Plant Pressing Natural History Museum Tom Ridge Environmental Center
Initial cleaning of specimens prior to pressing
Removing foreign matter from roots
Transferring collecting data from field book to newspaper for each specimen newspaper for each specimen
Preparing plant press for drying specimens
Placing newspaper in press
Determining proper arrangement of specimen (bend it? - cut it? - pieces?)
Arranging inflorescence prior to closing newspaper
Alternating blotter, cardboard, and specimens in plant press
Plant press ready for straps to be applied
Tightening straps to flatten and press specimens
Placing temporary label listing contents
Drying specimen in natural circulation cabinet at 100° F (37.8°C)
Placing plant press and dried specimens in plastic bag for freezing process
Specimens ready for freezing at -20°C to ensure no contaminants are transferred to collection room
Recording date in – date out
Placing copy of field notes and specimens in temporary folder