Botanical specimens : particular directions for collecting and preserving specimens of plants : extracted from an unpublished treatise on practical botany / by John L. Riddell.

  • Riddell, John Leonard, 1807-1865.
Date:
[1834?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Botanical specimens : particular directions for collecting and preserving specimens of plants : extracted from an unpublished treatise on practical botany / by John L. Riddell. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    excellent reflector of the light and heat of the sun, is admi- rably calculated to preserve flowers and leaves in a perfect state of freshness, for a very considerable time. If a few del- icate specimens only, occupy the box, they will be sure in a short time to languish or become crisped, unless we take the precaution to accompany them with a liberal quantity of very damp moss, or something equivalent to it. For the exhalation of moisture from the leaves and flowers, continues so long as there is moderately dry air in the box to receive it; and as the plants can no longer suck up fluids from the earth, they become exhausted by the immediate loss fcej' sustain. Although some esteem the vasculum very highly, and em- ploy it exclusively in their herborizations, for myself I disa- gree with them in opinion, and give my decided preference to the port-folio.* I shall hereafter asfeign some of the reasons which have influenced my choice. The following articles will be found subservient to the prose- cution of our object. 1. A common mason's trowel.] This, or an implement some- what similar to it, will be found almost indispensable, for pro- curing herbaceous plants by the roots; which should never be neglected when it can conveniently be done. When one preserves small specimens merely to assist the memory in re- cognizing and distinguishing species, the roots may generally be dispensed with. But an herbarium designed for scientific reference, would indeed be radically deficient, if it did not com- prise the roots of most herbaceous plants, preserved, either en- tire, or in thin sections. As to the roots of trees and shrubs, they are so little diversified in character, and withal so unmana- geable on account of size, texture and situation, that we must generally remain contented to leave them undisturbed. The trowel is equally useful and more convenient, if rather smaller than the usual size. As a substitute for this instru- *If a person were riding through a country, in such haste that he had not time to place his specimens properly in a port-folio, the vas- culum would undoubtedly he preferable. f Also a bill-hook, fitted to screw into a cane. Practical Naturalitt.