Teaching People Plant Collecting

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PLANT COLLECTING DATA

The following information must be recorded for each plant specimen collected. This information is kept with the individual specimen either by writing it directly on the newspaper the plant is pressed in or on a special form that is placed with the plant when it is pressed.

Common name refers to the name people in a region call the plant. Often these names express characteristics of the plant. Common names present a problem because the same name is often applied to more than one plant.

Scientific name refers to the name the scientific community has given to the plant. Scientific names can be looked up in books such as those listed in Activity #2.

Location collected refers to the specifics of where the plant was found. It is the address of the plant. For example: "Found on north side of Arroyo Chico 100m west of where Via Golendria crosses the wash."

Growing site refers to the microhabitat where the plant was growing. For example: "Growing in the shade of a Mesquite tree right next to the tree trunk."

Soil type describes the soil. For example: "Growing in extremely dry sandy-clay soil."

Surrounding vegetation also helps describe the site. For example: "Surrounded by large Mesquite trees in a flood-plane Mesquite Bosque, with Whitethorn Acacia and Desert Broom near by."

Special notes should be made of anything that will help describe the plant as it is found growing at the collection site.

System number is a collection number some scientists use to catalog specimens in their collection.

Date refers to the day the plant is collected.

Note: Students may not want to carry their plant press back and forth to the study site. Plants can be collected and placed in a paper bag for pressing when they return to the classroom. However, It is very important that a Plant Collecting Data Form be placed with each plant collected, or the collecting information written on the newspaper in which the specimen is pressed.