September meeting: Evolution of the Milkwort genus Hebecarpa

Name: September meeting: Evolution of the Milkwort genus Hebecarpa
Start: 2025-09-06T10:00:00-06:00
End: 2025-09-06T12:00:00-06:00
Location: 3105 Grant Ave, El Paso, TX, United States, Texas 79930

Schedule

Sat Sep 06 2025 at 10:00 am to 12:00 pm

UTC-06:00

Location

3105 Grant Ave, El Paso, TX, United States, Texas 79930 | El Paso, TX

Please join us on Saturday, September 6th for the joint meeting of the Native Plant Society of New Mexico, El Paso chapter, and the El Paso Cactus and Rock club. Following the business meetings, UTEP Ph.D. candidate Christopher Munoz will present about his research into the genetics of the Milkwort genus Hebacarpa. Please see the description below.

The meeting is at the Garden Center at Memorial Park, 3105 Grant Ave. Doors open at 9:30 for the coffee social, with the meeting starting at 10 am. All are welcome to attend!
Advances in molecular methods have made it easier to acquire plant DNA from herbarium specimens with genetic material that has been heavily deteriorated over time. The largely Mexican genus Hebecarpa has evaded comprehensive genetic study, in part, because much of its species are only found in remote parts of Mexico. Preliminary genomic work by UTEP Ph.D. student Christopher Muñoz has revealed that hidden, or ‘cryptic’ species, not yet known to science, may be found within two described Hebecarpa species, H. obscura and H. barbeyana.