On the finish of July, CREW Plant Scientists accomplished one other profitable assortment journey to Tennessee for the Cumberland Sandwort (Arenaria cumberlandensis). This journey wrapped up a collaborative undertaking with the Cincinnati Museum Heart, aimed toward learning the genetic variety of this distinctive plant inhabitants to make sure its ongoing well being and vitality.
For the reason that early 2000s, our staff has been devoted to propagating Cumberland Sandwort from current populations to help restoration efforts. Notably, in 2005, we utilized our ex situ take a look at tube assortment for a supplemental outplanting in Daniel Boone Nationwide Forest, contributing to the plant’s delisting from the Federal Listing of Endangered and Threatened Vegetation in 2021. Our work has demonstrated the effectiveness of utilizing tissue tradition vegetation in restoration, offering a proof-of-concept for his or her position in conservation.