Collecting for Collections: The Public Garden Role in Tree Gene Conservation Quercus oglethorpensis Reporting, Distribution, and Utilization Orientation .Introduction to species, range, and conservation status .Representation in cultivation and gap analysis .Reporting, Distribution, and Potential Utilization of material Quercus oglethorpensis (Oglethorpe Oak) .First Discovered in Oglethorpe County, Georgia (1940) .Soon Discovered in South Carolina .Later Discovered in Mississippi and Louisiana (1980s) and Alabama (2010) Wide but very fragmented distribution where it is locally uncommon Conservation Status Threats .Susceptibility to Chestnut Blight .Land clearing prior to recognition of the species .Clearing on private land or along right-of-ways .IUCN – EN (Endangered) How can the tree be conserved? .Seed Banking is not currently feasible for the species .Land Management by Forest Service .Conservation in Living Collections Q. oglethorpensis in cultivation •Little commercial availability •Sparsely represented in collections of Botanic Gardens and Arboreta. 31 institutions worldwide, 6 sites in Plant Collections Network Quercus curatorial group One tree lived at The Morton Arboretum from 1980 – 2014, demonstrating potential cold hardiness Gap Analysis •Majority of material acquired from commercial sources, insufficiently documented, or from a single population •Much of representation in Plant Collections Network appeared to result from a single distribution by Clemson University •Was unable to find any cultivated material from outside of SC or GA Tree Gene Conservation Partnership .Funding received as pilot project of Tree Gene Conservation Partnership between American Public Gardens Association and US Forest Service .Goals of partnership .Establish living gene banks of US at-risk tree species .Collect seed from across range .Distribute propagules to multiple public gardens Goals of Fieldwork .Locate plants .Document any observed threats .Collect acorns and/or scion wood, particularly from populations not currently in cultivation .Grow plants for cultivation and conservation at The Morton Arboretum and sister institutions nationwide Bienville National Forest (Central Mississippi) Several individuals located, but none fruiting. Scion wood sent in January. Catherine area (Western Alabama) Scouted and seed collected by Patrick Thompson (Davis Arboretum of Auburn University) Sumter National Forest (Western South Carolina) Largest population scouted. Sparse fruiting on one individual. Rock Hill Area (Western South Carolina) Population by SC/NC border appears to be lost Results Project # Collection # #V #S #W State County Site Latitude Longitude MS-Sco-A-1 Lobdell 004 2 0 0 MS Scott Bienville National Forest 32.33903 -89.40681 MS-Sco-B-1 Lobdell 005 2 0 0 MS Scott Bienville National Forest 32.34278 -89.46128 MS-Jas-A-1 Lobdell 009 2 0 0 MS Jasper Bienville National Forest 32.19828 -89.25672 SC-McC-A-1 Lobdell 014 2 0 0 SC McCormick Sumter National Forest 33.97656 -82.103 SC-McC-B-1 Lobdell 016 2 0 0 SC McCormick Sumter National Forest 33.83528 -82.18683 SC-McC-B-1 PCC15-SEUS086 0 7 0 SC McCormick Sumter National Forest 33.83511 -82.18689 GA-Jas-A-1 PCC15-SEUS074 2 6 0 GA Jasper Oconee National Forest 33.25389 -83.68375 GA-Jas-A-2 PCC15-SEUS077 2 0 0 GA Jasper Oconee National Forest 33.25403 -83.68547 AL-Mar-A-1 P. Thompson 12 1 36 0 AL Marengo Catherine, AL area 32.23148 -87.54363 AL-Mar-A-2 P. Thompson 13 1 36 0 AL Marengo Catherine, AL area 32.20761 -87.53332 AL-Mar-A-3 P. Thompson 14 1 13 0 AL Marengo Catherine, AL area 32.20372 -87.53307 AL-Mar-A-4 P. Thompson 15 1 36 0 AL Marengo Catherine, AL area 32.20354 -87.5329 AL-Mar-A-5 P. Thompson 16 1 36 0 AL Marengo Catherine, AL area 32.20512 -87.53304 AL-Mar-A-6 P. Thompson 17 1 9 0 AL Marengo Catherine, AL area 32.20504 -87.53304 AL-Mar-A-7 P. Thompson 18 1 36 0 AL Marengo Catherine, AL area 32.17713 -87.52282 AL-Wil-A-1 P. Thompson 19 1 36 0 AL Wilcox Catherine, AL area 32.17725 -87.51493 22 vouchers taken, 250 seeds collected, and 33 scions received across four states Reporting and Distribution Grant requirements include report submitted to APGA including… 1. List of all collections including documentation 2. 3-5 page narrative detailing trip and accomplishments 3. Copies of permits 4. Maps of collection sites 5. Observations on threats to populations 6. Photos http://publicgardens.org/sites/default/files/images/documents/Oglethorp eReport_LobdellMandThompsonP_2015-12-17.pdf How can this information be shared? Propagation and Distribution Nationwide Material being propagated at The Morton Arboretum Propagation and Distribution Nationwide Material being propagated at The Morton Arboretum Distribution and Conservation Nationwide Distribution to partner institutions to occur in 2017-2018 Conclusions and Future Work .Collection desirable from Louisiana population, though population genetics on species would likely help better guide targets. .Further documentation of optimal germination and grafting procedures. .Cultivating sufficient quantity of material ex-situ to assist in reintroduction efforts where needed. .Publication of final propagation success and distribution of material. .