2018 ASHS Annual Conference

$45 - Does Not Include Lunch

Modern botanical gardens have various functions and roles. Of these, on-site germplasm deposition is certainly one of the most important functions not only for breeders, but also for plant biologists, ecologists, and plant enthusiasts. This tour will visit the Smithsonian Orchid Collection, located in the Suitland Campus in Suitland, MD, which boasts over 8,000 living specimens from all over the world. This collection is currently primarily used for education purposes. We will also visit the living collection of the U.S. Botanic Garden (USBG), located in Washington, DC, which is meticulously maintained through documentation and labeling to serve the Garden's mission of promoting botanical knowledge. The Garden also serves as a rescue center for plants confiscated at U.S. borders in cooperation with the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora international agreement. The Garden also presents programs, such as native orchid conservation in collaboration with the Smithsonian, and Plant Rescue Center Program. Germplasm deposited at the Smithsonian and USBG could an important source of improving traits of tropical horticulture crops, including orchids, tropical fruits, spices and medicinal plants.