We collect pickled samples as well but I would like to know the methods people use to make nice pressed specimens that don't sick to the paper too badly and that show morphological features to their best and at their most attractive
After collecting the aquatic plants, wash it gently with water and put them on the mesh to remove the water droplets lying on the surface. Then put the plants on the blotting sheets or waste but clean old papers that can soak water. When there is no water droplets/ moisture on the plant surface, place the plant specimen between the folds of blotting sheets and put some weight on them for pressing. This will press the specimen and release the water present in the plant. Keep on shifting the blotting sheets regularly to prevent the growth of any micro-organism on the pressed material. Depending upon the room temperature, plant specimen will be dried and pressed. Collect the dried specimen and paste it on the sheet meant for this purpose and write the details of the specimen.
We simply cut the plants (if needed), gliss a conventional printing paper sheet from below to arrange the leaves under water, then take the paper carefully out without displacing the plants, let them dry a little in the air and then put it between blotting papers in the plant press. Later the text is paced on the paper.
See attached picture and the description by Madeleine - the sheet is just being carefully pulled of the water.
Please see:
http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/plants/plantid/press.html
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