How to Use the Flora of Virginia App Webinar 

Are you interested in Virginia’s native plants? The Flora of Virginia (FOV) invites Virginia Master Naturalists to a free webinar, How to Use the Flora of Virginia App. This webinar will also serve as partial training for a new Flora Ambassadors project for VMN volunteers in which volunteers lead walks for the public focused on using the Flora App to identify plants (more information on that will be coming soon!)

 

Date: February 28, 2024, 12:00-1:00 pm

Registration: Free, but pre-registration is required.

Description: The presentation is being offered as an introduction to the Flora of Virginia, the primary reference for Virginia’s native, naturalized and invasive plants. The Flora and the Flora App are used by professionals and plant enthusiasts to identify plant species, delineate wetlands, identify invasives, and select appropriate species for native gardens and ecosystem restoration.

 

The Flora App does not require Internet which is useful in areas without service. It features both a dichotomous key and an easy-to-use Graphic Key. Descriptions of plants include:

• Color photographs, and usually a botanical illustration
• Rare or threatened species with their conservation ranks
• Invasives are scored as to their degree of invasiveness
• County-by-county range maps are color-coded as to nativity
• Natural Communities in which the species is found

If you want to access the most current botanical science, know the county-by-county range for a species, or generate an accurate plant list for your location, the Flora App is an essential resource at your fingertips to augment a field guide or general plant identification apps. Viewers who have the App downloaded, can follow along on their phone during the webinar.

 

Note: The webinar will be recorded and will include information for volunteers who are interested in earning service hours by participating in the new Flora Ambassadors project. Details about the project will be presented at the end of the webinar. Volunteers who watch the webinar and complete an additional 6 hours of continuing education and 2 service hours sharing their knowledge will be recognized as Flora Ambassadors. Watch the webinar to learn more or email flora@floraofvirginia.org.