Plant Identification

Part of the Biodiversity Counts Curriculum Collection.

What makes a daisy a daisy? And what does a daisy do? Students learn techniques for observing, collecting, identifying, and preserving plants.

Hands-on activities help them hone their observation skills and learn how to identify and classify specimens. Students can put these skills to work in the field, observing plants and collecting specimens to press and preserve.

Activities & Worksheets

Blindfolded Walk

Without your eyes to guide—and possibly distract—you, what would you notice that you otherwise might not have? Enlist the help of a few friends, and find out.

The Blindfolded Walk

Describing Oak Leaves

Test your classification skills with this leafy challenge. Examine drawings of 12 oak leaves, and see if you can determine the common and scientific name for each one of the dozen.

Describing Oak Leaves

Twig Twins

A twig is just a twig—or is it? You can identify a plant, tree, or shrub just by closely observing one small part of it. After this activity, you'll never again dismiss a twig.

Twig Twins

Types of Oak Leaves

Long and narrow like a feather or small and symmetrical like a rose petal—the variety of oak leaves runs the gamut. See if your leaves match any of the 12 varieties featured in this sheet of hand drawings.

Types of Oak Leaves
Article Helpful Hints for Field Sketching Drawing is something you can learn. Start field sketching with these helpful hints. Article How to Identify Plants in the Field Tips on how to identify plant specimens from Brian Boom, a curator at the New York Botanical Garden. Article Who Are the Plants? There are 10 divisions in the plant kingdom. Learn more about the orders in the kingdom Plantae. Article Responsible Collecting Collecting specimens is necessary for studying and documenting new species. Find out how you can do it responsibly. Article Collecting Plants Brian Boom of the New York Botanic Garden shares tools and strategies for collecting plant specimens. Article How to Press and Preserve Plants Leaves, fronds, grasses, and petals are all great specimens to note and preserve. Find out how to press plants like a pro. Educator Materials How To Mount Dried Plants See how to mount and protect your specimens so you can study and enjoy them for years to come. Article Plant Inventory Find out how working scientists use plotting to inventory a large site, then apply the principles to your own small site. Curriculum Unit Plant Morphology Take an illustrated look at plant morphology with this collection of diagrams. Article Tips to Identify Poison Ivy Did you know that the first time you come in contact with poison ivy, you probably won't get a rash? Every time after that, though,...