Back to: Botany 100 Level
Hello, my brilliant Afrilearn scholar! Imagine you are walking through a park and see a beautiful tree with bright yellow flowers. You want to know its name, but there’s no botanist around. What do you do?
In the past, identifying plants required manual field guides and expert knowledge, but today, technology has made it easier. With just your smartphone or computer, you can now identify plants using mobile apps and online databases. Let’s explore how these digital tools are revolutionising plant identification!
Integrating Technology In Plant Identification (Mobile Apps, Databases)
How Technology is Changing Plant Identification
Before digital tools, scientists and students identified plants by observing leaf shape, flower structure, and other physical traits, then matching them with books or herbarium samples. This process was slow and sometimes inaccurate.
Now, with AI-powered apps, digital databases, and crowd-sourced data, plant identification is:
✅ Faster – Apps can identify a plant in seconds.
✅ More accurate – AI compares plant features with thousands of images.
✅ Easier for everyone – You don’t need to be a botanist to use them.
Let’s look at some of the most effective tools.
1. Mobile Apps for Plant Identification
These apps use AI and machine learning to identify plants based on photos taken by users.
a) PlantSnap
✅ Recognises over 600,000 species of plants, trees, and mushrooms.
✅ Uses image recognition technology to compare plant pictures with a database.
✅ Works offline, making it useful for remote areas.
b) iNaturalist
✅ Developed by scientists and nature lovers to help identify plants and animals.
✅ Uses crowdsourced data, meaning experts can verify plant names.
✅ Helps track plant biodiversity worldwide.
c) Google Lens
✅ Allows users to take a photo of a plant and instantly search for similar images.
✅ Connects with Google Search to provide detailed information.
✅ Useful for beginners who want quick answers.
d) Flora Incognita
✅ Specially designed for European and African plant species.
✅ Uses AI and deep learning for accurate plant identification.
✅ Provides detailed ecological and conservation information.
Example:
A Nigerian student walking through a rainforest in Cross River State can use PlantSnap to identify a mahogany tree (Khaya senegalensis) just by taking a picture of its leaves.
2. Online Databases for Plant Identification
While mobile apps help individuals, scientists and researchers use large online databases to classify plants.
a) The Plant List
✅ A worldwide database of plant species maintained by experts.
✅ Helps in scientific naming and classification.
b) Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)
✅ Provides open-access plant data from around the world.
✅ Helps researchers track plant species distribution.
c) African Plants Database
✅ Focuses on African plant species, making it useful for local studies.
✅ Provides detailed descriptions and images.
Example:
A Nigerian researcher studying medicinal plants can use GBIF to find locations where neem trees (Azadirachta indica) grow naturally.
3. How These Technologies Benefit Plant Science
✅ Biodiversity Conservation – Scientists track endangered plant species.
✅ Education & Research – Students and researchers can learn about plants faster.
✅ Agriculture & Forestry – Farmers can identify crop diseases early.
✅ Medicine – Herbal medicine researchers can correctly identify medicinal plants.
Summary of Key Points
Mobile apps like PlantSnap, iNaturalist, and Google Lens help users identify plants using AI.
Online databases like GBIF, The Plant List, and African Plants Database help researchers store and classify plant species.
These technologies make plant identification faster, more accurate, and accessible.
They help in biodiversity conservation, education, and agriculture.
Evaluation Questions
- Why is technology important in plant identification?
- Name two mobile apps used for identifying plants.
- What is the role of online databases in plant science?
- How can plant identification apps help farmers?
- Which database focuses specifically on African plants?
Great job, scholar! Keep learning with Afrilearn, and see you in the next lesson!
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