Species & Habitat Conservation

For the Desert Botanical Garden, biodiversity is a touchstone for what we do. This word refers to all the forms of life on the planet, from the many different forms of plants and animals, the communities that species form, and even the genes that make each and every one of us what we are. We have committed ourselves to the conserving the biodiversity of the desert regions of North America, with an emphasis on the Southwestern United States.

Conserving Biodiversity at the Garden

Studying Conservation Genetics the Garden is one of a handful of gardens that has on-site molecular laboratories to conduct genetic research. Many of the molecular projects we work on involve conservation genetics, which is the study of genetic diversity in populations of rare species.

Why are we researching conservation genetics?

• Genetic diversity underlies all biological diversity and plays a vital role in the long-term persistence of species.
• Genetic diversity is recognized by the international Convention on Biological Diversity as one of the three main types of biodiversity that are to be priorities for conservation.
• Studying genetic diversity can help us make better conservation plans by shedding light on difficult aspects of species biology and by identifying conservation priorities.
• Conservation genetic tools help us better understand rare plan species. Tools include: 
  • DNA fingerprinting
  • Microsatellites
  • DNA
• By integrating this genetic information with other types of studies, we are:
  • Identifying new species from the Grand Canyon
  • Determining correct species identities for cacti, Phlox, and other desert species
  • Informing reintroduction efforts for endangered plant species.

Center for Plant Conservation

Selected as the Southwest regional garden in 1987 for the Center for Plant Conservation (CPC), the Garden currently maintains a collection of 52 species of rare southwestern plants that are part of the CPC National Collection of rare U.S. plant taxa, many of which are actively being researched. The Garden is a founding member of the CPC, a national consortium of 36 botanical gardens and arboreta dedicated to saving America's endangered plants.

Desert Botanical Garden’s Center for Plant Conservation species:

Abutilon parishii

Agave arizonica

Agave delameteri

Agave parviflora

Agave schottii var. treleasei

Amoreuxia gonzalezii

Amsonia grandiflora

Amsonia kearneyana

Amsonia tharpii

Ancistrocactus tobuschii

Astragalus hypoxylus

Astrophytum asterias

Bonamia ovalifolia

Castilleja elongata

Cirsium vinaceum

Coryphantha albicolumnaria (Escobaria albicolumnaria)

Coryphantha minima

Coryphantha ramillosa

Coryphantha recurvata

Coryphantha robbinsorum

Coryphantha scheeri var. robustispina

Coryphantha sneedii var. leei

Coryphantha sneedii var. sneedii

Cryptantha crassipes

Dalea tentaculoides

Echinocactus horizonthalonius var. nicholii

Echinocereus chisoensis var. chisoensis

Echinocereus reichenbachii var. albertii

Echinocereus reichenbachii var. fitchii

Echinocereus viridiflorus var. davisii

Echinomastus erectocentrus var. erectocentrus

Echinomastus erectocentrus var. acunensis

Epithelantha bokei

Eriogonum gypsophilum

Festuca ligulata

Fryxellia pygmaea

Genistidium dumosum

Graptopetalum bartramii

Helianthus niveus ssp. tephrodes

Kallstroemia perennans

Lilaeopsis schaffneriana var. recurva

Macroptilium supinum

Mammillaria thornberi

Peniocereus greggii var. transmontanus

Pholisma arenarium

Pholisma sonorae

Proboscidea sabulosa

Rhus kearneyi

Sclerocactus mariposensis

Spiranthes delitescens

Talinum humile

Tumamoca macdougalii