Collecting Bromeliad Seeds for “Save Florida’s Native Bromeliads” Project

1. Collecting Bromeliad Seeds for “Save Florida’s Native Bromeliads” Project Florida’s native bromeliads are being destroyed by an invasive pest, the Mexican bromeliad weevil (Metamasius callizona). While research on weevil management is in progress, collecting seeds of the bromeliads at risk is vital to ensuring their continued survival. The following steps outline the necessary procedures to follow when collecting seeds for the Save Florida’s Native Bromeliads project. Details can be found at http://SaveBromeliads.ifas.ufl.edu/seeds.htm. STEP 5: SEND SEEDS TO THE GROWER Label seeds from each plant and mail to the nearest project-designated grower as soon as possible: John F. Russell Phil Fenner Russell’s Bromeliads Glades Botanical Garden 1690 Beardall Ave. 4500 Gateway Lane Sanford, FL 32771-9884 LaBelle, FL 33935-8477 (407) 322-0864 (863) 612-1067 Rusbrom@gdi.net pfenner@aol.com • STEP 1: KNOW THE RULES • Only seeds may be collected (not plants). • When collecting bromeliad seeds, you must carry with you written landowner permission and the “Regulated Plant Index Harvesting Permit.” • You must record and submit certain collection details. • All collected seeds must be sent to a project-designated grower. STEP 2: DECIDE WHERE TO COLLECT SEEDS With the appropriate permit, seeds may be collected from any natural area. A list of parks for which permits have been obtained is maintained on the project’s Web site (http://SaveBromeliads.ifas.ufl.edu/seeds.htm). You may collect seeds of bromeliads growing on your own property without a permit, but do not collect from anywhere that native bromeliads have been brought in from elsewhere. Seeds are mainly available during the spring months. Watch the bromeliads in your area for opening seed capsules to plan your collection trips. STEP 6: FIND LATITUDE AND LONGITUDE COORDINATES You can find coordinates from maps at the Topozone Web site (http://www.topozone.com) or the MapBlast Web site (http://www.mapblast.com), or you can calculate them using any map that includes latitude and longitude lines. Detailed instructions for calculating latitude and longitude are found at http://SaveBromeliads.ifas.ufl.edu/seeds.htm. For questions or more information, contact Dr. Howard Frank’s lab at the University of Florida: Entomology & Nematology Dept. PO Box 110620 Gainesville, FL 32611 Tel: (352) 392-1901 ext. 122, 128 or 187 Email: bclarson@mail.ifas.ufl.edu or jhf@mail.ifas.ufl.edu E. Hall STEP 3: GET APPROPRIATE PERMITS Unless you are collecting seeds from your own property, you will need written permission from the landowner (or administrator if public land), as well as a state-issued permit. We can provide a copy of landowner and state permits for some natural areas, including some state and county parks. If you would like to collect seeds for a property from which we do not have permits, we may be able to request them for you. You can also get the permits yourself by requesting a letter of permission from the property owner, then submitting it with a completed form DACS 08051 (Request for Permit to Harvest Endangered or Exploited Plant(s) or Plant Parts). You can download the permit application form at http://doacs.state.fl.us/onestop/plt/plantinspinst.html) or request it from: DACS/Plant Industry, PO Box 147100, Gainesville, FL 32614-7100 (tel: 352-372-3505). STEP 7: SUBMIT SEED COLLECTION FORM AND ANY PLANT PHOTOS The form requests information about how to contact you and about the collection details (date, habitat, exact place, latitude and longitude, species). You must also provide the permit number or relationship to landowner if no permit is required. Either fill in and submit the form on-line at the FCBS Web site (http://fcbs.org) or mail the form to the database coordinator (Seed Collection Project, c/o Carolyn Schoenau, Database Coordinator, PO Box 12981, Gainesville, FL 32604-0981). If you have taken a picture of the plant, email a digital image to webmaster@fcbs.org or send prints or slides to be scanned to the contact address at left (Attn: Barbra Larson). Originals will be returned. STEP 4: COLLECT SEEDS Seeds should be collected from the following 11 species of bromeliads: Tillandsia utriculata, Tillandsia fasciculata, Tillandsia balbisiana, Tillandsia flexuosa, Tillandsia paucifolia, Tillandsia pruinosa, Tillandsia variabilis, Guzmania monostachia, Catopsis berteroniana, Catopsis floribunda, Catopsis nutans. Find plants growing low enough to collect seeds safely. Do not climb trees to collect seeds. For each plant: 1.) photograph the plant if possible, for inclusion in the database; 2.) remove some of the seeds, leaving the rest for natural propagation, and place them in a small container, envelope or bag; DO NOT LEAVE SEEDS WHERE THEY WILL OVERHEAT, AND KEEP CONTAINERS OPEN, SINCE SEEDS NEED AIR TO GERMINATE LATER; 3.) label with date, place, habitat, species, plant number (if collecting from more than one plant of the same species) and photograph number (to match later with plant number); and 4.) keep a record of collection information for each plant. • STEP 8: REVIEW • Decide where you will collect seeds. • Obtain appropriate permits. • Taking only some seeds from each plant, label vial or bag and keep records (photograph plant, if possible). • Send seeds to the grower. • Find latitude/longitude coordinates. • Submit seed collection form to database coordinator. • Send photos or digital images, if you have them. E. Hall Although this poster was funded in part by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under the National Environmental Education Act grants program, it may not necessarily reflect the views of the Agency and no official endorsement should be inferred.