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
Flickr: The IDENTIFYING AUSTRALIAN RAINFOREST PLANTS,TREES and FUNGI Pool
Missouri flora web page
Invasive Plants dot net
Invasive Species dot org: Information, Images, Videos, Distribution Maps
Gardening Resources, Cornell University
Rogers Mushrooms | Mushroom Pictures & Mushroom Reference
Green Pages : A Virtual Garden Shed on Botany and Horticulture [Jardin botanique de Montréal]
About Hosta
Dave's Garden
ISU Forestry Tree Identification
Happy Hunting!
KUXJ