Plant Collecting and Documentation Michael G. Simpson Collections: Samples of plants Dried or liquid preserved. Kept alive, grown in greenhouse or garden

Why collect? 1)Provide resource material for plant systematics studies. 2)Serve as a reference collection for named taxa, known as a voucher specimen. a) Type specimen in formal naming b) Reference for the identity of a taxon -in systematic studies -in field studies, e.g., floristic surveys 3) Provide information about the plant in a native habitat: put info. in database

How does one: 1) Obtain a specific plant(s) for a research study - Use label information from herbarium specimens to find localities - Use maps to find likely habitats 2) Do a complete inventory of plants for a field survey or floristic study? - Collect and identify every plant in a region during different seasons and different years. - Note: Permission / permits needed!

Should you collect? What to collect? Generally DON’T collect “listed” taxa: rare, endangered, or threatened Must know ahead of time which these are! When you collect, use “1 to 20” rule: – For every herb you collect, make sure there are at least 20 in the population. – For every branch of a shrub or tree, make sure there are at least 20 more.

How to collect? Herbs: Must dig up at least one entire plant to show root or rootstock (e.g., corm, bulb, rhizome) Shrubs, trees, vines: One branch sufficient. Collect a representative specimen that shows vegetative and reproductive parts (in flower, fruit, cone, with sporangia, etc.)

How to collect? Press plants: Portable field press used in field Transfer to standard herbarium press 1)Fold to fit ca. 11.5” x 16.5”; fill up area 2)Cut to fit & to prevent too much overlap; slice rootstocks; slice flowers, fruits to show morph. 3)At least one leaf up, one down 4)Collect extra material, if possible. 5)Divide into 2 or more sheets, if necessary. 6)Succulents: cut out tissue, soak in alcohol

Cardboards: ca. 12” x 18” Newspaper, ca. 11.5” x 16.5” Tighten straps Place in plant drier, 2-3 days Remove and check if dry (if it feels cool, not dry) Plant Press

Collection Data

Importance of recording color, even of pollen grains!

Liquid-Preserved Collections Anatomy, embryology, palynology, etc.: FAA (Formalin - Acetic Acid - Alcohol (ethanol) Cytology (chromosome numbers): Carnoy’s (100% ethanol : glacial acetic acid) Ultrastructure: Gluteraldehyde, osmium tetroxide, formalin

Living Collections Grow in greenhouse or botanic garden Valuable for long-term studies Collections for Molecular Studies DNA: dried in silica gel Allozymes: fresh material