Floras

Pl@ntNet performs its searches within floras or themes that are either automatically proposed if your GPS is activated, 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:

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

2. Reduction of errors:

   • Without the selection of 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.
   • The 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 in the list of plants native to an area.
   • Relevant for identifying wild plants, less useful for ornamental plants whose origin may be different from the place where they are cultivated.

2. Thematic entry:

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

3. Micro-project entry:

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

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