Plant ID Taxonomy?
 

Is there a systematic list of plants that can be used for
identification? Given I know things like leaf shape, arrangement of
veins in the leaf, bark characteristics, branching, etc, is there an
interactive database that gives me suggestions of the ID plus pictures?

Stubby wrote:

Is there a systematic list of plants that can be used for
identification? Given I know things like leaf shape, arrangement of
veins in the leaf, bark characteristics, branching, etc, is there an
interactive database that gives me suggestions of the ID plus pictures?

You might want to locate a copy of C. L. Porter's "Taxonomy of
Flowering Plants" (W. H. Freeman, 1967). This covers the
angiosperms, both dicots and monocots.

The classification of angiosperms is primarily based on the
structure of individual flowers with secondary consideration given
to "fruits" (broadly defined to include grains and various pods)
and the arrangement of flowers into clusters.

The goal is to classify plants according to their anscestry.
However, without a complete fossil record of anscestors,
classification depends on assuming that plants with a similar
flower structure had a more recent common anscestor than flowers
with unlike structure. Thus, two plants with 4-petal flowers are
more closely related than either is to a plant with 5-petal flowers
(when degenerate petals are included).

Only recently is plant DNA becoming involved in taxonomy.

Gymnosperms (conifers, cycads, ginkgos) are a different subject.

--

David E. Ross
URL:http://www.rossde.com/

I use Mozilla as my Web browser because I want a browser that
complies with Web standards. See URL:http://www.mozilla.org/.

David Ross wrote:
Stubby wrote:

Is there a systematic list of plants that can be used for
identification? Given I know things like leaf shape, arrangement of
veins in the leaf, bark characteristics, branching, etc, is there an
interactive database that gives me suggestions of the ID plus pictures?


You might want to locate a copy of C. L. Porter's "Taxonomy of
Flowering Plants" (W. H. Freeman, 1967). This covers the
angiosperms, both dicots and monocots.

The classification of angiosperms is primarily based on the
structure of individual flowers with secondary consideration given
to "fruits" (broadly defined to include grains and various pods)
and the arrangement of flowers into clusters.

The goal is to classify plants according to their anscestry.
However, without a complete fossil record of anscestors,
classification depends on assuming that plants with a similar
flower structure had a more recent common anscestor than flowers
with unlike structure. Thus, two plants with 4-petal flowers are
more closely related than either is to a plant with 5-petal flowers
(when degenerate petals are included).

Only recently is plant DNA becoming involved in taxonomy.

Gymnosperms (conifers, cycads, ginkgos) are a different subject.

Thanks for the info. I'll take a look at it but it doesn't sound like
what I need. Frequently, I encounter a plant out in the woods and
wonder what it is. All I have to work with is the leaf. I don't know
what its seeds or blooms look like. Perhaps some university has the
database that will help.

Actually, you're in luck! There are several university based weed and
plant ID databases that cover hundreds of species and allow you to
select plant features interactively. If you look up the EWIRM database
you can find them listed by state or province. Several name or keyword
search databases are also listed on EWIRM which cover many more plant
species (thousands).

Best of luck on your plant ID quest.
_______
EWIRM: Nature makes plants, humans make weeds!

raycruzer wrote:

Actually, you're in luck! There are several university based weed and
plant ID databases that cover hundreds of species and allow you to
select plant features interactively. If you look up the EWIRM database
you can find them listed by state or province. Several name or keyword
search databases are also listed on EWIRM which cover many more plant
species (thousands).

Thank you. I will check out EWIRM.

"Stubby" wrote in message
...
David Ross wrote:
Stubby wrote:

Is there a systematic list of plants that can be used for
identification? Given I know things like leaf shape, arrangement of
veins in the leaf, bark characteristics, branching, etc, is there an
interactive database that gives me suggestions of the ID plus pictures?


You might want to locate a copy of C. L. Porter's "Taxonomy of
Flowering Plants" (W. H. Freeman, 1967). This covers the
angiosperms, both dicots and monocots. The classification of angiosperms
is primarily based on the
structure of individual flowers with secondary consideration given
to "fruits" (broadly defined to include grains and various pods)
and the arrangement of flowers into clusters. The goal is to classify
plants according to their anscestry. However, without a complete fossil
record of anscestors,
classification depends on assuming that plants with a similar
flower structure had a more recent common anscestor than flowers
with unlike structure. Thus, two plants with 4-petal flowers are
more closely related than either is to a plant with 5-petal flowers
(when degenerate petals are included). Only recently is plant DNA
becoming involved in taxonomy. Gymnosperms (conifers, cycads, ginkgos)
are a different subject.
Thanks for the info. I'll take a look at it but it doesn't sound like
what I need. Frequently, I encounter a plant out in the woods and wonder
what it is. All I have to work with is the leaf. I don't know what its
seeds or blooms look like. Perhaps some university has the database that
will help.

Wouldn't a book be more useful in the woods than a computer? Or....I'm old
fashioned, which is a distinct possibility.

Of course, there are several great books on weeds with beautiful
pictures that are available and very helpful, as well. There are also
several CDs with software that help you select plant features
interactively.

If you want to go hi tech, you can load a CD into your laptop and carry
it into the the woods? Also, don't forget to bring your GPS, as well,
to note the location of important species!

_______
EWIRM: Ergonica Weed Identification Reference Matrix

raycruzer wrote:
Of course, there are several great books on weeds with beautiful
pictures that are available and very helpful, as well. There are also
several CDs with software that help you select plant features
interactively.

If you want to go hi tech, you can load a CD into your laptop and carry
it into the the woods? Also, don't forget to bring your GPS, as well,
to note the location of important species!

_______
EWIRM: Ergonica Weed Identification Reference Matrix

My interest is not limited to just weeds.

Whenever I'm hiking, I carry a cell phone and a GPS. But, sigh, it
doesn't help. We came across a campfire in a State forest that had not
been put out and was smoking and spreading. I called fire departments
in 3 surrounding towns before one would accept the job. I told them my
lat-long and they said something like, "Fine. But WHERE are you?"

What you need is a Field Guide, a book of a size that can be carried
with you in a small pack or some even in a large pocket.
Field guides are limited by their size as to the number of plants that
can be identified, but most can get you to a genus, and then you can
search more thouroughly at home for species.
Field guides are limited to specific regions/areas of the US and can
usually be found in the nature section of a good bookstore.
Many states have Native Plant Societies that can direct you to guides
for your state, and some publish field guides.
What state are you in; someone may be able to recommend a field guide
for your state.
( I have probably 2 dozen various guides for California: desert,
Sierra, coastal etc)

Emilie
Nor Cal