Naturalists Study Group Lecture - Rare Plants: Between a Rock and a Hard Place

Every year in North America, north of Mexico, between 30-60 new species of plants are described by scientists. There are unknown numbers of species that still haven't been documented according to Mark Darrach, geologist, botanist, rare plant conservationist and Research Associate at the Burke Museum. Mark will explain the relationship between rare plants and unusual geologic substrates of the western US. A sub-focus of Mark's research is climate change as it relates to vegetation. Studying unusual geologic settings such as ultramafic terranes, which have "unique chemistry that drives the evolution of plants strictly on those sorts of substrates" is one of his passions.  Ultramafic rocks, not common, can be found in the  North Cascades and along the west coast.  In addition to his field and herbarium work, Mark is helping update "Vascular Plants of the Pacific Northwest", a well-known technical guide for the floras of our region.