Alabama 2026

In May 2026, the Suissa lab and friends held their Spring 2026 Botany Retreat in Central Alabama. Included in the group were graduate students Susana Vega Betancur and Dusty Prater, lab manager Justyn Koenig, current and former undergraduates Ava Sabatini, Faith Kestner, and Cruz Gouveia, and Colgate botany professor Dr. Eddie Watkins. They were graciously hosted by Dr. Brian Keener at the Cahaba Biodiversity Center. While it may not seem like it, Alabama is a hotspot of biodiversity - it is the most biodiverse state east of the Mississippi!

The group spent most of their time on the Ketona Glades, which is a unique ecosystem composed of exposed magnesium-enriched Dolomite. It is a fire-adapted ecosystem, meaning it requires frequent fires for plants to survive and thrive. This site was formally documented in 1992, where eight species new to science were discovered. The Ketona Glades are perhaps the most significant botanical discovery in the U.S. during the 20th century. It is incredible to think that new species can be found in areas that have been explored for so long.

The Suissa lab saw several of the narrowly endemic species that grow on the glades. Some highlights include Dalea cahaba, a bean relative and Spigelia alabamensis, a gentian relative. They also saw the spectacular Cahaba Lillies (Hymenocallis coronaria) and some fascinating ferns such as the tropical disjunct lineage of Hymenophyllum tayloriae.