Deciphering botanical guides

Walking through the chaparral, I am enticed by the deep redpurple berries of the golden currant. I eat a few for a juicy snack, pleased to add another species to my list of edible plants. Knowledge of species that could feed me felt good if I was ever in dire straits. But then reality soon hits me: Does eating a few berries in passing equate to survival?

Looking at the few bushes of currants and the number of berries on each plant, I realize that it would take hours and many more bushes to satisfy my hunger pains. Beyond the amount of currants I would need to collect, I would also have to gather from a variety of different plants to meet my nutritional needs. To survive, my knowledge of plant uses and growth patterns would have to be vast.

Again I am struck with appreciation for the communities around the world that sustained themselves through gathering. I am awed by the extent of their botanical knowledge; through plants they received sustenance, tools, clothing, shelter, entertainment, ceremony and medicine. But this knowledge did not come easily; each person took the time to recognize the subtle differences of each plant species. Misidentifying a plant could be the difference between life and death- like mistaking hemlock for anise!

So how do you identify individual plants in the vast fields of green? Looking into the chaparral's thousands of species can be daunting. Primarily, one needs to realize that plant knowledge comes slowly.

Plant lore has been passed down through hundreds of generations; therefore, individuals must be kind to themselves and realize learning to identify takes time. Plant identification is like the plants themselves, slow and steady. After allowing the time needed, the next step is to learn the basic anatomy of plants. With this information and observation of key features, deciphering the botanical guides and identifying your mystery plant will become easier.

Flowers are the most common reproductive organ of the plant and hold many identifying features.

At the flower's base are the sepals. Sepals are usually green and protect the flower bud. When the flower opens, sepals often remain.

The petals are the most brightly colored portion of the flower, functioning primarily to attract pollinators. Petals come in many different shapes, sizes and colors.

Within the petals are the male and female organs of the flower. Monoecious flowers have both male and female structures, while dioecious flowers have either male or female structures.

The female reproductive organ is called the pistil and is composed of the stigma, style and ovary.

The stigma is the sticky top end of the pistil which receives the pollen.

The style serves structurally as well as providing a transport tube for the pollen to reach the ovary. The ovary houses the plant's eggs where fertilization occurs.

Near the pistil are stamen, the male reproductive organs. The stamen is comprised of the anther and the filament. The top portion of the stamen is the anther where the pollen is made and stored, ready for transfer to the pollinator. The filament supports the anther so that pollinators have easy access. It is often a long thin structure.

Other plant components are the leaves, stem and roots. Leaves function mainly in photosynthesis, the process where sunlight, water and carbon dioxide are converted into carbohydrates and oxygen.

The stem is structural support, helping the plant reach sunlight and pollinators.

The underground roots are responsible for the transfer of water and minerals into the plant.

To identify individual plants, taking notice of a few key features will help tremendously. Each plant species has an identifying leaf structure and specific flower "formula."

Notice whether the leaves grow opposite or alternate to each other. If the leaves are growing opposite one another, they grow 180 degrees from each other off the same point on the stem.

If growing alternately, leaves grow singly on the stem above or below each other. Leaves may also grow in basal rosettes on the ground, leaving the stem bare.

In addition to growth patterns, one should recognize the shape of the leaf. Is the leaf linear, heartshaped, ovate, lanceolate, elliptical or lobed?

Other key identifying features are found in the flowers. Take note of the number of sepals and petals on each flower.

Also take time to count the number of stamen. How many stigmas there are? Where is the ovary located? Color is also an important factor. Beyond the plant itself, notice the habitat of the plant. Is it growing in open or shaded spaces, on hillsides or flat lands, near water or not?

I have slowly learned to untangle the indecipherable green jungle after spending years studying these key features. But with each plant decoded, 100 beautiful new questions arise.