Pl@ntNet is a smartphone application that enables users to identify plants by simply taking a photograph. This tool is particularly useful when a botanist is not readily available. Additionally, Pl@ntNet serves as a citizen science project, as the plants photographed by users are collected and analyzed by scientists worldwide. The aim is to gain a better understanding of the evolution of plant biodiversity and to enhance preservation efforts. While Pl@ntNet can identify a wide range of plants, including flowering plants, trees, grasses, conifers, ferns, vines, wild salads, and cacti, its primary focus is on wild plants found in nature, including those growing in urban environments and vegetable gardens.

To achieve accurate identification, Pl@ntNet relies on users providing as much visual information as possible about the plant being observed. While flowers, fruits, and leaves are the most distinctive features, other details such as thorns, buds, and stem hair can also be helpful. While a photograph of the entire plant or tree is valuable, it may not be sufficient for reliable identification. Currently, Pl@ntNet can recognize approximately 20,000 species, but efforts are ongoing to expand this database to encompass the estimated 360,000 species on Earth. Users are encouraged to contribute their observations, which are reviewed by the community and may be included in the application's photo gallery.

The latest version of Pl@ntNet, released in January 2019, offers several enhancements and new features. These include the ability to filter recognized species by genus or family, a revised data system that prioritizes users with greater expertise, the re-identification of shared observations, multi-flora identification across the entire application, the option to select favorite floras for quicker access, navigation through taxonomic levels in image galleries, mapping of observations, and links to informative factsheets. Additionally, a web version of the application is available for use.