#plant apps

[rebeccathenaturalist]

An App Does Not a Master Naturalist Make

Originally posted on my website at https://rebeccalexa.com/app-not-master-naturalist/ - I had written this as an op-ed and sent it to WaPo, but they had no interest, so you get to read it here instead!

I have mixed feelings about Michael Coren’s April 25 Washington Post article, “These 4 free apps can help you identify every flower, plant and tree around you.” His ebullience at exploring some of the diverse ecological community around him made me grin, because I know exactly what it feels like. There’s nothing like that sense of wonder and belonging when you go outside and are surrounded by neighbors of many species, instead of a monotonous wall of green, and that is a big part of what led me to become a Master Naturalist.

When I moved from the Midwest to the Pacific Northwest in 2006, I felt lost because I didn’t recognize many of the animals or plants in my new home. So I set about systematically learning every species that crossed my path. Later, I began teaching community-level classes on nature identification to help other people learn skills and tools for exploring their local flora, fauna, and fungi.

Threeleaf foamflower (Tiarella trifoliata)

Let me be clear: I love apps. I use Merlin routinely to identify unknown bird songs, and iNaturalist is my absolute favorite ID app, period. But these tools are not 100% flawless.

For one thing, they’re only as good as the data you provide them. iNaturalist’s algorithms, for example, rely on a combination of photos (visual data), date and time (seasonal data), and GPS coordinates (location data) to make initial identification suggestions. These algorithms sift through the 135-million-plus observations uploaded to date, finding observations that have similar visual, seasonal, and location data to yours.

There have been many times over the years where iNaturalist isn’t so sure. Take this photo of a rather nondescript clump of grass. Without seed heads to provide extra clues, the algorithms offer an unrelated assortment of species, with only one grass. I’ve gotten that “We’re not confident enough to make a recommendation” message countless times over my years of using the app, often suggesting species that are clearly not what I’m looking at in real life.

Because iNaturalist usually offers up multiple options, you have to decide which one is the best fit. Sometimes it’s the first species listed, but sometimes it’s not. This becomes trickier if all the species that are suggested look alike. Tree-of-Heaven (Ailanthus altissima), smooth sumac (Rhus glabra) and eastern black walnut (Juglans nigra) all have pinnately compound, lanceolate leaves, and young plants of these three species can appear quite similar. If all you know how to do is point and click your phone’s camera, you aren’t going to be able to confidently choose which of the three plants is the right one.

Coren correctly points out that both iNaturalist and Pl@ntNet do offer more information on suggested species—if people are willing to take the time to look. Too many assume ID apps will give an easy, instant answer. In watching my students use the app in person almost everyone just picks the first species in the list. It’s not until I demonstrate how to access the additional content for each species offered that anyone thinks to question the algorithms’ suggestions.

While iNaturalist is one of the tools I incorporate into my classes, I emphasize that apps in general are not to be used alone, but in conjunction with field guides, websites, and other resources. Nature identification, even on a casual level, requires critical thinking and observation skills if you want to make sure you’re correct. Coren’s assertion that you only need a few apps demonstrates a misunderstanding of a skill that takes time and practice to develop properly—and accurately.

Speaking of oversimplification, apps are not a Master Naturalist in your pocket, and that statement —while meant as a compliment–does a disservice to the thousands of Master Naturalists across the country. While the training curricula vary from state to state, they are generally based in learning how organisms interact within habitats and ecosystems, often drawing on a synthesis of biology, geology, hydrology, climatology, and other natural sciences. A Master Naturalist could tell you not only what species you’re looking at, but how it fits into this ecosystem, how its adaptations are different from a related species in another ecoregion, and so forth.

Map showing Level III and IV ecoregions of Oregon, the basis of my training as an Oregon Master Naturalist.

In spite of my criticisms, I do think that Coren was absolutely onto something when he described the effects of using the apps. Seeing the landscape around you turn from a green background to a vibrant community of living beings makes going outside a more exciting, personal experience. I and my fellow nature nerds share an intense curiosity about the world around us. And that passion, more than any app or other tool, is fundamental to becoming a citizen naturalist, Master or otherwise.

Did you enjoy this post? Consider taking one of my online foraging and natural history classes or hiring me for a guided nature tour, checking out my other articles, or picking up a paperback or ebook I’ve written! You can even buy me a coffee here!

[icarusticrat]

hahaha what

[thehellbentdoggo]

KINDER WORLD!!

Hellooo!! okay, so Kinder World is an app about watering plants, and right now we are very close to finishing a community goal to unlock some cool crystals for all players!! new players gets us the most points towards our goal so if you're someone randomly seeing this, please please PLEASE consider getting it! It's really nice and relaxing, and has really sweet characters and art. Thanks for coming to my TED talk

Sammy the dog, and Fern the moose :)

[lesbienneanarchiste]

My mom called me to come downstairs and hear some fucked up sound like aliens and 5 min later I was like "it is a juvenile barred owl!!!" and that's why technology and nature are not opposing forces but are girlfriends and I am in love w them.

[anyarally]

You wouldn’t last an hour in the asylum they raised me…

[imaplatypus-art]

Plants vs Zombies

One of my favorite game franchises fr

The first is a charm here: imaplatypusshops.carrd.co and the rest were commissioned by this guy

[one-time-i-dreamt]

My weather app said it was going to get really hot around midnight and the cause of this was that the government needed to hunt a certain, unassuming fish, which ended up being a plant.

[ashenwaves]

🌱Magical Horticulture🌱

As always, enjoy! :)

[hobgob-online]

ah shit uhh running low in notes… oh, MOSS! MOSS! I AM TALKING ABOUT MOSS! MOSS IS COOL! I AM TALKING ABOUT MOSS AND HOW COOL IT IS! LOOK! I LIKE MOSS! THIS IS RELATABLE! I AM BEING RELATABLE!!!!

[callmethehunter]

[s2pdoktopus]

OwO

Jiang Cheng in Seclusion

Jiang Cheng: *squeezes his belly where his golden core is with a pained expression*

Jiang Xie: *watches him with furrowed brows*

...

Jiang Xie: *in the kitchen, talking to the head cook* Ayi, about A-Die...

...

Jiang Cheng: Hao Fei, this is the fifth day you've given me congee.

Hao Fei: I'm sorry if the food is not to your liking, Sect Leader, but young mistress Jiang had insisted that you only eat food that can help with your upset stomach.

Jiang Cheng: I don't have an upset stomach.

Hao Fei: Perhaps if Sect Leader communicated this with his daughter, he wouldn't have to endure four days of eating bland food.

Jiang Cheng: Are you telling me how to handle my kid?

Hao Fei: Xiao-Xie has been running around with the three trouble makers looking for the person responsible for your seclusion, sect leader. I heard she reached out to Jin Rulan and asked him to, and I quote "use his sect leader powers" to find a perpetrator.

Jiang Cheng: Nosy brats.

Hao Fei: I wouldn't dare ask sect leader why he chose to lock himself up in his room but I expected our sect leader, whom raised his home from the ashes while caring for his nephew after losing his family to be strong enough to be there for his children, especially at a time like this.

Jiang Cheng: ... *eats his food* Tell Jin Ling to bring his cousin home immediately. Otherwise I'll go to Carp tower myself and break their legs.

Hao Fei: Right away, Sect leader.

----

Bofu

Jiang Xie: A-DIEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!! (slams to Jiang Cheng's legs)

Jiang Cheng: *sigh* A-Xie, what did I say about running by the docks?

Jiang Xie: You never told me you have a big brother!

Jiang Cheng: I didn't?

Jiang Xie: You do! A-Ling called him Dajiu which makes him my Dajiu too!

Jiang Cheng: Bofu, your Bofu. And who's Da-jiu?!

Jiang Xie: Senior Mo! *Gasp* but doesn't that mean that insect really happened in our family???

Jiang Cheng: In...sect...? You mean incest? Where do you even learn these?

Jiang Xie: Do not change the topic, A-Die! You have a brother and you never told me!

Jiang Cheng: I... did have a brother.

Jiang Xie: hmph!

Jiang Cheng: But I don't have one anymore. It's complicated.

Jiang Xie: Is it that "you'll get it when you're older" thing?

Jiang Cheng: ... yes.

Jiang Xie: But Senior Mo was your brother?

Jiang Cheng: No?

Jiang Xie: No?

Jiang Cheng: Senior Mo... is possessed by my brother. No, Zidian can't make him leave.

Jiang Xie: Oh... is that bad? What about Senior Mo?

Jiang Cheng: I don't know. (I don't care either.)

Jiang Xie: *nods* But what should I call him now A-die? He's like, Senior Mo and your brother at the same time!

Jiang Cheng: Jin Ling will be annoyed if refer Wei- his DaJiu with respect before you do to him.

Jiang Xie: A-Ling is A-Ling. Senior Mo is your brother, I want to leave a good impression!

Jiang Cheng: Brat. (You already left a horrible impression I'm sure.) I don't know how you should address him.

Jiang Xie: It's complicated. (Nods sagely)

Jiang Cheng: It's complicated. But you can just ask him how he wants to be called and do as he says to make it simpler.

Jiang Xie: Oh! You truly are wise, A-Die! I'll go ask him!

Jiang Cheng: Brat. Wait. Wei Wuxian and Jin Ling are here?!

Wei Wuxian: Ah, Xiao-Xie, to what do I owe a visit?

Jiang Xie: Senior Mo, can I call you Bofu?

(Jin Ling in the background: *offended gasp*)

Wei Wuxian: ... YES OF COURSE! I'd be honored-(Glows)

Wei Wuxian: But, Ah... wouldn't your A-die mind?

Jiang Xie: A-die said I should ask you.

Wei Wuxian: *Glows even brighter*

Jiang Xie: A-Die?

Jiang Cheng: What is it this time?

Jiang Xie: If Senior Mo-

Jiang Cheng: Wei. His, my brother's name is Wei Ying. Courtesy name Wuxian.

Jiang Xie: If Senior Wei is my Bofu, doesn't that make Hanguang Jun my shenshen?

Jiang Cheng: (torn between accepting Lan Wangji as family and how funny it would be if his daughter calls him shenshen) Maybe. Ask your uncle how to address him.

Jiang Cheng: Wei Wuxian allowed my kid to call him uncle. What does this mean????

Wei Wuxian: Jiang Cheng allowed his kid to call me uncle. What does this mean????

Jiang Xie: A-die! a-Die! Did you know that Bofu has a son?

Jiang Cheng: A... WHAT???

Jiang Xie: A son!

Jiang Cheng: A son?

Jiang Xie: *nods* isn't that great? Our family doubled in just a year!

Jiang Cheng: Wei Wuxian.

Wei Wuxian: Yes, A-Cheng?

Jiang Cheng: If I learn one more life altering secret about the family from one of my kids again, consider this fledgling bridge we've been building broken.

---

Dad's

Jiang Xie: A-Ling, A-Ling why are you sad?

Jin Ling: Nothing, I just-

Jiang Xie: Just?

Jin Ling: I just wish I have parents too.

Jiang Xie: We have A-die.

Jin Ling: He's your A-die. Mine is...

Jiang Xie: (contemplates) (with determination) A-Ling, swear brotherhood with me.

Jin Ling: Huh? Why? And what does that have to do with anything.

Jiang Xie: (brightly) If you're my brother then my A-die is your A-die too!

Jin ling: I'm not replacing my father.

Jiang Xie: yeah you're just getting two fathers now. Your Baba and my A-die.

Jin Ling: that's not how it works.

Jiang Xie: It is too! My brother should naturally my father's son too, no?

Jin Ling: that's not- sighs

Jiang Xie: well?

Jin Ling: (hugs Jiang Xie) I'll think about it, thanks A-Xie.

Jiang Xie: (hugs Jin Ling back)

----

During a Cultivation conference

Jiang Xie: *looks at Lan Wangji, cowers behind Jiang Cheng a bit* A-Die? Why is Hanguang Jun always mad at you?

Jin Ling: *winces and drinks his tea*

Jiang Cheng: ... He's not mad at me.

Jin Ling: *spits his tea* jiujiu?!!

Jiang Cheng: he looks at nearly everyone the same way. He's just born with that face, no need to put meaning on his stares.

Jiang Xie: *looks at Lan Wangji again* oh, you're right.

Jin Ling: he's no-

Jiang Cheng: Sect Leader Jin, if you're so eager to correct my words, I'm sure you wouldn't mind educating my daughter for the next hour or until her curious mind is satisfied.

Jin Ling: ah, *looks at Jiang Xie's eager eyes* of course, sect leader Jiang is right, the chief cultivator does look at everyone the same way.

---

Christmas (kind of)

Jiang Cheng: 'To make it clear, this wasn't my idea. A Senior Disciple came to me one day. "Sect Leader, how about we do something to boost the juniors' morale?" The proposition was thus: We tell the children that if they work their hardest, some of them will be given the chance to have their wish granted by some magic man, or something, Jiang Cheng isn't pivy with the details other than the magical wish grantor is actually just him using the magic of money. It was supposed to be a one time thing but it was a very effective motivator so it became a tradition.

In this year's conferences the Yunmeng Jiang Sect continued to rank among the top in competitions. And now, Jiang Cheng has to complete his end of the bargain.

Jiang Cheng: Next time someone asks to be whipped by Zidian, I'm going to do it so hard no one will ever ask for it ever again. *Picks up a letter separate from the stack* Xiao Xie has been loud but otherwise good this year. Maybe I'll give her something she wants

Xie's letter: I wish to have a Didi.

Jiang Cheng: I thought she already moved on from that... Jin Ling performed very well in the last archery competition. He's A-Jie's son so he's technically Yunmeng Jiang by blood. *Picks up Jin Ling's letter* why is it heavy?

Jin Ling's Letter: I wish Jiujiu and Wei Wuxian to reconcile.

Jiang Cheng: that brat, he should learn to mind his own business- *a gold drops from the letter* is he bribing me?!?!

Jiang Cheng: *massages his temple* picks up a letter from the pile. Yu Meilai, *nods* she more or less carried the sect during those competitions. She deserves to-

Yu Meilai: On behalf of lotus Pier, I humbly ask our wish grantor a torture dungeon. With-

Jiang Cheng: *puts it back in the pile. Picks another letter.* Ah, XinXue. She has been very good with the new Shimei and shidi, I'll try my best to-

XinXue's letter: I wish all demonic cultivators a slow agonizing death

Jiang Cheng: Ah, that's impossible. Even for Sandu Sengshou. I mean, I would attempt it but that would but the sect in danger considering who the chief cultivator's husband is. Yes. That's why I can't do it. I can but I can't. Sorry XinXue. *Picks up a different letter* Please for the love of every deity protecting lotus Pier, let this be something I can actually grant. *Read the letter

Jiang Lian: Our sect Leader works too hard, I wish him a day or two of rest.

Jiang Cheng: Jiang Lian has always been my favorite.

(Jiang Cheng slept soundly that night and then the next.)

---

Inheritance

[rebeccathenaturalist]

So. ID apps. Do I use them in my classes? Yes, but only iNaturalist, because you get an additional layer of verification by actual human beings rather than just the initial algorithmic suggestions. And, more importantly, I stress again and again and again that apps are NOT to be the only tool you use, but need to be used in conjunction with field guides, online groups, and other tools, which we also discuss in class. This is especially true if you're planning to eat anything you pick.

I get incredibly frustrated by how ID apps are often touted as all you need to identify animals, plants, and fungi. (I've even seen them described as "a Master Naturalist in your pocket".) Yes, it's nice to have a convenient tool on your phone that allows you to take a picture of something and get a suggestion of what it is. But that's all it is--a suggestion. iNaturalist, Google Lens, PlantSnap, and other apps are incapable of critical thinking and observation skills. All they can do is take the visual, temporal, and location data that you give them and churn up suggestions based on whatever they already have in their databases.

Nature identification is a detail-oriented skill that takes time and practice to learn, and if you want to do it right there aren't any one-step shortcuts. Can an app potentially narrow down the possible species you're observing? Sure. But YOU still have to be the one to do the actual work in determining whether the species the app has suggested is the one you're looking at in person or not; you CANNOT just take the app at its word, because apps can often be wrong.

And this is even more the case when we're talking about edible mushrooms, many of which have lookalikes. (Trying to figure out which Little Brown Mushroom you have can be an exercise in frustration, to say the least.) While there are a lot of people getting into foraging who are willing to do the actual work needed to determine a given mushroom's species, there are unfortunately also those who just want quick and easy answers without a lot of effort, and those are the people who are going to go no further than the app's results. The articles that promote apps as the quick and easy answers these people want aren't helping, either.

By the way, I am ALWAYS happy to help people find resources to help them with identifying various beings in nature. I'm also fine with taking a look at photos and giving my perspective on what something may be (though, again, don't use me as your only source.) While I do teach foraging, I am first and foremost a nature identification instructor, and I want to help people go about learning the life forms around them correctly (and in the case of edible species, safely.)

[curiositysavesthecat]

*This poll was submitted to us and we simply posted it so people could vote and discuss their opinions on the matter. If you’d like for us to ask the internet a question for you, feel free to drop the poll of your choice in our inbox and we’ll post them anonymously (for more info, please check our pinned post).

[gacktfan69]

I remember when I knew buck tick had a song called my funny valentine but I hadn't listened to it before and I had them on shuffle and my fucking valentine played and i was so shocked like what did you say??? That cant be right...

[he-who-needs-to-be-silenced]

Baiyinosaurus baojiensis

[woodbees]

Power plant by aaaaaadrian