BIOL 321

Advanced Field Botany

This course is designed for both science and non-science students to broaden and deepen their knowledge of plant taxonomy. Students will learn the technical aspects of the dynamic nature of the classification of flowering plants and expand their ability to identify plant families, genera, and species in the field. Students will become familiar with additional native and non-native plants of California as well as their ecological relationships and conservation status. The role of herbaria in the conservation of plant taxa and plant communities will be addressed and students will practice mounting and labeling plant specimens for inclusion in an herbarium collection. A plant collection and a minimum of seven (7) field trips are required. Field trip locations may include Table Mountain, Marin Headlands, Jepson Prairie, Traverse Creek, and other locations where plants can be observed in their natural surroundings.

Units: 3.0

Hours: 36 hours LEC; 54 hours LAB