New PlantID.net Features

 

Here are some cool features we’ve recently added to PlantID.net.

 

Expanded Searches (May 2019)

 

The last six months, I’ve been working on expanding search possibilities in PlantID.net.

 

I want search choices to be obvious, and to be effective at excluding plants you don’t need to think about.

 

Each search choice you use makes it easier to get to a short interactive plant list.  The shorter the list, the more likely you’ll find your plant.

 

You can now find these new search choices on the Search Page (California Plant Finder):

·        Plant Type is expanded to include Broadleaf Tree, Conifer and Vine

·        Conifer needle count and length.

·        Deciduous or Evergreen

·        Annual or Perennial

·        Monocot or Dicot

·        Is Succulent

·        Has Berries

·        Has Catkins

·        Looks Like – this may be the most important addition, allowing you say if you think you plant is some sort of dandelion, rose, clover, fruit tree, etc.

·        California Status (Endemic, Native or Not Native)

·        Rare (as defined by CNPS)

·        Cal IPC Invasive status

·        Taxonomy (Calflora or Jepson)

 

I’ve gotten helpful feedback from John Kartesz at BONAP.org, Glenn Keator and Kristin Jakob on this project – thanks!

 

In the following example, I know I’m in Anthony Chabot Park.  I’m looking at a vine currently in bloom with white or yellow flowers.  I can tell it’s deciduous and has berries.  I’m curious to see if it’s a CA Native, so I’ve added that to my search.

 

I can see exactly what each search criterion means by clicking its link.  For instance, here’s an excerpt from the “Has Berries” link:

 

 

Of course, the botanical definition of berry would include non-intuitive plants like oranges and avocados and exclude strawberries, so the Berry entry explains the differences and lets you know we’re using an intuitive approach in PlantID.net searches.

 

When you click [Search], you’ll get the interactive Plant List, where you can look at your results in a variety of formats and sorts, drill down to the plant page, and so forth.  You can now toggle back to the Search page by clicking [More Searches], to continue to adjust your criteria:

 

Have fun with it!

 

 

Reports View (December 2018)

 

All plant lists have a new view – Reports.

 

SNAGHTML1fb7dd8

 

 

 

 

Click Reports to enter a report environment.

 

You can create reports in 3 formats:

·        Illustrated List (3 pics per plant)

·        Gallery report (1 pic per plant)

·        Text report

 

You control the layout, report sort, title and population.

Reports are saved to a PDF file that you can print or bring with you into the field.

 

 

Additional Layered Search on Annual or Perennial (December 2018)

 

SNAGHTML1b0a3d14

You can now search on “Annual” or “Perennial” to reduce the number of plants you need to consider.  Not sure how to tell them apart?  Click the “Life Cycle” link to find out.

 

 

Share Unpublished Plant ID Lists (November 2018)

 

SNAGHTML7743400

When you create an ID list, perhaps with Clipboard to ID, you may make it personal or shared.  If you share it, anyone may find it by clicking “Show Shared Lists”.  This is useful if you want to collaborate on a list, or you think others would like to see it, even if it isn’t polished enough to be published.

 

 

Introductory Video (November 2018)

 

SNAGHTML9cdc4bb

 

This 7-minute video shows you PlantID.net in action.  Get oriented by seeing how to:

·        Get to a short list of plants by entering what you know

·        Do some cool searches

o   Looks Like (Willow, Clover, Rose, Dandelion, etc.)

o   In Bloom Today

·        Search for plants in a specific location.

·        View your list as a gallery or as text.

·        Sort by common name, scientific name, plant type or family.

·        Quiz yourself on plants in a particular list.

·        Work with custom ID guides

·        Find online help for what you’re working on.

 

 

Plant List Gallery View (October 2018)

 

You can view the Plant List as a Gallery, as well as a list.  This shows four plants per line, allowing you to see many more plants at a time.

 

You can save your gallery to PDF, which is a convenient layout to take into the field.

 

 

Clipboard to ID (September 2018)

 

 

You can turn any plant list you can load into your clipboard into an Interactive Plant ID List using “Clipboard to ID”.  Choose a text plant list online, or from your personal files, copy it to the clipboard, and load it into PlantID.net with Clipboard to ID.  You can search your resulting list, drill down to learn about plants, take the quiz, and so forth.  You can save your list if you want to work with it later.

 

This is a great way to learn about a group of plants you’re unfamiliar with, or to prepare teaching tools to help others learn a particular list.

 

 

PlantID.net on the phone (August 2018)

 

PlantID.net has been reformatted to work well on small displays, such as your phone.  This makes it easier to use in the field.

 

 

Looks Like Search (July 2018)

 

SNAGHTML7ce8769

Many of us can say “that plant is some sort of clover”, or lupine, or paintbrush.  The Looks Like search takes advantage of this, applying your choice to the particular list you’re in, often producing a quick ID.

 

 

Over 400 Local Plant Lists from around California (June 2018)

 

SNAGHTML219b225

We’re continuing to import the best available plant lists for parks, trails and specific locations around the state, working with local experts.  Local interactive plant lists are a key feature of Plant ID made easy.

 

 

Take the Quiz (May 2018)

 

When you think you know the plants on the list you’re working with, click [Take the Quiz].  You’ll be shown a slideshow of photos chosen from a plant taken from the list.  Scroll through until you think you know what it is, then find out if you’re right.  Continue to another plant, and so on.

 

 

Return to About