Saving Endangered Plants
Richard Kyper (Tue, 06 Sep 2011 18:58:17 PDT)

Hi Bulb Enthusiasts,
First off, what if the plant won't die after 3 attempts to kill it?
It's great to see the adrenalin flowing on the subject of endangered
species, plant procurement from academic and conservation sources.
This falls right in line with my pleas, begging, promising, and
cajoling several Botanic gardens to open the seed bank purse
strings, so to speak, to trade, or sell.
I'm convinced that many such institutions, in their Ivory Tower, revel
in having exclusives, under the guise of being the ONLY responsible
and knowledgeable institution or committee who knows how to handle
this material. Its frightening to think, but yes, it happens that
institutions have suffered losses from plant liberations.
Perhaps, this could be , in part, due, to not making things
available . I detest stealing. It's not necessary.
Nothing is worth it. But, I can understand how it might lead some
into temptation. We ARE human.
I personally vote for sharing with nurseries, generous collectors,
serious groups(PBS perhaps?)
What overall good does it do anyone, or the plants to keep them under
lock and key for private coddling?
Lastly, Veratrum viride. Hardly,,, hardly endangered. I know of
FIELDS, wet fields full of them.
A pinch of seed is NOT going to send this genus / species into
troubled waters of endangerment.
Rick>>>>> steps down from the soap box