Starting from seed: Genetic issues in using native grasses for restoration

Historical records of the botanical composition of grasslands in their pristine state are often incomplete or lacking, yet it is evident that many native species were at one time much more widespread than they are today. Changing land use, including agricultural converstion, urbanization, overgrazing, fire suppression, and introduction of non-native weedy annuals, have all dramatically altered the landscape and the flora. In recent years, the public has become better informed about the decline of our natural heritage due to human influence, and the importance of biodiversity is not widely understood. Together with and perhaps in part due to this increasing public awareness has been a mounting interest in restoraiton using native species, including grasses. This paper will discuss, in a broader sense, some genetic issues that may be useful to consider when collecting and utilizing native grasses for restoration.