WILDERNESS MEDICINE
Evaluating the Accuracy of Plant and Mushroom Identification Apps SAEM PULSE | MARCH-APRIL 2025
By Kevin Watkins, MD, on behalf of the SAEM Wilderness Medicine Interest Group
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As more people explore the outdoors, interest in foraging has grown. Some plant and mushroom species are relatively easy to identify and do not have toxic lookalikes. However, many toxic species require expertise for proper identification. Individuals with limited botanical or mycological knowledge often rely on external resources as they learn, seeking guidance from selfproclaimed experts, books, or websites. Increasingly, many turn to smartphone applications for plant and mushroom identification, sometimes relying solely on these
digital tools. Popular identification apps include PictureThis, PlantSnap, Pl@ntNet, and Seek. These apps analyze the morphology of submitted photographs by comparing them to a database, often providing results within seconds. They may also be useful to health care providers treating individuals who become ill after consuming foraged plants or mushrooms.
Overview of Popular Identification Apps
PictureThis, developed by Glority Global Group Ltd., claims an accuracy rate exceeding
98%. PlantSnap, created by an independent entrepreneur, reports recognition of 90% of all known plant species. Pl@ntNet, developed by Cirad-France, uses a network of voting users to validate identifications. Picture Mushroom was created by Next Vision Ltd., while Mushroom Identificator was developed by AnnapurnApp Technologies. Seek, created by iNaturalist—a joint initiative of the National Geographic Society and the California Academy of Sciences— provides a confidence level for its identifications. PictureThis,