Section of Botany - Plant Collecting Guidelines

CMNH - Section of Botany

~Plant Collecting Guidelines~

Botanical voucher specimens should be collected for any scientific research or survey studies involving plants. Plant material should be prepared in the following way for submission.

Checklist for specimen selection and preparation:

1. Collect only native or naturalized species from natural environments; avoid ornamental, horticultural, agriculturally grown plants.Collect as many identifying characteristics of the plant as you can (i.e. flowers, fruits, leaves, roots, etc). Populations of approximately 20 or more herbaceous plants and well-established single shrubs and trees. In situations where collecting a standard voucher specimen may be detrimental to the reproductive success of that population or may be difficult to obtain them, take a picture. Photographs should be printed on archival paper.

2. When filling your plant press, begin at the bottom and work up (photo). This way you minimize disturbance of previously pressed plants. Place each plant in a single fold of newspaper, layer with the next cardboard and blotter and so on (photo). Do not over stuff plant material into a press. Be neat. Make sure the plant fits nicely into the press. If needed, bend plants into a 'V' or 'N' shape before pressing. Parts that stick out won't dry properly and may get broken off. Remember, if your plant fits into your press it will fit onto a mounting sheet.

3. Moldy, messy, moist, and/or inadequate specimens can not be used. Before pressing, clean dirt from plant roots and try not to press very wet specimens. When pressing try to orient leaves so that you can see both upper and lower sufaces. Press flowers so the interior reproductive structures are visible (open faced). Pressing plants can actually be quite artistic, use your imagination and be neat.

4. Write the scientific name of the plant (if known) on the outside edge of the fold of newspaper (photo). A brief note about location may also be very helpful. Record a personal collection number, this will greatly reduce potential confusion and mix-ups later in processing.

5. Plants must be dried within 24 hours in a plant drier. After drying, carefully remove plants. Leave plants in the paper in which they were originally pressed.

6. Each specimen must be A) adequate, B) neatly pressed and dried, C) properly and correctly labeled (photo).

7. Prepare temporary specimen labels (on 3" x 5" note cards or in your collection notebook) for those you have identified. Include as much information as you can, location, habitat, associated species, soil type, etc (photo).

8. Finished labels, neatly typed (12pt font, approx. 3.5" x 4") should be loosely placed inside the newspapers with the appropriate specimens. Be sure to include multiple labels if you have collected enough material for multiple mounting sheets. DO NOT tape or glue down specimens or labels within the newspaper.

9. Specimens are now ready for Mounting.