Plants of the Colorado Plateau

Catalog description

Two Lecture. Three Lab. An introduction to the taxonomy, classification, nomenclature, and ecology of plants on the Colorado Plateau. The course will cover the basics of plant anatomy and plant structure terminology, ethnobotany, evolutionary processes involved in biodiversity, and identification of ecologically, economically, and culturally important plants found in the region. Fieldwork may be required. Students will be able to: describe the processes involved in the evolutionary radiation of plant biodiversity; define terminology used in plant identification and evolutionary ecology; apply a dichotomous key during plant identification; prepare herbarium samples along with the appropriate information accompanying the plant sample; describe the natural history and ethnobotany of plants on the Colorado Plateau and how plants were and are used in the dietary, medicinal, and religious customs of the peoples who inhabit the region; describe the life zone concept and the expected plant communities in each life zone; describe the ecological, economic, and cultural importance of plants native to the Colorado Plateau and; identify ~100 plants to family, genus, and species level along with the common name.