Re: Flowers in the museum

["Mary W. Ballard" <BallardM@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

There may be several problems with flowers in the museum but the importance of the problem may depend upon the type of collection--flowers or flowering branches may harbor a few insects, but they can also attract insects, specifically adult carpet beetles. These dermestid are programmed to come to meet each other at the site of certain flowers. Other insects, like drugstore beetles and cigarette beetles eat dried flowers petals. Problems like allergies may also occur. The pollen of impatiens, for example, can disperse widely. Finally, even non-flowering plants present a problem. Aspergillus niger is reported to do very well on the potting soil/peat mixtures used for indoor plants; aspergillus niger is an allergen for some people. Mary Ballard