Location: Los Altos Library Orchard Room, 13 S. San Antonio Rd., Los Altos

Host: California Native Plant Society

Description: Serpentine soils are often described as harsh, toxic and nutrient-poor, yet they harbor extraordinary concentrations of rare and endemic plants found nowhere else on Earth. In this presentation, we will journey through the serpentine landscapes in California and beyond to discover how these unusual soils shape evolution, biodiversity and ecological specialization. Along the way, Nishi will share recent discoveries about serpentine plants and other organisms and explore the remarkable adaptations that allow them to flourish where few others can survive.

Registration: None

More details: Life on the Rocks: The Many Wonders of Serpentine Soils, a talk by Nishanta “Nishi” Rajakaruna, Ph.D.