MODULE 9 Flashcards

1
Q

parts of specimen preservation

A
  1. Herbarium specimens
  2. Selecting the plant material
  3. Collection
  4. Labeling
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q
  • __________: collection of plant specimens preserved, labeled, and stored in an organized manner that facilitates access.

“Library of dried plant specimens used for both education and research”

A
  • Herbarium
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

_____________: a pressed, dried specimen of a plant that is attached to a sheet of paper.

A label is also attached to the paper to identify the plant and to explain where, when and by whom the specimen was collected.

The sheet is commonly _____ inches wide and _____ inches long.

A
  • herbarium voucher
  • 11.5
  • 16.5
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

*Different herbaria use different methods for mounting plant specimens.

*Dried, pressed plants are glued, taped and stitched to supportive mounting boards, so they are robust enough to withstand withstand repeated handling.

A
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Part 1: Herbarium Specimens

A

Herbarium specimens or voucher specimens

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Herbarium specimens are used for a variety of purposes

A
  1. Allow and support accurate identification of plants, algae, lichens, and fungi
  2. Provide a permanent record of a species occurring at a particular time and place
  3. Form the basis of reliable distribution, habit, and habitat information
  4. Document the introduction and spread of invasive plants over time
  5. Are the reference point for the application of the scientific names
  6. Provide biological material & information for taxonomists, ecologists & researchers
  7. Serve as scientific vouchers for seed collections, toxicological cases, biochemical analyses, and biodiscovery
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Some herbarium specimens are known as __________________.

  • serve as a basis of scientific study
  • collected from ______ that are the subject of research or investigation, generally resulting in a publication in a scientific journal or report
  • If lodged in a recognized herbarium, they will endure in the collection for many years.

Their identity can be checked and verified later by linking it with the voucher reference in the publication.

A

voucher specimens

  • taxa

This means that research and survey data will remain useful many years after publication, even though names and classifications may change.

The advent of genetic techniques in plant taxonomy has increased the need for well-annotated, correctly identified specimens to be stored as vouchers for published sequences, ensuring scientific accuracy and reducing the need to resample at a later time.

Other voucher specimens serve as a reference for verifying the identity of photographs.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Part Two: Selecting the plant material

A
  • Size of the specimen
  • Features of the plant
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q
  • Select vigorous, typical specimens.
  • Avoid insect-damaged plants.
  • Choose individuals that show the variation in leaf, flower, and fruit size.
  • It is important to show ______________ involving the collection of individuals of different sizes or ages.
  • Collect at least ___ sets of specimens (duplicates) and number each set.
  • Keep one set for your reference and send the duplicate numbered set to the Herbarium for identification or as a voucher if required.
A
  • morphological variation
  • 2
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

The plant material should be fertile i.e. in ________ or ________ (both if possible), as these characteristics are often vital for identification.

This might entail returning to the site when the plant is in flower/fruit.

Spend time looking at a number of individuals, and choosing one with a number of flowers or more mature fruits.

A
  • flower or fruit
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

A good specimen includes _______, _______, _______, ________.

Basal parts of _______, _______, _______, ________ plants are essential for identification.

Underground parts (_______, ________) are important for some plant groups.

A
  • stems, leaves, flowers and fruits
  • grasses, sedges, ferns and bulbous
  • tubers, rhizomes
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

SIZE OF THE SPECIMENT

  • specimen should ideally be ________ and up to ________,
  • allowing it to fit on a standard ____________, which measures ________. This is also the approximate size of tabloid newspapers.
  • Plant parts that are too large for a single sheet may be cut into sections pressed on a series of sheets, for example a ________ or _________.
  • For very small plants, a number of individuals may be placed on each sheet.
  • Long and narrow specimens such as ________ and ________can be folded once, twice, or even three times when pressing. In this way, a plant up to __________ may be pressed onto a single sheet.
A
  • 25-40 cm long
  • 26 cm wide
  • herbarium mounting sheet
  • 42 x 27 cm
  • palm or cycad frond
  • grasses and sedges
  • 1.6 meters high
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

FEATURES OF THE PLANT

  • When collecting from trees or large shrubs, distinctive or notable features should be recorded (__________, __________, ___________)
  • You may need to collect ____________ specimen to show the range of variation present (_________, _________, ________)

If the plant is _________, with male and female flowers on different plants, collect a specimen from each sex and label the specimens A & B.

A
  • branching habit, height and width of the plant, and details of the bark
  • more than one
  • mature and immature parts, juvenile and adult leaves, and coppice shoots
  • dioecious
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Part 3: Collection

A
  1. Handling plants during collection
  2. Data to be recorded in the field
    - A preliminary descriptive locality
    - GPS location
    - Habitat (site) data
    - Information about the individual plants collected at the site
  3. Drying specimens
  4. Drying when based in a powered building
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

HANDLING PLANTS DURING COLLECTION

  • best results: specimens should be pressed within a few minutes of being removed from the plant
  • ___________: convenient for short trips taken from the vehicle.
  • If specimens cannot be pressed at the point of collection, they may be stored in large plastic bags.
  • The bags should be kept ______, and the specimens not jammed in too tightly. Make sure each bag is correctly labeled, using one bag per collection site.
  • However, storing specimens
    in plastic bags is _____________ because it is easy for specimens to become damaged or mixed, and they are more likely to go moldy.
A
  • A day press
  • moist
  • not recommended
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

DATA TO BE RECORDED IN THE FIELD

  • Many botanists use a ______________ to record information about the specimens they collect and the sites at which they collect them.
  • apps are available to collect data digitally
A
  • small notebook
17
Q

The following information should be recorded before you leave the collection site:

  1. _____________. This can be modified later after consulting maps, but the preliminary locality reminds you about which site it is.
  2. _____________. This can be recorded as latitude and longitude or AMG. Remember to record the datum you are using, e.g., GDA94.
  3. _____________, including landform, slope, dominant plant species, and structural formation, for example, “open forest,” “open woodland,” or “shrubland.”
  • Soil type and geology should be added if known.
  • Record whether the collection site was a disturbed site such as a roadside, burnt area, or grazed paddock.
  • Regional ecosystem information may be recorded but NOT as a replacement for actual observations on the site.
  1. _____________, including height, form, bark type and color (for trees and large shrubs), leaf texture, presence of rhizomes, color of sap in cut stems, and the color of new growth and flower color.

____________ often changes on drying. Also, record the relative abundance of the species, particularly for threatened species or weeds.

A
  • A preliminary descriptive locality
  • GPS location
  • Habitat (site) data
  • Information about the individual plants collected at the site
  • Flower color
18
Q

DRYING SPECIMENS

  • It is essential to dry the specimens reasonably quickly to prevent the onset of __________.
  • If your field trip involves car travel, specimens placed in presses on the roof rack will dry within a few days if the humidity is low.
  • damp papers and corrugates must be replaced _______for each specimen collected.
  • In drier inland areas, every ___ or ___ days will suffice. After changing the papers and corrugates, the specimens should be firmly packed in the press; otherwise, they will not remain flat.
  • At the first paper change, adjust any undesirable features of the specimen, for example, folded leaves all showing the same face, and flowers obscured by leaves.
  • Such adjustments will not be possible once the specimen has thoroughly dried.
  • Look for any evidence of insect attack, especially caterpillars in flowers, and remove any insects found.
A
  • fungal attack
  • daily
  • 2 or 3
19
Q

DRYING WHEN BASED IN A POWERED BUILDING

  • __________: (set on the _____ heat) will assist with drying, provided you ensure the air is __________ the press and has free access through the gaps in the corrugates.
  • Placing specimens near an air conditioning unit will also assist with the drying process.
  • ____________ can be prevented by dipping the newly pressed specimen in very hot water for ____ seconds

Alternatively, specimens can be placed in a large plastic bag with enough _________ to thoroughly wet the foliage and stems.

  • After ______ hours, remove the specimen and press between newspapers as previously described.
  • It kills the plant tissues quickly and prevents ___________. If you use alcohol, it is important to say so in the data you collect, as these specimens will no longer be useful for DNA studies.

If leaves detach, place them in a labeled paper packet and keep them with the specimen.

A
  • fan heater
  • lowest
  • directed towards
  • Leaf detachment
  • 15 seconds
  • alcohol
  • 12-24 hours
  • leaf abscission
20
Q

Part 4: Labeling

A

Writing a final label to accompany the specimen

  1. Collector’s name - mandatory
  2. Collector’s # - optional
  3. Date of collection - mandatory
  4. Botanical name - optional
  5. Locality - mandatory
  6. Geocode - mandatory
  7. Altitude - optional
  8. Habitat - mandatory
  9. Habit etc. - mandatory
  10. Abundance - mandatory
  11. Other notes - mandatory
21
Q

The data that accompanies an herbarium specimen is just as necessary as the specimen itself.

Even a very good quality specimen is useless to an Herbarium unless it has a written label with the information detailed below.

A

WRITING A FINAL LABEL TO ACCOMPANY THE SPECIMEN

22
Q

the name(s) of the person/people who collected the specimen, preferably no more than two people

  • You don’t need to include everyone who was on the trip.
A

Collector’s name: [mandatory]

23
Q

A unique number, usually sequential, given by the collector.

A

Collector’s number: [optional]

24
Q

Date of collection: [mandatory].

A
25
Q

If you are unsure of the identity, it is still helpful to suggest a name or at least a genus.

A

Botanical name: [optional]

26
Q

A written description of the precise collection locality is necessary, AS WELL AS a latitude and longitude reading.

A GPS location alone is not sufficient.

The locality description should be detailed enough to enable any person to revisit the approximate place of collection.

On the other hand, the locality description should not be too verbose.

It should not include information better included under “Habitat.”

The description commonly includes distance and/or direction from a town or a well-known locality on a readily available map.

It should be meaningful to someone not familiar with the local area.

A

Locality: [mandatory]

27
Q

Copy the GPS reading obtained in the field, e.g., Latitude: 230 46′ 43′′ S Longitude: 1410 17′ 29′′ E, Datum: GDA94 (WGS84); or determine a grid reference from a map.

  • specify the format, e.g., degrees, minutes, seconds, decimal degrees or degrees, and decimal minutes.
A

Geocode: [mandatory]

28
Q

Altitude: [optional]

A
29
Q

Copy the information from the field notebook, for example, “flat area with woodland of Eucalyptus populnea, on grey clay soil.

A

Habitat: [mandatory]

30
Q

This information is copied from the field notebook, for example, “spreading shrub to 2 m” or “Tree 12 m high with basal stocking of hard tessellated grey bark; smooth and white above”.

A

Habit etc.: [mandatory]

31
Q

A comment on the plant’s frequency (number of individuals) at the site where you collected it, including seedlings, etc.

  • You may use terms such as “__________” or “_________,” or give the actual numbers of plants.
  • If you can’t distinguish individual plants, record the approximate area covered.
  • The abundance field is especially important for documenting the extent of threatened species and the early spread of invasive weeds.
A

Abundance: [mandatory]

  • common or occasional
32
Q

Any additional relevant information, for example, flower or fruit color, perfume, regional ecosystem, a reference to a photographic image or material in spirit, or observed interaction with fauna.

A

Other notes: [mandatory]

33
Q

MOUNTING PROCESS

A
  1. Apply glue.
  2. Stitch.
  3. Tape.
  4. Attach label to the herbarium board.
  5. Placing loose material in a capsule.
  6. Placing non-stick paper and soft card over the specimen.
  7. Placing sandbag on the material to weight it down.
  8. Mounter signs and dates the back of the specimen.
34
Q

mounting specimens are sprayed with _________ like ___ solution of ______________

A
  • fungicides
  • 2%
  • mercuric chloride
35
Q

specimens are placed in thin paper folders (___________) which are kept together in thicker paper folders (____________)

A
  • specimen covers
  • genus covers
36
Q

plants dried without pressing

A

bulky plants

37
Q

specimens are stored in _____________ which consists of ___________, ___________, and ___________

A
  • Copenhagen solution
  • 70% industrial methylated spirit
  • 28% distilled water
  • 2% glycerol