Montana Grasses 13.05

The College of Agriculture at Montana State University and High Country Apps have collaborated to create the new Montana Grasses identification app for smartphones and tablets. This app offers images, species descriptions, range maps, and other valuable information on over 282 grasses and grass-like plants (graminoids) found in Montana and neighboring states and provinces. Montana Grasses is tailored for users at all knowledge levels, catering to both beginners and seasoned experts with an interest in grass identification. The app functions offline, ensuring accessibility regardless of your location.

Users have the option to browse the comprehensive species list or conduct targeted searches by common or scientific names. The app features an identification tool with 13 distinct sets of characteristics to aid in pinpointing specific plants, such as overall appearance, seed head, blade width, auricle, habitat, elevation, and origin (native or introduced). By selecting known characteristics, users receive a curated list of thumbnail images and matching species with the click of a button.

Moreover, Montana Grasses incorporates a “favorites” function allowing users to compile a personalized list of species for future reference and sharing via email and social platforms. Extensive information on grass identification fundamentals, reference sources, resources, a botanical terms glossary, and grass anatomy diagrams are also included in the app.

The app will undergo regular updates to introduce new species and additional content at no extra cost to users. A portion of the app’s revenues will be allocated by High Country Apps to support plant conservation initiatives in Montana.

Developed jointly by the College of Agriculture at Montana State University and High Country Apps from Bozeman, MT, this application benefitted from the expertise of faculty and staff within the Land Resources and Environmental Sciences Department and the Plant Sciences and Plant Pathology Department. Montana State University is the state's land-grant institution dedicated to educating students, advancing knowledge and art, and engaging with communities through learning and discovery.