diff --git a/backend/tests/test_slabs_api.py b/backend/tests/test_slabs_api.py
index 6a1fcd4..531c382 100644
--- a/backend/tests/test_slabs_api.py
+++ b/backend/tests/test_slabs_api.py
@@ -200,6 +200,30 @@ def test_get_not_found(client, db):
     assert resp.status_code == 404
 
 
+
+def test_update_omitting_species_id_preserves_it(client, db):
+    """Review PUTs omit species_id after Measure owns it — must not null the column."""
+    slab_id = str(uuid.uuid4())
+    create = {
+        "id": slab_id, "sku": "", "length_in": 48, "thickness_in": 2, "sqft": 6.25, "bdft": 12.5,
+        "width_min_in": 10, "width_max_in": 12, "width_avg_in": 11, "species_id": 1,
+    }
+    r = client.post("/api/v1/slabs", json=create)
+    assert r.status_code == 201, r.text
+    assert r.json()["species_id"] == 1
+    rev = r.json()["server_rev"]
+    # PUT like Review commitReview: wood cats only, no species_id key.
+    r2 = client.put(f"/api/v1/slabs/{slab_id}", json={
+        "client_rev": rev,
+        "wood_category_ids": [2],
+        "title": None,
+        "short_description": None,
+    })
+    assert r2.status_code == 200, r2.text
+    assert r2.json()["species_id"] == 1
+    assert r2.json()["wood_category_ids"] == [2]
+
+
 def test_update_success(client, db):
     slab_id = str(uuid.uuid4())
     payload = {"id": slab_id, "sku": "SKU001", "length_in":10,"thickness_in":2,"sqft":20,"bdft":5,"width_min_in":1,"width_max_in":2,"width_avg_in":1.5,"species_id":1,"wood_category_ids":json.dumps([2]),"edge_type_term_id":1,"figure_term_ids":json.dumps([1]),"grade_term_id":1,"thickness_term_id":1,"moisture_term_id":1,"fig_tag_ids":json.dumps([1]),"feat_tag_ids":json.dumps([2]),"price":100,"price_source":"recommendation","title":"Test","short_description":"short","description":"desc","content_source":"manual","species_confidence":0.9,"figure_confidence":0.8,"grade_confidence":0.7,"inference_status":"inferring","calibration_photo_id":None}
diff --git a/frontend/src/capture/MeasurePanel.svelte b/frontend/src/capture/MeasurePanel.svelte
index 2befc41..b293a44 100644
--- a/frontend/src/capture/MeasurePanel.svelte
+++ b/frontend/src/capture/MeasurePanel.svelte
@@ -98,12 +98,16 @@
     }
   }
 
-  // Keep local species select in sync when draft restore / session updates it.
-  $: {
-    const next = state.speciesId == null ? '' : String(state.speciesId);
-    if (speciesSel !== next) speciesSel = next;
+  // Sync local select only when session speciesId changes (draft restore / setSpecies).
+  // Do NOT depend on speciesSel — that fights bind:value and can clear a choice
+  // before setSpecies lands (or wipe restored ids while options are still loading).
+  let syncedSpeciesId: number | null | undefined = undefined;
+  $: if (syncedSpeciesId !== state.speciesId) {
+    syncedSpeciesId = state.speciesId;
+    speciesSel = state.speciesId == null ? '' : String(state.speciesId);
   }
 
+  let speciesOptsReady = false;
   onMount(() => {
     void getTaxonomy()
       .then((tax) => {
@@ -111,10 +115,12 @@
           id: c.id,
           name: c.name,
         }));
+        speciesOptsReady = true;
       })
       .catch(() => {
         speciesLoadErr = 'Could not load species list.';
         speciesOpts = [];
+        speciesOptsReady = true;
       });
   });
 
@@ -170,7 +176,10 @@
     setSpecies(speciesSel === '' ? null : Number(speciesSel));
   };
 
-  $: canCalc = positiveInches(String(lengthIn)) !== null && positiveInches(String(thicknessIn)) !== null;
+  $: canCalc =
+    positiveInches(String(lengthIn)) !== null
+    && positiveInches(String(thicknessIn)) !== null
+    && speciesSel !== '';
 
   const doCalc = async () => {
     calcBusy = true;
@@ -294,19 +303,25 @@
 
     <div class="field species">
       <label class="label" for="measure-species">Species</label>
-      <select
-        id="measure-species"
-        class="sel"
-        data-testid="measure-species"
-        aria-label="Species"
-        bind:value={speciesSel}
-        on:change={commitSpecies}
-      >
-        <option value="">Select species…</option>
-        {#each speciesOpts as o (o.id)}
-          <option value={String(o.id)}>{o.name}</option>
-        {/each}
-      </select>
+      {#if !speciesOptsReady}
+        <select id="measure-species" class="sel" data-testid="measure-species" aria-label="Species" disabled>
+          <option value="">Loading species…</option>
+        </select>
+      {:else}
+        <select
+          id="measure-species"
+          class="sel"
+          data-testid="measure-species"
+          aria-label="Species"
+          bind:value={speciesSel}
+          on:change={commitSpecies}
+        >
+          <option value="">Select species…</option>
+          {#each speciesOpts as o (o.id)}
+            <option value={String(o.id)}>{o.name}</option>
+          {/each}
+        </select>
+      {/if}
       {#if speciesLoadErr}
         <p class="species-err" role="status">{speciesLoadErr}</p>
       {/if}
@@ -330,6 +345,7 @@
         <div><span>Sqft</span><span>{state.results.sqft.toFixed(2)}</span></div>
         <div><span>Bdft</span><span>{state.results.bdft.toFixed(2)}</span></div>
         <div><span>Scale</span><span>{state.results.scale.toFixed(2)} px/in</span></div>
+        <div data-testid="photos-ready-species"><span>Species</span><span>{speciesOpts.find((o) => o.id === state.speciesId)?.name ?? (state.speciesId != null ? `#${state.speciesId}` : '—')}</span></div>
       </div>
       {#if state.results.sourceBelowFloor}
         <div class="warn">Source is below the 800px floor for the inventory PNG. Retake a larger photo.</div>
diff --git a/frontend/src/capture/measureInputs.test.ts b/frontend/src/capture/measureInputs.test.ts
index 4d2124a..df2e03f 100644
--- a/frontend/src/capture/measureInputs.test.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/capture/measureInputs.test.ts
@@ -53,3 +53,9 @@ test('MeasurePanel keeps interactive tape controls (merged Axis)', () => {
   assert.ok(!/Approve tape line/.test(panelSrc), 'Approve tape folded into Calculate');
   assert.match(panelSrc, /Calculate/);
 });
+
+test('Calculate requires Species (carries to createSlab / Create title)', () => {
+  assert.match(panelSrc, /speciesSel !== ''/);
+  assert.match(panelSrc, /speciesOptsReady/);
+  assert.match(panelSrc, /photos-ready-species/);
+});
diff --git a/frontend/src/create/review/Review.svelte b/frontend/src/create/review/Review.svelte
index 6fb1ea6..2f2d07a 100644
--- a/frontend/src/create/review/Review.svelte
+++ b/frontend/src/create/review/Review.svelte
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
     type Slab, type Taxonomy, type TaxCategory, type TaxTag, type SettingsView, type PhotoRow,
   } from '../../api/slabs';
   import type { CalibratedCapture } from '../flow';
+  import { canCreateTitleFromSpecies, effectiveSpeciesId } from './speciesFromCapture';
   import MultiSelect from './MultiSelect.svelte';
   import { deriveThicknessTermId } from './thicknessBand';
   import {
@@ -92,7 +93,7 @@
 
   // --- Editable model (mirrors the live slab) ---
   // Species is set on Measure / createSlab — Review only reads it (no picker).
-  // Kept as a string so canCreateTitle can gate on a non-empty value from hydrate.
+  // speciesSel mirrors the resolved id for hydrate/debug; gates use effectiveSpeciesId.
   let speciesSel: string = '';
   // #90: single-selects bind a STRING var to the native <select>, because
   // <option value={id}> coerces the option value to a string. Binding a
@@ -131,8 +132,9 @@
   // being enabled.
   let createBusy = false;
   let createError = '';
-  $: canCreateTitle =
-    speciesSel !== '' && woodCatIds.length > 0;
+  // Prefer slab.species_id; fall back to Capture handoff if createSlab omitted it.
+  $: resolvedSpeciesId = effectiveSpeciesId(slab?.species_id, capture?.speciesId ?? null);
+  $: canCreateTitle = canCreateTitleFromSpecies(resolvedSpeciesId, woodCatIds.length);
   $: canCreateDesc =
     canGenerateContent && title.trim() !== '' && shortDescription.trim() !== '';
   // Monotonic token: each commit captures the current value and ignores its
@@ -318,7 +320,8 @@
   }
 
   function hydrate(s: Slab, t: Taxonomy | null) {
-    speciesSel = s.species_id != null ? String(s.species_id) : '';
+    const sid = effectiveSpeciesId(s.species_id, capture?.speciesId ?? null);
+    speciesSel = sid != null ? String(sid) : '';
     woodCatIds = [...(s.wood_category_ids ?? [])];
     edgeSel = s.edge_type_term_id != null ? String(s.edge_type_term_id) : '';
     figureIds = [...(s.figure_term_ids ?? [])];
@@ -376,6 +379,14 @@
     reviewBusy = true;
     reviewError = '';
     try {
+      // Repair Measure species onto the row before probing title (review reads the DB).
+      if (resolvedSpeciesId != null && slab.species_id == null) {
+        slab = await updateSlab(slabId, {
+          species_id: resolvedSpeciesId,
+          client_rev: slab.server_rev,
+        });
+        if (myToken !== commitToken) return;
+      }
       // Run the deterministic review FIRST (reads the current metadata) to get the
       // title/short_description build before we persist.
       // Do NOT send price/sku here: review POST persists those overrides and bumps
@@ -389,9 +400,9 @@
       if (probe.title && title === '') title = probe.title;
       if (probe.short_description && shortDescription === '') shortDescription = probe.short_description;
 
-      // species_id intentionally omitted — set at createSlab from Measure; Review
-      // must not clear or re-edit it.
-      const patch = {
+      // Always echo known species_id (slab or Capture repair) so Review PUTs never
+      // leave a Measure-chosen species off the row; never send null (would wipe).
+      const patch: Record<string, unknown> = {
         wood_category_ids: woodCatIds,
         edge_type_term_id: edgeSel === '' ? null : Number(edgeSel),
         figure_term_ids: figureIds,
@@ -407,7 +418,8 @@
         sku: sku || null,
         client_rev: slab.server_rev,
       };
-      const fresh = await updateSlab(slabId, patch);
+      if (resolvedSpeciesId != null) patch.species_id = resolvedSpeciesId;
+      const fresh = await updateSlab(slabId, patch as Parameters<typeof updateSlab>[1]);
       if (myToken !== commitToken) return; // superseded; don't clobber the latest
       slab = fresh;
       // Re-run the review against the just-persisted row (authoritative ready/missing).
@@ -418,6 +430,9 @@
       });
       if (myToken !== commitToken) return;
       if (review.primary_wood_category_id != null) primaryCatId = review.primary_wood_category_id;
+      // Post-PUT review may newly have species+wood cats — fill empty Create fields.
+      if (review.title && title === '') title = review.title;
+      if (review.short_description && shortDescription === '') shortDescription = review.short_description;
     } catch (e) {
       if (myToken !== commitToken) return;
       reviewError = e instanceof ApiError ? e.message : 'Could not review. Try again.';
@@ -437,6 +452,14 @@
     createBusy = true;
     createError = '';
     try {
+      // 0. Repair: if Measure chose a species but createSlab omitted it, write it
+      // before the deterministic build (review reads species_id from the row).
+      if (resolvedSpeciesId != null && slab.species_id == null) {
+        slab = await updateSlab(slabId, {
+          species_id: resolvedSpeciesId,
+          client_rev: slab.server_rev,
+        });
+      }
       // 1. Run the deterministic review to get title / short_description.
       const res = await reviewSlab(slabId, {
         primary_wood_category_id: primaryCatId === '' ? undefined : Number(primaryCatId),
@@ -447,10 +470,11 @@
       if (res.short_description) shortDescription = res.short_description;
       // 3. Persist the generated prose (single PUT, fresh client_rev).
       if ((title || shortDescription) && (title !== (slab as Slab).title || shortDescription !== (slab as Slab).short_description)) {
-        const prosePatch = {
+        const prosePatch: Parameters<typeof updateSlab>[1] = {
           title: title || null,
           short_description: shortDescription || null,
           client_rev: (slab as Slab).server_rev,
+          ...(resolvedSpeciesId != null ? { species_id: resolvedSpeciesId } : {}),
         };
         const fresh = await updateSlab(slabId, prosePatch);
         slab = fresh;
diff --git a/frontend/src/create/review/speciesFromCapture.test.ts b/frontend/src/create/review/speciesFromCapture.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9d9ccda
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/create/review/speciesFromCapture.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+import assert from 'node:assert/strict';
+import { test } from 'node:test';
+import { canCreateTitleFromSpecies, effectiveSpeciesId } from './speciesFromCapture';
+
+test('effectiveSpeciesId prefers slab over capture', () => {
+  assert.equal(effectiveSpeciesId(281, 11), 281);
+  assert.equal(effectiveSpeciesId(null, 11), 11);
+  assert.equal(effectiveSpeciesId(undefined, 11), 11);
+  assert.equal(effectiveSpeciesId(null, null), null);
+  assert.equal(effectiveSpeciesId(undefined, undefined), null);
+});
+
+test('effectiveSpeciesId ignores non-finite values', () => {
+  assert.equal(effectiveSpeciesId(Number.NaN, 11), 11);
+  assert.equal(effectiveSpeciesId(null, Number.NaN), null);
+});
+
+test('canCreateTitleFromSpecies requires species + ≥1 wood category', () => {
+  assert.equal(canCreateTitleFromSpecies(281, 1), true);
+  assert.equal(canCreateTitleFromSpecies(281, 0), false);
+  assert.equal(canCreateTitleFromSpecies(null, 2), false);
+  assert.equal(canCreateTitleFromSpecies(null, 0), false);
+});
diff --git a/frontend/src/create/review/speciesFromCapture.ts b/frontend/src/create/review/speciesFromCapture.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..bda4d16
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/create/review/speciesFromCapture.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+/** Resolve Woo species leaf for Review Create-title gate + PUTs.
+ *
+ * Species is chosen on Measure and stored on the slab at createSlab. Review has
+ * no picker; Create title/short-desc read species from the slab (Capture
+ * handoff is a repair fallback when create omitted it).
+ */
+
+export function effectiveSpeciesId(
+  slabSpeciesId: number | null | undefined,
+  captureSpeciesId: number | null | undefined,
+): number | null {
+  if (slabSpeciesId != null && Number.isFinite(Number(slabSpeciesId))) {
+    return Math.round(Number(slabSpeciesId));
+  }
+  if (captureSpeciesId != null && Number.isFinite(Number(captureSpeciesId))) {
+    return Math.round(Number(captureSpeciesId));
+  }
+  return null;
+}
+
+export function canCreateTitleFromSpecies(
+  speciesId: number | null,
+  woodCategoryCount: number,
+): boolean {
+  return speciesId != null && woodCategoryCount > 0;
+}
diff --git a/frontend/tests/e2e/m3-create.spec.ts b/frontend/tests/e2e/m3-create.spec.ts
index 287f311..ae3e0fc 100644
--- a/frontend/tests/e2e/m3-create.spec.ts
+++ b/frontend/tests/e2e/m3-create.spec.ts
@@ -324,6 +324,8 @@ async function completeForReady(page: Page) {
   await page.getByTestId('create-title').click();
   // Wait for the build to complete (title field populated = deterministic copy).
   await expect(page.getByTestId('title')).not.toHaveValue('');
+  await expect(page.getByTestId('title')).toHaveValue(/Cedar/);
+  await expect(page.getByTestId('short-desc')).toHaveValue(/Cedar/);
   await page.getByTestId('sku').fill('SLAB-0001');
   // SKU commits on blur — press Tab to move focus off it (deterministic, single
   // commit; a body click can re-focus the SKU and re-fire blur).
@@ -339,9 +341,12 @@ test.describe('M3 Review→Publish flow (#77)', () => {
     await expect(page.getByTestId('ready-status')).toContainText(/Not ready|Ready/);
     await expect(page.getByTestId('title')).toHaveValue('');
     await completeForReady(page);
+    // Species from Measure draft must land on the slab (Create title reads it).
+    expect(slab.species_id).toBe(SPECIES_ID);
     // #89: the Create build populated the deterministic copy on the slab row.
     expect(slab.title).toBeTruthy();
     expect(slab.short_description).toBeTruthy();
+    expect(String(slab.title)).toMatch(/Cedar/);
     // Continue to Publish is enabled and hands off.
     await expect(page.getByTestId('continue-publish')).toBeEnabled();
     await page.getByTestId('continue-publish').click();