Allison Autry: Introduction to the Native Orchids of California and Nevada

Allison Autry, PhD candidate, studies orchids that grow on the eastern slopes of the Sierra Nevada and riparian enclaves on the Mojave Desert. Her presentation is titled, “An Introduction to the Native Orchids of California and Nevada, with a special focus on the Southeastern Sierra and the Mojave Desert.” Did you know that orchids grow in the eastern Sierra Nevada and the Mojave Desert?

The Maturango Museum is pleased to host PhD Candidate Allison Autry, who will give a presentation on Native Orchids of California and Nevada. Nearly 40 species of orchids are found across California in habitats including the eastern slopes of the Sierra Nevada and the riparian enclaves of the Mojave Desert. This talk will cover topics including orchid diversity in California, historical efforts to document orchid diversity in the state, and contemporary threats to native orchids. The stories of a handful of noteworthy native orchid species, including the Ash Meadows Ladies’ Tresses, will be highlighted during the presentation.

Allison Autry is a PhD Candidate conducting rare orchid conservation and genetics research at California Botanic Garden in Claremont, CA. She also serves as a Director of the Native Orchid Conference. Allison earned a B.S. degree in plant science and environmental science from the University of Delaware and has previously worked as a research assistant at Longwood Gardens. She is currently conducting fieldwork in Ash Meadows, Nevada, Railroad Valley, Nevada, and eastern California in support of her dissertation research on Spiranthes infernalis.