National collections programs
Diane Whitehead (Fri, 18 Jun 2004 00:19:34 PDT)

I hope this hasn't already been discussed. I've been a bit busier
than usual and may have missed reading some messages.

I have just discovered The North American Plant Collections
Consortium, run by the American Association of Botanical Gardens and
Arboreta. The description of the aims and the process is at
http://www.aabga.org/

Collections must be supported properly by an institution, and
individual collectors or plant societies may participate through such
an institution. It costs $500 to apply, which seems to be to pay
travel expenses for an inspector to examine the collection.

"Documented, wild origin plants, sampled from throughout the natural
range and genetic variability of the species, have the broadest
utility for NAPCC goals and demand first priority. The NAPCC is also
designed for the collection and conservation of current and
historical cultivars, although this is not a requirement of
participation. "

Most of the collections are of woody plants: Date palms at Arizona
State University, Cycads at Lotusland, but there are a few
collections of smaller plants: Dudleya at Santa Barbara, Wild Ginger
and Trillium at Mt.Cuba, Hosta at Toledo.

No bulbs.

Oh, I should have mentioned the Mesoamerican Cloud Forest at
Strybing. Doesn't that sound lovely? and San Francisco can
practically guarantee regular low-lying clouds.

--
Diane Whitehead Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
maritime zone 8
cool mediterranean climate (dry summer, rainy winter - 68 cm annually)
sandy soil