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Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?

A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.

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Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

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Please forgive us, but Mr. Smarty Plants has been overwhelmed by a flood of mail and must take a break for awhile to catch up. We hope to be accepting new questions again soon. Thank you!

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Monday - January 25, 2010

From: Austin, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Wildflower Center
Title: Does the Wildflower Center sell Endangered Plant Species?
Answered by: Joe Marcus

QUESTION:

Do you guy's sell endangered plants in Austin? Such as the Basin Bellflower, or the Texabama Croton?

ANSWER:

No.  It is illegal to commerce in any plant species listed as Threatened or Endangered by the State of Texas or by the Federal government.  The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, as you would expect, carefully follows the law regarding Threatened and Endangered species.

However, neither Campanula reverchonii (basin bellflower) nor Croton alabamensis var. texensis (Texabama croton) - both rare, endemic species - are included on the Texas nor the US lists of Endangered and Threatened plants.  Nevertheless, we currently sell neither of these two species at our plant sales.

 

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