6 Botanical Microtechnique 



STEMS 



Leafy stems can be kept fresh for se\eral days by standing them 

 in a container of water, preferably in a refrigerator. If such storage 

 is not practicable, cut the stems into the longest pieces that will fit 

 into the available closed container without folding or crushing. \Vrap 

 the pieces promptly in wet paper and store in a cool place. Dormant 

 woodv twigs, large limbs, and disks cut from logs can be kept for 

 weeks in a refrigerator without appreciable injury. 



ROOTS 



Do not collect roots or other underground organs by pulling up 

 the plant. The delicate cortex is easily damaged, in fact, the woody 

 stele may be pulled out of the cortex, leaving the cortex in the ground. 

 To collect roots without damaging them, dig up the plant, soak the 

 mass of soil in water until thoroughly softened. Wash the soil away 

 carefully, cut off: the desired roots and brush them gently with a 

 camel's hair brush to remove as much soil as possible. Wrap the 

 pieces and store as in the case of stems. 



FLORAL ORGANS 



Remove entire flowers or flower clusters and wrap in wet paper. 

 Store in a closed container in a cool place. Large buds like those of 

 lily can be kept in a Mason jar of water until you are ready to dissect 

 and preserve them. Fruits may be collected and stored in a similar 

 manner. 



LIVERWORTS AND MOSSES 



Remove groups or mats of the material with a generous quantity 

 of the substratum. Store in a moist chamber until the plants are 

 turgid. Saturate the substratum in order to permit the removal of 

 complete plants without excessive damage. Dissect out the desired 

 parts under a binocular and transfer to the preserving fluid ])romj)tly. 



ALGAE 



Collect in a tjuantity of the water in whi( h ilie plants are growing, 

 and keep in a cool place in subdued light, ^rany filamentous forms 

 disintegrate rapidly in the laboratory, and c\cn in the greenhouse 

 unless the temperature and light can be carefidlv controlled. It is best 

 to kill algae promptly after collecting. 



FLESHY FUNGI 



l"he larger fleshy fungi can i)e irausporiccl and stored. wrapj)ed 



