I get the concept of a collection holder but with an organization like PBS why not also define a distributed collection as one that is distributed across several holders? It could have the strengths of a natural transfer of material between distributed holders when disaster strikes and possibly reducing inadvertent hybridization. -Phil > Date: Tue, 13 Sep 2011 19:07:43 -0700 > To: pbs@lists.ibiblio.org > From: janemcgary@earthlink.net > Subject: Re: [pbs] Collection holders > > If we could avoid the one-upsmanship and bureaucratic nonsense > associated with the National Collections scheme in the UK, I think > this is a good idea. Keep it simple, though. > > I probably don't have enough Calochortus species to quality as a > collection holder; I'm short on the high-=altitude ones and don't > have a single Mexican species (I would love to grow them but have > never seen seed of anything except C. barbatus). > > I do probably have the most complete collection of Fritillaria > species in North America, but again, I am missing the species of the > Far East. My collection is also strong, though by no means complete, > in the Hyacinthaceae. I have all the Sternbergia except S. > colchiciflora, but John Lonsdale I believe has that one. > > I'd be glad to discuss this initiative more with enthusiasts. > > Jane McGary > > > At 11:20 PM 9/12/2011, you wrote: > >Tom wrote: > > > > >> Why not establish an informal network of US-based 'International > >Collections'? > > > >I really, really, really like Tom's idea. > > > >To build on it a little bit, here's what I picture: > > > >--A collection holder would be recognized by us (the PBS) as someone with > >expertise and enthusiasm about a particular genus, plus a good collection of > >it. As Tom mentioned, we could have more than one collection holder for a > >genus, and in fact that would be better because we'd be less at risk of > >losing rare species to a single disaster. > > > >To give a couple of examples, I think Bob Werra would qualify for Moraea, > >and Jane McG. for Calochortus (and for a lot of other things). > > > >--We would identify collection holders on the wiki. > > > >--Collection holders would be informal information sources on the genus. If > >you have a question about how to grow it, they'd be a good resource to ask. > > > >--Collection holders would also attempt to spread the genus by sharing seeds > >and excess corms. > > > >--Finally, collection holders would be expected to make plans to preserve > >their collections after they're no longer around. This could be facilitated > >through the PBS. For example, if I get hit by a bus, my wife has > >instructions to call Mary Sue and invite the PBS over to take charge of my > >bulbs. > > > >Most of those are things we'd all do anyway, so what's the incentive to be a > >collection holder? Status, for one thing. But also, we all ought to also > >make sure that a collection holder gets first crack at a rare species when > >seed of it becomes available, on the assumption that they'll have the best > >chance of propagating it successfully and sharing it with others. > > > >What do you think? > > > >Mike > > > >_______________________________________________ > >pbs mailing list > >pbs@lists.ibiblio.org > >http://pacificbulbsociety.org/list.php > >http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/ > > > >--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > >Text inserted by Panda GP 2011: > > > > This message has NOT been classified as spam. If it is unsolicited > > mail (spam), click on the following link to reclassify it: > > http://localhost/Panda/… > >--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > > _______________________________________________ > pbs mailing list > pbs@lists.ibiblio.org > http://pacificbulbsociety.org/list.php > http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/