vasculum

A vasculum is a portable container used by botanists and plant collectors to transport and temporarily store freshly collected plant specimens during fieldwork. The word derives from Latin vasculum, meaning “little vessel.”

Historically, vascula were common tools in botany and natural history, especially in the 18th and 19th centuries. They came in various forms, usually as a rectangular box made of wood or metal, sometimes covered in leather. The interior was often lined with absorbent material such as felt or cork, and many designs included a shallow tray or compartment for blotting papers, damp sponges, or other moisture-regulating aids to keep specimens pliable during transport. Some models featured a vented lid or perforations to allow air circulation and reduce mold risk.

Use and function involve placing collected plant material between sheets of paper or in a small plant press inside the vasculum, with care taken to maintain humidity without wetting the specimens. The vasculum protects delicate leaves, flowers, and fruits from crushing while en route to a field station, herbarium, or press. In practice, specimens would then be transferred to a plant press or drying area for pressing and preservation.

In modern times, the vasculum is largely a historical or decorative item, though similar portable containers are still used in some field work for brief transport before formal pressing. It remains a recognizable symbol of traditional botanical field methods.

See also: plant press, herbarium, field notebook.