Tree species identification in the tropics

Abstract

There are some requirements and tips for the identification of tree species in tropical forests. For example check the available floristic information as books, thesis, inventories, etc. and count with a local expert to join you in the field. Collect the best specimen, take notes and photographs of each part of the plant, better if you found reproductive material (flowers and fruits). Upon completion of the fieldwork, it’s necessary to press and mount all samples collected. The presses must remain in the driest place possible. Each herbarium has clear instructions on how to dry and set up samples. To start the identification process, is recommended to have a stereo microscope and the help of literature and the herbarium collection. The importance of a good plant identification remains in the quality of information for the forest inventories. In carbon inventories, species play an important role for their data on wood density, carbon content, etc. This is why it is an essential priority that species recorded in forest inventories are properly identified.