Biotechniques 04 - Herbarium

THE
THE HERBARIUM
HERBARIUM
Herbarium
- a collection of preserved
plant specimens in a closed
field
-These specimens may be

whole plants or plant parts
and these will usually be in
a dried form, mounted on a
sheet.
• It is based on a scientific collection, in
continuous expansion of plant specimens
which are carefully dried, labelled and
conveniently treated for its permanent
preservation.
• Its research work focuses on the collection

of plant specimens which are catalogued
and stored according to an orderly and
systematic botanical classification.
• They are also dried, preserved, identified,

labelled and computerized.
The project aim
- To study on various plants
- To contribute to scientific studies
- To preserve the catalogues of seeds
and dried herbarium plants
- To maintain plants on the edge of
extinctions
- To inform the students and public about
these plants
- To inform them the effect of global
warming on ecological system
How to make a Herbarium?
1) Collecting the plants

2) Pressing and Drying
3) Mounting
1) Collecting the plants
• Choose good representatives of the plants

species
• Be careful that these plants must include
root, stem, flower and fruit
• Take notes and record by taking photos in
the field at the time of collection,
• Note these factors below:
“Date, collection number, location, habitat,
habit, special characteristics”
• Collect specimens in dry conditions, a
good time being mid-morning, after the
dew has dried but before the heat of
the day causes plants to wilt.
• If specimens are at all wet or you need
to wash soil off the roots then dry
them carefully before pressing.
• Use a pencil for these notes rather
than a pen because any damp/wetness
can cause ink to smudge and be
unreadable
Materials for plant collecting:
• Plant press
• Plastic bags or nylon bag
• Garden secateurs & trowel
• Small note book & pencil
• Jeweller’s tags (optional)
• Camera (optional)
• GPS & altimeter (optional)
PRESSING AND DRYING
PRESSING & DRYING
- Plants must be clean before pressing
- They must also be put in a plastic bag or nylon bag, if it is
hot they must be watered to be fresh
- Place your plant between folded-out sheets of newspaper,
although flimsy or greaseproof paper is preferable for
delicate material
- Arrange the plant carefully, trying to avoid overlapping.
- When you have finished arranging the specimens within the
newspaper sheets (or whatever combination of papers you
have chosen), you then need to intersperse them between
corrugated card sheets to aid ventilation.
- Finally place everything in your press and tighten well.
• For the first two to four days you will need to check daily and change the blotting
paper and/or other surrounding papers, and retighten the press, but as the plants dry
these checks can become less frequent.
• Warmth may be used to improve the drying rate, An oven set at 50°C may be used but
the heat must be no higher, otherwise the specimen will become very brittle and
damaged.
Materials for pressing
• Plant press
• Newspaper
• Greaseproof or flimsy paper for
delicate structures
• Blotting paper
• Corrugated card
MOUNTING
• Cartridge paper for mounting
your specimens should preferably
be A3 size and acid-free; the
weight should be a minimum
180g/m2, and ideally with a rough
textured surface
• Using only one side of your
thick A3 cartridge paper,
arrange your specimens
carefully, making sure that they
represent the way the plant
grows naturally
Example Herbarium Label
• Scientific name: Ranunulaceae, Ranunculus ficaria (family,

genus and species)
• Vernacular name(s): Lesser Celandine, Pilewort
• Collector’s name and specimen number: Lawrence 1
• Date of collection: 20th March 2003
• Locality: Orleans House Gardens, Twickenham, England
• Habitat: damp, clay soil, 20 yards from riverbank, growing
in dappled shade on the edge of deciduous woodland; nearby
plant is Dock (Rumex obtusifolius).
• Habit: perennial herb, up to 20 cm tall, with stems creeping
and rooting
• Characteristics: leaves hairless glossy green, flowers bright
glossy yellow, turning white with age

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THE

-These specimens may be

• Its research work focuses on the collection

• They are also dried, preserved, identified,

1) Collecting the plants

• Choose good representatives of the plants

• Scientific name: Ranunulaceae, Ranunculus ficaria (family,

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