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Making a Herbarium Specimen / Voucher

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Out in the field, collecting plant material to press.

  • Out in the field collecting

Out in the field, collecting plant material to press.

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Doing the initial pressing, in the field

Doing the initial pressing, in the field

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Some collected material, showing labeling

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Collector on expedition, writing notes about their plant

Collector on expedition, writing notes about their plant

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Data that should be collected with the plant

  • Locality - including the country

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  • Habitat

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  • Altitude

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  • Field identification

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  • Collector’s name

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  • Date of collection

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  • Plant description

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Processing specimens

When collecting plants in the field you need to press and dry them straight away to keep them in good condition

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Checking the specimens before mounting them onto a herbarium sheet

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Layout of a herbarium specimen

  • Label in bottom right hand corner, with other labels and capsule above.
  • Plant to left of label. If the specimen is large you can attach the label on the right hand side to flap over the specimen
  • Turn specimen to fit on page

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Leaves

Both sides of the leaf should be shown

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Flowers

  • Show the front and back of flowers if possible
  • Try to open mature flowers out so that the inside is clearly visible
  • If there is plenty of material, keep some in an envelope

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Herbarium specimens

A Darwin original herbarium specimen

A present day herbarium specimen

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A specimen collected by Darwin

A specimen collected by Darwin

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Kew’s Herbarium where over 7 million pressed plants are kept