Have you ever used one of those apps that can tell you the name of a song, just by recording a few bars?

Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. Listen Duration: 3 minutes 13 seconds 3 m 13 s Hezekiah Babatunde says his software could be used in agriculture ( Bridget Fitzgerald ) Download 1.5 MB

Well, a Perth-based researcher has developed a computer program that can identify plant species, using just a digital photograph of a single leaf.

The technology allows users to identify up to 30 different plant species using image recognition software.

Edith Cowan University School of Computer and Security Science PhD candidate, Hezekiah Babatunde, created the program using mathematical algorithms and artificial intelligence technology.

Mr Babatunde said tests had shown the program was 93 per cent accurate.

"My technology captures the image of the leaf and tells you the name of the plant automatically," he said.

"And the uses of the plant."

Mr Babatunde said the software is currently able to recognise about 30 different plant species and the program would be added to as he continued through the development stages.

Mr Babatunde said the technology would be of particular interest to the agricultural sector.

He said the software could be used to detect herbicide damage and to differentiate between weeds and other plants in crops.

"It could also be used in robotic agriculture," he said.

"There is potential for my application to be used in drone technology [to survey crops]."

The plant recognition software project was announced as a finalist in the national Fresh Science awards.