Exercise 9

HERBARIUM PREPARATION
PhBioSci 1

Prepared by:
Maria Athena Monica M. Emnacen, RPh
Herbarium

 Collection of plant specimen which have been dried and

pressed, arranged in a sequence based on an accepted type of
classification, and made available for use in research and
other scientific studies.
EQUIPMENT NEEDED
1. PLANT PRESS – consist of two flat frames of wood or bamboo
measuring 14”x20”. Each frame is made up of 4 wooden strips
measuring ¾”wide and ¼”thick and another 5 strips ¾”wide and
14”long. The five short strips are spaced and nailed to the equally
spaced four long strips arranged in a lattice.
2. NYLON CORD OR ABACA TWINE
3. OLD NEWSPAPERS
4. SPECIMEN TAGS
5. COLLECTING TOOLS such as SHEARS, BOLO, SHOVEL,
etc
6. PLASTIC BAGS
7. FIELD NOTEBOOK
COLLECTION
1. Select and collect healthy plants. If possible, all plant organs
must be included, especially for herbs. Exception are trees
(only the branch is needed), as long as it is complete with
plant organs (if possible, with flowers and fruits)
2. Pressing specimen in the field: First, immerse the plants
collected in the basin containing denatured alcohol to prevent
leaves and other organs from falling off. Then, put the
specimens in plastic bags temporarily. Fold the other end of
the plastic and seal to prevent the dripping of alcohol.
FINAL PRESSING OF SPECIMEN
 Pressed specimens are opened to change the newspapers
and driers and to improve the arrangement of the plant.
Pressed plants must fit the fold of the newspaper and
that of the plant press. If plants are too large, they must
be bent into letter V, N, M or W figures.
DYRING
 RAPID DRYING
• is one of the secrets of retaining the green color of plants.
• Moisture from the plant must evaporate in the shortest possible time.
• TWO METHODS OF DRYING:

NATURAL DRYING ARTIFICIAL DRYING

• drying under the sun or in the
lab under room temperature
• may take a few days, a week
or more.
• Driers or newspapers are
changed if still wet.
• drying with the use of electric
burner or electric bulbs.
• A wooden framework is
prepared so that the plant
presses are in upright
position.
• Newspapers and moist driers
are also changed to prevent
mold or fungal attacks.
PROTECTION AGAINST HERBARIUM
PESTS
a. POISONING
• specimen should be dipped in a poisoning solution made of 1
liter denatured alcohol, 12-15g of mercuric chloride, and
10-12ml of carbonic acid mixed thoroughly. The dried
specimens are placed back in the newspaper folds.
b. DEEP-FREEZING
• specimens are routinely subjected to freezing temperatures for
3-4 consecutive days to kill insect eggs and larvae.
c. FUMIGATION
• specimens and fumigants are placed in sealed chambers for
several hours.
PROTECTION AGAINST HERBARIUM
PESTS
d. MICROWAVING
• use for small quantities of specimens. Drying is accompanied by
irradiating at maximum power for 1-2 minutes per specimen.
e. MOUNTING THE SPECIMENS ON THE
HERBARIUM SHEETS
• properly-mounted herbarium specimens must last for long
periods.
• It is important to select the best quality materials and to use
good judgement in mounting.
 PROTECTION AGAINST HERBARIUM
PESTS
• The four common methods of
mounting:
 ADHESIVES – starch paste, Elmer’s glue,
and other kinds of colorless glue.
 TAPES – used for strapping the specimens
to the sheets.
 THREADS – used to attach the specimen
to the mounting sheet in whole or in part
 A combination of the three methods
mentioned above.
PREPARATION OF HERBARIUM LABELS
1. LABELING – properly prepared label is glued to the
mounting sheets. It is placed in the upper right hand
corner. A smaller herbarium label affixed on the lower
right-hand corner of the mounting sheet. Make sure that
the labels are attached to the right-specimens.

2. ACCESSIONING – record of all the botanical specimens

using an accession book is necessary. The record indicates the
herbarium number, scientific name, common or local name,
date of collection, name of collector and locality.