Wetland Delineation Plant Name Look-up Tool

This tool is similar to my "Bird Macro Library" and "Plant Code Lookup" Excel tools that convert AOU bird codes or standardized plant symbol codes into scientific names, common names, family names, etc.

This Excel tool takes your list of plant symbols or latin names, compares them to the list of codes or names in the National Wetland Plant List (2012), and returns the Wetland Indicator Status for the region that you select.  For instance, it'll return "OBL", "FAC", "FACU", "UPL" if the plant is listed in the database.

The macro-enabled spreadsheet (Excel 2007 and 2010 only for now) can be downloaded here:
http://fielddata.blogspot.com/p/downloads.html

Data for the lists comes from the 2012 National Wetlands Plant List as found on the USDA PLANTS website as of April 8, 2012 at:  http://plants.usda.gov/wetland.html

Thanks to the USDA NRCS, ACOE, USFWS, and other other organizations and individuals who contributed to this list.

There are two ways to convert the data, one way is copying and pasting your information into the spreadsheet tables and the other uses VBA Macros to lookup and convert data in your existing spreadsheets to show the Wetland Indicator Status.  Here are some basic instructions:

Instructions (Non-Macro):

1. Download and open the file "NationalWetlandPlantListMacros.xlsm". Use the worksheet tabs "Code Lookup," "Latin Name Lookup," or "Common Name Lookup."
2. Copy your plant codes or latin names into the columns highlighted in yellow.
• Note: This method supports plant lookups on the subregion list, the macro method does not at this time.
3. Example data are in the first columns and can be replaced.  Insert rows as necessary.
4. Sheets are protected to prevent change to the non-highlighted cells.  Use Unprotect Sheet on the "Review" tab to undo.
5. If using common names, note that not all plants have common names in the wetland plant list. Try converting to scientific names or symbol using the "Plant Code Lookup" spreadsheet first.

Instructions (Macro):

1. Download, open, and enable macros in the file "NationalWetlandPlantListMacros.xlsm".
2. While the macro library is open, the macros can be run in any other workbook that is also open on your computer.
3. In your spreadsheet, make a copy of the column with the plant code symbols or latin names that you want to look up.
• For instance:  If your names are in column A, make a copy of the names in column B.
• This is because codes or names will be overwritten and cannot be undone.
4. Highlight the codes that you want to convert (i.e. the ones in column B) and press the shortcut key:
• Ctrl+w to convert plant symbol codes into Wetland Indicator Status Codes.  A selection box (see below) will ask which region you want to convert to.
• Ctrl+Shift+W to convert latin names into Wetland Indicator Status Codes.  Again, a selection box will ask which region you want to convert to.
• Note: plant latin names must be spelled exactly the same as in the "NWPL" tab.

Tip:  Practice the macros on the "Macro Test" tab to get a good idea of how the tools work. Also, backup your work before using the tool until you are accustomed to using it.  Note that if you change the name of the workbook or the worksheet tabs, some of the formulas and macros won't work.

If you wish, learn about using VBA Macros for Wetland, Wildlife, and other Natural Resource projects here.

As this is a new tool at this time, there may be some errors, so be sure to review the output and let me know if you come across any problems or if you have any questions and please sign my guestbook or send me a note to let me know how you find any of this information useful!