Leaf and Plant Collection

Leaf and Flower Collection

Journal

Hello Coast Kids! Learn how to build your plant press and make a plant collection here:

Leaf Key Look closely at the leaves, flowers, stems, bark, and the shape of a plant to find out what plant it is. Here are links to field guides for leaves and needles found in Maryland. For trees with leaves: https://dnr.maryland.gov/wildlife/Documents/TreeGuide_Common-Broadleaf.pdf For trees with needles: https://dnr.maryland.gov/wildlife/Documents/Basic_conifer_key.pdf Also, check out the plant app section (cell phone ikon). Plant apps make it very easy to identify plants!

Why do leaves change color in the fall?

Watch out for poisonous plants! Poison Ivy is a very common plant, Poison Sumac and Poisin Oak are pretty rare in our area.

Check out this fun science experiment: Find the Hidden Colors of Leaves: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/bring-science-home-leaf-colors/

Make something beautiful from leaves!

Herbarium An herbarium (plural: herbaria) is a collection of preserved plant specimens used for scientific research. It is similar to a library filled with preserved plants. Scientists label the plants with their scientific name and note the collection date, location, and collectors name. Herbaria are increasingly important to compare how plant distributions are changing due to climate or habitat changes. The oldest herbarium in existence is believed to be the collections of Gherardo Cibo in Bologna, Italy, dating from around 1532. There are now around 3,000 herbaria in over 165 countries with an estimated 350 million specimen.

Useful Apps Here are two apps that make it really easy to identify plants. Just take a picture of the plant and the app tells you what it is. The free versions let you identify only a limited number of plants per day or use the app only for a limited time though. PictureThis Plant Identification PlantSnap Plant Identifier

Your Plant Journal Click here for the Coast Kids Prothonotary Warbler Trail Plant Guide. You can add the pressed leaves to each page. To find the plants featured in the Coast Kids plant journal, please take a walk on the Prothonotary Warbler Trail at the Nature Conservancy's Nassawango Creek Preserve. The address is 4927 Creek Rd in Snow Hill, MD. Click here for the trail map and follow the red trail. The trail leads you through gorgeous old growth forest with large bald cypress, oak and tulip poplar trees. The Nassawango Creek Preserve is also known for its many rare plants such as 14 species of orchids, lots of birds, especially warblers, and the most beautiful part of the Nassawango Creek. Please collect mostly leaves that have already fallen off the plants or are ready to fall! Of course, this is just an example of how your plant journal could look like. Please be creative! You can add drawings, bark rubbings, photos, information about the location, or personal memories to your journal! Have fun!!!