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Biology 211 - Fall 1999

Flowering Plant Taxonomy

Lecture: MWF 9:00-9:50 in Lovejoy 211

Laboratory Sections: Wednesday (A) and Thursday (B) 1:00-4:00 in Olin 314

Instructors: Ray Phillips; Office - Lovejoy 105 (Information Technology Services), Phone 3582.

Office hours: W 10:00-11:00, F 1:30-2:30, or just drop by my office at other times.

(You can almost always get in touch with me by electronic mail-rbphilli.)

Lab Instructor: Lindsey Colby; Office - Olin 304, Phone 3558, e-mail lwcolby

An introduction to the principles and practice of flowering plant taxonomy. Emphasis is placed on acquiring the facility to use appropriate terminology in order to identify plants, as well as understanding the historical context and investigative procedures of taxonomists in designing a classification. Of particular importance is gaining an understanding of the philosophical bases in taxonomy and the relevance of this field to other areas of biology.

Objectives:

Evaluation (tentative):

Plant Collection (Due Nov. 18):

The plant collection must include 50 fully identified specimens representing different species (or infraspecific taxa). Ten specimens must be mounted properly on herbarium paper. A typed or neatly printed label must be prepared for every specimen and affixed in the extreme lower, right-hand corner of the sheet for mounted specimens. The label must include the collector's name and collection number, family, genus and species with the author citation, date of collection, locality, country, and any other pertinent data. The remaining unmounted specimens should be loose in folded (11x16) newsprint with a prepared label as described above. Required: 4 specimens in Poaceae, 2 in Cyperaceae, and 1 in Juncaceae.

A field book must accompany the collection. The field book must be compiled in the field as you collect each specimen; it should be in pencil; all records must be entered, dated, and numbered sequentially; and the field book and label data must coincide. You will probably collect more than 50 specimens.

The collection will be graded in the following manner:

Identification: Each specimen is worth 5 points. Misidentification to family results in a -7 point assessment; to genus -3 points; and to species -2 points.

Quality of the collection: Are the leaves and flowers pressed flat? Is the specimen dry? Are the upper and lower surfaces visible? Are the mounted specimens firmly and totally attached? Is the label prepared properly? Is the mounting aesthetically pleasing? A poor quality specimen will result in a -2 point assessment.

Label and Field Data: Is the collection label complete and specific? Given the information on the label, would it be possible for another collector to return to the same location? If the specimen is from a tree or shrub, are there notes on features of the plant (such as tree height, bark texture) that are not evident from the specimen itself? An inadequate label and field notes for a specimen will be assessed -2 points.

You will be able to use the lab after class hours by checking the key out from the Science Library in Olin (hours are posted and available on the web). The laboratory may be used by other classes; a schedule for the lab will be posted. In general, the lab is available for your use evenings and weekends. Cabinet space will be available for you to store your collection as you work on it during the semester.

Flowering Plant Family Recognition (Laboratory Exam Dec. 9):

During this course you will be introduced to many flowering plant families. Some of the most important of these will be reviewed with examples and the characteristic features will be described and illustrated. You will be expected to recognize members of these families without the aid of a key. Most of these you will find very easy to recognize. Below is a complete list of the 60 families in the order that they will be introduced. Be sure to see the textbook and its included CD-ROM, as well as the web pages for this course, where family descriptions and illustrations will be found. Numbers in parentheses refer to page numbers in the Woodland textbook.