Good iphone app to ID palms?

[Hardypalms]

I m wondering what app you would recommend to ID palms outdoors.

Thxs

Pat

[aabell]

In my opinion current AI technology/apps are not capable of identifying palms with any degree of reliability.

[RedRabbit]

Google…

Take a picture of the palm, go to Google, search by image and see what results appear.

[Hardypalms]

3 hours ago, aabell said:

In my opinion current AI technology/apps are not capable of identifying palms with any degree of reliability.

Oh ok. I thought we were there already. I tried one for free last year on a Chamaerops humilis and it got it right.

Thanks

Pat

[aabell]

22 minutes ago, Hardypalms said:

Oh ok. I thought we were there already. I tried one for free last year on a Chamaerops humilis and it got it right.

Thanks

Pat

It's not that plant ID apps don't ever work, certainly for common garden flowers and leaves some are decent. But typically these apps work by matching your photo to the most similar photos in their database. For many palm species they simply won't have the training data available. Then there is the issue of variability within a species (shade grown vs sun, seedling vs mature tree) and the simple fact that many palms look quite similar unless you know what you are looking for. 

The other trouble with plant ID apps is you have to know enough about plants to begin with to know when they are giving you a plausible ID or just feeding you nonsense, which can do more harm than good.

As a test I just downloaded one of the most popular apps and took photos of a Royal and a Veitchia in my yard. Both were matched with the same photo of Howea belmoreana.

Google Lens is a (sometimes) useful tool built into chrome, I have used it to ID things like orchid flowers before. But I did the same test with the Royal and the Veitchia and for both it just linked me to a bunch of nurseries selling Foxtails, Adonidia, even random fan palms. 

I bet they could potentially ID a good photo of something like a Bismarckia, which is distinctive looking and well documented online, but you can imagine for anything slightly rare or obscure they would have no clue. 

Edited February 22, 2023 by aabell

[Hardypalms]

1 hour ago, aabell said:

 

I bet they could potentially ID a good photo of something like a Bismarckia, which is distinctive looking and well documented online, but you can imagine for anything slightly rare or obscure they would have no clue. 

Well this is a great explanation indeed. It’s so frustrating (Not really) doing this hobby with Z 7 and 8 palms and going to a Z 10 for a week.

🌴?🧐

Thxs again

Pat

[Silas_Sancona]

Get yourself a pocket guide.. Robert Lee Riffle's Pocket Guide to Palms ( Timber Press publications ) is excellent. Carefully study it, ..and bring it with you everywhere..  Mine is so worn and marked up that i could never donate it -if i wanted to, lol.

Only app i use for ID'ing of plants ( or any other organism ) is iNat ( iNaturalist ) Though it too has it's faults.  That said, relying on Google for identification is often worse, at best.. imo.

[Hardypalms]

1 hour ago, Silas_Sancona said:

Get yourself a pocket guide.. Robert Lee Riffle's Pocket Guide to Palms ( Timber Press publications ) is excellent. Carefully study it, ..and bring it with you everywhere..  Mine is so worn and marked up that i could never donate it -if i wanted to, lol.

Only app i use for ID'ing of plants ( or any other organism ) is iNat ( iNaturalist ) Though it too has it's faults.  That said, relying on Google for identification is often worse, at best.. imo.

Silas

I have had this pocket guide for years. It just never left home but i like your idea and it’s coming with me on my next trip.

Thxs

Pat

[Hardypalms]

Will look into it

Thxs

Pat

[Hardypalms]

Do they work for you beside for very common palms? I will try them anyway.

Thanks again

Pat

[Z4Devil]

On 3/17/2023 at 12:35 PM, ElderMetty said:

Another app you might want to check out is ""PlantSnap,"" which also uses AI and has the same scheme of work. If you need to identify and extract text from the encyclopedia, I suggest using Smart Engines.
Try them out and see which one works best for you.

Have tried Picture This as well as PlantSnap. Honest answer? They are for the trash bin and completely overstrained with identifying exotics or rare plants. No chance to identify an A. rubra for example nor anything else. They work well with common plants but definitely NOT with those the most here are asking for.
And: they require access to settings or apps, I don't accept.

[alishakihnh]

On 2/23/2023 at 12:15 AM, Hardypalms said:

I m wondering what app you would recommend to ID palms outdoors.

Thxs 

Pat

 

 

 

 

 

 

Flappy Bird

There are several iPhone apps available that can help identify palm trees. Here are a few popular options:
1. PlantSnap: PlantSnap is a widely-used plant identification app that uses image recognition technology to identify various plants, including palm trees. Simply take a photo of the palm tree's leaves or fronds, and the app will provide you with information and potential matches.
2. PictureThis: PictureThis is another popular plant identification app that can be used to identify palm trees. It utilizes a large plant database and offers a user-friendly interface. Take a photo of the palm tree's foliage, and the app will provide details and potential species matches.
3. Leafsnap: Leafsnap is an app developed by Columbia University, the University of Maryland, and the Smithsonian Institution. While it primarily focuses on tree identification, it also includes various palm tree species. Take a clear photo of the palm's leaves, and the app will attempt to identify the species.

[NicholasTolley]

On 8/9/2023 at 9:06 AM, alishakihnh said:

There are several iPhone apps available that can help identify palm trees. Here are a few popular options:
1. PlantSnap: PlantSnap is a widely-used plant identification app that uses image recognition technology to identify various plants, including palm trees. Simply take a photo of the palm tree's leaves or fronds, and the app will provide you with information and potential matches.
2. PictureThis: PictureThis is another popular plant identification app that can be used to identify palm trees. It utilizes a large plant database and offers a user-friendly interface. Take a photo of the palm tree's foliage, and the app will provide details and potential species matches.
3. Leafsnap: Leafsnap is an app developed by Columbia University, the University of Maryland, and the Smithsonian Institution. While it primarily focuses on tree identification, it also includes various palm tree species. Take a clear photo of the palm's leaves, and the app will attempt to identify the species. For those interested in identifying different palm species, finding a good iPhone app can be a game-changer. Look for apps with a comprehensive database, high-quality images, and user-friendly features like image recognition and detailed descriptions. One popular choice is the PlantSnap app, known for its accuracy and extensive plant library. If you have specific requirements or need a custom solution, consulting a web dev team could help create a tailored app that meets your needs perfectly. With the right tool, palm identification becomes an enjoyable and educational experience.

thanks