Field Dendrology

Catalog description

Field identification of native and introduced trees and shrubs. FOR 203 Field Dendrology (3) This course establishes the basic skills of woody plant and tree species identification necessary for students of natural resource management, ecology, and natural history. The objectives of the course are for students to 1) recognize many of the common woody plant species encountered in Pennsylvania (and the region) and the taxonomic traits used in their identification, 2) employ the diagnostic skills useful for woody plant identification, including the use of dichotomous keys, and 3) identify resources for identification and continued study of woody plants in Pennsylvania and the region. This field-based course introduces native, ornamental, and invasive woody plant species in a diversity of landscapes including forested, urban, suburban, and riparian areas.