BRIT’s mission is to conserve our natural heritage by deepening our knowledge of the plant world and achieving public understanding of the value plants bring to life.

Founded in 1987 and based in Fort Worth, BRIT documents the diversity of plant life and conducts extensive research around the world. In the last 10 years, BRIT scientists have located and described scores of species previously unknown to science. Similar to the botanist-explorers of the 18th century, the scientists share the same desires and traits as Sir Joseph Banks, Captain James Cook, and Charles Darwin. They are driven to find new plant species and research plant life for agricultural, economic, environmental, medical, and social uses and to share that knowledge in the classroom and the research laboratory.

Current major projects are ongoing around Texas, Oklahoma, and in Southeastern U.S., as well as in Mexico, Belize, China, and the Philippines.