What to Look For

• There are several important features that can be used to accurately identify flora. Keep in mind that unless you are absolutely sure that the plant you are looking at belongs to a specific species, it is usually best to first determine the family and genus before narrowing it down any further. In many instances several species within the same genus are virtually indistinguishable, so it is best not to jump to any conclusions without closely examining every possible aspect of the plant in question and consulting a good field guide.
  
  

Fruits

• You can tell a lot about a plant from its fruits. Some common species such as citrus, avocado and apple trees are easily recognizable when their fruits are in season. In many cases, even less common plants as well as those with no edible parts can also be identified using this technique. Several different members of the subfamily Mimosoideae, which belongs to the bean family (Fabaceae), for example, are almost identical in appearance and leaf structure but can be easily be told apart from the size and shape of the pods they produce.
  
  

Flowers

• Flowers are another surefire method of plant identification. Nevertheless, while species such as impatiens, hydrangeas, irises and roses may present little or no challenge, other less common flowers may require closer examination or the help of an expert to identify correctly.
  
  One drawback to relying on flowers as a means of identification is that they can only be collected and examined when a plant is in bloom, which may be very seldom indeed. In fact, certain species such as the Talipot palm (Corypha umbraculifera), which can live between 30 and 80 years, flower only once in a lifetime. Another disadvantage to this method is that it can't be used for plants such as ferns, conifers and cycads, which produce no fruits at all.
  
  

Leaves

• Botanists usually take a close look at the leaves of a plant to determine what species it belongs to. Leaf type (simple or compound), arrangement (opposite or alternate), shape, coloration, texture, odor, venation and margins are some of the most important features used in plant identification.
  
  

Bark

• Some trees, such as those belonging to the Eucalyptus family (Myrtaceae) have extremely distinctive bark. While bark color can be a major factor, so can texture, thickness, taste, odor and other characteristics such as the tendency to peel or the presence of spines or thorns. As pointed out in the book "An Introduction to Cloud Forest Trees" (see references section), although most botanists tend to ignore this method altogether and focus instead on features such as fruits, flowers and leaves, foresters often learn to identify tree species based solely on their bark.
  
  

Sap

• Some species of plants produce milky white latex, while others produce sticky resin or colored sap. When combined with one or more of the methods listed above, the color, consistency, odor or even the taste of a plant's sap can be useful in determining what family, and consequently what species, it belongs to.
  
  It is not advisable to taste leaves, bark or sap if you do not possess an in-depth knowledge of botany. Some plants are extremely toxic and can produce harmful effects or even cause death if ingested.