Systematic Botany

Catalog description

This course will examine the morphology and anatomy of the vascular plants, with an emphasis on the characteristics of major families to aid in the diagnostic identification of plant taxa. Topics include a comprehensive overview of vascular plant phylogeny through various lines of taxonomic evidence (e.g., morphology, anatomy, embryology, chromosomes, palynology, secondary plant compounds, proteins, and DNA), the history of plant classification and botanical nomenclature, and the interactions between humans and plants. Laboratory will involve detailed observations of plant morphology and anatomy, as well as field and herbarium methods.