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<h1><b>Pollinator Value of NRCS Plant Releases used in Conservation
Plantings</b></h1>
<img src="cid:7.1.0.9.0.20100901111403.01df2ca0@xerces.org.0" width=579 height=172 alt="native forbs/wildflowers and legumes are useful in creating hab">
</b></h1><br><br>
<h3><b>A resource guide on the characteristics of 80 conservation
forbs/wildflowers and legumes useful for improving pollinator
habitat</b></h3>The Plant Materials Program of the USDA-Natural Resources
Conservation Service has been involved in the collection, evaluation,
selection and increase of conservation plants for over 75 years. The
Plant Materials Centers (PMC), and their conservation partners, have
selected and made available to the public over 600 grasses, forbs,
legumes and trees to address conservation issues such as protecting our
soils, increasing the amount and quality of livestock forage, ensuring
clean water, and improving wildlife habitat. <br><br>
The information in the link <br><br>
(<a href="http://plant-materials.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/pollinator_Value.html">
http://plant-materials.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/pollinator_Value.html</a>)
<br><br>
includes native forbs/wildflowers and legumes selected by the Plant
Materials Program that are useful in creating habitat for butterflies,
bees, hummingbirds, and other important pollinators. This spreadsheet is
best used as a reference resource to extract data for other
purposes.<br><br>
For more information about the Plant Materials Program and where to
locate vendors of these released plants, contact the PMC or plant
materials specialist that serves your state
(<a href="http://plant-materials.nrcs.usda.gov">
http://plant-materials.nrcs.usda.gov</a>). This information was compiled
by Plant Materials Program staff in cooperation with Eric Mader,
Assistant Pollinator Program Director, and Jennifer Hopwood, Midwest
Outreach Coordinator, of The Xerces Society
(<a href="http://www.xerces.org/">http://www.xerces.org/</a>).<br><br>
<br>
<x-sigsep><p></x-sigsep>
*************************<br>
Scott Hoffman Black<br>
Executive Director<br>
<b>The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation<br>
</b>Chair<br>
<b>IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Butterfly
Specialist Group<br>
</b>4828 SE Hawthorne <br>
Portland, OR 97215 <br>
Direct line (503) 449-3792<br>
sblack@xerces.org<br><br>
<i>The Xerces Society is an international, nonprofit organization that
protects wildlife through the conservation of invertebrates and their
habitat. <br>
</i> <br>
To join the Society, make a contribution, or read about our work, <br>
please visit
<a href="http://www.xerces.org/">www.xerces.org</a>.<br><br>
<br>
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