VanDusen and Kew Botanic Gardens exchange native plant seed at Royal visit.

(Vancouver, BC) – Earlier today, at a reception held for VanDusen volunteers and supporters, Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall, presented Harry Jongerden, VanDusen Garden Director, with a small but valuable packet. In it were six varieties of seed of native British Columbia plant species from the vaults of The Royal Botanic Gardens Kew’s Millennium Seed Bank.  In return, Mr. Jongerden presented The Duchess with wild-collected B.C. native plant seed for Kew’s Millennium Seed Bank which are not currently in its collection.

"Plant diversity is invaluable to humanity and conserving wild plant species in seed banks is one of the very many positive contributions botanic gardens can make to biodiversity conservation around the world," commented Dr. Paul Smith, Head of Kew’s Millennium Seed Bank.

“Given Her Royal Highness’ commitment to conservation and the environment, we hoped that a seed exchange would be an appropriate way to mark the occasion and highlight the important role botanic gardens play in plant conservation,” said Mr. Jongerden. “This Royal Visit and the seed exchange mark the launch of a renewed focus by VanDusen on the conservation of B.C.’s native plants. Along with RBG Kew, we wish to thank our partner, the Native Plant Society of British Columbia, and we all thank Her Royal Highness for facilitating this exchange of vitally important genetic material.”

In correspondence with VanDusen Botanical Garden, Dr. Smith commented on the importance of the international network of botanic gardens. "We are very pleased to accept these seeds from VanDusen Botanical Garden. Kew's Millennium Seed Bank partnership is founded on international collaboration and the recent success we celebrated, banking 10 per cent of the world's wild plant species, would not have been possible without the institutions we work with around the globe.”

The seeds received by VanDusen are:

• Gaillardia aristata
• Helianthus maximiliani
• Penstemon procerus
• Nothochelone nemorosa
• Hydrophyllum tenuipes
• Brodiaea coronaria

The seeds sent by VanDusen to RBG Kew are:

• Arbutus menziesii
• Aquilegia formosa
• Bidens amplissima
• Lilium columbianum
• Dicentra formosa
• Erythronium oregonum

For more information on VanDusen Botanical Garden: www.vandusengarden.org

For more information on Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and its Millennium Seed Bank: www.kew.org