During the Spring of 2013, a team of four Master Naturalist interns — Roger Allen, Randy Holcomb, Chris Kneupper, and Dick Schaffhausen — conducted a species survey at the Betty Brown Unit. This project was part of their initial training as Master Naturalists. Marty Cornell and Kirby Rapstein serves as advisers to the team. Dave Brandes served as Field Projects Coordinator.
The team stated its objectives as follows:
To begin a flora and fauna list for the Betty Brown Unit. After four group visits and many individual visits, the current inventory lists ten trees, 16 understory plants, 16 vines, 42 non-woody plants, ten grass species, and three miscellaneous plants. Animal species included two mammals, 28 birds, one reptile, one crustacean, one mollusk and 15 butterfly species.
Secondary objectives include identification of unique features which would help draw visitors to the unit, and to update of the existing Betty Brown page on the Friends of Brazoria Wildlife Refuges website.
As part of their study of the Betty Brown unit, the team contacted the previous owner of the property, Bob Muhm. Muhm provided much valuable information about the history of the property including a plat map of the property.
Randy Holcomb, Kirby Rapstein, Dick Schaffhausen, Bob Muhm, Chris Kneupper, Roger Allen |
Bob Muhm shows off his map of the property. |
The Betty Brown Unit is located on County Road 819B (Up River Road) and fronts on the San Bernard River. A slough runs through the unit, and empties into a pond at the eastern end of the property. A drainage ditch connects the slough to the river. A hiking trail connects the riverfront with a parking lot on county Road 819B.
The following map, created by team member Roger Allen, shows these features:
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| Map:Roger Allen |
Annotated.jpg |
A more detailed description of the Betty Brown Unit may be found on the Betty Brown page of the Friends of Brazoria Wildlife Refuges website.
A SAMPLING OF SPECIES
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| Photo: Chris Kneupper |
images/BF1-LittleWoodSatyr.jpg |
Little Wood Satyr Megisto cymela
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| Photo: Chris Kneupper |
images/BF1-PearlCrescent.jpg |
Pearl Crescent Phyciodes tharos
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| Photo: Chris Kneupper |
images/BF1-PhaonCrescent.jpg |
Phaon Crescent Phyciodes phaon
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.jpg )
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| Photo: Christiane Kneupper |
images/BF1-TigerSwallowtail(male).jpg |
Tiger Swallowtail Papilio glaucus
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| Photo: Chris Kneupper |
images/BF1-TropicalCheckeredSkipper.jpg |
Tropical Checkered Skipper Pyrgus oileus
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| Photo: Chris Kneupper |
images/BF1-DuskyBlueHairstreak+friend.jpg |
Dusky Blue Hairstreak Calycopis isobeon
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| Photo: Richard Schaffhausen |
images/UT-03 22 13_0778 _DownyHaw.JPG |
Downy Hawthorn Crataegus mollis
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| Photo: Chris Kneupper |
images/UT-Amorph-6845.jpg |
Indigo Bush Amorpha fruticosa
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| Photo: Chris Kneupper |
images/UT-GrnHaw3.JPG |
Green Hawthorn Crataegus viridis
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| Photo: Christiane Kneupper |
images/UT-hop4.JPG |
Common Hop-tree Ptelea trifoliata
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| Photo: Christiane Kneupper |
images/UT-IMG_6007-RBV.JPG |
Rusty Blackhaw Viburnum Viburnum rufidulum
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| Photo: Christiane Kneupper |
images/UT-Mx_Plum.JPG |
Mexican Plum Prunus mexicana
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| Photo: Chris Kneupper |
images/WF-IMG_6233-Meadow-rue.JPG |
Purple Meadow-rue Thalictrum dasycarpum
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| Photo: Chris Kneupper |
images/WF-Penstemon_tenuis_1.jpg |
Gulf Coast Penstemon Penstemon tenuis
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| Photo: Richard Schaffhausen |
images/WF-RedSage.JPG |
Tropical Sage Salvia coccinea
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| Photo: Chris Kneupper |
images/WF-Skullcap_1.jpg |
Heartleaf skullcap Scutellaria ovata ssp. bracteata
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| Photo: Chris Kneupper |
images/WF-TxUmbWort1.JPG |
Texas Umbrellawort Tauschia texana
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SPECIES LIST
The following list was compiled by Chris Kneupper based on the collective research of all team
members. Please send additions or corrections to Chris at kneupper@brazoriainet.com.
[NN] = Non-native
| COMMON NAME |
BINOMIAL
NAME |
FURTHER
INFORMATION |
|
Trees
|
| Live Oak |
Quercus virginiana |
UT-Austin |
| Water Oak |
Quercus nigra |
UT-Austin |
| Shumard Red Oak |
Quercus shumardii |
UT-Austin |
| Cedar Elm |
Ulmus crassifolia |
UT-Austin |
| Bois d' Arc |
Maclura pomifera |
UT-Austin |
| Hackberry |
Celtis laevigata |
UT-Austin |
| Green Ash |
Fraxinus pennsylvanica |
UT-Austin |
| Texas Honeylocust |
Gleditsia texana |
TAMU |
| Black Willow |
Salix nigra |
UT-Austin |
| Pecan |
Carya illinoensis |
UT-Austin |
|
Understory
|
| Yaupon Holly |
Ilex vomitoria |
UT-Austin |
| Possum-haw Holly |
Ilex decidua |
UT-Austin |
| Mexican Plum |
Prunus mexicana |
UT-Austin |
| Cherry Laurel |
Prunus caroliniana |
UT-Austin |
| Palmetto |
Sabal minor |
UT-Austin |
| Chinese Privet [NN] |
Ligustrum sinese |
Wikipedia |
| Waxleaf Ligustrum [NN] |
Ligustrum lucidum |
Wikipedia |
| Gum Bumelia |
Sideroxylon lanuginosa |
UT-Austin |
| Chinese Tallow-tree [NN] |
Sapium sebiferum |
Wikipedia |
| Rusty Blackhaw Viburnum |
Viburnum rufidulum |
UT-Austin |
| Green Hawthorn |
Crataegus viridis |
UT-Austin |
| Downy Hawthorn |
Crataegus mollis |
UT-Austin |
| Common Hop-tree |
Ptelea trifoliata |
UT-Austin |
| Indigo Bush |
Amorpha fruticosa |
UT-Austin |
| Rough-leaf Dogwood |
Cornus drummondii |
UT-Austin |
| Eastern Baccharis |
Baccharis halimifolia |
UT-Austin |
| Western Soapberry |
Sapindus saponaria |
UT-Austin |
|
Vines
|
| Common Greenbrier |
Smilax rotundifolia |
UT-Austin |
| Saw Greenbrier |
Smilax bona-nox |
UT-Austin |
| Bristly Greenbrier |
Smilax tamnoides |
UT-Austin |
| Southern Dewberry |
Rubus trivialis |
UT-Austin |
| Poison Ivy |
Toxicodendron radicans |
UT-Austin |
| Trumpet Creeper |
Campsis radicans |
UT-Austin |
| Grape Vine |
Vitis spp. |
|
| Coral Honeysuckle |
Lonicera sempervirens |
UT-Austin |
| Japanese Honeysuckle [NN] |
Lonicera japonica |
Wikipedia |
| Carolina Snailseed-vine |
Cocculus carolinus |
UT-Austin |
| Rattan-vine |
Berchemia scandens |
UT-Austin |
| Virginia Creeper |
Parthenocissus quinquefolia |
UT-Austin |
| Yellow Passionflower |
Passiflora lutea |
UT-Austin |
| Swamp Leatherflower |
Clematis crispa |
UT-Austin |
| Purple Leather-flower |
Clematis pitcheri |
UT-Austin |
| Hairypod Cowpea |
Vigna luteola |
UT-Austin |
|
Non-woody Perennials/Annuals
|
| Turk's Cap |
Malvaviscus drummondii |
UT-Austin |
| Coralberry |
Symphoricarpos orbiculatus |
UT-Austin |
| Frostweed |
Verbesina virginica |
UT-Austin |
| Crow Poison |
Nothoscordum bivalve |
UT-Austin |
| Wolfweed |
Leucosyris spinosa |
UT-Austin |
| Curly Dock [NN] |
Rumex crispus |
Wikipedia |
| Tickseed [NN] |
Torilis arvensis |
Williamson |
| Rough-seed Buttercup [NN] |
Ranunculus muricatus |
USDA |
| Carolina Buttercup |
Ranunculus carolinianus |
UT-Austin |
| Purple Meadow-rue |
Thalictrum dasycarpum |
UT-Austin |
| Carolina Ponysfoot |
Dichondra carolinensis |
UT-Austin |
| Yellow Wood-sorrel |
Oxalis dillenii |
UT-Austin |
| Violet Wood-sorrel |
Oxalis violacea |
UT-Austin |
| Giant Ragweed |
Ambrosia trifida |
UT-Austin |
| Carolina Geranium |
Geranium carolinianum |
UT-Austin |
| Catchweed Bedstraw |
Galium aparine |
UT-Austin |
| Tall Goldenrod |
Solidago canadensis |
UT-Austin |
| Yellow Thistle |
Cirsium horridulum |
UT-Austin |
| Texas Umbrellawort |
Tauschia texana |
UT-Austin |
| Yellow Sweet Clover [NN] |
Melilotus officinalis |
Wikipedia |
| Bur Clover [NN] |
Medicago polymorpha |
Wikipedia |
| White Dutch Clover [NN] |
Trifolium repens |
Wikipedia |
| Pink Evening Primrose |
Oenothera speciosa |
UT-Austin |
| Swamp Milkweed |
Asclepias perrennis |
UT-Austin |
| Deer Pea Vetch |
Vicia ludoviciana |
UT-Austin |
| Gulf Coast Penstemon |
Penstemon tenuis |
UT-Austin |
| Browne's Savory |
Clinopodium brownei |
UT-Austin |
| Wild Onion |
Allium canadense |
UT-Austin |
| Alligator Weed [NN] |
Alternanthera philoxeroides |
Wikipedia |
| Texas Vervain |
Verbena halei |
UT-Austin |
| Black Snakeroot |
Sanicula canadensis |
UT-Austin |
| Scarlet Pimpernel [NN] |
Anagallis arvensis |
Wikipedia |
| Poorman's Weatherglass [NN] |
Anagallis foemina |
Wikipedia |
| Tropical Sage |
Salvia coccinea |
UT-Austin |
| Woodland Lettuce |
Lactuca floridana |
UT-Austin |
| Common Sow Thistle [NN] |
Sonchus oleraceus |
Wikipedia |
| Water Hyssop |
Bacopa monnieri |
UT-Austin |
| Spring Forget-me-not |
Myosotis macrosperma |
UT-Austin |
| Heartleaf skullcap |
Scutellaria ovata ssp. bracteata |
UT-Austin |
| Sensitive Briar |
Mimosa roemeriana |
UT-Austin |
| Redseed Plantain |
Plantago rhodosperma |
UT-Austin |
| Peppergrass |
Lepidium virginicum |
UT-Austin |
| Blue-eyed Grass |
Sisyrinchium sagittiferum |
UT-Austin |
| Wild Chervil |
Chaerophyllum tainturieri |
UT-Austin |
| American Wild Carrot |
Daucus pusillus |
UT-Austin |
|
Grasses
|
| Inland Sea Oats |
Chasmanthium latifolium |
UT-Austin |
| Common Reed |
Phragmites australis |
UT-Austin |
| Perennial Wild Rye [NN] |
Lolium perrenne |
Wikipedia |
| Johnsongrass [NN] |
Sorghum halepense |
Wikipedia |
| St. Augustinegrass |
Stenotaphrum secundatum |
Wikipedia |
| Carpetgrass |
Axonopus affinis |
USDA |
| Broadleaf Signalgrass |
Brachiaria platyphylla |
USDA |
| Basketgrass |
Oplismenus hirtellus |
USDA |
| Oniongrass |
Melica bulbosa |
USDA |
| Cherokee sedge |
Carex cherokeensis |
UT-Austin |
| Rescuegrass [NN] |
Bromus uniloides |
USDA |
| Tall fescue [NN] |
Festuca arundinacea |
USDA |
|
Miscellaneous
|
| Spanish Moss |
Tillandsia usneoides |
UT-Austin |
| Mistletoe |
Phoradendron tomentosum |
UT-Austin |
| Resurrection Fern |
Pleopeltis polypodioides |
UT-Austin |
|
Animals
|
| Nine-banded Armadillo |
Dasypus novemcinctus |
| White-tailed Deer |
Odocoileus virginianus |
| Green Anole |
Anolis carolinensis |
| Freshwater Mussel |
Rangia cuneata |
| Crawfish |
unknown species |
| Northern Cardinal |
Cardinalis cardinalis |
| Carolina Chickadee |
Parus carolinensis |
| Turkey Vulture |
Cathartes aura |
| Black Vulture |
Coragyps atratus |
| Red Shouldered Hawk |
Buteo lineatus |
| Osprey |
Pandion haliaetus |
| Black-bellied Whistling-Duck |
Dendrocygna autumnalis |
| Laughing Gull |
Larus atricilla |
| Forster's Tern |
Sterna forsteri |
| Great Egret |
Casmerodius albus |
| Snowy Egret |
Egretta thula |
| Eurasion Collared Dove [NN] |
Streptopelia decaocto |
| Mourning Dove |
Zenaida macroura |
| Red-bellied Woodpecker |
Melanerpes carolinus |
| Pileated Woodpecker |
Dryocopus pileatus |
| White-eyed Vireo |
Vireo griseus |
| Northern Parula |
Parula americana |
| American Crow |
Corvus brachyrhynchos |
| Tree Swallow |
Tachycineta bicolor |
| Tufted Titmouse |
Parus bicolor |
| Carolina Wren |
Thryothorus ludovicianus |
| Ruby-crowned Kinglet |
Regulus calendula |
| Hermit Thrush |
Catharus guttatus |
| European Starling [NN] |
Sturnus vulgaris |
| Cedar Waxwing |
Bombycilla cedrorum |
| Orange-crowned Warbler |
Vermivora ruficapilla |
| Yellow-rumped Warbler |
Dendroica coronata |
| Red-winged Blackbird |
Agelaius phoeniceus |
| Red Imported Fire Ant [NN] |
Solenopsis invicta |
| Little Sulphur |
Eurema lisa |
| Orange Sulfur |
Colias eurytheme |
| Cloudless Sulphur |
Phoebis sennae |
| Red-banded Hairstreak |
Calycopis cecrops |
| Dusky-Blue Hairstreak |
Calycopis isobeon |
| Black Swallowtail |
Papilio polyxenes |
| Tiger Swallowtail |
Papilio glaucus |
| White-striped Longtail |
Chioides catillus |
| Falcate Orangetip |
Paramidea midea |
| Pearl Crescent |
Phyciodes tharos |
| Phaon Crescent |
Phyciodes phaon |
| Common Checkered Skipper |
Pyrgus communis |
| Tropical Checkered Skipper |
Pyrgus oileus |
| Clouded Skipper |
Lerema accius |
| Little Wood Satyr |
Megisto cymela |
Last update 09 June 2013 0631 CST
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