Question

The label of a herbarium sheet does not carry information on:

• A. Local names
• B. Height of the plant
• C. Date of collection
• D. Name of collector

Answer 1

The correct option is B Height of the plant

Herbarium sheets contain dried plants or plant parts with their description, for study. Field notes and the date of collection are mentioned in a herbarium label. However, herbarium sheets do not carry information on the height of a plant as plant height of different individuals of the same species may differ due to external factors.

An example of Herbarium Label

Scientific name : Ranunculaceae, Ranunculus ficaria (family, genus, and species)

Vernacular name(s) : Lesser Celandine, Pilewort

Collector’s name and specimen number : Lawrence 1

Date of collection : 20^th March 2003

Locality : Orleans House Gardens, Twickenham, England

Habitat : damp, clay soil, 20 yards from the riverbank, growing in dappled shade on the edge of deciduous woodland; nearby plant is Dock (Rumex obtusifolius).

Habit : perennial herb, up to 20 cm tall, with stems creeping and rooting

Characteristics : leaves hairless glossy green, flowers bright glossy yellow, turning white with age

Medicinal uses : astringent for hemorrhoids (Hoffman 1992: 223)