!

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PREPARING
HERBARIUM SPECIMENS
OF VASCULAR PLANTS

rchC:,, ; "■■")

NOy s i97]

Agriculture/nformation bulletin No. 348,. '^'^"'^'^'^'f S£R|';¡L u¿QQr¡J¿^^^

^\ Agricultural Research Service

1^ UNHIEir STATES DEPARÎMENT 0F AGRICULTURE ;,
336021

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Without the help and suggestions of my many colleagues in systematic
botany, this paper could not have been produced. I particularly wish to
thank Harold St. John and F, A. McClure for advise on the preparation
of plant specimens in their specialties. The staffs of the U.S. National
Arboretum and the U.S. National Herbarium have offered much kind advice
for which I am grateful.

II
 CONTENTS
Page
Short guide to preparing an herbarium specimen IV
The herbarium specimen and its preparation 1
The herbarium specimen _ 1
Preparing an effective herbarium specimen ._. 2
Collecting the specimen „ 3
Recording the data 6
Pressing the specimen 9
Drying the specimen . __ 11
Pressing problem plants 13
Special methods for preparing hard-to-press herbarium specimens 15
Wet collecting for field use - _. 15
Preserving fluids used 15
Equipment needed 17
Suggested techniques for preparing hard-to-prepare herbarium
specimens 18
Floating or submerged aquatic plants „. 18
Plants with large parts ,—^ - --.^ - 19
Succulent xerophytes -.... - _ 20
Succulent mesophytes and hydrophytes 22
Plants with deliquescent or fragile flowers - 23
Plants of the pineapple family - - - 23
Plants of the palm family _„._ 24
Bamboo plants - ^ - 24
Screwpines - 25
Arborescent plants - 25
Selected references — 26
Appendix I --- 27
General guide to features to be illustrated by prepared specimens.. 27
Appendix II „ - - - - — 29
Plants with unisexual flowers —- -,- -^ ^ - - 29

wr I,- ^ TKn Issued September 1971

Washington, D.C. ^ —^s-^-n —
— ■ ■ For aale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing
Office, Washington. D.C. 2Û4Û2 - Price 40 cents
III
 Short Guide to Preparing an Herbarium Specimen
A. Assemble the equipment.
1. Prepare the press with folds of
newspapers to receive the speci-
mens.
2. Gather tools and supplies: cut-
ting tools, digging tool, note-
book, piastic bags to hold
unpressed specimens, and a
camera to record dîfficult-to-
describe plant parts.

B. Collect the specimen and record the

data.
i. Survey the plants to be col-
lected to find the most repre-
sentative specimens.
2. Cut or dig the selected plant
parts.
3. Make detailed notes of observa-
tions that may be forgotten.
4. Place the specimens In a con-
tainer for transport or in the
press, if notes are made and
separate parts collected, give
the same identifying number to
portions so they can be asso-
ciated later.

Prepare the specimen for pressing.

1. Place specimen in numbered
newspaper fold.
2. Cut away excess parts, arrange
leaves and flowers.
3. Write notes beside number in
notebook; describe area, habit
of plant, colors that may
change, odors, and any special
details*
4. Place fold between driers (ad-
sorbent blotting paper) and cor-
rugates (corrugated cardboard
with channels running the width
of the 12- by 17-inch piece) or
heavy pads of newspaper.
IV
D. Press the specimen.
I. Press the specimen witii its
driers and corrugates tightly
between press frannes or weight
heavily beneath board or bool<s.

E. Dry the specimen.

L Change driers or newspaper
pads in 24 hours and thereafter
as they become moist. Do not
disturb the specimens in the
newspaper folds.
2. When dry to the touch, test for
incompletely dried specimens
(incompletely dried specimens
will feel cooler and ends will
droop when lifted from the
fold).

F. Store the specimen.

1. Store dried specimens in their
folds tied between corrugates
or mount on stiff 12- by 16-inch
paper with bookbinder's Hol-
land tape strips, casein, or
plastic glue.
2. Label all specimens before stor-
age or mounting.
3. Store only in insect-reststant
furniture.
Additional, detailed information on
preparing herbarium specimens can be
found in the rest of this bulletin.
 Trade names are used in this publication solely for the purpose of
providing specific information. Mention of a trade name does not constitute
a guarantee or warranty of the product by the U.S. Department of Agricul-
ture or an endorsement by the Department over other products not
mentioned.

VI
 :^
PREPARING HERBARIUM SPECIMENS
OF VASCULAR PLANTS^
By C. EARLE SMITH, TT 6ofontst, formerly, Plant Science Research Division, A^cultural Research Service,
Beltsville, Md.

THE HERBARIUM SPECIMEN AND ITS PREPARATION

The correct methods of preparing plant speci- representing a living plant (fig. 1). For most
mens for the herbarium are as many and purposes, an identifiable specimen can be de-
varied as the correct methods of baking a cake. fined as one with either flowers or fruits, or both,
Every practicioner finds a convenient method because most botanical literature discusses the
that he will defend against all intruders. The differences in kinds of plants in terms of
truly correct method of preparing herbarium reproductive structures. This is generally true
specimens is that which produces the most for all groups of plants including the seaweeds,
representative dried sample in the shortest mushrooms, mosses, and ferns, as well as the
seed-bearing plants. Speciments of ferns and
possible time.
seed-bearing plants tend to be more bulky and
difficult to prepare so this bulletin will be con-
The Herbarium Specimen cerned with these plants. These, in fact, are the
The most important element in botanical "vascular plants" of the title, because they
collecting is the permanent record produced, include in their structures a system of tubes
which is a specimen or a suite of specimens for transport of liquid (the vascular system).

BN-«74«7
FIGURE l.-Suite of specimens representing Gunnero. peltata PhU.
 AGRICULTURE INFORMATION BULLETIN NO. 348, U.S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE

Plant specimens are kept in an herbarium of an herbarium specimen is to record the com-
(collection of herbs, literally, although the term plexity that is a plant species. Botanists have
is now used for any kind of dried plant collec- long known that words or illustrations cannot
tion) . To facilitate the storage of specimens and replace an actual sample of a plant as a stand-
to allow the greatest flexibility in exchanging ard for comparison. This is recognized in the
or borrowing specimens, the herbaria of the codification of rules for plant nomenclature
United States mount dried, pressed plants on where a type specimen is required as the base
sheets of stiff paper measuring about IIV2 by for a plant name. The first collection that is
161/2 inches (28.7 by 41.7 cm.). Because there described as a new species becomes the type
are a number of facts about a plant (height of specimen against which ail future identifica-
tree, geographical place where the plant was tions of this species must be measured. Any
growing, kind of area where the plant was scientist doing research involving living plants
found, colors, and odors) that do not show in the should prepare an herbarium specimen for per-
dried specimen, additional information is placed manent record in case further work based on
on a label that is fastened to the lower right the same material is necessary or the original
corner of the sheet of mounting paper. Many identification of the plant is questioned. When-
plant specimens do not hold together well and ever samples of plants are submitted for any
some have only a few flowers, so the botanist sort of analysis, a specimen of the plant from
dissecting the flowers wishes to preserve the which the sample was prepared ought to be
dissected parts. He places all loose parts in held as a record. Ever the amateur gardener
folded packets glued to the mounting sheet. may find that dried, pressed specimens of some
Sometimes the appearance of a plant defies of his plants may serve as valuable standards
description and the collector saves much time of size and identity for new cultivars tried in
by photographing the plant before specimens subsequent growing seasons. Anyone involved
are taken. Such photographs are usually fas- in the breeding of plants should preserve repre-
tened to the mounting sheet also. sentative specimens as a check for the improve-
Herbarium specimens are identified as accu- ment or regression of characters in progeny in
rately as possible and are then filed in standard- the breeding program, A few minutes spent in
size manila folders with closely related species. carefully preparing an herbarium specimen can
These in turn are aggregated into groups of save much time if the exact identity of a par-
closely related genera and into families. Most ticular plant must eventually be known or
frequently, several manila folders are stored in recalled.
a pigeonhole in the herbarium case according
to the Engler and Prantl scheme of classifica- Preparing an Effective
tion (16) ^ so that an individual genus or Herbarium Specimen
species may be quickly recovered. (The Engler
An efifective herbarium specimen not only is
and Prantl classification attempts to group all
identifiable and serves as a record of the species,
plants in their natural relationship to one
but also shows the range of variation of the
another. This is the most widespread of several
species in the place where the specimen origi-
systems of classification.) The earlier herbar-
nated. Although the standardization of the size
ium specimens become the standards against
of mounting paper in the herbaria of the United
which later specimens are compared, and, thus,
States has resulted in the universal exchage-
the accuracy of the identifications is critical.
ability and storability of specimens, it has
The more complete the specimen and the more
tended, at the same time, to bias the collector in
detailed the notes on the label, the more accu-
rate the identification can be. favor of a specimen that will look neat when
Herbarium specimens are very important fastened to the herbarium sheet. In spite of the
fact that it must eventually fit a standard-size
records. Perhaps the most important function
herbarium sheet, a sample should be selected
^ Italic numbers in parentheses refer to Selected first for its value as a representative of foliar
References, page 26. size and variation, inflorescence size and varia-
 PREPARING HERBARIUM SPECIMENS OP VASCULAR PLANTS

tion, and stem aspect of the population of the ber of specimens before pressing them, it is
species. The specimen should be selected next well to remember that they must be bundled
for its complete normalcy unless that specimen and labeled to prevent mixing if there are
is to show the damaging effects of fungal or several collections of the same species. Also,
insect attack. Finally, the specimen should be flowers and other structures tend to become
attractive once it is mounted if it is possible to dislodged, so extra material should be gathered
prepare a pretty as well as a representative to ensure enough to make up the required
specimen. Many times it will be impossible to duplicates when the plants are pressed.
find representative specimens that are also A short-handle field pick is one of the most
attractive after they are pressed (fig. 2). useful tools that can be found for collecting
herbaceous material. Often, the soil is so com-
Collecting the Specimen pact or full of rock that garden trowels and
For most people, collecting the specimen is similar implements are ineffective. Unfortu-
the most enjoyable part of preparing herbar- nately, the demand for special botanical field
ium specimens. Because there is an element of picks with a narrow, hatchetlike blade on one
fun and pleasure involved, there is sometimes side and a small mattocklike blade on the other
a lack of understanding of importance of col- side is so small that they are very difficult to
lecting representative and complete examples locate. Army entrenching tools and similar
to go into the press. Often considerable search make-do aids can serve a very useful purpose
must be made before a suitable portion of a plant in collecting. If collecting is to be done over
will be found. any distance, though, the lighter the digging
TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT NEEDED.—Tools fre- tool, the better, because the load of plant speci-
quently are a matter of personal preference. A mens will grow heavy and can become rather
New Englander finds an ax easy to use, but a bulky.
Mexican generally prefers a machete. A few Cutting tools are indispensable for efficient
tools are useful enough to be recommended for collection and ■ preparation of specimens. A
everyone who wishes to collect plants. pocketknife will serve for many uses but it will
Field pressing equipment is needed to pre- not work effectively on twigs greater than
pare adequate botanical specimens. A field about three-eighths inch in diameter if the wood
press may be made of any type of material of the plant is very dense. A garden pruning
that can be used as end boards to exert uniform tool of the knife-on-anvil type of heavy forged
pressure over a 12- by 16-inch area. Many construction will cut through most wood up to
botanists carry a press with fiber or plywood about 1 inch in diameter. For heavy cutting jobs
ends, but the standard lattice press frame made such as tree felling, an ax is the tool usually
of crossed strips of a tough wood like ash, employed although a sharp machete is nearly
hickory, or oak is very satisfactory (ñg. 3). as effective if the user is skilled. A machete is
not recommended for amateurs because on a
As a collecting press, the frames may be held
downstroke the heavy blade can cut nearly
together with sash cord or web straps, or a
special system may be installed in which the through a leg.
Unless a collector is skilled at sketching, a
fastening on one side of the frame acts as a
camera is a necessary part of the collecting
set of hinges so the press will open from one
apparatus. Many details about the appearance
side only.
of plants in the field are both difficult to express
In the past, botanists often carried a tin box
and require more extensive field notes than
known as a vasculum into which plant materials
were placed pending an opportunity to press most people wish to write. The camera will
them. With the multiplicity of plastic bags now capture the shape and manner of branching of
available, most botanists use these for field a tree much more surely than a note. If a plant
carrying because they take up little space before is bulky and must be divided into portions
they are filled and are easily disposed of after before pressing, a photograph of the intact
use. When using a general repository for a num- part taken with a scale will provide a descrip-
 AGRICULTURE INFORMATION BUIXKTIN NO. 348. U.S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE

•ftkti
FIGURE 2.—A, Plant of N^mphaea odorata Ait. ax it wax collwtH ; B, dried, praMcd
newsprint fold with a Add label.
 PREPARING HERBARIUM SPECIMENS OF VASCULAR PLANTS

tion of shape and size with no further effort on by tougher plants laid on top. If time runs out
the part of the collector. Unfortunately, color and light fades, the more harsh plant materials
films are not yet permanent enough to be relied can be packed away in a bundle and will still
on for color recording, so it is still advisable to be in good condition the next morning.
note the colors of plant parts before placing the Directions for collecting an individual speci-
specimen in the press. men are difficult to give. Perhaps the best advice
PROCEDURES AND SUGGESTIONS.—When col- is to know something about the taxonomy of
lecting specimens in a new area, make a short the group to which the plant belongs and then
survey of the amount of material that may be use your imagination in selecting material for
available, the kinds of terrain that will have to representative and complete specimens. Hard-
be crossed, the condition of the available plants, and-fast rules for making a perfect specimen
and an evaluation of the amount of time the job can lead to somewhat less than representative
is likely to consume. In this way, the more specimens. Although it is admirable if the speci-
important specimens can be collected first, and men is beautiful as well as representative, it is
the less important plants can be left for another much more important that it is representative.
time if the collector must allow sufficient time The specimen should show the range of varia-
for preparing difficult-to-press specimens and tion of the parts of the individual plant. It
recording additional notes for special material. should also show the range of variation of the
After making the initial survey, collect the population of the species. Thus, more than one
more delicate specimens first so that they may herbarium sheet may be required.
be packed away safely and will not be destroyed Ordinarily, small herbaceous plants must be

BN-S7470

FIGURE 3.—Lattice-type press frames and web trunk straps with quick-release buckles.
 AGRICULTURE INFORMATION BULLETIN NO. 348, U.S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE

collected in quantity so that each herbarium small piece of bark to be included with tree speci-
sheet will consist of several plants. Some small mens.
plants fit neatly one to a sheet with one or two A few special problems are sure to com^ up
bends in the stem. All small plants should have sooner or later. One of these is pressing lar^e
the root system included with the specimen, underground parts of herbaceous plants, These
and a note should be made as to whether the can be treated in the manner described for fleshy
plant is an annual, biennial, or perennial. stems and inflorescences. (See p, 19.) Sections
Some herbaceous plants are much larger than are cut to show the length and the thickness of
the press sheet will accommodate, and an appro- the part. Whenever possible, include material to
priate portion of the plant must be chosen to show the outside surface, particularly of bulbs,
place in the press. Select a plant with inter- because this surface is often important in deter-
mediate-size foliage and inflorescence; include mining the identity of the plant. Some plants
on the sheet a separate leaf of the largest size will have a heavily tufted fibrous root system.
found on the plant. If the leaves along the stem Because this root system will be too bulky in
are crowded and overlapping will obscure de- the press, trim it to thin it down. If at all pos-
tails of size, shape, and other features, remove sible, always include enough rhizome to show
a number of the leaves, but do not remove the sequence of growth and branching. Grasses
petioles or bases that indicate points of attach- and sedges that grow as clumps must be divided
ment. A large, complex inflorescence must be before pressing. When this is necessary, the
similarly thinned. Many of these thinnings can label should indicate that only a part of clump
be pressed separately and packed as extra flow- was pressed.
ers and fruit so that parts of the whole speci- A few plants will have leaves so large that a
men will not have to be removed for dissection. single leaf will not fit on a standard press sheet.
Woody plants are usually too large to press Palms usually are difficult to handle because of
whole, As with large herbaceous plants, a repre- this. The leaf may be divided just to one side
sentative portion of the plant must be selected of the midrib and about one-half of the leaf
for the press. Always look over the shrub or with the petiole can be pressed (fig. 4). If a
tree carefully if it is large or in dense growth. half leaf is still too large, the dimensions of the
Many plants produce radically different foliage whole leaf should be noted (the leaf can be
photographed with a scale) and representative
on the outside of the plant where light is plenti-
portions, including the tip, the base, and the
ful and inside or underneath where the leaves
middle of the leaf, can be pressed (fig. 5).
are constantly shaded. Also, foliage on shoots
In general, a little care will result in very
produced after a tree or shrub has been severely
satisfactory herbarium specimens. Whenever
damaged or on shoots arising from the trunk
bulky stems interfere with the pressure dis-
is often much different from the foliage usually
tribution in the press, a few extra pads to nil
found on the same plant. In some plants, the
out the space will result in much better and
foliage on flowering branches is different from
smoother samples. If at all possible, arrange
that on sterile branches. Specimens should also
leaves or fold a leaf so that both the top and the
show the older branchlets with the manner of
underside of the leaves may be seen. A similar
branching typical of the species. When a speci-
arrangement for large flowers is necessary.
men of a deciduous woody plant is to be as com-
Because the petals will hide the details of the
plete as possible, it is obviously impossible to
calyx in some species such as the mallows
collect flowering, fruiting, and winter speci-
(Hibiscus spp.), one flower per specimen should
mens at the same time. At the time of the ñrst
be turned to show the underside and the calyx.
collection, the plant should be marked with a
permanent tag securely fastened so that curious Recording the Data
birds and children will not be able to remove it. One of the most important aspects of prepar-
Subsequent collections can be made from the ing an effective herbarium specimen is record-
same plant. Often it is helpful to remove a ing accompanying data. Although the collector
 PREPARING HERBARIUM SPECIMENS OF VASCULAR PLANTS

tH*ir\
FIGURE 4.—Large leaf cut to one side of the median line to fit newsprint fold. Not« th« ftub of the pttiole of «n
opposing leaf to show leaf position on the stem.

always hopes that the vivid colors of a beautiful After the plant speoimen« are prepared for
flower will be captured, this is rarely the case. drying, the permanent recording of field dmUi
Almost all flower colors undergo some change can begin. All the temporary note« made during
in the process of drying. Similarly, odors vanish the collecting are now transferred to a record
for the most part, although the members of the book or card, preferably of good^uality paprr.
mint family and a few others may retain some The inscription is made with a amaar-frM.
odor. Sizes and shapes of plants often cannot waU'rproof ink or pencil. For casi« fn rrlatlng
bo soon in the prepared specimen. These facts data in the record book to th«» (lri«Hl i(ix«rim««ni».
'I'i many other details are needed or helpful a «erial number system Is US«H1 and Xhe «wm««
"I making a correct identification. number is placH <»n Ixtth thr covering prrss
Correct ways of recording data about plant« «heet and the margin of th«- Iniok. A numlicr at
" many. One of the most importiint facet« of collector« have claltorste srhrmoH whereby the
i'K- data-recording process, though, is to record numlwr indicates the cttllertion date. locAÜly,
the data on the spot, or as soon afterward as or other information, but this atrvM littl« pur-
possible. Although a few hours do not seem to pose unie«« the numbers are to br used In a
be much time, the kaleidoscopic impressions special «tati«tical study. A few collccUirs have
from a full day's field work are very diflicult to initiated a new number aerie« for each collect-
•ort late in the evening. Each time it is neces- ing trip or for each year. This is not a good
"»ry to place specimens in a field press, all notes practice because the repeating numbers may be
should be made on the plants going into the easily confused if the specimens are perma-
press. If collecting is being done by placing mate- nently deposited in a working collection jwd
monographers cite the label daU. More compte«
^ in a vasculum or collecting bag, a slit tag
number systems are more frequently misquoted.
<fig. 6) with data should go on the stem of each
What should the record include? One oí the
«o'lection because this material will probably
"ot be placed in the press until the end of the most satisfactory answers to this i« ««'*«»
from an herbarium label (fig. 7). At the top
 AGRICULTURE INFORMATION BULLETIN NO. 348, U.S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE
8

Bü-Tß

FIGURE 5.—Specimen leaf of Juanea australis Drude prepared in sections.

of the label the country or other major political Route 1, near Savage." Any information«»
area is noted most often; for example, "Plants cerning the habitat, soil, and moisture c«J
of Zambia." Although the name of the institu- tions can be noted next. The bottom meJ'J
tion sponsoring the collection may appear at the label is usually the name of the coIlecM
top, this is generally better recorded at the bot- the date on which the collection *»» ™r^,
tom of the label since that name is not essential Obviously, considerable amounts onn^,^^
to an understanding of the biology of the plant. tion can be accumulated about an i" ^^^_
Beneath the top line at the upper left, the col- specimen. The problem of recording »^^^
lector's number is sometimes inserted or it may in the field book is simplified ^y",^
be inserted immediately after the collector's geographical information and t''« ° «
name near the bottom of the label. The scientific heading for a block of numbers rep - ^
. __ collected
specimens _-,i-.4.„j in
,•„ the
flip ^^"^^,
area. Li""".,j
-„¿ivio»»
name of the plant appears at the top of the
label, after the country or area is noted. At this number, only information abo"t w .ye
point on the label, it is convenient to leave suf- plant is recorded. With this system; it ^^^
ficient room to include notes about plant size, to accommodate all the info""^"; ^ that *
flower color, fruit shape and size, and any other corded into a standardized spacing^^^^ ^^ ¡j^
information about the individual specimen. collector's numbers at lei^-"^"v.,,tive nuinl^'
These notes must be placed on the label by hand page can be stamped with »f "Jf. ¡j ¡^tíVi-
or typewriter. Below this the geographical ing machine before going mto tne ^^^ ^
information in gradually decreasing magnitude isk beside the first number »' . ^atio««»
of area is detailed; for example "Maryland, indicates that the geographical'"
data will be found at the top of tne P»
Howard County, south of Baltimore, along U.S.
 PREPARING HERBARIUM SPECIMENS OP VASCULAR PLANTS 9
The order of information on the label has parts during drying; and (2) removal of the
become fairly standardized because professional moisture in the plant tissue as rapidly as possi-
botanists usually collect 5 to 10 duplicate speci- ble without changing the appearance of the
mens of interesting plants for distribution to specimen. The first problem is solved easily by
a number of herbaria. The problem of placing providing surfaces on either side of the plant
all the information on the label is then simpli- specimen to hold all the organs in place. Almost
fied by having printed labels made for blocks of all professionally prepared specimens are press-
numbers and the typist has only to fill in the ed in a sandwich involving a folded newspaper
collector's number and the notes about the indi- page to hold the specimens between two sheets
vidual plant. If the number is placed at the of adsorbent (blotting) paper that are in turn
upper left just over the space for the scientific flanked by two pieces of corrugated cardboard
name, all the typing can be done with one posi- (corrugates) in which the channels run the
tioning of the label ; if the number must be width of the board. If all the elements of the
placed after the collector's name, the label must sandwich are cut to a standard size of about 12
frequently be repositioned in the machine. All by 16 inches, there will be no difficult fitting
permanent labels for plant specimens should specimens to the size dictated by the mounting
be typed or clearly printed so that there is no paper. In an emergency or for only a few speci-
chance for error or confusion later. mens, thick pads of newsprint can be substi-
tuted for blotting paper and corrugates.
Pressing the Specimen Because corrugated cardboard eventually col-
Actual pressing of the herbarium specimen lapses, some collectors prefer to use sheets of
involves two problems: (1) Pressure sufficient corrugated aluminum. These are commercially
to prevent curling of leaves and other plant available through biological supply houses.

BN-«747f
BN-«747I

FiGUKE 6.-Slit tag on stem of collected plant. conUining data to distinpñsh plant fro« other collection, of the
same or similar plants.
10 AGRICULTURE INFORMATION BULLETIN NO. 348, U.S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE
CHICAGO NATURAL »ISTORV MUSEUM
MEXICO
Tchuacán «re«
No. 4Í4ÍÍ
Ardisxa liebmanniiOerst>
Shrub to Z.5 ill. tall. Fis, piiU;, fruit
dark red. Forest floor.
Puebla: above Teotitlan <iel Camino on the road to HoauUa
fwm the lower edge of the oak-pine forest to the top of
the ndse. Largely sedimentary and igneous rock with
soiiri red to brown or Hack; oak-pine forest below to raoti-
Uino min forest above, Alt. ca. 2000 3250 m, AuguitS,

Coll: C. E. Smiih, Jr., F. A. F«tcnon, & N«r<:l*to TeJ«d«

aiLTIVATH) PtANTS

MAftYLAN'D, U.S.A,

Salix cinérea x S. caprea (staniiute)

Shrub » branched frem base, spreatiinij-

itscending; bark ashen-gray; twljis yellciwisii
green to gra/ish; aatents gray; anthers
yellow, slightly fragrant,

ex Plant ^íaterials Center, Soil Conservation

Service, Beltsville, Prince George's County.

SOUKCH; Gerraan /\c3deniy of Land Science of

Berlin, Institute for Forest Plant üreedint,
Graupa, East Germany, via Ifr. iians Lattke.

FIS. 3 April 19^7

»H. F. G. .^yer
KHWMIU«, «J, HKItOHM.
Lvs. 11 June 1967 i?!s®
WASMMCTON.aC.

¿^
%I'
/^3

BN-^7474

FIGURE 7.—Examples of labels, with basic information printed and notes about the individual collection typed.

Even though these aluminum corrugates stand cut to the length needed to encompass the larg-
up well under hard usage, it should be borne est stack of specimens that might be placed in
in mind that they weigh more than cardboard the press. Placing more than 60 to 90 specimens
corrugates, the edges can inflict annoying cuts in a press, depending upon the bulk and shape
until they have been used long enough to become of the plant material, often results in poor-
rounded, and they are too expensive to be a- quality specimens unless extra care is taken to
bandoned after use in the field. Furthermore, distribute pressure evenly.
they cannot be used to reinforce bundles of Plant press frames are readily available from
dried specimens as can cardboard corrugates. biological supply houses or they can be easily
Pressure is applied to the specimens to be made of slats of well-seasoned ash, hickory,
pressed by any available and practical means. oak, or other tough, flexible wood. Strips Vé
Large screw-type book presses and pieces of inch (6 mm.) thick ripped from the edge of a
wide lumber weighted down with stones or dressed board 1 inch (2.2 cm.) thick with a
bricks have both been used. For repeated use, straight grain are ideal. Use five pieces 16
the more easily handled press frames made of inches (40.5 cm.) long and six pieces 12 inches
crossed ash or oak strips riveted at the cross- (30 cm.) long to form a lattice. Ail the longer
ings with large copper rivets provide uniform pieces should be placed on the same side of the
pressure when held by two web trunk straps lattice. The ends of each piece are drilled and
or ropes tied with slip knots (ñg. 3, p. 5). fastened into place with a copper rivet. Within
Usually straps with quick-release buckles are the lattice, the crossings of the slats may be
 PREPARING HERBARIUM SPECIMENS OP VASCULAR PLANTS
11
nailed with brads. The accompanying plan illu-
arated by corrugates. The press sequence, start-
strates the construction of a usable press frame
(fig. 8, B), (See also ñg. 3, p. 5.) ing from one end, is as follows: corrugate
drier, fold with specimen, drier, corrugate'
Drying the Specimen drier, fold with specimen, and so forth. Some
botanists use only one drier per fold, but two
Ordinarily, each specimen is laid into a fold driers per fold tend to mold better around stems
of newsprint in the field press or at intervals of woody specimens and produce smoother leaves
as the collecting bag or vasculum is emptied. and flowers. Whenever specimens with particu-
After they have been collected, specimens larly bulky stems, fruits, or flowers are put in the
should not be left unpressed any longer than drying press, additional packing of folded dri-
necessary. Although enough material for 2 or ers, newsprint, or specially cut corrugates must
even 3 specimens may be crammed into a single be inserted both to apply proper pressure on
fold under emergency conditions, this is not thinner plant parts and to allow the press to
recommended as a general practice. Leaves and stack evenly. Uneven stacks always tend to
inflorescences tend to become entangled and squirt out on the bulky side when pressure is
stems make pressure marks on leaves and petals. applied and few things are more conducive to
To set up a drying press, each specimen- frayed nerves than an unruly press after a
bearing fold is enclosed between two driers hard field day.
(adsorbent paper) and adjacent driers are sep-
If this problem is frequently encountered, it
MAY BE CONSTRUCTED
OF PLywOOD OR SHEET
METAL (WITH TOP
EDGE ROLLED)

SUPPORTS ARE TAPERED SO UNIT WILL

TÎLT BACKWARD SLIGHTLY

FIGURE &.—Designs for: A, Heated drying rack; B, lattice-type plant press frame; C, stacking <
 12 AGRICULTURE INFORMATION BULLETIN NO, 348, U.S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE

will be well to use specially cut blocks of corrugates may be so completely collapsed that
urethane foam to fill out the press. This mate- the air passages are blocked (their job being
rial is now frequently used for upholstering and primarily to carry moisture out of the press) '
is available in furniture repair shops. With a and (2) fleshy plant parts may be crushed and
razor blade or other very sharp instrument, smeared into an unrecognizable mass. I have
blocks and strips of an appropriate size and never been strong enough to achieve the former
shape can be cut to fill in around a bulky plant with fresh strong corrugates although reused
part. If the foam nil block is cut two or three corrugates collapse eventually. On one or two
times as thick as the bulky plant part, pressure in occasions, I have mashed a portion of a speci-
the press will mold it into place so that thin men, This clearly proves that the specimen
leaves and flowers will be flat. The foam fill block should have been sketched or photographed and
is apparently sufficiently porous to allow mois- sectioned in the first place.
ture to escape. However, be cautious in the use The straps or ropes will usually have to be
of any padding material. Too much padding will tightened once or twice during the initial
result in the accumulation of moisture in the stages of drying. As plant material loses mois-
padding with a resultant delay in drying of the ture, it shrinks. If the pressure on the press is
specimens, which may lead to mold formation not adjusted about every 8 hours, the leaves
or other undesirable results. and flowers may wrinkle.
After the stack for the press has been assem- When aluminum corrugates are used, too
bled (i.e., corrugate, drier, specimen, drier, much pressure can result in parallel pressure
corrugate, etc., which are assembled horizon- marks across the specimens. The more coarse
tally), the press frames are put on the ends. the corrugation in the aluminum, the more likely
The stack is held together and pressure is ap- this is to happen. Although this problem may be
plied by two straps or ropes. It is usually most solved readily by less pressure, it frequently
practical to have the buckles or knots along the can also be solved by adding an additional drier
axis of the press. If these are placed strategic- on each side of the specimen fold.
ally near the far end of a large press stack, If no source of artificial heat is available, the
then the proper pressure can be achieved by lay- completed press should be placed in the sun
ing the press on the floor, placing the feet on the during the day and under cover at night. If
press frame most distant from the buckles and the press is so oriented that the prevailing
pulling both straps evenly toward the feet. The breeze blows through the channels of the corru-
side on which the buckles or knots are located gates, drying will be more rapid. If the collector
will pull up faster than the other side. The press is operating a field vehicle, the press may be
will have to be stood on one end and the press tied on top so that the air movement caused by
frame on top pressed down on the high side so the movement of the vehicle will flow through
the strap or rope slips around and the press the corrugates. In open country with low hu-
frames are parallel. This may have to be repeat- midity, specimens will dry very rapidly on a
ed as pressure is applied. moving vehicle.
Theories concerning the amount of pressure At the end of 24 hours, the press should be
to be applied to drying specimens are many. opened and the driers and corrugates com-
Some botanists apply only light pressure im- pletely changed so that each newsprint fold is
mediately and tighten the press gradually as surrounded by dry material. Although it is
the specimens dry. However, pressure becomes possible to open folds with specimens with
less as the specimens lose water and the tissue harsh foliage at this point, do not attempt to
becomes thinner. With woody plant material look at delicate specimens. In their semidry
particularly, I find that the more pressure condition, they will partly stick to the newsprint
applied initially, the better, because the driers and collapse into a mass as they pull free. The
and corrugates then mold around the thicker material should have been arranged when the
parts and leaves are more wrinkle free. Two specimens were originally placed in the drying
bad effects from too much pressure are : (1) The press. All of the moist driers and corrugates
 PREPARING HERBARIUM SPECIMENS OP VASCULAR PLANTS 13
must be thoroughly dried before reuse. These are provisions for venting away the moisture
are generally spread in the sun. If the schedule coming from the press.
for changing the press can be so arranged that The drying rack shown in figure 8, A (see
driers and corrugates hot from the sun can be p. 11) can be constructed of sheet metal or ply-
used, then drying of the specimens will be wood. The only critical dimension is the inside
hastened. width (173/2 inches) to accomodate the length
Whenever possible, use artificial heat to dry of the press frames, newsprint folds, and other
specimens. In some areas of high atmospheric components of the press. If the inside width is
humidity, it is impossible to dry specimens too great, most of the heated air will pass
without artificial heat. In other areas, artificial around the press instead of through it: if the
heat may not be mandatory, but it will be a width is less, it will be difificult to get the plant
definite help in drying specimens of flesjiy. press in and out of the drier. Be sure to allow air
plants. space at the bottom for good circuhition. It is
Any source of heat is usable, as long as it can most important to keep the press far enough
be channeled through the corrugates of the above the light bulbs to avoid a fire. The amount
press. However, open campfires are far from of heat can be regulated easily by unscrewing
desirable because a whole press full of speci- one or more of the light bulbs.
mens may be lost through fire in the later stage A final device to use when a large number of
of drying. There is, of course, the added dis- specimens must be processed is not necessary
advantage of soot from an open flame. but is very convenient. The drawing in figure
In remote areas, kerosene and gasoline stoves 8, C (see p. 11) illustrates a stacking aid so
and lanterns have been effectively used to dry that materials being loaded in a press are neatly
specimens. Generally, the press is suspended positioned and tilted into a corner, lessening the.
above the heat source, high enough to prevent danger of the pile's collapsing just as the last
its catching fire. A metal bafifle between the specimen is placed on the stack. The dimensions
flame and the press will guard against a hot of the stacking corner may be varied to suit per-
spot and distribute the heat more effectively. sonal preference, but it must be remembered
A cloth skirt tied around the press and nearly that both wedges must be cut at the same angle
touching the ground improves the efficiency of so that the base will set squarely on the floor
the drying. or table. If press straps are laid in place with
Wherever electricity is available, an efiicient the bottom press frame before starting to stack
drier can be assembled by using light bulbs as specimens, the completed press can be closed
a heat source. 100-watt or larger bulbs are best, for easy removal from the corner.
and there is usually little danger of getting too
large a bulb because very large wattage bulbs Pressing Problem Plants
rarely fit into a Mazda socket. The press is Because there are many problems that will
suspended about 6 inches above the light bulbs. be encountered when preparing a wide range of
Again, a cloth skirt tied around the press and botanical specimens, detailed solutions for spe-
nearly touching the floor improves the eflficiency cific problems will be discussed in this bulletin,
of the drying. The light bulbs must not be beginning on page 15. However, a few problems
allowed to touch any combustible material. will be encountered when preparing specimens
If the volume of plant material to be pressed in the Temperate Zone and solutions to these
is very large at any one time, it is convenient problems will be suggested here.
to have a heated drying rack to remove moisture One of the largest groups of plants, percent-
from the press. The most simple form of drying agewise, in the Temperate Zone flora is the
rack consists of a frame to support the press gress-sedge complex that covers vast areas of
with a skirt and a source of heat underneath meadow, roadside, and marsh. Although it is
such as a number of 100-watt light bulbs or unlikely that the beginner will attempt to press
serveral kerosene lanterns. A modified version these kinds of plants initially, he will soon
of a large laboratory oven can be used if there become aware of their prominence. All collec-
14 AGRICULTURE INFORMATION BULLETIN NO. 348, U.S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE

tions of grass and sedge plants should include until the whole plant is on the press sheet. It is
the underground parts so that stolons, rhizomes, unwise, though, to use more than three folds on
and roots may be seen. Since a large part of the a specimen. If a plant is so tall that it requires
taxonomy of these plants is based on the fruit- more folding, it should be cut into two or more
ing inflorescence, it is very important to choose portions. The first herbarium sheet of the series
specimens that have at least a few nearly will then display the basal portion of the plant
mature fruit. The stems of grasses and sedges and the second sheet will display the top and
are often slender and -wiry. Leaves are generally inflorescence of the plant.
numerous and often they are long and flexible. Among the common plants of marshy area«,
This combination of characteristics leads to there will be some that are conspicuously fleshy.
untidy specimens vv'ith stems and leaves pro- These will generally collapse and dry to make a
truding from the press in all directions. satisfactory specimen without special treatment
To corner the errant ends on such material, if the press driers and corrugates are changed
lay the base of the plant at the bottom of the frequently enough. Parts of a few fleshy plants,
double fold of newsprint and straighten out the for example, the outer hood (spathe) over the
leaves and stems beyond the top edge of the clublike flower mass of the skunk cabbage
sheet. Lay a stiff object (stick, machete edge, (Symplocarpus foetidus), are crisp when fresh
cardboard) across the leaves and stems within and break in the press. The final specimen bears
the area of the press sheet, and fold the top of little resemblance to the plant seen in the field.
the plant across this to the bottom. While still To prepare specimens of this kind, cut sections
holding this fold in place with one hand, slip a to show important features and dry the section»
previously slit paper strap over the fold (fig. 9). in the usual way. Drying will be facilitated by
Some collectors make a slit in the press sheet dipping the sections in formaldehyde solution,
into which the folded stem and leaves are alcohol, or boiling water to kill the cells and
inserted. The folding process can be repeated permit moisture to escape quickly. If the final
specimen does not allow the botanist to recon-
struct the plant part, it should be supplement«!
by a sketch or photograph of the plant before it
was sectioned. For success with specimens of
this kind, the driers must be changed as fre-
quently as they become moist (once a day
initially).
Among the first plants collected by the novice
are those with large, colorful flowers. Many
large flowers will dry quickly and retain color
well. A few, like the day flowers (Commelm»-
ceae), deliquesce (melt away or become hqu'^'
in the press. Other large flowers, including the
morning-glories, iris, and lilies become so thm
that it is almost impossible to remove the speci^-
men intact from the pressing sheet. If tiss"
paper is placed above and below the flower ^
is goes into the press, the flower can usually 1
If the
peeled from the tissue without damage, u^^
specimen can be hardened by a quick dip i ^^
solution of formaldehyde, there will "«"^'V
no difficulty in preparing a satisfactory s^^
men of difficult-to-press flowers, but ^°"\
BN-37475
hyde may not be available to the casual co
FIGURE 9.—Slit strap holding a folded grass specimen. tor.
 PREPARING HERBARIUM SPECIMENS OP VASCULAR PLANTS 15
Some plants produce fruits that are too large press. To prevent sticking, use a piece of thin,
and fleshy to be placed directly into the press. oiled or waxed paper, barely larger than the
Large, hard fruit like walnuts are easily dealt fruit section, on either side. Too large a piece of
with by spreading them out on a dry surface oiled or waxed paper will prevent the escape of
for a few days. Large, fleshy fruits require a moisture and lead to the development of mold
similar technique to that used for fleshy plants on the specimen. Tissue paper can sometimes
like the skunk cabbage, discussed above. be used successfully, but it may become so
Because there will be shrinkage, large fruit firmly imbedded in the cut surface that it can-
should be measured and then cut so that longi- not be removed. Again, the use of a fixative to
tudinal and cross sections may be dried in the accelerate the drying is recommended.

SPECIAL METHODS FOR PREPARING

HARD-TO-PRESS HERBARIUM SPECIMENS
The collecting method described on pages 3 flowers and fruits for several months in glass
to 15 is the one most generally used, partic- containers, plant specimens in sheets would
ularly by the average collector. The equipment probably keep satisfactorily as long as the cover
is inexpensive and easy to handle although it of the package was intact and the preservative
may become bulky if a large number of speci- did not dry out. However, the staff of the
mens must be processed. To accommodate National Arboretum has recently found that
special problems and to process collections preservation in hydroquinoline is less satis-
under difficult climatic conditions, a number of factory than in other fluids.-
special methods have been developed. After the bundle has been transported to a
central base or to its final destination, it is
Wet Collection for Field Use opened and the wet press sheets are placed in a
plant press between driers and corrugates and
Originally developed in the Old World Trop-
dried in the usual manner. Moore states that the
ics by European botanists, the use of preserving
solution is **most satisfactory" without noting
fluids has seldom been extensively practiced by
its effect on the color of plant parts.
collectors in temperate areas. Their use can be
effective because they enable the collector to Thieret (27) found that the hydroxyquiniline
eliminate a large amount of the paraphernalia solution does not kill plant tissue quickly enough
ordinarily carried into the field to dry speci- to prevent the formation of abscission layers,
mens. so that petals and leaflets tend to drop. The
material is apparently nontoxic and does not
Preserving Fluids Used attack animal skin, so it is safe to handle. In
Several preserving fluids have been recom- addition, the chemical is carried in powder
mended in the last few years. Moore {17) form, so a considerable amount weighs little.
advocated the use of hydroxyquinoline sulphate Hodge (î^) has used and recommends alcohol
(1 percent aqueous solution). Specimens are as a general field preservative for herbarium
trimmed as usual and placed in press sheets specimens. After the plants are placed in press
separated by a drier. After the material has sheets, the sheets are moistened with locally
been wilted for a period (overnight is sug- available distilled alcohol and packed into a
gested), the specimens are removed from the waterproof container. In this technique plant
sheets one by one and dipped into the preserva- specimens are not pressed beforehand. The
tive. The specimens are replaced wet in the container mentioned by Hodge was a metal
press sheets, which are then bundled into a box with a lid sealed into place with surgical
package of convenient size between corrugates, tape, which was then waxed to improve the seal.
tied, and wrapped in waterproof sheeting (rub- Again, as long as the seal was tight, the speci-
berized cloth or plastic sheeting). Since this
solution has proved suitable to preserve fresh 2 Personal communication.
 16 AGRICULTURE INFORMATION BULLETIN NO. 348, U.S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE

mens remained moist and pliable although quick dip into the solution. Other botanists
preserved. After arrival at a central point, the immerse a stack of folds with specimens in a
sheets were placed in a press and dried in the stronger solution (1:1) of formaldehyde. The
usual manner. stack of specimen folds are then tied tightly
Because the alcohol content of most distilled between corrugates and wrapped in waterproof
beverages ranges between 30 and 50 percent, sheeting or placed in an airtight plastic bag to
preservation of plant material is assured. Alco- prevent drying. I have stored specimens for as
hol causes many color changes in the specimens, long as 6 months in this way. When it is con-
so field notes have to detail colors carefully. venient, the folds are placed in a plant press and
Handling alcohol-preserved press sheets tends dried in the usual way at a central base or at
to dry the skin. Alcohol kills plant tissues the final destination of the plant material (fig.
immediately, preventing the formation of 10).
abscission layers and dropping of parts. Because The folds of newsprint need only be dampened
alcohol is usually available locally and generally with the formaldehyde solution because pres-
quite inexpensive, it does not have to be trans- ervation is accomplished by formalin gas.
ported very far. Unfortunately, if the bundle of Newsprint that is thoroughly sodden becomes
specimens is not properly sealed, mold will pulpy and it is virtually impossible to separate
develop on the specimens.
the individual sheets. Furthermore, too much
Schultes (24) discusses the use of formalde- fluid adds much weight to the bundle.
hyde as a field preservative. Plant specimens The use of formaldehyde has several disad-
are prepared and placed in the press overnight. vantages. It, like alcohol, must be carried in
Originally, Schultes dipped each specimen into liquid form, A dry chemical, frequently called
a solution of two parts of commercial formalde- paraformaldehyde, has been suggested as a
hyde diluted with three parts of water. I find more easily carried source of formalin. At the
that the folds holding the specimens need only time I first considered using a wet-collecting
to be moistened at the center underneath by a technique, I asked a chemist to recommend the

BV-rft

FIGURE 10.—Bundle of specimens reinforced with corrugated cardboard and tied for storage or shipment.
 PREPARING HERBARIUM SPECIMENS OF VASCULAR PLANTS 17
best method of preparing- formalin from the Still other liquids are used to preserve plant
powdered chemical. His experiments proved material. Kerosene and gasoline, both of which
that a formalin solution of usable strength may be more readily available than formalde-
could be obtained only by use of heat at a con- hyde, are used as dips to kill plant tissue and to
trolled temperature and buffering- of the solu- aid in its drying and preservation. With either
tion to a precise pH, conditions that are nearly of these liquids, the specimen is dipped, drained,
impossible to obtain in the field, Formaldehyde and placed in the press sheet without the addi-
is an indiscriminate preserver of ali biological tion of enough liquid to wet the paper. Obvious-
material and virill damage the skin of an ly, artificial heat cannot be used to hasten the
incautious user. If rubber gloves are not avail- drying until all fumes from the preservative
able or are too awkward when placing the wet have evaporated. The use of flammable organic
sheets in the press, a heavy coating of petroleum solvents for preserving is hazardous because of
jelly on the hands will prevent damage. When fire danger and because they may constitute a
formaldehyde is used in an unventilated area, health hazard in unventilated areas; thus any
fumes cause the eyes to tear and can cause of the previously mentioned preservatives are
inflammation of the nose and throat. Formalde- preferred over kerosene and gasoline.
hyde changes the depth of the green color of
Equipment Needed
leaves and alters some flower colors completely,
Mention has already been made of the press
so good color notes must be taken before the
frames, driers, and corrugates needed when
plants are pressed.
several of these preservatives are used. Because
A number of unjust charges have been leveled the bundles of plants are packed wet, only enough
at the use of formaldehyde as a preservative. press supply to hold specimens for 24 hours
Color changes are not as marked as many people needs to be carried into the field. A collector
have stated. The color of specimens in the her- preparing 5 to 10 duplicate specimens of every
barium fades with time anyway, so this is not number will rarely be able to collect and pre-
a serious defect provided color notes are accu- pare more than 100 numbers per day, even
rate. The statement is often made that for- with good field assistance. When working alone,
maldehyde makes material brittle, probably a collector will usually find that about a third
because it is known to harden animal tissue. of the amount will provide a hard day's work,
This is not true. Before plant specimens pre- Far fewer numbers of diflicult-to-prepare speci-
served in formaldehyde are dried, they remain mens can be handled. The amateur collector or
flexible and crumpled leaves and petals can be the collector who is preparing only an occa-
straightened at will. After they are dried, the sional specimen in conjunction with another
specimens are no more brittle than those pre- project will rarely need press space for more
pared by any other method. In fact, specimens than 50 sheets of plants per day. This brief
of loranthaceous plants, which are notoriously estimate of daily press capacity can serve only
brittle when dried without a preservative, hold as a guide and must be adjusted by experience.
together very well when placed in a solution of In general, then, enough driers are needed to
formaldehyde before pressing. furnish at least one for every specimen put in
Fosberg (9) recommends the use of a solu- the press. Enough corrugates are needed to
tion of one part of 40 percent formalin to two allow two on each side of every large woody
parts of 70 percent alcohol to preserve plant specimen inserted between more delicate, her-
specimens. He paints this onto the specimen baceous specimens or one per specimen when all
with a 2-inch paintbrush. The advantages to be of the material going into the press is woody
gained are said to be better wetting of the and intractible. Because corrugates will be used
specimen and better penetration of the pre- as covers for bundles for storage, extra corru-
serving fluid. However, the disadvantages of gates must be allowed for this purpose. One
both preservatives are retained as well as the sheet of folded newsprint is needed for every
further disadvantage of having to transport specimen placed in the press. Finally, two press
another liquid. frames and two straps or ropes are needed for
18 AGRICULTURE INFORMATION BULLETIN NO. 348, U.S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE

every 60 to 90 thin specimens or for every 50 the outside. Plans for a very satisfactory drier
or fewer woody specimens. Under some circum- with a temperature controller are shown in figure
stances, it may be possible to pack more speci- 11, In the homemade drier from which these
mens than this into a single press, but only a plans were devised, the original cabinets were
few woody specimens make uneven press piles wooden, half-size herbarium cases from which
that tend to squirt out the side when pressure the backs were removed so that they could be
is applied. joined to form a continuous chamber. Heat was
For field use, nothing can exceed the value provided by electric air heaters with fans con-
of plastic containers for handling liquids. The trolled by a temperature controller so that the
use of all these preservatives requires the mix- heat underneath the press never approched the
ing of solutions or the transporting of liquids. boiling point of water by many degrees. A
Since a gallon or less of prepared solution is small fan in the vent stack ran continuously
needed for most days' work, a 1-gallon plastic while the drier was in operation, ensuring that
jug is required to mix and store the liquid. For the air moved steadily through the press.
dipping sheets, a plastic photographic tray of
the size used in processing 11- by 14-inch prints Suggested Techniques for Preparing
is convenient. This size allows the underside of Hard-to-Prepare Herbarium Specimens
a fold of newssheet to be thoroughly wet. When Although the amateur who collects plants for
formaldehyde or alcohol is carried into the field, pleasure is not likely to wish to collect many of
metal or plastic stock containers should be used. the troublesome plants discussed below, he may
Usually, the containers furnished by the manu- find here a hint to help him in preparing speci-
facturer will be accepted by surface carriers for mens of some of the less commonly collected
transport. If supplies must be shipped by air, plants. For instance, discussion of the treat-
regulations require that substances like for- ment of succulent xerophytes (see p. 2Ô) will
maldehyde be packed in small quantities and apply equally well to any other succulent plant
especially marked. In this case, frequently it is To avoid repetition, this section will be divided
more convenient to repackage the stock liquid into discussions of a general problem to be met
in plastic quart bottles. Advantages of the in several groups of plants.
repacking include ease of packing, the lack of
breakage when supplies must be transported on Floating or Submerged Aquatic Plants
pack animals, and the high value of empty It is singularly difficult to prepare represent-
plastic bottles among the rural people of most ative specimens of many floating and sub-
countries outside the United States. merged aquatic plants because the entire plant
Because bundles of specimens must be kept body is normally supported by water and it
moist until ready for final drying, a supply of tends to collapse almost completely when re-
liquidproof sheeting or large plastic bags must moved from water. To this is added the dif-
be available. Plastic bags large enough to hold ficulty of straightening leaves that are divided
several bundles of 100 to 150 specimens each can into many filiform segments. To reduce the
be furnished by dealers in polyethylene tubing. amount of arranging to a minimum, float aqua-
Tubing 4 mils thick and 30 inches wide can be tics in a large, shallow vessel or tray (fig. 12).
ordered cut to the desired length and sealed at Slip a sheet of paper (preferably a good grade
one end. Large plastic bags immediately lend of bond) under the specimen and then gently
themselves to additional uses as collecting bags lift it as nearly level as possible so that the
in the field, ground covers, or even temporary water drains away slowly. If this is carefully
raincoats with holes for the arms and head cut done, the plant will be well distributed across
in the bottom. the paper and most of the leaves will be spread.
When it is necessary to dry specimens pre- If the first attempt is unsuccessful, the plant
pared by the wet-collecting method using for- and sheet may be returned to the water. When
maldehyde, it is desirable to have an enclosed ready for the press, the sheet of paper bearing
drier from which the fumes can be vented to the plant specimen is put into a fold in the usual
 PREPARING HERBARIUM SPECIMENS OF VASCULAR PLANTS
19

5" SHEET METAL

STOVE PIPE
FAN IN VENT STACK
WfRED THROUGH
SEPARATE SWITCH

1x3 HARDWOOD
WÍTH LAP JOINTS
GLUED AND SCREWED

MOVABLE SHELF
FOR SUPPORTING
PRESS IN DRYER

W ROD THREADED
BOTH ENDS

FiGUBE 11.—Design for a completely closed plant drier with forced draft ventilation for drying specimens preserved
with alcohol or formaldehyde. The stack should be vented to the outside.

way. If the specimen appears to be mucilagi- paDer, The paper is slipped into a newsprint
nous, as many aquatic plants tend to be, either fold and dried without disturbing the specimen.
tissue or thin waxed or oiled paper may be laid
over the specimen before closing the fold to pre- Plants With Large Parts
vent the specimen from sticking to the news- Sometimes the most nearly representative
print. The specimen is then dried in the press specimen of a plant will include parts that are
routinely. When removing the specimen after either too long and wide or too bulky to be placed
drying, peel the covering protective paper care- in the press. (See Appendix I for plant features
fully, but allow the specimen to adhere to the to be illustrated by prepared specimens.) In
underlying bond paper and mount the specimen some instances, as with pine cones, the structure
on the herbarium mounting paper without is woody. This causes no difficulty because the
disturbing the specimen. part that doesn't fit may be removed from the
If many aquatic plants are to be collected, a branch, tagged with the same field number as
rectangle of i^-inch hardware cloth cut to about the pressed specimen, dried, and later placed in
11 by 15 inches can be used to lift plant speci- a box for filing. If it is desirable and facilities
mens from the water directly on a piece of are available, the back half of a pine cone may
20 AGRICULTURE INFORMATION BULLETIN NO. 348, U.S. DEPT. OP AGRICULTURE

shaped fruit is very difficult to describe, such

fruit should be photographed or sketched with
a scale and color notes recorded. The fruit can
then be divided into both longitudinal and cross
sections, with sufficient outer surface preserved
to clearly show the character of the skin (fig.
13}. These sections are placed in the press with
tissue or oiled or waxed paper on either side so
that the section will not adhere to the newsprint
fold in which it is dried. The protective paper
should be cut as small as possible because large
sheets of oiled paper on either side of a section
will effectively seal around the section and pre-
vent the moisture from escaping. Sections of
this kind not only show the general shape and
FIGURE 12.—Use paper to lift submerged aquatic plant dimensions of the fruit, but also show the size
specimen.
and placement of the seeds.
BULKY ROOTS OR STEMS.—On occasion it will
be removed with a fine-toothed saw so that the be necessary to prepare specimens of plants
cone may be left attached to the specimen with- whose roots or stems are modified into storage
out disrupting the press unduly. Unfortunately, areas and are generally greatly thickened. Be-
not all large plant parts are so easily made into cause these will bulk unnecessarily large in the
specimens. press, they also should be photographed or
LARGE FOLIAGE.—The typical foliage of a
sketched with a scale and divided into sections
number of plants is larger than the 12- by 16- for pressing. Frequently tissue of this sort does
inch herbarium mounting paper will accommo- not present the problem of stickiness encoun-
date. This is particularly true of tree ferns, tered with fruit, so protective paper on the sides
aroids, bananas, gunneras, and palms, the last of the sections will not always be needed. If the
of which will be discussed separately, (See p. piece to be preserved is woody, it can be dried
24.) In general, leaves are bilaterally symmet- whole and later sectioned with a saw. In this
rical, so one-half of the leaf may be cut away case, the specimen must bear the same number
to one side of the midrib or central leaf vein as the portions of the plant placed in the press.
without destroying its value as a specimen. If
the rest of the leaf is still too large to fit the Succulent Xerophytes
press fold without bending more than once, it The largest percentage of succulent plants,
will probably be necessary to cut the lamina and i.e., plants in which the stems or leaves, or both,
petiole into several pieces, pressing each in a are highly modified to store quantities of fluid,
separate fold, (See p, 6.) All folds must bear are found in semiarid or arid regions around
the same field number, and if there is any chance the world. Thus, they are xerophytes. Even the
that the sections cannot be oriented so that they hobbyist is tempted to press some of the bizarre-
may be reassembled to show the original outline ly shaped plants, many of which bear large,
of the half-leaf, these folds should be serially colorful flowers. Succulent plants are especially
marked with letters or with Roman or arable adapted to take up and retain fluid for long
numbers in parentheses. It is always better periods and this capacity is maintained in the
practice to photograph or sketch the leaf before plant press. The family Cactaceae in the New
dividing, making sure that a scale is included, World is noted for members that are resistant
so that the original dimensions can be calcu- to drying,
lated. A camera or a facility for making accurate
LARGE FRUIT,—Many plants bear fleshy fruit drawings is essential to the proper collection of
that either does not press easily or does not many succulent plants. A scale must be included
press at all. Since the shape of irregularly with the illustration because the plant tissue
 PREPABING HERBARIUM SPECIMENS OP VASCULAR PLANTS
21

FIGURE 13,—Make longitudinal and cross sections of fruits that are too large to press entire.

shrinks very much with drying. Along with the Because most succulent plants lose their mois-
illustration, color notes are needed, particularly ture slowly, specimens dry very slowly and mold
for flowers and fruit. A general habit illustra- badly. It is, therefore, essential that such speci-
tion may not always be essential to the identifi- mens be treated with formaldehyde, alcohol, or
cation of the plant, but it frequently is useful other organic preservative or solvent to kill the
because many of the larger succulent plants tissue and allow the specimen to dry as quickly
have characteristic forms of branching. as possible.
Once the illustrations have been made, sec- Cacti of the prickly pear group with stem
tions of the plant bearing flowers or fruit are joints composed of flat pads present a more dif-
cut to a length that will fit into the press (fig. ficult problem because cross sections are not nec-
14). Large plants like the arborescent cacti and essary and the pads frequently appear to be thin
euphorbias have stems much too thick to be enough to fit readily into the press. Unfortu-
pressed whole; these must be sectioned both nately, such specimens not only refuse to dry
crosswise and lengthwise, taking care to show but also sprout readily, even after months in
at least one section with the point of attachment the press. Although many of the species of this
of a flower or fruit. Because the reproductive group are equipped with an armament of nu-
structures may also be fleshy, they too must be merous spines, the best method of preparing
split in half or sectioned. Whenever the fluid in specimens of the pad is to cut the pad in two,
the sections appears to contain a latex or muci- parallel to the flat sides. This provides two speci-
laginous substance, it is best to use a protective mens of one-half the thickness of the original
paper cut to the size of the specimen to keep the pad. If these are then killed by immersion in
section from sticking to the newsprint fold. formaldehyde, alcohol, or other organic preserv-
22 AGRICULTURE INFORMATION BULLETIN NO. 348, U.S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE

top surface and margins of the leaf may \

away from the back of the leaf (fig. 15) ;oi|
the entire center of the leaf to within 1 in
the margin and basal end may be cut (
16). The first method is very good for io
row leaves because the leaf can then b« f|
several times to fit into the newsprint j
paper. The stout fibers present in the agafl
will act as hinges so the leaf may be unfokj
its full length when it is desirable to ex
in the herbarium. The second method is p|
able for short, broad leaves. As with anj
culent plant part, immersion in a presen
will kill the tissues quickly and allow the^
men to dry rapidly and evenly.
Succulent Mesophytes and Hydrophytes
Surprisingly enough, many mesoplj
(plants that grow under medium conditi
moisture) and hydrophytes (plants that j
water) are succulent to the extent
FIGURE 14.—Large cacti are cut in cross section and a
single longitudinal rib. care must be used in their preparation!
barium specimens. The succulence of :
these plants is confined to the rootstalk,^
ative, they will dry quickly and completely. or leaf petiole, as in members of the gii
Fruit is critical for the separation of some the banana family. If the plant is partid
species in the pricklypears. large and must be divided into a numbj
Members of the lily and amaryllis families parts for pressing, the usual record of thel
with arborescent or shrubby habits frequently
have large fleshy leaves borne in rosettes.
Agaves bear some of the largest leaves of plants
of this kind and, in addition, agave inflorescen-
ces may be 30 feet tall and 6 to 8 feet in di-
ameter. As with other specimens, photographs
or sketches, with scales, of the plant habit, a
leaf, and the inflorescence, along with color
notes, will eliminate much note taking. The in-
florescence must be cut and representative sec-
tions of the stalk, branches, flowers, and fruit
placed in the press. The flowers are particularly
important to an understanding of the classifica-
tion of this group of plants. Care should be
taken to assure that the pieces of the plant
chosen for preservation can be related to one an-
other and to the illustration of the whole plant
or inflorescence.
Leaves must be considerably reduced in bulk
but the character of the margin and the shape
of the whole leaf are important in classification.
To preserve as much of the leaf as possible, one
FIGURE 15.—Cutting away entire back of agave |
of two methods may be followed : (1) The entire that it can be pressed.
 PREPARING HERBARIUM SPECIMENS OF VASCULAR PLANTS 23
the shape of the flower parts. Photographs and
color notes are necessary for parts with unusual
shapes or sizes.
Plants With Deliquescent or Fragile Flowers
The flowers of many plants are difficult to
preserve so size and shape of the parts may be
seen and studied. Many of the day flowers (Com-
melinaceae) are deliquescent (tend to melt away
or become liquid by attracting and absorbing
moisture from the air) and break down com-
pletely unless they are picked very early in the
day and pressed immediately. Flowers of iris,
lilies, hibiscus, and many other plants with large
petals or thick texture, or both, tend to either
rot in the press or stick to the fold in which they
are pressed, and then the petals tear as they are
removed. Pieces of tissue paper cut to the size
of the flowers will facilitate their removal from
the press sheet. If color retention is very desir-
able, the moisture can be rapidly removed from
a single flower by placing it between blotting
paper pads and heating it with pressure by an
ordinary electric clothes iron. However, this is
not practical for a number of specimens. The
FIGURE 16.—The entire center is cut out of short, wide
agave leaves. most practical method of preparing such flowers
is by immersing the specimen in a preservative
before pressing. Many pigments will not be
and the size and shape of parts by means of changed appreciably by this and a much better
photographs or sketches is needed. In general, preserved flower will result. It should be noted
the thick member is then split down the middle that white in flowers is a lack of pigment; con-
and both halves are pressed. Immersion in a sequently, when the physical structure of the
preservative or solvent will insure quicker dry- tissue is changed by drying, its light-reflecting
ing and better specimens. Again, good color qualities change so that white areas then appear
notes are essential, tan or brov/n.
The orchids present some special problems.
Many of the orchids have fleshy stems or pseudo- Plants of the Pineapple Family
bulbs, which are not quite thick enough to war- Species of plants belonging to the pineapple
rant splitting but which are very retentive of family (Bromeliaceae) present a rather unique
moisture and thus do not dry well Some of the problem in that the plant body is generally a
orchids have large flowers with fleshy petals of rosette of leaves that is frequently large and
unusual shapes. These neither look much like the nonsucculent but very resistant to drying. This
unpressed flower when they are removed from rosette is topped by an inflorescence often much
the press, nor are they very quick to dry; and too large to fit easily into a press fold. The pro-
they frequently mold. Drying of the stems and cedures for sectioning previously outlined do
pseudobulbs can be hastened by cutting a series not work well on rosettes. For these plants, the
of small slits in the outer surface before press- best procedure is to peel the rosette apart, se-
ing. Flowering material is best prepared by lecting representative leaves for the press (fig.
immersing the specimens in formaldehyde or 17). The stem and inflorescence that remains
alcohol. The drying time is much shorter, there then can be placed in the press as it is or if it
is no molding, and the preservative helps retain is too large, can be split from the base to the
24 AGRICULTURE INFORMATION BULLETIN NO. 348, U.S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE

the foliage. Much of the difficulty encountered

in the classification of palms stems directly from
the inadequacy of the specimens available for
study. L. H. Bailey (2) discussed this problem
and the preparation of palm specimens; his
recommendations are still valid.
Before attempting to collect palm specimens,
the collector must become thoroughly familiar
with the operation of a camera. The plant fur-
nishing the specimen should be photographed
before any part is cut. Each frond and inflor-
escence destined for the press must be photo-
graphed before it is divided. Every piece of an
individual tree must be tagged with the same
field number because it is generally necessary to
cut each leaf or inflorescence into many small
pieces to get them into the press. Like other
large leaves, palm fronds are bilaterally sym-
metrical, so one-half of the leaf can be trimmed
away. The rest must be divided into portions,
taking particular care to make good specimens
of the top and base of the frond and the base of
the petiole as well as intermediate samples from
the rest of the leaf. In many palms, the inflor-
escence emerges from a sheath or series of
sheaths. These are important to the classifica-
tion of the plant and must be preserved along
with portions of the inflorescence showing both
male and female flowers, fruit, and enough of
FIGURE 17.—Rosettes of species of the pineapple family the basic structure to show the general configu-
are pulled apart and individual leaves and inflores-
cence are pressed. ration and method of branching.
Because both the bromeliads (see p. 23) and
the palms are resistant to drying, they are much
apex yielding two specimens of about equal size. better preserved if they are placed in formalde-
Some species of the family produce very large hyde or alcohol before they are pressed. If there
inflorescences that must be handled by section- are many of these or similar plants to be proc-
ing, like the agave inflorescence. (See p. 22.) essed, it is strongly recommended that a pre-
Flowers are generally more important than servative be used for all specimens and the final
fruit for identification of members of the Brom- drying of the specimens be delayed until they
eliaceae. As noted before, whenever a piant can be handled at a permanent installation with
must be divided or sectioned, photographs or drying facilities employing heat. The habitats
sketches with scales should be made first. in which many of the hard-to-press plants grow
Plants of the Palm Family are subject to hard-to-predict weather that
frequently makes field drying very uncertain,
Preparing plants of the palm family (Palmae)
is difliicult for the field botanist in tropical Bamboo Plants
areas. Some palm species are small plants of the The woody grasses commonly called bamboo
forest floor and will fold to fit into the press are another distinctive group of plants that
sheet. But by far the largest number of palms causes the collector considerable difiiculty. The
bear leaves that can only be described as gigan- classification of the bamboo species depends
tic. Frequently, the inflorescence is as large as upon vegetative structures because many bam-
 PREPARING HERBARIUM SPECIMENS OF VASCULAR PLANTS 25
boos flower only once in a lifetime and then graphed or sketched, preferably with a scale,
promptly die. Photographs of the clump before before they are divided. The heads frequently
specimens are taken and photographs of parts must be split in half longitudinally before dry-
before they are divided for the press are needed. ing. When mature, the fruits are generally soft
A mature culm is then cut to obtain the mid- and fleshy and they will dry more quickly if
culm sheaths and branch complement and a immersed in a preservative. If supplies are
specimen with two nodes and the internode. On available, representative parts may be bottled
all of these, the number of the node above the in preservative, but most field collectors will
ground should be recorded. The rhizome should find that drying the representative parts is
be dug and photographed so the manner of sufficient.
branching is apparent; sections are then pre- Screwpine leaves are usually borne as a spiral
served. Because many of these parts will be too of lanceolate leaves on a thick stem. Disks of
large or too bulky to fit into a plant press, the the stem should be cut free and the entire leaf,
collector should mark the separate pieces with including the sheathing base and the unbroken
the field number and a serial section number be- tip, folded into the press sheet. Photographs or
fore dividing the plant so the specimen can be sketches of the vegetative parts should be made
reconstructed. If flowering material is available, before the leaves are removed.
a series of specimens showing the range of vari- In addition to the foliar and inflorescence ma-
ation of the parts of the inflorescence should be terial, a sample of the mature bark and sections
collected. Young shoots should also be collected. of prop roots should be incliuied in the collec-
Since two different species of bamboo in adja- tion. As with ail collections in which diverse
cent clumps may intergrow, care must be taken samples are to be handled in difl'ercnt ways, it
to collect all portions of the specimen from the is imperative that all parts of a collection be
same plant. Immersing in a preservative will identified with the collection number in such a
kill the tissue and result in quicker, more uni- way that parts of the collection do not go astray.
form drying of the specimens, Arhi>rescfml Planta
Screwpines Although many of the suggestions that have
Another group in which special collection been discussed in relation to specific problems
problems occur is the genus Pandanus, more apply generally to other arborescent (treelike)
familiarly known as screwpine. The group is .qpoeies, it is worthwhile to cmphasi/.e some
widely distributed in the Old World Tropics. A vsuggestions.
better understanding of the relationships of the Among the foi-emost of these is the recording
species of the genus depends upon improving of the overall aspect of a very large plant,
the quality of collections of the group. Identification must, of necessity, be based on
Screwpine, like a number of other plants, is the small sample placed in the press, but col-
always dioecious as far as is now known. (See lectors today have little excuse for ignoring the
Appendix II.) Whenever members of this group habit of large plants. Photographs of the tree
are collected, an effort should be made to ñna to show it from base to top are needed to demon-
both sexes under circumstances that indicate strate many features unless the collector wishes
the relationship of the two plants. If male plants to write lengthy notes describing the appear-
cannot be demonstrated to be associated with ance of the base, the character of the trunk,
female plants in the same colony, they are of the method and density of branching, and the
little value, because the more critical determina- size and shape of the crown. If at all possible,
tions are made on the basis of the fruit. detailed photographs of the bark, base, and
The fruits of the female plant of some species branching are frequently helpful and will pro-
may be small enough to be left on the plant vide information that is lacking on most older
when it is placed in the press. Many species, herbarium specimens.
though, bear very large heads of fruit that may At times, photographs or sketches showmg
be solitary or in spikes» As with other large the buttressing of the base of a tree, bark details,
plant parts, fruiting heads should be photo- or cauliflory can save the collector many tedious
 26 AGRICULTURE INFORMATION BULLETIN NO. 348, U.S. DEFT. OF AGRICULTURE

notes. Unless the collector works with a re- use cannot be relied upon for color notes because
stricted group of plants over a long period of the dyes either reproduce the color inaccurately
time, details observed in the field are soon or fail to reproduce it completely.
forgotten. Unfortunately, color films in general

SELECTED REFERENCES
(1) ARCHER, W. A. (15) MCCLURE, F, A.
1945. COLLECTING DATA AND SPECIMENS FOR [n. d-] SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO COLLECT BAM-
STUDY OF ECONOMIC PLANTS. U»S. Dept. BOOS. 2 pp. Broadside.
Agr. Misc. Pub. 568, 52 pp. (16) MELCHIOR, H., ed.
(2) BAILEY, L H. 1964. A. ENGLER'S SYLLABUS DER PFLANZEN-
1933. PALMS AND THEIR CHARACTERISTICS. PAL- FAMILIEN. V. 2, 666 pp. Gebrüder Bom-
mae, Gentes Herb. 3(1) ; 1-29. traeger, Berlin.
(3) BENSON, L. (17) MOORE, H. E., JR.
1957. PLANT CLASSIFICATION. 6SB pp. Boston. 1950. A SUBSTITUTE FOR FORMALDEHYDE AND
(4) BLAKE, S. F. ALCOHOL IN PLANT COLLECTING, Ehodora
1919, DIRECTIONS FOR THE PREPARATION OF 52: 123-124.
PLANT SPECIMENS FOR IDENTIFICATION. (18) PEEBLES, R. H.
U.S. Dept Agr. Econ. and System. Bot. 1942. PRESERVATION OF CACTUS MATERIAL.
Cir. 1, 2 pp. Cactus and Suculent Jour. 14: 3-8.
(5) (19) PORTER, C.L.
1920. DIRECTIONS FOR COLLECTING FLOWERING 1967. TAXONOMY OF FLOWERING PLANTS. Ed. 2,
PLANTS AND FERNS, U.S. Dept. Agr. 472 pp. San Francisco and London.
Dept. Cir. 76, 8 pp. (20) RICKER, P. L.
(6) FESSENDEN, G. R. 1913. DIRECTIONS FOR COLLECTING PLANTS.
1949. PRESERVATION OF AGRICULTURAL SPECI- U.S. Dept. Agr. Bur. Plant Indus. Cir.
MENS IN PLASTICS. U.S. Dept, Agr. 126: 27-35.
Misc. Pub. 679, 78 pp. (21) ROLLINS R. C.
(7) FOGG, J. M., JR. 1950. * DEEP-FREEZING FLOWERS FOR LABORATORY
1940. SUGGESTIONS FOR COLLECTORS. Rhodora INSTRUCTION IN SYSTEMATIC BOTANY,
42:145-167. Rhodora 52: 289-297.
(8) FOSBERG, F. R. (22) ST. JOHN, H.
1939. PLANT COLLECTING MANUAL FOR FIELD [n. d.] INSTRUCTIONS FOR COLLECTING PAN-
ANTHROPOLOGISTS. 22 pp. Philadelphia. DAN US. [Mimeographed.]
m (23) SAVILE, D. B. O.
1947. FORMALDEHYDE IN PLANT COLLECTING. 1962. COLLECTION AND CARE OF BOTANICAL
Science 106: 250-251. SPECIMENS. Canada Dept. Agr. Res.
(10) GENTRY, H.S. Branch. Pub. 1113.
1952. THE BELT PLANT PRESS. Torrey Bot. (24) SCHULTES. R. E.
Club. Bui. 79: 84-88. 1947. THE USE OP FORMALDEHYDE IN PLANT COL-
LECTING. Rhodora 49: 57-60.
(11) GLEASON, H. A. and SMITH, A. C.
(25) SCULLY, F. J.
1930. METHODS OF PRESERVING AND ARRANGING
1937. PRESERVATION OP PLANT MATERIAL IN
HERBARIUM SPECIMENS. N.Y. Bot. Gard.
NATURAL COLORS. Rhodora 39: 16-19.
Jour. 31: 112-125.
(12) HODGE, W.H.
(26) STEYERMARK, J. A.
1968. NOTE ON THE USE OF FORMALDEHYDE FOR
1947. THE USE OP ALCOHOL IN PLANT COLLECT-
PREPAR.ATION OF HERBARIUM SPECIMENS.
ING. Rhodora 49: 207-210.
Taxon 17: 61-64.
(IS) JOHNSTON, I, M.
(27) THIERET, J. W.
1941. PREPARACIÓN DE EJEMPLARES ROTANIC0S 1960, THE FORMALDEHYDE METHOD OF COLLECT-
PARA HERBARIO. 49 pp. Tucumau, Argen- ING PLANT SPECIMENS. Turtox News 38:
tina.
114-115.
(14) KANAI, H.
(28) U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.
1964. IMPROVED METHODS OF MAKING DRIED 1962. HANDBOOK ON FOREST SERVICE PLANT
SPECIMENS. Jour. Jap. Bot, 39: 12. COLLECTIONS. FSH2-4084.5.
 PREPARING HERBARIUM SPECIMENS OP VASCULAR PLANTS 27

APPENDIX I
General Guide to Features to Be Illustrated by Prepared Specimens
Not all members of the following families will identification of some groups, if available, both
have to be treated as suggested. Although should be collected.^
either fruit or flowers may be critical for the

S'a
Family o
Family .ti ^
9^ ^ S-' O
-\ O -
^ fo P5

Acanthaceae X Cyatheaceae X Lf
Aizoaceae X ^ WP Cycadaceae X Lf,Fr WP
Amaranthaceae X X Cyclanthaceae . . Lf,In Fl
Amaryllidaceae X X Lf,In WP Cyperaceae X X
Annonaceae X Fr Fr Dicksoniaceae X X Li

Aponongetonaceae X Dioscoreaceae . X
Aquifoliaceae X Ebenaceae . . X Fr
Araceae X X Lf,In WP Equiííetaceae X
Araîiaceae X X Ericaceae X X
X Lf Eupborbiaceae X X St WP
Araucariaceae X

Asclepiadaceae . . XX X Fagaceae . X
Begoniaceae ... XXX WP Flacourtiaceae X X
Gentianaceae X X
Betulaceae X
Geraniaceae X X
Bignoniaceae X
Gesneriaceae X X
Bomlaaceae X

Boraginaceae X X Gramineae X
Lf,In WP Guttiferae X Fr WP
Bromeliaceae X
Burmanmaceae.. . . X X WP Haloragaceae X
Burseraceae X Hippuridaceae X
Butomaceae X Hydrocharitaceae X

Cactaceae X X St,Fr WP Hydrophyîlaceae XXX

Cannaceae X X In îridaceae ^ ^
Caprifoliaceae X X Isoetaceae ^ ^
Celastraceae .... X Juglandaceae X
Cephalotaxaceae X Fr Lf Juncaceae .... X X

Ceratophyllaceae X Labiatae ^ -^ ^
Lauraceae X Fr
Chenopodiaceae X X Lf
Combretaceae X Leguminosae X X X
Commelinaceae X X Fl Lentibulariaceae X X X X
Liliaceae . X X Fl
Compositae XXX

Loranthaceae WP
Convolvulaceae X Fl
Crassulaceae X WP Lycopodiaceae X X
Cruciferae X X Malpighiaceae X X
Cucurbitáceas X X Fr Fr Malvaceae. X X
Cupressaceae X Marantaceae X X

See footnote at end of table.

28 AGRICULTURE INFORMATION BULLETIN NO. 348, U.S. DEPT, OF AGRICULTURE

g
Family
o
Family s; 4^
o
I
o
Pi
»55 Q*2 tí
o

Marattiaceae Psilotaceae X
Marcgraviaceae X Rhamnaceae X
Meiastomataceae X Rosaceae X X X
Meiiaceae X Rubiaceae X X
Moraceae X Fr Rutaceae X Fr
Musaceae Lf,In WP Sapindaceae X
Myristicaceae ., X Pr Sapotaceae X Fr
Myrtaceae X Schizaeaceae X X X
Najadaceae X Selaginellaceae X X
Nyctaginaceae X X Simaroubaceae X

Nymphaeaceae WP Solanaceae . X X Fr
Oleaceae X Sparganiaceae... X X
Ophioglossaceae X X Sterculiaceae X
Orchidaceae WP Taxaceae X LÍ
Osmundaceae X X Taxodiaceae X Lf
Palmae X X WP WP Theaceae X
Passifloraceae X Fr Tiliaceae X X
Pinaceae X Lf Turneraceae X X
Piperaceae Lf Ulmaceae X
Plantaginaceae X X Umbelliferae X

Polemoniaceae X X X Verbenaceae X
Polygalaceae X Violaceae X
Polygonaceae X X Vitaceae X
Portulacaceae WP Xyridaceae X X X
Potamogetonaceae.... X Zingerberaceae X X X Lf In In

^Fl = Flowers. Fr = Fruit, In = Inñorescence. Lf = Leaves. St := Stern. WP = Whole plant

 PREPARING HERBARIUM SPECIMENS OF VASCULAR PLANTS 29
APPENDIX II

Plants With Unisexual Flowers

Some or all members of the following plant same plant, or on separate plants. Care should
families bear male and female reproductive be exercised to obtain specimens of both sexes
organs in separate flowers. These may be in the if possible.
same inflorescence, on different areas of the

Batidaceae Ebenaceae Lardizabalaceae Pandanaceae

Begoniaceae Elaeagnaceae Lauraceae
Betulaceae Leitneriaceae Phytolaccaceae
Buxaceae Empetraceae Loranthaceae Platanaceae
Caricaceae Eucommiaceae Proteaceae
Euphorobiaceae Menispermaceae Rafllesiaceae
Casuarinaceae Fagaceae Monimiaceae Salicaceae
Cercidophyllaceae Flacourtiaceae Moraceae
Chloranthaceae Myricaceae Santalaceae
Cornaceae Garryaceae Myristicaceae Schisandraceae
Cucurbitaceae Gnetaceae Ulmaceae
Guttiferae Myrsinaceae Urticaceae
Cyclanthaceae Hamamelidaceae Najadaceae Valerianaceae
Datiscaceae Hernandiaceae Nyctaginaceae
Dioscoreaceae Juglandaceae Nyssaceae

TÎrU.S, GOVERNMENT PRJNTING OFFICE: 1971 O 409-31«