Plant identification

Determination of Feed Crops in a Vocational School (December 22, 1983)

Plant identification is the process of systematically assigning a specimen of a plant to its species based on observed characteristics and finding out its German or scientific name.

method

Comparison with pictures

One possibility is to compare the plant to be identified with images - drawings or photographs. Numerous works of both are available in book form. Each type of representation has its own advantages and disadvantages. In the case of good drawings, the artist has evaluated a number of specimens of a plant species and clearly shows the characteristic features. The disadvantage is that a drawing always requires a certain abstraction, which can make it difficult for the inexperienced to compare it with a real specimen. The advantage of photos is that they are lifelike; the plant is usually also taken in its natural environment. The disadvantage is that individual plant individuals are depicted and their habitus can differ significantly from the specimen to be determined. A reliable determination of a plant species can usually not be achieved with illustrations, also because most of the works only show the most widespread plants. The determination reliability can be significantly improved if, in addition to the images, there are texts that describe the habitat, shape and distinguishing features of the plants in more detail.

For reasons of manageability, plant images on the Internet are hardly suitable for identifying plants. However, websites with certain plant images can be of assistance in confirming a determination that is still uncertain.

Determination books

When using an identification book , also called flora, the identification of plants takes place in a step-by-step decision-making process. Starting with very general differentiation criteria, questions about the characteristics of the plant must be answered, for example whether the trunk / stem is herbaceous or woody. Each question branches off like a yes / no decision to one of two further questions (dichotomous key). At the end of the tree-like question structure are the individual genera, species and, if applicable, also subspecies. Here is an (incomplete) example of such a dichotomous key:

Dicotyledons with a missing or simple flower cover :

1. Tree or bush → 2

-. Herb → 3

2. Leaves opposite → 4

-. Alternate leaves → 5

3. Aquatic plant type A → 7

-. Aquatic plant type B or land plant → 8

4. Parasite on wood plants → Loranthaceae (belt flower family)

-. No parasite → 6

Etc.

8. Flowers in heads, surrounded by a common shell → Asteraceae (composites)

-. Without a common shell → 9

This type of identification book usually contains the flora of the region covered quite completely. Apart from a few sketches, they do not contain any pictures. With these books it is possible to identify a plant of which one has never seen a similar or a related one in pictures or in nature. Newly discovered plants in botany are also characterized in writing. The often concise diagnosis text decides whether the plant has been correctly identified.

For the use of identification books, however, botanical knowledge is required (especially the structure of the flower, the shape of the plant). In addition, questions about certain characteristics for the plant to be determined can often not be answered because the question is not yet available at this point in time. For example, from the flower it can be determined that a plant belongs to the genus dandelion (Taraxacum), but what kind of dandelion it is can only be determined reliably from the fruit. This problem also arises in general, for example, with the cruciferous family (Brassicaceae).

Software identification key

In addition to the established identification keys in book form and isolated approaches on the Internet, there are electronic identification keys created with scientific support that are sold in CD form (see literature). The approaches followed are different. The obvious solution is to implement a dichotomous key in software, but this has the disadvantages mentioned above. In another approach, which is more appropriate to the electronic medium, features can simply be specified next to one another without having to work through a chain of questions step by step. It is often possible to identify a plant for which individual characteristics are not known. One advantage of the software identification works is that they are usually rich in plant photos. With the advent of identification apps for smartphones, these are also easier to transport than books on the go.

Standard works

An identification book for a particular country is often useful for its neighboring areas. Due to the diversity of habitats, this applies to the Swiss identification books, for example: Swiss flora represents 20% of European species, although the country only accounts for 0.4% of Europe in terms of area.

German-speaking countries

Standard works on plant identification in Germany and the neighboring countries are the so-called Schmeil-Fitschen and the second volume of the five-volume excursion flora by Werner Rothmaler . Both books use dichotomous keys. For many years the book School and Excursion Flora for Switzerland by August Binz, published for the last time in 1990, was the standard work in Swiss schools ; it has since been replaced by Flora Helvetica . At Austrian universities, the work, Ospreys from Austria, Liechtenstein and South Tyrol, often called "Ospreys" by the authors Manfred Fischer, Wolfgang Adler and Karl Oswald, is used as standard .

Systematics

The result of a plant identification always depends to a certain extent on the systematic underlying the identification system used . There are no problems with many common and established plant species. Frequently, however, the opinions of the authors differ on the assignment of plant species to plant genera and the division of a genus into species. In the binary nomenclature used for the scientific (Latin) plant names, the name of the author is usually also given, often as an abbreviation. The scientific name for the daisy is Bellis perennis L., where L. stands for Linnaeus .

example

The determination of the plant family in flowering plants (Magnoliophyta) is relatively simple , since the generative features, such as inflorescence , symmetry of the flower , number of sepals , number and color of petals , stamens , carpels, etc. are characteristic of many plant families. For example, a flower formula can be specified for flowering plant families . A flower chart would also be an aid . For a more precise determination of the plant species, however, it is usually necessary to also take into account vegetative characteristics, for example growth habit, leaf position , leaf shape , leaf edge , hairiness, etc.

literature

General

Gottfried Briemle: color atlas herbs and grasses in fields and forests . Eugen Ulmer, Stuttgart (Hohenheim) 1997, ISBN 3-8001-4125-6 .
Thomas Schauer, Claus Caspari: The great FSVO plant guide. Over 1500 flowering plants from Central Europe . 9th revised edition. blv, Munich / Vienna / Zurich 2004, ISBN 3-405-16014-6 .
Oskar Sebald, Siegmund Seybold, Georg Philippi (Hrsg.): The fern and flowering plants of Baden-Württemberg . tape 1 : General Part, Special Part (Pteridophyta, Spermatophyta): Lycopodiaceae to Plumbaginaceae . Eugen Ulmer, Stuttgart (Hohenheim) 1990, ISBN 3-8001-3309-1 .
Wilfried Stichmann, Ursula Stichmann-Marny: The new cosmos plant guide . Kosmos, Stuttgart 1999, ISBN 3-440-07364-5 .

introduction

Dietmar Aichele: What is blooming there? The photo book. Wild flowering plants of Central Europe (= Kosmos natural classics ). 4th edition. Franckh-Kosmos, Stuttgart 2000, ISBN 3-440-08598-8 .
Rita Lüder: Basic course in plant identification. A practical guide for beginners and advanced users (= Quelle - & - Meyer determination books ). 2nd, revised edition. Quelle & Meyer, Wiebelsheim 2005, ISBN 3-494-01401-9 .

Advanced

Rudolf Schubert, Eckehart J. Jäger, Klaus Werner (eds.): Exkursionsflora von Deutschland . Founded by Werner Rothmaler . Volumes 1-4 (1994-1996). Gustav Fischer, Jena a. a., ISBN 3-334-60831-X .
Ernst Klapp , Wilhelm Opitz von Boberfeld : Herbal identification key for the most common grassland and lawn herbs. For addressing in the flowerless state . 4th revised edition. Eugen Ulmer, Stuttgart (Hohenheim) 2004, ISBN 3-8001-4497-2 .
Christian Heitz: School and excursion flora for Switzerland. With consideration of the border areas: Identification book for the wild growing vascular plants . Founded by August Binz. 19th edition. Schwabe & Co., Basel 1990, ISBN 3-7965-0892-8 .
Erich Oberdorfer : Plant-sociological excursion flora for Germany and neighboring areas . With the collaboration of Angelika Schwabe and Theo Müller. 8th, heavily revised and expanded edition. Eugen Ulmer, Stuttgart (Hohenheim) 2001, ISBN 3-8001-3131-5 .
Siegmund Seybold : Flora of Germany and neighboring countries. A book for identifying vascular plants that grow wild and often cultivated . Founded by Otto Schmeil , Jost Fitschen . 93rd completely revised and expanded edition. Quelle & Meyer, Wiebelsheim 2006, ISBN 3-494-01413-2 .
Manfred A. Fischer, Karl Oswald, Wolfgang Adler: Excursion flora for Austria, Liechtenstein and South Tyrol . 3rd, improved edition. State of Upper Austria, Biology Center of the Upper Austrian State Museums, Linz 2008, ISBN 978-3-85474-187-9 .

software

Erich Götz: Identify plants with the computer. Flora of Germany . CD-ROM. Eugen Ulmer, Stuttgart (Hohenheim) 2001, ISBN 3-8252-8168-X .
Siegmund Seybold (Ed.): Schmeil-Fitschen. Interactive flora of Germany. Seeing - determining - knowing. The key to the flora . CD-ROM, version 2.0. Quelle & Meyer, Wiebelsheim 2004, ISBN 3-494-01368-3 .
Konrad Lauber, Gerhart Wagner: Flora Helvetica 2.1 . CD-ROM Windows; an interactive guide through the flora of Switzerland. CD-ROM. Haupt, Bern 2005, ISBN 3-258-06952-2 .

Web links

Individual evidence

↑ Flora Helvetica, 3rd edition, p. 12.

[1] Flora Helvetica, 3rd edition, p. 12.