Identifying the Target Plant

Preparing a herbarium specimen (Photo: Olivia Kwong, Plant conservation alliance)

Before collecting seed, collectors are expected to make an accurate identification of the target plant. To achieve this, collectors take any field guides and checklists that may be available for the region, and carefully note any distinguishing features, such as shape and colour of flower parts, as part of the comprehensive data recorded in the field. To be certain that the correct name is used for the seed collection, collectors are expected to also provide a separate botanical specimen that becomes a "voucher" for the seed collection. The most useful voucher is a dried pressed plant specimen taken from a typical individual plant from which seed was collected, but good quality photographs, pollen or DNA samples are occasionally used.

Micah Visoiu preparing herbarium vouchers on Mt Field, Tasmania.

Voucher specimens enable taxonomists based at major herbaria to confirm the correct name to be used initially for the seed collection, and to review this from time to time when taxonomy of that plant group is updated.

Next: Assessment