COLLECTING ECONOMIC PLANT DATA 19 



care will yield specimens suitable for preservation. Flowering specimens 

 always should be obtained if available, but fortunately they are not 

 entirely necessary for the identification of bamboos, provided the samples 

 from other parts represent the plant adequately. It is very important 

 that the series be as complete as possible, and it is to be noted that as 

 many as 10 or more sheets might be required to include all the samples 

 from a single bamboo. 



A complete series (see figs. 18-20) would include the following: (A) 

 Section (internode) of mature stem taken to include the 4th and 5th 

 joints (nodes) above the ground; (B) leafy twigs; (C) portion from about 

 the middle of the stem, with branches (branch complement) attached, as 

 well as several detached branches; (D) several of the sheaths, which 

 enclose the stem and young shoots, to show range in size; (E) piece 

 of stem to show the branch bud, which occurs just above the joint; (F) 

 lower piece of a stem attached to the underground portion (rhizome) ; and 

 (G) young seedlings if available. 



In gathering samples for a bamboo specimen, the collector must make 

 certain that all come from one plant or at least from one clump. Be careful 

 not to collect, under one number, samples from different bamboos growing 

 so close together in a clump as to appear to be a single plant. Any portions 

 proving too bulky to be pressed flat can be carefully tagged and then 

 dried thoroughly before shipping or storing. 



Sketches and photographs assist greatly in showing the relationship 

 of the various parts collected. The notes should include: Habit of the 

 clump and the stem ; maximum height of stem and maximum diameter at 

 base; length and diameter of 5th internode; length and serial number 

 above ground of the longest internode. Actual and accurate measure- 

 ments are preferable, but if they are merely estimated the fact should be 

 clearly indicated in the notes. 



Equipment for Plant Pressing 



Slat frames (or press ends) identical in construction with the frames 

 used in the collecting portfolio. 



Ventilators, double-faced cardboard, with corrugations extending 

 the short length, that is, crosswise and not lengthwise. 



Blotters (or botanical driers). 



Folded-newspaper sheets. 



Lengths of cotton sash cord, about 2 yards long, tied to form a loop 

 at one end (see figs. 4, 29). 



Smaller articles will be represented by pen, permanent ink, lead pencil, 

 red-wax pencil for writing numbers on sheets, dissecting knife, dissecting 

 scissors, 8-inch shears for trimming paper, and safety-razor blades. 



For convenience, the slat frames, ventilators, blotters, and news- 

 paper folders should all measure ll 1 ^ by 16J/2 inches, but strangely 

 enough this uniformity of size in materials is not so easily accomplished 

 as might be assumed, because the materials stocked by various com- 

 mercial houses vary considerably, not only in dimensions, but also in 

 quality. The objective in plant collecting is to produce a dried pressed 

 specimen to be mounted on a standard sheet that measures 11 3^ by 163^ 

 inches. To accomplish this objective, the use of pressing materials which 

 exceed that size represents waste, not only in the original purchase price, 

 but also in transportation charges to and from the field. 



