[PCA] QUESTION: Wildflower Seed Postcards

[Olivia Kwong]

I thought I'd just bring this up as an interesting topic for discussion.

The Alien Plant Working Group Chair, Jil Swearingen, recently got an 
e-mail from a bookstore manager for two National Park Service National 
Monuments about wildflower seed postcards.  Although the product in 
question instructs the buyer not to open it within National Parks, it also 
said that the packets can be sent & planted in most parts of the world. 
The species used for the product being discussed were Wild Iris, Indian 
Blanketflower, Primrose, Indian Paintbrush, and Blue Columbine.  However, 
quick Google search shows that all sorts of companies sell similar 
postcards with a variety of species and I know I've seen cards made from 
plantable paper with seeds embedded in the fibers.  I know that people 
already trade seeds for things via postal mail, but postcard products like 
these have the potential to become popular with the general public and 
increase planting of seeds outside their natural areas.  There's also the 
invasiveness question as well.

Anyone have any thoughts about the matter or know of any regulations that 
come into play here?  It seems like it would be nearly impossible to 
enforce rules for mailed postcards because they might not be easily 
detected.

Olivia
CPC/PCA
http://www.nps.gov/plants/