HAP Rules
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- Category: HAP/BAP
- Published on Wednesday, 30 November 2011 15:57
- Written by Tom Trautman
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HORTICULTURE AWARD PROGRAM RULES
The Cleveland Aquarium Society has adopted the following Horticulturist Award Program (HAP) to encourage members to raise and propagate all types of aquatic plants. This program is non-competitive in that no one wins or loses. Each person moves at their own pace toward the award goal of their choice. Certificates will be awarded for each plant
reproduced and plaques/trophies for each level that is completed. To qualify for awards, the person must be a member in good standing and must have applied under the rules of this program.
The purpose of the HAP is to promote the keeping and propagation of aquatic plants and to make information about the successful growing and reproduction of aquatic plants available to club members.
RULES
1. Plants must conform to the following definition of an aquatic plant: AN AQUATIC PLANT IS ONE WHICH, IN THE WILD OR NATURAL STATE, CAN BE FOUND IN THE SUBMERGED OR FLOATING FORM AS A NORMAL OCCURANCE AT SOME TIME DURING THE COURSE OF ONE COMPLETE SEASON.
2. Plants are to be identified by the aquarist. Unidentified species will be assigned a code number for recording purposes until the plant can be correctly identified. Color variations or hybrids will not be accepted. The aquarist should be aware that unidentified plants will only be awarded points if reference can be made to a published photo or if two color photos of a fully developed specimen are submitted for permanent retention in the HAP files.
3. The book, AQUARIUM PLANTS, THEIR IDENTIFICATION, CULTIVATION, AND ECOLOGY by Rataj and Horeman will be the main source of identification for most species. THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF WATER PLANTS by Dr. Stodola will also be used.
4. Following successful reproduction or flowering, it is the responsibility of the aquarist to see it is reported, verified and recorded properly. Reproduction is to be reported to the HAP chairperson either by phone or at the general meeting. Flowerings are to be reported to the HAP chairperson either by phone for visit verification, or by dated color photographs to be retained in the HAP files.
5. Plants are to be bagged and brought to the general meeting for points and auction by the HAP chairperson or designated representative. The bag must be labeled with the species name and type of reproduction. CASHAP forms must be completed and submitted to the HAP chairperson for permanent recording in the HAP files.6. Types Of Plant Reproduction & Requirements.
Category A: Floating and Bunch Plants.
Doubling of the original amount; to be determined by root count of growing stems for bunch plants.
Category B: Reproduction by Runner.
One healthy plant capable of living independently from the parent while the parent is alive and healthy. NO BUNCH PLANTS ALLOWED IN THIS CATEGORY.
Category C: Sexual Reproduction.
One plant reproduced by sexual means from an aquarist's own parent plant. (You may not obtain seeds or other plant material from another person and then grow it to turn in.)
Category D: Flowering.
Points will be given for aquatic plants that flower. Verification must be done when the plant is in full bloom and attached to the member's own plant in their aquarium or pond.
PLANT GROUPINGS AND POINT ALLOCATIONS
CLASS A - 5 POINTS CLASS B - 10 POINTS
Any Azolla sp. 1. Any Ambulia sp.
Any Ceratophyllum sp. 2. Any Bacopa sp.
Any Elodea sp. 3. Any Cardamine sp.
Any Hygrophilla sp. 4. Any Cabomba sp.
Any Lemna sp. 5. Any Fontinalis
Any Riccia sp. sp.(coldwater)
Any Salvinia sp. 6. Any Heteranthera sp.
Any Sagitaria sp. 7. Any Hydrilla sp.
Any Ceratopterus sp. 8. Any Limnophila sp.
Any Vallisneria sp. 9. Any Lobelia sp.
Any Lubwiga sp.
Any Hyudrocotyle sp.
CLASS C - 15 POINTS 12. Any Myriophyllum sp.
1. Any Aponogeton sp 13. Any Nitella sp. (except Madagascar Lace) 14. Any Nomophila sp.
2. Any Cryptocoryne sp. (temple)
3. Any Echinodoras sp. 15. Any Najas sp.(except pygmy chain sword) 16. Any Nuphar sp.
4. Any Echorina sp. (except Cape Fear spatterdock
5. Any Isoetes sp. 17. Any Potamogeton sp.
6. Any Pistia sp.(water lettuce)18. Any Numphoides sp.
7. Any Marsiles sp. 19. Any Rotala sp.
8. Didiplis diandra 20. Any Utricularia sp.
9. Trapa natans(water chestnut) 21. Any Eleocharis sp.
(hairgrass) CLASS D - 20 POINTS 22. Any Water Wisteris
1. Any Aaldrovandia sp. (Synematrif
2. Any Anubias sp. 23. Samolus valerandi
3. Any Lagenadra sp. 24. Pygmy Chain Sword
4. Ottellia alismoides 25. Chain of Stars
5. Spatterdock 26. Oddballs, bog plants &
6. Madagascar Lace Plant unidentified plants
7. Microsorium pteropus
EXTRA POINTS WILL BE GIVEN FOR PLANTS WHICH FLOWER. EXAMPLE:
Amazon Sword Plant (Echinodorus paniculatus) - 15 points for reproduction and 15 points
for flowering for a total of 30 points.
EXTRA POINTS WILL ALSO BE GIVEN FOR SEXUAL REPRODUCTION OF A
PLANT. EXAMPLE: Water Lettuce (Pistia stratiotes) – 15 points for runners, 15 points
for flowering and 15 points for raising an offspring plant from seed for a total of 45 points.
SPECIAL NOTE: Regrowth of seasonal plants (eg. Aponogeton sp.) does not count as
breeding a plant.
HAP AWARD LEVELS
BEGINNING AQUATIC HORTICULTURIST 100 POINTS
AQUATIC HORTICULTURIST 130 POINTS
SENIOR AQUATIC HORTICULTURIST 175 POINTS
EXPERT AQUATIC HORTICULTURIST 250 POINTS
MASTER AQUATIC HORTICULTURIST 325 POINTS
GRAND MASTER AQUATIC HORTICULTURIST 375 POINTS
HAP COMMITTEE RULES
The committee shall consist of at least two members. The President will appoint the
chairperson and the chairperson will appoint remaining members to the committee. The
committee shall oversee and enforce all rules and regulations governing the HAP program
(recording points, awards, etc.). The committee is also responsible for making sure F.A.A.S.
is notified of the HAP results and that a report be given the WET THUMB editor for
publication as needed. The committee also has the right to recommend the addition or
reclassification of species as needed, or at a member's request. Such changes shall be made
official by a majority vote of the Board of Directors. The committee shall decide who the
points should go to in the event of a split-up of a family membership if the parties
themselves can't resolve the issue. The decision may be appealed to the Board of Directors
and their vote will be final. The committee is authorized to accept the points from another
club when a new member joins if the other club's rules are compatible. Awards cannot be issued based on those points, however.

