What is it?
Services
Want to ID a plant?
Send it to us, we'll do it for free.
We offer free plant identification to teachers, students, extension agents,
and state park employees.
There are more than 4,000 plant species in Florida. Who can know them all? That's why we have botanists and that's why we are offering plant identification services . . . FREE!
Even common plants often look differently, depending on where they are growing. And some plants look very much like other plants. For example, our native frog's-bit looks
a lot like non-native water hyacinths. And, unless one is a botanist, it is difficult to distinguish one bulrush from another, or one oak tree from another.
You can send a plant sample, or e-mail pictures. However, the very best thing to do is to send an actual plant sample. There are so many kinds of plants that they are
rarely identifiable with one or two pictures. In fact, sending pictures is often a waste of time.
For all plants-aquatic, wetland and upland plants-the collection method and mailing is the same.
(frog's bit) |
(water hyacinth) |
How to prepare and send the sample:
- Download the Plant ID Request Form (see above); fill it out
- Collect a large section of the plant with leaves, and flowers if present. For aquatic plants, drain as much water as possible off the plant.
- Press the plant between two sections of newspaper. Press with heavy books, if needed.
- Wrap the pressed sample in a few sheets of newspaper.
- Place the ID request form and plant sample in a large envelope.
Mail to:
A.P.I.R.S.
Center for Aquatic & Invasive Plants
7922 N.W. 71 Street
Gainesville, Fl. 32653
(352)392-1799
