Ottawa Valley Aquarium Society - Aquatic Horticultural Awards Program (AHAP)

1.0 Purpose

1.1 To recognize achievements in the cultivation and propagation of aquatic plants.
1.2 To encourage dissemination of information about aquatic plant care and propagation.
1.3 To encourage the care and sharing of rare or uncommonly encountered plant species.
1.4 To establish a record of aquatic plant care and propagation.

2.0 Eligibility

2.1 All members in good standing of the Ottawa Valley Aquarium Society (OVAS) are eligible for AHAP.

3.0 AHAP Committee

3.1 The AHAP Committee will consist of one chairperson (who may or may not also be Breeder’s Awards Program chair), and if necessary, one or more appointed members.
3.2 The duties of the Committee will be:
    3.2.1 To maintain an up-to-date set of program rules.
    3.2.2 To keep a record of all awards given out as well as all members’ applications.
    3.2.3 To verify propagation and assign points according to the AHAP rules.
    3.2.4 To provide the CAOAC delegate with propagation/flowering reports and awards applications before the CAOAC deadline.
3.3 The AHAP chair will be elected by a majority vote by members of OVAS for the period of one year.

4.0 Criteria

4.1 Any plant considered must follow this definition of an aquatic plant: “An aquatic plant is one which, in the wild or native state, can be found in the submerged state as a normal occurrence at some time during the course of any calendar year." (Source: Canadian Association of Aquatic Clubs .)
4.2 Plants will be identified by the aquarist and verified by the AHAP chair or a member of the executive. If correct identification is not immediately possible, a code number will be assigned until proper identification is possible. Suggested references include Kasselman, Aquarium Plants (2003).
4.3 Hybrids will be recognized to a maximum of 5 variants per applicant, and flowering will not be awarded points.
4.4 Plants not listed in the points classification will be assigned points by the AHAP committee as needed.
4.5 Propagation or flowering must take place in the applicant’s aquarium or pond.
4.6 For points to be awarded, a proper application form must be filled out and given to an AHAP committee member.

5.0 Propagation Requirements

5.1 Vegetative Reproduction:
    5.1.1 Cuttings: Cuttings must have produced roots and be at least as high as the source plant.
    5.1.2 Floating plants: Must have doubled the original source plant.
    5.1.3 Adventitious plants: Must be grown for at least 30 days and show visible new growth on their own.
    5.1.4 Runners: Daughter plants must have grown for at least 30 days on its own from the parent plant.
    5.1.5 Rhizome: The divided plant must grow independently and show visible growth.
    5.1.6 Rosette: The plant must be divided from the basal rosette, and grow independently for 30 days while showing visible growth.
5.2 Sexual Reproduction
    5.2.1 Seed: A single plant reproduced from a seed from the parent plant, must grow independently for 30 days with visible growth, and be recognizable from parent plant.
    5.2.2 Spores: New plants must be grown from the spores for at a minimum of 30 days, exhibit visible new growth, and be recognizable from the parent.
    5.2.3 Flowering: Must be verified while in bloom and attached to plant.

6.0 Award Levels

Certificate	# of Points	# of Species	From Classes
Aquatic Horticulturist	50	4	B, C, D
Aquatic Advanced Horticulturist	120	12	2 from C, 2 from D, 1 from E
Expert Aquatic Horticulturist	250	30	2 from D or 2 from E, plus 1 from F
Master Aquatic Horticulturist	500	40	3 from D, 3 from E, 2 from F, 1 from G
Grand Master Horticulturist	1000	80	Plus the following: Minimum of 3 lectures or three (3) photo essays (10 photos each). Pictures to include rootstock, stems, leaves, flowers, seeds. An article of plant identification to include at least 2,000 words for use by a local or national publication.

7.0 Plant Classification

The following is a list of species and their classification. Further cclassification will be done as needed by the AHAP committee or by the CAOAC.

CLASS A (5 Points)
Any members of the following genera:

Azolla	Ceratopteris	Lemna
Ceratophyllum	Elodea	Riccia
Salvinia

Plus the following species: Vesicularia dubyana, Lysimachia nummularia

CLASS B (10 Points)
Any members of the following genera:

Acorus	Fontinalis	Lobelia	Nymphoides
Ambulia	Heterandria	Ludwigia	Potamogeton
Bacopa	Hydrilla	Myriophyllum	Rotala
Cardamine	Hydrocotyle	Najas	Sagittaria
Cobomba	Hygrophila	Nitella	Utricularia
Eleocharis	Limnophila	Nomaphila	Vallisneria

Plus the following species: Pygmy Chain Sword (Samolus valerandi), Water Wisteria (Alternanthera reineckii)

CLASS C (15 Points)
Any members of the following genera:

Aponogeton (except Madagascar Lace Plant)	Echinodorus (except Pygmy Chain Sword)	Marsilea
Bolbitis	Cryptocoryne	Nymphaea
Crinum	Eichhornia	Pistia
Isoetes

Plus the following species: Didiplis diandra, Lagarosiphon major, Microsorum pteropus, Trapa natans

CLASS D (20 Points)
Any members of the following genera:

Aldrovanda	Alismoides
Anubias	Lagenandra
Ottelia

Plus the following species: Barclaya longifolia, all Madagascar Lace Plants, Spatterdock

CLASS E - FLOWERINGS
Extra points and recognition should be awarded for all reported flowerings of aquatic plants. It is suggested that the additional points be the same for the actual propagation of the plant according to the above list.

CLASS F - SEEDS
Extra points shall be awarded for all seeds. It is suggested that the additional points be the same as for the actual propagation of the plant according to the above list.

CLASS G - SEXUAL REPRODUCTION
Extra points shall be awarded for sexual reproduction. It is suggested that the additional points be the same as for the actual propagation of the plant according to the above list.

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These rules were adapted in part from the Southern Colorado Aquarium Society&undefined;s Aquatic Horticultural Awards Program rules, the Canadian Association Of Aquatic Clubs rules, and with the help of Sean Kettle, Ottawa Valley Aquarium Society.