Links

GoBotany is an online flora for the New England states sponsored by the New England Wildflower Society and NSF. Most of the plants in upstate NY are included in the database.  There are photos, simple keys, full keys, ID help (presumably only for plants seen in New England), a glossary, maps and more.

The simple key is just that. The full key allows you to choose the characters for which you have data, and the program spits out possible matches. Very useful when you don't have key features (flowers!) but be careful to know the definitions of the features, and don't use more than you must.

Tom Stuart's Hardy Fern Library covers many species native to the Finger Lakes region, with identification clues, cultivation information, and very helpful photos and drawings. The site itself has been taken down, but an archived version remains on the Internet Archive. There are many versions archived there. To get to the most complete (May 2017), use the arrow key towards the top of the page to move back in time if necessary. Use the genus search at top, not bottom left.

Mike Hough has put together a very nice collection of photos and information on regional flora "for 700+ native species from the upper Midwest and Northeast. The plants cover a broad range of habitats including savanna, prairie, pine barrens, dunes, eastern deciduous forest and a variety of wetland habitats."  Searchable by flower color.  The accompanying blog highlights finds from his forays with great photos.  Excellent for central NY counties.

The PLANTS Database provides standardized information about the vascular plants, mosses, liverworts, hornworts, and lichens of the U.S. and its territories. Includes images of most species, which may be copied with appropriate citation.

Excellent photos and identification clues for the Violaceae family members found in central NY state by FLNPS member Arieh Tal.  Part of his Botphoto website. 

Keys for all Asteraceae in the Finger Lakes region (plus subsets for Tompkins County asters & goldenrods) and violets.  Wonderfully detailed diagnostic photos and definitions of botanical terms used in the keys.  Material is constantly being added by creator Arieh Tal, a FLNPS member. Flora of Buttermilk Park, which used to reside on Botphoto, is now in FLNPS.org.

The Northern Forest Atlas project has created incredibly detailed images of woody plants, sedges, and mosses from  Maine to Minnesota, comprising the northern forest. Central NY adjoins that area & there is lots of overlap. Books, downloadable PDF images, charts, etc. 

The Leatherstocking Botanical Society began in 2015 as a forum for botanical interests in the central New York region. They sponsor walks in the southeast part of the Southern Tier of NY. 

Affiliated with the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.  An active group with many workshops, a plant sale, and a demonstration garden.  In Valhalla NY, a bit of a hike from the Finger Lakes region, but if you are heading that way....

Contains many horticultural terms in addition to botanical definitions. 

A very clear description of plant parts, their function, their growth and decline.  Intended to help "citizen scientists" monitor the timing of events (e.g. first bloom) for phenology databases.  Thus it is a great source for beginning plant lovers to learn both terminology and how/when to observe plants for fun, phenology, or identification. Lots of diagrams!!

Reference:

Guertin, P., Barnett, L., Denny, E.G., Schaffer, S.N. 2015.USA National Phenology Network Botany Primer. USA-NPN Education and Engagement Series 2015-001. www.usanpn.org.

Prepared by Cornell, this is a homeowners guide to the Asian Jumping Worms, with ID and ways to reduce their spread.

Criteria for meeting in-person during Covid times.

Terminology for the native plant lover.

Where and Why - Background on choices in FLNPS Native Plant Source List. 

Guidelines from Wild Ones on determining and using local ecotypes in plantings, applicable to gardens as well as restoration. See alsohttps://wildones.org/position-statements/guidelines-for-selecting-native-plants/

Below is a list of nearby nurseries that focus on native plants and responsible propagation. Please read this background on questions to ask and how to be sure you are ethical in your purchases of native plants. To request inclusion on this list, please use the info contact.

Go Native! Perennials (GNP) started in 2020. The GNP team is growing their knowledge while building stock of forbs, grasses, shrubs, and trees.  Seeds are collected regionally and plants and seeds from FLNPS/Mundy Wildflower garden serve as "mother plants" for an extensive field propagation effort.  

The Plantsmen is one of the few nurseries in NY State that collects local seed for their native plant production, but also sells to retail customers. Not all plants are grown from local seed source, but more species are added each year. In the nursery, these are marked by yellow plant tags.

The Plantsmen grows native perennials, ferns, vines, sedges, shrubs, and trees for virtually every habitat type in our area—all without the use of pesticides and herbicides. They also offer a wide range of landscape services from basic maintenance to design, installation and quality natural stonework.

White Oak Nursery (WON) propagates over 80 species of native shade trees and native flowering shrubs, i.e. the majority of woody species that are native to the northeastern United States. This choice of species allows you to design complete landscapes entirely with native plants and to establish complete plant communities that benefit native wildlife.

WON's philosophy is that plants in our landscapes should serve a dual purpose; to delight and beautify our lives and yards and serve their age-old function of providing food and shelter for native wildlife. White Oak also offers consultations, invasive plant control, treatments for HWA, plant installations and a little landscaping.