Seed Bank
About the Hawaiian Rare Plant Program
Lyon Arboretum’s research and education emphasis on conservation biology and its strong horticultural specialization have led to the development of the Hawaiian Rare Plant Program, which comprises 3 storage and propagation facilities; a Micropropagation Laboratory, Seed Conservation Laboratory, and a Rare Plant Greenhouse.
Since 1992, the Hawaiian Rare Plant Program (HRPP) has focused on the rescue and recovery of Hawaiʻi’s most critically endangered native plants, such as the native taxa that have 50 or fewer representatives left in the wild. The Hawaiian Rare Plant Program serves as an ex-situ plant and seed germplasm repository, propagation, and distribution site for plant propagators, land managers, and other end users who do not possess the resources to store and propagate their Hawaiian endemic plants that are in jeopardy on their premises.
The Hawaiian Rare Plant Program is also able to maintain viable plant germplasm for an indefinite period of time for future research or use in restoration sites. Due to its location, unique propagative methodology and affiliations, the program is Hawaiʻi’s largest and most diverse collection of Hawaiian plant taxa.
About the Seed Conservation Lab
In Hawaii, 75% of 453 species of conservation concern are conserved in seed banks. In the Seed Conservation Lab at Lyon Arboretum, over 31 million seeds are banked from over 15,000 accessions. These accessions represent more than 550 taxa or over 40% of the native Hawaiian flora. Of these, about 60% (313 taxa) are federally listed as threatened or endangered. The Seed Lab partners with the Plant Extinction Prevention Program (PEPP), the Department of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW), the National Tropical Botanic Garden (NTBG), the Army Natural Resources Program, Oahu (ANRPO), and others to provide for both long-term storage – preservation of genetic diversity – and propagation of plants for restoration efforts. We also conduct research on seed characteristics such as storage behavior, longevity, dormancy, and germination. Prior to the establishment of the Seed Conservation Lab’s earliest collections in 1995, little was known about how well seeds of native Hawaiian plant species might be stored. It is estimated that worldwide, about 18.5% of tropical or subtropical seeds are recalcitrant, meaning that they are desiccation-sensitive and cannot be stored long-term. However, with our current knowledge, only about 6% of Hawaiian taxa have recalcitrant seeds – great news for our seed banking efforts! On the other hand, many Hawaiian seeds face other challenges with long-term storage. About 1/3 of our taxa have ‘intermediate seeds’ requiring special storage conditions — a trend unknown in any other regional flora. We continue to conduct research on new and existing collections, testing viability over time and building on over 28 years of data. Through our research program, the Seed Lab is emerging as a global leader in the ex-situ conservation of tropical seeds.
Mission of the Seed Conservation Lab
Our mission at the Lyon Arboretum Seed Conservation Lab is to preserve and protect the diverse plant species found in our region and beyond. We are dedicated to the long-term conservation of seeds and other plant materials, and to the promotion of sustainable land management practices. Through our research and education programs, we aim to increase awareness of the importance of seed diversity and inspire the next generation of plant scientists and conservationists. Our lab is committed to collaborating with local communities and organizations to ensure that the unique flora of Hawaiʻi is preserved.
How many seeds are in the bank?
Plant Extinction Prevention Program
Seeds Of Native Plants
Endangered Species Represented
Species At Lyon
Extinct In The Wild
Seeds Of Endangered Species