| General Description | Use three general points to clearly describe the plant in very broad terms.
3 marks |
| ID Characteristic | What are three key identification characteristics of this plant? If you had to teach plant ID what three general characteristics would you use to assist students in remembering the plant.?
3 marks |
| Shape | Upright, pyramidal, etc. including changes over time and plant maturity.
2 marks |
| Landscape | How is the plant used in the landscape today if at all. Uses might include but may not be limited to the following: Urban plantings, parks, naturalization, landscape restoration, wildlife habitat (could be quite specific here), commerical uses, food, lumber, crafts, specimens, hedges, windbreaks, screens, topiary, bonsai, etc.
5 marks |
| Propagation | How is the plant propagated? Seed, timing, treatment including specific details regarding scarification and stratification. If it is through cuttings, what type of cuttings and the full treatment required. If is though other vegetative means such as division, offsets etc, fully describe the process, timing, and after culture considerations.
This must be specific information, no marks will be given for general information.
5 marks |
| Cultivation | What conditions does it require for us to grow it? Soil, exposure, pH, other specific issues. Is it urban tolerant or tolerant/susceptible to specific conditions?
3 marks |
| Pests | List those common to the plant, including insects, diseases, herbivores and physiological diseases. Also comment on the regularity and severity of their occurrence.
3 marks |
| Notable Specimens | Where can we see a specific specimen in a public venue such as a public garden, park, botanical garden, research garden or public display area. Include place name, city, province or state, and country (no abbreviations).
1 mark |
| Habitat | If it grows naturally (not a cultivar), describe where it would typically be found,
ie: low wet areas around the margins of lakes on acid soil in Alberta.
Cultivars are listed as horticultural origin.
3 marks |
| Bark/Stem Description | Describe the bark fully using taxonomic terms, including colour, old vs young, plate character if present etc.
3 marks |
| Flower/Leaf Bud Description | Describe the bud fully using taxonomic terms including size, shape, colour, scales, and other related taxonomic regularities as they occur.
3 marks |
| Leaf Description | Describe the leaf fully using taxonomic terms including structure, size, shape, colour, leaf margin, venation etc.
3 marks |
| Flower Description | Describe the flower fully using taxonomic terms including size, shape, colour, flowering period, pollinators, structure, and arrangement.
3 marks |
| Fruit Description | Describe the fruit fully using taxonomic terms including size, shape, colour, occurrence, arrangement, and internal morphology.
3 marks |
| Colour Description | Describe all colour aspects of the plant including foliage (through the seasons), leaves, bark, fruit, and bloom.
5 marks |
| Texture Description | Is it a fine, medium or coarse textured plant? Does the texture change through the seasons.
2 marks |