Sul Ross State University Sul Ross State University

A. Michael Powell

Professor
Director and Curator, Sul Ross State University Herbarium (SRSC)

SR Cactus Garden located south of Lawrence Hall Contact Information:

Office:
Warnock Science Building 218
Address:
Sul Ross State University
P.O. Box 6064
Alpine, Texas 79832
Telephone:
(432) 837-8113 (Office)
(432) 837-8112 (Department of Biology)
E-mail:

Education:

  • Ph.D. 1963 The University of Texas at Austin
  • M.A. 1960 Sul Ross State University
  • B.S. 1960 Sul Ross State University
  • A.A. 1957 Howard County Junior College

Research Interests:

  • Plant Systematics, emphasizing field, morphological, cytological, cytogenetic, and artificial hybridization approaches.
  • Floristics of the northern Chihuahuan Desert Region, including Trans-Pecos Texas.
  • Cactaceae of Trans-Pecos Texas
  • Rare plants of Trans-Pecos Texas
  • Native plant horticulture
  • Economic plants for arid lands
  • Revegetation of disturbed habitats in the Chihuahuan Desert Region

Publications:

  • Over 100 articles in professional journals
  • Books in print:

Affiliations:

  • Regional, national, and international botanical and biological societies

  • Chihuahuan Desert Research Institute (CDRI), Board of Directors, Board of Scientists

Selected Courses (some taught in alternate years):

Fall Semester:
Agrostology
Cytogenetics
Native Plant Horticulture
Spring Semester:
Economic Botany
Cell Biology
Cacti and Succulents of the Southwest
Summer I:
Plant Taxonomy

Current Graduate Students:

Amy Causey (B.S., Sul Ross)
Thesis research: Biology of Opuntia davisii

Fran Pontasch (B.S., Texas A & M)
Thesis research: Identification of Potential Insect Vector Host Plants of the Pierce’s Disease Bacterium Xylella fastidiosa in the Trans-Pecos Region of Texas

Recent Graduate Students:

Jack Brady (B.S., Sul Ross)
Thesis research: A Biosystematic Study of the Opuntia kleiniae complex

Patrick Griffith (B.S., UT Austin)
Thesis research: Breeding Systems of and Natural Interspecific Hybridization in Opuntia of the Northern Chihuahuan Desert Region

Stacey Haynie (B.S., UT Austin)
Thesis research: Vegetative Analysis of the Fort Davis National Historic Site

Gretchen Kliem (B.S., TCU)
Thesis research: Pollination Ecology of the Opuntia macrocentra complex



General Botany Students, click here