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Discovery of a New Species of Fossil Tree Helps Paint Picture of Ancient African Forest The 21.73 million year old Astropanax eogetem was part of a lush tropical paradise surrounding a volcanic crater lake. Recent research by scientists at the Botanical Research Institute of Texas (BRIT), Texas Tech University, and several other collaborating institutions…
Study finds Fort Worth Botanic Garden hosts greatest variety of bats in Tarrant and Parker Counties Acoustic surveying by Texas Master Naturalists used sound to identify five species of bats in the Garden. During the day, the Fort Worth Botanic Garden hums with activity from guests, gardeners, bees, butterflies, and birds. But at night…
The addition of the recently collected Texas sandmint (Rhododon ciliatus) specimen marks a milestone and calls attention to the importance of herbaria in conservation efforts. The Botanic Research Institute of Texas (BRIT), the research arm of the Fort Worth Botanic Garden, recently celebrated the addition of the 1.5 millionth plant specimen to the institution’s herbarium….
The XX International Botanical Congress was held Madrid, Spain from July 21 – 27, 2024. BRIT staff presented the following posters either physically or virtually: Download Download Download Download Download Herbarium Staff, Tiana Rehman and Ashley Bales, gave a recap on XX IBC for the Armchair Botanist Forum. The recording…
A xylarium, xylotheque, and xylothek are all words to describe a collection of wood (the Greek word for “wood” is xylon). In trees, the secondary xylem, the tissue that transports water from the roots to the stems and leaves, and secondary phloem, the food transporter tissue, create tissue patterns unique to each species. Looking back in time, humans have had an intimate relationship with…
Imagine standing quietly at a lookout in the hill country of central Texas as the sun begins to set. Oak and Juniper trees blanket the hills as far as the eye can see. Muted sounds of nature bring a soothing respite to an otherwise busy day. Your peacefulness is suddenly disturbed by loud noises. Slowly,…
Don’t ever believe you’ve got nature figured out. Case in point: Myxomycetes or plasmodial slime molds. Here are six fascinating facts from a recent article by BRIT Research Associate Harold Keller that will make you question what you think you know about life on this planet.
Every year, the research team adopts a few special plants as a focus for study and conservation, especially for the student interns who join the Garden every summer. This year, interns and their mentors are paying special attention to two plants, a wildflower native to Texas and a rare and remarkable native orchid, Meanwhile a third intern is investigating fungi growing in the Garden itself.
In the Spring of 2024, Taryn Mitchell and Sydney Lowenthal were selected for undergraduate student internships as part of the Goats In The Garden Project, supported and made possible by a grant from the North Texas Community Foundation. Intern mentors for Taryn Mitchell included Dr. Brooke Best (Director of Texas Plant Conservation), Sebastian Alarcon (Senior…
In the Summer of 2023, Jade Affleck, Kate Morton, Gabrielle Perez, and Gabriela Wolfe took part in a 10-week Conservation & Collections Summer Internship program, led by co-mentors Tiana Rehman (Director of the Philecology Herbarium) and Dr. Brooke Best (Director of Texas Plant Conservation). At the end of the summer, we asked them to select…
More ways to get involved with the Fort Worth Botanic Garden
Our Beauty Bus service will be temporarily suspended until 28 July 2025 while we construct the new Baker Martin Family Garden. Thank you for your understanding as we create this beautiful new space!
