Appendix 1 Awkward Plants and Plants that present a Health and Safety Risk Genus (species if relevant) Rubus Thorny (H&S), stems (buckling on sheets on top of each other) Rumex Flower detachment Eucalyptus Waxy cuticle (adhesive difficult to apply) Gentiana Long flower head and short body, important not to impede the flower when mounting but the length of the flower makes it more vulnerable to damage Pinaceae e.g. Pinus, larix, Cedrus Needle detachment, bulky Rosa See Rubus – spiny, thorny stems Cirsium & Carduus leaves and stems; bulky and fragile seed heads Ferns e.g. Dryopteris, Athyrium Large – often needing two or more sheets. Fronds often wider than sheet. Risk of cross-contamination of spores on brushes (if using adhesive) Asteraceae – many genera esp. Taraxacum, Hieracium Flowerheads often go to seed on pressing/drying of specimens. Taraxacum and Hieracium leaves are flimsy. Lemna Very small nature of plant makes it difficult to handle/separate out. Charophytes Fragile Papaver Very thin petals Carex arenaria Sometimes long rhizome attached Bracken Re rhizomes see above – v.bulky, lots of spores, often very large and so several sheets needed ‘Awkward’ plants when mounting Typhaceae Like Asteraceae above – flower heads can go to seed during or after mounting with change in humidity Poaceae Often large amount of material ‘intertwined’ – sometimes delicate to separate. ‘Bends’ made during pressing can be weak breaking points. Iridaceae Delicate flowers Cactaceae Bulky and spiny. Need to be well prepared during drying (flesh removed) Palmaceae Bulky. Need cutting for continuation sheets Chara, Nitella, Tolypella Fragile – break easily Zingiberaceae Bulky roots and fragile flowers Epilobium; some Apocynaceae Seed pods can expand and open after mounting
Rubus sp. Urtica dioica Rosa sp. Cactaceae Pteridophyta spores, esp. Pteridium aquilinum Fungal spores Appendix 2 Pest infestation indicators Genera that are particularly prone to pest attack Asteraceae - esp. Taraxacum & Hierarium Apiaceae All - Lichen Lactuca sp Brassicacea Ranunculus Rosa Fruit woods Sweet Chestnut High pollen/protein High Appendix 3 stages in Design and folding a Bryophyte storage container Appendix 4 Identification of Historic Aqueous Stains on Herbarium Sheets (Purewal 2008) Recommendations Suspect all organic material such as textiles, natural history and ethnographic collections dated 1986 and earlier as having been treated with a pesticide.
Collecting Health and Safety Material science of plants and papers Fibres, weights, grain, face, strength Understanding importance of labels Conservation Grade Materials Adhesives use and material Papers and Cards Correct Handling techniques and procedure Mounting Methods Storage Furniture Environmental Control and Conditions Remounting and Cleaning Principals of Paper Conservation Best Practice Pragmatic Approach Bibliography and resources Is spirit collection section to follow ? Spirit collection – will be recommendations for a good fixative for botanical specimens which doesn’t contain formalin? Will there be up to date recommendations for containers, lids, seals which are available now and from suppliers in the UK? Appendix 9 Destructive Sampling Policies Natural History Museum, London National Museum of Natural History (Collection specific)