Why 'Key Botany'?

Why 'Key Botany'?

Greetings and Welcome,

I thought it made sense for my first blog to introduce my little baby (the business not my daughter) and the meaning behind the name. I think picking a business name has been one of the hardest and long-winded jobs I have come across since starting the business. I'm sure others can agree with me here. It starts off with frustration, all your good ideas have been thought of already. I can't imagine working in a more competitive industry, like Photography. I guess you need to think outside the square, for example, something like 'Curly Tree Photography'. Anyway I digress. Focus Ryan!

I am consultant botanist. I am contracted to undertake flora and vegetation surveys. Basically, I identify plants, describe plant assemblages and note their conservation significance. I'm constantly learning new plants and visiting new areas; that's the beauty of it.

To identify a plant, I use a botanical 'key'. They are dichotomous in nature and each level describes a set of two opposing features (i.e. opposite leaves vs. alternate leaves). You follow each level down choosing one of the two features until you arrive at a single species. I have included a link to a plant key below for those that are interested.

When working through a key, it can feel like you're banging your head against a wall, because it just won't fit the key. When this happens, its usually you and not the key (or a new species). You've overlooked a feature and gone down the wrong rabbit hole! When I was learning grasses I had many a specimen bring me to tears. I now love identifying grasses. I find the whole experience very humbling looking down a microscope noticing the intricacy of plants that are overlooked by the naked eye.

And the word 'botany', well that's self explanatory. I wont bore you with that. 

So there you have it, a little insight into Key Botany.

Here is a link to PlantNet, an online plant key of every plant known in NSW. This key describes a very iconic genus in Oz, Eucalyptus.