Plant Taxonomy—BSC-416/516
Dr. Emily Gillespie Science 364
Fall 2013
Phone: 696-6467 email: gillespieE@marshall.edu
Meeting time: 8am-10:50am Mondays and Wednesdays
Meeting place: Science 360 unless otherwise announced
Office Hours: By appointment. Since our class is small, we will have greater flexibility by setting up
appointments individually. Please make every effort to ask 24-48 hours in advance so that I can work
around research and other duties. Monday thru Wednesday will be the easier times to schedule this term,
but any day is potentially available.
Text: Murrell, Zack E. 2010. Vascular Plant Taxonomy (6th ed.) Kendall/Hunt Publ.
Hand lens: provided, or you can purchase one.
Notebook appropriate for outdoor note-taking
Rain gear, outdoor footwear
Course Description: Plant Taxonomy (BSC 416/516). A study of the diversity and evolution of flowering
plants. Lectures emphasize the comparative study of selected plant families, their relationships and the
use of new information and techniques to enhance our understanding of plant evolution, as well as the
historical development of plant taxonomy as a scientific discipline. Labs emphasize more practical
aspects of plant systematics such as the use of identification keys and electronic resources, study of
morphological and anatomical features, recognition of common local plants, and basic phylogenetic
analysis.
Objectives of the course:
1. Be able to discuss the philosophical underpinnings of modern taxonomy, and their
applications.
2. Gain an understanding of the diversity and evolutionary relationships of vascular
plants.
3. Recognize patterns of variation within species and genera.
4. Learn techniques of plant identification.
5. Learn concepts of systematics and phylogeny reconstruction.
6. Explore recent systematic tools and techniques.
7. Understand plant distributions and common plant communities in the region.
Grading:
 Unannounced quizzes (5 total)
20 points each (=100 total)
 Three exams
100 points each (=300 total)
 Major project
200 points
o Project will be broken down into sub-stages
o Graduate students will have an additional component to the project, to be mutually agreed
upon.

Grading will be based on some combination of rubric-style grading and subjective-style grading,
depending on the assignment. Peer-grading may be included where appropriate. A=truly excellent
work; B=above average work; C=average work; D=unsatisfactory work; F=non-passable work.
Expectations:
 Read scheduled chapters ahead of time and arrive prepared to discuss them. I will not lecture
from the text.
 Come to class every day except in the event of serious illness or injury, or due to university
functions. Missing class requires an excuse from the Dean of Student Affairs in order to make up
missed assignments.
 Be on time. Exercises and/or field trips will start on time.
 Come ready to go outside every day. Bring a notebook to take notes outside every day.
 Participate actively in all exercises. Curiosity is appreciated.
 Clean up after yourself, and help out others where you can. Treat our classroom and the
herbarium with care.
 Be considerate about the use of electronics. Do not socialize electronically during class.
Academic Accommodation: Marshall University is committed to equal opportunity in education for all
students, including those with physical, learning and psychological disabilities. University policy states
that it is the responsibility of students with disabilities to contact the Office of Disabled Student Services
(DSS) in Prichard Hall 117, phone 304-696-2271 to provide documentation of their disability. The DSS
Coordinator will then send a letter to each of the student’s instructors outlining the academic
accommodation he/she will need to ensure equality in classroom experiences, outside assignment,
testing and grading. The instructor and student will meet to discuss how the accommodation(s)
requested will be provided. For more information, please visit http://www.marshall.edu/disabled
I strongly encourage you to seek assistance from these resources if you have any of these
disabilities. Be aware that you must be evaluated by a qualified professional on- or off-campus prior to
receiving these services. I cannot make these modifications outside the direction of the Office of Disabled
Student Services.
Academic dishonesty—Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated, and cheating will be pursued
vigorously. If work is intended to be done with a group, you will receive explicit instructions indicating
that you have permission to exchange work with other students. Any appearance of cheating (looking
around at other people’s work during exams or quizzes, being caught with an electronic device on during
a quiz or exam, etc…) will result in a zero on that assignment without discussion. More blatant forms of
cheating will be referred for disciplinary action. If you have any questions, please ask, rather than take a
chance.
University Policies and Procedures: Additional information can be found in the Marshall Undergraduate
Catalogue at http://www.marshall.edu/wpmu/academic-affairs/?page_id=802
Fall 2013 Tentative Schedule
Week
Week of Day Topic
1
Aug. 26
2
Sept. 2
3
Sept. 9
4
Sept. 16
M
W
M
W
M
W
M
5
Sept. 23
W
M
W
M
W
6
Sept. 30
7
Oct. 7
M
W
8
Oct. 14
9
Oct. 21
10
Oct. 28
11
Nov. 4
12
Nov. 11
13
Nov. 18
14
Nov. 25
M
W
M
W
M
W
M
W
M
W
M
W
M
W
15
Dec. 2
16
Dec. 9
M
W
M
Course intro; meet-a-plant
Introduction to Plant Systematics.
Labor Day Holiday—No classes
Survey of vascular plants
Botanical Nomenclature
Collecting and preserving plants
Taxonomic evidence & character
variation
Lycophytes and ferns
EXAM 1
Classification is a living process
Classification is a living process
Gymnosperms
Flowering Plants: characters
Tools for the taxonomist
EXAM 2
Flowering Plants: Early lineages
A brief history of classification
Rosids
Rosids
TBA
Asterids
Asterids
Molecular systematics
Monocots
Revisions and Monographs
TBA
TBA
EXAM 3
Fall/Thanksgiving Break—No
classes
Fall/Thanksgiving Break—No
classes
Class Presentations
Class Presentations
Final Exam
Ch. in
VPT
Project target dates
1
8
2
7
3
Preliminary topic(s)
Topic chosen
9
4
4
10
11
Literature search
5
12
Project plan
6
13
13
14
14
16
15
17
Rough draft
Powerpoint presentations
Powerpoint presentations
Final Paper Due