Books use illustrations or photographs, and these are only as good as the quality of the image and how well it really represents the plant. Some are arranged by flower color (which might seem appealing until you realize that what you think is “purple” could be considered white, blue, or pink by a botanist), leaf arrangement, the number of flower petals, type of flower, and/or plant family. These can be organized in different ways. Pick up some field identification guides. A new plant that you don’t already know becomes “the next Great Plant Mystery,” and the process of sleuthing out its identity helps you look more closely at and connect with each plant. Most of us did not grow up learning to identify plants, so we rely on field guides to help us figure it out.įortunately, learning how to identify plants can be incredibly fun. But (to quote Spiderman), with great power comes great responsibility. Nothing is quite as powerful and healing as picking a plant yourself, turning it into a remedy, taking it, and feeling that plant infuse you with its vital energy. Can you identify wild plants with 100 percent certainty? If you plan to ingest it or give it to someone else, you need to! The ability to “key out” and identify plants is a crucial skill for any herbalist or wild food forager.
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