of glauconite-"green rock"-for road surface material. Due to elimination of natural fire cycles, this annual is also under threat from competition by both native woody and invasive plants.
Blooms: March through May
Description: Brassicaceae are native host plants for butterflies including the Whites. Information: The Weches formation creates "islands" of alkaline sediments within the surrounding acidic piney woods.
Texas Meadow-rue
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Plant name: Texas Meadow-rue (Thalictrum texanum)
Status: On Texas rare plant watch list
Family: Buttercup (Ranunculaceae)
Habitat: Austin, Brazos, Fayette (historic), Grimes, Harris, Waller, and Washington counties in Texas
Threats: Loss of habitat
Blooms: January through March
Description: This perennial often occurs in partially shaded, damp, sandy soils in moist post-oak woodlands and also occurs in prairie habitats.
Texas Screwstem
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Plant name: Texas Screwstem (Bartonia texana)
Status: On Texas rare plant watch list
Family: Gentian (Gentianaceae)
Habitat: Angelina, Hardin, Jasper, Nacogdoches, Newton, Polk, San Augustine, San Jacinto, and Tyler counties in Texas
Threats: Loss of habitat
Blooms: September through November
Description: Often found in bog habitats along wooded streams in East Texas
Texas Trillium
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Plant name: Texas Trillium (Trillium texanum or Trillium pusillum var. texanum)
Status: On Texas rare plant watch list
Family: Lily (Liliaceae)
Habitat: Cass, Smith, Nacogdoches, Angelina, Jasper, Cherokee, Harrison, Houston (historic), Rusk (extinct), Panola (historic), and Wood counties in Texas, and Rusk and Caddo parishes in LA
Threats: Development
Blooms: March through May
Description: Found in shady and acidic ravines, seeps, and bogs
Texas Windmill-grass
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Plant name: Texas Windmill-grass (Chloris texensis)
Status: On Texas rare plant watch list
Family: Grass (Poaceae)
Habitat: Brazoria, Brazos (historic), Chambers, Galveston, Harris, and Nueces counties in Texas
Threats: Urban development of local Texas prairies
Blooms: April through November
Description: This native grass is an important host plant for butterflies including the Satyr and Skipper. Note: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Addicks and Barker Reservoirs in southwest Harris County, northeast Fort Bend County, The Katy Prairie Conservancy, Harris County, and Harris County Flood Control District properties may currently offer the best refuges for this plant.
White Fire-wheel
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Plant name: White Fire-wheel/White Blanket-flower/Winkler's Gaillardia (Gaillardia aestivalis var. winkleri)
Status: On Texas rare plant watch list
Family: Sunflower (Asteraceae)
Habitat: Hardin and Tyler counties in Texas
Threats: Due to the elimination of natural fire cycles in the East Texas Piney Woods, this perennial is under threat from competition by native woody and invasive plant species.
Blooms: February through September
Description: Reintroduction is currently underway in Big Thicket National Preserve in southwest Texas. This plant is an important nectar source.
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Houston Camphor Daisy
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Plant name: Houston Camphor Daisy (Rayjacksonia aurea)
Sponsored by: Lakewood Forest Garden Club; Crouch Environmental Services, Inc.; Suzzanne Chapman in honor of Blanca and William Othon; The Mercer Society, and Anita Tiller in memory of Michael H. Tiller; Aveda Cosmetics (2005)
Status: On Texas rare plant watch list
Family: Sunflower (Asteraceae)
Habitat: Harris and Galveston counties in Texas
Threats: Primary risk is urban sprawl
Blooms: October through November
Description: This rare annual occurs on local Texas prairies. R. aurea is a possible future candidate for drought-tolerant and deer-resistant gardening and is a nectar source for wildlife. Information: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Addicks and Barker Reservoirs in southwest Harris County and northeast Fort Bend County, The Katy Prairie Conservancy, Harris County, and Harris County Flood Control District properties currently are the best refuges for this plant.
Large-fruited Sand Verbena
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Plant name: Large-fruited Sand Verbena (Abronia macrocarpa)
Sponsored by: by The Quaker Hill Foundation (1990)
Status: Endangered
Family: Four O'clock (Nyctaginaceae)
Habitat: Freestone, Leon, and Robertson counties in east to central Texas
Threats: Development, oil drilling, and invasive plants
Blooms: March through May
Description: Long-lived, drought-tolerant, extremely fragrant at dusk perennial of sandy post-oak savannas. Pollinated by moths.
Pondberry
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Plant name: Pondberry (Lindera melissifolia)
Sponsored by: by Mrs. Alice C. Fick of Auburn, AL in memory of Kenneth Beighley, and The Edward K. Love Conservation Foundation of St. Louis (2001)
Status: Endangered
Family: Laurel (Lauraceae)
Habitat: Occurs in one county each in AR, MO, MS, SC, and NC and is extinct from FL, AL, LA, and GA
Threats: Loss of habitat
Blooms: March through April and September through October
Description: This colonial, deciduous, aromatic shrub grows in a variety of floodplain habitats in its range. Female plants produce fruits (drupes) that are bright red at maturity. Lindera genus is a host plant for Spicebush Swallowtail Butterfly.
Prairie Dawn
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Plant name: Prairie Dawn (Hymenoxys texana)
Sponsored by: by The Garden Club of Houston, Kingwood Garden Club, The Mercer Society, and The John Koros Memorial (2004)
Status: Endangered
Family: Sunflower (Asteraceae)
Habitat: Harris, Fort Bend, Trinity, and possibly La Salle counties in Texas
Threats: Development and competition from other plant species
Blooms: March through April
Description: Prairie Dawn is tolerant of extreme ranges in salinity and water. Note: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Addicks and Barker Reservoirs in southwest Harris County and northeast Fort Bend County, The Katy Prairie Conservancy, Harris County, and Harris County Flood Control District properties currently may offer the best refuge for this rare prairie annual.
Southern Lady’s-slipper Orchid
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Plant name: Southern Lady's-slipper Orchid (Cypripedium kentuckiense)
Sponsored by: by the Virginia Native Plant Society and Anne A. Rowley in honor of Jocelyn Sladen's birthday
Status: On Texas rare plant watch list
Family: Orchid (Orchidaceae)
Habitat: Cass, Nacogdoches, Harrison, Newton, Red River, Sabine, San Augustine, Shelby, and Tyler counties in Texas, and scattered throughout AL, AR, GA, KY, LA, MS, OK, TN, and VA
Threats: Certain kinds of logging, development, and collectors
Blooms: April through June
Description: Inhabits shady ravines in East Texas
Texas Trailing Phlox
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Plant name: Texas Trailing Phlox (Phlox nivalis ssp. Texensis)
Sponsored by: by The River Oaks Garden Club, The Mercer Society's "Mercer Memorial Trust Fund," David C. Berkshire, Carol Kobb in memory of Millie Guadino, Suzzanne Chapman in honor of her parents, Ann C. Baumer and Derek Chapman, and Anita Tiller in memory of her parents Ruth L. and Werner G. Tiller (2003)
Status: Endangered
Family: Phlox (Polemoniaceae)
Habitat: Occurs in the piney woods of Hardin, Polk, and Tyler counties in Texas
Threats: Due to elimination of natural fire cycles, this perennial is under threat from competition by native woody plants and invasive exotics.
Blooms: Spring
Description: A reintroduction is currently underway by the National Park Service for the Big Thicket National Preserve. Texas Trailing Phlox is a nectar source for wildlife and a possible future candidate for drought-tolerant gardening after it has been recovered.
White Bladderpod
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Plant name: White Bladderpod (Lesquerella pallida)
Sponsored by: by Dr. and Mrs. Sellers J. Thomas, Jr.; Mr. Frank A. Liddel, Jr.; Dr. and Mrs. Charles F. Squire of Houston, and US Fish & Wildlife Service (1999)
Status: Endangered
Family: Mustard (Brassicaceae)
Habitat: Inhabits the unique geological outcrop called the Weches formation in San Augustine County, Texas
Threats: Destruction from open pit mining of glauconite-"green rock"-for road surface material. Due to elimination of natural fire cycles, this annual is also under threat from competition by both native woody and invasive plants.
Blooms: January through May
Description: Brassicaceae are native host plants for butterflies including the Whites.
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