BOTANICAL MUSEUM LEAFLETS 
HARVARD UNIVERSITY 
CAMBRIDG 
E, MASSACHUSETTS, OctoRER 31, 1978 Ve 26, No. 8 
EFFECTS OF FIELD PRESERVATION ON THE 
FLAVONOID CONTENT OF JESSENIA BATAUA 
GILLIAN A. COOPER-DRIVER* AND MICHAEL J. BALICK** 
As a preface to a chemotaxonomic investigation on the Jes- 
senia-Oenocarpus complex (Palmae), it seemed desirable to 
determine how specimens of plants collected in the field in the 
wet tropics should be best preserved for future chemical inves- 
tigation. 
Up to 30-40 years ago, most collected plant material was 
dried by placing it in a conventional press with frequent change 
of blotters to absorb moisture from the specimens, the entire 
process taking about a week (1). However, in the wet tropics 
much of the material was damaged by insects or micro-organ- 
isms before drying was complete, rendering the specimen of 
little value for taxonomic purposes. The artificial drying of 
such specimens by the use of field stoves or even electric bulbs 
overcame these problems, but collectors could not easily 
transport such equipment to remote study areas. Thus, the use 
of chemical preservatives was introduced to treat plants col- 
lected in the field and to prevent them from deterioration by 
insects or by rotting, until they could be dried at a base facility. 
Schultes (2) suggested a formalin (40% formaldehyde) and 
water mixture of approximately 1:5 to avoid the spoilage of 
most plant materials. Moore (3) recommended using a 1% 
aqueous solution of hydroxyquinoline sulfate, while Hodge (4) 
cited the use of an ethanol mixture, noting also that the use of 
*Department of Biological Sciences, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts. 
*“Botanical Museum of Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts. 
Botanical Museum Leaflets (USPS 404-990). Published monthly except during July and A ugust by 
the Botanical Museum, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138. Subscription: 
$25.00 a year, net, postpaid. Orders should be directed to Secretary of Publications at the above 
address. Second-Class Postage Paid at Boston, Massachusetts. 
