ENR 1202: HIGHER PLANT RESOURCES
Course Description
This course unit is designed to give an overview of the classification of higher plants, as well as
uses, threats and conservation of higher plants. Classification is important for environment and
natural resources management. The classification of organisms and knowledge about their
scientific identification facilitates communication about the organisms. This helps to determine, for
example, which species are threatened or which species are of least conservation concern.
The course unit also explores criteria by which we can determine important priority species.
Knowledge, of which species have priority value, in our particular case plants, helps in mainstream
activities aimed at conserving the species. It is easier to argue for conservation of plants when their
values have a meaning for stakeholders who are directly responsible for the conservation of plant
species.
The course unit raises issues about current understanding about common threats that affect plant
species. This will raise and increase awareness about threats among the students. Lastly, we
explore here the common general approaches that are used to conserve plant diversity and
abundance.
The course unit aims to increase the students understanding of angiosperms which form a sub-set
of higher plants. The course unit exposes the student to the common morphological features of
angiosperms used in plant identification.
Learning Objectives
By the end of the course unit, the student will be able:
 to state the common morphological features of higher plants, especially angiosperms
 to use identification keys to identify plant species
 to predict the most important plants species basing on a set of criteria
 to identify the key threats likely to affect plant species
 to highlight the possible options for conserving plant species
Course outline:
Classification concepts
 What are higher plants?
 Why classify organisms?
 What is classification?
 Common tools used in classification
 The scientific name.
 The broad plant groups
 Overview of angiosperms
Classification of Higher plants
 Morphological/vegetative characters (root, stem, flowers)
 Reproductive characters (flowers and fruits)
 Growth habit
 Ecological adaptations
Values of higher plants



Provisioning
Regulatory
Cultural
Economically important higher plant families
 Fabaceae
 Asteraceae
 Poaceae
 Palmae
Threats to plants
Conservation of higher plants
 Ex situ
 In situ
Methods of course delivery
 Lectures
 Tutorials
 Field excursion
 Practicals
 Demonstrations
Mode of Assessment
 Course Work (Take home essay, Timed
essay and Test)
 Practicals
 Field Reports
 Final written Exam
References
1. Cunningham, A. B. 2001. Applied Ethnobotany: People, Wild Plant Use & Conservation. Earthscan
Publications Ltd., London.
2. Dutta A.C., 1979. Botany for Degree Students. Oxford University Press
3. Simpson M. G. 2006. Plant systematics. Elsevier Academic Press, p xi + 590. ISBN: 10: 0-12644460-9
4. Rönnbäck, P., Kautsky, N., Pihl, L., Troell, M., Söderqvist, T., and Wennhage, H. 2007. Ecosystem
goods and services from Swedish Coastal habitats: identification, valuation, and implications for
ecosystem shifts. AMBIO 36 (7): 534-544
5. Jones, S. B., Jr., and A. E. Luchsinger 1986. Plant Systematic, 2nd ed. McGraw-Hill, Inc., New York. p
4; 56-62, 62-63
6. Judd, W. S., C. S. Campbell, E. A. Kellog, and P. F. Stevens 2002. Plant Systematics: A Phylogenetic
Approach. Sinauer associates, Inc., Sunderland, Massachusetts USA.