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DIY Dry Leaf Herbarium: Nature’s Plant Library
Capture the diversity of plants around you—one leaf at a time! This classic activity lets you preserve leaves as herbarium specimens for identification, study, and appreciation of plant forms.
A herbarium is a library of dried plants that scientists and nature lovers use to understand biodiversity, ecosystems, and environmental change. Making your own dry herbarium is a creative and scientific way to connect with nature.
What You’ll Need:
Fresh, clean leaves (non-wet, non-curled)
Old newspapers or blotting paper (for pressing)
Heavy books or a plant press
A4/A3 chart paper or drawing book
Glue or double-sided tape
Pen or marker for labeling
Optional: laminated tags, thread or washi tape for decorative binding
How to Make It:
Collect Thoughtfully: Choose healthy, undamaged leaves of different shapes, sizes, and textures. Try to include the petiole (leaf stem).
Press the Leaves: bPlace each leaf between newspaper sheets.
Stack under heavy books or use a plant press.
Leave for 5–7 days until fully dry and flat.
Mount the Specimens: Carefully glue or tape the dried leaf onto chart paper. Don’t over-glue—just a dab is enough on the petiole or midrib.
Label Each One: Write next to or below the leaf:
Common name
Scientific name (if known)
Date and place of collection
Type of leaf (simple/compound, margin type, venation, etc.)
Bind or Store: Collect pages in a folder or spiral bind them as a DIY herbarium book. You can add decorative covers or title pages!
Care & Observation:
Keep your herbarium in a dry place to avoid fungus.
Add camphor or silica gel pouches for long-term preservation.
Observe:
Different venation patterns (parallel, reticulate)
Margin types (serrated, lobed, smooth)
Leaf arrangements and symmetry
What You’ll Learn:
Making a herbarium builds plant identification skills and appreciation for local flora. It introduces botanical terms, taxonomy basics, and the diversity of leaf forms and functions. It also encourages mindful observation of nature—how plants differ in structure depending on habitat, purpose, and season.
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