GUIDELINES

6
N AT I V E S E E D
COLLECTION METHODS
 Seed collection is an activity that can be can be used. It stresses the importance of
undertaken by people of all ages and skill preparation and planning for seed collection
levels, and can be very satisfying. Any and the need to collect mature seed.
robust person with some basic knowledge
We assume that you already have some
and equipment can easily and inexpensively
experience of collecting native plant seed
collect native seeds. For those involved in
and a basic knowledge of how to accurately
community revegetation projects, seed
identify flora in the field, understand plant
collection is a great way to learn more
reproduction, seed biology and ecology, and
about the plants being used and gives
when and where to collect seed. You can
communities greater ownership of all stages
find out more about these subjects from
in the revegetation cycle.
various sources, such as standard botanical
However, collecting native seed on a larger references, textbooks, field keys and local
scale (for example, in every season and for a knowledge. There are also other guidelines
wide range of plants) is a demanding from FloraBank that provide important
endeavour. Making such an activity cost- information about seed collection. They
effective adds an extra element of difficulty. include:
There may be many natural, logistical and
• Guideline 4: Keeping records about native
bureaucratic hurdles to overcome – one
seed collections
could spend a lifetime learning to collect
native seed efficiently in one region; only a • Guideline 5: Seed collection from woody
handful of people can do it for the plants of plants for local revegetation, and
their whole State, or of Australia. • Model Code of Practice for community-
This guideline provides an overview of how based collectors and suppliers of native
to approach seed collection and the manual plant seed.
and mechanical collection methods that

Planning ahead
Detailed early planning of the seed For small collections all you may need is a
collection trip is essential. Planning can standard approach and a checklist of
help overcome natural difficulties to equipment, but detailed planning is
collection (for example, seed located in tall required for large collections at remote sites.
trees, unpredictable seed maturation or Your objectives should be clear and detailed
sporadic seed set). Planning can also help to a level where you can match them up to
avert any bureaucratic or logistical resources at your disposal.
problems that could be encountered ahead
Make sure you get and give adequate
of collection (for example, that sufficient
notice.
people and resources are on hand to harvest
in the naturally short collection window Collectors need to be given adequate notice
presented by nature, or that you are from seed users to properly plan collections
adequately equipped to collect in remote or and guarantee seed availability. Collectors
difficult to access areas). require at least six months’, but 12 months’
notice is preferable.
No amount of planning can change
seasonal conditions, such as naturally poor
seed viability, lack of rain or high levels of
seed predation by insects, but planning can
ensure you are aware of these conditions
and that you respond well to them.

2 G UIDELINE 6: NATIVE SEED COLLECTION METHODS

Target species for collection
You should have a very clear idea of the You may be able to obtain seed of the
species you wish to collect and which of species you require through commercial or
those are priorities. To develop such a list amateur collectors and suppliers. Those you
you need to consider the purpose for cannot obtain reliably from other sources
collection and any specific requirements. become your target species for collection.
You should include a variety of shrubs,
trees, ground covers, native grasses and
wetland plants in your species list.

Learn about the species you collect

You should gather as much information as Correct species identification is vital, so you
you can on the target species you intend to should be aware of the natural variability in
collect, including: appearance (morphology) of the target
• botanical description species. Several excellent field guides for
various parts of Australia are available (see
• identifying keys Bibliography and references). If you are in
• distribution doubt about identification, forward a
botanical specimen (leaves, fruits and
• occurrence in the local area
flowers or buds pressed between sheets of
• flowering, fruiting and seeding times newspaper or blotting paper) together with
a description of the plant’s location, size,
• whether the fruit/seed is located within
general appearance and bark to your nearest
hand’s reach (2 metres) or above
herbarium for checking. Many Botanic
• approximate number of fruit per plant Gardens, herbaria, TAFE colleges and some
• approximate number of seeds per fruit community groups run plant identification
workshops which provide a good
• approximate time from maturity to seed introduction to field identification.
shedding (weeks, months)
• whether there is uneven fruit ripening
on single plants Competition in collection
• safety precautions (allergenic or Seed collection is a way of life and a
poisonous plants) source of income for many people.
There is a very healthy commercial seed
Detailed information on identification and
collection industry in Australia.
variability of species, flowering and seeding
Information on collection locations,
times, and population locations can be
species collection times and other
sought from regional and State herbarium
important background knowledge
records, field botanists, foresters, beekeepers
provides the commercial edge for many
or other seed collectors. Keep the
of these people, so don’t be surprised if
accumulated information together and add
some are reticent to share this type of
your own field observations. This will be a
information with you.
valuable resource for future collections if it
is kept up-to-date.

GUIDELINE 6: NATIVE SEED COLLECTION METHODS 3

 Decide how much seed to collect
You should decide how much seed you will your current requirements and place the
need of each species and the likely number extra in storage for the poorer seed years.
of plants that will need to be sampled to Remember that seed put in storage must be
obtain this amount. In good seeding years fully mature and handled with more care
it may be desirable to collect more than during the extraction processes.

Decide where to collect

FloraBank Guideline 5: Seed collection from • New South Wales National Parks Service
woody plants for local revegetation stresses and State Forests
the importance of using local indigenous
• Australian Capital Territory Parks and
plants in revegetation and rehabilitation
Conservation Service
work. These provenances complement
other plants and animals in the area • Victorian Department of Natural
(ecologically and genetically), and pose the Resources and Environment
least threat of genetic contamination. • South Australian State Vegetation
It is also important in revegetation work to Committee
match the environmental conditions at the • Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service,
collection site to those of the planting site. and Forestry Tasmania
Guideline 5 covers seed quality and which
plants are best for collecting seed. • Western Australian Department of
Conservation and Land Management,
Suitable collecting sites should be identified and
through a combination of local knowledge,
publications and advice from staff from • Northern Territory Conservation
relevant organisations (such as State Commission.
herbaria, national parks, and State and local Alternatively, contact your forest service or
government departments). You might also State herbarium.
refer to books that show species
You should find out the conservation status
distributions and botanical surveys
of the species and whether special
(conducted, for example, as part of an
permission is required to collect its seed (for
environmental impact assessment on major
example, in the case of declared rare or
development projects). Conduct field
endangered flora).
reconnaissance to determine the exact
location of your target seed population. Seed collection opportunities sometimes
Where plant densities are low (a few plants arise in association with forestry operations,
per hectare), you may want to mark the land clearance, road realignment and major
location of individual plants on maps or by building or construction projects. You
using a handheld Global Positioning should keep a regular watch on such
System (GPS) instrument. operations through contacts at your local
council or in State government. Be aware
Obtain permission from landowners and
that the collection rights to these areas may
local authorities, and according to State
be allocated exclusively to particular
legislation. Permits are required for
collectors via public tender or other
collecting on public land and also for some
processes.
species on private land. Initial enquiries can
be directed to the following:
• Queensland Environment Protection
(formerly the Department of
Environment) and Department of
Primary Industry

4 G UIDELINE 6: NATIVE SEED COLLECTION METHODS

Decide when to collect
In a good year, seed quality is better than Some species ripen and shed seeds within a
usual and harvesting is easier. Early spring few days (for example, some Grevillea
to late summer can be an especially busy species). Here the greatest problem is
time for collectors. Decide when to collect missing the seed fall altogether, so frequent
by first checking the literature for guidance reconnaissance is required to check for seed
on flowering and seeding times, and talking ripeness. More collectors are often needed
to knowledgable locals. Some publications to obtain the quantity of seed required, and
now show seed collection times and can be seed is more likely to be picked while
of great assistance (for example, Bonney immature. Allow for the fact that heatwaves
1994). and bursts of hot windy weather can
accelerate ripening and seed drop in some
Each collector should build up a record of
species (for example, wattles).
collection times over a period of years.
From these records, a monthly seed Opportunistic seed collection is necessary
collection schedule may be drawn up as an where seed set is irregular or heavily
indicator for the future, although from year influenced by seasonal factors. For example,
to year, seasonal factors may cause many native grass species commonly
variations in flowering, seed set and produce seed after summer rain but are less
ripening times. reliable in the cool season. Maturation of
seed on a single plant and single seed head
In most cases there is an optimum time for
is uneven. Harvesting is best undertaken
collection, but a margin of weeks or even
when some seed is beginning to drop but
months may be available. If possible, visit
most is still attached. A delay of a couple of
plant populations regularly to check on
days may mean most seed is lost to the
seed ripeness and availability. It is especially
ground (Reu 1996).
useful to build up records of those species
that keep seed on the plant for longer Because of the difficulties in obtaining good
periods. This helps in planning a single visit seed set information, it is worth observing
to a location at a convenient time for and making a few notes about the flowering
collection and allows for seed from many and seeding of non-target species for a time
species that retain seed to be collected at when they may be needed. Notes on the
that time. field collection sheet about associate species
can serve this purpose.

Types of fruit and seed

Woody capsules: Seed follicles:
including the genera Angophora, including the genera Hakea, Grevillea and
Callistemon, Eucalyptus, Leptospermum, Banksia.
Melaleuca. Nuts:
Papery capsules: including the genera Baumea, Carex,
including the genera Bursaria, Convulvus, Cyperus, Eleocharis, Ghania, Isolepsis.
Dodonaea, Lomandra, Wahlenbergia. Grains:
Seed pods: including the genera Spinifex, Stipa,
including the genera Acacia, Brachychiton, Themeda, Danthonia.
Daviesia, Dillwynia, Glycine, Achenes:
Hardenbergia, Indigofera, Jacksonia, including the genera Bedfordia,
Pultenaea. Bracyscome, Helichrysum.
Drupes: Cones:
including the genera Acmena, Astroloma, including the genera Cyprus, Casuarina,
Eleocarpus, Persoonia, Leucopogon. Allocasuarina, Exocarpus.
Berries:
including the genera Atriplex, Dianella,
Polycias, Tetragoni.
GUIDELINE 6: NATIVE SEED COLLECTION METHODS 5
 Collect mature seed
It is essential that fully mature (ripe) seed be has already been shed from mature fruit as
collected. This can be difficult. It requires this indicates that other fruit is mature.
the collector to determine when the seed is Alternatively, place a sample bag of fruit in a
mature and to time the harvest accordingly. warm place. If seed is shed from the fruit
The interval between bud formation and within a couple of days, they are ready for
maturity of seeds and fruits varies greatly collection.
(even between species in a single genus) from Capsules, pods, follicles and cones usually
a few weeks to as long as several years. Many open or split on maturity, allowing seeds to
trees and shrubs (for example, Acacia, be shed and dispersed by wind and other
Grevillea and Cassia) shed their seeds within agents. Some capsules, follicles or cones form
weeks of maturity, while others retain fruit discernible valves when the seed is ripe.
and seed for months (for example,
Casuarinas) or years (for example, some of Pods and papery capsules become dry and
the ash group of Eucalyptus). The latter may brittle as they mature, as do seed heads that
build up a large store of seeds. contain grains, nuts and achenes.

The number of flowers and fruits produced Pods of some species burst open when dry
may vary greatly from year to year and from and discard seeds away from the plant.
stand to stand of trees, and is both Collect these pods just as they change colour.
genetically and environmentally controlled. Acacia (wattle) seed may be mature before
Some species show genetically determined the pods open and, while some species will
cycles in the timing and number of seeds hold their seed even when the pods have
they produce and have big seed years when opened, it is better to make the collection
bumper crops are available for collection. just as the pods are opening. Some seed may
Local environmental factors such as rainfall, be lost but it will be a lot easier to extract the
insects and fungi can modify this cycle. remainder. The extraction of mature seeds
from green pods requires greater effort.
Signs of maturity The ease with which the grains, drupes,
berries or achenes may be removed is also an
Crop maturity varies over the natural indicator of maturity. They should release
distribution of a species due to factors such with gentle pressure when mature.
as latitude, altitude, distance from the coast,
and weather conditions during flowering Fleshy fruits like those of many rainforest
and seed set. Determining maturity is often species soften, wrinkle and dry when they
based on experience. Good records of past mature and sometimes also change colour
collection times are, of course, a great (for example from green to red, orange,
assistance. yellow, blue or black): this attracts fruit-
eating birds and mammals which then act as
Characteristics to observe include the size agents for seed dispersal. Colour change is a
and colour of the fruit, whether the embryo good guide to seed maturity for Dianella,
is firm and swollen and whether the seed Santalum and Solanums. In many rainforest
coat collapses when cut. plants, seeds are fully mature (even
Capsules, seed heads or cones in many germinated in some cases) before they drop
species change colour near to maturity (often from the tree. The seed from these species
from green to grey or brown) and reach full needs to be sown quickly after collection and
size, turn dry and woody when mature. cannot be stored even for short periods.
In Eucalypts the seed may be viable prior to You can scratch the surface of the seed
capsule maturity but is not released until the follicles of Banksia cones, which are soft and
capsule is mature. Cutting Eucalypt capsules green when seeds are immature and turn
(gum nuts) through the middle with brown and hard when the cones are ready for
secateurs will expose the seed, which will be collection. Some species, such as some of the
coloured brown or black if ripe. Most Banksias and Hakeas, require extreme heat
eucalypts can be collected if the capsules are (for example, a stint on the barbeque) to
brown and the outlines of the valves are encourage the capsules to open and release
readily visible on the top. Look for seed that the seed.
6 G UIDELINE 6: NATIVE SEED COLLECTION METHODS
Get the right equipment and resources
The equipment you need depends on the • Maps, compass, handheld Global
frequency and quantity of your seed Positioning System (GPS) instrument
collection activities. Provided your safety is
• Field collection data sheets, booking boards
not compromised, you can ‘make do’ with
and writing gear, camera and film.
less specialised equipment if you only
occasionally collect small quantities of seed. It may be worth developing your own
However, it is not recommended that you checklist to suit the type of collections and
improvise or make do with climbing gear. areas in which you carry out most of your
Specialised equipment makes collection work.
easier and increases productivity if Play it safe!
collections are more frequent and the
amount of seed collected is large. Safety is of paramount importance and
Equipment needs also vary according to the amateur collectors should not be too
type of vegetation. For example, you need ambitious in their collection activities.
more specialised equipment to collect from Think about safety and vary the
tall trees in wet forests than, say, arid-zone precautions you take to suit local
bushland. conditions, tree species and collection
methods. Make sure that all equipment is
You will need a sound (possibly four-wheel in top condition and properly serviced. It is
drive) vehicle that will get you to the advisable to work as a team, wear safety
collection sites safely and carry substantial goggles, appropriate clothes, safety hat and
loads if required. footwear; and take a first-aid kit. Seeds can
often be collected safely from the ground or
Useful equipment by using a stepladder, but if you plan to
climb high trees, take extra care. For some
(More versatile ‘standard’ equipment is
people, tall trees may be too difficult to
indicated with italics.)
collect seed from safely and should be left
• Trailer with high wire-mesh cage, or to professional collectors. Defer to the
sturdy roof-rack with ladder experts or work with them when the going
• Extension ladder, fruit-picker’s ladder, gets tough.
climbing equipment and ropes
• Telescopic pole pruner, pole and rope saws,
aluminium extension pole (fruit knocker),
throwing rope with weight
• Flexible saw, bow saw
• Secateurs, long-handled secateurs
• Kitbag, woolpacks, tarpaulins, fruit-
picker’s bags, calico drop-sheets, thin
stockings or bags for enclosing plants
• Petrol-driven garden blower/vacuum
• Binoculars, hard hats, safety glasses, gloves
• Bow and arrows, or catapult with line,
or rifle and ammunition (with
appropriate licences and permits)
• Plant identification books
• Plant press, newspaper and boxes for
specimens, tags

GUIDELINE 6: NATIVE SEED COLLECTION METHODS 7

 Seed collecting methods
Natural seed fall (seed traps) From within hand’s reach
Large seeds or fruits that fall to the ground
Collection by hand
when mature can be collected by laying
The safest and most advantageous way to
tarpaulins or plastic sheeting beneath the
plants. These sheets may be raised on collect seed is when it is within hand’s reach
of a person standing safely on the ground
purpose-built frames and funnelled into a
(usually fruits below two metres in height).
container to retain the seed. This technique
is useful with low shrubs, especially those Wearing a bag with a wide rigid mouth
allows the collector’s hands to be kept free.
that are prickly (for example, Acacia
Seed from small plants low to the ground,
victoriae), and some rainforest species, but is
unsuitable for species which have fine seeds or from low branches, may be easily
collected by hand, though in some cases
that are dispersed by wind (for example,
(such as with prostrate groundcovers) this
Eucalypts and Melaleucas). The technique is
normally used when seed collection times process may be tedious and yield little seed.
Try to collect from fruit in the middle or
are unknown and crops may be missed.
upper portions of the plant rather than the
Drop sheets should not be used if there is a lower portions.
likelihood of seed from nearby plants (of the
Plants with pods (Acacia, Davesia, Hovea,
same or different species) contaminating the
Kennedia, Lotus, Pultenea, Senna): Using
collection (see Guideline 5 on how to avoid
sampling seed of neighbouring plants). Seed gloved hands, strip pods from branches into
a belly bag or container, or shake the plant
traps should be checked fairly frequently, as
to dislodge seed or pods and collect them
the seed is susceptible to predation and
rotting if left for too long. Take care when on a drop sheet placed under the plant.
With acacias for example, when the pods
clearing a trap, as it is possible for snakes or
are brown and split along the margins, beat
biting insects to take up residence!
the branches with a stick. This will dislodge
Another technique is to collect seed as it the seeds and pods, which will fall onto the
dehisces by enclosing the plant fully or drop sheet, which you can bundle for
partially in breathable lightweight fabric transport by tying its opposite corners.
(Murphy and Dalton 1996). The fabric is
Plants with woody fruits (Allocasuarina,
tied around the plant stem or branch and
Banksia, Callistemon, Callitris, Eucalypt,
the bag left in place. This technique is useful
for small shrubs and bushes that are less Hakea, Melaleuca): In most cases remove
small branches or, where necessary, remove
than a metre in height, especially at low
individual fruit using ordinary secateurs.
plant densities and where seed is shed
quickly or progressively over a period, or Seed release and extraction is often easier if
the capsules are left attached to small
where shedding times are uncertain.
branches – secateurs are very useful for this
Both techniques suffer from insect attack purpose.
(especially by ants) and wind can remove
Plants with fleshy fruit (Dianella, Kunzea,
seed from drop sheets. Soil, leaf litter and
Scaevola, Solanum): Pick fruit off the
other material must be sieved out to obtain
branches by hand when ripe.
pure seed and yields are often lower with
drop sheets than by other collection Plants with seed heads, such as sedges
methods. A drop sheet or enclosure bag, (Gahnia, Lepidosperma), daisies (Olearia,
when left in place to collect seed, may free Helichrysum and Cassinia) and native
the collector for other work. For most grasses (Microlaena, Danthonia,
collections you should not use plastic to AstreblaThemeda, Bothriochloa,
store or transport seed or plant material as it Dichanthium, Stipa): Strip seed heads off
causes the material to sweat and go mouldy. their stems by running a cupped hand along
An exception can be made in the case of the seed heads in an upward motion, or cut
fleshy fruit where it is important that the them off with secateurs.
seed does not lose its moisture.
8 G UIDELINE 6: NATIVE SEED COLLECTION METHODS
Mechanical harvesting be useful is slashing and baling grass seed
Perhaps the most widely used and versatile using a hay baler. For a full discussion of
mechanical harvesters are the brush-cutter harvesting native grass seeds see Loch and
and the portable vacuum. Clark (1996) and Reu (1996).

A brush-cutter is useful for the quick

harvesting of native grasses (removing seed
From above hand’s reach
head from the stem), especially if fitted Above two metres in height, a collector
with some form of catcher. Alternatively, requires either a device to provide longer
the cut material may be raked and gathered reach or an elevated platform to stand on.
in a collection bag or vacuumed.
Although a variety of long-handled tools
The petrol-driven garden blower/vacuum is (including saws) can be used, the most
a recent addition to the seed collector’s effective are long-handled secateurs. There
toolkit. Some models duct incoming are also telescopic pole pruners, but any
material through a macerating fan blade pole longer than four or five metres is
before depositing into the collection bag, difficult and tiring to handle. Used in
others do not. It is generally better not to combination with a three-legged fruit
damage seed material as it is vacuumed but picker’s ladder, long-handled secateurs
for some species this may be desirable. A provide a range to about 10 metres. Pole
portable vacuum is especially useful for pruners are difficult to use safely from a
collecting from small, low plants or those ladder, but are easier from a fixed roof-rack
with profuse and fine seed, which may be atop a vehicle.
easily vacuumed either from the plant or
Another widely-used tool is a lead casting
from the ground immediately below the
weight (fishing tackle) attached to a strong
plant.
braided nylon cord (25 metres of five
Be careful not to contaminate the seed millimetre sash cord or nylon rope) which
collection through inadvertent collection of is thrown over branches up to about 12
non-target species. It is also very easy to metres above the ground. Once the branch
over-collect from individual plants, leaving is ‘lassoed’ in this way, the collector has the
nothing for ecological function. option of pulling the branch down using
the cord (if the branch has a diameter of
A quick method suitable for some Acacias is
less than 50 millimetres), or hauling a rope
to lay a drop sheet in the back of a utility or
over the branch to do the same thing, or
trailer and back it up to one side of the tree,
attaching a flexible saw blade to the line
which is then shaken, or its branches
and sawing through the end part of the
knocked, to release the pods.
branch. A rope saw uses either a chainsaw
Mechanical harvesting of native grasses has blade or a flexible saw with a cord attached
developed rapidly in recent years. A range at either end. This method needs two
of vehicle-mounted techniques have been operators, and branches may fall close by.
tried for harvesting chaffy grass seed direct Cutting causes much less damage to the
from the plant. A common approach that plant and you have more control over the
has had limited success is a beater harvester, portion of the branch that is removed. It is
which uses rotating timber or metal paddles more suited to horizontal branching habits.
to knock seed off seed heads. In the last Branches that grow at narrow angles to the
decade the advent of rotating brush upright are less suitable.
harvesters has led to greater success. These
Harvesting from trees above 10 metres is
use a soft brush that is upward rotating at
the most difficult and dangerous type of
the leading edge and has a collection box at
seed collection. You should wear a hard hat
the trailing edge of the brush. Some use a
and safety goggles. Take precautions to
vacuum to deliver seed to a hopper box,
avoid injury from falling limbs or fruit.
which may then be located away from the
Your options are to use a rope saw, bow and
brush. Brush harvesters may be mounted in
arrow or rifle from the ground, or to climb
front of a tractor or towed by a four-wheel
into the tree and use hand tools.
drive vehicle. Another technique that may
GUIDELINE 6: NATIVE SEED COLLECTION METHODS 9
 If you are not up to this, you can take heavily or are in high demand. Rifles are
advantage of clearing operations (forestry, very effective for collecting small amounts
development, mining, building, power line of seed from a large number of trees and, for
clearance) to collect seed. You may even this reason, are commonly used in research
collect seed from fallen branches following collections. The technique is safe compared
a wild storm or from the pruning to climbing, but requires great care and
operations (along roadsides and power specialised training as well as special licences
lines) of councils and authorities. Trees and permits. The technique is limited to
should not be felled simply for harvesting sparsely populated areas and it can be
seeds, however if a tree is being cut down expensive (ammunition and rifle servicing
for other reasons, any seeds present can be costs). Climbing taller trees may be possible,
salvaged. In some districts, the easiest and but agility and special attention to safety are
cheapest way to collect large quantities of required. Common aids include climbing
seed is to visit local clearing or timber irons, safety belts and portable or mounted
harvesting operations. Obtain permission ladders. An extension ladder may be fixed to
beforehand, select good parent trees and, of a tree to aid climbing up to about 12 metres
course, take care with safety. The quantity into the first branches. Successful
of seeds can be worth the effort. Seed in the adaptations to caving and abseiling
heads of fallen trees will shed very quickly equipment have been made which have
so it is necessary to keep up-to-date with greatly increased the safety of climbing at
operations in your area to avoid the cost of outright speed. Climbing also
disappointment (for example, on a hot day brings the collector into much closer
in most coastal Eucalypt forests, seed will contact with falling branches. Great care is
begin shedding within 12 hours of the tree needed when removing seed-bearing
being felled). branches from within the tree crown.
Using a bow and arrow is time-consuming
and more suitable if trees are bearing

Preparing material for transportation

Collection activities may yield pure seed, the high moisture content encourages
fruit only, or leaves and branches with fruit micro-organisms, fermentation and
attached. The latter may need to be cut, overheating. This can reduce the seeds’
beaten or trampled to reduce its bulk for capacity to germinate.
transport. A large crop should be bagged
It is essential to label bags and bundles
for transport. The CSIRO uses calico
carefully. The identity of each bag or
collecting sheets (two metres square) with
container of plant material should be
corners tied diagonally; close-weave calico
established by a collector’s name or initials
bags for small seeds; or hessian sacks for
and a field collection number. See Guideline
large seeds.
4 for seed collection record-keeping details.
Avoid prolonged transport periods for
green fruits, especially in hot weather, as

Bibliography and references

Florabank is seeking to assist in the training range of information on seed collection
of collectors and revegetation practitioners methodology and protocols than the brief
and we are very interested in your feedback outline given above, others provide
on the usefulness of this guideline and any information on topics such as seeding times
further requirements you may have. and assessment of soil characteristics.
Readers are encouraged to access the
following references. Many provide a wider

10 G UIDELINE 6: NATIVE SEED COLLECTION METHODS

Australian Native Grass and Legume Seed Acacias for Human Food, Australian Tree
Industry Association 1997, First Workshop Seed Centre, CSIRO Division of Forestry,
of The Australian Native Grass and Legume Canberra, pp 68–73.
Seed Industry Association Proceedings, Kabay D and Lewis A 1987, ‘Collection
Brisbane, October. handling and storage of Australian native
Australian National Parks and Wildlife plant seed’, in Langkamp PJ (ed),
Service 1993, Guide to Requirements for Germination of Australian Native Plant Seed,
Collecting Australian Plants and Animals, Inkata Press, pp 20–30.
Australian Nature Conservation Agency, Kleinig DA and Boland DJ 1977, ‘Use of
Canberra. .243- and .308-calibre rifles for eucalypt
Boland DJ et al. 1980, Eucalyptus Seed, seed collections’, Inst. For. Aust. Newslett.,
CSIRO, Melbourne. vol 18, no 3, pp 22–3.
Boland DJ et al. 1984, Forest Trees of Loch DS and Clark M 1996, ‘Production,
Australia, Nelson–CSIRO, Melbourne. harvesting and processing of native grass
and herbaceous legume seeds: The reality
Bonney N 1994, What Seed Is That? A Field
and the challenge’ in Waters CM and Noad
Guide to the Identification, Collection and
WJ (eds), Proceedings of the Native Grass and
Germination of Native Seed in South
Legume Seed Industry Workshop, Roma,
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Queensland, 26–27 March.
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Written by the Australian Tree Seed

Centre and Warren Mortlock
Published by FloraBank with the assistance of Bushcare – a
program of the Commonwealth Government’s Natural
Heritage Trust. The FloraBank partners are Greening
Australia, CSIRO Forestry and Forest Products through the
Australian Tree Seed Centre, and the Australian National
Botanic Gardens. FloraBank is funded by the Bushcare
program of the Natural Heritage Trust and operates under
the Agreement between the Commonwealth of Australia
and Greening Australia Limited in relation to financial
assistance for FloraBank.

© FloraBank 1999
Your Comment This document is copyright. However, you may use
material from the document for your personal, public or
The FloraBank guidelines are a consolidation of commercial use provided that you ensure that the source of
this material is clearly referenced to the FloraBank authors.
existing information and draw on the practices
You may not, however, modify, alter or edit any material
observed at seedbanks across Australia as well as the from the document without the express prior written
expertise and technical understanding of the permission of FloraBank.

Australian Tree Seed Centre at CSIRO Forestry

Disclaimer
and Forest Products, Greening Australia’s The information contained in this document is provided
Seedbanks and the Australian National Botanic for the purpose of general use only and should not be relied
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as is known by the authors, best practices. on the basis of any material in this guideline. The
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However, they are drafts because we recognise that
whatsoever resulting from any person’s use or reliance upon
other people may have better approaches, and that the content of this guideline.
best practices change with time. Also, our climate
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