Last updated: May 23, 2018
Article
Plant Identification
![PlantMosaic1 3 of flowers, left is an orange yellow orchid, middle is a purple spiky flower and the right is a light green flower with a bug on it](/articles/images/Untitled-1_15.jpg?maxwidth=1300&autorotate=false)
Left: NPS/Zenner, Middle: NPS/J.Frank, Right: NPS/Janice Wei
Ready to try your hand at identifying some plants on your next hike? First, go to the park’s website to find a plant list or guide with photos of plants you may see during your visit. Once you’re at the park, stop by the park’s visitor center for any brochures or field guides tailored to that area. You can also ask about any potential ranger-led programs about plants in that area.
If you tend toward the digital, you could check out an app called iNaturalist. It allows you to take a photo of a plant or animal, share it on the app, and then other users can help you identify it.
![plants3jpg 3 photos in a row. Left: extreme close up of a creamy orange many petaled flower Middle:frosted covered tree needles Right: Close up of raindrops on a green leafed plant](/articles/images/plants3jpg.jpg?maxwidth=1300&autorotate=false)
Left: NPS/Neal Herbert, Middle: NPS J.Frank, Right: NPS/Neal Herbert
This rule helps prevent specific damage to national parks:
- Trampling fragile ecosystems
- Alpine tundra in Rocky Mountain National Park
- Wetlands in the Southeast
- Cedar glades in central eastern U.S
- Spreading seeds of invasive species