Pre Treatment of Chemicals on Herbarium Speci...

Pre Treatment of Chemicals on Herbarium Specimens For Colour Retention

Author Name : Suboohi Nasrin, Abduraheem K

ABSTRACT

Herbaria are the centre of preserved plant specimen which are arranged in systematic classification and are used for reference and other scientific study. These specimens are very delicate and cellulosic in nature that’s why very useful for enrichment of knowledge and are considered as our natural heritages. Seeing their immense importance it is very important to conserve and preserve it. It is not important to preserve the herbarium from biological agencies but also maintain the colour of the specimen because colour is the characteristic feature of plant identification. Keeping this in mind the author prepared the solution of Formaldehyde, Copper sulphate, Picric acid and Prop ionic acid for the colour retention of rose plant as herbarium specimens.

In this the quantity of solutions was prepared by dissolving it in distilled water by increasing amount of copper sulphate and picric acid. The fresh specimens of rose were washed with distilled water and kept in the prepared solutions for 5 to 10 minutes at room temperature. After this the specimens were removed from the solution and kept for five minutes to dry. Then it is placed under plant press. Blotting sheets were used to absorb the moisture content and were changed every 2 to 3 days in order to protect it from fungal growth. The result revealed that  all the solutions were not satisfactory for colour retention of herbarium specimens. All the specimen of rose begins to fade within one month and look blackish in colour.

Keywords:  Colour retention, Preservation and Conservation, leaves of roses, Solution, Formaldehyde.