How to make a plant press | ASU - Ask A Biologist

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Pressing plants header

By CJ Kazilek

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Herbarium: a collection of dried plants mounted (usually on paper) labeled and arranged for use by scientists... more

Have you ever seen an interesting plant that you wanted to keep? The best way to preserve a plant specimen is to press it and dry it. Dr. Leslie Landrum has many cabinets of dried plants in the Arizona State University herbarium. This collection allows researchers to go back in time to study plants. The Herbarium has plants that were collected as far back as 1877. You can start your own collection of interesting plants by pressing and drying them. Follow the directions below to make your own plant press.

Materials needed:

2 flat pieces of wood
2 pieces of cardboard
old newspaper
rope or strong twine

garden clippers or scissors
paper to mount your dried plant onto
glue to stick plant to paper
paper to create a label

step 1

step 3

step 4

step 5

step 7

Step one: You will need to create a press to press your plants flat.

Step two: Find an interesting plant to press.

Step three: Pressing the plant.

Step four: Putting the press together.

Step five: Tying the press together and drying.

Step six: Mounting your plants.

Step seven: Labeling your dried plants.

(Thanks to Dr. Leslie Landrum at Arizona State University for suggesting this experiment).

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