Flora incognita
The Flora Incognita App is an AI-driven mobile application that helps simplify the process of plant species identification. Leveraging the potential of machine ...
Last verified:
What is Flora incognita?
Flora Incognita is a free AI-powered plant identification app that automatically identifies more than 30,000 vascular plant species including wild herbs, trees, grasses, cacti, palms, and ferns. The app uses highly precise artificial intelligence algorithms to identify wild plants even when they are not in bloom. Users simply take a picture of a plant with their smartphone camera, and within seconds receive the plant name along with detailed fact sheets containing characteristics, distribution, and protection status.
Key features include an observation list where users save all their collected plant finds with maps showing where plants were discovered, offline mode for identification without internet connection, export functionality for observations as CSV or GPX files, tag-based filtering and sorting, Flora Routines for automatic tagging, and participation in citizen science projects. The app works on Android, iOS, and Harmony OS devices in over 20 languages without requiring a profile, though profiles enable cross-device observation synchronization.
Flora Incognita is designed for anyone interested in nature - from school students and university students to nature conservation initiators, botanists, gardeners, hikers, and citizen scientists. The app contributes to scientific biodiversity monitoring and research by collecting location data for recorded plants. It is completely free of charge and advertising because it is part of a scientific research project at Technische Universität Ilmenau aimed at improving nature conservation.
The database continuously expands, and since 2025 the app can also identify approximately 3,000 lichen and fungus species plus about 500 common moss species. Users can identify plants from their photo gallery, add additional photos during identification, edit observations afterward, and share findings via social media.
Flora incognita pricing
Pricing model: Free
The Flora Incognita app is completely free of charge and advertising. There is no premium version, no subscription, and no costs whatsoever. Users can use the app anytime for as long as they want with all features included. The app is free because it is part of a scientific research project at Technische Universität Ilmenau aimed at improving nature conservation.
Flora incognita pros
- Identifies over 30,000 vascular plant species automatically
- Works even when plants are not in bloom using AI algorithms
- Completely free with no ads, no premium version, no subscription
- Available in over 20 languages including English and German full versions
- Works offline without constant internet connection in Offline Mode
- No profile required to identify plants - can use as guest
- Observation list saves all plant finds with location maps
- Export observations as CSV or GPX files for custom maps
- Tag-based filtering, sorting, and searching by species/date/location
- Flora Routines automatically tag observations by time/species/location
- Participate in citizen science projects for biodiversity research
- Can identify plants from phone's photo gallery instead of camera
- Edit plant names, notes, tags, and project affiliation after saving
- Fact sheets show characteristics, distribution, and protection status
- Add additional photos during identification to narrow down results
- Share single observations or entire lists via social media
- Profile syncs observation list across multiple devices
- Includes 500 moss species and 3,000 lichen/fungus species since 2025
- Perfect for educational purposes in schools and universities
- Simple intuitive interface suitable for any age and knowledge level
Flora incognita cons
- Some localized content not in corresponding language - remains in English
- Cannot add photos to observation after it has been saved
- Cannot delete multiple observations at once - must swipe individually
- Cultivated varieties and cultivars rarely supported in identification
- Guest profile observations lost if user logs out or uninstall app
- Cannot merge guest account observations with existing user account
- Requires camera, location, and media storage access permissions
- Offline mode requires three photos per plant before going online again
Frequently asked questions about Flora incognita
Are there any costs with regard to the app?
No, the app is completely free of charge and advertising. All you need are sharp, close-up photos of the plant you want to identify. There is no premium version, no subscription, and you can use Flora Incognita anytime for as long as you want.
How does Flora Incognita work?
With your smartphone camera, you snap a picture of the flower, then if necessary the leaf, and in seconds you receive a suggestion for the name of the plant as well as further information. The app uses highly precise AI algorithms to identify plants and allows easy and safe plant identification for people of any age and any level of prior knowledge.
Can Flora Incognita identify wild plants only?
Currently, Flora Incognita can distinguish over 30,000 different vascular plants including wild herbs, trees, grasses, cacti, palms, ferns, and some cultivated plants. In addition, it knows about 500 common moss species, and since 2025, Flora Incognita is also able to identify approximately 3,000 lichen and fungus species. The database is continuously being expanded.
Is Flora Incognita available in different languages?
Flora Incognita is available as a German and English full version. Over 30 other localizations are offered including Arabian, Bulgarian, Czech, Chinese, Danish, Dutch, Estonian, Finnish, French, Greek, Hindi, Italian, Croatian, Norwegian, Persian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Swedish, Spanish, Ukrainian, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Latvian, Lithuanian, Serbian, Slovakian, Slovenian, Turkish, and Urdu. The app usually uses your device's current language, but you can change it manually in Settings.
Do I have to create a profile?
You do not need a profile to identify plants with the Flora Incognita app. Simply tap on 'Without profile' on the login page. However, having a profile saves all your recorded observations and lets you access your entire observation list on other or new devices when you log in.
Why does the app want access to my location?
The aim of Flora Incognita as a research project is monitoring plant biodiversity, which is only possible with locations for all recorded plants. When you share the plant's location, you make an important contribution to biodiversity monitoring and research. For you, sharing location makes plant identification more accurate, and much of the information in the species fact sheet is presented in relation to your location because it is of local significance.
Can I have plants identified if I don't have a mobile signal?
When your phone loses internet connection, Flora Incognita switches to 'Offline Mode'. You can create observations by taking three pictures per plant (usually flower, leaf, and whole plant), save the observation, and return to the app when online. Then you can identify plants directly from your observation list. Location information is included if you granted the appropriate permission.
Can observations be exported?
Yes. You can export a single observation to your photo gallery or share it via social media. You can also export multiple observations as a list with images, species names, and coordinates as a CSV table or GPX file. Use the tags function or map section to limit your observation list if necessary, then click the share icon. The file will be sent via email or saved in cloud storage.
Can I edit observations afterwards?
Yes, if a plant observation has been saved, you can change the plant name afterward. Select the relevant observation and tap on 'Edit' to the right of 'Results'. You can also edit notes, tags, and project affiliation this way. However, once an observation is saved, no further images can be added to it.
What are projects mentioned in the app?
You can participate in projects within the Flora Incognita app to collect targeted data for answering research questions. Tap the project icon on the home screen to open an overview of all public projects. If you join one, accept the terms and tag the appropriate plant observations with the corresponding project tag. There are also non-public projects that require a code from project coordinators. You can use Flora Routines to automatically assign tags.