Growing out

Plants are grown out (usually under glass) for four reasons: harvesting fresher or more seed; identification; research; and display.

Growing out to harvest fresher seed is known as 'regeneration'. This is normally an option where viability has fallen below 75%. Growing out to harvest more seed is sometimes also referred to as 'regeneration' but more frequently it is called 'multiplication'. Seed multiplication is mainly used for species in the MSB which are poorly represented and that have very low seed numbers. Usually these species will be rare UK natives, but may also be from overseas. An example is Cylindrophyllum hallii from South Africa. This plant is critically endangered in the wild. Plants are being grown up in order to increase seed numbers. The plant material will be distributed to other ex situ conservation organisations and will be used to develop a propagation protocol. Material is also multiplied for re-introduction into the wild.

To date these have been mainly UK native species such as Damasonium alisma (Starfruit), Corrigiola littoralis (Strapwort) and Apium repens (Creeping Marshwort). This work has primarily been in support of Natural England's Species Recovery Programme. The MSB Project has also been involved in the successful propagation of plants of Silene tomentosa Otth in DC. from Gibraltar, a species thought to be extinct in the wild. Plants were grown from seeds stored in the MSB. Using the knowledge gained from this process, plants have now been successfully reintroduced back onto the Rock of Gibraltar.