Microwave

[Ted Oliver]

Taxacomers

Some time ago I was contemplating the use of a microwave oven as a
means of phytosanitising plant specimens in an herbarium but was told
by a physicist friend that microwaves are too long for our purposes.
If I remember correctly he said anything below about 5mm would not be
affected.  Only small objects in physical content with eachother
(rice or peas) get heated.  This was borne out by some ants which got
into my microwave oven at home -- they were not affected by a dose of
1 minute and calmly walked out of the oven!

Cheers
Ted Oliver
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E.G.H. (Ted) OLIVER  (Mr)
Compton Herbarium (NBG)
National Botanical Institute, Kirstenbosch
CAPE TOWN
olivert at nbict.nbi.ac.za   fax: +27 21 761 4151
http://www.nbi.ac.za/systematics.htm