Seed Quiz

The VCS is just one of the ways that Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria is safeguarding the future of plants. What does the acronym VCS stand for?

• A Volunteers Coordinating Seeds
• B Volunteer Collection Society
• C Victorian Conservation Seedbank
• D Victorian Climate Solution

Raising Rarity is a school program connecting students with the conservation of rare and threatened Victorian plant species. What plant does NOT have its seeds harvested in the Raising Rarity program?

• A Anigozanthos flavidus (Kangaroo Paw)
• B Xerochrysum palustre (Swamp Everlasting)
• C Craspedia canens (Grey billy-button)

The Research Garden at Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne is where our science and horticulture staff can test ways to care for plants. How are seeds typically collected in the Research Garden?

• A By shaking the plant over a bucket
• B By tying a small bag around the plant head
• C By individually tweezing the seeds off

Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria hosts one of the largest collections of fungi specimens in the southern hemisphere. Do fungi have seeds?

• A No, fungi have spores
• B Yes, depending on the species

The Victorian Conservation Seedbank stores the seeds and spores of native Victorian plants. Roughly how many seed collections does the Seedbank hold?

• A 2,200
• B 1,900
• C 870
• D 2,300

Seeds ready for long-term storage at the Victorian Conservation Seedbank are also held in duplicate at a partner organisation. Where are the duplicates held?

• A Svalbard Global Seed Vault (Svalbard, Norway)
• B Millennium Seed Bank (Sussex, UK)
• C National Laboratory for Genetic Resources Preservation (Colorado, USA)
• D Vavilov Institute (St Petersburg, Russia)

Preservation of seeds is an essential component of the Victorian Conservation Seedbank, ensuring seeds remain viable for future conservation. How are seeds preserved in the Seedbank?

• A Hydrated in petri dishes
• B Cleaned and dried in cryostorage
• C Kept exactly as they were found in cryostorage