Radula complanata, taken with a compound microscope (Photo courtesy Russ Kleinman)The Gila Native Plant Society’s program on May 21, 2021, 7:00 pm, via Zoom, will feature a talk by Karen Blisard entitled “Introduction to Liverworts.” Few of us know much about these small non-vascular plants. Karen will offer a basic introduction to liverworts, a subject she has explored intensively in recent years. She will address liverwort morphology and discuss how they are different from mosses, how to look at them, and which ones occur in New Mexico.

Karen was born and raised in Lubbock, Texas, and graduated with a BS in Chemistry from Texas Tech University. She pursued graduate studies in medicine and pharmacology at Northwestern University in Chicago and Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland.

After pathology residency at the University of New Mexico and a brief stint in academic pathology at the University of Cincinnati, she and her husband Russ Kleinman moved to Silver City to practice pathology and surgery at Gila Regional Medical Center. She became interested in liverworts about 10 years ago, following Russ’s interest in mosses. She finds these delicate little plants to be fascinating. Her other interests include gem cutting and birding.

As always, the public is welcome. Those interested in joining in the Zoom presentation on Friday, May 21, at 7:00 pm, can send a request for a link to gilanative@gmail.com. 

The Gila Native Plant Society is committed to promoting education, research and appreciation of the native flora of the Southwest; encouraging the preservation of rare and endangered plant species; and supporting the use of suitable native plants in landscaping. For information on programs, publications and membership, please visit www.gilanps.org.