Dendrology

Catalog description

Taxonomy, identification, ranges, and uses of important U.S. timber species and lesser vegetation of a regional nature. FORT 150 Dendrology (3) FORT 150 is a first-semester, 3-credit course for students in the Forest Technology program as well as interested students in other academic programs. It is a field course that is focused on taxonomy, nomenclature, ecology, and silvics of common forest plant species. Students are exposed to native and introduced to plant species in south central Pennsylvania. Scientific names, common names, geographic ranges, and economic importance are taught. Students learn to identify plants by key characteristics: arrangement, bark, buds, flowers, fruits, general form, and leaves. Basic plant biology as well as ecological relationships are covered. Information learned in this course serves as the foundation for future courses, including FORT 110 (Forest Inventories) and FORT 160 (Silvicultural Practices).Course objectives are for students to gain an understanding of the rules of scientific nomenclature, to know the meanings of scientific terms used in dendrology, to identify 100-plus different woody plant species, to know ranges and site requirements for major species, and to know and be able to spell correctly the common and scientific names (family, genus, and species) of plants.Grading and course structure will be based on daily field quizzes, a mid-term examination, and field and written final examinations.