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Create and share an observation

An “observation” in Pl@ntNet is a record of the presence of a plant that you have encountered in your environment. It includes:

  • One or more photos of the plant.

  • An observation date.

  • A geolocation (optional).

  • An identification.

  • Optionally, additional information about the location or the plant.

Minimum requirements: an observation must include at least one photo and a date.

Create observations

Section titled “Create observations”

  1. Open the Pl@ntNet app and log in to your account.

  2. Access the “Identify” tab.

  3. Take one or more photos of the plant to be identified, making sure to:

    • Take sharp and well-framed photos.
    • Ideally, remove distracting elements such as manufactured objects around the plant.
    • Capture different angles, including close-ups of leaves, flowers, and fruits if available.
    • Check that the light is adequate to avoid excessive shadows and blurring.

  4. Start the identification:

    • Launch the search in Pl@ntNet. The algorithm will compare your image with millions of other images validated by the community.
    • The app will return a list of species ranked by descending percentage of certainty.
    • You can apply filters on families or genera to better target your results if you wish.

  5. Explore the galleries to validate the identification:

    • Browse the gallery images to help you choose the correct species. These galleries consist of images validated by the community.
    • Links to species fact sheets are also available to help you make your choice.

  6. Validate the correct identification:

    • If you are not certain of the species, you can simply enter the genus or share your observation without identification. But don’t hesitate to share, other members of the community will be able to correct your mistakes.

  7. Add additional details:

    • Location : Geolocation is automatically added if your GPS is enabled. You can also enter it manually if necessary.
    • Notes : Include details about the plant’s habitat, environment, or any other relevant information if available.

  8. Share your data with the community: Once your observation is created, you can:

    • Share your observation with the community.
    • Keep your observations private.

You will find more information here on managing your observations.

Why share your observations?

Section titled “Why share your observations?”

By sharing your observations, you:

  1. Contribute to science You participate in the collection of botanical data on a global scale. Your data is used by researchers to better understand plant diversity, its evolution, and the threats facing it.

  2. Benefit from the community’s experience The Pl@ntNet community can validate or correct your identifications, enrich your knowledge, and encourage the exchange of experiences.

  3. Improve the identification tool Each shared observation enriches the database and improves the performance of the identification tool, making it more accurate and efficient.

  4. Support the preservation of biodiversity By documenting plant diversity, you help raise awareness and support conservation efforts for habitats and species.