dos Santos, Lucilene
Lima, et al. "Techniques for Collecting and Processing Plant Material
and Their Application in Ethnobotany Research." Methods and Techniques in Ethnobiology and Ethnoecology. Springer New York, 2014. 161-173.
Abstract
Until they are incorporated into an
herbarium, the sampling of plant species and every process involved in
their collection are key steps in many areas of botany. When sampling
processes are performed properly, they provide information well beyond a
plant’s scientific name; these processes also emphasize the local
importance and conservation status of the species and its significance
in different environments. Showing plants in situ, fresh parts or even
plant parts in small voucher specimens are becoming increasingly common
tools in ethnobotany because the goal is to obtain information and
rescue the use of particular plants by traditional communities.
Therefore, visualization of the plant sample is critical for ensuring
that both the researcher and the community member are referring to the
same plant. In this chapter, we will discuss the common techniques of
sampling, preserving, and processing plant material as essential tools
for basic field procedures and their relevance and applications in
methods that assist in ethnobotany research.