The WVU community is invited to attend the Nature Connection Series at the WVU Core Arboretum’s Woodland Amphitheater today (June 28) at 6 p.m. Zach Fowler, director of the WVU Core Arboretum and service associate professor with the WVU Department of Biology, will present “There is no place like home? The Eastern Asian-Eastern North American floristic disjunction.”
Fowler’s talk will focus on the interesting fact that there are several plant species that are native only to Eastern North America with closest “relatives” that are native only to Eastern Asia. These closely related yet distantly located plants often look nearly identical, and parts of China, Russia and Japan strangely look just like West Virginia. He will also talk about some of these plants, discuss how this may have come to be and learn some of the implications of this floristic disjunction. The value of ginseng and mayapple in various parts of the world, invasive plant species with Asian names, and introduced pathogens and herbivores are all part of the story.
The talks are free and open to the public, and no registration is required. All the talks are outdoors, so dress for the weather. Talks will be canceled and rescheduled if the weather is inclement. Free parking is available at the Arboretum Parking Lot and the adjacent WVU Coliseum Parking Lot.