HSA - Plant Collections

Plant Collections Project 2008

Purpose of Plant Collections

HSA recognizes that living herb plants are the very reason for our existence and therefore encourages the cultivation and preservation of the living germplasm of herbs. The National Collections of herbs serve a roll in:

Education – through exposing our members and the general public to a wide variety of herbs.

Research – by making the collections available for study.

Exchange – by sharing a limited number of cuttings, seeds, or plants of otherwise unavailable herbs through the Herb Society of America Seed Exchange and commercial sources.

Conservation – by encouraging the cultivation, reintroduction, and preservation of uncommon herbs for posterity and by serving as a repository for authentically labeled taxa.

How to Register a Collection

1. What is considered a “Collection”? A group of herbs * related in some significant way. For example:

One genus (Rosmarinus, Lavandula, Salvia, etc.)

Plants of the Bible

Useful plants of a specific region (ex: indigenous medicinal plants of the Southern

Appalachians, or plants used by the American Indians in a specific region).

Dye plants

Plants with a common scent (ex: lemon-scented, oregano-scented)

Come up with an idea!

* Remember that an “herb” is a “useful” plant, presently or historically.

2. What information should be included?

Genus

Specific epithet

Cultivar Name

Acquired As (name under which it was acquired, correct or no)

Source

Date of acquisition

Zone

Herbarium / Slide / Photo ?

The only absolute requirements are: Genus, Specific Epithet, Cultivar name and Zone. The rest of the information is very helpful, if you have it. However, you should keep records on future acquisitions. Herbarium specimens are encouraged for verification of each plant’s identification. (Make specimens of the plant in flower.) Other information you may want to keep track of is flowering times, flower color, size of plant, and its growth habit.

3. Who can register a collection? Anyone who is a member of the Herb Society of America, either units, members at large, or individuals.
Send the information to the Plant Collections Chairman, either by e-mail or USPS. The list of collections will be published in a booklet available to the membership, and the lists are on the society website, members only section.

Information requested from Curators Form

Anne Abbott
PO Box 2267
Cashiers, NC 28717
aha2342@bellsouth.net
504-289-3319