How to Send a Specimen

Do you have a specimen in your backyard that you wish to send to the Butler University Friesner Herbarium? We would love to have it in our database! Here is our guide to preparing your specimen for its journey from your home to ours, ensuring it is protected properly every step along the way.

• Do NOT collect a specimen if it is the only one you have, or if it is one of very few.
  • If the specimen is tall, you may bend or cut it. The mounting paper dimensions we use are 16 x 11 inches
  • If the specimen is found in water, it will require more care- Email Marcia Moore at mmoore@butler.edu for further instruction to ensure safe and quality collection
• Take photos of the specimen in its original state, with as much fine detail as you can capture
• Be sure to collect parts of the roots of the specimen
• Press your specimen between layers of newspaper
  • Do NOT press between paper towels
• Place your specimen between two heavy objects, ensuring quality pressing and removal of moisture
• Change newspaper every day for 2 weeks
  • If the specimen is then dry, package and ship to our address: Butler University Friesner Herbarium, 4600 Sunset Ave. Indianapolis, IN 46208
    • Include the name of our director, Marcia Moore
    • Be SURE to indicate on the package that it includes plant material to be used for study

It is critical these steps are followed carefully to ensure we have as accurate as possible specimens in our collection. With time, plants begin to lose the integrity they once had. The more work you put into collecting and pressing, the better and longer lasting your specimen will be- to be viewed for generations to come and to advance our scientific study.