Download: Index Seminum 2024
Botanical gardens display a wide variety of plant species from all over the world in their outdoor collections and greenhouses. Collecting trips to distant countries to build up these collections have always been and continue to be time-consuming and expensive. In order to meet the demand for seeds for propagation, research and teaching in an uncomplicated and cost-effective manner, the worldwide exchange of seeds between botanical gardens has become a centuries-old tradition. To enable this, numerous botanical gardens regularly publish a list of their available seeds, known as the Index Seminum.
The first Index Seminum of the Berlin Botanical Garden appeared two hundred years ago, in 1825. Initially comprising only a few pages, our Index Seminum Berolinensis has grown over the decades into an extensive catalogue and currently comprises around 3,500 accessions. For several years now, it has been published online in PDF format. Thanks to optimised storage facilities in our coll drying chambers, the collected seeds can be offered for longer and no longer need to be harvested annually.
Seeds from our Index Seminum are not on sale but are available, on an exchange basis, exclusively for scientific, educational, and nature conservation purposes. Progeny raised from these seeds may not be used to generate commercial profit without prior written permission from the Botanic Garden and Botanical Museum Berlin, which will not be granted unless equitable sharing of benefits with the countries of wild origin, under the terms and in the spirit of the Convention on Biological Diversity, is secured. Seeds or their progeny transferred to third parties must be vinculated to the same conditions.
Information on ordering seeds
The number of seeds accessions is limited to 35 per order.
Most of our seeds in the Index Seminum are stored in a drying chamber at 15°C and 15% relative humidity. Under these conditions, orthodox seeds usually remain viable for several years or even decades. Recalcitrant seeds are stored in the refrigerator.
Our Index Seminum contains seeds from both wild locations and the Berlin Botanic Garden. The seeds originate from open pollination, so we cannot rule out hybridisation.
All determinations of the seeds offered in this Index Seminum have been verified and documented with a specimen in Herbarium B. We would be grateful for any information regarding possible misidentifications or non-germinating seeds.
Collection data of the seeds are the original data of the collectors and have not been standardised.
The Dahlem Seed Bank stores in its freezing chamber around 12,000 additional wild plant seed accessions, most of which are not offered in the Index Seminum. They are available on request for botanical gardens, species conservation measures and research, too.
Legal and formalities
When acquiring and supplying plant material, the Berlin Botanic Garden complies with the agreements of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the Nagoya-Protocol, as well as the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). We expect our partners to also act in compliance with and in accordance with these conventions and existing laws regarding the protection, sustainable use of biological diversity, access to genetic resources, and equitable benefit sharing when collecting, maintaining, and distributing plant material from the BGBM.
We are a member of the International Plant Exchange Network (IPEN), which regulates plant exchanges. The IPEN network is based on a joint code of conduct (IPEN Code of Conduct) that complies with the obligations of the CBD and the implementation of the Nagoya Protocol. Botanical gardens commit to complying with this code by registering as IPEN members. IPEN members can order seeds from us directly and without further formalities. Non-IPEN members must have a material transfer agreement (MTA) signed by an authorised person. The signed agreement can be sent electronically or by post (see address above). No seeds will be sent without a signed agreement. By ordering seeds, the above terms and conditions become binding for the customer.
Some of the species may be invasive. Invasive and potentially invasive species on the German warning List of Invasive Vascular Plant Species of the German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation are marked. Customers are responsible for informing themselves about the potentially invasive behaviour of the species ordered in their country and, if necessary, taking appropriate precautions when cultivating them.
Contact
Send your orders with indication of sample number and with your current mailing address to: Mail@Dahlemer Saatgutbank or
Dahlem Seed Bank
Zentraleinrichtung Botanischer Garten und Botanisches Museum
Freie Universität Berlin
Königin-Luise-Str. 6-8
14195 Berlin