HERBARIUM

HERBARIUM
A herbarium is a
collection of dried plant
specimens carefully
preserved, labeled, and
arranged for reference.
 Herbaria are invaluable
resources for the study of
botany, taxonomy and
horticulture.
 Herbarium specimens provide a historic record of
what was growing in a particular spot, and when.
 They provide insight into history, evolution, plant-
breeding, distribution, taxonomy, variation and
relationships of plant species.
 They can also help identify unknown specimens of
both wild and cultivated plants, and aid in the
production of guidebooks, checklists and
identification manuals.
 ROYAL BOTANICAL GARDEN
 The Royal
Botanical Gardens’
Herbarium, known
internationally as
“HAM”, contains
approximately
80,000 plant
specimens.
 What to Collect
 Before setting out to collect plants, be sure to
familiarize yourself with potentially injurious plants.
 Both native/naturalized species and cultivated plants of
know provenance can be collected.
 Determine whether or not the plant(s) you wish to
collect are planted or spontaneous.
 Always collect from an area where there are numerous
examples or sufficient plant material of the species or
cultivated variety you wish to collect.
 Do not collect plant material in the rain. Ensure the
plant material is free of moisture (except in the case of
aquatic species) before you collect.
 Ensure that the plant specimen you’ve selected is
representative of the population
 Herbarium specimens should have the plant features or
characteristics required for positive identification. For
most plants, this means flowers or fruit/seeds should be
present and the timing of plant collection is therefore
an important consideration
 In addition to flowers and fruit, as many different
identifying features of the plant should be sampled
at the time of collection.
 Make sure your specimen is representative of the
plant’s stem and leaf patterns.
 If you are collecting herbaceous plants (i.e.
wildflowers, graminoids or ferns) roots or
underground plant parts (rhizomes, bulbs, tubers)
should be collected where possible, along with the
above ground plant parts (leaves, stems, flowers,
fruit, thorns etc).
 Do not collect roots if you suspect the plant is
rare/at-risk or if there is only one plant in the area.
 If you are collecting trees, shrubs and other woody
plants take a cutting of a branch with several
representative leaves (and preferably flowers and/or
fruit).
 It is often useful to include a small sample of a tree’s
bark. Do so by carefully removing a piece of bark, no
larger than 2 x 2 cm, with a knife. Sterilize cutting tools
with a little rubbing alcohol before taking a sample
from a different plant to avoid the spread of pathogens
and disease.
 Herbarium specimens are mounted on standard sheets
measuring 16 ½” x 11 ½” (42 cm x 29 cm). Where
possible, collect sufficient plant material to fill the
page. Large or long-trailing herbaceous plants can be
cut into sections and pressed and mounted separately.
 For each plant specimen collected, the following information is
required and should be collected in the field at the time of
sampling:
a. Plant name – Scientific name (if not known, some kind of
identifier should be used (i.e. Mystery conifer, Mystery grass
etc.)
b. Name of collector(s). Provide up to three collectors, listing the
primary collector first.
c. Collection number, optional
d. Date of collection
e. Location (provide a description of the locality where the plant
was found and be as precise as possible to ensure someone else
can retrace your steps.
Longitudes & latitudes are an ideal accompaniment to
a written location description, but aren’t necessary)
Habitat description or description of surrounding area.
Associated plant species or growing conditions in the case of a
cultivated plant.
Flower colour (use a colour chart to reference flower colour if
possible, e.g. the RHS Colour Chart, or try to best describe the
flower colour, i.e. flowers vibrant yellow versus dull, sulfur
yellow).
List any other notes that might be relevant to the plant or
collection site (i.e. number/quantity of plants growing in the
area; health of the plants; record if photos were taken; make
note if the collection was linked to a specific project or class)
 Digital photos of the plants in their habitat or
growing medium may be taken. Digital photos are
complimentary to voucher specimens and can be
stored in a database and/or printed and linked to
the Herbarium specimens for additional reference.
 What not to Collect
 Species known to be extremely rare (digital
photographs can be used for identification).
 Injurious plants. Be aware of poisonous or
species that may cause injury. Only collect them
with proper protective wear.
 PRESSING
 Plants should be pressed as soon as possible after collection.
Plant material can be stored in large polyurethane bags while
in the field, and some plants will survive overnight in bags in
a refrigerator if they cannot be pressed immediately.
 Press plants using a standard plant press. If no plant press is
available, smaller plants can be pressed between several
sheets of newspaper and placed under a stack of heavy books
or blocks.
 Label each sheet of newspaper according to the species name
and date or collection number that corresponds to your notes.
This is important so that there is no mix up when it comes to
mounting and labeling the plants at a later date.
 When pressing plants, blot any moisture away. Lay your
specimens out on one side of an opened piece of newspaper.
 Plant parts such as leaves and petals should be laid out flat.
 The flowers should be placed so that the flower parts are
distinguishable.
 Flowers and fruit may be cross-sectioned prior to drying.
 It is helpful to turn some leaves over so that examples of the
top and underside surfaces are visible.
 Close the newspaper and sandwich it between two pieces of
blotting paper and cardboard.
 If the specimen is particularly thick then a piece of foam can
be folded inside the newspaper.
 Alternatively, thick or bulky plant parts such as roots, seeds,
bark could be pressed in separate sheets.
 Larger plants can be cut into sections and components can be
pressed individually (i.e. base, middle & top of plant).
 If plants are sectioned into two or more, label newspapers
accordingly (i.e. for a plant cut into three parts, specimen 1 of
3, 2 of 3, and 3 of 3 should be used for the top, middle and
lower parts of the plant).
 If the specimens are succulent or wet (e.g. aquatic submergent
or floating plants) then they can be pressed between pieces of
parchment paper.
 Layer all of your specimens into a plant press and tighten
the press firmly.
 Store press in a dry place with adequate air circulation.
 After a day you can check on your plants while they are
still not completely dry and rearrange them if any leaves
were folded over while pressing.
 Change newspapers and blotting paper as necessary to
prevent molding until plants are dry.
 The length of time it takes for a species to dry depends on
the plant’s water content and on the drying conditions.
 The quicker a specimen is dried, the better its colour will be
preserved. After several days plants will be dry and ready to
mount.
Creating Labels for your Specimen
1. Species name (and Family) .
2. Municipality or County, Province.
3. Collector.
4. Determiner (e.g. who identified the plant).
5. Dates of collection and determination.
6. Specific locality (verbal description)
7. Habitat (ecosystem or growing conditions).
8. Associated species.
9. Any other relevant notes taken at the time of
collection.
 Mounting voucher specimens
 Specimens should be mounted on acid-free
standard Herbarium mounting paper.
 Place your dried plants onto a piece of 16 ½” x 11
½” (42 cm x 29 cm) mounting paper.
 Arrange them in such a way that the main features
used to identify the plant are evident.
 Mix up a solution 1:1 solution of white glue and
water.
 Use a paint brush to spread the glue solution out
onto a pane of glass or other flat working surface
approximately the size of your herbarium sheet.
 Take your dried specimen and place it in the glue then
move it back onto your sheet using tweezers or other
instruments if needed.
 Be careful to place the specimen correctly once the
glue is on it so that it doesn’t smudge the paper.
 Use white glue (not diluted) and a toothpick, or
herbarium tape, to reinforce areas that do not stick as
well (ex. nodes, root balls, flower heads).
 Paint the diluted glue solution onto the backside of
your label and place it in the bottom right hand corner
of the paper.
 Cover the specimen with waxed paper, place it under a
heavy block or between hard boards and leave it to dry
over night.
 Store specimens in a cool, dry place and minimize
exposure UV light.