A herbarium is a collection of preserved plant specimens, which are used for scientific study.

The majority of specimens in a herbarium are pressed, dried plants. These pressed specimens are mounted on sheets of card and stored in flat folders in banks of cupboards following a logical sequence for easy referral. A herbarium also keeps document records about the specimens - where, when and by whom they were collected. Herbaria are used by botanists for the identification and classification of plants. They preserve most of the important features of a plant, allowing botanists to carry out research on the plants without needing to see a living specimen. Traditionally herbarium labels were hand written, but today most herbaria use database systems from which labels are printed.At a minimum your label should include: Family and scientific name of the specimen, including the authority. Collector's name/s. Date of collection. Locality where the plant was collected, including latitude and longitude. If possible also include: Collector's specimen record number Name of the person who determined the identification Altitude Habitat or type of plant community Habit Any other details about the plant that may be important

1. Type 'PLANTS OF' then insert the State (or country), in bold, where plant was collected, all-caps. 2. Generic name, capitalize, underline. 3. Specific epithet, underline. 4. Authority, obtained from flora. 5. County (or province), all-caps.

6. Location description using road miles (driving directions). 7. Location description from major landmarks, try to use geographical landmarks (rivers, lakes, mountains, valleys, etc., avoid using buildings, street addresses, etc.). 8. Township, Range, Section. 9. Map name and scale used to get Township, Range, & Section. 10. Give latitude and longitude (in degrees, minutes, seconds), obtained from topographical maps or GPS unit. 11. Habitat description, what kind of habitat and soil type was the plant found in? (roadside, pine woods, hard woods, bogs, beach, riparian, montane, etc.) 12. Statement of surrounding plant community, include some other common associated species. Be sure to italicize or underline other scientific species names. 13. Give the elevation of the location, again obtained from topographical maps or GPS unit . Be sure to indicate feet or meters. 14. Collector name and number. Numbering system can be of your own creation. 15. Must include date of collection in the format shown, (dd month yyyy) 16. List the correct family to which the genus and species belongs.