Guidelines for the Handling of
Cutting Material, Live Plants and Seeds
Collected from the Wild for the
Australian National Botanic Gardens
by Barrie Hadlow
The purpose of this paper is to outline some basic methods of collection
to ensure that plant material can be forwarded to the Australian National
Botanic Gardens (ANBG) from field collections and arrive in a satisfactory
condition.
All propagating material must be accompanied by a voucher specimen from
the same plant from which the material is taken in the case of cuttings
and seed, and from the same population in the case of live plants. Information
concerning the site and plant must be recorded in a field notebook.
All material whether for propagation or herbarium, must be clearly labelled
with the field number.
All cartons to be consigned should be addressed to:
Cuttings
Most plant material suitable for cutting will travel well without spoiling
if, following collection, it is kept moist and cool. Such material should
be collected in the cooler part of the day if possible and dispatched
to the ANBG as soon as possible following collection.
The cutting material should be wrapped in damp newspaper and placed
in a plastic bag away from any direct source of heat. If water and paper
are not immediately available the material may be placed inside a plastic
bag which can be inflated by breath to add some humidity before sealing.
A waterproof marking pen is necessary for use with a plastic/waterproof
label. Prior to dispatch, cutting material should be loosely rather than
tightly wrapped in damp paper. Several collections so wrapped can be placed
in a plastic bag or each in its own plastic bag. If parcels are over wet
and subjected to heat, fungal degradation of the plant material may occur.
Succulent and/or tomentose plant material should be kept less moist
when packed. 'Eski' type cool boxes are ideal for temporary storage prior
to consignment. Cutting material should be taken from plants of good vigour
and health (usually having higher carbohydrate levels). The length of
the cutting material taken should exceed the optimum size for the processed
cutting by 2 or 3 nodes, however the length depends upon the material
available. For one collection sufficient cutting material should be taken
to produce 30-40 processed cuttings if enough material is available. These
should be taken from one plant and the voucher specimen also obtained
from this plant.
Seconds cuttings may be taken, however in most cases terminal shoots
and relatively young laterals are sufficient for propagation. The use
of secateurs or a sharp knife is essential to minimize the damage to parent
plants in the wild.
Live Plants
If plants must be removed from the wild, small young plants are often
lifted successfully if sufficient substrate is included with the root
system. Freight charges are high so excessive weight should be avoided.
Sheet aluminium foil will hold together the soil/root ball if firmly
wrapped and with a 'neck' tie at a level corresponding to the soil surface
level. Water may be added if dryness is evident, however as there can
be no drainage through foil, overwatering should be avoided. A label must
accompany each plant collected.
Plastic bags are useful for containing the lifted plant and creating
humidity, however heat build up should be avoided.
Plants with bulbs, tubers, rhizomes etc. may be treated in the same
way but may be consigned with little or no substrate material.
Plants should be firmly packed in a carton/box to prevent excessive
movement during transportation. Carton labelling is essential for all
collections being forwarded, and arrows to indicate the way up/top for
safe delivery. Ventilation holes in the consignment carton may help live
plant material arrive in good condition, particularly if consigned in
hot/humid climatic zones. For most temperate climate plants and xerophytic
plant material, this is unnecessary.
Seeds
Fruit should only be collected when it is close to maturity to ensure
that viable seed is likely to make collecting worthwhile.
Cotton or brown paper bags are suitable storage containers for fruits
and/or seed. Glass jars or plastic should not be used unless seed is exceptionally
dry. Bags containing seed should be kept in a well ventilated location
to avoid fungal contamination. Cool storage may not be as important for
seed as it is for cutting material, however direct sunlight and/or heat
should be avoided.
Return to
An Introduction
to Collecting Plants
Updated
27 August, 2004
by webmaster (cpbr-info@anbg.gov.au)
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