All About Plants
Plants are as important to human existence as the very air we breathe. In fact, if plants were no longer present on Earth neither would human beings. Plants undergo a process called photosynthesis that produces our oxygen. Not only that, but plants are also invaluable to the quality of water, the environment and the climate. Learning about plants and the role they play on Earth is important for all of us, regardless of age or circumstance. Plants provide medicine, food, fibers for clothing and wood for building. Without plants and an understanding of what they do and how we need it, the human race would cease to exist.
Plant Identification Characteristics
Plants need to be identified to know whether you can eat them, if they will make you itch or if they will draw insects or rodents to your yard. Identifying the plant family first helps to be able to narrow down your choices. This list of website links offers information on plant identification characteristic
Herbaceous Species- A guide to identifying herbaceous species of plants.
Tree and Shrub Conservation- This is a site showing how to identify trees and shrubs for the purpose of conservation.
Aquaplants – A site dedicated to identifying underwater plants and those that thrive in watery areas.
Weed Seedling Identification Guide- A comprehensive guide to various weed seedlings and how to identify them.
Leafy Spurge- A site that shows the identifying characteristics of the Leafy Spurge plant and how to control it.
I Want to Identify Plants – Information on how to identify different plants.
Identifying Plants- This site gives a large list of flowers with photos. It lists the identifying characteristics of each and other information pertinent to identification.
Identifying Invasive Plants- A site showing how to identify invasive plants and weeds.
Learning to Identify Plants by Families- A guide to identifying plants by discovering the family they are a member of.
Plant Classifications
Plants are classified into different families by special characteristics that they share. It is a way to organize the thousands and thousands of plants in a way that we can use for study and research. Without a reliable classification process there would be no way we could keep track and organize so many plants, many of which are poisonous to humans and animals. Common names of plants and flowers are often misleading. Learning the scientific classification of plants helps us to better understand them.
Classification- Interactive form from the USDA that classifies the plant depending on information you plug into the form.
Classifying Plants- This site offers information on how plants are classified and what characteristics put them into each group.
Living Things: Families – The history of plant classification.
Classification of Plants- Why do we classify plants? What do the scientific names mean? All this and more is available on this website.
Classifying Plants- In depth descriptions of each plant type and how to classify species of plants.
Plant Classification- Information how and why plants are classified.
Classifying Plant Kingdoms- Discusses the Whittaker Five Kingdom Plant system.
Garden Botany- Explains how plants are classified and gives examples.
Wildflower Classification- Explanation of wildflower classification from kingdom down to variety.
Plant Fact Sheets
Fact sheets are informational documents that contain the basics about the subject. Here you will find a list of fact sheets about plants. They cover subjects varying from scientific names and identification to diseases and growing tips. With these sheets it is possible to take a quick glance and find the information you’re looking for.
Plant Fact Sheets- Plant fact sheets from the University of North Carolina.
Iowa Enviro-Explorers- Why Plants are Important: A comprehensive site for teachers and students on all manner of topics concerning plants and the environment.
Fact Sheets and Plant Guides- A list of plant fact sheets and planting guides from the United States Department of Agriculture.
Fact Sheet for Trees- Pictures, maps and descriptions of 680 trees around the United States from the University of Florida.
Plant Facts- A guide to university websites horticultural extensions pertaining to plant life from the Ohio State University.
Houseplants Facts- Fact sheet from Purdue University on houseplants and indoor gardening.
Grapes Fact Sheet- A fact sheet for all types of grapes and the diseases that plague them from Cornell University.
Fruit Facts- A series of fact sheets on fruits put out by the California Fruit Growers Organization.
Plant Diseases- A series of fact sheets dedicated to the various diseases that plague plants of all types.
Plant Reference Guides
New gardeners as well as experienced green thumbs all find themselves in need of a plant reference guide on occasion. Plant reference guides are collected information on a particular plant or plant class. They are used to identify plants and also to learn about them and their care and feeding. They can tell you everything from pests that usually that particular lant to the hisotry of its name.
Invasive Species- An intensive research reference guide to invasive plants.
Perennial Plant Reference Guide- A guide to the growing and care of perennial plants.
National Gardening Association Reference Guide- Guide to all plants especially those that people plant in their flower or vegetable gardens.
Grasses- Reference guide to many different types of grasses.
Plant Disorders Reference Guide- A powerpoint presentation on plant disorders.
Annual Plant Guide- Reference guide for annuals.
Florida’s Annual Plants - Guide to annuals that are prolific in Florida.
The Tree Guide- A guide to trees from the Arbor Day Foundation.
Invasive and Noxious Plants
Invasive plants take over your whole yard. Once this type of weed gets a grip in your land it will grow and grow, choking out everything in its path. Noxious plants are those that can make you sick or even kill you. Both of these types of plants can be beautiful and smell good but they aren’t well thought of. You don’t want to plant these in your yard or garden.
Invasive and Noxious Weeds – The USDA site for invasive and noxious weeds.
Invasive and Noxious Plants- The Bureau of Land Management issued this information on noxious and invasive plants and weeds.
The Effect of Invasive and Noxious Plants- Information on what damage these types of plants can cause.
Invasive and Noxious Plants Management- Information on grants for the killing and taming down invasive and noxious plants throughout the country.
Alaska Committee for Noxious and Invasive Plant Management- Information on Alaska’s invasive plants.
Vermont Invasive and Noxious Weeds- Information from the Vermont Agency of Agriculture on noxious and invasive weeds.
Controlling Invasive and Noxious Weeds – Data from California on controlling these types of plants with a weed control area.
Noxious Weed Information Project- Information from California Food and Agriculture.
Center for Invasive Plant Management- Site dedicated to invasive plants and their management and eradication.
Poisonous Plants
Not all plants can be eaten or used for decoration. Although some may be used for medicinal purposes the opposite hold true as well. Some plants can harm humans and even kill them. Many plants are poisonous. It is important to properly identify a plant before handling or eating it. The following websites help to identify poisonous plants.
Poisonous Plants- list of poisonous plants from Cornell University.
Toxic Plants- List of plants particularly harmful to animals.
Poisonous Plants and Plant Parts- list of plants and parts of plants that are poisonous.
Poisonous Plants Homepage- List of poisonous plants, symptoms and treatments.
Guide to Poisonous Plants- Site with a searchable database and links.
Poisonous Plants- Guide to plants poisonous to dogs and cats.
Plants Potentially Poisonous to Pets- Information from the Humane Society on plants toxic to animals.
Poisonous Houseplants- Guide to common houseplants that can be potentially harmful.
Threatened and Endangered Plants
Just like animals and other organisms, plants can become endangered or threatened over the years. Pollution, overpopulation and other factors can destroy entire species of plants. Learning to recognize these endangered plants is important. The following websites will aid in the identification of these endangered plants.
Michigan’s Special Plants- List of endangered plants in Michigan.
Threatened and Endangered Plants- List of threatened and endangered plants, how to identify them and who to report them to.
Threatened and Endangered Plants- Searchable form of threatened and endangered plants in the U.S.
National Collection of Endangered Plants- Center for Plant Conservation list of endangered plants with searchable forms, research and links.
Endangered Plants of Maryland- List of threatened and endangered plants in Maryland.
Endangered Species Program- U.S. Fish and Wildlife list of endangered species and resources on how to help protect them.
Rare and Endangered Plants- U.S. Botanical Garden information on rare and endangered plants in the United States.
Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants- California Native Plant Society resource of rare plants with maps, illustrations and history.
State Flowers
Each state in the United States is assigned a flower to represent the state. It is a flower that somehow represents them. It could be a native plant or one of historical importance.The following websites list state flowers, history and relevance.
State Trees and Flowers- List of state trees and state flowers from National Arboretum Society.
State Flowers and Floral Emblems- List of all state flowers.
U.S. State Flowers- List of state flowers.
State and Canadian Flowers- List of United States and Canadian state flowers.
State Flowers- A list of state flowers and plants.
Stately Knowledge- A list of state flowers, plants, trees, songs etc.
Alabama State Flower- photo and scientific information on thee Alabama state flowers.
Official State Flowers- List of official flowers of all 50 states.
Plant Lessons Plans
Teaching children about plants requires a lesson plan dedicated to easy to understand facts and information. It must be specifically designed for the age range of the intended students. The following list showcases lesson plans for a variety of age ranges. They are designed to teach various parts of the plant world.
Enviro-Explorers Teaching Activities- Full list of plant lesson plans and outdoor teaching activities.
Alabama Learning Exchange- Lesson plan on classifying plants for grades K-6.
Root Systems- Second grade lesson plan on root systems.
The Great Plant Escape- An interactive learning experience that takes children of elementary school level completely through a plants life and other areas of botany.
Flowers- Lesson plan for K-2 pertaining to flowering plants.
From Seed to Plant- Lesson plan for grades 1 – 5 on the lifecycle of plants.
Plant Pollination- All about plant pollination for grades 6-8.
Scattering Seeds- Teaching plans for grades 6-8 on seeds and germination.
What’s Wrong with the Plants- 9th grade lesson plan about different diseases and problems with plants.
The world of plants is diverse and fascinating. Plants are as integral to human existence as the planet itself. Learning about them can help us to live fuller more enriched lives. Educating yourself and others about plant life and its importance to human life is a great step in a green direction.
