Future of our botany lies in plant bank at Mt Annan: photos

By Jodie Duffy
Updated April 20 2014 - 10:55pm, first published April 18 2014 - 3:03pm
Graeme Errington in the new PlantBank building at the Australian Botanic Gardens at Mount Annan. Pictures: ROBERT PEET
Graeme Errington in the new PlantBank building at the Australian Botanic Gardens at Mount Annan. Pictures: ROBERT PEET
Bathed in a violet glow, John Siemon strides into the cool room of the concrete bunker, pulling on gloves and a thick jacket – an occupational necessity at the PlantBank. Picture: ROBERT PEET
Bathed in a violet glow, John Siemon strides into the cool room of the concrete bunker, pulling on gloves and a thick jacket – an occupational necessity at the PlantBank. Picture: ROBERT PEET
Kangaroo grass frames the new PlantBank building at the Australian Botanic Gardens at Mount Annan. Picture: ROBERT PEET
Kangaroo grass frames the new PlantBank building at the Australian Botanic Gardens at Mount Annan. Picture: ROBERT PEET
The new PlantBank building at the Australian Botanic Gardens at Mount Annan. Picture: ROBERT PEET
The new PlantBank building at the Australian Botanic Gardens at Mount Annan. Picture: ROBERT PEET
The new PlantBank building at the Australian Botanic Gardens at Mount Annan. Picture: ROBERT PEET
The new PlantBank building at the Australian Botanic Gardens at Mount Annan. Picture: ROBERT PEET
Behind the glass windows are three vaults storing 100 million seeds in temperatures ranging between four to minus 20 degrees. Picture: ROBERT PEET
Behind the glass windows are three vaults storing 100 million seeds in temperatures ranging between four to minus 20 degrees. Picture: ROBERT PEET
One of the oldest flowering plants, the amborella is a primitive shrub from New Caledonia. Pictures: ROBERT PEET
One of the oldest flowering plants, the amborella is a primitive shrub from New Caledonia. Pictures: ROBERT PEET
Seeds come in all shapes, colours and sizes. Each one needs its own special event in order to germinate, such as a bushfire or cold temperatures. Picture: ROBERT PEET
Seeds come in all shapes, colours and sizes. Each one needs its own special event in order to germinate, such as a bushfire or cold temperatures. Picture: ROBERT PEET
Visitors and school students can view scientists at work in their glass walled laboratories. Picture: ROBERT PEET
Visitors and school students can view scientists at work in their glass walled laboratories. Picture: ROBERT PEET
This rainforest species, was collected at the end of last year from a volcanic peak in the Tweed Valley. Picture: ROBERT PEET
This rainforest species, was collected at the end of last year from a volcanic peak in the Tweed Valley. Picture: ROBERT PEET
Graeme Errington, with an x-ray of acacia fimbriata seeds showing how many are fertile and how many were corrupted. Picture: ROBERT PEET
Graeme Errington, with an x-ray of acacia fimbriata seeds showing how many are fertile and how many were corrupted. Picture: ROBERT PEET
Seeds come in all shapes, colours and sizes. Each one needs its own special event in order to germinate such as a bushfire or cold temperatures. Picture: ROBERT PEET
Seeds come in all shapes, colours and sizes. Each one needs its own special event in order to germinate such as a bushfire or cold temperatures. Picture: ROBERT PEET
The new PlantBank building at the Australian Botanic Gardens at Mount Annan. Picture: ROBERT PEET
The new PlantBank building at the Australian Botanic Gardens at Mount Annan. Picture: ROBERT PEET
Graeme Errington in the new PlantBank building at the Australian Botanic Gardens at Mount Annan. Pictures: ROBERT PEET
Graeme Errington in the new PlantBank building at the Australian Botanic Gardens at Mount Annan. Pictures: ROBERT PEET
The largest seed in the world the coco de mer, or sea coconut greets visitors in the foyer, above tiny jars house seeds dating back 150 years old. Picture: ROBERT PEET
The largest seed in the world the coco de mer, or sea coconut greets visitors in the foyer, above tiny jars house seeds dating back 150 years old. Picture: ROBERT PEET
Graeme Errington in the new PlantBank building at the Australian Botanic Gardens at Mount Annan. Pictures: ROBERT PEET
Graeme Errington in the new PlantBank building at the Australian Botanic Gardens at Mount Annan. Pictures: ROBERT PEET
The new PlantBank building at the Australian Botanic Gardens at Mount Annan. Picture: ROBERT PEET
The new PlantBank building at the Australian Botanic Gardens at Mount Annan. Picture: ROBERT PEET
The new PlantBank building at the Australian Botanic Gardens at Mount Annan. Picture: ROBERT PEET
The new PlantBank building at the Australian Botanic Gardens at Mount Annan. Picture: ROBERT PEET

Bathed in a violet glow, John Siemon strides into the cool room of the concrete bunker, pulling on gloves and a thick jacket - an occupational necessity at the PlantBank.

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