The Orchid Collection and Cycad Collection of San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance have been awarded Plant Collections Network accreditation. An early leader in the specialized field of zoo horticulture, San Diego Zoo has developed extensive plant collections. Its significant orchid collection includes over 900 taxa with a strong emphasis on the genus Paphiopedilum. Many acquisitions came from the Zoo’s participation as a CITES plant rescue center, receiving orchids confiscated at United States borders. Staff expertise in orchids and tissue culture propagation support conservation activities for the collection. The Zoo’s Cycad Collection of 111 taxa contributes a unique taxon and provides a second growing location for several others in the Plant Collections Network Cycad Multisite Collection. Over the next five years, the Zoo plans to develop protocol for harvesting pollen, institute DNA sequencing, and assess conservation value of each specimen.
Institutions
San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance
