Plant Biology: Plant Systematics

Collection and identification of ferns and flowering plants; survey of prominent Vermont plant families; plant nomenclature, classification, and phylogeny; species concepts and speciation; floral function. Prerequisites: PBIO 1040 or BIOL 1450 or BCOR 1450 or BCOR 1425 or Instructor permission.

Prereqs enforced by the system: PBIO 1040 or BIOL 1450 or BCOR 1450 or BCOR 1425, or instructor permission; Must register for lab PBIO 2090 A01 - A04 Open to degree and PACE students

This course is designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to understand plant diversity and morphology within an evolutionary framework. We develop five principal themes in Plant Systematics: o Diversity of plant morphology and the terms used to describe it o Plant taxonomy and classification o Flowering plant diversity and evolution o Introduction to vascular plant families of Vermont o Vermont’s natural communities and the plants that characterize them In addition, we aim to provide you with the following skills: o Plant identification using the technical literature and appropriate field guides o Recognition of about 25 plant families common in eastern North America o Understanding of plant form and associated terminology o Preparation of museum-quality herbarium specimens o Recognition of representative vascular plants that characterize Vermont’s flora

This course includes a lecture and field-based lab. Students are expected to spend 4-6 hours per week on coursework outside of the classroom and lab. Required materials for this class include a hand lens and dedicated notebooks for lecture and lab.

Grades are based on lab activities (group presentation, quizzes, essays, and a lab practical), weekly homework assignments, two hourly exams, one final exam, a plant collection project, a video presentation, and a take-home individual project on plant diversity.