Collecting Bromeliad Seeds for Save Floridas Native Bromeliads Project

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Collecting Bromeliad Seeds for Save Floridas
Native Bromeliads Project
Floridas 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 Floridas 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 Russells Bromeliads Glades Botanical
Garden 1690 Beardall Ave. 4500 Gateway
Lane Sanford, FL 32771-9884 LaBelle, FL
33935-8477 [phone] (863)
612-1067 Rusbrom_at_gdi.net pfenner_at_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
projects 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 Franks lab at the University of
Florida Entomology Nematology Dept. PO Box
110620 Gainesville, FL 32611 Tel [phone]
ext. 122, 128 or 187 Email bclarson_at_mail.ifas.uf
l.edu or jhf_at_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_at_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.