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Books for plant classification?

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  • 05-09-2022 11:20pm
    #1
    AgnesCalhoun1
    Registered Users Posts: 35 ✭


    I'm looking for recommendations on best books that I can get for classification/identification of common wild and garden trees/shrubs/flowers that can be found throughout Ireland. Any suggestions?



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    #2
    looksee
    Registered Users Posts: 28,429 ✭✭✭✭looksee


    One of the best for wildflowers is The Wildflowers of Ireland by Zoe Devlin. I haven't bought a garden plant one for years as I find they go out of date reasonably quickly and the internet is more up to date.



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    #3
    nullObjects
    Registered Users Posts: 1,308 ✭✭✭nullObjects


    Google are trying to develop an app that can do that if that was any use to you too:

    https://lens.google/

    It's a little hit and miss to be honest but might be fun to play around with



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    #4
    looksee
    Registered Users Posts: 28,429 ✭✭✭✭looksee


    I find google lens far more 'miss' than the previous version, and I would not use it to establish classifications or even identifications - it can just about manage 'thistle' or 'sunflower' but otherwise helpfully tells you 'this is a plant'.



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    #5
    Bill Hook
    Registered Users Posts: 117 ✭✭Bill Hook


    Maybe borrow a few books from the library and see which one(s) suits you best. My favourite wild flower book is Sarah Raven's Wild Flowers which covers the UK and Ireland. My most useful one is A Field Guide in Colour to Wild Flowers by Dietmar Aichele which was a random purchase in a charity shop a few years ago.



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    #6
    vintcerf
    Registered Users Posts: 239 ✭✭vintcerf


    there are a number of plant identification apps for mobile now and they are quite accurate (genera and species). they use trained models based mostly on crowd sourced images.

    https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/garden-scoop/2022-01-21-how-accurate-are-photo-based-plant-identification-apps



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    #7
    The Continental Op
    Registered Users Posts: 6,722 ✭✭✭The Continental Op


    Two I wouldn't be without

    Collins Field Guide to Trees

    Collins Field Guide to Wild Flowers

    Edit> While checking my bookshelves I also spotted this Plant Names Simplified: Their Pronunciation Derivation and Meaning . No pictures just a big list but I believe the latest version includes some classification information and best of all allows you to pronounce the proper latin plant names without feeling you've got it wrong. Rubus Cockburnianus anyone?

    Post edited by The Continental Op on

    Wake me up when it's all over.



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    #8
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭ [Deleted User]


    I suggest that you source a book with actual good quality photos.Some authors attempt to pass off drawings which are on occasoion questionable.

    The camera doesn't lie.



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    #9
    The Continental Op
    Registered Users Posts: 6,722 ✭✭✭The Continental Op


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119657765#Comment_119657765

    You need both. There is a reason that botanical specimens are drawn to provide the information to define the plant. The human eye can see and reproduce information that a photograph can't. In fact it doesn't even matter what the discipline a hand drawing is always used along with a photograph when as much information as necessary needs to be captured.

    Wake me up when it's all over.



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    #10
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭ [Deleted User]


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119658527#Comment_119658527

    You may need both.

    A good book with requisite photographs will suffice.



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    #11
    looksee
    Registered Users Posts: 28,429 ✭✭✭✭looksee


    It's down to personal preference in the end, but I agree with TCO that botanical drawings give better detail while a photograph gives an overall effect.



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