Flora Incognita is an AI-supported mobile app designed for plant identification, scientific observation and learning. With a database of over 16,000 plant species, users can easily identify any plant by taking a picture or by manual search. The app is perfect for educational purposes in schools, universities, and nature conservation initiatives, as it is free of charge and advertising and even works without a constant internet connection. Observations can be saved and stored for later reference, making an important contribution to scientific research and citizen science. Users can also explore interesting facts about plants, such as their characteristics, distribution, and protection status through the app’s extensive plant fact sheets. Flora Incognita aims to enhance biodiversity research by combining AI methods with citizen science. The “Flora Incognita++” project is exploring plant phenology using deep learning techniques and a systematic review of scientific literature. The app has also been improved with enhanced offline mode performance as well as the development of a new AI method for image recognition. These updates and advancements have been shared with the public via multiple social media platforms, including Twitter, Mastodon, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. The app also has a blog section for publications and news on the latest developments and uses of AI in environmental and biodiversity research.
