RARE II: Imperiled Plants of Colorado, is the second exhibit of the Rocky Mountain Society of Botanical Artists to come to the Museum at the Center of Southwest Studies at Fort Lewis College. The forty botanical illustrations were selected from the hundred and twenty one globally imperiled plants on the Colorado Master Plant List developed by the Colorado Natural Heritage Program. The exhibit is designed to introduce the public to the most imperiled plants in Colorado and educate them on the importance of protecting them. The illustrations are scientifically accurate and exquisitely detailed.
Colorado supports a rich and diverse native flora that ranges from shortgrass prairie to alpine tundra. Native plants are key components of the state’s natural heritage and vital to ecosystem functions that result in a healthy, productive and sustainable environment. A small percentage of Colorado’s native plants are considered quite rare, some endemic only to our state. As Colorado’s population and associated infrastructure continues to grow, these vulnerable species are increasingly at risk.
The San Juan Mountains Association is a co-sponsor of the exhibit. More information about their commitment to education and stewardship of southwest Colorado’s public lands can be found at www.sjma.org