BIO 332                                                PLANT TAXONOMY                                   2007

 

INSTRUCTOR: R. PINETTE                 OFFICE HOUR: FOLSOM 307 11-12, MWF and
                                                                                                          by appointment

TEXT: Harris, James and Mellisa James. 2001. Plant Identification Terminology: An              

Illustrated  Guide. 2nd. Ed. ISBN 0964022166 Available at bookstore.

 

MANUAL: Haines, Arthur and Thomas Vining. 1998. Flora of Maine.

                        ISBN 0-9664874-0-0   Only three copies available at bookstore.

TOOLS: Sturdy pocket knife, pencil, pocket notebook, composition book for
permanent notebook. A plant press, trowel and pruning shears will be available for use during the term.

Readings: Unless otherwise noted readings are from Harris and Harris. Those marked W & K are from Walters and Keil, available on closed reserve at the library circulation desk.

 

Outdoor class sessions: Come prepared to take notes. For maximum protection it is a good idea to dress in pants, long sleeve shirt, hat and boots. Bring rain gear if it looks like rain. Unless it is pouring expect to go outside. Outdoor classes are marked with an asterisk. (*)   Field trips may go over time due to processing of plants after we return from the field.

 

COURSE OUTLINE: Class meets MWF 10-10:50 in Folsom 304.
                                       Laboratory meets Tuesday 1:40 to 4:40

Week Day
of:

Lecture/ Laboratory

Comments & 
Readings


8/ 27   M 
            T
           W
            F

Introduction

Course introduction and collecting plants.

*Collecting and pressing plants from campus area*
 What is taxonomy?

Vegetative terms of the stem and roots



 

W & K: 3-7

139-48


9/3 M
       T
      W 
       F 

                           Vegetative Structure
 Labor Day--No Classes                             
*Field trip—meadow by airport*

                    Flower and Fruit Structure
Leaf Parts, Arrangement, Venation, Shape Perianth and androecium                 



 

 

148-164

180-195

9/10 M
         T
       W
        F

  Flower Structure--gynoecium
*Field trip—Aroostook River on Fort Road*
  Flower Dissection—minilab

Survey of Inflorescences--minilab

195-200

 

174-180

9/17 M
         T
       W
        F

Fruit types

Keying to Family
Fruit Types
Test on material covered through Sept 14

200-206

9/24 M
        T
       W
        F

Botanical Literature
Survey of Fruit Types. 
Classification of Flowering Plants

Structure of grasses

 

 

 

W & K 334-348

10/1 M
         T
        W
         F

Structure of Sedges
Midterm Test thru September 25
Keying out sedges--minilab

Identification of rushes

 W & K 342-343

W & K 340-341

10/8

Columbus Vacation Oct 6-9

 

10/15M
          T
         W
         F

Structure of Composites

Dissection and Keying Grasses

Dissection of Composites

Some Common Dicot Families

W & K 233-237

10/22 M
            T
          

           W
            F

Nomenclature
Survey and Keying Composites
Pteridophytes (Ferns and Fern Allies)

 Structure of Ferns 

Structure of Horsetails and Club Mosses

W & K:13-22

 

   W & K 90-91

10/29 M
          

           T
           W
           F

Gymnosperms

Classification of Gymnosperms                   
Identification of Pteridophytes

Structure of Gymnosperms

 Identification of Gymnosperms--minilab

W & K 86-89
 
                          W & K 97-103                                

11/5 M
         T
        W
         F

Starting a database
Mounting Plants

Finalizing Specimens (Labels and Strapping)

Common Woody Flowering Dicot Families


 

 

11/12 M
           T
          W
          F

Common Woody Flowering Dicot Families
Identification of woody flowering plants

Structure of Orchids                                                                        
Some Common Monocot Families



W & K 330-331

11/19 M
          T
       

Exam on material since the midterm

Work on Collections
Thanksgiving Vacation (11/21-11/25)

 

11/26  M

            T

            W

             F         
 

Cladistics

Work on Collections

Cladistics

"Sexual Encounters of the Floral Kind"

 

 

12/3 MTW
         F

Work on Collections
Collections Due/Course Evaluation

 

 

12/10 M

          T

 

Return Plant Presses & Equipment/ Lab Clean Up

Identification Test 

Return Library References

 

 

Student Evaluation:

2 exams at 50 points each 100
1 midterm exam                 100
Notebook                              20
Identification Test                 50
Collection                            130
Total possible                      400

Examinations will consist of essay, short answer and diagramming. Unless otherwise instructed, responses must be expressed in complete sentences and written in standard grammar with proper punctuation. Please use blue or black ink on your exams. Diagrams may be done in pencil. These must be labeled; unlabeled drawings have zero point value.

Midterm. Due to the nature of the material being covered, the midterm will be conducted in lab.  The test will consist of sample plants for recognition of plant parts and terms. A flower dissection will also be included.

Final Exam consists of an identification test to evaluate your knowledge of taxonomic literature and terminology as well as your ability to use taxonomic keys. In this test you will be required to identify five of seven plant specimens to species.  species. Any class notes or technical references including your glossary by Harris and Harris will be allowed during the test. You will have two hours to complete the task. Picture field guides will not be permitted during this test. (50 points) See handout on collection, notebook and database Plantcollecting.htm