How to identify Wisconsin trees: there's an app for that

September 19th 2011 Simon Kuran
Natural & Physical Sciences
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Outdoor enthusiasts, naturalists and visitors to Wisconsin's forests have a new tool in their backpacks. It's not a book or a map.

It's an app.

The app -- a Key to Woody Plants of Wisconsin Forests-- is an easy-to-use reference for identifying woody plants and shrubs using an iPod or iPhone.

The app was a creative partnership led by Dr. Catherine Woodward, Faculty Associate in the Center for Biology Education, with assistance by undergraduate student Christa Seidl and app development by David Gagnon of the Division of Information Technology at UW-Madison.

The app stems from an early version originally available on the iPod -- the idea of Woodward's former undergraduate student Corey Hart.

The Key to Woody Plants app was the first of its kind to provide highly transportable, easy-to-use reference for identifying Wisconsin trees in 2007.

The app includes 80 species of trees and 62 species of woody vines and shrubs native to Wisconsin forests, as well as invasive exotics. It also includes a built-in glossary with definitions of the small number of technical terms that are used in the key.

Browsable lists by common or scientific name link to unique species pages with information such as alternative common names, native or non-native status, and direct links to detailed images.

The free app is available on the Apple App Store.