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XUL
OTD Janitor



Registered: 03/16/05
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Identifying Trees
#18720062 - 08/17/13 06:52 PM (10 years, 6 months ago) |
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I recently bought a field guide for Trees of the Eastern region of the United States. I believe I have successfully identified a Black Locust (Robinia psudoacacia L.). Apparently this tree grows white flowers in late spring, but alas I have missed my chance to identify with them. Still, I think I have a pretty accurate identification.
What is your experience with identifying plants and trees? I wanted to start with identifying trees and eventually learn how to identify plants that have medicinal value to them. I don't know if I would ever attempt to identify a plant and use it as a medicine, but I definitely would love to become an accurate identifier.
I skimmed through a book earlier today and read a piece of information that said forsythia had anti-inflammatory properties. That is pretty interesting considering I have it growing in my yard.
What is your experience with botany?
Black Locust:

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TRUMP 2020
Edited by XUL (08/17/13 07:01 PM)
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Horizon
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Registered: 08/15/13
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Re: Identifying Trees [Re: XUL]
#18720317 - 08/17/13 08:09 PM (10 years, 6 months ago) |
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Nice find. My experience with botany is fairly basic. I started with trees and can now ID the majority of them in my state, then I moved on to the plants I would commonly see on walks in the woods, fields, even some aquatic areas. I think identification is interesting and worth while, like you said there are medicinals, as well as edibles, poisons, psychoactives. Learning how to ID plants is useful in that sense. I ID mushrooms for even more of a challenge.
-------------------- Stanhope is right
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XUL
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Re: Identifying Trees [Re: Horizon]
#18721730 - 08/18/13 04:58 AM (10 years, 6 months ago) |
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Quote:
Horizon said: Nice find. My experience with botany is fairly basic. I started with trees and can now ID the majority of them in my state, then I moved on to the plants I would commonly see on walks in the woods, fields, even some aquatic areas. I think identification is interesting and worth while, like you said there are medicinals, as well as edibles, poisons, psychoactives. Learning how to ID plants is useful in that sense. I ID mushrooms for even more of a challenge.
Do you have any recommendations on learning to ID?
What is your experience with success and failure?
What guides do you use? Do you prefer a certain one?
I have only just begun and I could use some tips!
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TRUMP 2020
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nicechrisman
Interdimensional space wizard



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Re: Identifying Trees [Re: XUL]
#18721871 - 08/18/13 07:03 AM (10 years, 6 months ago) |
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I've worked in garden centers doing lots of plant identification for the past 15 years. Honestly, I don't really use proper keying for IDing, I just look at them and size them up. It's a little hard now though cuz most of my experience has been in Washington state, and I now work at a garden center in So Cal. I gots some re learning to do.
-------------------- "Cosmic Love is absolutelely ruthless and highly indifferent: it teaches its lessons whether you like/dislike them or not." John C. Lily
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SmOakland



Registered: 02/26/13
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I use the Peterson Guide to Eastern Trees. Plant identification is fun.
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Horizon
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Re: Identifying Trees [Re: XUL]
#18722519 - 08/18/13 11:40 AM (10 years, 6 months ago) |
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Quote:
XUL said:
Quote:
Horizon said: Nice find. My experience with botany is fairly basic. I started with trees and can now ID the majority of them in my state, then I moved on to the plants I would commonly see on walks in the woods, fields, even some aquatic areas. I think identification is interesting and worth while, like you said there are medicinals, as well as edibles, poisons, psychoactives. Learning how to ID plants is useful in that sense. I ID mushrooms for even more of a challenge.
Do you have any recommendations on learning to ID?
What is your experience with success and failure?
What guides do you use? Do you prefer a certain one?
I have only just begun and I could use some tips!
The only advice I can give is practice. It's going to take hours upon hours in nature to be able to comfortably identify plants, trees, and mushrooms. In my experience there will be failures when identifying, sometimes plants look different depending on the growing conditions and the time of year. Just know that you shouldn't ingest anything you ID until you are 100% sure it is what you think it is. As for the guides I use, I use the Internet mostly, but in the field I use a few different guides. It's best to look around for a couple really good ones with multiple views of the plants, leaves, etc. but what will really make you comfortable identifying is being outside practicing as much as possible.
-------------------- Stanhope is right
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XUL
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Registered: 03/16/05
Posts: 28,261
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Re: Identifying Trees [Re: Horizon]
#18722563 - 08/18/13 11:54 AM (10 years, 6 months ago) |
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Quote:
It's best to look around for a couple really good ones with multiple views of the plants, leaves, etc
That's what I was thinking too. Good call.
Quote:
Just know that you shouldn't ingest anything you ID until you are 100% sure it is what you think it is
I agree. One day I would like to be able to identify herbs and make some powders or homemade remedies, but I think I have a very long way to go. I think I might also seek help from my local park rangers or professors at my university.
Today I identified an American Holly bush, but that was not too hard. Still, it was fun!
What an enjoyable and intellectual hobby!
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Horizon
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Re: Identifying Trees [Re: XUL]
#18723245 - 08/18/13 03:07 PM (10 years, 6 months ago) |
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Sounds like you're well on the right track. It doesn't even seem like it takes a long time to learn because it's enjoyable, at least for me.
-------------------- Stanhope is right
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