Editorial Policy

Plant Finder's standards for AI assistance, public-source links, corrections, and responsible botanical content.

Purpose and scope

This policy covers Plant Finder's public guides, tool descriptions, result framing, and editorial pages. Its purpose is simple: distinguish an AI-generated possibility from a sourced fact.

The identification tool works from visitor-provided photos and descriptions. It is designed to return cautious possibilities and flag uncertainty, not to make a definitive botanical determination. We do not present generated output as peer-reviewed, expert-verified, or sufficient for a high-stakes decision.

Public references

When available, the product links to public references such as GBIF and Wikipedia. These links are research aids, not endorsements or proof that an AI suggestion is correct. Public sources can change, be incomplete, or describe a related taxon.

Accuracy and corrections

Editorial claims should be specific, clear, and supported by credible primary or institutional sources where appropriate. When reliable evidence shows that we have made a material factual error, we correct it. A generated result is not an editorial claim about a particular plant.

Safety boundaries

We do not publish instructions that treat an AI match as enough evidence for food, medicine, toxicity, allergies, pets, protected species, invasive-species action, or harvesting. Pages that mention these subjects must direct readers to qualified local expertise.

Independence and advertising