Plant collecting in Florida and transport of collected specimens, whether for scientific, commercial or personal purposes, is, in most cases, subject to a variety of regulations.

The information presented here is intended to help the plant collector determine which permits are necessary and how to obtain them. The laws and regulations in this regard are complex and subject to frequent change in content and interpretation. No claim to the accuracy and thoroughness of this information is made. Contact the agency responsible for administration of each regulation for current policy.

Several types of regulation should be considered when plant collecting and transporting specimens:

Regulations vary, but generally apply to pressed and alcohol preserved specimens as well as fragments preserved for DNA analysis. The import and export of living material over international borders is subject to additional regulations not covered in this document (e.g., phytosanitary certificates).

Many of the Florida-centric species specific permits are issued the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Consult their Plant Permits for Research and Education web page for details on the permit process and applications.