Applications

PLANTSNAP 

PlantSnap is ideal for students who do not recognize certain plants. First, students will take a photograph of the plant and the app will do its best to recognize it. Once it figures it out it provides the name of the plant. One of the cool features of PlantSnap is Augmented Reality Plant Identification where students can watch AR animations over the plants. It also has a library where students can save their images while realizing how many different plants they are able to identify! 

Application download: App Store / Google Play

LEAFSNAP
Similar to PlantSnap, LeafSnap can use photography to identify plants, mushrooms, and cactae! Students are able to pick up a leaf, take a photo of that leaf, and LeafSnap will identify which tree it comes from. The app claims 90% accuracy but it allows students to become familiar with leaves and trees. At the moment, LeafSnap focuses on plants in the Eastern United States. 

Application download: App Store / Google Play 

STARTING WITH SOIL
This app allows users to plant seeds, build compost piles, drag a microscope to view different organisms in the soil, and see how symbiosis works in various plants. Starting with Soil also allows users to observe slow-motion pollination along with a time-lapse video of plants starting as seeds to adults.    

Application download: App Store 

iNATURALIST 
This app takes observation to a whole new level. Students can take pictures of local plants and record them. Students can help or ask for identification through a local botanist. Otherwise, students can also travel the world and observe plants in different parts of the world. They can observe how plants differ from their community based on the need for adaptation and environmental differences. 

Application download: App Store / Google Play 

FLORA MOBILE APP 

This is a local app created by the Flora of Virginia Project. Similar to its printed guide, the application identifies and provides information of native species not only in Virginia but also surrounding states such as West Virginia and Maryland. The app also tells users information about rare or threatened species, species invasion, and conversation ranks. 

Application download: App Store 

BEESMART

This app is used as a guide to selecting what plants are best for pollinators in your area. It includes regionally specific plant lists and identifies plants based on your preference of pollinator type, flower color, soil type, sunlight, and plant type. This app is good to use in the classroom when discussing the importance of pollination and researching types of pollinators vital to your local area. 

Application download: Google Play 

VIRGINIA WILDFLOWERS 

This app is similar to other identification apps. It includes 3,266 species of plants found in Virginia. It is easy to navigate as users can narrow down plant preferences based on plant type, color, petals, leaf arrangement, and location. This is great for students learning about what qualities make certain plants types group together. 

Application download: Google Play