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Leaf Collections are done by Biology students in the
spring time. This page is to give collection
information and requirements for those classes, but it is also to give
information to anyone on how to collect and properly prepare leaves for your
own interest. Learning our native
trees is pretty fun for its own sake!
Leaf
Collection instructions and Requirements (Thanks, C.Massengale)
Arkansas is essentially a forest state because
more than half of the state is covered with trees. The climate and
soils of Arkansas
also support a great variety of trees, both conifers and deciduous.
Trees are one of Arkansas'
most important crops. Forests are also valuable in preventing erosion,
in offering parks and recreational areas, and in providing homes for
wildlife. In addition, many trees have been introduced into the state
as ornamentals. Leaf collecting is a good way to learn the
trees native to your area. Collecting leaves will also help you to learn
leaf margins, shapes, and venations and how to use different taxonomic
keys to identify trees.
 Materials
needed:
- leaf press
- black ink pen
- pencil
- small notebook
- scissors
- Elmer's glue
- art paper, poster
board, etc. for mounting
- labels
·
taxonomic keys (Eastern Trees , Peterson Field Guide
or Trees of Arkansas published by the Arkansas Forestry Commission)
Directions for making a leaf press:
1. Cut 15 - 20 pieces of corrugated cardboard 30
cm by 50 cm in size.
2. Cut several sheets of newspaper the same size as the cardboard.
3. Lay 10 or 12 sheets of newspaper between each cardboard layer sandwich
style. These sheets will need to be changed every couple of days as
they absorb moisture from your leaves; therefore, cut extra sheets.
4. Use one, preferably two, stretch belts to bind the press together.
5. Leave the press in an area so that air can circulate & more quickly
dry the leaves.
Getting started with your collection:
1. Study the shapes, margins, venations, tips, bases, etc. in
your Eastern Trees book.
2. Learn to distinguish simple leaves from
compound leaves and conifers from deciduous trees.
3. Learn to distinguish a tree from a shrub.
4. Gather your collecting materials together - press, pencil, scissors, &
small notebook.
6. Always get permission before collecting leaves on someone else's
property.
7. Be sure to collect at least two of each type of leaf so both the
bottom & top side of the leaf can be shown in your collection.
8. Place leaves in your press immediately after collecting them so they do
not start to dry out and wrinkle.
9. Record the name of each leaf, date collected, and place collected
in your notebook as you collect. Also record tree
characteristics such as shape of the crown, color and type of bark, etc.
Collecting:
1. Remember to collect two of every type of leaf!
2. Carefully remove an entire leaf, not a leaflet, from the tree, and place
this in your press between newspaper layers.
3. If leaves are damaged or torn, don't use them because you will not
receive credit.
4. Make sure that none of the leaf parts extend beyond the edge of the
press.
5. You may also collect & press a twig end and seeds and/or fruits from
some trees if they fit in your press.
6. Leave the leaf in the press for 3 - 5 days depending on its thickness and
moisture content. Remember to change the newspaper when needed.
7. Keep the press in an area where air is circulating (in front of a
fan). 8. Don’t
put leaves in collection damp or
put them in the clothes dryer or oven!
Steady low dry heat is the only way to deal with them, which usually
involves not waiting till the last
possible moment, people!
Labeling and identifying:
1. Obtain printed labels from your teacher.
2. Use only black ink to write labels, & do not mark out or white out
mistakes on the labels; rewrite them.
3. Use taxonomic keys to identify each leaf, and include both the scientific
& common name of the tree on the label.
4. Determine the shape, margin, tip, base, and venation of your leaf and
whether it is a simple or compound leaf; record this on your label.
5. Use your key to give a description of the tree, not the leaf.
6. Research uses for the tree, its fruit, etc. and record on your label.
7. Tell if the leaf is deciduous or coniferous.
Mounting leaves:
1. Use pieces of cut poster board or art paper to mount your
leaves. Make sure all sheets are uniform in size! (The size of your
sheets will be determined by your largest leaf.)
2. Use Elmer's glue to adhere two leaves to each page --- one showing the
upper surface of the leaf and the other showing the underside of the leaf.
3. Each page should have only one type of leaf on it.
4. Arrange the leaves so they do not overlap each other and so there is room
to glue the label in the lower right hand corner. The leaves should
look nice on the page.
5. On compound leaves, mount the topside of the complete leaf and then mount
the underside of a single leaflet. May mount another leaflet or twist a
single leaflet upside down and press it neatly in that position.
6. Use a small amount of Elmer's glue to adhere the completed label in
the lower right hand corner of the page.
7. LET THE PAGES DRY COMPLETELY BEFORE ASSEMBLING THEM TOGETHER IN
YOUR COLLECTION OR THE PAGES WILL STICK TOGETHER!!!!!
8. Once the pages are dry, lay them in the correct order (see your list of
required leaves), and then number the pages in the lower right corner with
black ink.
9. Make a stiff front and back cover for your collection from poster board,
cardboard, wood, etc. Include the following items on your cover:
·
title (Tree Identification Through Leaves)
·
your complete name
·
date collection turned into teacher
·
class period
·
subject
·
teacher's name
10.
Use ribbon, string, etc. to bind the pages together or assemble the
collection in a scrapbook. DO NOT COVER THE LEAVES WITH PLASTIC!!!
Required
leaves:
1. Only native trees may be used (no aliens/ornamentals). Refer
to your Eastern Trees book. Don’t
collect ornamentals like,“Chinese maple,” “Bradford Pear,” “Thornless Locust,”
or bushes, like crape myrtle, Forsythia, and burning bush.
2. Leaves must be in perfect condition without damage or tears.
3. No more than 7 oaks are allowed in the collection.
4. No fruit trees such as apple, pear, orange, peach, plums,
crabapples, etc. are allowed. 5.
Students are to collect their own leaves, not collect for one another or
attempt to use “old” ones from other people.
You may help each other collect on our TreeWalk times only! Do not “raid” nurseries or tree
parks! This is rude/illegal, and not
very helpful to you (see notes on fruit trees and ornamentals above).
6. Place the following leaves in your collection first and in this order:
·
sweet
gum
·
American
sycamore
·
pine
(any type)
·
flowering
dogwood
·
redbud
·
ash
(any type)
·
elm
(any type)
·
eastern
red cedar
·
red
maple
·
silver
maple
·
hickory
(any type)
·
white
oak
·
pin
oak
·
red
oak
·
chokecherry
·
mulberry (any type)
·
hackberry (any type)
·
black walnut
·
sassafras
·
tulip tree
7. The remaining leaves that you
include must be trees native/common to the Eastern U.S.!
PreAP Biology must
collect 40 leaves, including 20 required.
Leaves are worth 3 points each (120 Total). Points
deducted for missing or misidentified leaves (-3 each), damaged or improperly
displayed leaves (-2 each), or incomplete labels (-1 to 3). Points will also be deducted for failure
to follow directions above on order, cover, neatness. Due date: May 1st, Tuesday.
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Junior High