How to Prepare Plant Specimen Materials: Gather the plants, old newspapers or kozo paper, a brush or cheesecloth, specimen presses or two pieces of wood slightly larger than the mount paper and a book, absorbent paper or cotton wadding, mount paper, labels, glue, tape or a needle and thread, a brush, blades, scissors, and cellophane. Preparation Method: Select the most complete organs of the same plant species for the specimen. Wipe away any dirt on the specimen with a brush or cheesecloth to keep it clean and attractive. Place the organized specimen between dry old newspapers or kozo paper, using the specimen press, or between two pieces of wood, secured with books or bricks on top. While pressing, ensure the specimen is flat, and the leaves and flowers are in a natural position, avoiding any overlap. If the specimen is too long or large, or the branches and leaves are too dense, trim or bend it appropriately. If there are hard thorns, flatten them first. Some plant leaves have distinct differences between their upper and lower surfaces; flip a portion of the leaves. The pressing area should be well-ventilated and sunny; otherwise, the specimen may not dry properly, and it could curl, turn black, and lose its original green color. Place absorbent paper or cotton wadding on top of the flowers. Replace wet paper with dry paper daily; the wet paper can be reused after drying or air-drying.