FLORAL GEMS: SOUTH AFRICAN PLANTS MEAN U.S. OPPORTUNITY        


                                             Release No.0365.97
                                                               
                                   Laura Trivers (202) 720-4623
                                         laura.trivers@usda.gov
                                   Maria Bynum   (202) 720-5192
                                           maria.bynum@usda.gov

FLORAL GEMS: SOUTH AFRICAN PLANTS MEAN U.S. OPPORTUNITY

     WASHINGTON, Oct. 16, 1997--The largest collection of South African
flowers ever assembled in the United States will be displayed Oct.17 through
Nov.16 at the U.S. National Arboretum. The exhibit features the cream of
South Africa's floral beauty, including the breathtaking King Protea and
several exotic flowers never seen before in this country.

     This special exhibit highlights cooperative floral research between
U.S. Department of Agriculture scientists and their South African colleagues
-- part of the U.S.-South Africa Binational Commission initiated by Vice
President Al Gore and South Africa Deputy President Thabo Mbeki in 1994.
     
     "I have visited South Africa many times and am always struck by that
country's natural beauty," Gore said.  "I'm encouraged that this partnership
will allow Americans to enjoy the beauty of South Africa's flowers and that
our technology will help the South Africans preserve their land and its
native plants."

     The South African Agricultural Research Council (ARC) named a creamy-white Star of Bethlehem lily "Tipper" after Mrs. Tipper Gore in appreciation
of the Vice President's environmental focus and efforts to foster trade
relations between America and South Africa.   The exotic hybrid will be
unveiled during a special ceremony that begins at 7:00 p.m. today at the
Arboretum which is part of the Agricultural Research Service, USDA's chief
research agency. 

     The U.S.-South Africa agreement provides a framework for collaboration
in agriculture, business development, energy, environmental issues, human
resources, education and technology to benefit both countries and strengthen
democracy in South Africa. 

     Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman said, "Florists often consider
exotic blooms too large or too costly for everyday use and instead reserve
these floral gems for big displays at hotels or special events.  But
cooperative research between scientists at USDA's National Arboretum and
researchers in South Africa could lead to greater variety in the shapes and
sizes of exotic flowers." 

     "This partnership will provide American florists and their customers
with these stunning flowers and also provide rural South Africans with the
technology they need to help protect South Africa's delicate ecosystem,"
Glickman said. "Clearly, such scientific cooperation benefits both of our
countries."

     For centuries, rural communities on South Africa's Cape have harvested
flowers from the wild and sold them in the streets.  South Africa's
wildflower industry provides an income for 20,000 people.  


     But ecologists warn that over-harvesting wild flowers depletes seed
reserves, tramples plants and disturbs the soil. 

     As part of the joint research, Elton John Jefthas of ARC's Fynbos Unit
will come to the United States to learn cutting-edge floriculture techniques
from the National  Arboretum scientists.  Upon his return to South Africa,
Jefthas will pass the techniques on to local growers.

     The research agreement could also have implications far beyond
floriculture. South Africa is home to 10 percent of the world's plant
species on only 1 percent of the earth's land mass. About 100 different
botanical products are currently harvested from its wild areas, many with
medicinal value.  The research agreement opens the door to studying and
preserving South Africa's wild plants and their untapped pharmaceutical and
industrial treasures.

                                 

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