Chance Discoveries and Germ-plasm Conservation in Tanzania: Some Observations on ‘Reserved’ Trees

The concept of chance discoveries — serendipity — has been examined with respect to ex situ conservation of ‘reserved’ trees in Tanzania, where selection has little regard to climatic matching. Support for such departure from traditional practice is offered by the introduction, and subsequent growth, of Maesopsis eminii Engl. in the East Usambaras, and by the growth of the dry-savanna Acacia sieberiana DC. var. sieberiana and A. seyal Del. at Lushoto, in a wetter and cooler ecozone.