Rainforest Plants of Australia

Interactive Identification Key (Desktop or Mobile App)

Rainforest Plants of Australia (Rockhampton to Victoria) key enables rapid identification of rainforest plants of Australia. Covering 1156 species, it includes extensive information about eastern Australian rainforests and has close to 14,000 stunning photographs. It enables anyone with an interest in rainforest trees, shrubs, ferns, vines and conifers to easily identify species found between Rockhampton in Central Queensland, through NSW, to southern Victoria. It is an easy to use interractive digital key powered by Lucid technology.

Authors: Gwen Harden, Hugh Nicholson, Bill McDonald, Nan Nicholson, Terry Tame and John Williams

Published by: Terania Rainforest Publishing by Nan & Hugh Nicholson (this site) & Gwen harden Publishing

Available as downloadable Desktop App (2.0 New Release March 2024) or Mobile App (2014)

Mobile App Version
(2016)

Go to App store or Google Play on mobile devices to install

FAQ about Rainforest Plants of Australia KEY

• What is the Rainforest Plants of Australia Key & Information System?
• Who is this Key & Information System for?
• Which rainforest species are included?
• Which distribution area is covered?
• What species information does it include?
• Why is it easy to use?
• Why is it called an Information System?
• What is the benefit of the 14,000 photos?
• What is the difference between the desktop/laptop app and the mobile app?
• How many times can I download the app?
• Can I download the app on mobile devices?

What is the RAINFOREST PLANTS of AUSTRALIA Key & Information System?

This interactive digital key (desktop and mobile app) is Lucid-powered and enables rapid identification of rainforest plants of Australia (Rockhampton to Victoria). It covers 1156 species (increase of 16 species in new release desktop app), includes extensive information about eastern Australian rainforests and has close to 14,000 stunning photographs.

It enables anyone with an interest in rainforest trees, shrubs, ferns, vines and conifers to easily identify species found between Rockhampton in Central Queensland, through NSW, to southern Victoria.

The 2nd edition is based on the successful USB (2014) and the Mobile app (2016) Rainforest Plants of Australia, which in turn were based on the well-known “Red Book” Rainforest Trees & Shrubs, and the “Green Book” Rainforest Climbing Plants, both by Gwen Harden, Bill McDonald and John Williams.  Nan and Hugh Nicholson are author and photographer of Australian Rainforest Plants I-VI.

This new release 2.0 of the Rainforest Plants of Australia interactive digital key includes substantial updates and improvements on the USB version. An additional 16 species, 70 name changes for species or family names, and many updates on geographical distributions are among the changes.

This key took 13 years in preparation by botanists Gwen Harden, Bill McDonald, Nan Nicholson and photographer Hugh Nicholson. Terry Tame and John Williams also contributed.

It is the combination of expertise and enthusiasm for rainforests that makes this key not only exceptionally thorough and accurate but a thing of beauty and a joy to use.

The digital app is powered by Lucid.

Who is this Interactive Identification Key and Information System for?

This key is for everyone interested in rainforest, whether they are professional botanists or ecologists, or plant lovers with little or no knowledge of botanical terms.

Those who would find this resource useful are: landowners, government agencies, environmental consultants, landcare workers, bushwalkers, environmentalists, researchers, professional botanists, taxonomists, gardeners and all those interested in Australian rainforests.

Which rainforest species are included?

All 1156 species of rainforest trees, shrubs, climbers and mistletoes within the distribution area.  This includes 104 species of weeds naturalised in rainforest, and 201 rare & threatened species. This 2nd edition includes an increase of 16 species, including two new species discovered in the path of the Coffs Harbour highway by-pass.

What species information does it include?

Each of the 1156 species (increase of 16 species) has its own Fact Sheet with a detailed botanical description, a detailed line drawing and up to 15  photographs showing habit, leaf, flower, fruit, bark and any other distinguishing identification features.

Why is it easy to use?

The key can be searched using 160 different features.  These include botanical features such as habit, leaves, stems, bark, flowers, fruits and many other characteristics, eg. spines, climbing mechanisms or type of sap.  It can even be searched on new leaf colour or old leaf colour or leaf scent. It can also be searched on geographical area, rainforest type, rare or threatened status, weed status or family.

It is easy because you can put features in in any order and quickly narrow the possibilities down towards a clear identification. Once you have decreased the number down, a quick browse through the images allows confirmation of the specimen.

Why is it called an Information System?

This key includes additional comprehensive information with many illustrations and photographs covering:

• Rainforest ecology
• Rainforest types from wet subtropical and cool-temperate to dry inland vine scrubs.
• Rainforest distribution and where to find the best examples
• Detailed illustrated glossary
• Huge list of references and useful websites

What is the benefit of the 14,000 photos?

The photographs alone make this an exceptional resource representing a comprehensive and beautiful collection of images of the rainforest plants in the study area. Hugh Nicholson’s rainforest photography is renowned and many other photographers have also contributed images.

They enable visual confirmation of species identification, and for inexperienced users, they can be used to find the right species once the key has narrowed possibilities down to about 10 or so species.

How many times can I download the desktop app?

This Rainforest Plants of Australia app for laptop or desktop computers can be downloaded to the purchaser’s devices. The app may be downloaded maximum of three (3) times in the 12 months following purchase, and may not be copied or shared to other people. It can be downloaded to more than one computer with the same email address.

Can I download the app on mobile devices?

If you want the mobile app version for your mobile phone/ipad there is a separate app available directly from your smart phone app store. The mobile version has slightly less photos as the desktop version and has not been updated yet match this latest release March 2024. Update for the mobile app is scheduled.

Mobile App version
(2016)

Go to the App Store or Google Play on your smart phone
to purchase the Mobile app version