28 Sep 2009

Kew’s Millennium Seed Bank partnership is working with agency Seeds of Success to collect native seeds in Texas

Around 500 wild plant species are now safely banked thanks to Kew's partnership work.

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Man collecting plant specimins

Tom Hadowell is a volunteer with Mercer Arboretum and Botanic Garden (Photo: Christina Murrey)

Tasty cacti

Cacti come in extreme shapes to survive extreme desert environments. Hedgehog cacti, like the strawberry pitaya, are covered with long spines to defend against desperate desert creatures looking for lunch. But when it’s time to spread their seeds, the juicy fruits ripen and drop their spines, to invite everyone round for a takeaway.

The strawberry pitaya cactus has delicate, pretty flowers. When its fruits ripen, they smell delicious and taste of strawberry and kiwi. They are by far the best to eat of several related species of cacti. Lots of people collect them to eat, but Kew and our Texan partners collect them to save the seeds.

Trusty volunteers

Kew’s Millennium Seed Bank partnership works with Seeds of Success, a multi-agency partnership collecting native seeds across the USA. Collections in Texas are coordinated by the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Centre, and 500 wild species are now safely banked in both America and the UK. Saved seeds are also being used to restore local landscapes damaged by farming, industry or natural catastrophes.

Volunteer Tom Hallowell says “In the wide open expanses of Texas, it takes some doing to notice where wild seeds are ripening and then pluck them at just the right time. I am a volunteer with Mercer Arboretum and Botanic Garden. Statewide, from different organisations, there are hundreds of us trained up and outdoors.”
 

3 comments on 'Kew’s Millennium Seed Bank partnership is working with agency Seeds of Success to collect native seeds in Texas'

Digial Media Team says

26/10/2010 1:57:22 PM | Report abuse

Thanks for your comment. We appreciate your feedback and will update the global map.

says

25/10/2010 11:02:17 PM | Report abuse

Just a little quibble. On your map, the icon for Texas is showing in Oklahoma & over 400 miles from the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center at Austin, TX, where it should be.

Cristina Lara says

08/10/2010 12:10:58 AM | Report abuse

I read in BBC about plant extniction, that could be a fifth of the total plan son I continued navegating and found Kew Gardens (I'm mexican, and I visited Kew Gardens once) Also I read about the Seed Bank, I felt sad and happy at the same time: extinction is so sad but that at least a part of humanity thinks and feels that life is love, makes me happy. I'd like to participate somehow, someday. Thanks for your work, thanks for so great and beautifull project.

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