Hi all!

We are excited to announce that there will be one final leaf collection this summer and fall!

I joined the project September 2022, and have been assisting Rachel in leaf collection and analysis. I worked on the research as an independent project for a class for my undergraduate degree, and now I am leading the citizen science effort. I will analyze the leaves this winter, and publish the results from this collection as a scientific paper.

Thanks again to everyone who has participated in previous years and already this year! We welcome your continued participation and are excited to see new faces!

The instructions are almost identical to previous years of collection, with a new address for sending in leaves. These details are updated in the DIRECTIONS post on the iNat project page.

Below are some preliminary results from the analyses I completed over the winter. For each leaf scan, we quantified 3 shape metrics, 4 size metrics, and 3 color metrics. Leaf size, shape, and color varied by species and could be used as identifying characteristics of I. capensis and I. pallida. I. pallida leaves were longer, wider, rounder, less intensely red, and less intensely green than I. capensis leaves.

Once again, don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions, comments, concerns, etc.! Thank you for all of your help!

Best,
Michelle