Updates for the Conservation of Hymenoxys texana (Asteraceae) and Hibiscus dasycalyx (Malvaceae) by Mercer Botanic Gardens

Mercer Botanic Gardens, a Harris County botanical gardens park facility, became a participating institution for the Center for Plant Conservation (CPC) in 1989. Mercer has worked with the ex situ conservation of the federally listed Texas endemic, Texas prairie dawn, Hymenoxys texana, Asteraceae (G2) and rare endemic saline prairie associates since 1986. Mercer’s in situ conservation efforts expanded when the botanic garden became primary advisor (2005) and manager (2013) for naturally occurring local populations of H. texana and rare associates at the Harris County Prairie Dawn Preserve. In 1992, Mercer began ex situ conservation efforts for Neches River rose-mallow, Hibiscus dasycalyx, a rare (G1) East Texas endemic wetland shrub. H. dasycalyx reached federal candidate status in 1996 and became listed as a threatened species in 2013. An update of conservation efforts by Mercer for H. texana and H. dasycalyx will be presented.