Navigation for Our Changing World

Native seed bank

The New Zealand Indigenous Flora Seed Bank is a project to collect and store seeds from New Zealand flora.

A native broom, or Carmichaelia, seed still attached to part of the seed pod - this species has a water impermeable seed coat and should store well. Photo Robert Southward / Massey University

Kohekohe flowers and unripe fruit. Photo Robert Southward / Massey University

Kohekohe seeds are held inside a fleshy capsule, and are difficult to dry and store. Photo Robert Southward / Massey University

Kowhai seed showing the water impermeable seed coat. Photo Robert Southward / Massey University

Wharangi, or Melicope turnata, seeds. Photo Alison Ballance

Vanessa Angster seed collecting at Baring Head, near Wellington. Photo Jessica Schnell / Massey University

Jessica Schnell and Craig McGill look after the native seed bank. Photo Alison Ballance

An x-ray of lowland ribbonwood, or Plagianthus regius, seeds. Photo Jessica Schnell / Massey University

The images in this gallery are used with permission and are subject to copyright conditions.