05/01/2026
Congratulations to Jake Thompson, a student in our Master’s program, for obtaining funding from Highlands Biological Foundation to study a rare aquatic plant this summer. Jake is working with Dr. Kathy Mathews. Nice going, Jake!
Hidden beneath the water’s surface, Kral’s water plantain leads a quiet and elusive life. Rarely seen and little understood, this threatened aquatic plant remains one of the many mysteries of the natural world.
In this month’s spotlight, we’re featuring 2026 Grant-in-Aid recipient Jake Thompson, whose research is helping bring this species out of the shadows. By studying how Kral’s water plantain grows, flowers, and persists, Jake is working to better understand its ecology and support its conservation.
Even the most hidden life forms have a story to tell: https://highlandsbiological.org/a-plant-that-rarely-reveals-itself/
This research is made possible with support from the Highlands Biological Foundation, whose commitment to field-based science helps advance research, education, and conservation in the Southern Appalachians and beyond.
