Are Plant/Fungi Identification Apps Reliable: iNaturalist (Seek)

[@adriandaley9523]

Very well put I love Nova Scotia

[@stout_tossme7541]

I was chatting with two survival experts (I won't name drop, but they have proven to be foraging experts) anyway, both have said “don't eat anything you forage until you know without a doubt that it is safe and you can verify it in three different printed texts” their point was don't just have one source. I did enjoy this video. I have not harvested mushrooms. But have done some foraging (plants I was taught as a kid are safe and effective have been eating for more than 40 years lol) I downloaded the app you talk about (only for references). Is there an online class or literature you could suggest for plant identification in certain areas (ie Western US, or eastern Canada)? I would like to expand my knowledge and my daughter wants to learn as well.

[@davidpatriquin1947]

Exceptionally well done, CS, and all in 12 minutes. I am often asked to participate as an 'expert' (not a term I would use) in field projects for university environmental classes, which are typically conducted in the form of a class bioblitz in a particular habitat/landscape. I will definitely recommend that the instructors make this video required viewing - before going to the field!

[@UNDERST0RY]

Thank you. The issue of these ID apps has come up many times in groups and occasionally in the classes I teach. Some people go so far as to become offended if I tell them they cannot rely on these apps so I decided to do a field demonstration of the reliability.

[@AppleTrapezoid]

Thanks, great video Are you sure that’s a death cap at @6:45 ? Definitely an Amanita, but Phalloides doesn’t have the striated margins and is more olive colored. Is this some other death cap?

[@Burkwood]

Great video, Cliff. Thanks for the work. Me and my pal often discuss this subject. Good to hear a third party on it. Hope all is well Dave

[@UNDERST0RY]

Pretty much life is the same back at the homestead.

[@charlespaugh]

Can you share whether or not you were using the iOS or Android version of the app? I use the iOS version. Your screenshots did not match the user interface at all for the iOS version nor were the responses from the app in the format one sees in iOS.

[@UNDERST0RY]

I am using the iOS version, updated to the latest version at that time. The variation you see in format (I am just guessing on this) could relate to screen size. I have noticed many apps I use appear fairly different on smaller screen sizes vs larger sizes.

[@UNDERST0RY]

I just realized, you are probably using the standard iNaturalist app. I used iNaturalist: Seek for this test as I only wanted to test the AI. Insofar as I know, it and the standard iNat app use the same AI. I plan to cross compare them soon.

[@UNDERST0RY]

Thank you for bringing this up, though. I completely forgot to note in the title that I was using the Seek derivation.

[@charlespaugh]

@@UNDERST0RY I really don’t know if they use the same AI, but I do know the standard version (not Seek) uses your GPS location to better source the dataset it uses to identity a plant, and the peer review suggestions really help as well. Now, if I could only figure out myself how to better differentiate between our alpine buckwheat and Mount Hood Pussypaws, I’d be happy. 😀

[@Waverun]

I cannot distinguish a bush from a tree, and iNaturalist is really good for people like me. One suddenly realizes that the world is full of daisies, lilies, ferns and oaks, and all these plants have families, genera, and interesting common names! With my kids, we had fun realizing that what people call "sorrels" in different parts of the world can be completely unrelated plants. Being a completely clueless parent in the Nature, I suddenly can supply some answers to my nature-curious children, thanks to iNaturalist. With fungi, it could be helpful to know which photographs one should post to iNaturalist. I feel that instructions could be useful. Could you ( or anyone in the community) please make a video with explanations what do "experts" look for when identifying mushrooms? Should we post photos of the top of the mushroom, or its foot, or gills, and what would be the best way to pack it all in a single photographic image? Because the AI has the potential to improve, but we need to help it. Again, as you mentioned in your video, one needs to remember not to count on the AI in identification. However for fun purposes, particularly when hiking with children, it is a really great way to learn about plants, insects and mushrooms around us. And since we're already taking time to stop and take a picture, why not to do it properly, so that an expert could identify the fungus?

[@UNDERST0RY]

I have recently been doing a series on how to ID fungi by shape/type. You can see it in the link below. The best images of fungi are: top, bottom, side profile, interior. Also, it is often important to note things that won't register in a photo, such as scent. kzbin.info/www/bejne/oIa0qH1uhLidd7s

[@Waverun]

Thanks for this information! We watched the linked video about mushroom identification. This is very helpful.