# Basal rosette identification **URL:** \ **Category:** Nature Talk\ **Created:** [October 19, 2021, 12:39pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/basal-rosette-identification/27303 "2021-10-19T12:39:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![gillydilly](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/gillydilly/32/3850_2.png) [@gillydilly](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/gillydilly)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2021, 12:39pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/basal-rosette-identification/27303/1 "2021-10-19T12:39:42Z")
I mostly observe native flowering plants on roadsides in my area - North Carolina, USA. Recently, I have become fascinated by the basal rosettes I see. They are not often mentioned or pictured in field guides or identification keys, yet many of them appear to be be unique to the species. Some “weed” identification sites do show such pictures. Are there any other resources out there that can help me learn more about these rosettes? ---
**Author:** ![nathantaylor](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/nathantaylor/32/1152_2.png) [@nathantaylor](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/nathantaylor)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2021, 1:58pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/basal-rosette-identification/27303/2 "2021-10-19T13:58:04Z")
Not that I’m aware of, but I have created a project to help people learn about them. You’re more than welcome to look over photos and add observations if you’re certain an ID (be sure to read the rules). [https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/plants-out-of-season](https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/plants-out-of-season) ---
**Author:** ![gillydilly](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/gillydilly/32/3850_2.png) [@gillydilly](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/gillydilly)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2021, 2:11pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/basal-rosette-identification/27303/3 "2021-10-19T14:11:53Z")
Thank you, nathantaylor! ---
**Author:** ![naturalist\_nate](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/naturalist_nate/32/1175_2.png) [@naturalist\_nate](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/naturalist_nate)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2021, 3:49pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/basal-rosette-identification/27303/4 "2021-10-19T15:49:38Z")
there are often specific guides for this. I have one called the “Central Region Seedling ID Guide for Native Prairie Plants” that was put out by the USDA NRCS and the Missouri Dept of Conservation from Oct 2005. Got it in grad school, I think. ---
**Author:** ![spins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/22d042/32.png) [@spins](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/spins)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2021, 4:21pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/basal-rosette-identification/27303/5 "2021-10-19T16:21:55Z")
Nothing beats learning this by yourself. ---
**Author:** ![silversea\_starsong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7c8e57/32.png) [@silversea\_starsong](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/silversea_starsong)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2021, 5:56pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/basal-rosette-identification/27303/6 "2021-10-19T17:56:53Z")
Yeah, the best way is to watch the plants grow over seasons. Even better, photograph them and ID them later so you have pictures available to show others who want to learn. Some species are very distinctive and well-known in the basal stages, but not all. Though frankly, a lot of annual forbs are probably very difficult to tell apart. ---
**Author:** ![gillydilly](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/gillydilly/32/3850_2.png) [@gillydilly](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/gillydilly)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2021, 11:09pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/basal-rosette-identification/27303/7 "2021-10-19T23:09:54Z")
Appreciate that, naturalist\_nate. I have ordered a copy and it is on its way to me. ---
**Author:** ![arboretum\_amy](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/arboretum_amy/32/2328_2.png) [@arboretum\_amy](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/arboretum_amy)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2021, 12:05am UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/basal-rosette-identification/27303/8 "2021-10-20T00:05:09Z")
If you have the means, I highly recommend sowing some seeds in pots to watch at home. Nothing teaches you about plants like starting them from scratch! ---
**Author:** ![annkatrinrose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e47774/32.png) [@annkatrinrose](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/annkatrinrose)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2021, 3:58am UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/basal-rosette-identification/27303/9 "2021-10-20T03:58:00Z")
That’s exactly what I have done - growing native plants from seeds. I actually have quite a few seedling and rosette pictures but haven’t started uploading any of them to iNat yet. I usually have a long backlog of wild observations even without adding cultivated ones into the mix. But maybe these might actually be of interest as reference material for questions like this. I’m in North Carolina as well and found the best sources for wildflower seeds are the [NC Botanical Garden](https://ncbg.unc.edu/plants/native-seed-distribution/) and seed exchanges by the [NC Native Plant Society](https://ncwildflower.org/ncnps-events/), usually happening in December. ---
**Author:** ![arboretum\_amy](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/arboretum_amy/32/2328_2.png) [@arboretum\_amy](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/arboretum_amy)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2021, 1:55pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/basal-rosette-identification/27303/10 "2021-10-20T13:55:42Z")
> [@annkatrinrose](#): > > I actually have quite a few seedling and rosette pictures but haven’t started uploading any of them to iNat yet. I usually have a long backlog of wild observations even without adding cultivated ones into the mix I haven’t uploaded mine either. It is a bummer that I want to upload them for other people to reference but the casual status will make the photos more difficult to find. Gotta hope people will set “quality grade: any” when browsing taxon photos. ---
**Author:** ![sedgequeen](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/sedgequeen/32/1928_2.png) [@sedgequeen](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/sedgequeen)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2021, 3:33pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/basal-rosette-identification/27303/11 "2021-10-20T15:33:37Z")
For ID of rosettes in a limited area (but it includes many widespread weeds), Dichotyledonous rosettes of eastern Nebraska: descriptions and key, by Phillip David Moore, a master’s thesis at University of Nebraska at Omaha. If you see rosettes you know, photo and post them! Your identification will help people who want to learn them. ---
**Author:** ![junior84](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/junior84/32/17968_2.png) [@junior84](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/junior84)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2021, 6:12pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/basal-rosette-identification/27303/12 "2021-10-20T18:12:36Z")
That’s a great project - I see it isn’t limited to rosettes, as it includes other kinds of plants! I added some of my observations as I see there aren’t many from South America as a whole :D ---
**Author:** ![botanicaltreasures](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/botanicaltreasures/32/6537_2.png) [@botanicaltreasures](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/botanicaltreasures)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2021, 6:14pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/basal-rosette-identification/27303/13 "2021-10-20T18:14:48Z")
Is there a field for “rosette”? I know that I have a few mixed in amongst my observations. ---
**Author:** ![gillydilly](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/gillydilly/32/3850_2.png) [@gillydilly](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/gillydilly)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2021, 8:28pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/basal-rosette-identification/27303/14 "2021-10-20T20:28:30Z")
@sedgequeen, yes! I did a little of that last winter when I saw them on my roadside jaunts. That ‘s actually what got me interested. I saw many I did not already know, and they did not get any identifications, which I can understand. But it made me want to know more! Now it is fall, and I am starting to see them showing up again. ---
**Author:** ![gillydilly](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/gillydilly/32/3850_2.png) [@gillydilly](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/gillydilly)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2021, 8:29pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/basal-rosette-identification/27303/15 "2021-10-20T20:29:21Z")
@botanicaltreasures, great question! I don’t know the answer. ---
**Author:** ![gillydilly](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/gillydilly/32/3850_2.png) [@gillydilly](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/gillydilly)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2021, 8:45pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/basal-rosette-identification/27303/16 "2021-10-20T20:45:25Z")
@sedgequeen, that master’s thesis is terrific and there are lots of species in it that grow here in NC. I can’t wait to try it out. Thank you for that suggestion. ---
**Author:** ![marina\_gorbunova](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/marina_gorbunova/32/31454_2.png) [@marina\_gorbunova](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/marina_gorbunova)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2021, 9:49pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/basal-rosette-identification/27303/17 "2021-10-20T21:49:09Z")
You can use annotation for not flowering. ---
**Author:** ![egordon88](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/egordon88/32/29204_2.png) [@egordon88](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/egordon88)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2021, 3:41am UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/basal-rosette-identification/27303/18 "2021-10-21T03:41:40Z")
I agree. I knew exactly what [these sprouts](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/89865041) were, because I previously germinated seeds for my own garden in flats. Of course, location and habitat helps: [https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/97490280](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/97490280) ---
**Author:** ![Elschongar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/779978/32.png) [@Elschongar](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/Elschongar)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2021, 1:47pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/basal-rosette-identification/27303/19 "2021-10-21T13:47:14Z")
Looking forward to you adding the pictures of rosettes to the pictures that appear on suggestions. I think I have Moth Mullein in my gravel driveway, I took pictures and if it doesn’t get run over by mistake, I will post them next year when I am sure. ---
**Author:** ![Elschongar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/779978/32.png) [@Elschongar](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/Elschongar)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2021, 1:50pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/basal-rosette-identification/27303/20 "2021-10-21T13:50:29Z")
You can add them to the photos that appear as suggestions. It is an option under curation that is open to everyone. I was frustrated that the purple crown vetch fruit was not included in any of the suggestion pictures, so I took a picture of my weed patch with one flower (to confirm the id) and several fruit and added it. [Next page](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/basal-rosette-identification/27303.md?page=2)