Welcome to Go Botany, an interactive guide to native and naturalized plants in New England. Whether you're a botanical beginner or an experienced botanist, Go Botany provides a wealth of resources to help you identify and learn about the region's diverse flora.
What is Go Botany?
Go Botany is a collaborative platform developed by the New England Wildflower Society that aims to teach botany and plant identification. The website features interactive keys, photos, and maps to help users identify thousands of species of plants found in New England. Users can also share their observations and contribute to the platform.
Features
Interactive Keys
Go Botany offers two interactive keys to help users identify plants: the Simple Key and the Dichotomous Key.
Simple Key
The Simple Key is designed for beginners and provides assistance based on observing any part of a plant. Users can answer questions about the plant's characteristics, with the program guiding them to potential matches. The Simple Key covers 1,200 common species in New England and can be tailored to any region with a documented list of plants.
Dichotomous Key
For experienced botanists, Go Botany's Dichotomous Key offers a more traditional approach to plant identification. It presents a series of paired choices based on plant characteristics, helping users refine their search and identify exact species. The Dichotomous Key is based on the Flora Novae Angliae, the most up-to-date guide to New England plants.
Photos and Maps
Users can access high-resolution photos and maps to aid in their identification. Each species page includes maps that display the plant's geographic range and distribution patterns, as well as notes on common look-alikes and habitat preferences.
Teaching Tools
Go Botany is designed to encourage informal, self-directed education for botany students of all ages. Educators can use the platform to develop curriculum, lesson plans, and field workshops, while sharing curricula with other teachers on the PlantShare platform.
Collaborative Portal
Go Botany features an online collaborative portal called PlantShare, where users can join a community of plant enthusiasts and share photographs and descriptions of species they have observed. These shared checklists and photos can help users confirm their identifications, offer tips on growing conditions, and foster learning in a community setting.
Getting Started
To get started, users can use the Simple Key to identify plants based on their observed characteristics. If you're unsure about your Identification, you can also ask a botanist for assistance using the platform's 'Ask the Botanist' portal. The Go Botany team comprises botanists and researchers who are available to answer your questions and help refine youridentification.
Conclusion
Go Botany is an essential resource for anyone interested in learning about the plants of New England. Whether you're a professional botanist, a gardening enthusiast, or simply curious about the natural world, the platform provides a wealth of tools and resources to help you explore and identify the diverse flora of the region.
Acknowledgements
Go Botany would not be possible without the generous contributions of many individuals and organizations. We would like to thank the following for their assistance and support:
- The staff and volunteers of the New England Wildflower Society
- The botanists and researchers who have contributed to the platform
- Photographers who have generously donated plant images
- Grantmakers who supported the development of Go Botany
- Collaborators and advisors who have supported the Go Botany project
