Tip #4 Use a Botanical Key
If you aren’t already sure of a plant’s identity or if you really want to be sure you have identified a plant correctly, it usually comes down to using a botanical key.
Botanical keys consist of a list of questions or statements one must follow to get to the right answer. The series of question/statements are either “true” or “false” or a contrasting set of characteristics one must choose from to move on to the next statement until finally coming to the correct answer.
One tip, if you are really getting into the more serious botanical keys, you should have a loupe (hand held magnifying glass) with you, as some of the statements can get down to practically splitting hairs.
Pictured here is The Jepsen Manual—the essential resource for botanizing in California, containing an important botanical key.
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