SAFETY
Safety & responsible use
PlantDex helps you identify plants. It does not tell you whether a plant is safe to touch, eat, or use in any way. Never make a decision about touching, eating, or otherwise using a plant based on this app alone.
What PlantDex does — and does not do
PlantDex is a plant identifier. You point your camera at a plant, and an on-device model suggests which species it might be. That is the whole job of the app.
PlantDex does not tell you whether a plant is edible, poisonous, medicinal, safe to touch, or safe to handle. It offers no foraging, dietary, herbal, or treatment guidance of any kind. An identification is a name — nothing more. It is never a statement that a plant is safe.
Identification is never 100% certain
No automated plant identifier is perfect, and PlantDex is no exception. Many plants look alike, and a harmless species can closely resemble a harmful one.
- Results always appear as several possible candidates together with a confidence level — never a single, definitive verdict.
- A high confidence level is still an estimate, not a guarantee. The correct species may not even be in the list.
- Photo quality, lighting, season, and the plant part you capture can all change the result.
Treat every identification as a starting point for further checking, not a final answer.
Never forage, eat, or treat based on the app alone
Do not eat, taste, brew, apply, or otherwise consume or use any plant — or feed it to another person, a child, or an animal — based on a PlantDex identification.
- Some plants are seriously toxic, and a small mistake in identification can cause real harm.
- Toxicity can also depend on the part of the plant, its preparation, the dose, and the individual person or animal.
- If you are foraging, gardening, or considering any use of a wild plant, confirm with a qualified expert first — for example a botanist, a mycologist (for fungi), a pharmacist, or a medical professional. Reliable printed references and local expert groups can also help.
Allergies and skin contact
Even simply touching a plant can cause harm for some people. Plants may trigger allergic reactions, skin irritation, rashes, or photosensitivity, and pollen can affect people with hay fever or asthma.
- If you know you are sensitive to a plant or plant family, avoid contact.
- Wash your hands after handling unfamiliar plants, and keep plant material away from eyes and mouth.
- Take extra care around children and pets, who may put plant material in their mouths.
In an emergency or suspected poisoning
If you think someone — or a pet — may have eaten, touched, or reacted badly to a plant, do not wait and do not rely on this app.
- If anyone is seriously unwell, struggling to breathe, collapsing, or having a severe reaction, contact your local emergency services immediately.
- For suspected poisoning, contact your local poison control centre or emergency services for guidance specific to your situation.
- For an affected animal, contact a veterinarian or an animal poison helpline.
- If you can do so safely, note or photograph the plant involved so professionals can identify it.
PlantDex cannot provide medical advice and is not a substitute for professional help. Always follow the instructions of qualified emergency and medical professionals.
Responsible use in nature
When you are out identifying plants, please be considerate of the environment: stay on paths where required, avoid disturbing or removing protected species and habitats, and follow local laws and landowner rules about access and collection.
This page is a template provided for convenience and general information only. It is not legal or medical advice. Please have it reviewed by a qualified professional before launch.