By The hot dry season is here, and many people will be traveling and seeing a lot of plants along the way. Whether to determine the name of a beautiful flower or just curious about the possible use of an interesting plant, some mobile apps can help people identify the plants they see.
With artificial intelligence (AI) and the growth of citizen science projects, identifying plants is now much easier than before. There are already free and paid mobile plant identification apps available for iOS and Android phones:
PlantNet
According to many tech and plant experts, PlantNet can be considered the fastest and most accurate free plant identification app for mobile phones. Available for Android, iOS, and even web browsers, PlantNet can identify plants from its database containing over 46,050 species.
Interface of PlantNet mobile app. (PlantNet)
Initially launched as a citizen science project to monitor global biodiversity in 2013, the app is now helping botanists and plant enthusiasts by letting them identify plants just by taking pictures. It can identify plants within seconds by analyzing a photo of their leaf, flower, fruit, or bark. Aside from being free, it is also available in more than 45 languages, making it accessible to more people.
To identify a certain plant, users are advised to use their phone’s camera to zoom in on just one distinguishable part of the plant, such as one flower. Focus on the frame and take a picture. Make sure it is centered, sharps, and has a neutral background, experts added.
FlowerChecker
This mobile app is quite different from the rest because instead of having an automated program or AI-powered database at its backend, a group of plant experts will be the ones answering the queries. After some hours or days, the team will be providing the taxonomy and the common name of the plant with great accuracy. The mobile app is free but charges $1 (54.3 PhP) per correct identification.
Interface of FlowerChecker mobile app. (FlowerChecker)
LeafSnap Premium
Like PlantNet, this app also offers simple installation and accurate plant identification. It can identify plants, fruits, flowers, and trees from its searchable database of 32,000 plant species. Aside from identification, the app also offers reminders and step-by-step plant care guides which can be handy for those having problems with their plants. It also has an integrated social community option where users can share their plant IDs with their friends. However, unlike PlantNet, LeafSnap Premium is a paid app that costs $5 (271.5 PhP) per month.
Interface of LeafSnap mobile app. (LeafSnap)
PlantID
Gardening is not just all about plants and learning about other organisms and objects in the field can be a big help in decision-making processes. What makes PlantID unique to other previously mentioned mobile plant identification apps is that it can identify fungi, lichens, and even rocks, on top of over 12,000 plants in its database. The app also offers the identification of more than 100 plant diseases using machine learning. For those who want to try, the app offers a three-day free trial and charges $10 USD (543 PhP) per month afterward.
Interface of PlantID mobile app. (PlantID)
These are just some recommendations among the several plant identification mobile apps available online. Though AI-powered apps yield fairly accurate results, it is much better to consult with experts for plant identification, especially if it involves business-changing or life-threatening decisions.
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