Mosses, for instance, only grow on cool, moist surfaces, whereas woody shrubs tend to spring up in places where precipitation is scarce. Your location may also help point to the identity of larger clusters of trees making up wooded areas. You’re more likely to find coniferous “evergreens” in cold, temperate climates, while the majority of trees in warm, humid regions are deciduous. [2] X Research source
As a general rule, you should always start by examining the plant’s stem and branching pattern, then enlarge your focus to the leaves, flowers, shoots, and other outlying structures. Some of the broadest plant classifications include woody plants, herbaceous plants, aquatic plants, wildflowers, grasses, and lichens.
Many plants that fall within the same basic classification are distinguishable only by their flowers and fruit. To identify plants, look at their flowers. Some field guides separate species by flower color. But this approach may not be suitable for plants that have flowers that vary in color or are not flowering when you find them. In such a situation, you can look at other features. See whether the plant is short, tall, erect, spreading, or climbing. Also, see the shape and arrangement of flowers and leaves.
A ruler or tape measure can also come in handy for comparing the size of like species. Get in the habit of carrying a few pieces of equipment around with you in your car or book bag so you’ll be ready at any time.
Consider investing in a quality standalone camera. Top-of-the-line models tend to boast more powerful photographic capabilities, and may also come with bonus accessories like interchangeable lenses, a high-capacity memory card, and a strap for portability. If all else fails, you can show your pictures to a wildlife expert or upload them to a plant ID app to get some outside assistance.
Photos can be useful for reference, but they won’t get you very far when you’re looking up mystery plants based on a rough verbal description.
Plant identification handbooks are most often broken up by state or territory, making them even more accessible for amateur enthusiasts. A printed guide can provide answers instantly when you’re in the field, or serve as a reliable reference when you need to look something up at home.
In the Flowerchecker app there are real botanists who will identify your plant. Some apps like Plantifier and Leafsnap even include realtime support with qualified plant experts analyzing photos as they’re submitted. [8] X Research source Due to the purely visual nature of their identification process, these apps aren’t guaranteed to be accurate in all cases. If you do not own a smartphone, you can use service www. plant. id on the computer.
Assuming you don’t have anyone to turn to in your area, you can try taking your questions online to a message board for plant lovers or use FlowerChecker app where the botanists identify your plant.
Be as brief yet specific as possible. A search containing the terms “red,” “serrated,” “leaves,” and “veins” is more likely to uncover the correct species than one that reads “big red bush. ” You may also have some luck scrolling through image archiving websites like Flickr.
To maximize your chances of getting a match, select the clearest, highest-resolution shot you have. Ideally, the plant should be the focal point of the picture, with little or no extraneous details in the background that might throw off the identifying algorithm. If you get a result that’s close but not exact, highlight the picture and click the “search by image” option to pull up others like it. [12] X Research source
Before you can rattle off the names of plants growing halfway around the world, you should make an effort to familiarize yourself with those that are found where you live. It’s also a good idea to brush up on the nicknames of common local plants, as you’re more likely to encounter these than their more technical Latin names. [13] X Research source
Floral factoids are also frequently found on placards along hiking trails and at scenic landmarks.
You may be able to audit classes like introductory botany, horticulture, and principles of gardening if your time or money is limited. Some schools offer specialized self-study courses online for as little as $50-100 per unit. Distance learning is perfect for those who are interested in progressing at their own leisure. [16] X Research source
