Pin plant identification methodology

HOW TO IDENTIFY A PLANT
MARCH, 2017
PLANT IDENTIFICATION METHODOLOGY
FOR CITIZEN SCIENTISTS
© IONELA PANAINTE 2017

CONTENTS
I. BASIC INFORMATION
II. THE PROCESS OF IDENTIFICATION
III.PRACTICE WITH AN INTERACTIVE KEY

1. WHAT IS BIODIVERSITY?
Biological diversity =
BIODIVERSITY stands for
the huge variety of life on
Earth (plants, animals and
human cultures that
populate the planet)
I. BASIC INFORMATION ON PLANT
IDENTIFICATION

2. HOW MANY SPECIES
POPULATE THE PLANET?
10 – 14 MILLION CURRENT SPECIES
- 1.5 million species documented
- 99 percent of all species that ever
lived on Earth (about 5 bilions!) are
now extinct

3. WHY DO WE STUDY
BIODIVERSITY?
- to understand how important life preserving is;
- to realize that a significant loss of biodiversity
could seriously undermine OUR WELLBEING;
- to build skills that biodiversity protectors need;

3. HOW CAN THE STUDY
OF BIODIVERSITY BE EFFECTIVE?
The best way to understand biodiversity is
- by experiencing it
- by identifying living organisms of a certain
species/ location

4. HOW DO WE LEARN
ABOUT BIODIVERSITY?
Plan A. We read about different species in our
biology/ science textbooks!
Plan B. Our teacher should tell us everything
about this subject.
Plan C. We go outside, we observe the living
forms and we fiind out their names.

5. WHY IS A NAME OF AN ORGANISM
SO IMPORTANT?
The name of an organism gives all kinds of
information about it:
- edible or poisonous
- economic value or not
- pathogen in health care
- pest in agriculture
- quality of air, water, soil at that location
→ IDENTIFICATION IS A VERY SERIOUS MATTER!

6. WHAT IS THE PRINCIPLE OF
IDENTIFICATION?
- All organisms have characteristics (TRAITS)
which distinguish one species from another.
- Recognizing these characteristics is the core of
the identification.
- Each specimen is compared with reference
data (text descriptions, illustrations, sound, or
other data such as DNA sequences).

TAXONOMY = SYSTEMATICS
• science of identification and classification
• each rank in the classification = TAXON
• the basic taxon = SPECIES
• superior taxa: GENUS, FAMILY, ORDER, CLASS,
PHYLLUM, KINGDOM
• inferior taxa: SUBSPECIES, RACE, VARIETY
• each species has a scientific name (binomial):
Homo sapiens (“wise man”)

7. HOW DO WE IDENTIFY AN ORGANISM?
Methods of identification:
1- Expert determination
2 - Recognition
3 - Comparison
4 - Use of keys and similar devices

Heavy books and guides OR.......

... COMPUTER APPS!

8. WHAT ARE IDENTIFICATION KEYS?
• In biology, an identification key is a printed or a
computer - aided device that helps the identification
of living beings - plants, animals, microorganisms,
polen grains and fossils.
• They are devices consisting of a series of contrasting
or contradictory statements or propositions
requiring the identifier to make comparisons and
decisions regarding the material to be identified.
• Identification keys ask a series of questions and the
answers to these questions lead to the most likely
name of the species.

9. TYPES OF IDENTIFICATION KEYS
a) Traditional keys = dichotomous keys
- they present a stepwise sequence of
choices.
- Terminology and lack of illustrations often
make these keys hard to use for non-experts.

b) Computer-aided keys make identifying species
easier because the keys can be interactive.

10. SUGGESTIONS FOR THE USE OF KEYS
a) Select appropriate keys for the materials to
be identified.
- The keys may be in a flora, manual, guide'
handbook, monograph, or revision.
b) Read the introductory comments on
format details, abbreviations, etc. .before
using the key.

c) Read both leads of a couplet
before making a choice!
d) Use a glossary to check the
meaning of terms you do not
understand.
https://florabase.dpaw.wa.gov.au/help/glossary

e) Measure several similar structures when
measurements are used in the key!
- e.g. measure several leaves not a single leaf.
f) Do not base your decisions
on a single observation!
- examine several specimens,
not just one!
10 Leaflets of
Robinia pseudoacacia
(black locust)© IONELA PANAINTE 2017

g) Try both choices when dichotomies are not
clear or when information is insufficient!
- verify which of the two answers best fits the
descriptions of your specimen
h) Verify your results:
- read a description
- compare your specimen
with an illustration or a
herbarium specimen.

i) USE SCIENTIFIC (LATIN NAMES)...
...because:
 Names are labels;
 Local or common names vary from region to
region;
 Confusions could be disastrous;
 Latin or scientific names are universal.

e.g. Rosa canina is...
Măceș
Dog-rose
Zarza
Spineto
Růže šípková

II. THE PROCESS OF IDENTIFICATION
The most important elements of plant
identification are:
 careful observation;
 attention to detail;
 correct interpretation
of what you see.

GUIDELINES
1. Examine your specimen carefully!
- look at the plant features

GUIDELINES
2. Are you looking at the correct part?
Nuphar pumila
SEPAL
SMALL PETALS

GUIDELINES
3. Variable v. conservative characters
a) Some characters vary more than
others;
- age, ecological or local conditions,
the season etc. are the most important
factors involved.
- e.g. the form and size of the leaves

E.g. Morus sp. (mulberry tree)
LEAF POLYMORPHISM

GUIDELINES
3. Variable v. conservative characters
b) other characters are conservative =
they show very little variation whatever the
conditions.
- e.g. flower shape and size, fruit type and
size, hair type (but not hair density).
Conservative characters
are therefore more
reliable for identification!

GUIDELINES
4. What about ABSENT characters?
- present but not easily observable (the
number of seeds inside a fruit);
- not yet developed (fissures in old bark);
- have developed and already disappeared
(bud scales that fall very early).
IMPORTANT BUT RARE!

GUIDELINES
5. Take care with unattached parts!
- WHAT IF the parts you need to
examine are no longer attached
to the plant?
- This is especially true of trees, where sometimes
the only fruits, leaves or flowers available are
those that have fallen on the ground.
- Check that these unattached parts are from the
plant you are examining and not from a different
one nearby.

GUIDELINES
6. Take nothing for granted!
- Many species, especially closely related ones,
differ only in minor ways.
- Check each specimen to ensure it has all the
relevant characters and that your identification is
correct.
SYCAMORE NORWAY
MAPLE

GUIDELINES
7. Additional evidence
- the arrangement of fruits can tell you how the
flowers were arranged;
- distribution and ecology can also be helpful. E.g.
you won’t find a plant known only from Northen
Europe in the Mediterranean;
- a plant adapted to mountain cliffs is unlikely to
occur on lowland plains etc.
DON‘T BASE YOUR
IDENTIFICATION
ON THIS EVIDENCE!© IONELA PANAINTE 2017

GUIDELINES
8. Smell but don’t taste!
- the scent of both foliage and
flowers can be a useful clue
(e.g. Bay laurel leaves)
- tasting plants should be
avoided - some are poisonous!
(e.g. Belladonna berries)
Laurus nobilis

GUIDELINES
9. Getting stuck is NORMAL!
- Most keys offer clear choices at
each step.
- If you cannot decide which choice
to take in a key, try going down
each route offered. The correct
one will soon become clear.
- If neither seems correct, you
have taken a wrong choice earlier
on in the key, so retrace your steps
or start again.

GUIDELINES
10. EXPERIENCE, EXPERIENCE, EXPERIENCE...
- this is the most useful character of all!
- Becoming familiar with a group of organisms
will increase the frequency and accuracy of your
identifications.

In terms of expectations...
Some you win... Yeaaaah!!!
- sometimes you will be able to
name the genus
and that’s WOW!
Some you lose.... Awwwww!!
- don’t expect always
to achieve an
identification.

FINALLY...
Sometimes the identification turns out to be wildly
wrong.
Don't worry - it happens even to experts!

Trees and shrubs of Bulgaria and Romania

Pin plant identification methodology

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