Field and Herbarium Methods

Dr. Bikarma Singh

CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine
Canal Road, Jammu-180001
 INTRODUCTION

“God marked everything he created with a signature”-Jacob Bohme (1575-1624)

The International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources

(IUCN) 2007 Red List estimated that 15,89,361 species discovered and recorded
so far from different parts of the world.
Plant group Species in the World Others group Species in the World
Dicotyledons 1,99,350 Mushrooms 16,000
Monocotyledons 59,300 Lichens 10,000
Mosses 15,000 Brown Algae 2,849
Ferns and allies 13,025 - -
Green Algae 3,715 - -
Red Algae 5,956 - -
Gymnosperms 980 - -
Total 2,97,326 Total 28,849
 INTRODUCTION
Vertebrates Species in the World Invertebrates Species in the World
Fish 30,000 Insects 950,000
Birds 9,956 Molluscs 81,000
Reptiles 8,240 Crustaceans 40,000
Amphibians 6,199 Corals 2,175
Mammals 5,416 Others 130,200
Total 59,811 Total 12,03,375
According to India’s 4th National Report to the Convention on Biological Diversity (2009),
Indian biodiversity comprises of 91, 212 faunal species and 45, 500 floral species, total to
1,36,712 species
Plant Group Species in India Plant Group Species in India
Angiosperms 17,527 Lichens 2,223
Gymnosperms 67 Fungi 14,500
Pteridophytes 1,200 Algae 7,175
Bryophytes 2,500 Virus/Bacteria 850
 INTRODUCTION: Definition

Herbarium is a collection of dried plants systematically named and arranged for

ready reference and study (Herb Society of America).
Herbarium is a pressed and dried plant or portion of a plant, accompanied
by notes stating at the very least where it grew, when it was collected, and by
whom (Harvard University)
Herbarium specimens are permanent records of a species (or population)
as it occurred at a given time and place (Radford et al. 1974)
Herbaria are collections of dried preserved specimens in a special cabinets
in climate control-room that document the identity of plants, arranged in
some systematic order that facilitates examination of all of the material,
represent reference collections with many and varied functions including
identification, research and education.
The aim of an herbarium is to accumulate in one place all possible
information about the habits, habitats, variations and uses of all the plants
with which it may be concerned.
Today around 4,000 herbaria established in over 165 countries
 Ten largest herbaria in the World: 2013
Abbreviation No. Specimens
Location
(in million)
National Museum of Natural History in Paris P 9.5
(France)
New York Botanical Garden at New York (USA) NY 7.2
Komarov Botanical Institute at Leningrad LE 7.16
(Russia/USSR)
Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew (England) K 7.0
Conservatoire et Jardin botaniques de la Ville de G 6.0
Genève at Geneva (Switzerland)
Natural History Museum at London (England) BM 5.2
Natur historisches Museum at Viena (Austria) W 5.0
Swedish Museum of Natural History at Sweden S 4.4
(Stockholm)
National Herbarium of Netherlands at Leiden L 4.0
(Netherland)
University of Montpellier at Montpellier (France) MPU 4.0
 Herbarium collection in India
Abbreviation No. Specimens
Location
(in lakh)
Central National Herbarium at Kolkata (West CAL 15.0
Bengal) (Established by William Roxburgh 1795)
Forest Research Institute, Indian Council of Forestry DD 3.4
Research and Education at Dehradum (Uttar
Pradesh)
Botanical Survey of India, Southern Regional Circle MH 2.59
at Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu)
National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow (UP) NBRI 2.54
Botanical Survey of India, Eastern Regional Circle ASSAM 2.25
at Shillong (Meghalaya)
Blatter Herbarium of St. Xavier ‘s College at Mumbai BLAT 2.0
(Maharashtra)
Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants CIMAP 0.87
Foundation for Revitalisation of Local Health FRLHT 0.35
Traditions at Bangalore (Karnataka)
Janaki Ammal Herbarium at Jammu (J & K) RRLH 0.32
 IMPORTANCE/USES OF HERBARIUM

Basic Functions & Research

Confirm the identity of a plant/ help for new discovery and new to Science
Records regional floras on floristic study
Serve as a secure repository for "type" specimens
Provide material for making morphological measurements and illustrations
Serves record data for revisions of species and monographs
Provide locality data for planning field trips
Documentary basis for research in taxonomy and systematics, Evolution,
Ecology (distribution, invasive species)
Information on rare, or extinct species that can no longer be found in nature
Vouchers specimens for Bio-prospecting and DNA analysis
Data for Novel research (using new technologies, e.g. climate analysis)
Documentation of flowering-fruiting times and juvenile forms of plants
Serve as a repository of new collections
Information for GIS studies of past and future changes
Facilitate and promote the exchange of new material among institutions
 IMPORTANCE/USES OF HERBARIUM

Education & Training:

Provide material for teaching (botany, taxonomy, field botany, plant communities,
ethnobotany, agriculture, dendrology, forestry)

Promote appreciation of botanical diversity by making specimens available for

viewing by students, researchers, and the public.

Encourage students in taxonomy and systematic research

Provide internship and job opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students

Provide opportunities for students and young scientists to meet more established
scientists

Train local volunteers for specimen handling, scanning, and databasing etc.

Run education courses for the public (e.g. local plant families)
 IMPORTANCE/USES OF HERBARIUM

Other uses:
Samples for the identification of plants that may be significant to criminal
investigations (forensics);
Provide focal point for botanical interactions of all types (lectures, meetings, etc.)
Provide a location for government and state agencies to work on specimens, i.e.,
USDA, USGS, NPS
Help in establishing new museums
Maintain websites for dispersing specimen information, databases, images, public
service information; repatriate data and images from collections to the country where
they were collected (international relations)
Help artists prepare accurate drawings for children's books
Provide information on the wild relatives of cultivated plants
facilitate international exchanges of field expeditions;
 INTRODUCTION: Historical background

Luca Ghini (1490-1556), Professor of Botany in the

University of Bologna in Italy, creator of first recorded
herbarium, discovered that plants dried under pressure and
pasted on sheets of paper could be preserved almost
indefinitely, could be transported easily. It is on record
that he had 300 sheets. Unfortunately, collection no
longer exists.

Andrea Cesalpino (1519-1603): De Plantis Libri

XVI- flowers and fruits as the prime structures of
identification and classification of plants, 768
specimens of Italian plants, still preserved at
Instituto Botanico University of Florence.
 INTRODUCTION: Historical background

Ulisse Aldrovandi (1522-1605), First European Botanist,

Professor of Botany at Bologna, own collection of 4,368
specimens, preserved in 17 volumes, the individual sheets
with plants mounted on them were bound and treated as
books, general technique till 1700.
Carolus Linnaeus and the comte de Buffon reckoned him
‘the father of natural History Studies’

Carl Von/Carolus Linnaeus (1707-1778), Swedish

botanist, physician, and zoologist, father of modern
taxonomy, also considered as father of modern ecology,
laid the foundations for modern scheme of Binomial
Nomenclature, did not use the above technique, preferring
to keep the sheets separate and storing them (probably in
cases) horizontally.
 INTRODUCTION: Historical background

Asa Gray (1810-1888), American botanist of

19th century, and his guide John Torrey (1796-1873)
wrote ‘Flora of North America’. He was selling bound
volumes of mounted grass and sedge specimens
entitled North American Graminae and Cyperaceae.
And even today biological supply houses sell portfolios
in which to keep herbarium specimens.
William Thomas Stearn
J.D.Hooker (1817-
1911), British (1911-2001) thinks that
Botanist, close fiend Linnaeus’ example and
Charles Darwin, teaching led to the spread
Flora of British of the technique of
India, stores plants storing plants in Pigeon
in wooden holes in a systematic
almirah/boxes after ways- which is the one
description generally used today.
 Herbarium collection objective and Planning
Specimens to be collected depend on the objectives of the collector, and the
types of material to be collected. This will determine the techniques used,
amount of material collected, and type of field data recorded in tours.
Suggestions:
Outline objectives for a specific expedition. Prepare a list of all
equipment to be utilized on the field expedition/tour

Obtain localities from herbarium, if specific materials are needed. Check

flowering and fruiting data from the specimens in herbarium.

Check local weather conditions and seasonal progress in the areas to be

visited.
•Plan for collecting duplicate specimens except in the case of very rare or
protected plants (check state laws and conservation lists). Other plants to
be avoided include those noxious weeds or parasites and their host plants
under state or federal quarantine. Duplicates provide sufficient material
for dissection or, if needed, verification by a specialist.
 COLLECTION OBJECTIVE AND PLANNING……..

Prepare for collection of herbarium specimens when collecting

materials needed for cytological, anatomical, and other studies.

Obtain collecting permits and other necessary permission in

advance, if possible, if a trip is planned to a specific area such as a
national park, foreign country, or other area. It is also advisable to
obtain permission for collecting on private lands whenever possible.

Collect and document as many different species as possible in

floristic studies.

Do not overlook the plants which are difficult to collect or identify.

 Collect thoroughly in each habit.

 Methods

GPS Reading Photography

Sample for Herbarium Measuring tap Herbarium prepared

 FIELD REQUIREMENT

Field press: two hardwood frames

Driers (blotters): cutting sheets 11 x 16 inches
Newsprint: used newspapers
Press straps: Pair of strong web straps with claw buckles are excellent
Field notebook
String tags: Waterproof string tags are useful for labeling plants
Diggers and clippers
Hand lens: field observations and identifications by 5x or l0x lens
Collecting bottles: Glass or plastic bottles with leak-proof screw caps
Liquid preservative: Formalin-Acetic Acid-Alcohol (F AA)- Ethyl alcohol (70%) 90cc.
Formalin (commercial strength) 5cc. Glacial Acetic acid5cc.
Vascula and collecting bags: preferred plastic bags
Waxed paper
Manila coin envelopes: Collecting seed, individual flowers, leaves, pollen, pollinators and other
materials which cannot or should not be pressed
Trays, cans, jars for living materials
Insecticides and repellents: naphthalene or paradichlorobenzene) may be used as repellents
Maps: Highway, topographic, and geologic maps are very useful in locating localities for
particular species
Camera: Photographs are value when collecting woody where entire plants are not pressed
Color Charts: Several color charts are available for determination of flower colors in the field
 FIELD REQUIREMENT…………….

Field press Color Charts Scatier

Hand lens GPS Camera Diggers

Field books bearing threads Blotters Coll. Bottles Polythene bags

 QUESTIONS ARISE IN THE MIND OF COLLECTOR

Why to collect?

What to collect?

How to collect?

When to collect?

What to do after collection?

 PREPARATION OF SPECIMENS FOR THE HERBRIUM
: Collection

Why to collect?
At first note people think, plants are available abundantly all the
time without knowing the future impact, then why to collect?
Not aware of future climate change
Collection for herbarium
Record of Crude Drug Repository
Scientific Research related various discipline of sciences, e.g.
Taxonomy
Systematic
Ecology
Embryology
Paleobotany
Tissue culture/Micropropagation
Forensic sciences
 PREPARATION OF SPECIMENS FOR THE HERBRIUM
: Collection
What to collect? Flowers

Fruits

Tuber
Leaves

Petioles
Seeds

Bark Inflorescence Stem

What to collect?
 What to collect?

Herbs and small shrubs up to 2 ft.-3 ft. tall should be

collected entire/whole plant
Specimen should represent all parts of root system,
rhizomes, stolons, or tubers, if any, basal leaves, cauline
(stem) leaves, any leaves or bracts in inflorescence, and
flowers/or fruits.
Lateral branches may be trimmed off, if necessary,
to reduce bulk
Large shrubs and trees should be
represented by a twig or small branch bearing
three or more adjacent leaves, to show their
arrangement, should bear flowers and/or
fruits.
Material without flowers or fruits should be
collected only if it has some unusual value or
significance.
Important to collect both male and female
flowers of monoecious/dioecious plants
 What to collect?

Each specimen should be composed of material to fit

within the dimensions of a standard herbarium sheet, 11.5
x 16.5 in.
 When collecting small herbs like grasses, several
should be collected, so as to fill a folded sheet of
newspaper, and later a standard herbarium sheet
A larger herb or shrub may have its main axis variously
bent into a "V", "N", or even an "M" to fit a fold of paper
Leaves should be arranged so that both surfaces will show
Bulky structures like large fruits placed whole in a cloth
bag with a numbered tag and dried entire, or to press a thin
median cross section and a median longitudinal section to
demonstrate the size and shape of the structure
 Minimum two specimens to be collected- one for
collector in his own herbarium, and the other (s) used for
exchange with other collectors or herbaria, or to send to a
specialist for identification
 What to collect?

Pteridophyte collection:
While collecting epiphytes pteridophytes, plants with
creeping and short rhizomes were uprooted, and from
those with large erect rhizome, fronds were removed
carefully from the crown, so that the maximum portion of
the stipe was collected/scissored in such a way that some of
the rhizome-apex bearing paleae were included.

For plants with large fronds the ultimate pinnae/pinnules

and base were collected and preserved.
 Preserving Succulent or Fleshy Plants

Succulent Xerophytic plants:

Plants (e.g., cacti) may be split and fleshy inner parts
removed. Some prefer dipping them in boiling water, xylol
or benzene before pressing. Salt may be applied to cut
surfaces to hasten drying.
A camera or a facility for making accurate drawings is
essential to the proper collection of many succulent plants.
A scale must be included with the illustration because the
plant tissue shrinks after drying.
Along with the illustration, plant color notes are needed,
particularly for flowers and fruit
Succulent Mesophytes and Hydrophytes:
Some care must be used in their preparation as
herbarium specimens.
Rootstalk, stem, or leaf petiole are essential
Photographs are important for future
 Preserving Succulent or Fleshy Plants

Orchids:
Fleshy stems or pseudobulbs do not dry easily,
cutting a series of small slits in the outer surface
before pressing helps in drying.
Boiling of stems or pseudobulbs for 2-5 minutes is
required before pressing
It is then dried in blotting paper before poisoning
and mounting on mounting-board

Flowering material is best prepared by

immersing the specimens in formaldehyde
or alcohol
 Preserving Succulent or Fleshy Plants

Plants of the Pineapple Family (Bromeliaceae)

Peel the rosette apart, select representative leaves
for the press.
Stem and inflorescence placed in the press as it is,
or if it is too large, can be split from the base to the
apex yielding two specimens of about equal size.
Photographs are important before pressing
Plants of the palm family (Palmae)
Plant furnishing the specimen should be photographed
before any part is cut. Each frond and inflorescence for
the press must be photographed before it is divided.
Palm fronds are bilaterally symmetrical, so one half of
the leaf can be trimmed away and pressed.
Top and base of frond, and base of petiole sheaths is
important for classification of the plant and must be
preserved along with portions of the inflorescence
showing both male and female flowers, and fruit.
 Preserving Succulent or Fleshy Plants

Bamboo Plants: Classification of bamboo species depends upon vegetative structures because
bamboos flower only once in a lifetime and then promptly die.
Photographs of the clump before specimens are taken are important
A mature culm is cut to obtain the midculm sheaths and branch complement
Specimen with two nodes and the internode is important for identification
Number of the node above the ground should be recorded
Rhizome should be dug and photographed to get the manner of branching; sections are then
preserved
 If flowering material is available, a series of specimens showing the range of variation of the
parts of the inflorescence should be collected
Immersing in a preservative will kill the tissue and result in quicker, more uniform drying of
the specimens
 Field Preserving Fluid

The standard botanical preserving fluid is Formol-Acetic-Alcohol (FAA),

made by mixing:
Commercial Formalin : 5 parts
Glacial (Pure) Acetic Acid :5 parts
50% or 70 % Alcohol : 90 parts
Denatured ethyl alcohol is preferred
Covers/lid of all containers holding preserving fluid are tight
 Suggestions for Collecting Particular Kinds of Plants

Acanthaceae – Flowers detach easily, fruits are important

Amaranthaceae/Rosaceae/Sapindaceae/ Piperaceae - Ripe fruits are almost
essential
Amaryllidaceae/Zingiberaceae - Underground parts
Araceae-Flowers, inflorescences, and underground parts are of great value
Araliaceae - Both flowers and fruits should be collected
Begoniaceae-Male and female flowers essential
Campanulaceae-Shape of the corolla is essential
Commelinaceae-Color of petals and anthers should be noted
Asteraceae-Flowering heads, ripe fruits, basal leaves when produced, median
cauline leaves, and underground parts are important
Cyperaceae-Ripe fruit, young inflorescence and underground parts required.
Dioscoreaceae-Male and female inflorescences, axillary bulbils, underground
parts, aerial stem, mature fruits, direction of twining of stems, i.e. clockwise
or anticlockwise
Labiatae-Base of aerial stem and underground parts essential
Leguminosae-Flowers and fruits essential
Musaceae - Axis of inflorescence, ripe fruits, photograph of whole plant
Ranunculaceae-Underground and fruits
 PREPARATION OF SPECIMENS FOR THE HERBRIUM
: Collection

How to collect?
A field notebook should be carried into the field and
notes taken on the spot when collections are made.
Collector should number all the collections he makes,
beginning with number one for the first one.
For any given collection the data in the field note-
book should include at least the number of the
collection, the date, the precise location and any
information about the plant itself that will not show in
the pressed specimen.
Each collection from a particular individual or colony
of individuals made at a particular time receives the
same number.
Each collector should maintain a single series of
collection numbers throughout his lifetime. Such
numbers serve to correlate duplicates of the collections
that may be filed in different herbaria
 PREPARATION OF SPECIMENS FOR THE HERBRIUM
: Collection

When to collect?
 Plan your trip according to your convenient so that you can stay
in field for few days

Visit in all growing seasons: rainy, winter, summer, spring (if

possible)

 Visit the same site in different seasons so that new collection from
the same locality can be recorded

Always start collection if possible in morning time so that

flowering photography of maximum plants can be recorded
 PREPARATION OF SPECIMENS FOR THE HERBRIUM
:Collection
What to do after collection?
Pressing specimens
After the specimens have been dug or cut
they should be pressed as soon as possible.
Place suitable plant specimens (one collection number per
sheet) between newspapers/blotters.
Mark newspapers / blotters with collection number and
include/check slip as well
Place newspapers between 2 blotters and separate each
blotter “sandwich”with cardboards
Tie tightly with straps for drying

Drying specimens
Change blotters and cardboards within 24 hours and
continue to do so until specimens are “bone dry”

Make sure to dry wet blotters before re-use

 PREPARATION OF SPECIMENS FOR THE HERBRIUM
:Collection
In American practice, so called the "sandwich" of
collecting paper and blotters is placed between two 12 x
18 in. sheets of cardboard or ventilators.
All sheets are placed between two wooden frames and
pressed tightly together by two straps.
The filled frames are then placed over a gentle source of
heat in such a way that the warm, dry air passes through
the ventilators.
During drying, the water in the specimen passes by
diffusion into the dry paper, then the blotting paper, then to
the dry air passing through the corrugations and is carried
off. The specimen decreases in volume as it dries, and it
will shrivel unless the press is regularly tightened during
drying.

If constant pressure is maintained, the decrease in thickness in the specimen will be
accompanied by a similar, regular decrease in length and breadth, resulting in a flat,
relatively undistorted mummy of the original.
 PREPARATION OF SPECIMENS FOR THE HERBRIUM
:Mounting Specimens
Why is mounting of specimens required?
Two things govern the storage of botanical specimens once they are
dried:
Usefulness as objects of record or study
Preservation for the future record/investigation

Reasons:
Dried specimens are extremely brittle and when they are kept loose in
the folded pressing papers they are easily damaged by handling.

“Mounting” botanical specimens give them a firm physical support

that will allow a reasonable amount of handling with a minimum of
damage
 PREPARATION OF SPECIMENS FOR THE HERBRIUM
:Mounting Papers
Paper used for mounting specimens should be of
100% rag content
Papers made from wood pulp or mixtures of wood
pulp and rags tend to deteriorate, yellow, soften, and
tear.
Thickness of paper to be used depends upon the
amount of use the specimens will have, the amount of
space available and money available.
The size of the paper on which the specimens are
mounted varies considerably.
Linnaeus mounted his specimens: 12 ½ x 8 in.
United States: 16½ x 11 ½ in.
British Museum (Natural History): 17½ x 11½ in.
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew: 16 ½ x 10 ½ in.
European herbaria: 17 x 11½ in.
Botanical Survey of India: 11 x 16 ½ in. (28 x 42 cm)
Janaki Ammal Herbarium=10 x 15 in.(26 x 38 cm)
 PREPARATION OF SPECIMENS FOR THE HERBRIUM
: Mounting Labels
Botanist has very strong opinions
about the size, shape and typography
of herbarium labels.
Form of the label is not important -
the thing that is important is that the
label should be so designed and of
such a size that all the information
from the field label can be transcribed
onto it.

Earlier in 19th centaury, label

size of 2 x 4 inch were used.

Now in 20th centaury, standard

size of 4 ⅜ x 6¾ in. is used
 PREPARATION OF SPECIMENS FOR THE HERBRIUM
: Laying out of the Herbarium
Before mounting commences, the dried specimen and its label
should be laid on the mounting paper.

Before mounting commences, the dried specimen and its label

should be laid on the mounting paper.

The specimen is moved about until one finds the position

where it is best displayed. It is in this position that it should be
attached

Specimens should be so arranged that bulky portions do not all

come at one general position on the sheets position on the sheets.

Detached pieces of the specimen: leaves, flowers, seeds, small

fruits, etc., should be placed in small envelopes (such as coin
envelopes) or folded paper packets, which are then pasted to the
sheet.
 ATTACHING SPECIMNS TO MOUNTING PAPERS:
Three techniques
Three techniques
1. Sewing or taping : Not used today
2. Gluing with a glass plate: Asian country
3. Mounting with plastic glue: American

Cello tap used

Glue used
 ATTACHING SPECIMNS TO MOUNTING PAPERS:
Technique used in Botanical Survey of India
Gluing with a glass plate
A glass plate is covered with a thin layer of glue
The glue is melted and should be applied to the plate with a paint brush
After the surface of the plate has been covered with glue, the specimen is laid
on the glued surface, right side up
Immediately removed (gently) and laid on the mounting sheet, glued side to
the paper. The label is treated in the same way and placed in the lower, right
hand corner of the paper
The specimen is then covered with a piece of waxed paper, over which is
placed a blotter and the whole is placed under a weighted board the size of
the herbarium paper
Several specimens, each with its waxed paper and blotter, may be piled one
on top of another
The mounted specimens are left overnight to dry
The Herbarium is ready for Identification
 ATTACHING SPECIMNS TO MOUNTING PAPERS

A. Glue is applied on Glass Plate

B. Herbarium with glue is pasted on Mounting board
C. Prepared herbarium with field record
 Filling/incorporation of data on Herbarium label

When herbarium is ready, the field data collected and recorded

on field dairy should be filled on the herbarium label so that
original character of plant should help in identification of the
specimens

If possible natural photographs of the specimens should be

pasted on herbarium under polythene cover for future record in
identification. This practice is not followed due to high expenditure
on photographs, but certain European botanist do this practice
 Identification of Herbarium

Regional authentic herbarium should be consulted

Regional flora/monographs/research articles should be consulted

Revisionary work

Key words developed should be consulted

Accepted and valid names of plants to be checked in Index Kewensis,

Tropicos, IPNI & Authors name by Brumitt & Powell (1992)

Taxonomic Literature and its supplement by Stafleu & Cowan, Vol. I-

VII (1976-1988) to be consulted
Correct name of Indian taxa and citation, works of Raizada (1948 &
1968), Bennet(1987), Karthikeyan & al. (1989) have been consulted
 Preservation of Specimens: Causal
Agents

Dried specimens are quite attractive to larvae

of various beetles and insects.
Cigarette beetle (Lasioderma serricorne),
also known as herbarium beetle
-Eat most dried plant materials (especially
flowers, fruits, starchy roots), mounting
board, adhesive and leaves
Drugstore beetle (Stegobium paniceum), Indian meal Moth (Plodia interpunctella),
Silverfish(Lepismasaccharina), Warehouse Beetle (Trogoderma spp.) Booklouse
(Psocid sp.), German Cockroach (Blattella germanica)
 Preservation of Specimens: Methods
of insect prevention
Environmental Sanitation: Control of environmental factors that
form links in insect transmission

Proper placing after use: After use promptly return specimens to

cabinets where it belongs to.
Don't leave exposed herbarium in open air on the table

Control and check incoming outside specimens: If possible

checking of herbarium whether Poisoned or not before taking to
herbarium for identification

Proper monitor herbarium regularly

Keep good records of insect activity seen in the herbarium

 Preservation of Specimens

Specimens are poisoned or fumigated with Mercuric chloride, Methyl bromide, Naphthalene,
Sodium arsenate and Pyrethrum before they are put in the pigeon holes and a little Paradi-
chlorobenzene (moth repellent) is kept in each case as a repellent.
 Recently, standard practice in many herbaria is to "poison" all specimens by dipping them
before mounting in a 2% solution of mercuric chloride (corrosive sublimate) in 95% ethyl
alcohol. This solution is intensely poisonous and is not recommended. (BSI herbarium).
Naphthalene balls is probably the most commonly used in herbaria because of its reputation
for reasonable effectiveness in insect control, coupled with low toxicity to humans. (Note: It is
poisonous if ingested, naphthalene dust can cause eye health problems for people with contact
lenses, and chronic exposure is believed to be implicated in the formation of cataracts).
Fungal attack arises due to incomplete drying during specimen preparation, or become wet
later through flood, or improper storage conditions. Properly dried plant specimens will not
suffer from fungal attack if stored in the correct conditions . If fungus grows on the specimens
these can be brushed with alcohol or methylated spirits (denatured alcohol).
Microwave oven treatment of specimens kill any animal life present on them. Microwave
treatment is a fast method for small numbers of specimens.
Specimens placed in an airtight box/special designed herbarium cupboard of pigeon holes.
 Arrangement of Herbaria

After the plants have been mounted on herbarium sheets, some arrangement
must be devised so that an individual sheet and the information that it provides
can be easily located again.
Place all of the specimens of one particular kind of plant, species or variety,
in a folder of good quality, light weight paper.

All species of one genus of plants are placed in a folder.

Species within the genus folder should be preferred alphabetically arranged
All of the genus folders belonging to one plant family are kept together.
The various plant families can be arranged according to some system of
presumed relationship of the plant.
Ferns and fern allies, Gymnosperms (cycads, conifers), dicotyledons and
monocotyledons, are best kept separately
In India,
 Storage container

Storage container of herbarium should be made of wood, composition board, or

sheet metal. They contain a series of compartments, about 5 in. high x 12 in. wide x 16
in. deep, into which the genus folders are inserted, and the whole case is closed by an
airtight door.

Advantages are that they are compact and protect the specimens from dust and dirt
and insect infestation.
 Janaki Ammal Herbarium (RRLH) in IIIM (Jammu)

 Herbarium is named after Edavaleth Kakkat Janaki Ammal,

renowned botanist and plant cytologist who made significant
contributions to genetics, evolution, phytogeography and
ethnobotany.
Collections include specimens dating back to 19th century
mainly from Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and other
adjoining areas
Herbarium is recognized internationally with acronym of
RRLH, registered in Index herbariorum at New York,
U.S.A.
Herbarium collected by distinguished Scientist of IIIM like Sir R.N. Chopra,
R.L. Bhadwar, S.L. Nayar, L.D. Kapur, S.N. Sobti, B.K. Abrol, Sir Kapai and
Y.K.Sarin
RRLH is a store house of 22,000 herbarium representing about 3300 species
primarily of medicinal, aromatic and economic plants of Northern Himalaya
Herbarium sheets are digitalized and available on website of CSIR-IIIM
Janaki Ammal Herbarium (RRLH) in IIIM (Jammu)

Janaki Ammal Herbarium (RRLH),

Jammu
A. Air conditioned Herbarium hall
B. Herbarium cupboard showing
specimens in Pigeonholes
C. Corridor with plant photographs
on walls
Janaki Ammal Herbarium (RRLH) in IIIM (Jammu)
 Botanical Drug Repository in RRLH Herbarium

Presently, a total of 4,200 crude drug samples of

authenticated parts of the plants, used as medicine, have
been housed in this repository.

Botanical drugs comprising of root, stem, leaves ,

flower, fruit, seed, root & rhizome, stem & leaves, fruit
& seed, stem bark, root bark, heart wood, whole plant,
whole plant without root, exudates, gum/resin, tuber and
bulb

Drug Repository in
RRLH
Accession register is maintained properly
before incorporation in Pigeonholes