SAVE PLANTS

A Career Rooted in Purpose

In his presentation, CEO Dr. Wes Knapp shared a personal and powerful narrative tracing his path from early field botanist to national conservation leader. His journey began in Maryland’s Eastern Shore, where he was tasked with identifying rare plant habitats—a role that shaped his passion for protecting imperiled species and deepened his respect for the complexity of botanical systems.

A formative experience came with Nutall’s mugwort (Micranthemum micranthemoides)—the only extinct plant in the Maryland flora. Though small and cryptic, the species had an outsized influence on Knapp’s career. “It’s the opposite of charismatic megafauna,” he joked. “But it rooted my interest in extinction and preventing it.”

Knapp spoke passionately about the role of taxonomy as the foundation for conservation, especially for rare and overlooked species. “You can’t conserve what you can’t correctly identify,” he noted, highlighting a field experience where he and a colleague rediscovered a distinct Juncus species that had been taxonomically lumped under a more common one. This story illustrated how taxonomic clarity can lead to better protection for species teetering on the edge of recognition—and survival.

Importantly, Knapp also called attention to the convergence of ex situ and in situ conservation work, noting that long-term plant protection requires both strategies to work in tandem. Fieldwork, research, seed banking, and public policy are not isolated endeavors, he explained—they are parts of a larger, interdependent system. “The best conservation outcomes come when these efforts inform and strengthen each other,” he emphasized.

His talk closed with a reflection on the human side of conservation: the mentors who guided him, the colleagues who challenged him, and the CPC network that has long inspired him. “We’re not just conserving species,” he said. “We’re conserving knowledge, relationships, and hope for the future.”

Network Growth & Strategic Expansion

Director of Communications and Public Programs Shannon Fowler shared impressive growth statistics for the CPC Network of Conservation Partners. From just 14 institutions at its founding in 1984, CPC now includes 82 partners spanning 30 U.S. states and territories as well as international partners based in Canada, the U.K., and Australia.

Since the last National Meeting in May 2024, CPC has welcomed three new partners:

• Santa Fe Botanical Garden

• University of Florida’s Department of Environmental Horticulture

• Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens

This expansion is part of a deliberate strategy to fill geographic gaps (such as the Intermountain West) and pursue mission-aligned partnerships that strengthen conservation impact.

Listening and Learning from the CPC Network

To support this growth and keep communication flowing, CPC launched a new annual survey to gather input from both institutional and individual partners. “The goal,” Fowler explained, “is to implement a feedback mechanism where we can hear about our partners’ needs and priorities—and evolve our resources accordingly.” Survey respondents will help shape CPC’s programming, identify collaboration opportunities, and guide future improvements.

Tools for Action: National Collection Database Updates

Conservation Program Manager Tina Stanley shared exciting updates to CPC’s data platforms, with a focus on enhancing accessibility, integration, and partner collaboration. The National Collection database—a dynamic resource that tracks approximately 5,000 rare North American plant species, primarily G1-Critically Imperiled and G2-Imperiled plants with some regionally rare subspecies of high conservation importance—continues to grow in both content and functionality. Currently, around 2,700 species are represented in conservation collections across the CPC network. Each species’ Plant Profile on SavePlants.org features taxonomy, rarity ranks, and up-to-date conservation actions submitted by partners.

To improve user experience, CPC has launched a new table view interface for partners, streamlining the process for viewing and editing plant profiles and conservation updates.

Additional updates on the horizon include:

• Bulk conservation updates: Soon, partners will be able to submit conservation updates in bulk—a particularly helpful feature for institutions participating in CPC-supported grant programs where updates are required deliverables.

• Integration with the CPC Reintroduction Database: Projects linked to the public-facing Reintroduction Registry already display on plant profiles, but upcoming improvements will allow these linked projects to automatically generate a conservation update. This ensures conservation actions like “Reintroduction” are accurately and consistently reflected in species records.

• Horticultural protocol expansion: Further ahead, CPC is working to integrate detailed germination, propagation, and seed bulking protocols directly into plant profiles. This work is supported by the CPC–Department of the Interior Intermountain West Rare Plant Seed Collection grant, which funds both protocol development and a new database system that will connect seamlessly with National Collection records.

Together, these tools are designed to support the CPC network in documenting and sharing conservation actions—ensuring the data is not only preserved, but put to work in saving plants from extinction.

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From personal stories to programmatic milestones, these presentations reflected CPC’s enduring mission—and its growing community. With strong leadership, strategic partnerships, and the passion of its members, CPC continues to advance the science—and the story—of plant conservation in North America and beyond.

Dr. Miller began by reminding the audience that every crop we depend on today—corn, wheat, rice—originated from wild plants. Using the example of Zea mays ssp. parviglumis, the wild ancestor of modern corn from central Mexico, she illustrated how early farmers selected, cultivated, and domesticated wild plants to meet human needs. But, she argued, domestication is not a thing of the past. “This is a process that is still underway,” she said, “and plant conservation will continue to play an increasingly important role moving forward.”

She framed her talk around a timeline of agricultural revolutions—from the dawn of farming 10,000 years ago to today’s challenges of balancing food security with environmental sustainability. Her message was clear: to create resilient, nutritious, and sustainable food systems, we must continue to explore the untapped potential of wild and underutilized plant species.

The work of Dr. Miller’s lab focuses on the genetics and ecology of perennial plants—species that offer benefits such as deeper roots, less soil erosion, and greater carbon storage. Her research emphasizes how these long-lived species can complement or even replace some annual crops, especially as climate pressures mount.

Dr. Miller also spoke to the importance of collaboration between conservationists, plant scientists, and agriculturalists. “Connecting people with plants again is one of the most important messages right now,” she noted. “We need agricultural systems that both feed people and meet the needs of the planet.”

Her keynote left attendees inspired and energized—reinforcing the critical role that plant conservation plays not just in preserving biodiversity, but in shaping a more sustainable and food-secure future.

Conservation on Display: Explore CPC National Collection Species at the Missouri Botanical Garden

In celebration of the 2025 CPC National Meeting, Missouri Botanical Garden (MOBOT) staff created a unique and engaging activity for conference-goers—the CPC Rare Plant Scavenger Hunt. Designed to complement the event, this interactive experience also serves as an ongoing public education initiative, showcasing MOBOT’s dedication to rare plant conservation.

The scavenger hunt highlights MOBOT-stewarded rare plant species from the CPC National Collection that are on display throughout the Garden’s living collections. Using a digital map, visitors—whether on-site in St. Louis or exploring from afar—can click on garden locations to learn about rare species, view photos and accession details, and access CPC National Collection plant profiles.

This tool is more than just a fun way to engage with the Garden’s landscapes. It’s a window into the essential conservation work being done behind the scenes. MOBOT’s team cares for an extensive range of rare species in seed banks, greenhouses, a hardy plant nursery, and a micropropagation lab. The plants featured on the scavenger hunt map include those currently under study, surplus from research projects, cultivated varieties, and members of collaborative meta-collections with other institutions.

By making these rare species more visible to the public, MOBOT reinforces the critical role that botanical gardens play in plant conservation—preserving biodiversity, advancing research, and inspiring stewardship through education.

Explore the CPC Rare Plant Scavenger Hunt!

Ryan Brooks, University of Cincinnati
Project: “Assessing the Epigenetic Fidelity of Cryopreserved Oak Tissues”

This project aims to better understand the epigenetic impacts cryopreservation and tissue culture have on tissues of endangered oak species. Samples from all study species will be initiated into both tissue culture and somatic embryogenesis (which are necessary preparatory steps for cryopreservation) providing the opportunity for a direct comparison of mutation rates between the two procedures. Whole genome bisulfite sequencing will be used on samples taken at multiple points in the processes in order to determine which regions of the epigenome are changing and the severity of these changes. These results will be used to inform future diversity banking efforts and to ensure the fidelity of tissues banked in the CREW CryoBioBank.

Adam Herdman, University of Florida
Project: “Regional Scale Population Genetics of the Endangered Ghost Orchid (Dendrophylax lindenii): Sequencing of wild Populations Across Southwest Florida “

Conservation of species in decline is often a rush to gather as much information as possible before total extirpation from historic ranges. Data gathered in the remnant populations can be critical to future management and restoration of the species. Though submitted for further protection under the Endangered Species Act, many gaps in our understanding of the ghost orchid still exist. One such gap includes the population genetics of the species and the relatedness between the highly fragmented and remote populations. Successful reproduction has not been observed within reintroduced ghost orchid populations, despite annual monitoring, suggesting inbreeding may be a factor. In this study, we will sample 138 ghost orchid roots from around the Southwest Florida region. We will sample two robust populations for internal genetic similarity, one reintroduced population, and five other more remote sites of varying sizes and distances. Pairing this information with existing demographic data will help to characterize the past and present status of the populations.

Sarah Tash, Auburn University
Project: “Assessing the Influence of Drought Duration on Seed Germination of the Endangered Spider Shoal Lily (Hymenocallis coronaria): A Controlled Study”

This project will focus on the effect of drought on seed germination and root establishment of the endemic endangered spider shoal lily (Hymenocallis coronaria). This will be conducted through a controlled study, utilizing elevation in a replicated riverbed environment to test if new seedling exposure to drought during germination alters root biomass and establishment for H. coronaria. We hypothesize that new seeds exposed to longer periods of drought due to higher elevation within the riverbed will produce root systems of less biomass and length then seeds exposed to normal water levels. Seeds of lower root biomass and length may be less likely to find establishment within their habitats, making them at risk for becoming displaced to deeper sections of rivers, where conditions are detrimental to survival. This study will provide critical information for timing and site selection of restoration efforts across the entire habitat of the species.

Niall Whalen, Florida State University
Project: “Investigating Silica Depositional Capacity in the Critically Endangered Florida Torreya (Torreya taxifolia) and its Relevance for Plant Health”

The Florida Torreya (Torreya taxifolia) is one of the most endangered trees in the world, thought to be principally threatened by an infectious species of fungus. A potential treatment lies with phytoliths, microscopic deposits of silica produced by plants. When they form between cells, phytoliths inhibit disease progression by acting as barriers to pathogens. Florida Torreya in the wild produce few phytoliths—if they were to produce more, the tree might successfully fight off its devastating fungal infections. In partnership with the Atlanta Botanical Garden, this project examines phytolith depositional capacity in the Florida Torreya by growing them in soils with added silicon; measuring phytolith abundance after growth will reveal whether low-phytolith accumulation in Florida Torreya is due to a physiological tendency to exclude silicon or simply a lack of bioavailable silicon in its environment—insights with great relevance in assessing the potential of silicon as a promising therapeutic avenue to protect and restore fungally-infected Florida Torreya.

As Seen on RPA: Dormant Buds for Long-term Preservation

In Module VI of CPC’s Applied Plant Conservation Course (APCC), you’ll find a comprehensive overview on planning a conservation seed collection, including field collection, cleaning & drying seeds, storage conditions and equipment, and germination trials. You’ll learn why we conduct germination tests for seed collections, how to set up a long-term testing schedule, and how to determine the sample size for these tests.

In this Rare Plant Academy case study video on Dormant Buds, you’ll learn about temperate woody plants naturally forming buds that enter a state of dormancy in the winter months. For genebanks preserving clonal material, it is advantageous to cryopreserve tissue in this state. Learn more about the benefits and limitations to this approach, and how this process is used to preserve the genetic material of cherry trees and similar plants at the USDA National Laboratory for Genetic Resources Preservation.