XVI International Botanical Congess

In conservation management of plants that provide special" or non-timber" forest products, the Forest Service recognizes the importance of these plants that are being sought out and used. In the Pacific Northwest we have identified over 150 such species ranging from invasive exotics to rare endemics with corresponding management concerns. Research addresses the need to develop a greater biological and ecological understanding of such species. Findings from three research topics are reported: Studies on Taxus brevifolia harvested for Taxol(r) focuses on cultivation, in vitro seed culture and preservation, and reproductive ecology. Over $14 million of raw moss is exported from the U.S. Our study results suggest effects of biomass harvest on bryophyte recovery, succession, and changes in community structure. Cypripedium fasciculatum is a western U.S. orchid of a genus valued the world over. We are studying its generic architecture, pollen ecology, and habitat. Results suggest differences among and within populations with implications for conservation strategies.