How to create a plant collection

Follow a simple six-step process to create a plant collection and keep specimens (also known as samples) safe and preserved for future reference. To find out more information about each step, click on a number.

Where to go for further information?

Visit Clearwater's website for:

• Fact sheets on 'Regulations, permits, licences, etc' needed for collecting plants on private and public land and 'Identifying weeds in the bush'.
• Field guides - 'Plant Planet' and 'Weed Witch' for plant characteristics.
• 'How to use a simple key' to identify plants.
• Helpful web links on creating plant collections.

Step 1 - Get approval

Make sure you have permission before you start. You will need to contact either the owner of private land or a government department for crown land.

It is important to remember that rules vary from state to state about what plant specimens can be collected and where they can be collected from.

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Step 2 - Select equipment

You need to select the equipment you might need, for example:

• secateurs for cutting plant specimens
• plant press or old telephone book/newspaper and a heavy weight (such as a brick) for pressing the specimens
• plastic bag for collecting your specimens (short term only)
• envelopes for small plants and samples
• tags for attaching to plants and assisting in identification and mounting
• note book for writing down the collection number and field notes (such as plant names and other pertinent information)
• hand-held lens or magnifying glass for looking at plants more closely (attach it to a cord and place it around your neck to avoid losing it)
• pencil (or pen) for sketching plant parts (a pencil with replaceable leads and an eraser attached is highly recommended)
• camera for recording images of plants (optional)
• GPS unit for recording location (optional, you can read more about this under 'Safety equipment' in the OHS section of the website).

Tips for buying and using secateurs: Buy good quality secateurs because they usually last longer. Carry secateurs in a pouch attached to your belt, so you don't lose them when you are collecting. Secateurs need to be clean and sharp, so the plant is not damaged when you cut the plant specimen.

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Step 3 - Collect specimen

You need to collect a plant specimen that shows the plant's main characteristics, such as:

• stems
• leaves
• buds
• inflorescences
• flowers
• fruits.

Look for flower buds as well as older flowers. You may need to collect immature and mature leaves for species like gum trees where leaves change with maturity. fronds - fertile (spore bearing) fronds and infertile fronds.

At the time of collection, tag your specimen (for example with a numeric code) so you can correctly match your specimen with your field notes. This will help you complete your final specimen sheet and provide you with accurate records.

Make sure your specimen: has no insect or disease damage, such as holes in leaves, eggs or signs of disease fills about two thirds of an A4 page (for example, a good sized specimen is at least 15cm long) - you may need several small plants has excess leaves, flowers and fruit pruned off, so it will press flat.

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Step 4 - Press specimen

Examples of plant presses

Wooden plant press The plant press needs to be at least 40cm x 50cm and consists of: two sheets of plywood (one for the top and one for the bottom) sheets of newspaper to protect the specimens corrugated cardboard to allow air to circulate for drying two cotton ropes with slipknots to tie the press together.

Telephone book press Place specimens flat in between the pages of a telephone book and then place a heavy weight, such as a brick, on top.

Newspaper press Place specimens flat between sheets of newspaper and then place a heavy weight, such as a brick, on top.

Other materials that can be used when constructing a plant press include:

• masonite instead of plywood
• latticed wooden frames
• screws in each corner of each piece of plywood instead of rope.

If you are using screws, remember that you need large screws to keep the specimens flat and hold the press together.

Here are some things to look for at this stage:

• Fungal problems - check specimens regularly. It may be necessary to change the newspaper/cardboard every few days in damp/wet weather.
• Loss of colour - as the specimen dries it will lose some colour, so don't be alarmed, this is normal. Remember, the faster your specimen dries, the less the colour loss.
• Dry to touch - when it is dry to the touch the specimen is ready for mounting.

Tips for pressing and drying your specimen: press to show both leaf surfaces the quicker the specimen is pressed, the better the result warmth will speed up the drying, so place your pressed specimens in a warm, dry place that has good airflow a mouldy specimen is a health hazard because of the fungal spores specimens can be dried in the microwave.

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Step 5 - Mount specimen

Mount your specimen on an A4 specimen sheet using clear wood or craft glue. Write the name of the specimen and collecting details on the sheet.

Here is an example of the type of labelling information you need to include:

• FAMILY
• Genus
• species
• Common name
• Collector's name
• Date
• Locality
• Identified by

Ask your supervisor about herbarium forms or specimen sheets for recording plant or weed information.

Tips for mounting and labelling: Do not use cellotape or staples. You might need to supplement small specimens with illustrations of flowers or fruit.

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Step 6 - Store specimen

To make sure your specimens are stored correctly:

• Place each specimen sheet in a plastic sleeve or sheet protector (the specimens are dry now and will not go mouldy).
• Place the sheets in lever arch files. It is best to arrange your specimens alphabetically by family.
• Keep the files in a dry, insect-free place on shelves or in a cupboard.
• Check your specimens every few months for insect damage. Consider sealing the files in plastic bags and placing them in the freezer for three days every six months. This is a non-chemical way of killing any insects.

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Cleaning up

After preparing plant specimens, there is always debris to dispose of and equipment to put away.

Plant debris could include:

• flowers
• stems
• roots
• leaves
• thorny plant parts
• mouldy specimens.

Where appropriate, place plant debris in compost bins. Any other green material should be placed in the rubbish bin.

Note: Mouldy specimens are a health hazard. All mouldy plant material must be disposed of in the bin.

Other debris such as soil, newspaper, insects and eggs should be disposed of in an appropriate way. It may be possible to recycle some of this rubbish, but most will probably need to go in the rubbish bin.

Check with your supervisor if you're not sure what to do with the rubbish.

Finally, you may need to brush or wipe down the bench or tabletop, and sweep or mop the floor.