TECHNIQUES OF HERBARIUM PREPARATION

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🌿 TECHNIQUES OF HERBARIUM PREPARATION

Herbarium preparation is a systematic process of collecting, preserving, mounting, and storing plant specimens in a scientific manner. The main purpose is to create a permanent record of plants for reference, identification, and taxonomic studies. A well-prepared herbarium acts as a plant museum and helps students and researchers in plant classification.

📌 Steps in Herbarium Preparation

  1. Collection of Specimens (Field Work)

    • Plants are collected from natural habitats such as fields, forests, gardens, hills, etc.

    • Collection should include root, stem, leaves, flowers, and fruits (as many parts as possible).

    • Collecting notebook and GPS/location details are recorded.

  2. Pressing of Plants

  3. Drying

    • Pressed sheets are dried in sunlight or an electric herbarium dryer.

    • Papers are changed regularly to avoid fungal growth.

  4. Poisoning / Treatment

    • To prevent insect and fungal attack, specimens are treated with chemicals such as
      1% mercuric chloride, alcohol + formalin, or DDT powder.

  5. Mounting on Herbarium Sheet

    • Dried plants are mounted on standard herbarium sheets (41 × 29 cm).

    • They are fixed using glue or tape in a natural arrangement.

  6. Labeling

    • A herbarium sheet must include a label in the bottom right corner.

    • The label should contain:

      • Botanical name & Family

      • Local name

      • Collector’s name

      • Date & Place of collection

      • Habitat & Uses

  7. Storage and Arrangement

    • Sheets are stored in herbarium cupboards or cabinets.

    • Arranged according to classification systems (Bentham & Hooker / Engler & Prantl).

    • Regular fumigation and cleaning are done to avoid damage.

🌷 ROLE OF BOTANICAL GARDENS

Botanical gardens are scientifically managed gardens where living plants are grown for education, research, conservation, and public awareness. They act as living laboratories and gene banks for valuable plants. Botanical gardens play a major role in biodiversity conservation and help people to understand the importance of plants in human life.

📌 Important Roles of Botanical Gardens (Points)

  1. Conservation of Rare and Endangered Plants
    They protect plants that are endangered or threatened in nature.

  2. Living Laboratory for Students & Researchers
    Students can study morphology, anatomy, ecology, and physiology using live plants.

  3. Gene Banks
    Botanical gardens store genetic diversity of plants for breeding and future research.

  4. Environmental Education & Awareness
    They help the public understand the importance of plants and ecology.

  5. Medicinal Plant Cultivation
    Separate sections are made for medicinal and economic plants.

  6. Taxonomic Research
    Help botanists in plant identification, classification, and naming.

  7. Introduction of Foreign / Exotic Species
    Some botanical gardens introduce non-native species for study and cultivation.

  8. Recreation and Tourism
    They also serve as places for public recreation and tourism.

📌 Examples of Botanical Gardens in Research & Education

  • Royal Botanic Garden, Kew, UK – world’s leading taxonomic research centre

  • Indian Botanical Garden, Kolkata – largest in India

  • Lalbagh Botanical Garden, Bengaluru – famous for flower shows

  • NBRI, Lucknow – research institute with large plant collections

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