Plant identification workshop for beginners…
You will learn to use one of our Newcomb field guides to identify
herbaceous plants in the Kawarthas.
Previous edition
Most recent edition
Overview-Use Newcomb’s Wildflower Guide to identify flowering plants
in two steps
1) Determine the 3 digit group
number
2) Using the Locator key
Lots of detailed
diagrams to help
with identification
Range
To determine the group number, you look at three physical characteristics
1.Flower shape
2.Where the leaves are on the stem
3.Shape and types of leaves
3 digit Group Number
Flower type
Irregular flower
2 Regular parts
3 Regular parts
4 Regular parts
5 Regular parts
6 Regular parts
7 or more Regular parts
Parts Indistinguishable
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Plant type
No Apparent leaves
Basal leaves
Alternate leaves
Opposite or whorled
Shrub
Vine
1
2
3
4
5
6
Leaf type
No Apparent leaves
Leaves Entire
Leaves toothed or lobed
Leaves divided
1
2
3
4
Flower 1
How to describe a flowerWorking from the outside towards the centre the 4 whorls are:
Sepal, Petal, Stamen and Pistil.
Locate these parts on the flower diagram below:
Flower 2
Radiate from center out
Mirror image on both sides
Flower 3
What types of symmetry are here?
Flower 4
In Newcomb field guide, flowers are divided into
8 types. Each time is given a number.
Flower Type
1. Irregular Flowers
2. Flowers with 2 Regular Parts
3. Flowers with 3 Regular Parts
4. Flowers with 4 Regular Parts
5. Flowers with 5 Regular Parts
6. Flowers with 6 Regular Parts
7. Flowers with 7 or more Regular Parts
8. Flowers Parts Indistinguishable
Flower 5
What flower types are here? What is the Newcomb flower
type number for each flower?
Flower 6
Flowers Parts considered Indistinguishable
Aster
Goldenrod
Plant type 1
Newcomb uses leave arrangement to
describe some of the plant types
Plant type 2
In Newcomb field there are 6 plant types
and each type is given a number.
Plant Type
1. Wildflowers with No Apparent Leaves
2. Wildflowers with Basal Leaves Only
3. Wildflowers with Alternate Leaves
4. Wildflowers with Opposite or Whorled Leaves
5. Shrub
6. Vines
Plant type 3
What plant types are here? What is the Newcomb plant type
number for of the plants shown?
Plant type 4
Shrub
Vine
Leaf type 1
The last characteristics Newcomb uses is
leave type.
Leaf type 2
Leaf Type
1. No Apparent Leaves
2. Leaves Entire
3. Leaves Toothed or Lobed
4. Leaves Divided
Leaf type 3
Putting it together- 3 digit locator number
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Flower Type
Irregular Flowers
Flowers with 2 Regular Parts
Flowers with 3 Regular Parts
Flowers with 4 Regular Parts
Flowers with 5 Regular Parts
Flowers with 6 Regular Parts
Flowers with 7 or more Regular
Parts
Flowers Parts Indistinguishable
Leaf Type
1. No Apparent Leaves
2. Leaves Entire
3. Leaves Toothed or
Lobed
4. Leaves Divided
1.
2.
3.
4.
Wildflowers
Wildflowers
Wildflowers
Wildflowers
Leaves
5. Shrub
6. Vines
Plant Type
with No Apparent Leaves
with Basal Leaves Only
with Alternate Leaves
with Opposite or Whorled
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Flower Type
Irregular Flowers
Flowers with 2 Regular Parts
Flowers with 3 Regular Parts
Flowers with 4 Regular Parts
Flowers with 5 Regular Parts
Flowers with 6 Regular Parts
Flowers with 7 or more Regular Parts
Flowers Parts Indistinguishable
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Plant Type
Wildflowers with No Apparent Leaves
Wildflowers with Basal Leaves Only
Wildflowers with Alternate Leaves
Wildflowers with Opposite or Whorled Leaves
Shrub
Vines
1.
2.
3.
4.
Leaf Type
No Apparent Leaves
Leaves Entire
Leaves Toothed or Lobed
Leaves Divided
Group # 3,3,2
Page 120 to 122
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Flower Type
Irregular Flowers
Flowers with 2 Regular Parts
Flowers with 3 Regular Parts
Flowers with 4 Regular Parts
Flowers with 5 Regular Parts
Flowers with 6 Regular Parts
Flowers with 7 or more Regular Parts
Flowers Parts Indistinguishable
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Plant Type
Wildflowers with No Apparent Leaves
Wildflowers with Basal Leaves Only
Wildflowers with Alternate Leaves
Wildflowers with Opposite or Whorled Leaves
Shrub
Vines
1.
2.
3.
4.
Leaf Type
No Apparent Leaves
Leaves Entire
Leaves Toothed or Lobed
Leaves Divided
Group No. 5,4,2
Page 246 to 258
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Flower Type
Irregular Flowers
Flowers with 2 Regular Parts
Flowers with 3 Regular Parts
Flowers with 4 Regular Parts
Flowers with 5 Regular Parts
Flowers with 6 Regular Parts
Flowers with 7 or more Regular Parts
Flowers Parts Indistinguishable
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Plant Type
Wildflowers with No Apparent Leaves
Wildflowers with Basal Leaves Only
Wildflowers with Alternate Leaves
Wildflowers with Opposite or Whorled Leaves
Shrub
Vines
1.
2.
3.
4.
Leaf Type
No Apparent Leaves
Leaves Entire
Leaves Toothed or Lobed
Leaves Divided
Group No. 7, 3, 3
Page 370 to 386