What’s in a name? How Knowing the Name of a Plant Influences
Dr. Kathryn Theiss
Assistant Professor – Plant Biology
CSUDH Biology Department

Dr. Theiss is fascinated by the evolution of plant reproduction and how reproductive strategies mitigate or aggravate conservation issues, especially global climate change. She combines field, molecular, and greenhouse studies of both rare and common species to explore these topics. Her previous research focused on pollination in milkweeds (Asclepias) in the mid-western US, demographic modeling of a rare orchid (Erasanthe henrici) in Madagascar, and evaluating species boundaries in camas lilies (Camassia) in the Pacific Northwest. Her current research focuses on evaluating breeding system patterns in desert evening primroses (Oenothera).She will be discussing her research on some of the unique challenges at the interface of plant taxonomy and conservation.

She will be highlighting two cases:

1) How tracking an endangered orchid in Madagascar via CITES is affected by a change in name, and
2) How the definition of a species influences the conservation status of the rush lilies (Hastingsia; Asparagaceae).