Floras

Pl@ntNet performs its searches within floras or themes that are either automatically suggested if your GPS is enabled, or that you can define yourself. These floras correspond to lists of species specific to each region or theme.

Why select a flora or theme in Pl@ntNet?

1. Adaptation to geographical regions:

   • Plant distribution varies considerably depending on the geographical region.
   • By choosing a specific flora, you tell the application which plant species are likely to be present in your area.
   • This allows Pl@ntNet to filter results based on local flora, thereby improving the accuracy of identifications.

2. Reduction of errors:

   • Without selecting a specific flora, the application may generate more possible results, including plants irrelevant to your region.
   • By selecting the appropriate flora, you reduce the risk of obtaining incorrect identifications.

3. Enriching knowledge of local floras:

   • By choosing a flora, you contribute to enriching knowledge of local biodiversity.
   • Shared data can be consulted in the feed and easily reviewed by specialists of the flora concerned.

Types of Entries for Floras in Pl@ntNet

1. Geographical entry:

   • Search within the list of plants native to an area.
   • Relevant for identifying wild plants, less useful for ornamental plants whose origin may differ from where they are cultivated.

2. Thematic entry:

   • Based on various subjects such as useful plants or invasive plants.

3. Microproject entry:

   • Contextualization of the application for a defined theme or geographical area.
   • Searches are carried out only on a list of plants defined within the framework of the project, covering national parks, botanical gardens, or sensitive themes such as the desert locust biotope.

The most widely used taxonomic reference for defining floras in Pl@ntNet is the one provided by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, called Plants Of The World Online (POWO).

Some floras and microprojects are still on old reference systems, which causes issues with species names during identification. Their reference systems are expected to be updated in 2026, but as of October 8, 2025, here is the list of the floras in question:

• Useful plants

• Weeds

• Invasive plants

• Useful plants of tropical Africa

• Useful plants of Asia

• Les Ecologistes de l’Euzière

• Provence

• LEWA in KENYA

• Ordesa

• Cévennes

• Mediterranean ornamental trees

• Crops

• Trees of Europe

• Desert Locust Biotopes in West Africa

• Remarkable flora of the Alpes-Maritimes

• ESALQ and Piracicaba trees

• Brazilian Amazon

• Trees of the Brazilian Amazon

• Domaine Saint Jacques du Couloubrier

• Sugar cane weeds in Australia

• Albert-Kahn Departmental Museum Garden

• Guanacaste Conservation Area, Costa Rica

• Gardens by the Bay - Cloud Forest

• Gardens by the Bay - Flower Dome