Wildflowers of Mount Everest 4.03

Vegetation Ecologist Elizabeth Byers, the Flora of Nepal Project, the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (Nepal), and High Country Apps have collaborated to develop the new WILDFLOWERS OF MOUNT EVEREST plant identification app for mobile devices. The application showcases over 550 wildflowers, shrubs, and trees commonly found along the trails in Sagarmatha National Park, Nepal. Accompanied by more than 2500 exquisitely detailed images, the species descriptions include information on bloom period, elevation range, local names, and plant lore. Many of these species are visible in the neighboring Makalu-Barun National Park and the upper regions of the Gauri Shankar Conservation Area in addition to being widespread across higher altitudes in Nepal. The app operates offline, ensuring its functionality regardless of your location.

While its primary target audience consists of amateur enthusiasts, the app's extensive content, which encompasses technical descriptions, scientific name synonymy, and references, also makes it attractive to seasoned botanists. Users can navigate the species list by either plant name or family name to locate a specific species and retrieve relevant information. However, most users will likely utilize the user-friendly search feature to accurately identify plants of interest. Additionally, users can save their favorite species to a personalized list and share it via email.

The search feature is divided into eleven straightforward categories: growth form (e.g., wildflower, shrub, vine), flower color, number of petals, flower type, elevation zone, habitat, leaf arrangement, leaf margin, leaf type, plant height, and flowering month. Users can select preferences across as many or as few categories as desired. The interface dynamically displays the number of species matching the selected criteria. Upon completion of the selection process, a click of a button generates a list of thumbnail images and names for potential matches. Users can browse through this list and tap on a thumbnail image to access additional photos, descriptions, plant facts, and folklore.

WILDFLOWERS OF MOUNT EVEREST comprises supplemental materials providing insights into the natural history of the Mount Everest region, details on wildflower seasons and optimal visiting times, explanations of how climate influences local plant communities, a map of Sagarmatha National Park, as well as comprehensive instructions on app usage. The application also features an extensive botanical glossary and illustrated diagrams of leaves, flowers, and inflorescences. Detailed family descriptions are available for each family included in WILDFLOWERS OF MOUNT EVEREST. Selecting a family name displays a list of images and names for all species within that family featured in the app.

Encompassing vegetation that ranges from temperate oak-hemlock forests at lower altitudes to alpine dwarf shrublands and meadows at higher elevations adorned with scattered cushion plants towards the mountain peaks, Sagarmatha National Park provides a diverse botanical landscape. WILDFLOWERS OF MOUNT EVEREST appeals to individuals of all ages who explore such regions with an interest in identifying and understanding the names, natural history, and cultural significance of the encountered flora. Moreover, the application serves as an invaluable educational resource for learning about plant communities, botanical terminology, and general plant identification.