Identifying Plant Life
"The diversity of life forms, so numerous that we have yet to identify most of them, is the greatest wonder on this planet."
- Leo Buscaglia
- Leo Buscaglia
introduction
Using Botanical Keys To Identify Plants
How Botanical Keys Work
Classic keys are dichotomous, using a series of paired questions Some online keys have multiple boxes to check Most keys require knowledge of terms Most keys include a glossary Most keys are geographically-based
Issues with Botanical Keys
Few resources for keying garden plants The key will not work if it does not include the plant in question Lack of complete enough plant sample…no flowers or fruits Can get off track, take the wrong path Key is badly constructed (author/editor/printer error) Defective numbering or indentation Missing steps Illogical or compares unlike characters No glossary is included and/or author uses terms in non-standard way
Tips for Using Botanical Keys
Start with plants you know If using a dichotomous key, always read both questions Keep track of your path If the verification step shows you’ve selected the wrong plant, you’ll need to go back and figure out where you took a wrong turn
Verifying Your Results
Not all keys include complete plant descriptions or images If description/photos unavailable, then plant must be verified in some other way (ask an expert) Plant ID via Google Image Search Results based on proximity of text to photo Use reliable websites, such as nurseries Photo owner may have misidentified the plant Use “preponderance of evidence” approach
A Preponderance of Evidence
Classic keys are dichotomous, using a series of paired questions Some online keys have multiple boxes to check Most keys require knowledge of terms Most keys include a glossary Most keys are geographically-based
Issues with Botanical Keys
Few resources for keying garden plants The key will not work if it does not include the plant in question Lack of complete enough plant sample…no flowers or fruits Can get off track, take the wrong path Key is badly constructed (author/editor/printer error) Defective numbering or indentation Missing steps Illogical or compares unlike characters No glossary is included and/or author uses terms in non-standard way
Tips for Using Botanical Keys
Start with plants you know If using a dichotomous key, always read both questions Keep track of your path If the verification step shows you’ve selected the wrong plant, you’ll need to go back and figure out where you took a wrong turn
Verifying Your Results
Not all keys include complete plant descriptions or images If description/photos unavailable, then plant must be verified in some other way (ask an expert) Plant ID via Google Image Search Results based on proximity of text to photo Use reliable websites, such as nurseries Photo owner may have misidentified the plant Use “preponderance of evidence” approach
A Preponderance of Evidence