Clarke collects plant samples mainly in areas that have never been surveyed far from the riverbanks, in the mountains, and in seasonally flooded forests. The logistics of such expeditions are not that much different from those of the 18th century, said Clarke. Expeditions run on the basis of some very basic commodities. Supplies and equipment are hauled upriver in dugout canoes and carried into the forest. Moving through uncharted territory is a major challenge.
Waterways become narrower and shallower, blocked by fallen trees, logjams, and sandbars.
Travel on land can be even more complicated. Moving around is a matter of hacking your way with a machete and stumbling, climbing, or sliding over whatever obstacles present themselves. Before the plants reach the molecular labs of modern science, they're collected with hand clippers and preserved in newspaper. Many are collected from the very top of the forest canopy, requiring iron spikes, extendable pole clippers, and a fair amount of nerve and tree-climbing skill to reach. Although the collecting methods may be similar to those of explorers 200 years ago, the eventual results are high-tech.