On Thursday, July 7, 2022, the Botany Study Group at UIN Sunan Kalijaga organized a training session titled “Plant Systematics Data Analysis Training and Mini Press Flower Workshop.” The event featured speakers Dr. Uni Baroroh H, M.Sc., and Dr. Shilfiana Rahayu, M.Sc. It commenced at 9:00 AM in room FST 304 at UIN Sunan Kalijaga.

The session began with opening remarks by the MC, followed by a welcome address from the Secretary of the Biology program, Dr. Siti Aisah, S.Si., M.Si. Next, Dr. Shilfiana Rahayu presented on the topic of press flowers. She explained that this activity is straightforward and can be done independently at home using readily available materials. The necessary tools and supplies include flowers, a flower press, old newspapers or tissue paper, and tissues. The principle behind pressing flowers involves placing a flower on tissue paper and covering it with another layer of tissue, followed by a newspaper or additional tissue layers within the flower press. The press doesn’t have to be made of wood; even a book can serve as a press. After placing the flower on the tissue, it can be slipped between the pages of a book. The pressed flowers and leaves can then be used for decorative purposes, such as creating photo frames or bracelets, which can have economic benefits. During the workshop, participants practiced pressing flowers directly using hydrangeas, chrysanthemums, and baby’s breath. An essential tip for successful flower pressing is to replace the tissue paper with fresh sheets daily to prevent decay and ensure usability.

The session continued with a training segment on plant systematics data analysis, presented by Dr. Uni Baroroh H, M.Sc. She highlighted that plant systematics analysis is now more accessible due to available software, such as MVSP, which assists in the process. Participants learned how to group plants taxonomically using cluster analysis. The commonly used method for clustering is UPGMA (Unweighted Pair Group Method with Arithmetic Mean), which creates dendrograms based on average linkage analysis. The first step in analysis involves scoring the plant characteristics. Next, the scoring table is transferred to MS Excel and then imported into MVSP. Participants can then determine the level of similarity or dissimilarity among clustered plants. The session also included interactive discussions and Q&A sessions.