hooha

I personally think that it's not hard enough. If you would like to compare the BAP and the AHAP programs again, there are 2 Grand Masters in the BAP program. I suspect it took many years to reach GM for the BAP program. Right now there are potentially 2 grand masters for the AHAP program. Obviously they are very deserving given their knowledge and contribution to local hobbyists (and I'm not an arse-kissing type). It would be relatively easier for a collectoritis fiend like me to gain the requirements for GM in AHAP compared to a similar person in the BAP program, and honestly I still don't know what I'm doing.

It's going to be a pain in the arse, but I suggest we re-evaluate target species yearly given rapid flux in the plant hobby (case in point - P. helferi and L. sp. "guinea" 6 months ago were extremely difficult to get and propogate, now they are relatively easy to acquire and less difficult than other species. Also look at Blyxa japonica - 1 year ago it was very difficult to get, now it's hard to give it away at the AHAP auctions).

My suggestions for the requirements:

Senior Aquatic Horticulturist: a total of 600 points plus the following:
• three (3) completed classes
• five (5) flowerings
• one (1) sexual reproduction
• two (2) articles, oral presentations, or artworks published in the newsletter.
• one (1) Target species propogated

Expert Aquatic Horticulturalist: a total of 1000 points plus the following:
• five (5) completed classes
• eight ( flowerings
• two (2) sexual reproductions
• four (4) articles, oral presentations, or artworks published in the newsletter.
• 3 (three) Target species propagated.

Master Aquatic Horticulturist: a total of 1500 points plus the following:
• eight (8 ) completed classes
• fifteen (15) flowerings
• five (5) sexual reproductions
• six (6) articles, oral presentations, or artworks published in the newsletter.
• five (5) Target species propagated.

Grand Master Aquatic Horticulturist: a total of 3000 points plus the following:
• completion of all classes
• thirty (30) flowerings
• ten (10) sexual reproductions
• eight (8 ) articles, oral presentations, or artworks published in the newsletter.
• Ten (10) Target species propagated.

madmax

Efren. I agree with you. I think that we need to make it more difficult once you get to senior and above. I think when Bill, Cavan, and myself redid the requirements we were afraid to make it too difficult. I think the requirements should go more along the lines of what you just proposed. It should take a lot of time and hard work to get to Grand Master.

Tim

BillW

Remember its not just the level requirements, we have lowered the point value for many plants, increased the requirements to complete the classes and added a new class that must be completed to reach Grand Master.
The proposed new classes are:

Class Listings
The number of species required to complete a class are listed in parenthesis after the class description.
Class A - Most Small Surface & Near Surface Type Plants (6 species)
Small plants floating on the surface of the water. They typically have some parts reduced (roots, stems, or leaves) and for nourishment they are dependent on dissolved matter in the water. They are free floating and do not root to any substrate.

5 points: All Lemna species, Spirodella polyrhiza, Riccia fluitans, Wolffia arrhiza, all species not mentioned in other point groups.
10 points: Azolla caroliniana, Limnobium stoloniferum, Limnobium spongia, Limnobium laevigatum, Salvinia auriculata
15 points: Salvinia auriculata
20 points: Salvinia cucullata
Targets: None.


Class B - Most Large Surface & Free Floating Type Plants (6 species)
Larger floating plants. Some have floating leaves exposed to the air and others like Ceratophyllum stay submerged but do not form true roots.

5 points: All Ceratophyllum species, Utricularia gibba
10 points: Ludwigia helminthorrhiza, Ludwigia sediodes, all species not mentioned in other point groups.
15 points: Pistia stratiotes and all Eichhornia species,
20 points: All free floating Utricularia species not mentioned in other point groups.
Targets: Aldrovanda vesiculosa


Class C -All Sagittaria & Vallisernia Type Plants (6 species)
These are submersed plants with long leaves which are thread-shaped or ribbon-shaped, creating a rosette. They root on the bottom and flower on the surface of the water with the exception of male Vallisneria flowers.

5 points: Vallisneria spiralis
10 points: Eleocharis acicularis, Eleocharis parvula, Eleocharis vivipara, Sagittaria eatonii, Sagittaria graminea, Sagittaria subulata v. subulata, Vallisneria asiatica, Vallisneria americana, Vallisneria gigantea, Vallisneria natans, all species not mentioned in other groups
15 points: Subularia aquatica
20 points: Blyxa aubertii, Cyperus helferi
Targets: Blyxa japonica and Blyxa novoguineensis


Class D - All Anubias, Aponogeton & Cryptocoryne Type Plants (6 species)
Rosette plants with their leaves submersed and with distinct petioles.

5 points: None
10 points: All species not mentioned in other groups.
15 points: Aponogeton ulvaceus, Aponogeton undulatus, all Anubias species and all Cryptocoryne species not mentioned in other groups.
20 points: All Aponogeton species not mentioned in other groups (except A. didistachyus in Class F) and all Lagenandra species.
Targets: Aponogeton berierianus, and Aponogeton madagascariensis, Cryptocoryne nuri and Cryptocoryne auriculata, Ottelia alismoides and Ottelia ulvifolia


Class E - All Amazon Sword and Crinum Plants (5 species)
Rosette and bulb type plants.

5 points: None.
10 points: Echinodorus tenellus and all species not mentioned in other groups.
15 points: Crinum aquatica, Crinum natans, Crinum thaianum and all Echinodorus species not mentioned in other groups.
20 points: Samolus parviflorus
Targets: None


Class F - Water Lily Type Plants (3 species)
Plants which root in the mud with the roots growing from a stout rootstock. The leaves have long petioles (stems) and they float on the surface of the water. The flowers are on the surface of the water, and the fruits sink after ripening.

5 points: Aponogeton distachyus
10 points:, all species not mentioned in other groups.
15 points: Barclaya longifolia, all Nupar species, all Nymphaea species and Nymphoides aquatica.
20 points: All species of Orontium.
Targets: All species of Brasenia.


Class G - Stem Plants (10 species)
Plants with long stems with leaves which root in the mud. They are dependent on life in the water, but at the same time can have contact with the air. (floating leaves, immersed part of the stem and the blossoms). The roots must remain moist, but the stems can grow in or out of the water. Many aquarium species belong to this group.

5 points: all Elodea species, Hygrophilia polysperma
10 points: All Hygrophilia species (except H. polysperma) and all species not mentioned in other groups.
15 points: Cabomba caroliniana, Ludwigia glandulosa and all Myriophyllum species.
20 points: Hottonia palustris, , Eichhornia diversifolia, Eichhornia azurea, Ammania species, Nesaea pedicillata, Cabomba furcata and Cabomba aquatica
Targets: Ludwigia inclinata, Eusteralis stellata, Rotala wallichi, Rotala macrandra, Nesaea sp “red”, Blyxa alternifolia


Class H - Most Bog Type Plants (8 species)
Shore plants living only in the partly emerged and terrestrial phases and bog plants. They typically have a short submerged stage. Normally grows with the water level below the surface, but the roots must reach the water level. The leaves are normally out of the water, but can tolerate being submerged for prolonged periods of time
5 points: Sparganium species
10 points: All species not mentioned in other groups.
15 points: Limnacharis flava
20 points:
Targets: Regnellidium diphyllum


Class I - All Marine Plants (3 Green, 1 Red, 1 Brown, 2 vascular)
Marine Macroalga (Green, Red & Brown) and Grasses. Macroalga are large enough to be easily seen and examined. Microalga, which are not eligible include the many microscopic, mostly single-celled forms. The vascular marine plants are mostly flowering grasses. Some of these grasses can also tolerate brackish water, but all are included here.

Red Macro Algae (Rhodophyta)
5 points: None.
10 points: Galaxaura marginata
15 points: Galaxaura oblongata
20 points: All species of red macroalga not included in other point classes.
Targets: Acanthophora spicifera, Anotrichum barbatum, Asparagopsis taxiformis, Callithamnion cordatum, All Chondria species, All Dasya species, Dictyurus accidentalis,
Griffithsia globulifera, All Jania species, Martensia pavonia, and Trichogloepsis pedicellata

Green Macro Algae
5 points: Caulerpa mexicana, C. prolifera, C. racemosa var. peltata, C. racemosa var. racemosa, C. serularioides, C. toxifolia, Chaetomorpha linum, Enteromorpha flexuosa,
10 points: All Bryopsis species, Caulerpa crassifolia, C. lanuginosa, C. serrulata, & C. taxifolia, all Chadtomorpha species, Cladophora prolifera, all Chaetomorpha species not in other groups, and Codium decorticatum
15 points: Batophora oerstedii, Caulerpa cupressoides & C. verticillata, all Chadtomorpha species, all Cladocephalus species, Codium repens, Dasycladus vermicularis, Dictyophaeria cavernosa, Neomeris annulata, All Penicillus species, All Rhipilea species, and All Ulva species
20 points: All species of green macroalga not mentioned in other point classes
Targets: All Chamaedons species, Cymopolia barbarta, Halimeda lacrimosa & H. opuntia, Ulvarua oxysperma,


Brown Macro Algae
5 points: None.
10 points: None.
15 points: None.
20 points: All species of brown macroalga not mentioned in other point classes.
Targets: Dictyota bartayresii, D. divaricata & D. linearis, Lobophora variegata, Rosenvingea intricata,and All Turbinaria species

Marine Vascular plants
5 points:
10 points: Thalassia testudinim and all species of marine plants vascuclar plants not mentioned in other groups.
15 points: Halophila englemannii
20 points: Halophila decipiens
Targets: Any species reproduced by sexual reproduction; producing flowers, seeds and seedlings. [[[This must be more specific]]]


Class J – Creeping Shoot Plants (5 species)
This class includes low growing plants that spread by a creeping shoot bearing a new leaf at a regular interval.

5 points: Marsilia quadrifolia, Marsilea mutica.
10 points: Hydrocotyle leucocephala, Hydrocotyle verticillata, Lilaeopsis brasiliensis, Lilaeopsis mauritiana, Lilaeopsis novae-zealandiae, Marsilia crenata, Marsilia drummondii, Ranunculus limosella, Sellaria radicans, all plants not mentioned in other groups.
15 points: Elatine triandra, Glossostigma diandra, Glossostigma elatinoides,
20 points: Hydrocotyle vulgaris, Hydrocotyle sibthorpiodes, Marsilea species, Pilularia species, Utricularia tricolor
Targets: None.

Class K – Aquatic Ferns and Mosses (6 species)
This class contains all aquatic ferns and mosses not listed in other categories. All species herein grow under water as a normal circumstance.

5 points: Vesicularia dubyana, all species of Ceratopterus, all species of Microsorium
10 points: Bolbitis heudelotii,
15 points: Bolbitis heteroclita, Fontinalis antipyretica
20 points: None.
Targets: All species of Isotes.


Class L Native Plants (7 species)
Any freshwater or brackish species that is endemic to any of the 50 states in the US. It cannot be an introduced species.
[[[To be done: list the species point values and move natives from other classes to this one.]]]
5 points:
10 points:
15 points:
20 points:
Targets:

BillW

We are also planning to make changes to the rules text. The proposed new rules are:

AHAP Rules

PURPOSE
The purpose of the Aquatic Horticultural Award Program (AHAP) is: to promote the keeping and propagation of aquatic plants, aid in the recognition of plant species, encourage research, through the growth and propagation of different species, recognize achievements of individuals through awards, and disseminate information through GPASI’s Finformation and through the general meetings.

AQUATIC PLANT DEFINED
An aquatic plant is one that exists in a submerged or floating state as a normal occurrence at some time during the course of any one complete growing season.
The main identification books which will be used for the AHAP program will be Baensch Aquarium Atlas volumes 1-3 and Aquarium Plants by Kristel Kasselmann. Back up books will be Tropica Catalogue Aquarium Plants - A Complete Introduction by Holger Windelov published by T.F.H. and A Fishkeepers Guide to Aquarium Plants by Barry James published by Tetra Press. Other references will be used as necessary for the identification of species. Freshwater algae are not eligible for inclusion in the program. Marine macro algae are eligible, but marine micro algae are not eligible.
[[[Are subspecies, varieties or cultivars considered different for purposes of counting as a separate propagation?]]]
THE AHAP COMMITTEE
The AHAP Chair shall be appointed by the GPASI President, and the remaining members shall be appointed by the AHAP Chair.
Function of the AHAP Committee
To oversee and enforce all rules and regulations governing AHAP, awarding points to qualifying members, maintaining records and presenting awards. The AHAP rules and regulations shall be reviewed and revised when necessary.
AHAP Checkers
Any person on the AHAP committee may verify the species of a submitted plant and any flowerings or sexual propagation, with the AHAP chair having final approval.

*** The AHAP Chair reserves the right to reject stunted, algae covered, or unhealthy plants. Additionally, duckweed (Lemna minor), Wolffia and Utricularia gibba may not be present in AHAP submissions except in the propagation of those species. ***
Amendments
The AHAP committee may make changes to these rules as they deem necessary, subject to the approval of the Board of Directors. Changes will be published to GPASI members.
If there are changes to the requirements for completing a Class or achieving a Level of Accomplishment the Class or Level awards already achieved by current participants will not be changed. If the points listed for a species are revised any points previously awarded will not be changed.
ELIGIBILITY
All members in good standing are eligible for AHAP. If any member should not renew their membership, awarded points will be kept on an “inactive list” until such time that they renew their membership.

TRANSFER MEMBERSHIPS - NEW MEMBERS ONLY
Any person joining GPASI and transferring from another club will be allowed to transfer points from the other club only if that club's rules meet GPASI’s AHAP criteria. These propagations must be verified by the transferring club. The points allocated will follow GPASI's AHAP. Certificates or awards will not be given for plants previously propagated or Classes already finished in another club. Full point credit for transferred propagations will be given toward a member's Level of Achievement.

REQUIREMENTS FOR PROPAGATION
The propagation process must be completed in the manner described below.
1. Growth that is simply continued growth of obtained plants does not count! Material turned in for AHAP must be from side shoots, new stems after trimming, runners or seeds.
2. Regrowth of a seasonal plant does not count as a propagation; it is simply classified as a new growth (Examples are the Aponogeton sp.).
3. A sufficient quantity of propagated plants must be turned in to qualify. [[[Need to define this for other types of propagation.]]]
a. For small floating species about 1/2 cup (not including water) must be submitted.
b. For Class G, stem plants, the initial stem count shall be at least six stems, rooted or unrooted, and must be doubled as determined by the count of growing stems.
c. Reproducing by the means of runners, shall be recognized when four or more healthy plants are produced, which are capable of living independently from the parent plant. The parent plant must be alive and healthy.
4. For a species too be recognized for propagation the participant must submit a completed AHAP form along with one or all of the following
a. Plant or plants donated to the AHAP auction. Even If a plant is not donated to the AHAP auction the propagation must still be visually verified by a member of the AHAP committee
i. If a plant is not submitted for auction a cash donation (currently: $3.00) will be required to help defer the cost of certificates and awards. Amount to be set by the AHAP committee.
b. A written article on the propagation of the species, submitted for publication in the GPASI Finformation.
c. A five to ten minute oral presentation on the propagation of the species.
i. At least one month's prior notification to the AHAP Chair is required before an oral presentation can be scheduled.
ii. Photos or slides would be helpful to other members and are encouraged, but are not required.
d. Completion of all 3 options (a, b and c) for a species will result in an additional points being awarded to the participant equal to the value of the propagation. This means an extra 40 points for a target species.
5. Flowering, after proper verification, shall be awarded points. In view of the fact that the difficulty of propagating a plant is not always the same as the difficulty of getting it to flower the points awarded for flowering will be equal to the value of the asexual propagation of the particular plant species unless specified otherwise below.
a. The exceptions are: [[[To be done]]].
6. Sexual reproduction will be recognized for one or more plants reproducing by sexual means from the aquarists own stock. Sexual propagation will be awarded 1.5 times the value of asexual propagation. Seeds and reproduced plants must be from the member’s parent plant(s) and not obtained from a supplier or nursery. The reproduction of those plants propagating form spores (i.e. ferns and mosses) will be considered a sexual reproduction and shall be awarded 1.5 times the point value of the asexual propagation of the particular plant species.


Awards
1. Plant Certificates will be awarded for each species successfully propagated.
2. Plaques will be given for the completion of each AHAP Class.
3. A Certificate will be given for the fulfillment of the requirements for the Level of Accomplishment of Beginning Horticulturalist.
4. Plaques will be given for the fulfillment of the requirements for each Level of Accomplishment above Beginning Horticulturalist
5. A Special award will be given for the completion of all classes.
6. To encourage AHAP participants to propagate very difficult or rare plants, the AHAP Committee will award a plaque for the propagation of any species from the Target List. The plaque will be awarded following submission of a completed AHAP report, donation of the propagated plant for AHAP auction and submission of an article about the plant and its propagation written for GPASI publication.
7. A lifetime GPASI membership will be awarded to anyone becoming a Grand Master Aquatic Horticulturalist. To maintain this title, the member must give a plant related oral presentation or write a plant related article at least once each calendar year. The member must also serve on the AHAP Committee.
8. Other special awards may be given at the discretion of the AHAP Committee.

madmax

That is true Bill. However, I still think that the level of accomplishment requirements are too low. Maybe they should be somewhere in between Efren's proposol and ours, but more towards Efren's proposol. Making the requirements higher means that people will have to get their hands on more plants, flower more plants, and just deal with more plants. This can only be good. It should really mean something to become a Grand Master in our club.


Although these books are still good they are starting to become a little outdated. Since the plant finder is usaully updated should we consider using this site as a reference?


I think subspecies and varieties should count as a propagation, but only one variety or subspecies should count towards completion of that class. The rest will just count towards the total point value.


I think we should sum it up by saying something like: The AHAP Chair reserves the right to reject stunted, algae covered, or unhealthy plants. Additionally, there may only be one species per bag.


What does "Amount to be set by the AHAP committee." mean?


If an article on propagation is written, does it only count towards the propagation of that plant, or does it also count towards the amount of articles required to reach certain levels of accomplishment?


There needs to be some type of documentation or proof of a sexual reproduction.


Later,

Tim

madmax

Here is my stab at the new native class:

Class L Native Plants (7 species)
Any freshwater or brackish species that are endemic to Pennsylvania. It cannot be an introduced species.

5 points: All species of Elodea, Egeria densa, all species of Lemna, Lysimachia nummularia, all Spirodella species, Utricularia gibba, Vallisneria americana, all Wolffia species
10 points: All species of Eleocharis, all species of Najas, Lobelia cardinalis, Ludwigia palustris, All Polygonum species, Zosterella dubia, all species not included in other groups.
15 points: Hydrocotyle americana, Hydrocotyle ranunculoides, Hydrocotyle umbellata, Lindernia dubia, All Nuphar species, All Nymphoides species, All Myriophyllum species
20 points: Rotala ramosior, Ranunculus aquatilis, Ranunculus flabellaris, All Utricularia species exept gibba
Targets: All species of Isoetes, Eriocaulon aquaticum

The native class was originally species endemic to the United States. I changed it to PA because it was a lot easier for me to do and the purpose of this class is to get people to go out into their local water ways and look for plants. I think we should make it the Tri-state area instead of the U.S. or PA. Another thing. Are we including bog plants into this category or are we sticking to plants that can grow under water for all or most of their life?

I know this Class still needs a lot of work.

Later,

Tim

hooha

I don't know how to use the multiple quote feature so.....


When coming up with 3000 points for Grand Master, I averaged the points for a particular species at 15 points. For 3000 points, that's 200 species propogated to be a Grand Master. Take into the factor of 30 flowerings, and 10 sexual reproductions, then that's about 150 species of plants propogated. That's not an emense amount considering our hobby. I guess we can always see in a year or so and reasses then the points needed for different levels of accomplishment.


Kasselman's book is pretty new yet there are a bunch of plants that we have that isn't in either reference. I agree we should consider using the plantfinder as another source. That means Cavan needs to start adding more entries though!

I like the idea of subspecies going towards overall points, but not towards class requirements.


I like the natives class, but it is a little confusing. For the natives class, do these have to be taken from the wild? Can you choose which class your submission goes towards (eg L. palustris towards stem plants or natives)?

BillW

I don't have a problem with increasing the requirements for the upper levels even more, I just want to be sure everything is taken into account.


I think it can be listed as an additional reference, but not the only reference.



What about cultivars? I think subspecies should qualify for points and toward class completion, but color varieties and cultivars should not be eligible for additional points.



Sounds OK to me.


I took the text from the old rules. It means that we can update the amount of the cash donation when we see fit. I increased it from the old $2.50 to $3.00.






Since I want to encourage writing articles I would say it counts for both that propagation and toward levels. But, I don't have a problem with doing it the other way either.


Agreed. At least showing the baby plants to an AHAP committee member.

Bill

BillW

I just do manual editing to get that effect.

Yes, the rules we make now will not be unchangable. They really should be revaluated every year. Especially point values of plants.

The plant does not have to be collected by the propagator, they just have to do some research to determine if it is native or not. Also I want to add a line to the AHAP form that would require people to identify the native land of the plant; this will increase the educational value of the experience.


I don't see how we can require proof of wild collection. I think of the purpose of the class as making people realize how many execellent plants are native to the US.
I would say any plant that fits into any of the other categories (be it freshwater, brackish or bog) is appropriate, as long as it is a native plant.

Bill

madmax

Yes I agree Bill. I didn't mean that people have to show proof of the plant being collected in the wild. I am fine with people propagating a store bought plant as long as it is a native plant. What I meant was that this class will help get people out in their local waterways to see what is growing.

Later,

Tim