Plant press

A plant press is a set of equipment used by botanists to flatten and dry field samples so that they can be easily stored.

A modern plant press consists of two strong outer boards with straps that can be tightened around them to exert pressure.

Further layers of absorbent paper and corrugated cardboard are usually added to help to dry the samples as quickly as possible, which prevents decay and improves colour retention.

Luca Ghini (1490—1556) Italian physician and botanist, created the first recorded herbarium, and is considered the first person to have used drying under pressure to prepare a plant collection.

[1] William Withering English botanist, geologist, chemist and physician wrote popular books on British botany, and by describing the screw-down plant press (and the vasculum) he brought it to the attention of amateur naturalists in Britain around 1771.