Herbarium Sheets of Flowering Plants

A collection of preserved and labeled plant specimens is kept on a herbarium sheet that contains the pressed and dried plant parts, which can then be labeled with the name and place of origin. The simulation provides detailed demonstration on the methodology of herbarium sheet preparation for the plant specimen Catharanthus roseus.

The procedure for the herbarium preparation is as follows: 

• Collect twigs of Catharanthus roseus, 20–25 cm long, with leaves and flowers.
• Record their local names, date of collection, and place of collection in a field diary.
• Dip the plant twig in a 2% formalin solution, rinse, and blot to remove formalin traces.
• Place the twig between the folds of another piece of blotting paper or newspaper. Spread the plant on a sheet with at least 1-2 leaves facing upwards, and attach the flower(s) in such a manner that all floral parts are widely spread and accommodated on a herbarium sheet.
• Place the sheet in a field press and secure it tightly with a rope or box.
• The next day, transfer the semi-dried twigs to dry blotting sheets or old newspapers and tie them up in the field press.
• Repeat this process for several days until the twig is completely dry.
• Using an adhesive gum or by stitching, the dried Catharanthus twigs are mounted on a herbarium sheet, which is a thick white card, 42 cm by 29 cm in size.
• A herbarium label is attached to the bottom right corner of the sheet and contains the scientific name, common name, family, date and place of collection, and the collector’s name.

In addition to herbarium preparation, the simulation gives a brief description of Catharanthus roseus, its economic importance, and the safety measures to be taken when handling the plant specimen’s hazardous sections, despite the fact that the plant is very medicinal.

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