Preserving Specimens



COLLECTING AND PRESERVING PLANT SPECIMENS

To collect and preserve plants follow this procedure:

  • if possible, take a photograph of the plant before you collect it
  • pick a healthy specimen and keep it in a cool place out of the sun until it is pressed
  • collect as many parts as possible. Make sure you have at least parts of the root system and the flowers and buds
  • ensure the sample is clean of dirt or insects
  • preserve the plant as soon as possible and keep it flat and dry by:
    • placing it between sheets of normal newspaper (non-glossy)
    • pressing the sample between flat boards of masonite, plywood or similar
    • weighting the sample with bricks, straps or ties
  • ensure the label is placed with the sample while it is drying
  • change the paper every couple of days for a week-especially for moist or fleshy samples
  • most samples will be dry enough after a fortnight of pressing.

Keep notes for each sample with the following details:

  • family (if known)
  • genus (if known)
  • species (if known)
  • common name
  • date of collection, and whether the plant was in flower or fruit
  • flower colour, as some flowers lose their colours when pressed
  • location habitat, eg. creek bank, hillside etc.
  • soil type, general information such as sandy or clayey soil.

Plant specimens should be pressed as soon as possible after collection. If you are sending specimens away to your botanical gardens herbarium for identification have them dried, numbered and with field and location notes attached. Specimens should be sent as a flat parcel, in a newspaper folder and not be packed in any plastic.

Some weeds change shape dramatically as they mature. So collecting specimens or photos of weeds at different growth stages can help with identification.

It may help to keep a duplicate set of specimens and records to reduce confusion when you receive the official identification list back. Specimens are generally not returned by the Herbarium unless you request them. By having your own herbarium collection you will have a reference for future weed identification work and will become more familiar with weed specimens.

If you are sending a number of specimens away for identification call first as there may be a cost involved.

Specimens can be sent to the following Herbaria for identification: