SEPASAL

The Survey of Economic Plants for Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (SEPASAL) is a database and enquiry service held at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, UK. Initiated in 1981, it has established itself as a major source of information on dry- land plants. Kew has recently received extra funds to expand the database, which now contains information on approximately 6,000 useful dryland species, excluding major crops. The SEPASAL database is widely used by aid agencies, development organizations, governmental and non-governmental organizations and individual research workers and growers. The data includes: scientific name (including synonyms); plant family, vernacular and trade names, plant description; geographical distribution (to country or state level) and status (native or introduced, etc.); distribution map; conservation status; life cycle and regeneration; uses of plants; use-related properties and chemical analysis; ecological data including climatic tolerances, soil preferences, topography and associated species; physiology; cultivation details, pests and diseases; production; seed sources; and colour images. With the unique resources of Kew at its disposal, the SEPASAL team is currently revising and increasing the information available. The expanded database will allow more accurate assessments of the economic value and potential of individual plant species. It will also enable the handling of a wider range of enquiries in more detail than was previously possible. Requests for information should be made on the Enquiry. Forms which SEPASAL provides, and should include as much detail as possible, such as: information on the type of plant; the environmental parameters concerned; the uses required of the plants; and the country or area. The more detailed the enquiry, the more accurate will be the response. No charges will normally be made for information supplied to NGOs involved in development. However, SEPASAL charges commercial enquirers, consultancies and third parties who have secured funds for data acquisition. At present, requests should be made in writing, but SEPASAL is looking at CD-ROM and other electronic media as options for the future. Licensing agreements for the specially developed software are also a possibility. SEPASAL depends on feedback from its users, and welcomes the results of field trials or other research on species of potential value. A short questionnaire (also available from the address below) helps SEPASAL to match its priorities to those of its users. SEPASAL Centre for Economic Botany Royal Botanic Gardens Kew Richmond Surrey TW9 3AE, UK Tel: +44 181 332 5772/5773 Fax: +44 181 332 5768 E-mail: [email protected]. uk http://www.rbgkew.org.uk/ceb/sepasal.html

The Survey of Economic Plants for Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (SEPASAL) is a database and enquiry service held at the RoyalBotanic Gardens, Kew, UK. Initiated in 1981, it has established itself as a major source of information on dry- land plants.Kew...