Plant Identification
The following resources are useful for identifying plants. Search the list below for the appropriate electronic reference for your purpose and also see the following bibliography for additional printed materials:
- Identification & Systematics Bibliography (click to download)
AQUATIC PLANT IDENTIFICATION:
Aquaplant
Aquatic Plant & Algae Identification (WA Dept. of Ecology)
CONIFER IDENTIFICATION:
Dichotomous Key to Conifer Foliage in the Pacific Northwest
Simplified Key to Conifer Genera of the U.S. (American Museum of Natural History)
GENERAL PLANT IDENTIFICATION:
Simplified Key to Conifer Genera of the U.S. (American Museum of Natural History)
Flora of North America (FNA)
Introduction to Plant Species Identification (E-Flora BC)
Lichen Identification
- A Guide to Lichens on Twigs (with fully illustrated multi-access key)
- Chemicals for Lichen Identification (British Lichen Society)
- An Introduction to Lichens (New York Botanical Society)
- Lichen Collection and Identification (U.S. Forest Service)
- The Lichens of British Columbia, Part 1 (downloadable)
- Lichen Key Archive
PLANTS Database
Plant Identification
Trees in Bellingham Identification
The City of Bellingham is home to many native and introduced tree species, including several significant tree collections that are described at Trees in the City of Bellingham. The following resources include information on the trees in those collections:
- Bayview Cemetery Tree Guide (PDF)
- Broadway Park Tree Guide (PDF)
- Elizabeth Park Tree Guide (PDF)
- Sylvia Grace Magnolia Collection in Cornwall Park
University of Washington Herbarium at the Burke Museum
PLANT FAMILY IDENTIFICATION:
What Plant Family Is It? (UC Clermont College Biology Department)
World Wide Flowering Plant Family Identification (Colby College)
WETLAND PLANT IDENTIFICATION:
Simple Identification Key to Common Willows, Cottonwoods, Alder, Birch, and Dogwood of the Intermountain West
- A useful resource for that includes winter characteristics of some riparian and wetland wood species is: Simple Identification Key to Common Willows, Cottonwoods, Alder, Birch, and Dogwood of the Intermountain West (Riparian/Wetland Project Information Series No. 19, May 2005). Click here to download a copy.
- The original file is available by searching for <plant-materials.nrcs.usda.gov/pubs/idpmcar6107.pdf>.
Wetland Training (including wetland plant identification)
WINTER TWIG IDENTIFICATION:
Assignment: Twigs (Kellogg Community College)
Budding in Plants (Wild Pacific Northwest)
Burke Museum Winter Twig Identification Key
- The Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture website contains many resources and tools associated with the University of Washington Herbarium. You may get assistance in identifying many comment shrubs and trees during the winter by selecting either of the two “Winter Tree & Shrub Key” links on the WTU Herbarium Image to go to the Winter Twig Identification Key.
Twig Tracking (North Cascades Institute)
Using a Tree Twig for Winter Tree Identification
- http://forestry.about.com/od/treeidentification/a/wti_twig.htm
- The Virginia Tech Department of Forest Resources & Environmental Conservation has a twig identification key that covers all 50 states at <http://www.fw.vt.edu/dendro/dendrology/syllabus/twigkey/key1.cfm> (an older version) and <http://www.dendro.cnre.vt.edu/dendrology/syllabus/twigkey/location.htm> (an updated version). It includes audio links to Italian Latin pronunciations of botanical Latin nomenclature, e.g., the pronunciation of “Betulaceae Alnus rubra” sounds like this.
Winter Dichotomous Key (UNBC & Aleza Lake Research Forest Plant Systems Database)
Winter Twig Identification Class (PowerPoint PDF)
- Download the PDF version here.
- This file is also available by searching for <www.arthurhaines.com/winter%20twigs.pdf>.
