Topic 2 Element 4

Question 1

If plants are the living collections within a garden, what other sorts of collections might there be in a garden?

Answer 1

Art, Wildlife, Sculpture

Question 2

What is an accession number?

Answer 2

A unique identity number (usually starts with the year)

Question 3

What other information might be useful in a plant database?

Answer 3

Current scientific plant name, any synonyms, common names
* Plant description * Images * The source of the plant * If grown from seed – origin of seed * Wild collected or cultivated * Nursery that supplied the plant * Plant collector who supplied it * Whether propagated on site * Age of plant, including when it was planted * The position of the plant in the garden or glasshouse/GPS co-ordinates * Accession numbers * Health status * Hardiness * Age of plant, including when it was planted * Conservation status * Legal paperwork * Plant maintenance observations * Additional notes that are relevant

Question 4

What are the advantages and limitations of a plant database?

Answer 4

Easier to interrogate using different criteria
Only as good as the information entered.
Need to be maintained. Not as good as actually looking at the plant.

Question 5

Describe the specific function of these digital tools:
* BG Base
* BRAHMS
* Candide
* Iris
* Persephone

Answer 5

BG Base - Individual collection
BRAHMS - BIO diversity
Candide - App for plant lovers
Iris - Collection Management system
Persephone - Plant Heritage use Persephone for their online horticultural database.