- - AGRICULTURE CORE CURRICULUM - - (CLF6000) Advanced Core Cluster: ORNAMENTAL HORTICULTURE (CLF6100) Unit Title: BOTANICAL CLASSIFICATION ____________________________________________________________________________ (CLF6108) Topic: IDENTIFYING ORNAMENTAL Time Year(s) PLANTS 10 hours 3 / 4 ____________________________________________________________________________ Topic Objectives: Upon completion of this lesson, the student will be able to: Learning Outcome #: (A-5) - Correctly identify 100 common ornamental plants listed in the California Agricultural Teachers' Association (CATA) Curricular Activities Code. Special Materials and Equipment: 100 copies of the supplemental worksheet (provided under the first student activity below) should be provided for each student. Print one side only. The Sunset WESTERN GARDEN BOOK and W. Conner's BACKPOCKET GUIDE TO ORNAMENTAL PLANTS should be available for student use, either individually or working in pairs. Optional materials for pressing plants are described below, under the section on preserving plant samples. References: Bailey, L. H. (1976). HORTUS THIRD. New York: Macmillan. Conner, E. Wesley. (1979). THE BACKPOCKET GUIDE TO ORNAMENTAL PLANTS. San Luis Obispo, CA: California Polytechnic State University, Vocational Education Productions. Florists' Publishing Company. (1964). NEW PRONOUNCING DICTIONARY OF PLANT NAMES. Chicago: Florists' Publishing Company. Harrington, H. D., & Durrell, L. W. (1957). HOW TO IDENTIFY PLANTS. Athens, OH: Ohio University Press. Editors of Sunset Books and Sunset Magazine. (1988). WESTERN GARDEN BOOK. Menlo Park, CA: Lane Publishing Co. Evaluation: Instructor evaluation of Plant Identification sheets; practical identification examination using fresh cut materials and landscape plants in the ground and in containers. ===================================================================== *** NOTE TO INSTRUCTOR*** The detail of this topic presentation goes beyond the scope necessary to meet the requirements of the Core Cluster in this area. It will take longer to teach than indicated above if covered entirely. It is included for local enrichment as appropriate to the class. ===================================================================== TOPIC PRESENTATION: IDENTIFYING ORNAMENTAL PLANTS A. Learning to recognize plants and remembering their names is one of the most important things for a horticulturist to do. Possessing a basic vocabulary of commonly used plants is critical to anyone working in nursery production, landscape work, or the floral trade. Learning plants also takes much time and practice. While it is impossible to learn all of the plants used in ornamental horticulture, learning the plants on the list below will be a good start. The following suggestions will help in learning the plants more easily: 1. Practice identifying the plants at different stages of the growing season, with and without flowers (if it is a flowering plant), and at different stages of maturity (if there are different-age plants available). It is important to see how plant appearance can vary under different conditions. 2. Try to think analytically. Does the plant have an opposite or alternate leaf arrangement? Is the margin dentate or entire? Answering these kinds of questions will eliminate a lot of guesswork. 3. Learn how to pronounce the plant names correctly. The NEW PRONOUNCING DICTIONARY OF PLANT NAMES (authored by Florists' Publishing Co.) is an inexpensive reference which is very helpful in learning how to pronounce botanical names of plants. Also, saying the names out loud helps when trying to learn them. 4. Learn what some of the root names of plants mean. There are many plant names which are used over and over again. Learning what they mean helps in matching the appearance of the plant with the name. For instance, the Japanese flowering cherry has leaf margins which are saw-toothed, or serrated in appearance. This fact helps us remember the flowering cherry's botanical name Prunus serrulata. The NEW PRONOUNCING DICTIONARY OF PLANT NAMES is also useful for this purpose, as brief definitions are given for each plant name. 5. Making flash cards from pressed samples is helpful, especially in learning the plant names and correct spellings. Be careful, though, not to rely too heavily on just one cut sample to learn how to recognize the plant. Specimens can vary in appearance. Also, if time allows, sketching or drawing plants is a very good way to observe and learn their distinguishing features. 6. Try to identify the plants seen all around in daily life. Ornamental plants are all around us, and there are ample opportunities to practice plant identification as we go about our usual business. To be successful at plant identification, constant practice is necessary. B. Common Ornamental Plants: The plants listed below are commonly used in the field of ornamental horticulture. They are grouped according to type, for example, trees, ground covers, house plants. Learning to identify most of the plants on this list will give a person a solid start in the field of ornamental horticulture. ===================================================================== *** NOTE TO INSTRUCTOR*** For all hybrid species listed below, the muliplication sign "X" has been inserted between the genus name and the specific epithet, in accordance with the rules of horticultural nomenclature. In common usage this symbol is usually dropped. ===================================================================== COMMON ORNAMENTAL PLANTS ANNUALS AND PERENNIALS ____ Agapanthus orientalis . . . . . . . . . . lily-of-the-Nile ____ Ageratum houstonianum . . . . . . . . . . .floss flower ____ Antirrhinum majus . . . . . . . . . . . . .snapdragon ____ Asplenium bulbiferum . . . . . . . . . . . mother fern ____ Begonia X semperflorens-cultorum. . . . . .bedding begonia ____ Calendula officinalis . . . . . . . . . . .calendula, pot marigold ____ Callistephus chinensis . . . . . . . . . . China aster ____ Catharanthus roseus . . . . . . . . . . . .Madagascar periwinkle ____ Celosia cristata . . . . . . . . . . . . . cockscomb ____ Centaurea cineraria . . . . . . . . . . . .dusty miller ____ Chrysanthemum frutescens . . . . . . . . . marguerite daisy ____ Chrysanthemum X superbum . . . . . . . . . Shasta daisy ____ Chrysanthemum X morifolium . . . . . . . . florist's chrysanthemum ____ Dahlia merckii & hybrids. . . . . . . . . .bedding dahlia ____ Dianthus barbatus . . . . . . . . . . . . .sweet William ____ Dianthus caryophyllus . . . . . . . . . . .carnation ____ Dietes vegeta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .fortnight lily ____ Gladiolus X hortulanus . . . . . . . . . . garden gladiolus ____ Hemerocallis spp. & hybrids . . . . . . . daylily ____ Hyacinthus orientalis . . . . . . . . . . .common hyacinth ____ Iberis sempervirens . . . . . . . . . . . evergreen candytuft ____ Impatiens wallerana . . . . . . . . . . . .impatiens ____ Iris spp. & hybrids. . . . . . . . . . . . bearded iris ____ Liriope muscari . . . . . . . . . . . . . .big blue lily-turf ____ Lobelia erinus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . lobelia ____ Lobularia maritima . . . . . . . . . . . . sweet alyssum ____ Matthiola incana . . . . . . . . . . . . . stock ____ Narcissus spp. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . daffodil ____ Papaver nudicaule . . . . . . . . . . . . .Iceland poppy ____ Pelargonium X hortorum . . . . . . . . . . common geranium ____ Pelargonium peltatum . . . . . . . . . . . ivy geranium ____ Petunia X hybrida . . . . . . . . . . . . .petunia ____ Primula X polyantha . . . . . . . . . . . .English primrose ____ Ranunculus asiaticus . . . . . . . . . . . Persian ranunculus ____ Tagetes spp. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . marigold ____ Tulipa spp. & hybrids. . . . . . . . . . . tulip ____ Viola X wittrockiana . . . . . . . . . . . pansy ____ Zinnia elegans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . zinnia HOUSE PLANTS ____ Aeschynanthus radicans . . . . . . . . . . lipstick plant ____ Aglaonema spp. & hybrids . . . . . . . . . Chinese evergreen ____ Aphelandra squarrosa . . . . . . . . . . . zebra plant ____ Aspidistra elatior . . . . . . . . . . . . cast iron plant ____ Chamaedorea elegans . . . . . . . . . . . .neanthe bella palm ____ Chlorophytum comosum . . . . . . . . . . . spider plant ____ Cissus antarctica . . . . . . . . . . . . .kangaroo vine ____ Cissus rhombifolia . . . . . . . . . . . . Venezuela grape ivy ____ Codiaeum variegatum . . . . . . . . . . . .croton ____ Coleus X hybridus . . . . . . . . . . . . .coleus ____ Cordyline terminalis . . . . . . . . . . . ti plant ____ Cyclamen persicum . . . . . . . . . . . . .florist's cyclamen ____ Davallia trichomanoides . . . . . . . . . .squirrel's foot fern ____ Dieffenbachia spp. . . . . . . . . . . . . dumb cane ____ Dizygotheca elegantissima . . . . . . . . .threadleaf false aralia ____ Dracaena deremensis 'Warneckii' . . . . . .striped dracaena palm ____ Dracaena fragrans 'Massangeana' . . . . . .corn-plant ____ Dracaena marginata . . . . . . . . . . . . Madagascar dragon tree ____ Epipremnum aureum . . . . . . . . . . . . .golden pothos ____ Ficus benjamina . . . . . . . . . . . . . .weeping Chinese fig ____ Ficus elastica 'Decora' . . . . . . . . . .wide leaf rubber plant ____ Ficus lyrata . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . fiddleleaf fig ____ Hedera helix 'Needle Point' . . . . . . . .needle point ivy ____ Maranta leuconeura . . . . . . . . . . . . prayer plant ____ Monstera deliciosa . . . . . . . . . . . . split leaf philodendron ____ Nephrolepis exaltata 'Bostoniensis' . . . .Boston fern ____ Peperomia argyreia . . . . . . . . . . . . watermelon peperomia ____ Peperomia caperata . . . . . . . . . . . .emerald ripple peperomia ____ Peperomia obtusifolia . . . . . . . . . . .wax leaf peperomia ____ Philodendron scandens subsp. oxycardium . .heartleaf philodendron ____ Pilea cadierei . . . . . . . . . . . . . . aluminum plant ____ Pilea microphylla . . . . . . . . . . . . .artillery plant ____ Plectranthus australis . . . . . . . . . . Swedish ivy ____ Saintpaulia ionantha . . . . . . . . . . . African violet ____ Sansevieria trifasciata . . . . . . . . . .snake plant ____ Schefflera actinophylla . . . . . . . . . .umbrella tree ____ Syngonium podophyllum . . . . . . . . . . .arrowhead plant ____ Tolmiea menziesii . . . . . . . . . . . . .piggy back plant ____ Tradescantia fluminensis . . . . . . . . . wandering Jew SHRUBS ____ Abelia grandiflora . . . . . . . . . . . .glossy abelia ____ Acacia longifolia . . . . . . . . . . . . Sydney golden wattle ____ Arbutus unedo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . strawberry tree ____ Arctostaphylos uva-ursi . . . . . . . . . bearberry, manzanita ____ Aucuba japonica 'Variegata'. . . . . . . .gold dust plant ____ Bambusa multiplex 'Golden Goddess' . . . .golden goddess bamboo ____ Berberis thunbergii 'Atropurpurea' . . . .purple-leaf Japanese barberry ____ Buxus microphylla var. japonica . . . . . Japanese boxwood ____ Callistemon citrinus . . . . . . . . . . .lemon bottlebrush ____ Camellia japonica . . . . . . . . . . . . Japanese camellia ____ Camellia sasanqua . . . . . . . . . . . . sasanqua camellia ____ Carissa grandiflora . . . . . . . . . . . Natal plum ____ Chaenomeles spp. & hybrids . . . . . . . .flowering quince ____ Chamaerops humilis . . . . . . . . . . . .Mediterranean fan palm ____ Cistus X purpureus . . . . . . . . . . . .orchid rock rose ____ Coleonema pulchrum . . . . . . . . . . . .pink breath-of-heaven ____ Coprosma repens . . . . . . . . . . . . . mirror shrub ____ Cortaderia selloana . . . . . . . . . . . pampas grass ____ Cotoneaster horizontalis . . . . . . . . .rock cotoneaster ____ Cotoneaster lacteus . . . . . . . . . . . Parney cotoneaster ____ Cycas revoluta . . . . . . . . . . . . . .sago palm ____ Cytisus racemosus . . . . . . . . . . . . Easter broom ____ Dicksonia antarctica . . . . . . . . . . .Tasmanian tree fern ____ Dodonaea viscosa 'Purpurea' . . . . . . . purple hop seed bush ____ Elaeagnus pungens . . . . . . . . . . . . silverberry ____ Erica canaliculata 'Rosea' . . . . . . . .Christmas heather ____ Escallonia spp. & hybrids . . . . . . . . escallonia ____ Euonymus japonica 'Aureo-marginata' . . . golden-edged euonymus ____ Fatsia japonica . . . . . . . . . . . . . Japanese aralia ____ Feijoa sellowiana . . . . . . . . . .. . .pineapple guava ____ Forsythia X intermedia . . . . . . . . . .hybrid forsythia ____ Fuchsia X hybrida . . . . . . . . . . . . fuchsia ____ Gardenia jasminoides 'Mystery' . . . . . .mystery gardenia ____ Grevillea 'Noellii' . . . . . . . . . . . Noell's grevillia ____ Grewia occidentalis . . . . . . . . . . . lavender starflower ____ Hebe menziesii . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Menzies' hebe ____ Hebe 'Patty's Purple' . . . . . . . . . . Patty's purple veronica ____ Heteromeles arbutifolia . . . . . . . . . toyon ____ Hibiscus rosa-sinensis . . . . . . . . . .Chinese hibiscus ____ Hydrangea macrophylla . . . . . . . . . . garden hydrangea ____ Ilex aquifolium . . . . . . . . . . . . . English holly ____ Ilex cornuta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Chinese holly ____ Ilex cornuta 'Burfordii' . . . . . . . . .Burford holly ____ Juniperus chinensis 'Pfitzerana Aurea' . .golden Pfitzer juniper ____ Juniperus chinensis 'Pfitzerana Glauca' . blue Pfitzer juniper ____ Juniperus chinensis var. . . . . . . . . .dwarf Japanese garden procumbens 'Nana' juniper ____ Juniperus chinensis 'Torulosa' . . . . . .Hollywood juniper ____ Juniperus conferta . . . . . . . . . . . .shore juniper ____ Juniperus sabina 'Tamariscifolia' . . . . tam juniper ____ Lantana camara . . . . . . . . . . . . . .lantana ____ Leptospermum laevigatum . . . . . . . . . Australian tea tree ____ Leptospermum scoparium . . . . . . . . . .New Zealand tea tree ____ Ligustrum japonicum 'Texanum' . . . . . . Texas privet ____ Mahonia aquifolium . . . . . . . . . . . .Oregon grape ____ Mahonia lomariifolia . . . . . . . . . . .Chinese hollygrape ____ Myrsine africana . . . . . . . . . . . . .African boxwood ____ Myrtus communis 'Compacta' . . . . . . . .dwarf myrtle ____ Nandina domestica . . . . . . . . . . . . heavenly bamboo ____ Nandina domestica 'Nana' . . . . . . . . .dwarf heavenly bamboo ____ Nerium oleander . . . . . . . . . . . . . oleander ____ Osmanthus fragrans . . . . . . . . . . . .sweet olive ____ Philodendron selloum . . . . . . . . . . .giant hardy philodendron ____ Phormium tenax . . . . . . . . . . . . . .New Zealand flax ____ Photinia X fraseri . . . . . . . . . . . Fraser's photinia ____ Phyllostachys aurea . . . . . . . . . . . golden bamboo ____ Pinus mugo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .dwarf mugho pine ____ Pittosporum tobira . . . . . . . . . . . .mock orange, tobira ____ Pittosporum tobira 'Wheeler's Dwarf' . . .Wheeler's dwarf pittosporum ____ Platycladus orientalis 'Aureus' . . . . . dwarf golden arborvitae ____ Podocarpus gracilior . . . . . . . . . . .fern pine ____ Podocarpus macrophyllus . . . . . . . . . yew pine ____ Psidium cattleianum . . . . . . . . . . . strawberry guava ____ Punica granatum 'Nana' . . . . . . . . . .dwarf pomegranate ____ Pyracantha spp. . . . . . . . . . . . . . pyracantha ____ Raphiolepis indica 'Rosea' . . . . . . . .pink India hawthorn ____ Rhododendron spp. & hybrids . . . . . . . rhododendrons and azaleas ____ Sphaeropteris cooperi . . . . . . . . . . Australian tree fern ____ Strelitzia reginae . . . . . . . . . . . .bird-of-pardise ____ Syringa vulgaris . . . . . . . . . . . . .common lilac ____ Syzygium paniculatum . . . . . . . . . . .brush cherry ____ Taxus baccata 'Stricta' . . . . . . . . . Irish yew ____ Ternstroemia gymnanthera . . . . . . . . .ternstroemia ____ Viburnum suspensum . . . . . . . . . . . .sandankwa viburnum ____ Woodwardia fimbriata . . . . . . . . . . .giant chain fern ____ Xylosma congestum . . . . . . . . . . . . shiny xylosma ____ Yucca gloriosa . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Spanish dagger TREES ____ Acacia baileyana . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bailey's acacia ____ Acer palmatum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Japanese maple ____ Acer saccharinum . . . . . . . . . . . . .silver maple ____ Albizia julibrissin . . . . . . . . . . . silk tree ____ Alnus rhombifolia . . . . . . . . . . . . white alder ____ Araucaria heterophylla . . . . . . . . . .Norfolk Island pine ____ Arecastrum romanzoffianum . . . . . . . . queen palm ____ Betula pendula . . . . . . . . . . . . . .European white birch ____ Cedrus deodara . . . . . . . . . . . . . .deodar cedar ____ Ceratonia siliqua . . . . . . . . . . . . carob tree ____ Cinnamomum camphora . . . . . . . . . . . camphor tree ____ Cornus florida . . . . . . . . . . . . . .flowering dogwood ____ Cupressus glabra . . . . . . . . . . . . .Arizona cypress ____ Cupressus macrocarpa . . . . . . . . . . .Monterey cypress ____ Cupressus sempervirens . . . . . . . . . .Italian cypress ____ Eriobotrya japonica . . . . . . . . . . . loquat ____ Eucalyptus cinerea . . . . . . . . . . . .spiral eucalyptus ____ Eucalyptus polyanthemos . . . . . . . . . silver dollar gum ____ Eucalyptus sideroxylon . . . . . . . . . .red ironbark eucalyptus ____ Ficus microcarpa var. nitida . . . . . . .Indian laurel fig ____ Fraxinus uhdei . . . . . . . . . . . . . .evergreen ash ____ Fraxinus velutina 'Modesto' . . . . . . . Modesto ash ____ Ginkgo biloba . . . . . . . . . . . . . . maidenhair tree ____ Grevillea robusta . . . . . . . . . . . . silk oak ____ Jacaranda mimosifolia . . . . . . . . . . jacaranda ____ Lagerstroemia indica . . . . . . . . . . .crape myrtle ____ Laurus nobilis . . . . . . . . . . . . . .sweet bay ____ Liquidambar styraciflua . . . . . . . . . American sweet gum ____ Liriodendron tulipifera . . . . . . . . . tulip tree ____ Magnolia grandiflora . . . . . . . . . . .Southern magnolia ____ Magnolia X soulangiana . . . . . . . . . .saucer magnolia ____ Maytenus boaria . . . . . . . . . . . . . mayten tree ____ Morus alba 'Fruitless' . . . . . . . . . .fruitless mulberry ____ Olea europaea . . . . . . . . . . . . . . European olive ____ Picea pungens 'Glauca' . . . . . . . . . .Colorado blue spruce ____ Pinus canariensis . . . . . . . . . . . . Canary Island pine ____ Pinus halepensis . . . . . . . . . . . . .Aleppo pine ____ Pinus radiata . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Monterey pine ____ Pinus thunbergiana . . . . . . . . . . . .Japanese black pine ____ Pistacia chinensis . . . . . . . . . . . .Chinese pistache ____ Platanus racemosa . . . . . . . . . . . . California sycamore ____ Populus nigra 'Italica' . . . . . . . . . Lombardy poplar ____ Prunus X blireiana . . . . . . . . . . . .flowering plum ____ Prunus caroliniana . . . . . . . . . . . .Carolina laurel cherry ____ Pyrus kawakamii . . . . . . . . . . . . . evergreen pear ____ Quercus agrifolia . . . . . . . . . . . . coast live oak ____ Quercus ilex . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .holly oak ____ Quercus palustris . . . . . . . . . . . . pin oak ____ Salix babylonica . . . . . . . . . ... . .weeping willow ____ Schinus molle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . California pepper tree ____ Schinus terebinthifolius . . . . . . . . .Brazilian pepper tree ____ Sequoia sempervirens . . . . . . . . . . .coast redwood ____ Sequoiadendron giganteum . . . . . . . . .Sierra redwood ____ Ulmus parvifolia . . . . . . . . . . . . .Chinese elm ____ Washington robusta . . . . . . . . . . . .Mexican fan palm VINES AND GROUND COVERS ____ Ajuga reptans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . carpet bugle ____ Arctotheca calendula . . . . . . . . . . .Cape weed or Cape daisy ____ Asparagus densiflorus 'Sprengeri' . . . . Sprenger asparagus fern ____ Baccharis pilularis 'Twin Peaks #2' . . . coyote brush ____ Bougainvillea spp. & hybrids . . . . . . .bougainvillea ____ Carpobrotus edulis . . . . . . . . . . . .ice plant, seaside-fig ____ Ceanothus griseus var. horizontalis . . . Carmel creeper ____ Clytostoma callistegioides . . . . . . . .lavender trumpet vine ____ Euonymus fortunei . . . . . . . . . . . . winter creeper ____ X Fatshedera lizei . . . . . . . . . . . botanical wonder ____ Festuca ovina var. glauca . . . . . . . . blue fescue grass ____ Ficus pumila . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .creeping fig ____ Fragaria chiloensis . . . . . . . . . . . ornamental strawberry ____ Gazania spp. & hybrids. . . . . . . . . . gazania ____ Gelsemium sempervirens . . . . . . . . . .Carolina jessamine ____ Hedera canariensis . . . . . . . . . . . .Algerian ivy ____ Hedera helix . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .English ivy ____ Hypericum calycinum . . . . . . . . . . . creeping St. Johnswort ____ Juniperus horizontalis 'Bar Harbor' . . . Bar Harbor juniper ____ Lonicera japonica 'Halliana'. . . . . . . Hall's Japanese honeysuckle ____ Ophiopogon japonicus . . . . . . . . . . .mondo grass ____ Osteospermum fruticosum . . . . . . . . . trailing African daisy, freeway daisy ____ Pachysandra terminalis . . . . . . . . . .Japanese spurge ____ Potentilla tabernaemontani . . . . . . . spring cinquefoil ____ Rosmarinus officinalis 'Prostratus' . . . dwarf rosemary ____ Sagina subulata . . . . . . . . . . . . . Irish moss ____ Sedum brevifolium (a tiny grey-lvd. sp.). stonecrop ____ Soleirolia soleirolii . . . . . . . . . . baby's tears ____ Trachelospermum jasminoides . . . . . . . star jasmine ____ Verbena peruviana . . . . . . . . . . . . Peruvian verbena ____ Vinca minor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . dwarf periwinkle ____ Wisteria sinensis . . . . . . . . . . . . Chinese wisteria __________________________________________________________ ACTIVITY: 1. Referring to the above list, have students identify available ornamental plants. 2. Students should use the supplemental worksheet, below, to organize information about each plant. Each worksheet is large enough to identify two plants. 3. A drawing or sample of each plant identified should be attached to the back of each sheet. Pressed samples can be attached with clear contact paper. (Clear tape works in a pinch.) 4. If possible, the worksheets should be copied onto card stock and cut in half. These will make excellent flash cards for practicing plant names and other information. Cards can be loosely bound with a pair of binder rings for convenient handling. 5. The instructor should introduce each plant, giving its common and botanic name, the basic type of plant it is (i.e., broadleaf evergreen shrub, coniferous tree, perennial ground cover, etc.) and its basic uses in the landscape, as well as any special cultural notes. Students should use Sunset's WESTERN GARDEN BOOK, THE BACKPOCKET GUIDE TO ORNAMENTAL PLANTS, or another reference to complete their worksheets. 6. Worksheets should be alphabetized and turned in periodically for evaluation by the instructor. __________________________________________________________ Supplemental Worksheet #1 BOTANICAL NAME: COMMON NAME: FAMILY: TYPE: ORIGIN: SIZE: GROWTH RATE: LEAF DESCRIPTION: FLOWER DESCRIPTION: FLOWERING SEASON: FRUIT TYPE AND COLOR: LANDSCAPE USES: LIGHT REQUIREMENTS: WATER REQUIREMENTS: SOIL AND FERTILIZER REQUIREMENTS: PRUNING REQUIREMENTS: SPECIAL CULTURAL NOTES: BOTANICAL NAME: COMMON NAME: FAMILY: TYPE: ORIGIN: SIZE: GROWTH RATE: LEAF DESCRIPTION: FLOWER DESCRIPTION: FLOWERING SEASON: FRUIT TYPE AND COLOR: LANDSCAPE USES: LIGHT REQUIREMENTS: WATER REQUIREMENTS: SOIL AND FERTILIZER REQUIREMENTS: PRUNING REQUIREMENTS: SPECIAL CULTURAL NOTES: C. Preserving Plant Samples: It is often difficult or impractical to keep fresh samples of plants on hand while trying to learn their characteristics. Pressing and drying samples of foliage and flowers can be helpful in trying to learn the hundreds of plants used in ornamental horticulture. Following are some guidelines for preserving plant samples: 1. Start with healthy samples in good condition. As far as possible, choose samples that are typical of the available specimens. 2. As many parts of the plant as possible (or practical) should be shown, i.e., include leaves, stems, flowers, and, if possible, roots and fruit. If there is adult and juvenile foliage present, show both. 3. Both sides of the leaves of the plant should be visible when mounted. (If necessary, turn some of the leaves over when drying.) 4. Press and dry the sample thoroughly before mounting. The following method works well: a. Assemble the following materials: 1) 1/4 or 3/8 inch plywood, cut into several 12" by 17" sheets 2) Newspaper 3) Two bungie cords (18" lengths are good for most purposes) 4) Fresh plant samples b. Layer the materials in the following sequence: 1) Plywood, to provide a flat, stiff surface 2) Two sections of newspaper, depending on size of the sample (and thickness of the newspaper section!) to absorb moisture 3) Plant samples, to fit easily on newspaper, and laid out for best viewing effect (If plant is too stiff, wait a day for it to wilt and become less resistant.) 4) Four sections of newspaper 5) More plant samples 6) Repeat the pattern above, inserting a sheet of plywood periodically, (or some thick corrugated cardboard) for stiffness. 7) Finish the stack with a sheet of plywood, and wrap with the bungie cords to apply pressure to the samples. 8) If bungie cords are not available, use bricks or books on top of the stack to apply pressure and keep the samples flat. c. If the plant samples are succulent, moist, or unusually large, change papers daily until they pick up no further moisture. This prevents mold, and improves color retention of the sample. d. Keep the press in a warm, dry place. e. Plants should be ready for mounting within a week or two. 5. Mount the sample to the mounting sheet using clear-drying glue such as Elmer's. Apply the glue to the back of the sample, then press to the mounting sheet. 6. If samples will be handled frequently, as in the case of flash cards for learning plant names, use clear contact paper to cover the pressing. (Never place samples under contact paper unless they are completely dry. They will blacken and rot.) 7. Don't place material from more than one individual plant on a sheet. 8. Be sure to include the following information on the mounting sheet: a. Botanical name, and the family of the plant b. Common name(s) of the plant c. Location the plant was collected d. Any unusual or noteworthy information about the sample; include color, texture, scent, etc. Especially useful is information which tells how the particular sample may differ from other, more typical specimens (i.e., the sample may have been growing in the shade and have extra-long internodes, etc.). e. Name of the collector f. Date the sample was collected __________________________________________________________ ACTIVITY: 1. Have students collect ten samples of ornamental plants identified in class, and press them for mounting according to the procedure described above. This can be an in-class activity, done in groups, or can be done by students, individually, at home. __________________________________________________________ 1/6/91 MH/clh #%&C