Techniques and Procedures For Collecting, Preserving, Processing, and Storing Botanical Specimens
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Mr DTechniques and Procedures For Collecting, Preserving, Processing, and Storing Botanical Specimens
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Mr DW O R K I N G P A P E R
Techniques and Procedures for
Collecting, Preserving, Processing,
and Storing Botanical Specimens
⁄
Province of British Columbia
Ministry of Forests Research Program
The use of trade, firm, or corporation names in this publication is for the
information and convenience of the reader. Such use does not constitute an
official endorsement or approval by the Government of British Columbia
of any product or service to the exclusion of any others that may also be
suitable. Contents of this report are presented for discussion purposes only.
Citation:
British Columbia Ministry of Forests. . Techniques and procedures for
collecting, preserving, processing, and storing botanical specimens. Res. Br.,
B.C. Min. For., Victoria, B.C. Work. Pap. /.
Prepared for
B.C. Ministry of Forests
Research Branch
Bastion Square
Victoria, BC VW E
Copies of this report may be obtained, depending upon supply, from:
B.C. Ministry of Forests
Forestry Division Services Branch
Production Resources
Broad Street
Victoria, BC VW E
Province of British Columbia
The contents of this report may not be cited in whole or in part without the
approval of the Director of Research, B.C. Ministry of Forests, Victoria, BC
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This manual represents the combined efforts of many people who
contributed their expertise: Gerry Allen, Gail Berg, Brenda Costanzo,
George Douglas, Brian Egan, Trevor Goward, Joan Kerik, Olivia Lee, Del
Meidinger, Alison Nicholson, John Pinder-Moss, Gloria Ruyle, Mike Ryan,
and Pat Warrington. Fran Aitkens edited the manuscript, Beth Collins did
the typesetting, and Donald Gunn provided the illustrations.
iii
CONTENTS
Acknowledgements .......................................................................... iii
Introduction ...................................................................................
PART I: VASCULAR PLANTS
. Collection of Specimens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. Gathering the Specimens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. Recording the Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. Preservation of Specimens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. Pressing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. Drying . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. Processing of Specimens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. Identification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. Label Preparation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. Mounting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. Accessioning (Cataloguing) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. Storage of Specimens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. Organization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. Handling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
PART II: BRYOPHYTES AND LICHENS
. Collection of Specimens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. Gathering the Specimens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. Recording the Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. Preservation of Specimens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. Basic Techniques . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. Processing of Specimens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. Identification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. Mounting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
APPENDICES
Suggested equipment list . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Product and equipment suppliers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
National and university herbaria . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Regional herbaria . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Glossary of terms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Useful botanical publications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
v
FIGURES
Botanical specimens mounted on standard herbarium sheets . . . . . . . . . .
Sample page from a field notebook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Method for determining the Universal Transverse Mercator
reference (UTM) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Plant press showing arrangement of parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Arrangement of specimens on flimsies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Folding packets for bryophytes and lichens or for
seeds/fragments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Portable light bulb plant dryer/storage box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Tying the herbarium knot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Standard label for a herbarium sheet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Arrangement of dried specimens on herbarium sheets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Placement of glue or linen straps across mounted
specimens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
vi
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INTRODUCTION
Botanical collections are essential to our understanding of British
Columbia’s flora and plant communities. A good-quality herbarium
reference collection provides the following:
• a tool for plant identification;
• a data source for research on the taxonomy and distribution of plant
groups and for writing handbooks and floras;
• an historical record of plant locations, and of a collector’s contribution to
the science of botany;
• a repository for voucher specimens related to published scientific reports;
• an educational resource for learning to recognize the plant species of an
area; and
• accurate and permanent documentation of botanical information that
adds credibility to data collected in vegetation surveys.
This manual lists equipment and describes techniques and procedures
for collecting, preserving, processing, and storing plant specimens.
Bryophytes (mosses, liverworts, and hornworts) and lichens require
different collection and preservation techniques, and are treated separately
from vascular plants (seed plants, ferns, clubmosses and horsetails) in this
report. In the appendices you will find information to assist you in
obtaining supplies, contacting herbaria, or locating reference texts for
British Columbia flora.
Note: Terms appearing in the glossary are initially set in bold face.
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PART I: VASCULAR PLANTS
1 COLLECTION OF SPECIMENS
Collection of botanical material involves two activities—gathering the
specimens and recording the information. Even if you have a relatively
good knowledge of the local flora, you may not be able to accurately
identify all plants in the field. During vegetation sampling, collect repre-
sentative specimens of all species that are important to meet your collec-
tion needs (except for known rare and endangered specimens, which can
be photographically recorded). These specimens will later be used to con-
firm identification and provide a permanent record for future reference.
Your collection may also represent a range extension or contribute to the
knowledge of a plant’s taxonomic or natural history. It may also show the
‘‘plasticity’’ or variations possible under different habitat conditions. Be
sure to record accurate and consistent habitat information when collecting
the specimens—it is generally difficult to remember and accurately record
it later. A good-quality plant collection requires considerable advance
preparation and a lot of effort. Since you may have only one chance to
collect in a particular area, ensure that all details are followed carefully.
1.1 Gathering .. Collecting equipment The equipment needed for collecting plant
the Specimens specimens will depend on the type of plants you are collecting. For a
complete list, see Appendix .
Basic equipment
• Waterproof field notebook to record habitat and location information.
• Soft lead pencils for writing in rain.
• Topographic maps and location information should include Universal
Transverse Mercator (UTM) locations or latitudes and longitudes.
• Small altimeter for measuring elevations.
• Gardening gloves to prevent injury when handling irritating or thorny
specimens.
• Strong plastic bags for storing branches or carrying individually bagged
collections; × cm (− mil) is adequate for most plant material.
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• Waterproof tags and permanent felt markers.
• A shovel, trowel, or dandelion tool for digging underground stems, bulbs,
corms, and roots.
• Pruning shears or secateurs to cut plant parts (e.g., fruit, cones, flowers,
buds, leaves, bark) or for trimming large, woody plants to appropriate
size.
• Paper lunch bags for storing cones.
For aquatic specimens
• A long, lightweight pole (telescoping if possible) with numerous prongs
at one end, or a leaf rake with retractable prongs, or a long-handled
cultivator.
• Plastic food containers with lids, or zipper bags.
• Snorkelling or scuba-diving equipment (useful if circumstances permit).
• A white plastic slate with wax marking pencil for recording data
underwater.
... Collecting techniques In the field, take care when selecting the
plant material for collection. Do not collect species that are rare or
endangered. Three species are protected by statute in British Columbia:
western flowering dogwood (Cornus nuttallii), Pacific rhododendron
(Rhododendron macrophyllum), and western trillium (Trillium ovatum).
When you need to confirm a rare or protected species, photograph the
plant and make a good written description and/or sketch. Take several
close-up shots (with a ruler or other object for scale) showing the plant
and parts necessary for positive identification.
Determine the amount of plant material you require, select a variety
of individual plants for collection, then begin the actual collection of the
specimens.
Basic techniques
• Select specimens in good condition, free of insect damage, rust, or
disease.
• Select plants with mature parts (well-developed leaves, stems, roots,
flowers, and/or fruits or other reproductive structures).
• Select specimens that represent the range of variation in the population,
not just atypical specimens.
• Collect entire plants when possible, even if they are large (the plant can
be divided for pressing).
• Collect enough plant material from each species to fill two standard
herbarium sheets ( × cm) (see Figure ).
• Collect at least stems, leaves, and flowers or fruit of herbaceous plants,
and twigs, leaves, and flowers or catkins of trees and shrubs.
• Collect extra flowers and fruit for later dissection.
• Retain as much of the root system as possible. Remove excess soil as it
may cause disfiguration and deterioration of some plants.
• Place all specimens of a single species from one locality into one
collection bag.
• As each specimen is collected, assign a unique collection number (see
Recording the Data).
For aquatic specimens
• Many aquatic plants are extremely fragile and readily break apart after
removal from water. Handle them carefully at all times.
• Some characteristics useful for identification are destroyed by handling
and subsequent pressing. Learn these characteristics and record the
information immediately, for example, a cross-section of Nuphar petioles.
• Seal the holding containers properly to prevent leakage or loss of
specimens or parts in transit.
FIGURE Botanical specimens mounted on standard herbarium sheets.
.. Protection in the field Specimens should be pressed in the field
whenever possible (usually after returning to camp in the evening, and
preferably daily) because delay causes a significant difference in the final
result. If not pressed immediately, some delicate species like Campanula
rapidly lose their colour and structure, and some Asteraceae petals and
heads curl. However, in field sampling it may be several days before
specimens can be pressed. Most plants will remain in reasonable condition
for up to a week if handled properly and kept cool and moist. Watch the
bagged plants closely for signs of deterioration. Follow these suggestions
to keep unpressed plants fresh:
• Expel excess air from large plastic bags and seal.
• Keep collection bags in a cool place, near a stream, in the shade, or in a
cooler.
• Sprinkle fresh water into the bags during hot weather, or add a moist-
ened paper towel.
• Shake off excess moisture or ‘‘blot’’ plants collected in the early morning
or during wet weather.
4
1.2 Recording A plant collection without accompanying data is of no use to the scientific
the Data community. Keep a careful record of collection data and field observations
in a field notebook using a consistent, clear, and legible style. You can use
the information later for the herbarium label or for preparing a collection
report. File the completed field notebook as a permanent record.
The type of data recorded will depend on the collection. It usually
includes collection number, date, name(s) of collector(s), location (latitude
and longitude or northing and easting) and habitat information (eleva-
tion, water depth [for aquatic plants], slope, aspect, soil, moisture regime,
associated vegetation, and biogeoclimatic zone and/or subzone). Observa-
tions about each plant species collected (e.g., flower colour, diameter,
height, abundance, odour) should be recorded. To reduce the amount of
writing needed in the field book and on labels, collect as many different
plants as possible from the same site. Write the information common to
all specimens (collector, slope, aspect, associated vegetation, etc.) at the
top of the page, then list collection numbers with brief identifying infor-
mation. Some collectors have a stamp made with standard headings to
stamp directly onto the notebook page. More detailed information can
then be filled in as the plant collection is made (see Figure ).
Write legibly so that time is not wasted by someone trying to interpret
your field notes. Notebook computers may, in the future, obviate the need
for field books, but collecting can be wet, dirty work and they may not
stand up to these conditions.
FIGURE (a) Sample page from a field notebook and (b) sample field label
(developed by Marc Bell) for collecting adequate field notes.
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.. Collection number As soon as the specimen is bagged, record a
collection number in the field notebook. Write the collection number on
a waterproof tag and place it in the bag with the specimens, or label the
outside of the bag using a permanent marking pen. If you are pressing
right away, you can write the collection number on the flimsy (newsprint
folder) in a corner or along the border. The collection number makes it
easy to reference individual specimens or groups of specimens in a
collection. Several numbering systems are in use, as follows:
• Some taxonomists assign collection numbers to specimens sequentially
throughout their careers (up to six digits may be used), and can, there-
fore, use a rotating number stamp directly on the pressing paper. This
method allows researchers to identify when in a taxonomist’s career the
plant was collected, to track the specimen from a published account, or
to calculate the total number of specimens collected.
• Some collectors assign field numbers by year. The number consists of the
last two digits of the collection year, a dash, then a sequential specimen
number. For example, the first plant collected in would be -,
then, -, and so on. This method is useful if the collector will return
to the same area over a number of years, or for an organization that
produces annual reports. It gives an immediate indication of when the
specimen was collected. However, with the approach of the end of the
century, this system may cause confusion (was − collected in or
?). Another system may be needed.
• For collections made during a vegetation or ecosystem classification
project, collectors often use a project or locality abbreviation, followed
by a plot number, a dash, and the specimen number. Each plant collected
has a unique number, but is also immediately identified by sample site or
plot and project. For example, on the Toby Creek project (TC) plot
number , the first specimen is TC-, the second TC-, etc.
In all the numbering systems, plants of the same species collected at
the same sampling site or plot are given the same number. For example, if
specimens of Viola sempervirens (enough to fill two herbarium sheets)
are collected from site TC, then all plants receive the same collection
number (e.g., TC-). An exception would be if the specimens are of
different trees of the same species in the same area. In that case, separate
specimen numbers would be assigned.
.. Date of collection To avoid confusion, write the date in full
(August , ). Note that ‘‘//’’ could be interpreted as August ,
or July , .
.. Name(s) of collector(s) Record all significant members of the
collecting party. In the future, if one collector is unavailable to answer
questions, the others may be contacted. First initial(s) plus the last name
is sufficient.
.. Location information Provide enough information so that another
person can follow the directions to the general area to observe more
speci-
mens of the same species. For example,
‘‘Thirty miles NE of Hazelton, B.C. on the Kispiox Valley road; south
bank of McCulley Ck. below the bridge.’’
Use a good topographic map to determine latitude and longitude to
the nearest seconds, or the UTM co-ordinates, which are increasingly
used in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) (see Figure ).
FIGURE Method for determining the Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM)
reference. The system consists of zone, easting, and northing. The
blue grid overprinted on many maps is the UTM system. The blue
numbers near the map corners identify the full six- and seven-digit
numbers for eastings and northings. The ‘‘ב‘ in Figure 3 is located
as: Zone 9 Easting 3 6 0 3 Northing 6 1 3 5 4.
.. Habitat information
Elevation: the vertical distance above sea level in metres; read from a
topographical map, or use an altimeter.
Slope: the gradient of the site where the collection was made; measure
using a clinometer. For example, a % slope would be °.
Aspect: the exposure or orientation of the slope; measure using a compass
bearing (remember to allow for magnetic declination). For example, 250°.
Associated vegetation: a short list of other dominant species in the plant
community being sampled.
Biogeoclimatic zone/subzone: zone, subzone and, if possible, site series.
Soil: type of soil encountered. You may want to be specific or not,
depending on the purpose of the collection (see the Canadian System of
Soil Classification). For example, coarse-, medium-, or fine-textured; soil
depth, sand, loam, silt, clay, peat.
Moisture regime: the degree of wetness or dryness (xeric, mesic, hygric,
hydric).
Water depth: for aquatic plants, note the depth at which they are rooted.
Note whether the current water level is above or below the low or high
water marks on the shore, and by how much. (If possible, note also the
annual fluctuation in water level from low to high water marks.) Record if
the plant reaches the surface, and what parts (if any) are emergent.
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.. Comments You may want to make specific notes to help with later
identification. Some important observations are:
For herbaceous plants
• A record of the abundance of the species is important for the records
of rare species kept by the B.C. Conservation Data Centre in Victoria.
Record the area covered in square meters, or estimate the number of
plants if there are only a few.
• Flower and fruit (e.g., berries) colour may fade or change after
collection—especially blues and purples—so record the fresh colour in
your notes.
• Note the presence or absence of milky juice in plant stems.
• Note any flower or leaf fragrances, or any distinctive odours when the
plant is bruised.
For trees and shrubs
• The height and growth form (i.e., spreading, scraggly, columnar) may
help distinguish between species of the same genus. This information is
essential when the whole plant is not collected.
• Flower and fruit colour for flowering trees or shrubs.
2 PRESERVATION OF SPECIMENS
The two main steps in preserving floral collections are pressing and drying.
Correct pressing prevents plant parts from curling or wrinkling during
the drying process, and allows the requisite plant parts to be visible for
identification. Care in pressing specimens will result in more useful and
visually appealing herbarium specimens. The process consists of laying the
plant specimens in folded sheets of newsprint separated by cardboard
sheets, and placing them in a pressing frame, which is then tightened with
straps.
Drying involves an adequate length of time and exposure to ‘‘dry’’ air,
and maintenance of the specimens in the press, e.g., changing the news-
print to speed up the drying process and cinching the press daily as the
specimens dry.
2.1 Pressing .. Pressing equipment The main piece of equipment is a plant press
(Figure ). You can construct your own press or purchase one from a
biological supply company (see Appendix ). The frame usually consists of
two back panels (about × cm) made of a lattice of hardwood strips.
The back panels could also be made from plywood panels drilled with
holes to cm in diameter. The frame is tightened with two heavy
webbing straps (about m long by cm wide) with adjustable fasteners.
You will need many flimsies (newsprint cut in sheets of about × cm.
Roll-ends are available from some printers. Tabloid-size newspapers may
be used, but there is little room for writing and the ink will dirty your
hands and sometimes mark the plants. Sheets of corrugated cardboard
( × × cm), felt blotting paper ( × cm), and soft foam sheets
( × × cm) are also needed to layer between plants in the press.
Felt and foam are optional. Felt is good for speeding up drying of damp
specimens and foam is useful for bulky branches or stems.
FIGURE A plant press showing arrangement of parts.
.. Pressing technique The ideal place to press plant specimens is
indoors on a large table. However, a picnic table, the back of a station
wagon, the tailgate of a truck, or a flat, hard surface is adequate as long as
it is out of the wind and rain. The following suggestions will ensure high-
quality, pressed specimens.
Basic techniques
• Separate the frame parts. Make a separate stack for each part if you have
plenty of room and it is not windy. Otherwise arrange the materials in
the order they will be used: back panel, cardboard, newsprint, blotter (for
damp plants, put on both sides of paper), foam (for large branches put
on both sides of paper), cardboard, paper, etc.
• Fold a large number of the newsprint sheets in half to form × cm
folders (flimsies).
• Lay the straps at one end of the table (both in the same direction). Place
one back panel on top of the straps, and place two cardboard separator
sheets on the panel.
• Place a folded newsprint sheet on another cardboard sheet (alternate the
sides of the newsprint openings within the press to prevent a large bulge
on one side). Write the field number on the bottom right corner of the
newsprint sheet, inside and outside.
• Write the family name, if known, on the outside as well.
• Place plants to be pressed on the right half of the newsprint folder (see
Figure 5).
9
FIGURE Arrangement of specimens on flimsies (newsprint folder).
• Arrange the plants carefully with a minimum of overlap.
• Open some flowers to show both the top and underside to illustrate the
arrangement of floral parts and the presence or absence of involucre
bracts. Open the flower and press it down with your thumb.
• Squash large fruits on the page or slice them in half to speed up the
drying process.
• Place dry, loose seeds or fruits in sealed packets. Write the collection
number on the outside of the packet. (See Figure for folding seed
packets.)
• Turn over some leaves or part of a single large leaf to show the underside
(fern fronds as well).
• When the sheet is full, close the folder, lift the cardboard separator
and the newsprint folder and place them on the press.
• Up to three sheets of specimens may be placed together without a
cardboard separator if you use blotting paper between them. The number
of sheets depends on the thickness and moisture content of
the plants.
• Plants can be re-arranged easily by opening the press after two or three
hours. The plants will be limp but still flexible.
• Check and change damp newsprint daily and remove specimens as they
become dry.
• Cinch press daily (as plants dry the press will become loose).
• When the press is full, place two cardboard separators and the other back
panel on top. Tighten the straps as much as possible. You can kneel on
the press to achieve the desired tension. Make sure the pressure is even
and that you do not end up with a ‘‘cock-eyed’’ press. The straps must be
tightened again after to hours to take up the slack as the plants dry
and shrink. Keep tightening the straps until the drying is finished.
10
FIGURE Folding packets for bryophytes and lichens or for seeds/fragments.
For herbaceous plants
• Place sheets of plants with high moisture content singly between
cardboard separators, and check daily to see if the newsprint needs
changing to facilitate drying.
For trees and shrubs
• Bend or cut stems of larger plants to fit the sheet, or place them on
separate sheets. Designate the parts a, b, c, etc., but use the same
collection number.
• Place foam sheets top and bottom, or a small roll of paper on top of
or alongside bulky or thorny plants to distribute the pressure evenly.
For aquatic specimens
The delicate structures of many aquatic species require special care and
attention. Some aquatic plants do not have structural tissues to give them
rigidity and they collapse when removed from the water. Fragile stems
tend to stick to newsprint or break off the plants with excessive handling.
They need to be floated directly onto a sheet of thin mounting paper and
arranged while the sheet is slowly withdrawn from the water.
• Partially fill a large sink, bathtub, or photographic developing tray with
cool water. If you do not have a container, use the lake or pond where
the collection was made.
• Float the plant in the water.
• Slide a herbarium sheet into the water under the plant. Check with the
paper supplier to ensure that the paper you are using will not change
shape when wet.
• Arrange the specimens in the water. Untangle feathery stems. Carefully lift
up the sheet (with the specimens), letting the excess water run off.
11
• Place the sheet aside to drip dry before pressing. An old window screen
makes a good support while the sheet dries.
• Place a piece of waxed paper or cheesecloth between the specimen and
the newsprint to prevent sticking of mucilaginous plants like Chara and
Brasenia (experimentation will determine which works best). Note that
the arrangement cannot be altered once in place.
• Some bulky parts like Typha fruits, Nuphar flowers, and Cicuta douglasii
roots need to be sliced longitudinally to make them flat enough to press.
NOTE: Cicuta douglasii, Douglas' water-hemlock, roots are poisonous.
Wash your hands and knives after preparing them.
2.2 Drying Drying is a crucial step in preserving collected plant material. To ensure
that a specimen retains its colour and does not become brittle or
scorched, the moisture must be removed rapidly, while using only a
moderate heat. Good air circulation will speed up the process. Make sure
the corrugated cardboard still has air spaces in between and is not
crushed flat with use.
• During warm, dry weather, tie the press onto the roof-rack if you are
travelling by car. The air will flow through the lattice panels and the
corrugated separators when the vehicle is moving.
• Place the press inside a well-ventilated vehicle parked in a sunny spot.
• Plants will dry reasonably well in a heated room in a week if you change
the papers regularly.
.. Drying equipment
• A forced-air heat vent, the back side of an air conditioner, or a hair dryer
also get the job done, but they can pose fire hazards.
• Large commercial dryers are easily regulated, safe, and when properly
vented, will not increase the room temperature or allow odours into
the room.
• You can build a homemade dryer using one or two 60- or 100-watt light
bulbs inside a wooden box (see Figure ).
FIGURE A portable light-bulb plant dryer/storage box.
12
.. Drying technique
All dryers require adequate ventilation above, below, and on all sides.
• If using a homemade light-bulb dryer, place the pressing frame on top of
the dryer. Leave at least cm between the bulb and the press. The light-
bulb dryer will dry most plants in hours.
• Warm air should flow through the corrugations in the cardboard and
through the sheets enclosing the specimens.
• Open the press periodically and check the specimens to ensure that they
don’t become too dry, or begin to mildew.
• A specimen is considered dry when it does not feel cool to the touch
when the press has been open for a few minutes.
• Many plants will shed seeds during the drying process. Package the seeds
and mark the collection number on the package.
• Cones can be air dried in their paper collection bags.
After the specimens are completely dry, carefully remove them from the
press and store them in bundles protected on either side by cardboard
sheets. Tie the bundles with string using the quick-release herbarium knot
(Figure ). Seal the bundles in dark plastic bags and place a descriptive
label on the outside. If necessary, the plants can be stored for several years
in a cool, dry place before they are mounted. The plastic bag ensures that
insects cannot get in or out, decreasing the chance of bringing an infest-
ation to the collection.
FIGURE Tying the herbarium knot.
13
3 PROCESSING OF SPECIMENS
Processing dried specimens involves four steps:
• identification,
• label preparation,
• mounting, and
• accessioning.
The first three are critical in producing a high-quality, final product.
Identification Specimens need to be correctly identified. If you have any doubt, send a
duplicate specimen to a taxonomic expert for confirmation. Negotiate and
document a definite time to complete the identification when you make
the request, otherwise you may wait a long time for the information. If
the taxonomist will not be paid, it is usual to collect duplicates and offer
some of the collection to keep. If the taxonomist is paid for the work, then
all the specimens are usually returned to the collector, unless specified
otherwise. When the material is returned, the positively identified
specimens will be an important addition to your herbarium. Plants should
not be processed until the identification is certain.
To identify plant specimens you will need a basic knowledge of
taxonomy and nomenclature, familiarity with the morphological
characteristics of different plant families, access to a library of regional
floras (and taxonomic papers to supplement these floras—see Appendix
), and the ability to use a herbarium reference collection.
.. Identification equipment The standard tools used for identification are:
• A dissecting kit, wetting solution (to moisten dry plants for dissection—
see recipe in Appendix ), a heavy glass plate (on which to place the
specimens), dissecting microscope with high-intensity lighting, keys, and
reference books.
.. Identification technique The following suggestions may help in the
identification process:
• Try to have more than one plant of a species available to dissect, or have
extra flowers on hand.
• Dissect fresh material if possible, or use thoroughly moistened dry
material.
• Have at least two different identification keys, since each may use
different methods to arrive at genus/species.
• As you proceed down the key, note the numbers so you have a record of
the route taken.
• Double-check all identifications using the key and herbarium specimens if
available.
The correct identification of a specimen is not always easy. A signi-
ficant portion of the local flora may belong to taxonomically difficult
groups. For example, many of the Asteraceae, Cyperaceae, Poaceae,
Potomogetonaceae, and numerous genera such as Astragalus, Castilleja,
Draba, Lupinus, and Salix are difficult to identify.
14
3.2 Label Labels for the dry specimens can be prepared before the plants are
Preparation identified, recording information known at that time. The genus/species
and identifier can be typed in later. Using a standardized label (Figure )
ensures that all necessary data are transcribed from the field book to the
label accurately and efficiently.
FIGURE Standard label for a herbarium sheet.
Tips for label preparation:
• If a large number of plants were collected from one site, identical
information can be typed onto a template.
• The template can be photocopied or mass-produced by a computer
program, so that only a few blank fields need to be filled in later.
• Finished labels may be arranged in order of field number to make them
easily accessible, or placed into the flimsies with the specimens.
• Incorrectly named specimens that are later re-identified should have the
correct name recorded on an annotation label supplied by the
taxonomist.
• Once the specimen is mounted, the first name attached to the herbarium
sheet must never be obscured, only annotated.
3.3 Mounting Mounting the pressed plants involves skill and patience but can provide
much satisfaction when the task is complete. Mounting techniques have
changed considerably in the past years, as has the quality of mounting
supplies. The following equipment and procedures are used by technicians
at the Royal British Columbia Museum herbarium and are designed to
meet museum conservation standards. All supplies should be of museum
quality since the longevity of the specimens is directly related to the
substances with which they are in contact.
.. Mounting equipment Before starting, have ready acid-free
mounting paper, cardboard sheets, glue in small, flexible, plastic squirt
15
bottles, wooden spacer blocks, weights, needle and linen thread (optional),
paper seed envelopes (Kraft coin envelopes), and identified specimens with
completed acid-free label. For a complete list see Appendix 1.
.. Mounting technique The best work area is a large surface such as
a high counter or a drafting table with an appropriately sized stool. Ideally
this area should be separate from the herbarium to prevent insects from
being introduced into the main collection. Natural light makes the job
more pleasant. Remember that the specimen(s) may have to be removed
at some time and large amounts of glue make this task impossible. The
following suggestions should ensure a high-quality collection:
• Wear old clothes or a lab coat; mounting can be a very messy business.
• Arrange supplies so the work can proceed in sequence, from left to right,
or vice versa.
• Place the specimens to be mounted at one end of the table, with a
garbage can nearby ready for waste plants or dirt.
• Glue the label to the bottom right corner of the herbarium sheet.
• Annotation or determinavit labels, if present, should be placed directly
above or to the left of the main label. If they are too far apart, the
incorrect identification on the main label may be used because the
smaller annotation label is not noticed.
• Run a bead of glue only along the top edge of the label. Field labels or
other information can be folded and affixed underneath. Make a note on
the label if any extra information is glued under the herbarium label
(e.g., additional information beneath). These should be rotated in
location so you don’t end up with a bulge on a stack.
• Leave space on the sheet for seed and fragment packets and for accession
stamp/number—usually near the upper edge.
• Remove any soil clinging to the roots or stems. Gently crush with the
blunt end of the probe, rub the roots between your fingers over the
garbage can, or lay on a flat surface and tease with a dissecting probe.
• Use scissors or pruning shears to trim large specimens to fit the sheets.
Make sure that important parts are not cut off.
• Sometimes the last particles can be dislodged by tapping the root gently
on the inside of the garbage container. Try this only on robust specimens,
as it will damage others.
• Place a sheet of mounting paper on a cardboard sheet. The cardboard
makes it easier to move the finished product and stack it for drying.
• Arrange the plants on the mounting paper (Figure ).
• Vary the arrangement of specimens on the sheet to avoid otherwise
sloping stacks that will cause problems in storage (brittle plants will break
under lopsided conditions).
• Salvage any valuable loose material, such as seeds or flowers, and place
them in paper or wax paper packets (see Figure for folding method).
Glue fragment packets near the upper edge or sides of the sheet after the
specimens are mounted.
• Avoid placing anything right at the edge of the mounting sheet, as it may
stick out and get damaged. Leave approximately 1¤2 inches around sides
for ‘‘finger space’’ to allow the sheet to be picked up without damaging
the specimen.
16
FIGURE Arrangement of dried specimens on herbarium sheets.
• Hold the specimen down with weights, such as plastic-coated lead bars
or large metal washers, until the glue dries. You can dip the washers in
acrylic floor wax before using.
• Attach the specimen to the mounting paper with thin ribbons of glue
running from the paper across the plant part to the paper (see Figure ).
The glue should not cover any parts necessary for identification, for
example, the nodes and ligules of grass.
FIGURE Placement of glue or linen straps across mounted specimens.
17
• The number of glue straps will vary with the material but the specimens
should remain securely in place when the dry sheet is held upside down
(Figure ).
• A large leaf will benefit from a few dots of glue on the underside, and
multi-stemmed specimens (like some grasses) will need long glue straps
to catch all the stems.
• A dot of glue beneath the flower head may be needed if the head is large
and cannot be held down with a strap of glue on the petiole.
• If only one flower is placed on the sheet, protect it by gluing a trans-
parent flexible covering over it. Glue only the top edge of the cover so it
can be flipped back to examine the protected parts.
• Use linen straps or white gummed mounting tape (available in rolls of
various widths) cut to the size required to attach thick stems. For linen
straps, use a needle to make small holes through the sheet on either side
of the stem, thread through, and tie a knot on the back. If the knot is
bulky, glue a small piece of paper over it, so that it won’t damage the
specimen beneath.
When the sheet is finished, move the mounted specimen(s)—
supported by the cardboard—to one side, and place three or four wooden
blocks along the edges of the paper. These blocks act as spacers so that
mounted plants can be stacked to dry. The length of the blocks needed
will depend on the space left near the edges of the sheet. Some herbaria
have mobile stacking units with individual shelves for each specimen,
which eliminates the use of blocks and the chance that the stack of plants
will tip over. These units can also be sealed to prevent insect infestation.
For aquatic specimens
• Aquatic plants require special care when the mounting sheet is removed
from the newsprint. Specimens may adhere to the newsprint in several
places.
• If specimens have been dried on thin mounting sheets, the paper may
have become wavy during the drying process. You may want to glue the
thin sheet to another sheet of mounting paper for more rigidity.
• Affix labels so that important parts are not obscured, and place glue
where required.
4 Accessioning The final step before filing the mounted or packaged collections in the
(Cataloguing) herbarium is to assign accession numbers and to record the specific
associated data in a computer-based file or an accession book. The
amount of information recorded varies, but the more information you
record, the more valuable the specimen is for future researchers. These
records become the index for the herbarium collection. In some larger,
more progressive institutions, the labelling program serves a dual purpose,
and accession numbers are assigned and recorded automatically when the
labels are produced. This system saves time in a large collection. An
accession book is adequate for a small collection. Accession numbers are
assigned chronologically as specimens arrive, for example, starting with
number .
18
.. Accession equipment
• A high-quality, hardbound book (if a computerized system is not in
place).
• A custom-made herbarium stamp and a sequential numbering stamp.
• Rapidograph or Staedtler drafting pens.
.. Accession technique After the strapping glue has dried, stamp
each sheet of mounted plants with the customized herbarium stamp
(usually a circular/elliptical stamp with the institution’s name and an area
in the centre for the circulation number) and assign a unique accession
number. Choose a standard place on the herbarium sheet (you should
remember to leave a space for this when mounting).
Record information in the accession book or computer file. Accession
numbers are always unique unless duplicate sheets of the same genus/
species, collected at the same time and place, have different histories. For
example, if one sheet is sent to Ottawa for identification and has an
annotation label, this sheet should have an accession number different
from the duplicate sheet that was not sent out for identification. The
reason for this is that the person who did the identification may refer to
these plants in a publication, and anyone wishing to see the sheet can
immediately distinguish it by the unique accession number.
Parts of a plant that will not fit on a single herbarium sheet can be
designated by letter (a, b, c). For example, in a Douglas-fir collection, the
branch could be assigned a, the cones b, and the bark c.
When you set up the accessions database, keep in mind that you may
later want to sort it in different ways. Choose the software carefully and
consult an experienced user before entering the information, or you may
produce an inflexible and unusable database.
Each herbarium is assigned its own international code, therefore, when
referring to a particular sheet, an author may use the code with the
accession number for clarification (e.g., UVIC ) The code for the
University of Victoria is UVIC; for the Royal British Columbia Museum
it is V.
4 STORAGE OF SPECIMENS
Once specimens have been identified, mounted, labelled, and accessioned,
they should be frozen at −°C for hours to kill insects, then stored in
cabinets in a specially equipped room called a herbarium. Specimens
could also be frozen if they have been sitting out for awhile during any of
the above stages. Plant specimens, properly stored and handled, can be
kept for a hundred years or more. Most herbaria store specimens on
shelves in sealed metal cabinets (wooden cabinets may harbour insects).
Proper storage involves the organization, handling, and maintenance of
the coll-
ection. In all instances, the sheets should be enclosed in labelled MO type
1¤
2 inch double-score genus covers and a species cover with the genus
cover (see Appendix ).
19
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4.1 Organization To be useful and accessible, a herbarium collection must be well orga-
nized. Many large herbaria follow a taxonomic sequence according to evo-
lutionary history. The first division would be primitive plants such as
ferns, fern-allies, and gymnosperms (conifers). Angiosperms (flowering
plants) are usually divided into monocotyledons and dicotyledons. How-
ever, this type of arrangement is by no means universal. Many large col-
lections are arranged alphabetically within major divisions.
At smaller herbaria, where the emphasis is on plant identification and
the users are not trained taxonomists, it is easier to arrange all the speci-
mens alphabetically by species within genera, and genera within families.
This system would work well for a weed collection held in an agricultural
office which is used mainly for identification of problem plants.
For collections from outside the province or collections of historical or
special significance (such as an ethnobotany collection), specimens may
be further separated with identifying codes or colours on the genus cov-
ers. The Royal British Columbia Museum herbarium stamps the special
collection name on the lower right corner of the genus cover and uses
colour-coded covers for out-of-province localities. Researchers and techni-
cians can quickly work through a genus without looking at each folder. A
genus/species represented by many sheets collected in a province may be
further categorized by collection date. For example, sheets of Equisetum
arvense collected in British Columbia could be grouped according to col-
lection year. One genus cover might hold six sheets collected between
and , the next, sheets collected between and , etc. This
arrangement is especially useful to researchers looking for historical
records in a given locality.
4.2 Handling Since mounted specimens can be expected to provide a taxonomic history
covering a century or more, it is important that herbarium users handle
them properly. Post rules, such as the following, in a prominent place and
explain them to new users:
• Lift genus covers, with herbarium specimens held flat inside covers, from
the herbarium cabinet, causing minimum disturbance to adjacent covers.
• Support the genus cover with cardboard or your palm and arm, and
carry it horizontally to the examining table.
• Do not turn individual sheets over like pages of a book. Lift each sheet
right side up using two hands and place it in a new stack.
• Support individual sheets with a piece of cardboard if they have to be
moved to a different area.
• Note any specimens in need of repair or showing insect damage and
bring them to the attention of herbarium staff.
• The herbarium staff will return the specimens to the cabinets to ensure
correct placement.
4.3 Maintenance Once the collection is stored, periodic checks must be made to ensure
that the plants are stable and not affected by insects or excessive moisture.
Insects can seriously damage a herbarium collection. Even with the most
meticulous care and the best equipment, insects are certain to attack the
specimens at some time. Over the years, various ways have been tried to
prevent insect damage, such as dipping the specimens in insecticide or
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fumigating the plants, cabinets, or entire rooms. However, these methods
have not been completely satisfactory and the chemicals used are a poten-
tial health hazard. Recently, freezing of plant material has proven to be a
simple, effective, and efficient means of killing insects.
.. Insects If insects are discovered in herbarium cabinets, the entire
contents of that cabinet and of adjacent cabinets should be scrutinized for
signs of infestation. Look for nibble marks on leaves, bits of frass (which
can be mistaken for soil particles), cast-off larval exoskeletons, or egg
cases. Any suspect material should be frozen to prevent the spread of the
problem. While the cabinet is empty, it can be vacuumed and wiped out
to ensure eradication of the insects and eggs. At the curator’s discretion,
parts of the collection may be frozen on a rotating schedule.
Specimens should be frozen after they are dried, particularly if they
will be sitting for long periods, and especially just before they are filed.
This will prevent unnecessary contamination of the main collection. To
freeze herbaria specimens:
• Stack mounted specimens in plastic bags with corrugated cardboard in
between stacks for support, seal with twist ties (to prevent freezer burn),
then carefully stack in a standard chest freezer.
• Freeze at −20°C for hours, remove and set aside. The plants become
dry and brittle when frozen, so they must be allowed to thaw and recover
lost moisture before being removed from the bags and filed.
.. Moisture Excessive moisture can also ruin a collection. A hygro-
thermograph is a useful instrument to install in the collection area. This
simple apparatus plots the temperature and humidity on a graph over weekly
periods. If the range of temperature and humidity is large, herbarium staff
can adjust the environment to keep them within a reasonable range.
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PART II: BRYOPHYTES AND LICHENS
1 COLLECTION OF SPECIMENS
The techniques for collecting, preserving, and storing bryophytes and
lichens are slightly different from those for plants, and are not as well
documented. The following brief summary will help you to collect and
preserve them properly.
Bryophytes and lichens are often ignored when the more showy flowers
of the vascular plants attract attention. You will have to learn to ‘‘see
differently’’ and look in different places, but you will be richly rewarded
once you start noticing these wonderfully diverse plant groups. Lichens
are classified according to their growth forms:
• Crustose: attached over the entire thallus to the substrate;
• Foliose: bilaterally symmetrical and usually attached to substrate by
rhizines; and
• Fruticose: radially symmetrical, algal cells surrounded by an outer layer
of fungal cells.
Bryophytes include mosses and liverworts. Liverworts can be thalloid
or leafy, but mosses are always leafy.
1.1 Gathering .. Collecting equipment In addition to the basic collecting equipment
the Specimens (bags, pruning shears, notebook, pencils, felt marking pens, maps, and
altimeter) some specialized equipment is needed for collecting bryophytes
and lichens.
Bryophytes
• A knife for prying the specimen from the substrate.
• Paper bags.
• Small plastic zipper bags are useful, especially if a large number of
specimens will be collected during wet spring weather. The plastic bags
allow for rapid identification later—no need to open and close bags or
dump out the specimens. However, watch the specimens closely for
mould as mosses decay very quickly if kept wet. You may want to dry
the specimens at room temperature, or keep them in paper bags for
transportation.
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Lichens
• Hand lens, paper bags, rock hammer (or a stone chisel and hammer),
safety glasses, and spray bottle.
.. Collecting technique Unlike vascular plants, you do not have to
collect enough material to fill a herbarium sheet. Collect only enough
material to fill two . × cm packets or enough to fill the palm of
your hand. You may need more if you are going to send some away to
be identified. See Figure for the procedure for folding packets. A small
wooden frame inserted inside the packet will help protect delicate speci-
mens from damage. Do not collect samples if you suspect that the species
is rare. Make a good photographic record instead.
Bryophytes
• Collect specimens in the sporophyte phase whenever possible. The
presence of sporophytes is often needed for accurate identification.
• If the liverwort is growing on a tree, collect some of the bark.
Lichens
• Before attempting to collect very dry, brittle lichens, mist them with a
spray bottle.
• Try to collect lichen specimens growing on small rocks; if they are closely
attached to the substrate, collect a portion of the attached substrate.
• For lichens growing on trees, include a small amount of bark or a piece
of twig.
• If several lichen species are found growing together, separate and bag
them individually.
.. Collection number Lichenologists use a number of different
systems of assigning field numbers, but the choice is up to the individual
collector. In most cases the same method used for assigning field numbers
to vascular plants is also used for bryophytes and lichens.
.. Protection in the field
Bryophytes
• Bryophyte specimens should be kept cool and moist, or air dried
immediately.
• If bryophytes are to be transported long distances in plastic bags, blow up
the bags before sealing to prevent crushing the specimens. Ensure that
they are kept cool and out of the sun, otherwise mould will quickly form
and ruin the specimens.
• Many leafy liverworts have cellular oil bodies (necessary for identification)
that are destroyed if allowed to dry out.
• Many thallose liverworts are impossible to identify after they have dried
and should therefore be identified as soon as possible after collection, or
refrigerated until they can be identified.
Lichens
• Lichen specimens should be kept dry.
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1.2 Recording In addition to the information listed for vascular plants, you should
the Data record several other variables that are often important in identifying
bryophytes and lichens.
.. Habitat information
Substrate: Many identification keys use substrate as a character to separate
species, e.g., rotten wood, living trunk, branch, humus, mineral soil, rock.
Forest type: This information indicates the degree of exposure, e.g., open,
shady, humid, closed, exposed.
Ecosystem: The nature of the surrounding vegetation, e.g., lowland,
subalpine, or specific biogeoclimatic zone and subzone.
2 PRESERVATION OF SPECIMENS
Since bryophytes and lichens are usually air dried to keep their three-
dimensional form rather than pressed, you need not carry a plant press.
You are only faced with the problem of finding a large, dry, airy space to
dry your specimens. However, lichens and mosses may be lightly pressed
if they are re-wetted and manipulated to conform to a particular shape.
Drying is crucial, as the specimens may rot or become brittle if they are
not properly dried.
2.1 Basic • Specimens are superior when dried in the packets in which they will be
Techniques stored, since they will conform to the shape of the envelope and maintain
their three-dimensional form. However, staining of the packets can pose a
problem in some instances.
• Moisten overly dry specimens with a spray bottle and gently work into
the required form. Some light pressing may beneficial in these circumstances.
.. Bryophytes
• Mosses, such as Sphagnum, may retain water unless they are squeezed well
when collected.
• Tease mosses apart before drying so that the natural growth pattern is
clearly represented. Make sure that important structures are visible.
.. Lichens
• Lichens with blue-green cyanobacteria (e.g., Lobaria, Peltigera, Sticta, and
Leptogium) are more susceptible to rot and discoloration and should be
dried as soon as possible after collection.
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3 PROCESSING OF SPECIMENS
Processing bryophytes and lichens is quite different from processing
vascular plants. Different tools and techniques are used for identification
and the plants are not mounted on herbarium sheets, but are stored in
envelopes. However, preparation and accessioning are the same as for the
flowering plants.
3.1 Identification Just as there are taxonomically difficult groups of vascular plants, bryo-
phytes and lichens have them too. Within lichens, the genus Usnea and
Stereocaulon are particularly hard to identify correctly. Several of the
references specific to bryophytes and lichens listed in Appendix give
detailed instructions and techniques for identification. If the process is
not clear from these texts, ask someone with experience.
.. Identification equipment
• Dissecting kit that includes fine forceps.
• Dropper bottle filled with distilled water (so the colour of the lichen does
not change when moistened).
• Slides and coverslips.
• Light microscope and dissecting microscope.
• Razor blades.
• Chemicals for colour tests of lichens.
3.2 Mounting Bryophytes and lichens are best kept in folded packets in their original
three-dimensional form rather than pressed and glued on a sheet (Figure ).
.. Mounting equipment
• Sheets of acid-free paper ( cm × cm), acid-free index cards
(. cm × cm), glue, balsa strips or rough tissue.
.. Mounting techniques
• Stamp or write the accession number on the label before it is glued to
the packet to prevent damage to the specimens.
• If the specimen is not identified, the label can be put inside the envelope
and completed at a later date.
• Insert a piece of acid-free mounting paper or file card into the packet to
provide rigidity.
• Attach lichen specimens to the card by applying glue to the substrate and
pressing it onto the card. If the substrate is bulky, it can be thin-sectioned
before gluing.
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• Brush watered-down glue lightly onto soil clinging to rhizines if removal
would damage the specimen. When dry, you have a translucent, but
stable mass that can be glued to the card.
• Lichens like Calicium are extremely delicate and rubbing against the
packet can destroy them. To prevent this, glue balsa-wood strips (slightly
thicker than the specimen) to the stiff card. This frames the lichen and
the packet rubs the wood strips, not the specimen.
• You could also line the card with a piece of rough-textured tissue to
prevent the lichens from sliding to the bottom of the packet on top of
each other.
Bryophytes and lichens are stored in separate sections of the main herb-
arium. They are often filed alphabetically by genera without the familial
arrangement used for vascular plants. Packets may be stored by placing
them upright in drawers or in narrow boxes (such as shoe boxes). The
shoe-box method conserves space and is suitable in situations where
proper storage cabinets are not available. Care must be taken to allow
considerable room between packets so the specimens do not get crushed.
The same precautions concerning insect infestations should be taken when
dealing with bryophyte and lichen collections as with vascular plant coll-
ections. See Storage of Specimens in Part .
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APPENDIX 1 Suggested equipment list
Collecting Basic Equipment
vascular plants Topographic maps
Waterproof tags
Permanent felt markers
Plastic and paper bags of various sizes
Knife
Leather gardening gloves
Waterproof field notebook
Small altimeter
Soft lead pencils/sharpener
Hand lens
Trowel or shovel
Dandelion tool
Pruning shears or secateurs
Pruning saw
Data stamp
Soil charts
Plant press with adjustable straps
Newsprint (flimsies)
Cardboard separator sheets ( × cm)
Foam sheets ( × × cm)
Seed packets of acid-free paper
Felt blotting paper ( × cm)
Specialty Aquatic specimens
collecting equipment Telescoping pole with prongs or a leaf rake
Plastic food containers with lids
Plastic zipper bags
White plastic slate, wax marking pencil
Snorkelling or scuba equipment
Bryophytes and lichens
Rock hammer (or stone chisel and hammer)
Spray bottle
Safety glasses
Hand lens
Plastic zipper bags
Fixed-blade knife
Paper bags
Drying Portable light-bulb dryer or commercial plant dryer
Appendix 1 Continued
Identification Dissecting kit
Wetting solution and dropper (see Appendix for recipe)
Heavy glass plate (approximately × cm)
Dissecting microscope
Associated floras and keys
Terminology handbook
Razor blades/scalpel
Chemicals (for lichens)
Needle-point scissors
Slides and cover slips
Adequate lighting
Mounting Large table/counter
Acid-free mounting paper ( × cm)
Acid-free seed envelopes
Glue in hand-held dispensers
Finished acid-free labels
Wooden spacer blocks (″ × ″ and various lengths)
Weights, plastic-coated lead bars or metal washers
Linen thread and needle/linen tape
Probe/Dissecting needle
Scissors or pruning shears
Damp cloth for wiping glue spills
Garbage can
Cardboard sheets
Lab coat, apron or old clothes
Acid-free index cards
Balsa-wood strips or rough tissue
Accessioning Accession book/computerized record
(cataloguing) Drafting pens (Rapidograph or Staedtler)
Custom-made herbarium stamp
Sequential numbering stamp
Storage Chest freezer
Herbarium cabinets/shelves
Shoe boxes (for bryophytes and lichens)
Species covers/genus covers (MO type 1¤2″ double score)
Coloured markers or labels
Hygrothermograph
Custom-made stamps for special collections
28
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APPENDIX 2 Product and equipment suppliers
Paper suppliers Pacific Papers, P.O. Box , Cotati, CA . Phone: ---.
Fax: ---.
Barber-Ellis, Price Daxion, Coast Paper, Crown Paper, Island Paper Mills,
Queen’s Printer, and others.
Herbarium Supply Company, West Catching Inlet (), Coos Bay,
OR .
University Products Inc., P.O. Box , Main Street, Holyoke,
MA .
Altimeters Compact and accurate altimeters are now sold at a reasonable price in
some bicycle and outdoor equipment stores, or by mail order.
Cardboard These sheets can be specially cut from large sheets of two-faced,
separator sheets corrugated cardboard, a minimum order of sheets will provide
approximately ( × cm) mounting sheets. Make sure the supplier
cuts them so the corrugations run side to side across the short distance.
(This is important for rigidity and airflow.) Supplier: Instabox Vancouver
Ltd. Phone: --.
Cone boxes Cone boxes can be made of heavy paper or plastic and should be
approximately × × cm.
Plastic boxes: Murphy Packaging, Huntingdon Valley Industrial Center,
Pioneer Rd., Huntingdon Valley, PA . Phone: --.
Rigid paper boxes: Try any box manufacturer in the Yellow Pages,
especially if they supply jewellery stores.
Dissection kits Instead of buying the whole set you may be able to purchase instruments
separately, e.g., forceps, scalpel, picks, and probes. Supplier: university
bookstores, science or medical supply outlets.
Foam sheets Purchase cm or . cm-thick foam from a local supplier in partial rolls
or sheets, then cut into × cm pieces to fit the plant press.
Genus covers Manilla, acid-free ‘‘MO type 1⁄2″ double score’’ with dimensions ×
cm when folded. Supplier: Herbarium Supply or Pacific Papers.
Species covers Manila, acid free ″ × 9⁄16″ folded.
Glue (pH neutral) Wilhold (registered trademark) Glu-Bird, White glue with Orthonol.
Manufactured by DAP Inc. Dayton, OH . Stock No. . Supplier:
Herbarium Supply or Pacific Papers. Resyn , Vinyl acetate copolymer.
Produced and distributed by Nacan Products Limited, West Drive,
Brampton, ON LT W.
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Appendix 2 Continued
Herbarium cabinets Cabinets can be made locally by sheet-metal manufacturers to required
dimensions. RBCM suppliers: Professional Components, Box , Sidney,
BC VL S. Phone: --. Associated Sheet Metal Company,
Viewfield Road, Victoria, BC VA V. Phone: --. Lane Science
Equipment, Chambers Street, New York, NY .
Hygrothermograph Try scientific supply outlets. They are either battery operated or hand
wound. Manufactured by Cole Parmer Instrument Company, Chicago, IL
.
Lead weights Weights can be made from melted-down fishing weights poured into
moulds. Discarded lead-alloy bars can be cut into desired lengths.
Maps Maps are available in British Columbia at government agent offices or in
retail stores (if agent no longer carries them). They can also be mail-
ordered from Maps BC, th floor, Douglas St., Victoria, BC VV X.
Phone: --. Prepayment required.
Mounting paper Acid-free, heavy weight, % rag content, off-white × cm sheets.
Supplier: Herbarium Supply, University Products Inc., Crown Paper or
Pacific Papers.
Newsprint Specially cut from larger sheets of unbleached newsprint. Minimum order
of sheets provides ( × cm) flimsies. Suppliers: various paper
suppliers.
Notebooks Duksbak or ‘‘Rite in the Rain’’ surveyor books have waterproof pages.
Replacement pages are available. Suppliers: surveyor supply stores.
Packets for seed Acid-free paper is readily available and can be folded to make packets.
fragments, Most wholesalers have a - or -sheet minimum. Suppliers: various
bryophytes, paper suppliers.
and lichens)
Plant press Ask a local woodworker to quote a price for making the hardwood end
pieces of the frame. Frame straps can be sewn at home (or use two
rivets), or on a commercial machine (i.e., at a shoe repair establishment)
using webbing rivets and quick-release buckles available at many outdoor
sports stores or tent and awning suppliers. Suppliers: Herbarium Supply
(ready-made).
Spacer blocks Ask a local carpenter to choose laminated (layered) wood to prevent
warping, with minimal slivers and to cut blocks of cm2 to various
lengths and sand smooth.
Wetting solution Recipe courtesy of University of Victoria herbarium: gram of dioctyl
sulfosuccinate (sodium salt) mixed with ml of % methanol. Try
chemical supply houses for the ingredients.
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APPENDIX 3 National and university herbaria
Royal British Columbia Museum Herbarium
Belleville Street
Victoria, BC VV X
Phone: --
University of Victoria Herbarium
Biology Department
Box
University of Victoria
Victoria, BC VW Y
Phone: --
University of British Columbia Herbarium
Botany Department
University Boulevard
Vancouver, BC VT Z
Phone: --
Vascular Plant Herbarium
Biosystematics Research Centre
Agriculture Canada
William Saunders Building
Central Experimental Farm
Ottawa, ON KA G
Phone: --
Canadian Museum of Nature Herbarium
Vascular Plant Section
Botany Division
P.O. Box
Station D
Ottawa, ON KP P
Phone: --
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APPENDIX 4 Regional herbaria
Ministry of Forests
Columbia Street
Kamloops, BC VC T
Phone: --
(over specimens)
Ministry of Forests
Alfred Street
Smithers, BC VJ N
Phone: --
( vascular, cryptograms)
Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks
Broughton Street
Victoria, BC VW E
Phone: --
( aquatic plants)
Ministry of Forests
Borland Street
Williams Lake, BC VG R
Phone: --
( specimens)
Ministry of Forests
th Avenue
Prince George, BC VL H
Phone: --
(over specimens)
Agriculture Canada
Research Station
Ord Road
Kamloops, BC VB A
Phone: --
Note: Most small herbaria do not have a permanent staff member
responsible for the collection, so always phone well in advance if you
wish to use the collection. Local flora donations are usually more than
welcome, especially if they are from remote or uncollected areas, or are
specimens not generally collected. Make sure all data accompanies your
collection and be prepared to donate some time as well.
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APPENDIX 5 Glossary of terms
accessioning: cataloguing mounted botanical specimens into a collection
by assigning a sequential number (accession number) unique to each
sheet or specimen packet.
algae: a collective term for several groups of relatively simple plants. In
some lichen species, photosynthetic algal cells—usually grass-green
in colour—provide the lichen fungus with its carbohydrate
requirements. In other lichen species, the photosynthetic cells are
cyanobacteria.
altimeter: an instrument for measuring height above sea level.
angiosperms: plants that produce flowers (e.g., asters, lilies, roses); the
seeds are enclosed in an ovary. Compare gymnosperms.
annotation label: a label attached to a herbarium sheet (usually attached
to the left of the original label), which confers or changes the
scientific name of the specimen; the label shows the name of the
person making the identification (determinavit) and the date of
annotation.
biogeoclimatic zone: a unit of the system used in British Columbia to
classify segments of the landscape (ecosystems); each unit is
characterized by a unique set of variables (biological, geological,
climatic) and supports a unique vegetation; units are identified by
a letter code based on one or more of the dominant climax species
(e.g., CDF zone = Coastal Douglas-fir zone).
bryophyte: a plant division containing mosses, liverworts, and hornworts;
plants that do not contain a vascular system and always have
alternation of generations with distinct sporophyte and
gametophyte generations.
clinometer: an instrument for determining the angle of slope.
collection number: a number assigned to a specimen when it is collected.
Collectors use several numbering systems, either sequential or coded
to identify the year or project.
corm: a short, broad, underground stem composed of layers of leaf tissue.
cortex: in lichens, the hardened outer ‘‘skin’’ consisting of closely packed
fungal threads.
crustose: a lichen growth form (‘‘crusty’’); the lichen is closely attached to
the substrate, and has no lower cortex layer.
cyanobacteria: in some lichen species, the photosynthetic cells—usually
blue-green in colour—from which the lichen fungus derives its
carbohydrate requirements. In other lichen species, the photo-
synthetic cells are algae.
determinavit: the person who identifies a specimen, or who changes
(annotates) a species identification; abbreviated on the herbarium or
annotation label as DET.
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Appendix 5 Continued
dicotyledons: a group of angiosperms having two seed leaves or
cotyledons (e.g., buttercups, peas, roses). Compare monocotyledons.
ethnobotany: the study of the relationships between people and plants;
the study of plants used by aboriginal peoples for food, clothing,
medicine, or shelter.
family: in biology, a group of related genera.
flimsy: a folded newsprint sheet used in pressing plants.
flora: ) the plant life characteristic of a particular geographic area; ) a
botanical manual from which plants can be identified with the use
of keys.
foliose: a lichen growth form (‘‘leaf-like’’); the lichen is bilaterally sym-
metrical, usually attached to the substrate by rhizines, and has an
upper and lower cortex layer.
frass: insect droppings; presence indicates an insect infestation in the
collection.
fruticose: a lichen growth form (‘‘shrub-like’’); the lichen is radially
symmetrical and has a surrounding cortex layer.
gametophyte: the non-reproductive phase of a plant that reproduces by
alternation of generations (e.g., mosses). Compare sporophyte.
genus (s.), genera (pl.): a group of closely related species.
genus cover: a cardboard folder containing sheets of pressed specimens
of one genus.
Geographic Information System (GIS): a digital information system that
allows for input, storage, analysis, and manipulation of special data
and associated attributes; for example, a specific locality can be
linked to information on biogeoclimatic zone, drainage systems, legal
ownership, soil, species, existing collections, research reports, etc.
gymnosperms: conifers and their allies (e.g., Douglas-fir, pine); the seeds
are ‘‘naked’’ and usually borne in cones. Compare angiosperms.
herbarium: a reference collection of pressed, dried (preserved), botanical
specimens.
herbarium sheet: acid-free, heavy weight, % rag content, off-white
× cm sheets for mounting botanical specimens.
hydric: aquatic environment. Compare hygric, mesic, xeric.
hygric: damp environment. Compare hydric, mesic, xeric.
hygrothermograph: an instrument that measures and records changes in
air temperature and humidity.
involucre bracts: small, leaf-like structures subtending a flower head or
group of flowers.
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Appendix 5 Continued
key: in botany, a plant identification tool; a series of steps where the
presence or absence of a characteristic eliminates possible choices.
lichen: a plant formed by the permanent symbiotic relationship of a
fungus with photosynthetic algae or cyanobacteria cells; these cells
are interwoven with filaments of the fungus to form a plant body
that may be crustose, foliose, or fruticose in growth form.
ligule: tongue or scale-like outgrowth from a leaf or from inside a grass
sheath; found in club mosses and some grasses.
mesic: an environment that is neither dry nor moist (middle). Compare
hydric, hygric, xeric.
MO type 1⁄2 inch double-score genus covers: Missouri Botanical Garden
Herbarium (code = MO) genus covers, crimped twice to form a
spine (double scored).
monocotyledons: a group of angiosperms having one seed leaf or
cotyledon (e.g., lilies, grasses, orchids, sedges). Compare
dicotyledons.
morphological characteristics: the forms and structures of plants used in
identification (e.g., floral parts, reproductive parts, leaves, roots).
nodes: the point of attachment of leaves to stem.
petiole: the stalk of a leaf.
rhizines: in lichens, rootlike hairs or bundles of fungal threads that attach
the thallus to the substrate.
species: the narrowest taxonomic grouping; a group of closely related
animals or plants that are capable of interbreeding.
sporophyte: the spore-bearing or reproductive phase of a plant that
reproduces by alternation of generations (e.g., mosses). Compare
gametophyte.
substrate: the surface on which the plant grows (e.g., wood, bark, soil,
rock).
taxonomist: a scientist who specializes in the classification of organisms.
taxonomy: the study of the classification of organisms.
thalloid: a liverwort growth form, having a thallus, as opposed to ‘‘leafy.’’
thallus (s.) thalli (pl.): the vegetative body of a lichen.
Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM): a map location system based on a
metric grid reference; the grid and instructions can be found on
Natural Resources Canada topographic maps.
vascular plant: a plant containing tissues (xylem/phloem) for transporting
water, which also give mechanical support.
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Appendix 5 Concluded.
voucher specimen: a specimen maintained in a collection or herbarium
that is associated with specific research or referred to in a report;
may include type specimens, or specimens from a flora or consultant
report.
xeric: dry environment. Compare hydric, hygric, mesic.
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APPENDIX 6 Useful botanical publications
Floras and Anderson, J.P. . Flora of Alaska and adjacent parts of Canada. Iowa
field guides State Univ. Press, Ames, Iowa.
Calder, J.A. and R.L. Taylor. . Flora of the Queen Charlotte Islands.
Parts I − II, Can. Dept. Agric., Res. Br. Ottawa, Ont. Monogr. No. .
Canada Soil Survey Committee. . The Canadian system of soil
classification. Can. Dep. Agric., Ottawa, Ont. Publ. .
Douglas, G.W., G.B. Straley, and D.V. Meidinger. . The vascular
plants of British Columbia. Parts I − IV. B.C. Min. For., Res. Br.
Victoria, B.C.
Frankton, C. and G.A. Mulligan. . Weeds of Canada. Revised ed. Can.
Dep. Agric. Ottawa, Ont. Publ. No. .
Goward, T., B. McCune, and D. Meidinger. . The Lichens of British
Columbia, illustrated keys. Part , foliose and squamulose species.
B.C. Min. For., Res. Br. Victoria, B.C. Spec. Rep. .
Hitchcock, C.L. and A. Cronquist. . Flora of the Pacific Northwest.
Abridged ed. Univ. Wash. Press. Seattle, Wash.
Hitchcock, C.L., A. Cronquist, M. Ownbey, and J.W. Thompson.
−. Vascular plants of the Pacific Northwest. Parts −. Univ.
Wash. Press. Seattle, Wash.
Hosie, R.C. . Native trees of Canada. th ed. Dept. Env., Can. For.
Serv., Ottawa, Ont.
Hulten, E. . Flora of Alaska and neighboring territories. Stanford
Univ. Press. Stanford, Calif.
Kuijt, J. . A flora of Waterton Lakes National Park. Univ. Alta. Press.
Edmonton, Alta.
Lawton, E. . Moss flora of the Pacific Northwest. Hattori Bot. Lab.
Nichinan. Miyazaki, Japan.
Lyons, C.P. . Trees, shrubs and flowers to know in British Columbia.
J.M. Dent and Sons. Vancouver, B.C.
MacKinnon, A. and J. Pojar (editors). . Plants of coastal British
Columbia. Lone Pine Publ. Edmonton, Alta.
MacKinnon, A., J. Pojar, and R. Coupé (editors) . Plants of northern
British Columbia. Lone Pine Publ. Edmonton, Alta.
Moss, E.H. . Flora of Alberta. Revised by J. Packer. Univ. Toronto
Press. Toronto, Ont.
Schofield, W.B. . Some common mosses of British Columbia. Roy.
B.C. Mus. Victoria, B.C. Reprint of Handbook .
Scoggan, H.J. −. The flora of Canada. Parts −. National Mus.
Nat. Sci. Pub. Bot., No. :−.
SEQ 3501 JOB WP18-009-022 PAGE-0038 REFERENCES
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Appendix 6 Continued
Vitt, Dale H., J.E. Marsh, and R. Bovey. . Mosses, lichens and ferns of
northwest North America. Lone Pine Publ. Edmonton, Alta.
Warrington, P.D. . Aquatic plants of British Columbia: common
names, selected references, synonymy and classification by life-forms
and habitat. B.C. Min. Environ. and Parks, Water Manage. Br.
Victoria, B.C.
Welsh, S.L. . Anderson’s flora of Alaska and adjacent part of Canada.
Brigham Young Univ. Press. Provo, Utah.
Manuals Conrad, H.S. . How to know the mosses. nd ed. Wm. C. Brown Co.
Dubuque, Iowa.
Conrad, H.S. . How to know the mosses and liverworts. nd ed. Wm.
C. Brown Co. Dubuque, Iowa.
Douglas, G.W., A. Ceska, and G. Ruyle. . A floristic bibliography for
British Columbia. B.C. Min. For., Victoria, B.C. Land Manage. Rep. .
Douglas, G.W., G.B. Straley, and D. Meidinger (editors). . The
vascular plants of British Columbia. Part , gymnosperms and
dicotyledons (Aceraceae through Cucurbitaceae). B.C. Min. For., Res.
Br. Victoria, B.C. Spec. Rep. .
Douglas, G.W., G.B. Straley, and D. Meidinger (editors). . The
vascular plants of British Columbia. Part , dicotyledons
(Diapensiaceae through Portulacaceae). B.C. Min. For., Res. Br.
Victoria, B.C. Spec. Rep. .
Douglas, G.W., G.B. Straley, and D. Meidinger (editors). . The vascular
plants of British Columbia. Part , dicotyledons (Primulaceae
through Zygophyllaceae) and Pteridophytes. B.C. Min. For., Res. Br.
Victoria, B.C. Spec. Rep. .
Douglas, G.W., G.B. Straley, and D. Meidinger (editors). . The
vascular plants of British Columbia. Part , monocotyledons. B.C.
Min. For., Res. Br. Victoria, B.C. Spec. Rep. .
Habitat Monitoring Committee. . Procedures for environmental
monitoring in range and wildlife habitat management. B.C. Min.
Environ. in co-operation with B.C. Min. For. Victoria, B.C.
Hale, M.E. . How to know the lichens. nd ed. Wm. C. Brown Co.
Dubuque, Iowa.
Luttmerding, H.A., D.A. Demarchi, E.C. Lea, T. Vold, and D.V. Meidinger.
. Describing ecosystems in the field, nd ed. B.C. Min. Environ.
in co-operation with B.C. Min. For. Victoria, B.C. MOE Manual .
Meidinger, D.V. . Recommended vernacular names for common
plants of British Columbia. B.C. Min. For. and Lands, Res. Br.
Victoria, B.C.
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Appendix 6 Concluded.
Checklists Meidinger, D.V. and J. Pojar. . Ecosystems of British Columbia. B.C.
Min. For. Res. Br. Victoria, B.C.
Ireland, R.R., G.R. Brassard, W.B. Schofield, and D. Vitt. . Checklist of
the mosses of Canada II. Lindbergia, :−, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Kartesz, J.T. and R. Kartesz. . A synonymized checklist of vascular flora
of the United States, Canada and Greenland, Volume II. The biota of
North America. North Carolina Botanic Garden, Univ. N. Carolina
Press. Chapel Hill, N.C.
Noble, W.J., T. Ahti, G.F. Otto, and I.M. Brodo. . A second checklist
and bibliography of the lichens and allied fungi of British Columbia.
Nat. Mus. Can. Ottawa, Ont. Syllogeus .
Taylor, R.L. and B. MacBryde. . Vascular plants of British Columbia: A
descriptive resource inventory. The Botanical Garden, Univ. B.C. Press.
Vancouver, B.C. Tech. Bull. No. .
Techniques Brayshaw, T.C. . Plant collecting for the amateur. , Roy. B.C. Mus.
Victoria, B.C. Museum Methods Manual.
Foreman, L. and D. Bridson. . The herbarium handbook. Royal Botanic
Garden. London, U.K.
Warrington, P.D. . A field manual and guide to the collecting and
preserving of B.C. aquatic plants. B.C. Min. Environ., Water Manage.
Br. Victoria, B.C.
Taxonomy and Harns, G. and M.W. Harris. . Plant identification terminology. An
Terminology illustrated glossary. Spring Lake, Utah.
Harrington, H.D. and L.W. Durrell. . How to identify plants. The
Swallow Press. Chicago, Ill.
Holmgren, P.K., N.H. Holmgren, and L.C. Barnett (editors). . Index
herbarium, Part I: The herbaria of the world. New York Botanical
Garden. New York, N.Y.
Lawrence, G.H.M. . An introduction to plant taxonomy. Macmillan
Publ. Co. New York, N.Y.
Stearn, W.T. . Botanical Latin. History, grammar, syntax, terminology and
vocabulary. nd ed. David and Charles Holdings, Newton Abbot Ltd.
Devon, G.B.
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