[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 92 (Friday, July 15, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: July 15, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
           THE NORTH CAROLINA ARBORETUM: A NATIONAL TREASURE

                                 ______


                         HON. CHARLES H. TAYLOR

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 14, 1994

  Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, North Carolina's 11th 
Congressional District is home to many national treasures, including 
the Blue Ridge Parkway, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the 
cradle of forestry, and the Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests. The 
district is also home to the North Carolina Arboretum, itself the home 
of the National Native Azalea Repository. I'm pleased to share an 
article from the 1993 edition of Diversity magazine.

                    [From Diversity magazine, 1993]

   North Carolina Arboretum Houses National Native Azalea Repository

                            (By Rich Owings)

       The North Carolina Arboretum is home to the National Native 
     Azalea Repository, a germplasm collection focusing on the 17 
     species of azaleas native to the United States and North 
     America. Eleven of these species are found within 100 miles 
     of the arboretum's location in Asheville, North Carolina.
       The repository is the result of suggestions made by John L. 
     Creech and David Dean during a visit to The North Carolina 
     Arboretum in 1988. Dr. Creech, a renowned plant explorer and 
     retired director of the National Arboretum in Washington, 
     D.C., is currently a member of The North Carolina Arboretum 
     Board of Directors. He served as the interim director of the 
     North Carolina Arboretum until George Briggs was hired as 
     director in 1987. David Dean was an active member of the 
     American Rhododendron Society and an avid grower and 
     collector of the genus prior to his death in 1991.


           collection to be treasury of u.s. azalea germplasm

       The National Native Azalea Repository is intended to be the 
     most complete collection of azalea germplasm for those 
     species native to the United States. This collection will be 
     of maximum interest to many user groups: azalea enthusiasts, 
     botanists, researchers, nurserymen, and plant breeders. The 
     varieties that create the best floral display will be planted 
     in the core garden areas where up to one million visitors a 
     year are expected to see them.
       Systematic collection activities have centered on the 
     genetic variation found within native azaleas. Examples of 
     each species and more than 80 botanical and cultivated 
     varieties are being grown in the arboretum's nursery and will 
     be moved in the near future to a site within the Scientific 
     and Botanical Plant Collections Area alongside Bent Creek. 
     The site includes native stands of Rhododendron arborescens 
     and R. calendulaceum and encompasses various habitats 
     including rocky slopes, rich bottomland, wet drainage 
     channels, and riparian sites.
       Various levels of taxa will be featured in the repository. 
     Species material will include individuals with different 
     morphological characteristics, botanical varieties, and 
     representatives of the various habitats and segments of each 
     of the 17 species ranges.
       Within each species, cultivated varieties will also be 
     included. There are over 140 known cultivars and selections 
     in this group, including 36 clones of the flame azalea 
     (Rhododendron calendulaceum).


                 hybrids a valuable part of collection

       Hybrids between the various native species will also be 
     displayed. A search of existing literature has revealed 146 
     named varieties of interspecific hybrids. Rhododendron 
     arborescens and R. bakeri figure most prominently in these 
     crosses.
       Featured are naturally occurring hybrid populations, such 
     as the famous hybrid swarm on Gregory Bald in the Great Smoky 
     Mountains National Park, where Rhododendron arborescens, R. 
     bakeri and R. viscosum have interbred to form a hybrid 
     complex which is a unique naturally occurring floral display. 
     Working under a collection permit with the Great Smoky 
     Mountains National Park, staff members of The North Carolina 
     Arboretum have conducted expeditions for the past two years 
     to document representative and superior individuals on 
     Gregory Bald. The staff has collected seed and cuttings for 
     asexual propagation of selected clonal material. Through 
     these efforts an ex situ collection of these plants will be 
     established at The North Carolina Arboretum.
       New selections and hybrids are being named and released 
     each year, and the arboretum intends to add new selections to 
     the repository as they become available.


           collection offers ample opportunities for research

       This complex group of plants offers many opportunities for 
     research. On a botanical level, collection activities lend 
     themselves to the study of morphological differences at the 
     various extremes of each species' natural range. The study of 
     botanical varieties, her-barium development, exploration of 
     naturally occurring hybrid swarms in addition to the stand at 
     Gregory Bald, and the development of morphology-based non-
     floral keys are additional possibilities.
       Another research avenue would be to utilize genetic 
     fingerprinting technologies to determine the species' 
     parentage of undocumented hybrids, including the 
     taxonomically confused group at Gregory Bald. Such a tool 
     could also be used for the verification and documentation of 
     our collection.
       A further use for this technology would be to conduct 
     genetic studies on the relationships between native and Asian 
     species. Through the use of arboretum facilities, such as the 
     planned laboratory complex at the Horticultural Support 
     Facilities. The North Carolina Arboretum would like to 
     support and encourage such research.


                       plant development programs

       The North Carolina Arboretum is currently initiating a 
     Plant Development Program which will include selection, 
     introduction, and distribution components. Possible avenues 
     of development for the native azalea group include the 
     evaluation of currently available cultivars for superior 
     performance and the selection of outstanding clones from the 
     Gregory Bald site. Because of the large numbers of hybrid 
     azaleas currently available and the number of active azalea 
     breeders working with native species, it is doubtful that an 
     actual azalea breeding program will be established as part of 
     our plant development efforts. This does not preclude 
     selection work utilizing existing clones to search for such 
     desirable characteristics as summer bloom time and fragrance.

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