In order to Identify a plant correctly one must know several key details about the plant.

Describe its general structure. Is it a
grass
sedge
rush
fern
flower
vine
shrub
tree?


Where is the plant located?
Where do you live?


In what type of habitat, if known?
Forest
Desert
Aquatic
Urban
Suburban
your backyard?


The color of its flower, if it has any flowers?


Describe a leaf, what is the shape of the leaf?
Are the leaves opposite each other or do they alternate along the stalk?


What type of root system does it have, If Known?


Add anything else you can think of.

A picture is very helpful, but make sure it is:
In focus Has the proper exposure Shows details of the leaves, flowers, Anything unusual about the plant.

Just a few of the sites I use:

Welcome to the PLANTS Database | USDA PLANTS (http://plants.usda.gov/)

Flickr: The IDENTIFYING AUSTRALIAN RAINFOREST PLANTS,TREES and FUNGI Pool (http://www.flickr.com/groups/australianrainforestplants/pool/)

Missouri flora web page (http://www.missouriplants.com/index.html)

Invasive Plants dot net (http://www.invasiveplants.net/)

Invasive Species dot org: Information, Images, Videos, Distribution Maps (http://www.invasive.org/)

Gardening Resources, Cornell University (http://www.gardening.cornell.edu/index.html)

Rogers Mushrooms | Mushroom Pictures & Mushroom Reference (http://www.rogersmushrooms.com/)

Green Pages : A Virtual Garden Shed on Botany and Horticulture [Jardin botanique de Montréal] (http://www2.ville.montreal.qc.ca/jardin/en/biblio/carnet.htm)

About Hosta (http://www.americanhostasociety.org/AboutHosta.html)

Dave's Garden (http://davesgarden.com/)

ISU Forestry Tree Identification (http://www.extension.iastate.edu/Pages/tree/)

Happy Hunting!

KUXJ

Maybe you should make that a sticky? Could come in useful for a lot of people:)

Hi! Just Dahlia

My thought exactly...

I've noticed in the last few days there has been an increase in members asking for plant identification, but there are no guidelines to help in identifying their plant. I'll write to cb...

K

Wonderful wonderful.. sometimes I find soil type can be helpful in identifying a plant type too as some only grow in certain types of soil

I wanted to start this thread so that Members, and guests would have a central depository to learn, and ask their questions 'bout that "mysterious plant over there in the corner of their property".

K

I do think it will help.. I know there have been times when I've wondered about plants... like that 'shroom.. you showed a pic of.. I found one almost idenitcle to it at home here.. have the pic on my phone if you want me to post it to see how close they are to each other

Here you go...

More links to help in your search. If you run into difficulty don't hesitate to post a question here.

k


Not only plants, but also wildlife, and birds:
Learn to Identify Plants (http://www.mountainnature.com/plants/LearnToID.htm)

Learning to Identify Plants by Families:
Learning to Identify Plants by Families. An article by Thomas J. Elpel, author of Botany in a Day. (http://www.wildflowers-and-weeds.com/Plant_Families/Patterns_in_Plants.htm)

Plant anatomy - Scroll down for pixs :
Plant Anatomy and What Part Are You Eating (http://hort201.tamu.edu/YouthAdventureProgram/PlantAnatomy/Anatomy.htm)

Plants Poisonous to Livestock and other Animals:
Cornell University Department of Animal Science (http://www.ansci.cornell.edu/plants/)

USDA - The National Agricultural Library (NAL) Don't forget to check out their Site Map:
Identify Plants : National Agricultural Library (http://riley.nal.usda.gov/nal_display/index.php?info_center=8&tax_level=1&tax_subject=7&want_id=135&topic_id=0&placement_default=0)

Wild Edibles of Missouri:
MDC Library (http://mdc4.mdc.mo.gov/applications/MDCLibrary/MDCLibrary2.aspx?NodeID=1996)

Non-native marine species in UK waters (plant and animal). There is an 8.5mb PDF guide you can download:
Marine Aliens (http://www.marlin.ac.uk/marine_aliens/)

Ehow – Tree quick guide:
Trees | eHow.com (http://www.ehow.com/trees/)

Important Features of Flowering Plants:
Botany online: Features of Flowering Plants (http://www.biologie.uni-hamburg.de/b-online/e02/02.htm)

Connecticut Botanical Society Plant Identification Guides:
Plant Identification Guides (http://www.ct-botanical-society.org/docs/index.html)

University of Connecticut Plant Database to find trees, shrubs and vines:
University of Connecticut: Plant Database Search (http://www.hort.uconn.edu/fmi/xsl/search.xsl)

Botanic Gardens Conservation International:
Links: Images of Plants (http://www.bgci.org/resources/plantimages_links/)