ARDMORE, Okla. — The Noble Research Institute Plant Image Gallery is designed to assist farmers and ranchers, botanists, ecologists, natural resource managers, educators and hobbyists identify plants commonly found in the Southern Great Plains.
The Plant Image Gallery includes numerous images of species in the following categories: grasses and grasslikes; forbs; and trees, shrubs and woody vines. Now, the gallery also includes aquatic vegetation.
Aquatic vegetation management is an important part of the ecosystem and for land managers who are interested in properly stewarding ponds, wetlands, creeks and rivers, and other bodies of water. The plants featured in the aquatics category are from the Noble Research Institute's newest pictorial guidebook, Common Aquatic Vegetation in the Southern Great Plains.
"We felt the need to address the common aquatic plants that most land managers encounter in this region," said Will Moseley, Noble Research Institute wildlife and fisheries consultant. "We wanted to provide easy access to information with high quality photos of each plant to help land managers properly identify and manage the plants."
Aquatic vegetation has both positive and negative attributes, and it is up to the land manager to determine what role the vegetation plays in relation to their management goals or objectives. If management is deemed necessary, choosing the appropriate method is essential.
"When most land managers see aquatic vegetation, they immediately think it needs to be controlled," Moseley said. "However, their goals will determine if they need to control it and what option they should use. There are many options available to manage aquatic vegetation. We want to provide information about the benefits, negatives and control options."
The Plant Image Gallery, an ongoing project, was updated with the new Noble Research Institute website. The gallery currently includes more than 600 species of vascular plants. While the plants included in the gallery are common to the Oklahoma and northern Texas, a significant number of these plants may also be found throughout the Southern Great Plains.
Photos
The Noble Research Institute Plant Image Gallery is designed to assist farmers and ranchers, botanists, ecologists, natural resource managers, educators and hobbyists identify plants commonly found in the Southern Great Plains. The Plant Image Gallery includes numerous images of species in the following categories: grasses and grasslikes; forbs; and trees, shrubs and woody vines. Now, the gallery also includes aquatic vegetation.
