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Clone Preservation Project
by Alan Herndon

Proposal for a Bromeliad clone preservation project

It has been nearly 60 years since the Bromeliad Society International (BSI) was
formed and almost 50 years since the Bromeliad Society of South Florida (BSSF)
was organized as an affiliate of the BSI. During this period, bromeliads have gone
from being hard-to-find plants of interest to only a small cadre of highly motivated
(some might say obsessed) collectors to a mainstream crop easily available to every
American in local stores.

Along with the shift from collectible to commodity, large numbers of species were
imported and huge numbers of hybrids were created to meet the demands of the
mass market. As newer hybrids took over an ever larger share of the market, older
clones began to disappear from sight. Many examples can be cited by people growing
bromeliads 30-40 years ago. For example, we no longer have any idea where to find
Aechmea fulgens discolor ‘Magnificent’, if it still exists. Nor have we seen Aechmea
pineliana minuta in recent years. The small form of Aechmea tillandsioides, that was
commonly grown in southern Florida 30 years ago, now seems to be represented only
by the albomarginate clone.

Note that the term clone is used both to describe genetically distinct collections of
species and different hybrids. In general, a clone represents a group of genetically
identical plants. These clones are commonly produced by asexual reproduction
(i.e., not grown from seed). Each collection of a species in the wild almost always
represents a genetically distinct clone. In the same way, virtually every seedling
produced by crossing distinct clones of a single species (Aechmea chantinii is a good
example) represents the start of a new distinct clone. In practice, we are not going to
genotype plants, we will only recognize clones where the genetic difference manifests
itself in the appearance of the plant. The same considerations apply to hybrid clones.
We are only concerned with clones that differ in appearance.

Some of the old clones have undoubtedly disappeared, but bromeliads are a
remarkably hardy group of plants, and many of the older plants may still exist in the
odd corners of small (or large) collections. As time passes, identification of these
clones becomes harder as labels are lost in the normal course of events and memories
fade. There is also a slow but steady loss of plants in even the best maintained
collections. Natural disasters (windstorms and floods, in particular) can lead to
catastrophic losses in both plants and the labels attached to the plants. However, the
most serious risk of wholesale loss in older collections occur when the owners die,
move or become too ill to care for their plants.

In some cases, it is important to have these older clones in hand. For instance, I have
not found plants comparable to the plants we used to call Neoregelia ampullacea
ampullacea and Neoregelia ampullacea tigrina. Without the plants, I cannot even guess
how they relate to the Neoregelia ampullacea complex as understood today.

We propose a project to preserve these old bromeliad clones. The project will focus
on providing information on what clones are available and who is growing them.
Specific goals include developing a database of the different bromeliad clones in
cultivation, create a list of individuals growing each clone, and provide a framework
for trading and selling these clones among interested growers. Clones most in danger
of being lost in cultivation will be identified in the database.

The database will ultimately include all identifiable bromeliad clones, old or new.
Clones will be identified by comparison to old photos and descriptions whenever
possible. Older growers, such as Nat Deleon, will also be pressed into service to help
with the identification of these plants. The initial priority will be identification of
older clones, since these are most likely to have dwindled in cultivation.

Local Bromeliad Societies will play a crucial role in this project. Many desirable
clones are probably waiting to be found in older collections where labels have been
mixed and lost over the years. Knowledgeable local society members will be needed
to ferret out these plants and establish their true identities. Local societies will also
need to keep track of the individual growers in the database so all interested persons
can be notified when a collection rich in desirable older clones is about to be
dispersed. Finally, local Bromeliad Societies could help preserve the more important
clones by including them in their plant distribution programs.

The general database should be open to all interested parties. Small commercial
growers who would be willing to grow a clone that sells five to ten plants a year might
find the database provides the necessary market. Collectors might find the database
provides a way to exchange duplicates for money or other plants.

There should also be a membership network of people most interested in growing
these plants. The primary aim is to have each clone established in more than one
collection to guard against loss. Membership would be open to anyone willing to
follow a few rules. Members would have to follow strict guidelines for labeling plants
and ensuring labels are not lost. The central database would include a unique
identifier for each clone that could be used in labeling so individual growers would
not have to maintain the complete record associated with the clone. All members
would agree to provide a minimum number of free offsets (perhaps 5) yearly for the
benefit of the project (other offsets may be traded or sold for the benefit of the
member). Finally, in the event of a natural disaster befalling one member, other
members would be expected to help restock the collection of the affected member.
Benefits to members would include a ready source of information on all clones in the
database and a directory of potential sources for desired plants. Members would also
receive advance notice when another members collection (or a significant part
thereof) becomes available. Finally, members could expect assistance in recovering
their collections from disasters.

Clone preservation project goes statewide

At the 10 Jan 2009 meeting of the Florida Council of Bromeliad Societies (FCBS)
representatives, Nat DeLeon urged extension of the clone preservation project
currently underway at BSSF to all areas of the state. The proposal was accepted and
it is time to move forward.

Given the daunting size of the overall project, we would like to start with a more
reasonable subproject. We will first attempt to locate and assess the abundance of
hybrids and species cultivars produced in the Miami area. This includes plants
produced by Ralph Davis, Bob & Catherine Wilson, Gary Hendrix, Bullis Bromeliads
and Nat DeLeon.

A preliminary listing of the plants we are searching for (by hybridizer) was compiled
from the Bromeliad Cultivar Registry. We know there are errors and lots of
omissions in this list, but it provides a convenient starting point. If you have any
corrections or additions to this list, please send them along.

Bullis Bromeliads

Aechmea Alegria, Big Harv*, Black, Blue Moon, Blue Tango*, Burning Bush*,
   Hacienda, Jubilee, Little Harv*, Marcelino, Patricia, Peaches ‘N Cream*,
    Peggy, Pica, Pink Banners, Pink Passion, Shining Light, Tropic Torch, Yellowstone
Ananas Mongo*
Canmea Galaxy*
Guzmania Ice Cream, Ice Milk, Poinsettia, Van Horne, Yellow Marjan,Neoregelia
    Antigua, Bailey, Ballerina, Buckingham, Carmen, Carousel, Chardonnay, First Prize,
    Fairchild, Flamenco, Gespacho*, Isabel, Jeffrey Block*, Kiti, Wenzel, Las Vegas,
    Little Rose*, Lois Bullis, Mackaboy, Magic Palette, Marsala, Maya, Medium Rare,
    Mocha Mint, Mojave Beauty, Moonshine*, Patricia, Peggy Bailey, Prince, Puerto
    Rico, Purple Rain, Red Pepper, Rivera, Sparkle, Spots, Sundance, Sunshine,
    Super Fireball, Tossed Salad*,
Vriesea Bananas, Caramba, Herb, Mint Julep, Queen Mariae, Sensation.

Ralph Davis

Aechmea Anonymous, Bill Hobbs, Dubiosa, Ignotus, Kashkiniana, Morris Henry
    Hobbs, RaRu
Canmea RaRu
Guzvriesea Jeannie
Neomea Memoria Ralph Davis, Ralph Davis, Whisky Street, Neoregelia All Red,
    Crown Prince, Cup of Flame, Davis’ Pink, Green Wine, Karen, Little Punk,
    Mac Mar, Malibu, Pink Felt, Ralph Davis, Red Best, Rio Ochre, Ruby, Ruby Lee,    
   Spotted Maroon, Takemura Grande, Takemura Princeps, Ti Di
Nidularium RaRu, Red Queen, Ruby Lee
Vriesea Bamboo Hybrids

Nat DeLeon

Aechmea Candy Stripe*, chantinii DeLeon*, Coppertone, David Barry*, Eileen,
  
Ananas Candy Stripe
Canmea Smokey
Dyckia Yellow Glow
Guzmania Cherry Smash, Dubbonett, lingulata Superb, Shining Brightly, Spirit of
   ‘76, Star Fire, Wild Cherry
Neophytum Gary Hendrix, Ralph Davis
Neoregelia Fraseana, Inferno, Orange, Purple Haze, Royal Prince, Spiralis, Spots
   and Dots, Stormy Weather, Super Fireball, Thunderclouds
Nidularium Sao Paulo*
Nidumea Midnight, Superstar
Ortholarium Hades
Orthomea Powderpuff
Orthophytum Blaze
Vriesea Blaze, Eileen, Juno, Perfida, Stoplight

Gary Hendrix

Aechmea Harlequin
Guzmania Candy Corn
Neophytum Firecracker, Shiraz
Neoregelia Amethyst, Angel Face,* Ariel*, Aurora, Avila, Big Mac, Bob Read’s Lad,
    Butterball, Cheers*, Clover, Domino*, Echo, Fiesta, Gemini, Granada*, Grape,
   Green Apple*, Joseph’s Coat, Medusa, P (yes, just P), Peppermint, Pinwheel,
   Pollyanna, Prince, Purple Haze, Red Clover, Red Waif*, Redneck, Sailor’s
    Warning,Sara Lee*, Shamrock, Tar Baby*, Tinta, Twinkle, Windemere, Yamamoto
Nidumea Kathleen
Orthophytum Blaze, Copper Penny*

If you have any of these plants, or think you have any of these plants. Please bring
them to a monthly meeting if you think they are not commonly found in collections.
(Plants known to be available commercially are noted with an *. Please let us know
if other plants are available.)

Our lists are clearly incomplete for Bullis Bromeliads and, especially, Nat DeLeon.
If you have hybrids not on the above list that you think came from either of these
sources, bring them in.