Plant Collections Network Multisite Quercus Collection

Matthew Lobdell

Published May 2019 in International Oaks No. 30: 301–308

Abstract

The Plant Collections Network is a collaboration between the American Public Gardens Association and USDA-ARS to promote Standards of Excellence in Plant Collections. Collections achieving such standards are recognized as Nationally Accredited Plant Collections™. Twenty botanical gardens and arboreta located across the United States have come together to form a multisite Quercus collection, creating a collaborative Curatorial Group dedicated to advancing cultivation and study of the genus. The group meets annually and sets both short- and long-term goals for various projects including plant acquisition, documentation, recruitment, research support, and communication. Now over a decade old, the group has expanded in size, scope, and reach, and has taken a particular interest in supporting ex-situ conservation activities, particularly with the support of the American Public Gardens Association/United States Forest Service (APGA/USFS) Tree Gene Conservation Partnership. Future efforts will include consolidating the group inventory as a searchable web database, and seeking collaboration with Mexican botanical gardens.

Keywords

American Public Gardens Association, ex-situ conservation, plant collections, Plant Collections Network

References

American Public Gardens Association. (n.d.a). About the Plant Collections Network. Retrieved November 6, 2018, from American Public Gardens Association: https://publicgardens.org/programs/about-plant-collections-network

American Public Gardens Association. (n.d.b). Collections Showcase: Quercus Multisite. Retrieved November 6, 2018, from American Public Gardens Association: https://publicgardens.org/programs/plant-collections-network/collections...

Lobdell, M. 2017. Quercus oglethorpensis W.H. Duncan: Ex-situ Conservation Through Collaborative Cultivation. International Oaks 28: 41-48.

Snyers d’Attenhoven, C. 2016. Utilization of BRAHMS Software for Analysis of Collection and Distribution Data. International Oaks 27: 297-298.