Question

The label of a herbarium sheet does not carry information on
A. Local names
B. Height of the plant
C. Date of collection
D. Name of collector

Answer 1

Hint: Herbaria records the flora of the world and offers a continuous and permanent record of the diversity of botany. As the rate of habitat loss increases and climate change precipitates rapid changes in the ranges of species and all aspects of their ecology, this role is more and more important.

Complete Answer:
The Herbarium is an important taxonomical aid which comprises a collection of preserved plants. These are used for research and are stored systematically, organised and catalogued. The herbarium is a collection of plant specimens which are collected and act as a primary data source of dried and labelled plants. The herbarium sheet has a fixed dimension of 42 x 29 cm and is labelled with the scientific names (in Latin), collector's name, place and date of collection. It has no information about plant height.

So, the correct option is 'Height of the plant'.

Additional information:
The Herbarium Types:
1. National (or Regional) Herbaria- These herbaria are geographically surrounded by neighbouring countries, or phyto geographically close.
2. Local Herbaria- These are present in a small region like a state, county, district within a country. For e.g. the herbarium of Sabah Forest Research Centre, Sandakan, Sabah, Malaysia (SAN Herbarium).
3. Special Herbaria- These are usually very small and serve a particular purpose which depends on their role.

Note: Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Indian Botanical Garden is the largest herbarium in India which is located in Kolkata. The metallic mercury vapours evaporate from the herbarium specimen which is because of mercuric chloride used in the preservation of specimens that is toxic.