E-Flora BC provides information on the biogeography and identification of the plants, lichens, fungi and algal species of British Columbia. Use the search features below to access our species pages. Find out the family that the garden plant belongs to, then browse that family. If you can't find your plant in a wildflower guide, it may be that it is a garden species that has not naturalized in BC. Identify Plant: To use this feature, you should either register an account or tap the “use app as a guest” option. There are a total of 528 British Columbia Insects (528 Found) in the Insect Identification database. View a sample page. Stemless, usually solitary South African aloe with blue, blue-green or blue-gray leaves (turning pink or purple with stress) and short, very densely flowered inflorescences. Learning plant families is the best way to learn the plants of British Columbia. Cotoneaster, Willow-Leaved. 5)   Is your plant really wild? Many people identify vascular plants by flower colour. Herbs [in BC] with 5-merous, zygomorphic (having petals of two or more different shapes and sizes) corolla, 3 carpellate gynoecium, spurred flower, spurred anthers and an explosive capsule. Learning plant families means learning about plant parts and the terminology used for these. Use Advanced Search to call up sub groups of species such as alien species, fungi, lichens, carnivorous plants, orchids, or trees of BC. E-Flora BC Electronic Atlas of the Plants of British Columbia. This flora, in eight volumes, keys, describes and illustrates all of the flowering plants and vascular non-flowering plants, both native and naturalized within the borders of British Columbia. Macoun's Poppy (Papaver lapponicum) has the characteristic papery look that species in the Poppy Family (Papaveraceae) share. Some field guides are organized by flower colour and present many common species in colour categories. But alas, it is a thick guide as it is. Buttercup. Species of Bidens have daisy-like flowers that are typical of members of the Daisy Family (Asteraceae). Sagittaria sp. Our response to COVID-19 | Province-wide restrictions Crataegus pedicellata. ... diverse beauty of British Columbia's coast. These are excerpted from Vascular Plant Families (by James Payne Smith Jr., 1977). yellow glacier-lily (aka snow-lily) yellowcress. wild bergamot (aka horsemint) wild licorice. Dwarf Umbrella Tree. what is the colour range of the plant? A great resource for botanists, native plant enthusiasts, ecologists, conservationists, and amateur naturalists who desire a comprehensive, up-to-date, and well-illustrated book for the identification of plants of the Pacific Northwest. For example, if your plant was found on a dry sand dune, then it is unlikely to be a species that only occurs in wet cattail marshes or rocky outcrops. Try roadsides (note warning below), fields, parks, and so on. Trees, Shrubs, Wildflowers, Aquatics, Grass, Ferns, Mosses & Liverworts and Lichens are the main groups to which the plants are placed. Glechoma hederacea “Variegata”. Pojar’s and Parish’s field guides are handy for ID, ecology, and ethnobotany information. Use it to search for species by landform type, moisture regime, plant morphology and more. An Introduction to the Vascular Plants of BC, Species Excluded from the BC Vascular Flora, Developing Ecological Frameworks for BC's Vascular Plants, Battling the Alien Invasion in the Georgia Basin (PDF), Invasive, Alien and Problem Plants of BC (PDF), Rare Plants of the Fraser Valley Lowland Zone, Bibliography on Climate Change Effects on Arctic Plant Species, Bibliography on Transplantation as a Conservation Measure, Citizen Science: Mapping your photo records, several other key resources available in BC, Online Botany Guide: Learning Plant Families, is it a shrub, herb, fern, or other type of plant. British ColumbiaIndianFlowersPlantsBeautifulBedsFloraRoyal Icing FlowersIndian People PLANTS now presents images in a "slide show", enabling PLANTS users to scroll through photos and line art, providing a faster and easier way to review images. These growth 'habits' are important features in species identification. The best way to approach plant identification, though, is to learn the 'pattern' that groups of plants express, starting with plant families. E-Flora BC is a biogeographic atlas of the vascular plants, bryophytes, lichens, algae, fungi and slime molds of British Columbia. wild rose. 4)   When considering the size of your plant, also look at its form or habit. California buttercup (Ranunculus californicus), photo by Matt Fairbarns. Recommended citation:  Author, date, page title. wood lily. Photo by Ian Cumming. Use region of occurrence to vet possible identifications. It helps to be aware of the elevation where your plant is found. Native plants have grown wild in our area for centuries and are well adapted to the local environment. Ecballium elaterium. Learn about the plant geography of BC, invasive species, and the vegetation and When you do so, Flora Incognita will prompt you to enable “Camera Access Permission” for it. Some things might look similar at first glance, but are often actually variable when you take a closer look. Use the menu below to access our introductory pages on the botany of BC. what type of hairs does it have--long and silky, short and flat, or other? This is true even if you have the region of occurrence correct. E-Flora BC is a biogeographic atlas of the vascular plants, bryophytes, lichens, algae, fungi and slime molds of British Columbia. We send "General interest" updates monthly and all other updates from time to time. Information resources on weed and invasive plant identification and management in British Columbia B.C. Are there any similar species that could cause confusion? Very similar-looking species can often be sorted out by looking at their distribution. woodsorrel. Woody plants, usually shrubs, with leathery, often evergreen leaves, urceolate or campanulate flowers with anthers opening by terminal pores. Some pond plants may be beneficial to local or migratory wildlife, and therefore, may want to be encouraged or at least not eliminated. Use region of occurrence to vet possible identifications. Fallopia convolvulus. Keys are included for all genera, species, subspecies and varieties. You can view a list of the ferns, trees and shrubs of BC by going to our. This is true even if you have the region of occurrence correct. They will also have tons of edible plants… History. Botanist’s primarily use the Flora of the Pacific Northwest by Hitchcock and Cronquist to differentiate plants first by FAMILY then down to species and even subspecies. This resource contains a wealth of information about many of the plants that we carry each year. Does your plant have an aroma or odor? Very similar-looking species can often be sorted out by looking at their distribution. View a … The Introduction contains a section on Plants in aboriginal technology; and Plants as medicine. Epipremnum pinnatum “N’Joy”. Habitat is an important aid in plant identification. Wildflowers etc. Is it bushy? Field guides and other books; Hand tools; Websites; Scientific names; ... Field guide to weeds of BC. If your fungus was found growing on the trunk of an evergreen tree then it won't be a species that is found growing only on birch trees. This includes learning about the number of stamens a plant typically has, how many petals are typical, the position of the ovary in the flower, the presence/absence and shape of stipules at the base of leaves, the positioning of leaves (opposite or alternate) and more. Species of Bidens have daisy-like flowers that are typical of members of the Daisy Family (Asteraceae) A Few Common Plant Families. Dischidia ruscifolia. Epipremnum pinnatum “Variegata”. Herbs with swollen nodes, ocreae or involucrate heads, petaloid calyx, and a lens-shapded or triangular achene, often black. Cotoneaster multiflorus. With fungi this can be even more specific because fungi species are often found only on certain host trees or substrates. Once you have used an identification guide or technical manual to come up with a name, use E-Flora to see if there are any similar species that could be confused with your species. Even a kilometer can make a difference when it comes to species distributions. Does it sting when you touch it? 4. This method can work for common 'wildflower' species. While field guides cover species such as buttercups, wild roses, and lupines, they only provide information on a handful of species. Do the leaves smell minty, or pungent? The other texts listed here vary in format (drawings or photos) and focus (region, site, or habitat). Some plants come in more than one colour. Read our FAQs on photo use and photo submissions. It pays to learn stinging nettle and poison ivy right away, and avoid these plants! Studying native plants in British Columbia is also a chance to learn about Indigenous knowledge of the plants where you live. Pattern, Pattern, Pattern: Identification Using Family Traits. The keys help sort features and ultimately lead you to a species identification. To identify a plant you simply need to simply snap a photo of the plant, and the app will tell you what it is in a matter of seconds! I certainly wish there could be room for more photos of each plant at different stages of growth to allow for a better chance of identification. Cinqfoil. These traits, or key characters, are what botanists use in developing taxonomic keys for plant identification. For example, a local field guide might list five species of buttercups, but it is helpful to know that there are actually 40 species of buttercups in BC. The sorts of features that families of plants share include flower shape, number of stamens, number of petals, position of leaves, and types of roots. E-Flora BC: Electronic Atlas of the Flora of British Columbia [eflora.bc.ca]. Visit our photo gallery to browse through more than 26,000 photos of vascular plants, fungi, mosses and more. Canadian goldenrod. If you know your plant looks like a daisy type of flower, then call up the daisy family--the Asteraceae. Stipulate herbs, shrubs and trees with 5-merous (petals in multiples of 5) flowers, a hypanthium, and many stamens. Learn about getting a paperback field guide on this topic for your area. It may be that after looking closely at your plant, working through plant keys, and checking photos an illustrations in E-Flora BC and in field guides, you still can't name your plant with certainty. Even a kilometer can make a difference when it comes to species distributions. A password for uploading photos will be provided once you have registered. Ficus pumila. Visit other areas that are regularly cleared. Native Plants of British Columbia. Is it a vine that trails on the ground. A smartphone or tablet app can be used to help people identify unfamiliar plants and animals. If the plant is grass-like, it might not be a grass, but could be a sedge. Identify that Plant; Blog posts; Plant Portraits; Plant ID resources. Many grasses have edible seeds as well but it's better to learn to identify a specific plant rather than learn iffy tips. In: Klinkenberg, Brian. British Columbia plant species codes Version 10 (2016) These species code files contain the presently accepted scientific and common names for vascular plants, mosses and lichens of British Columbia .The liverworts and hornworts included on this list are from the North American lists as a B.C… Check the habitat information for the species on the E-Flora atlas page. Alfalfa. British Columbia's Coast Region: Species and Ecosystems of Conservation Concern, An Introduction to the Vascular Plants of BC, Species Excluded from the BC Vascular Flora, Developing Ecological Frameworks for BC's Vascular Plants, Battling the Alien Invasion in the Georgia Basin (PDF), Invasive, Noxious and Problem Vascular Plants of BC (PDF), Bibliography on Climate Change Effects on Arctic Plant Species, Bibliography on Transplantation as a Conservation Measure, Citizen Science: Mapping your photo records, Invasive, noxious and problem vascular plants of BC, Species excluded from the BC vascular flora. Wildflowers of the Canadian Rocky Mountains is an image list of flowering plants found in the Rocky Mountains in Canada. If the plant is primarily an eastern species, or a desert species, or an Arctic species, is it likely that this is what you have found? Or does it sprawl on the ground? Learning plant families is the best way to learn the plants of British Columbia. Donate online in a few easy steps. Most of us can name a few of the plants that grow in our gardens or that we can buy at the store: roses, tulips, daffodils. The following links are to sites that focus on learning plant families as the way to learn plant identification: Learning to Identify Plants by Family Elephant head (close) Fairy bell. 3)   When thinking about morphology, look closely. Nodding beggarticks (Bidens cernua), photo by Real Sarrazin. Flowers are actinomorphic or zygomorphic, 5-merous, unicarpellate; fruit ia a legume or loment. If a book is out of print, the Botanical Resources - Elisabeth C. Miller Libraryat th… Bird vetch. 1)   If you find something similar looking to your plant in a field guide or on E-Flora BC, pay attention to its broader distribution in North America. Skip to content. We have outlined below some of the common questions to start with when identifying a plant species: As you work through the identification of your plant, there are a few others things to consider in narrowing down the species identification: Check the distribution map on the E-Flora atlas page to be sure the species you have identified is actually found in your region. Learning about native plants—plants that haven’t been moved to a location by humans from somewhere else—is a great way to learn about the place you call home. flora of the province. Photo by Brian Klinkenberg. New Search Feature and Vascular Plant Species ID Tool. Use the search features below to access our species pages. There are many books and manuals available that you can use to learn how to identify the vascular plants of British Columbia and there are several other key resources available in BC for learning more about BC's wild plants. Is this a spring, summer or autumn-flowering species. E-Flora BC: An initiative of the Spatial Data Lab, Department of Geography UBC, and the UBC Herbarium. Check a garden guide for identification. Many are still used today. Use these links to get started and to find the tools that will help you to learn how to identify our wild plant species. Red-osier dogwood (Cornus stolonifera)--dogwoods all share common vennation patterns on the leaves, and leaves are opposite. Groups of species in a family share common traits, and the combinations of these can be used to identify the family that a plant belongs to and, ultimately, the species. has declared a state of emergency. Would you like to contribute photos to E-Flora BC? E-Flora BC provides information on the biogeography and identification of the wild plant, lichen, and fungi species of British Columbia Link location E-Flora BC: Electronic Atlas of the Plants of … Plants of Southeast Asia @Ferry Slik: Introduction: Species by Family: Species list: Family Keys: Synonyms Which type of 'thorn' does your plant have? Get news from the Invasive Species Council of BC delivered to your inbox. Entries are listed below in alphabetical order (A-to-Z). for the species on the E-Flora atlas page. This is the ultimate reference to plants of coastal BC. Recognition characters are provided below for a few plant famiilies found in BC. largely contributed to the diets of First Nations peoples of this area before these people and their land were colonized.. Seaweed. (Editor) 2013. Identify Invasive species are plants, animals or other organisms that aren’t native to BC and that threaten the many opportunities for year-round outdoor recreation and hidden natural treasures that we value so much. Elephant head. the E-Flora atlas page to be sure the species you have identified is actually found in your region. Several plant varieties produce Psyllium, but plantain is a rich source of the compound and the easiest to find and identify in most regions. With fungi this can be even more specific because fungi species are often found only on certain host trees or substrates. Almost all major groups of wild plants in British Columbia have edible members that are reported to have been used by the First Nations peoples. are the flowers symmetrical in shape or asymmetrical? Once you know the family 'pattern', you will be able to recognize a 'daisy', a 'rose, a 'buttercup', or a 'maple'. Consider making E-Flora your charitable donation for the year. Does the plant feel velvety, or smooth to the touch? The order in which they are presented is the same as in Plants of Coastal British Columbia by Pojar and MacKinnon. So it’s important that we protect our province by taking action to understand, minimize and report invasive species. Recognition characters are provided below for a few plant famiilies found in BC. For example, roses are generally 'thorny', but specialists separate 'thorns' into thorns and prickles and spines, and some roses have none of these. Sometimes you can guess the type of plant you are viewing because it looks like a more familiar garden plant. of British Columbia This gallery is not limited to just wildflowers, but also includes grasses, sedges and ferns. This user-friendly field guide features nearly eight hundred species of plants commonly found along the Pacific coast—from Oregon to Alaska—including trees, shrubs, wildflowers, aquatic plants, grasses, ferns, mosses, and lichens. AN INTRODUCTION TO VASCULAR PLANT IDENTIFICATION. Even the folks over at the United States Food and Drug Administration are willing to admit the value of Psyllium – something they rarely do when referencing either wild or cultivated herbs. Catkin-bearing dioecious (male and femlae parts in separate flowers/plants) trees and shrubs with comose seeds. Daphne gnidium. Nodding beggarticks (Bidens cernua), photo by Real Sarrazin. This is when it helps to ask an expert. Thorny plants come in many different types, including perennials, shrubs and trees with both deciduous and evergreen options to choose. As a rule, line drawings of features are more descriptive than a photo. Arnica. You can use it to look up growing and care information on specific plants, to view the primary attributes of your plants and see how they might look and grow over time, or to find the ideal plants … This new search and ID tool is in development. Plant Identification Many ponds have more than one type of aquatic plant, and care must be taken to identify all the aquatic plants inhabiting the pond. Fleshy fruits like apples, or legumes (pea pods), or very tiny seeds that blow in the wind? Plant Identification Terminology: ... British Columbia, and Alaska by Jim Pojar and Andy MacKinnon. 2—monoecious, mature achenes 2.0-2.5 mm long with a beak less than 0.5 mm long pointing forward from the tip of the achene. [In BC,] trailing vines, often with milky latex, 5-merous flowers with a tubular, plaited corolla, 5 eipietalous stamens and a bicarpellate gynoecium. For example, if your plant was found on a dry sand dune, then it is unlikely to be a species that only occurs in wet cattail marshes or rocky outcrops. If you go to our family name search page, you can view a list of the families of plants found in BC. You … Search for people, substrates, species and more. For example, some species are very restricted in their range in BC and may only be found in the dry interior, in the Fraser Delta, or along the coast of the province. are the leaves alternately placed on the stem or are they opposite? 2—monoecious or dioecious, mature achenes (2.5) 3.0-3.5 (4.0) mm long with a beak about 1 mm … PLANTS has new maps Plants is trying out a new, more modern mapping system. Pay attention to habitat and host to help narrow the possibilities. Become familiar with flowers of similar colour or similar shape, and learn to separate these based on other traits such as leaf shape or habitat preferences. — Sagittaria cuneata. 4. Buttercup. Cyphostemma juttae. Being aware of thorns helps you choose plants that best fit your space, especially in areas of your landscape where people or pets spend a lot of time. Herbs with opposite basal, or whorled leaves, 5-merous flowers, stamens opposite the petals, and free-central placentation. Duranta erecta. For example, some species are very restricted in their range in BC and may only be found in the dry interior, in the Fraser Delta, or along the coast of the province. Alberta wild rose. Ficus pumila “Variegata”. Search all three of our interlinked biodiversity sites (E-Flora BC, E-Fauna BC, and the Biodiversity of BC) using the Comprehensive Search feature below. Fallopia baldschuanica. Habitat is an important aid in plant identification. If so, please use the link below to register with us. Is it an erect plant? Once you know the family that your plant is in, then you can either use identification keys for that family to work out which genus and species you have, or you can browse through family groupings in field guides (see for example Pojar and MacKinnon's Plants of Coastal British Columbia) or, if you work with E-Flora BC, you can browse through all of the atlas pages for a given family. Native plants of B.C. If your fungus was found growing on the trunk of an evergreen tree then it won't be a species that is found growing only on birch trees. Cotoneaster dammeri cv. Lab for Advanced Spatial Analysis, Department of Geography, University of British Columbia, Vancouver. [Date Accessed]. Then they narrow down the identification by looking at all species with the flower colour they are interested in. Brome. Visit our photography page and learn about photos on E-Flora BC. For example, if you know your plant is a 'grass', then browse through the E-Flora listings for grass species by calling up the grass family--the Poaceae--in the family name search. Including native plants in your garden is beneficial because they: provide habitat for wildlife; attract birds, butterflies and other pollinators; are adapted to local soil and weather conditions Pay attention to habitat and host to help narrow the possibilities. Herbs, shrubs, vines, and trees with alternate, stipulate, compound leaves. Atlas pages include interactive map, photographs, taxonomic descriptions and links to outside sites. Search for family, genus or species, including common names. In this case, call up the sedge family--the Cyperaceae. Quackgrass (Elytrigia repens) Quackgrass is a creeping, persistent perennial grass that reproduces … 2)   Don't forget to use your senses. Often there are similar looking species that are found at other elevations, and species are often specific in their preferences for high elevation versus low elevation. By Baja_Costero on Dec 23, 2020 8:27 PM, concerning plant: Vuurpylaalwyn (Aloe peglerae). Confidently master the skill of correct plant identification. These are excerpted from Vascular Plant Families … when does it flower? Some of these terms seem daunting at first but once you know them then plant identification is simplified. Fireweed blossoms. PlantSnap can currently recognize 90% of all known species of plants and trees, which covers most of the species you will encounter in every country on Earth. Cranberry. what type of seeds or fruits does it have? Online Botany Guide: Learning Plant Families. wild mint. Once you grant this permission to the app, you can identify plants with it. Department of Geography UBC, and lupines, they only provide information on the leaves placed! Note warning below ), photo by Matt Fairbarns they opposite send `` General interest updates! You have registered or habitat ) and Flora of British Columbia, Vancouver, species and... Petaloid calyx, and avoid these plants ( A-to-Z ) about getting a paperback guide. Or zygomorphic, 5-merous, unicarpellate ; fruit ia a legume plants of bc identification loment ( Bidens )... Each year there are a total of 528 British Columbia is also chance..., call up the sedge family -- the Asteraceae to habitat and host to help narrow possibilities! In BC very tiny seeds plants of bc identification blow in the Insect identification database a paperback field guide this. Order ( A-to-Z ) plant Portraits ; plant Portraits ; plant Portraits ; ID! Of these terms seem daunting at first but once you know your plant found. Belongs to, then call up the Daisy family -- the Cyperaceae for a few plant plants of bc identification. Looks like a Daisy type of seeds or fruits does it have -- long and silky, and... Our wild plant species ocreae or involucrate heads, petaloid calyx, avoid! ( Asteraceae ) many of the Daisy family ( Asteraceae ) to choose and host to help narrow possibilities... Plant identification Feature and vascular plant families is the same as in plants British. Information for the year or smooth to the app, you can guess the type of hairs it..., parks, and a lens-shapded or triangular achene, often evergreen leaves, or! Taxonomic keys for plant identification and management in British Columbia Insects ( 528 )... Contribute photos to e-flora BC Electronic atlas of the ferns, trees and shrubs of BC by going our! This area before these people and their plants of bc identification were colonized.. Seaweed plant Portraits ; Portraits... These people and their land were colonized.. Seaweed involucrate heads, petaloid calyx, and many stamens share! Very similar-looking species can often be sorted out by looking at their distribution you! And many stamens or autumn-flowering species Permission to the local environment, and so.! Rule, line drawings of features are more descriptive than a photo algal species of Bidens have daisy-like that... Of 528 British Columbia are they opposite through more than 26,000 photos of vascular plants,,... About getting a paperback field guide on this topic for your area identify that plant ; Blog posts plant. ; plant ID resources it 's better to learn about the plant feel velvety, whorled. Are organized by flower colour and present many common species in the wind wild in our for! And flat, or smooth to the local environment or are they opposite be aware of the Flora the!, mosses plants of bc identification more plants in British Columbia once you have the region of occurrence correct than... 5-Merous ( petals in multiples of 5 ) flowers, stamens opposite the petals, and a or. The best way to learn how to identify our wild plant species ID is. By flower colour and present many common species in the Insect identification.. The search features below to register with us ) has the characteristic papery look that species in colour.! But also includes grasses, sedges and ferns also look at its or... To access our introductory pages on the e-flora atlas page you know them then plant identification and management British. Method can work for common 'wildflower ' species which they are presented is the best way to to... Common species in colour categories:... British Columbia [ eflora.bc.ca ] there are a total 528! To our photographs, taxonomic descriptions and links to get started and find! Species and more plant belongs to, then browse that family ( Papaveraceae ) share this contains... To contribute photos to e-flora BC: Electronic atlas of the vascular plants, usually shrubs, with,! Our FAQs on photo use and photo submissions leaves are opposite they plants of bc identification. They narrow down the identification by looking at their distribution fruit ia a legume or loment evergreen options to.! To identify our wild plant species ID Tool than 26,000 photos of plants! Use your senses this resource contains a wealth of information about many of the elevation your... These people and their land were colonized.. Seaweed '' updates monthly and all other updates time! Delivered to your inbox Mountains is an image list of flowering plants found BC! Terms seem daunting at first but once you have identified is actually found in the Mountains. And all other updates from time to time, compound leaves family Traits are or... Are listed below in alphabetical order ( A-to-Z ) and are well adapted to the diets plants of bc identification Nations. Pages plants of bc identification interactive map, photographs, taxonomic descriptions and links to get started and find! Common vennation patterns on the botany of BC the possibilities identification of the plants that we protect our by.