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About
Go Botany is a comprehensive plant identification platform created by the Native Plant Trust, designed to make New England's diverse flora accessible to everyone — from casual hikers and gardeners to professional botanists and educators. The platform's flagship Simple Key walks users through six major plant groups: woody plants (trees, shrubs, and lianas), aquatic plants, grass-like plants, orchids and monocots, ferns and related species, and all other flowering non-woody plants. Each group is presented with clear key characteristics, common exceptions, and supporting videos to aid accurate identification. For more experienced users, a Full Dichotomous Key and a traditional Dichotomous Key offer deeper taxonomic pathways. The PlantShare feature enables community members to log and share plant sightings, building a living record of regional flora. Go Botany also provides dedicated teaching resources, making it a valuable asset for botany courses and environmental education programs. The platform is entirely free to use, sustained by user donations and support from the National Science Foundation. Whether you're identifying a wildflower on a trail, researching native plants for conservation, or teaching students about local ecosystems, Go Botany is an authoritative and user-friendly reference for New England plant life.
Key Features
- Simple Key: A guided, step-by-step identification tool that categorizes plants into six major groups with clear characteristics, exceptions, and instructional videos.
- Full & Dichotomous Keys: Advanced identification pathways for experienced botanists, offering deeper taxonomic detail beyond the Simple Key.
- PlantShare: A community feature allowing users to log, photograph, and share plant sightings across New England, building a collaborative regional plant record.
- Teaching Resources: Dedicated educational materials and tools supporting classroom instruction in botany, ecology, and native plant studies.
- Thousands of Native Plant Records: Covers a vast catalog of New England plant species with detailed descriptions, images, and identification criteria.
Use Cases
- Identifying an unknown wildflower or shrub encountered on a New England hiking trail
- Supporting botany and ecology classroom instruction with structured identification exercises and teaching tools
- Conducting native plant surveys or conservation research across New England ecosystems
- Helping gardeners and landscapers identify and source native plant species for sustainable landscaping
- Citizen scientists documenting and sharing local plant biodiversity through the PlantShare community feature
Pros
- Completely Free: Go Botany is free to use for everyone, supported by donations and the National Science Foundation, making botanical knowledge widely accessible.
- Multiple Skill Levels Supported: Offers both a beginner-friendly Simple Key and advanced Dichotomous Keys, catering to novices and expert botanists alike.
- Community-Powered Plant Sharing: PlantShare enables collaborative citizen science, letting users contribute and browse real-world plant observations across New England.
- Educational Focus: Built-in teaching tools and resources make it an excellent platform for formal and informal botany education.
Cons
- New England Only: Coverage is limited exclusively to New England plant species, making it less useful for users in other regions.
- Requires Botanical Familiarity for Advanced Keys: The Full and Dichotomous Keys assume some prior botanical knowledge, which may be challenging for complete beginners.
- No Mobile App: Go Botany is web-based with no dedicated iOS or Android app, which can limit usability in the field without internet access.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Go Botany?
Go Botany is a free online plant identification tool developed by the Native Plant Trust that helps users identify thousands of native and naturalized plant species found in New England.
Is Go Botany free to use?
Yes, Go Botany is completely free. The platform is supported by user donations and the National Science Foundation.
What plants does Go Botany cover?
Go Botany covers thousands of plant species found in New England, including woody plants, aquatic plants, grasses, orchids, ferns, and all other flowering non-woody plants native or naturalized to the region.
How does the Simple Key work?
The Simple Key guides users through six major plant groups based on visible characteristics such as leaf shape, stem type, and flower structure. Users select the group that best matches their plant and follow prompts to narrow down the identification.
Can I contribute my own plant sightings?
Yes, through the PlantShare feature, users can log and share their plant observations, photos, and locations, contributing to a collaborative record of New England flora.
