The cultivation of Primula palinuri Petagna for ex situ conservation: lessons learned from the Royal Rotterdam Zoological and Botanical Gardens

Abstract

Primula palinuri Petagna is an endangered species endemic to a tiny coastal area in southern Italy. Investigating the possibility of growing and propagating this endangered species with ex situ actions should be encouraged, as this could provide a second line of security for rare plants by allowing specimens to be grown in the absence of natural environmental challenges. Currently, the Royal Rotterdam Zoological and Botanical Gardens (RRZBG) hold 31 accessions of P. palinuri, which represents an ex situ collection with potential value for conservation programmes. Over the years, horticulturists at RRZBG have created a solid protocol to produce viable seeds through hand-pollination techniques, thus allowing conservation programmes for this species to become more effective. In this article the cultivation of the species is described, including information on seed germination, general maintenance, cultivation to flowering stage and propagation from the resulting seeds.