If you're a keen forager or gardener, or you just want to learn a little more about some of the plants around you, this new app is perfect.
Called PlantNet, the app is basically an image search engine that can be used to help people identify flowers and plants with a simple click of their smart phone.
Working with images from a huge data base collected through Plant Net users help to identify and add information about the quality of images and plants.
Their newest project, IdentiPlante, will allow people to use the database to quickly receive data about the plant they have taken a picture of. At the moment there’s no specific focus on edible flowers but it could certainly be used in the future to help create a specific database of wild herbs and plants.
Is the PlantNet app free?
Yes, PlantNet is free to use and to download. It describes itself as a 'citizen science project on biodiversity'. It has users create and confirm plant databases, is a not-for-profit enterprise, and is ad-free.
How do I use the PlantNet app?
When you open the PlantNet app, you can select your geographical region. You then see plants uploaded by the PlantNet user community, and you can validate whether they are correctly identified. You can also click on the camera icon at the bottom of the screen to upload a new observation. When you take a photo, focus on specific part of the plant (the leaf, flower, fruit, bark, etc.) to then upload the observation under that category. Your observation is matched with similar photos that you can choose from to determine the exact species you are dealing with. If you confirm the match, your observation will also be added to the database.
Take a look at the video below to see more about how PlantNet works. You may also like this selection of over 20 Edible Flower ideas. Don't forget to follow Fine Dining Lovers on Facebook for more interesting posts.
