Download One of World`s Rarest Plants Can be Found in Birmingham

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: July 16, 2012
Contact:
Blake Ells
Public Relations Coordinator
Direct: 205.414.3960
Cell: 256.654.8585
[email protected]
Andrew Krebbs
Director of Marketing & Membership
Direct: 205.414.3959
Cell: 205.541.6098
[email protected]
One of World’s Rarest Plants Can be Found in Birmingham
Efforts to Save Tutwiler’s Spleenwort Continue at The Gardens
BIRMINGHAM, AL – Birmingham Botanical Gardens continues to work in conjunction with the Alabama Plant
Conservation Alliance (APCA) to increase numbers of Tutwiler’s spleenwort, a fern so rare that the Hale County
location of its discovery, less than five acres of land, holds the only known population of its kind in the world. Here the
plant grows on a distinctive type of conglomerate rock called pudding stone; at last count, just 180 plants were found. It
is one of 24 plants endemic to the state of Alabama, and conservation efforts are underway in the greenhouses at The
Gardens.
Botanically speaking, the plant is known as Asplenium tutwilerae. It is named for Julia Strudwick Tutwiler, an amateur
naturalist that discovered the fern in the 19th century. It was initially believed to be a sterile hybrid of ebony spleenwort
and walking fern, but a recent discovery using newly-developed technology determined that it is a fertile hybrid that
evolved through a process known as reticulate evolution.
Through the efforts of naturalists Richard and Nancy Cobb, this fern has been closely monitored for the last several
years in its natural habitat. Field counts there have indicated that the population is not stable. Recently, spores were
collected and germinated by botanist Wayne Barger of Forever Wild and several tiny ferns were given to Birmingham
Botanical Gardens. Now, these thrive in The Gardens’ greenhouse and are being prepared for planting outside. Kaul
Wildflower Garden Curator John Manion leads the APCA task force monitoring the fern’s population and exploring the
purchase of the property where it naturally grows. In addition to protecting that environment, the group hopes to return
specimens to the site and increase the population.
About Birmingham Botanical Gardens
Birmingham Botanical Gardens is Alabama's largest living museum with more than 12,000 different plants in its living
collections. The Gardens' 67.5 acres contains more than 25 unique gardens, 30+ works of original outdoor sculpture and
miles of serene paths. The Gardens features the largest public horticulture library in the U.S., conservatories, a
wildflower garden, two rose gardens, the Southern Living garden, and Japanese Gardens with a traditionally crafted tea
house. Education programs run year round and more than 10,000 school children enjoy free science-curriculum based
field trips annually. The Gardens is open daily, offering free admission to more than 350,000 yearly visitors.
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