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From: "James W. Waddick" <jim-jim at SWBELL.NET>
Subject: Plant survival
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I only hope that people who buy these plants buy enough to ensure that
they can get seed.  It is not good enough for us as collectors to have on=e
tuber of a species (that will
eventually die) just so that we can say "I've got it".  That is what the
Zoos of old use to do.  Our duty to the plants we love is to make sure th=ey
survive and thrive!

Greg Ruckert

To Greg and all;
Long term plant surivival is a very complex issues. Consider:
Today we have a wealth of plants from China and elsewhere which
have NEVER or infrequently been brought into western gardens.
In the history of gardening, literally thousands of species and
cultivars have been developed, found and are now lost.
The plant that is common today may be gone tommorrow.

I wonder if there is a list of plants which no longer survive
except in gardens: Franklinia and Tecophilea come right to mind as 2 gene=ra
which are thought to be extinct in nature.

Growing one of each is definitely not the answer and it is
imperative we support collections and collectors who amass large numbers =of
indivudals of certain species and larger collections of species within a
genus to supply at least the garden trade. Serous gardeners need to think
about garden populations, distribution of significant plant materials and
the survival of their own collections in 5 or 10 years time.

I suspect we will see increasing government regulations prohibiti=ng
more imports as some plants become increasing rare in the wild. And certa=in
plants such as many terrrestrial orchids with demanding growing condition=s,
will all have a greater demand than supply and an inherently poor surviva=l
rate by the average gardener.

For the zoo manager it is relatively easy to find support for the
'cute and cuddly' giant panda, but who would save the stinking aroid and
apetalous trillium?

Just some thoughts when you order one rare plant collected in the
wild in China - that plant is taken from its native habit and dies in you=r
garden, who wins? But if you spend some time on research and study and ma=ke
a point of ordering ten plants you have half a chance of growing
successfully, then propagate and distribute seeds and plants;  everyone
wins.

Enough soap box. Thanks Greg                    Jim W.


James W. Waddick                        Voice: 816 746 1949
8871 NW Brostrom Rd                     E-MAIL: jim-jim at swbell.net
Kansas City MO 64152            Fax: 816 746 1939
Zone 5/6 -  Winter low  -10 degrees  F    Summer high +100 degrees F