Have you ever walked through a park or mountain trail and been fascinated by the colorful and varied plants? Want to keep these natural elves, but don't know where to start? So, let's explore how to make herbarium specimens and make these natural beauties forever in our lives.
1. Choose the right plants
First of all, we need to choose plants that are suitable for making specimens. You can choose your favorite flowers, leaves, or fruits, or choose plants with special forms or textures. Take care that the plants chosen should be kept fresh and brightly colored so that a beautiful specimen can be made.
2. Prepare tools and materials
The tools and materials needed to make a herbarium include: drying paper, tweezers, label paper, scissors, pens and notebooks. Dry paper can choose rice paper or newsprint with good water absorption, which is used to absorb water from plants. Tweezers are used to grip the plant to avoid direct contact with the fingers and damage to the plant. Label paper is used to mark the name of the plant and the date of collection. Scissors are used to prune plants to make them more suitable for making specimens. Pens, notebooks are used to record information such as the name of the plant, where it was collected, and the date.
3. Collect and organize plants
When collecting plants, care should be taken not to damage the tissues of the plants and try to maintain their integrity. Gently grip the plant with forceps and place it on dry paper. The branches and leaves of the plant can be pruned as needed to make it more aesthetically pleasing. At the same time, it is necessary to pay attention to recording information such as the name of the plant, the place of collection, and the date of collection, so that it can be consulted later.
4. Drying and preservation
Place the harvested plants in a well-ventilated place away from direct sunlight and allow them to dry naturally. The drying time varies depending on the species and thickness of the plant, and generally takes a few days to a few weeks. During the drying process, the position of the plant should be turned and adjusted regularly to ensure that it is evenly heated and ventilated. When the plant is completely dry, it can be labeled with its name and date of collection, and then stored in a dry, dark place for later viewing and research.
5. Appreciation and learning
A well-made herbarium can not only be used as a decoration to add a natural touch to the home, but also as a learning tool to help us understand the morphology, structure and growth habits of plants. While appreciating the specimens, we can look through the notebook to review the collection process and information records of the plants, and deepen our knowledge and understanding of the plants.
6. Sharing and inheritance
Making herbarium is not only a hobby, but can also be a way to share and pass it on. We can donate the finished specimens to relatives and friends or school libraries and other institutions, so that more people can understand and appreciate the beauty of nature. At the same time, by teaching the next generation the methods and techniques of making plant specimens, we can also pass on this love and respect for nature.
In conclusion, making herbarium is a simple and fun activity that not only allows us to retain the beauty of nature, but also increases our knowledge and understanding of plants. By selecting the right plants, preparing tools and materials, collecting and organizing plants, drying and preserving, and appreciating and learning, we can easily produce beautiful plant specimens. Let's explore the beauty of nature together!
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