I agree that it is unfortunate how plants seem to disappear through time. The British System of National Collections is an attempt to slow down this process and It think it is magnificent what they have been able to do. Unfortunately The USA seems adverse to this type of effort. Perhaps because some of us percieved one such attempt here as being more in a certain individuals self-interest than in really having the high motive that is conveyed by the British System. Presently Botanical Gardens do not have formal relationships for the most part with plant societies yet both have many common goals. It seems to me that alliances for the perpetuation of various plants could profitable be forged between these two communities.