Our Policy
Collections Policy
Introduction: The purpose of the Collections Policy is to guide
the development and management of the plant collections of the D.A. Murphy
Panhandle Arboretum. The collections will be used for display, educational
and research objectives. The collections are to be consistent with the
purpose of the Arboretum as set forth in the mission statement developed
by the Arboretum Committee, which reads as follows:
The mission of the University of Nebraska D.A. Murphy Arboretum is to
develop and demonstrate a sustainable, appropriate landscape at the University
of Nebraska Complex; and to improve the quality of life for people of the
Panhandle by serving as an educational and motivational resource.
The responsibility for the establishment of the collections policy is
vested in the Arboretum Committee. The Arboretum’s curators are responsible
for defining and administering the policy.
General Policy
In keeping with the stated mission, the Arboretum’s plant collection
will reflect the diversity of plant material and plant communities which
can thrive in western Nebraska, including both native and adapted plant
material. Native plants are those considered to be native to the surrounding
region (western Great Plains). Adapted plants are defined as those able
to grow under the natural conditions encountered at the Arboretum (soils,
precipitation, temperatures, wind, etc.) or requiring only minimum maintenance
to do so. Preference should be given to plants which are relatively pest
and disease-free in the area and thus require little or no pesticides.
Instead of planting one of everything that will grow, the Arboretum
will focus on a manageable and easily interpreted collection that will:
1) help make the Arboretum unique within the NSA system; 2) will have significant
value with the local audience; and 3) will make a contribution to the statewide
collection. The best and easiest to maintain plants should continue to
be emphasized by repetitive use in the Arboretum. Care should be taken
to avoid plants that can be considered invasive in the local environment.
Such plants would have the potential to escape cultivation and overtake
native plant communities.
Collection Goals
Goals were established to help give focus to the plant collection of
the Arboretum. In addition to providing site continuity, a focused collection
is beneficial for several reasons including:
1) valuable resources are not wasted collecting plant material of little
relevance to the mission;
2) site interpretation and education is easier to convey to the general
public;
3) a collection can be developed that helps make the site unique;
4) acceptance or denial of plants given as gifts is grounded in policy
and reason; and
5) plants grouped according to appropriate collection goals are easier
to maintain.
The principal goals of the collection are as follows.
Goal 1: All existing plants will be evaluated, accessioned and incorporated
into the collection records. Accessioning records will be developed and
updated as needed.
Goal 2: The Arboretum collection will benefit school groups who will
be less interested in specific species and more interested in use, interpretation
and appreciation of the natural environment.
Goal 3: Additions to the collection will only be added when space is
available and maintenance capabilities allow.
Goal 4: Specific taxonomic or functional groups to be considered for
expansion will include: evergreen trees including the genera Pinus, Picea
and Abies; native and well-adapted shrubs for general landscape use as
well as for wildlife habitat; under-utilized flowering perennials and other
herbaceous ornamentals; Xeriscape appropriate plants; and drought tolerant
shade and ornamental trees, among others.
Goal 5: Areas will be developed with appropriate native grass and forb
collections as resources allow.
Acquisition of Plants
Plant taxa may be acquired by purchase, gift, or field collection.
The Arboretum Curators, in consultation with the Committee, will approve
all acquisitions. Acquisitions must meet all of the following criteria:
• The taxon is considered adaptable to the site and relates to the
purpose of the Arboretum.
• The taxon comes from an environment which indicates that it may be
grown at the Arboretum under reasonable cultural practices.
• The Arboretum can properly care for the acquisition in terms of staff,
facilities, space in the garden, and money for upkeep.
• The source of the taxon is known.
• The taxon has no known objectionable characteristics according to
the judgment of the Curator.
Gifts of Living Plants
Monetary donations for general Arboretum development and maintenance
are strongly encouraged and greatly appreciated. Direct donations of plant
material, however, are not encouraged and will not be accepted unless approved
by the Arboretum Committee and only when maintenance resources allow.
Monetary donations made specifically for plant material acquisition
will be accepted with the following conditions:
• Plant material will be chosen by the Arboretum Curators and/or Committee
or selected by the donor from a list of desired plants that meet the criteria
for acquisitions. The Arboretum Curator will select and/or approve the
source and/or commercial plant provider if applicable.
• The cost of a donation will include additional charges for labeling
and to help cover the cost of long-term maintenance and/or replacement.
The additional money collected will be placed in an on-going maintenance
fund.
• The donation cost of plants is $500 for shade and evergreen trees,
$400 for ornamental and under-story trees & $200 for shrubs and vines.
• Any gift of $1,000 or more will be recognized on an engraving attached
to the donor/memorial plaque located inside the main entrance of the Research
Center building. Donors will not be recognized on the labels of individual
plants. • Named collections within the Arboretum may be established with
a gift of $10,000 or more.
• Herbaceous plants can be donated without additional charge as long
as they are needed and approved by the Arboretum Curator or Committee.
• The Arboretum will not accept any gift that is restricted as to its
exhibition, attribution, or retention in the collections.
Rejection of gifts will include an explanation that these plants are,
by Arboretum Committee policy, not acceptable at the present time for inclusion
in the collections. The Arboretum Committee will not make appraisals of
gifts.
Extensive gifts of plants or collections must be accompanied by a sufficient
endowment to enable curatorial and general maintenance. The Arboretum Committee
must approve these gifts and has the right to waive the endowment requirements.
Accessioning and Plant Records
The Arboretum’s plant collection will consist of all trees, shrubs
and herbaceous perennials located within the landscaped portion of the
complex (area around the buildings and parking lots). All woody plants
in the collection will be accessioned. Large groups of a single species,
such as a mass planting of shrubs, can be accessioned as one record with
appropriate notations.
The Curator is responsible for development and management of a plant
records system. Summaries of accession, deaccession, and evaluation activities
will be regularly reported to the Arboretum Committee and at least once
a year to the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum.
The plant records system of the Arboretum should include but not be
limited to the following components:
A. Accession Records
1. Botanical Name
2. Source of Material if known
3. Accession Number
4. General Location at the Arboretum
5. Date of Acquisition
B. Deaccession Records
1. Date of Deaccession
2. Reason for Deaccessioning.
C. Inventory Records
D. Mapping Records
E. Evaluation
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