Directions: You have spent a
great deal of time collecting and presing your plant specimens. Now they need
to be preserved so that they will keep for a long time. This is done by gluing
the plants to special paper. Your teacher will demonstrate how this is done.
Be sure to follow the directions given below.
1) Make a solution of one-half water and one-half white glue by mixing them
together in a beaker or jar.
2) Place a 14" X 16" piece of glass (or a cafeteria tray) in the middle of several
newspapers (to help keep glue drips to a minimum).
3) Leaving a space around the edge of the glass (or tray), spread the glue/water
solution evenly with a paint brush or folded paper towel. Do not cover the
whole glass (or tray) with glue; leave a clean margin around the edge.
4) Examine the dry plant specimen and select which side should be positioned
facing up.
5) Place the dry plant specimen on a sheet of herbarium paper and position it
to leave room for a label in the bottom right corner. The paper may be marked
lightly with a pencil to show the position of the plant.
6) Carefully place the dry plant specimen on the glue solution on the glass
or tray. Take care not to get too much glue on the specimen.
7) Pick the specimen up out of the glue and hold it for a minute so excess glue
can drip off. Carefully place the plant on the herbarium paper as marked. Don't
smear the glue around; just lay the plant specimen straight down.
8) Place waxed-paper over the specimen and place weights (usually books) on
top of the waxed-paper until the glue is dry.
9) Place the Plant
Collecting Data Form with the plant or write all the
collection data (from the plant press newspaper) lightly in pencil on the lower
right corner of the mounted specimen. Later a formal label with all the information
written in proper form will be placed on the lower corner (See
next page).
PLEASE BE NEAT. Glue smeared all over the plant or paper does
not make an appealing specimen. Middle school students can make a mess with
watery glue very quickly.
Have each group mount a plant specimen and check their work.