Science in Practice Portal

An employee suggestion submitted by Rex Christensen of the Salmon, Idaho office recommends a new procedure for mounting small plants for herbariums. This suggestion has been adopted for all Bureau offices on an optional basis. The present practice of preparing plant mounts using a plant press is cumbersome and time consuming, and the resulting mount is not natural or satisfactory for field use. Also, the plant mounts deteriorate in paper folders. This new method for preserving plants is limited to full mounts of forbs and grasses. Portions of larger plants can be prepared showing important characteristics necessary for identification. Plants mounted in this manner continue to look natural for many years.