NAT 101 EXAM QUESTIONS WITH
VERIFIED ANSWERS
What is the best time to collect herbs?
Herbs should be collected in dry weather, after the dew has dried, and before the sun
has risen high in the sky;
Herbs should be collected right after the rain when moisture still remains on the plant;
Herbs should be collected early in the morning before the dew has dried; OR
Herbs should be collected on a humid day late at night. - ANSWER #1; as a rule, herbs
should be collected in dry weather, after the dew has dried, and before the sun has
risen high in the sky.
Which statement about herb drying is correct?
The highest-quality dried herbs are obtained by drying under the direct sunlight coupled
with poor air circulation;
Plants containing volatile oils must be dried at temperatures exceeding 104°F;
Dry herbs directly in the sun if possible; OR
Generally, leaves, herbs, and flowers can be dried between 68°F and 104°F. - ANSWER
#4; the highest-quality dried herbs are obtained by natural drying in the shade, coupled
with good air circulation. Plants containing volatile oils must be dried at temperatures
not exceeding 104°F. The oils vaporize at higher temperatures, causing a loss of
medicinal quality. Generally, leaves, herbs, and flowers can be dried between 68°F and
104°F. Generally, barks and roots can be dried between 86°F and 149°F. Never dry
herbs directly in the sun. Excessive heat destroys volatile oils and removes much of the
plant's color.
The duration of drying depends on:
The plant parts being dried;
Whether the plant parts have high or low moisture content;
The drying temperature; OR
All of the above. - ANSWER all of the above
Which of the following statements explains the correct process for gathering herbs?
,Completely strip leaves, berries, and flowers from the plant;
Collect the parts even if you are unsure you correctly identified the plant;
Harvest the parts you need and damage the rest of the plant; OR
Pick the parts you need gently without disturbing the plant. - ANSWER #4; when
collecting, be absolutely sure you have identified the plant correctly and know which
part of the plant to collect. Never completely strip a plant of leaves, berries, or whatever
you are gathering. Harvest only what you need, and use scissors so you do not damage
the rest of the plant. Each herb has its own characteristics: Handle each accordingly.
Some herbs are delicate and fine, while others are sturdy and more resilient. As you are
picking leaves, berries, and flowers, do so gently so as not to disrupt or disturb the plant
unnecessarily.
An exception to the rule of "gentle" wildcrafting can be made when the plants being
collected are classified as _____________.
noxious weeds;
endangered;
poisonous; OR
introduced - ANSWER noxious weeds
Plants that live for more than two years are called a/an __________.
annual;
biennial;
multiannual; OR
perennial - ANSWER Perennial plants live for more than two years.
Slow drying is used if:
Enzyme action is encouraged;
Enzyme action is undesirable;
The plant contains volatile oils; OR
The plant contains toxic constituents. - ANSWER #1; slow drying is only used if enzyme
action is to be encouraged.
A plant that has a long natural history in a particular ecosystem is called ____________.
cultivated;
introduced;
,naturalized; OR
native - ANSWER native; a native plant has a long natural history in a particular
ecosystem; presumably its presence is due to natural ecological and evolutionary
forces as opposed to human intervention.
Which statement correctly explains the purpose of drying herbs?
Herbs are dried to remove toxic constituents;
Herbs are dried to improve taste;
Herbs are dried to prevent spoilage; OR
Herbs are dried to enhance nutritional value. - ANSWER #3; the purpose of drying
botanicals is to remove all the water and moisture from the plants; this prevents
spoilage.
Which of the following is most important to remember when you are collecting bark from
a live tree?
Bark should be collected in winter after all the leaves have dropped;
Take bark from only one side of the tree, preferably the sunny side;
Collect bark on a rainy day to prevent over drying; OR
Leave lichen on bark as it improves the drying process. - ANSWER #2; if harvesting from
a live tree, take care not to damage the plant. Either remove a few side branches or take
bark from only one side of the main trunk of the tree or shrub, preferably the sunny side.
Generally, it is best to collect bark after damp or rainy weather, as it can then be
separated from the wood without excessive damage to the tree. If removing branches,
select a couple of young branches and remove with a pruning saw. Cover the wound on
the tree with pruning paste or paint. Trim off the leaders and twigs from the branches.
Scrape off any lichen or rough pieces, and remove the bark in strips. After a storm is a
great time to harvest bark as fallen trees or branches are a wonderful source of
material. Generally, it is best to collect bark after damp or rainy weather, as it can then
be separated from the wood without excessive damage to the tree. Cover the wound on
the tree with pruning paste or paint. Trim off the leaders and twigs from the branches.
Generally collect bark in spring when the trees and shrubs begin to bud and the sap is
rising.
When collecting medicinal herbs, it is important to __________.
Identify the part of the plant that contains the highest amount of the active constituent;
Be absolutely certain that you have correctly identified the botanical;
Collect the herb at the correct phase of its cycle; OR
, All of the above - ANSWER all of the above
True or False: Flowers gathered for medicinal purposes can be dried in very hot ovens. -
ANSWER false; selecting the optimal drying temperature is vital to the quality of the
active constituents in the dried herb. The active constituents and nature of the
particular herb largely govern the drying temperature. At this point in your training, use
the following general guides and examples: The highest-quality dried herbs are obtained
by natural drying in the shade, coupled with good air circulation. If the flowers contain
volatile oils, such as lavender L. angustifolia it must be dried at temperatures not
exceeding 104°F. The oils vaporize at higher temperatures, causing a loss of medicinal
quality. Generally, leaves, herbs, and flowers can be dried between 68°F and 104°F.
Barks and roots can be dried at a higher temperature between 86°F and 149°F. Never
dry herbs directly in the sun. Excessive heat destroys volatile oils and removes much
the plant's color.
Perennial plants live for more than _______ years.
2;
3;
4; OR
5 - ANSWER Perennial plants live for more than two years. If the plant retains its leaves
during the winter, it is known as an evergreen. If the leaves fall in winter, it is deciduous.
Perennials can be grown from root division, rooted slips, cuttings, layering, or seeds.
However, germinating perennial seeds can be a tricky task and often divisions or
cuttings are more reliable. Propagating by divisions or cuttings creates a "clone" of the
original plant. Propagating from seeds does not, so you get more diversity, which can be
valuable in medicinal herbs.
Which of the following wildcrafting rules does not apply when collecting a plant
categorized as noxious by the USDA?
Harvest more than you need;
Replant some root and scatter some seeds;
Remove all the seeds or flowers; OR
Don't leave any plant for regeneration. - ANSWER #2; replanting the root and scattering
the seeds is not required as systematically removing populations of noxious species, is
in fact doing a tremendous service to the health of your local ecosystem! Make sure you
take the time to identify noxious plants in your area by finding the website for your State
Department of Agriculture. Visit the National Association of State Departments of
Agriculture at http://www.nasda.org/ and click on "STATES" for a map.
When collecting roots be sure to gather them in the fall when the _____ temperature
drops.
VERIFIED ANSWERS
What is the best time to collect herbs?
Herbs should be collected in dry weather, after the dew has dried, and before the sun
has risen high in the sky;
Herbs should be collected right after the rain when moisture still remains on the plant;
Herbs should be collected early in the morning before the dew has dried; OR
Herbs should be collected on a humid day late at night. - ANSWER #1; as a rule, herbs
should be collected in dry weather, after the dew has dried, and before the sun has
risen high in the sky.
Which statement about herb drying is correct?
The highest-quality dried herbs are obtained by drying under the direct sunlight coupled
with poor air circulation;
Plants containing volatile oils must be dried at temperatures exceeding 104°F;
Dry herbs directly in the sun if possible; OR
Generally, leaves, herbs, and flowers can be dried between 68°F and 104°F. - ANSWER
#4; the highest-quality dried herbs are obtained by natural drying in the shade, coupled
with good air circulation. Plants containing volatile oils must be dried at temperatures
not exceeding 104°F. The oils vaporize at higher temperatures, causing a loss of
medicinal quality. Generally, leaves, herbs, and flowers can be dried between 68°F and
104°F. Generally, barks and roots can be dried between 86°F and 149°F. Never dry
herbs directly in the sun. Excessive heat destroys volatile oils and removes much of the
plant's color.
The duration of drying depends on:
The plant parts being dried;
Whether the plant parts have high or low moisture content;
The drying temperature; OR
All of the above. - ANSWER all of the above
Which of the following statements explains the correct process for gathering herbs?
,Completely strip leaves, berries, and flowers from the plant;
Collect the parts even if you are unsure you correctly identified the plant;
Harvest the parts you need and damage the rest of the plant; OR
Pick the parts you need gently without disturbing the plant. - ANSWER #4; when
collecting, be absolutely sure you have identified the plant correctly and know which
part of the plant to collect. Never completely strip a plant of leaves, berries, or whatever
you are gathering. Harvest only what you need, and use scissors so you do not damage
the rest of the plant. Each herb has its own characteristics: Handle each accordingly.
Some herbs are delicate and fine, while others are sturdy and more resilient. As you are
picking leaves, berries, and flowers, do so gently so as not to disrupt or disturb the plant
unnecessarily.
An exception to the rule of "gentle" wildcrafting can be made when the plants being
collected are classified as _____________.
noxious weeds;
endangered;
poisonous; OR
introduced - ANSWER noxious weeds
Plants that live for more than two years are called a/an __________.
annual;
biennial;
multiannual; OR
perennial - ANSWER Perennial plants live for more than two years.
Slow drying is used if:
Enzyme action is encouraged;
Enzyme action is undesirable;
The plant contains volatile oils; OR
The plant contains toxic constituents. - ANSWER #1; slow drying is only used if enzyme
action is to be encouraged.
A plant that has a long natural history in a particular ecosystem is called ____________.
cultivated;
introduced;
,naturalized; OR
native - ANSWER native; a native plant has a long natural history in a particular
ecosystem; presumably its presence is due to natural ecological and evolutionary
forces as opposed to human intervention.
Which statement correctly explains the purpose of drying herbs?
Herbs are dried to remove toxic constituents;
Herbs are dried to improve taste;
Herbs are dried to prevent spoilage; OR
Herbs are dried to enhance nutritional value. - ANSWER #3; the purpose of drying
botanicals is to remove all the water and moisture from the plants; this prevents
spoilage.
Which of the following is most important to remember when you are collecting bark from
a live tree?
Bark should be collected in winter after all the leaves have dropped;
Take bark from only one side of the tree, preferably the sunny side;
Collect bark on a rainy day to prevent over drying; OR
Leave lichen on bark as it improves the drying process. - ANSWER #2; if harvesting from
a live tree, take care not to damage the plant. Either remove a few side branches or take
bark from only one side of the main trunk of the tree or shrub, preferably the sunny side.
Generally, it is best to collect bark after damp or rainy weather, as it can then be
separated from the wood without excessive damage to the tree. If removing branches,
select a couple of young branches and remove with a pruning saw. Cover the wound on
the tree with pruning paste or paint. Trim off the leaders and twigs from the branches.
Scrape off any lichen or rough pieces, and remove the bark in strips. After a storm is a
great time to harvest bark as fallen trees or branches are a wonderful source of
material. Generally, it is best to collect bark after damp or rainy weather, as it can then
be separated from the wood without excessive damage to the tree. Cover the wound on
the tree with pruning paste or paint. Trim off the leaders and twigs from the branches.
Generally collect bark in spring when the trees and shrubs begin to bud and the sap is
rising.
When collecting medicinal herbs, it is important to __________.
Identify the part of the plant that contains the highest amount of the active constituent;
Be absolutely certain that you have correctly identified the botanical;
Collect the herb at the correct phase of its cycle; OR
, All of the above - ANSWER all of the above
True or False: Flowers gathered for medicinal purposes can be dried in very hot ovens. -
ANSWER false; selecting the optimal drying temperature is vital to the quality of the
active constituents in the dried herb. The active constituents and nature of the
particular herb largely govern the drying temperature. At this point in your training, use
the following general guides and examples: The highest-quality dried herbs are obtained
by natural drying in the shade, coupled with good air circulation. If the flowers contain
volatile oils, such as lavender L. angustifolia it must be dried at temperatures not
exceeding 104°F. The oils vaporize at higher temperatures, causing a loss of medicinal
quality. Generally, leaves, herbs, and flowers can be dried between 68°F and 104°F.
Barks and roots can be dried at a higher temperature between 86°F and 149°F. Never
dry herbs directly in the sun. Excessive heat destroys volatile oils and removes much
the plant's color.
Perennial plants live for more than _______ years.
2;
3;
4; OR
5 - ANSWER Perennial plants live for more than two years. If the plant retains its leaves
during the winter, it is known as an evergreen. If the leaves fall in winter, it is deciduous.
Perennials can be grown from root division, rooted slips, cuttings, layering, or seeds.
However, germinating perennial seeds can be a tricky task and often divisions or
cuttings are more reliable. Propagating by divisions or cuttings creates a "clone" of the
original plant. Propagating from seeds does not, so you get more diversity, which can be
valuable in medicinal herbs.
Which of the following wildcrafting rules does not apply when collecting a plant
categorized as noxious by the USDA?
Harvest more than you need;
Replant some root and scatter some seeds;
Remove all the seeds or flowers; OR
Don't leave any plant for regeneration. - ANSWER #2; replanting the root and scattering
the seeds is not required as systematically removing populations of noxious species, is
in fact doing a tremendous service to the health of your local ecosystem! Make sure you
take the time to identify noxious plants in your area by finding the website for your State
Department of Agriculture. Visit the National Association of State Departments of
Agriculture at http://www.nasda.org/ and click on "STATES" for a map.
When collecting roots be sure to gather them in the fall when the _____ temperature
drops.
