Herbarium

High school (ages 12+)
Environment & Earth

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/herbarium

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the scientific classification?Herbaria are essential for establishing and maintaining plant nomenclature and taxonomy
2. What is the research applications?Facilitate studies in biodiversity, climate change impacts, invasive species, and ethnobotany
3. What is a herbarium and why do people keep plants there?A herbarium is like a giant library of pressed plants. Scientists keep dried plants on sheets so they can study and share them for many years. It helps them learn about plant names and where plants live.
4. How are plants preserved in a herbarium so they last so long?Plants are carefully dried, flattened, and stuck onto sturdy sheets. This process stops them from rotting and keeps them looking almost the same for centuries. The sheets can be stored in cool, dry places.

Exsiccatum: A dried and mounted plant specimen, typically part of a larger scientific collection.
Taxonomy: The scientific classification and naming of organisms based on shared characteristics.
Metadata: Data that provides information about other data, such as collection location and date for a specimen.
Nomenclature: The system of names used in a particular scientific field, especially for species.