In an attempt to help more people, I am creating a list of replies for common comments I'll make on an observation. I care about all the newer iNatters out there and want to help them out the best I can in a courteous and kind manner... as a scout should do!
Also... Helpful Identification Guides
Also, here's a list of helpful identification guides: https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/lisa281/31012-helpful-identification-guides
Hopefully you've found this already, it comes in handy every now and then!
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Also, you appear quite new to the site, so here's a handy list of helpful identification guides: https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/lisa281/31012-helpful-identification-guides
I find it useful every now and then!
Cultivated plant
-Possibly/Definitely cultivated-
Is this a cultivated plant?
Unfortunately, the wild/cultivated distinction in iNaturalist is an obscure thing. A lot of people don't figure it out when they first upload observations (like me!).
Let me take an excerpt out of my "Helpful Tips and Resources for Beginner (Plant) iNatters":
"People will take picture of ornamental flowers in garden beds, planted trees, potted succulents. That's completely fine! Sometimes I'll find an interesting cultivated plant and want to know what that is. With these plants, however, you should mark them captive/cultivated, so that they'll be casual observations. iNaturalist is focused on wild organisms, and a plant in a garden placed there by a human is not Research Grade material. If you're confused on what counts as captive/cultivated, iNaturalist has definitions and examples here: https://www.inaturalist.org/pages/help#captive"
Also, take a look at this if you want to (https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/arnanthescout/57230-helpful-tips-and-resources-for-beginner-plant-inatters) for some tips for iNatting with plants!
Hope you find this helpful!
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Is this a cultivated plant?
Unfortunately, the wild/cultivated distinction in iNaturalist is an obscure thing. A lot of people don't figure it out when they first upload observations.
I know. No one ever told me either.
Let me take an excerpt out of my "Helpful Tips and Resources for Beginner (Plant) iNatters":
"People will take picture of ornamental flowers in garden beds, planted trees, potted succulents. That's completely fine! Sometimes I'll find an interesting cultivated plant and want to know what that is. With these plants, however, you should mark them captive/cultivated, so that they'll be casual observations. iNaturalist is focused on wild organisms, and a plant in a garden placed there by a human is not Research Grade material. If you're confused on what counts as captive/cultivated, iNaturalist has definitions and examples here: https://www.inaturalist.org/pages/help#captive"
Also, take a look at this if you want to (https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/arnanthescout/57230-helpful-tips-and-resources-for-beginner-plant-inatters) for some tips for iNatting with plants!
Hope you find this helpful!
Rubus
Can be hard to differentiate, but if you know what to look for/take photos of it is possible to bring these to species. See https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/kimberlietx/30266-key-to-rubus-spp-of-texas-dewberries-blackberries-and-brambles for info on distinguishing Texas species.
Callirhoe
~May have features visible~
These are really similar and can be hard to ID to species... but only if you don't know what to look for (and photograph)
I'm not sure if there's enough info in these pictures to get this to a species ID...
...but see this guide https://www.inaturalist.org/posts/54356-a-short-guide-to-callirhoe-in-texas if you want to get your Callirhoe observations to RG!
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These are really similar and can be hard to ID to species... but only if you don't know what to look for (and photograph)
...see this guide https://www.inaturalist.org/posts/54356-a-short-guide-to-callirhoe-in-texas if you want to get your Callirhoe observations to RG.
~Doesn't have features visible~
These are really similar and can be hard to ID to species... but only if you don't know what to look for (and photograph)
I don't think there's enough in here to get this to a species ID...
...but see this guide https://www.inaturalist.org/posts/54356-a-short-guide-to-callirhoe-in-texas if you want to get your Callirhoe observations to RG!
Winged vs Cedar
Turns out, Winged Elm is not the only elm with wings... ;D
"In a better, simpler world, all elms with wings would be Winged Elms, but this is not the case."
Typically, Winged Elm has more pointed leaves (botany speech: acuminate apex)
See here for more detailed info: https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/lisa281/20574-the-elm-project-part-3-cedar-elm-vs-winged-elm%0A
Juniperus
Junipers are one of the very few times it's useful to get a broader photo of the entire tree.
Ashe Juniper usually follows the Balconnes escarpment, and Eastern Red Cedar goes towards the East. Luckily, (or unluckily), they overlap right around the Central Texas Region :D
Ashe juniper will be more bush-like, branching off from the bottom to create a giant globular bush.
Easter Red Cedar will be more conifer tree-like (think Christmas tree), having a main trunk with the branches coming out.
There are some other more obscure characteristics as well, but that's one of the easier ways.
Anemone
It's definitely an anemone! We have many species here in Texas, and they can be hard to tell apart. Will wait and see if someone else can ID.
If you want to get more in-depth with how to take pictures of these for a higher chance of species ID, see here: https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/pfau_tarleton/20891
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We have many species here in Texas, and while there's a pretty high chance this is A. berlandieri, it can be hard to be certain. Who knows, maybe it could be one of the rarer ones...
If you want to get more in-depth with how to take pictures of these for a higher chance of species ID, see here: https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/pfau_tarleton/20891
Geraniums
Can be difficult to get these to species... but if you find these flowering though, a clear picture of the flower helps a lot!