SHEVOCK ET AL.: BRYOPHYTES 
401 
vide for additional duplicates (and if doing so would not adversely affect that population) then a 
more robust packet or additional packets of that collection number can be made. All duplicate pack¬ 
ets of the same sample receive the same collection number. Obtaining enough plant material for a 
duplicate can be of great value. A duplicate specimen can be provided to another specialist to assist 
in the identification process. This practice is known as a ‘gift for determination’ and it is a very effi¬ 
cient way to have specimens examined and named by experts within certain taxonomic groups and 
adds to the value of the collected specimens once placed into an herbarium. Collecting specimens 
with enough material to provide for a duplicate is desirable for the following reasons: 
1) Many agencies, as a requirement of granting a research or specimen collecting permit, will request 
either a duplicate sample for their herbarium or a synoptic set (one good labeled specimen to 
represent each species documented) 
2) Duplicates placed in a major scientific institution are available to a wider research community 
3) A duplicate specimen can be used as a ‘gift for determination’ and sent to a specialist 
4) Extra duplicates can be used for herbarium specimen exchange purposes to increase the reference 
collection 
5) Duplicates become more important when species are documented as new for a particular geographic 
area (like a country) or when the discovery is a species new to science (isotypes) 
How ARE BRYOPHYTES DRIED? 
Bryophytes are simply air dried mueh like one would do for a vaseular plant eolleetion exeept 
that bryophytes should never be placed in a plant press (except bryophytes fused to the surface of 
vascular plant leaves) and heat sources should generally be avoided. Once home from the field or 
at the end of each field day, remove the collections from the plastic shoe box sized containers. The 
packets are likely to be very wet. The key to drying bryophytes is to have air flow across and 
between the packets. A small fan works well to provide air circulation and expedite drying. In 
humid climates, an air conditioned room will greatly aid in specimen drying. Just about any method 
used for drying vascular plants will work for drying bryophytes as long as the specimens can air 
dry in a few days. If the packets remain wet for longer periods, they will probably begin to mildew 
or discolor. Wet packets should be separated and laid out to aid in drying. The paper packets absorb 
moisture from the bryophyte so placing the packet with the ecological data flap face down will 
expose the wettest part of the 
packet first (the portion that was 
adjacent to the substrate). As the 
paper dries, flip over the packet 
and repeat this procedure. Anoth¬ 
er drying technique is to have 
each specimen stand up forming 
a triangle or tent (Fig. 4). Air will 
flow between the specimens fur¬ 
ther aiding in the drying process. 
Hanging packets from a cord 
secured with clothes pins or 
binder clips is another technique 
when floor space for drying spec¬ 
imens is limited. Once dried, 
bryophytes are nearly indestruc- . ’’ f 
, mg them up like a row oi tents. This procedure increases air now between 
fit>le. specimens which expedites drying. 
