Services

These are some of the services I can provide.

Identification of vascular plants

Having the correct name for a plant is very important. It can for instance help you distinguish between edible species and poisonous close relatives. Having a precise name for a plant also allows communication across dialects and languages, resulting in a more accurate communication of associated information.

I have a broad knowledge of the plant diversity on our planet. When the material available is sufficient, be it as a fresh plant, dried herbarium specimen, photograph, illustration or other art work, I will usually be able to identify it. Sometimes, in cases where the material is incomplete, the identification will remain at a genus or family level. It is also possible that a species is presented to me that is unknown to science, in which case I can offer to validly describe it for you.

Additionally I have a vast database of photographs of fully identified plants. Please see the photography section for more information.

Flora treatments and botanical surveys

I have contributed many treatments of flowering plants for big flora projects such as the Flora Mesoamericana, Flora of the Guianas and the Flora of China. The groups treated ranged from ferns to monocots and dicots, showing my broad knowledge of vascular plants.

As a skilled field botanist and herbarium taxonomist, I can provide botanical surveys for different parts of the world. My core expertise lies in the floras of the Americas, Europe, East Africa and Australia. Not being a specialist in any group but with good general skills and a broad knowledge of plants allows me to quickly assess the botanical diversity of an area.

Please contact me for more information.

Horticultural advice

Want a garden with plants that are a little different? Having problems selecting the right plants for problematic sites? Will this survive in my garden? Any other questions?

A botanical consultant is here to help! Please contact me for more information.

Maarten Christenhusz, The Botanical Consultant