BDC221
Plant Diversity
2nd term
Welcome to the 2nd part of the Plant Diversity course. We hope that you will find this
course informative, challenging and enjoyable. This course deals with the diversity of
plants and other photosynthetic organisms and their evolutionary relationships; the origin
of organelles by endosymbiosis; growth and organization; life cycles and their
environmental correlates; identification, nomenclature (naming) and classification of
plants; plant characters of use in cladistic methods; sources of taxonomic information;
and a review of flowering plant diversity in the fynbos, with special attention to the most
species rich and endemic taxa.
This is an introductory course to plant diversity that will be elaborated on in your final
year here at UWC, dealing with such aspects as Biogeography, Ecosystem Diversity &
Functioning, and Macro-ecology. To really understand and appreciate Biogeography,
Ecosystem Diversity & Functioning, and Macro-ecology of the Cape floral Kingdom for
example, a good understanding of the evolution of fynbos plants is a necessity, and so
this will be dealt with through the course of this semester.
Course Specifics
Lecturers:
Contact details:
Email:
Office:
Gavin W. Maneveldt
021 959 2342
gmaneveldt@uwc.ac.za
PL112
Frans M. Weitz
021 959 2284
fweitz@uwc.ac.za
HB3, Herbarium
Office Hours: For one hour immediately following your lecture or by special
arrangement.
Your email address: yourstudentnumber@uwc.ac.za (please check regularly for class
and practical announcements).
Duration of Course:
This course will run during the 1st semester, over 14 weeks from 2 February until 15th
May 2009.
Lecture Times and Venue:
Monday:
09h40-10h40 (Herbarium)
Tuesday:
10h50-11h50 (Herbarium)
Wednesday: 09h40-10h40 (Herbarium)
Practicals:
Tuesdays 14h00-17h00 AND Fridays 09h40- 13h00 (Room P108)
2
MODULE OUTLINE
The duration of topics is approximately 1-2 weeks each.
1. Introduction
2. Classification and phylogeny of lower plants
3. Anatomical organisation and growth in lower plants
4. Reproduction and life cycles of lower plants
5. Higher plant nomenclature, identification and classification
6. Cladistic methodology
7. Classification systems and modern approaches to Angiosperm classification
8. Characters of Taxonomic importance in higher plants
9. Fynbos families
Assessment
In-class (continuous evaluation) work will count towards your final semester mark, so
this is another reason for you to attend classes. You will be expected to write at least
one major essay. A special category of work is introduced here: microthemes. These
are single paragraphs to be written in class, often at the end of a lecture or as
homework that is due the next day.
Breakdown:
Exam Mark:
40 %
Coursework Mark:
60 %
Practicals:
45 %
Essays (2):
12 %
Microthemes:
4%
Integrated Mid-Term Test (week 9/10): 17 %
Spot Tests (x3):
12 %
Worksheets:
10 % (Tutorials)

Continuous evaluation for part 2 of the module is as follow:
Week 2
7-Apr-09
Internet search summary
Week 3
20-Apr-09
Assignment submission
Week 5
29-Apr-09
Test
Week 7
15-May-09
Practical test
Tutorial exercises will be done in class and as homework.
3


You need a sick certificate if you are absent from the above tests. Sick tests
will run with Faculty dates at the end of the semester.
Please read the “welcome to second year document for rules and regulations
pertaining to tests and other curricular issues.
Prescribed theory course activities, assignments and important dates:
 Please be sure to hand in any assignments/class activities at the end of the day
the assignment is due.
 This course requires extended reading and you should read as wide as possible
on the different topics.
 Practicals are also compulsory. See practical manual for practical schedule.
Standardised penalties for the Science Faculty
See BDC221 introduction (Unit 1) on rules for plagiarism and late submissions.
ASSIGNMENT:
1) Use the Library’s interactive search for journal articles (NOT GOOGLE
SEARCH) and search 5 relevant journal articles on any topic relating to
identification and/ or classification of flowering plants. Write a one page
summary where you summarise the 5 journal articles (note: the summary
should be a combined summary and not a summary of the individual articles).
2) Use one of the journal articles and write an essay of about 1 500 words on the
topic. Your essay should have an introduction, materials and methods, results, a
discussion and a reference list.
References should follow the “Council of
Science Editors (CSE)” format.
Lecture schedule:
WEEK
1
2
DATE
CONTENT
30 March Mon 9.4010.40
31 Mar Tues. 10.5011.50
Lecture: Introduction
1 April Wed 9.4010.40
6 April Mon 9.4010.40
7 April Tues. 10.5011.50
Lecture: Pant Identification
Lecture: Plant nomenclature
PRACTICALS
Tuesday 2-5;
Fridays 9.40-13.00
1. Quantitative vs.
qualitative data
2. Leaf identification key
Lecture: Cladistic methodology 1.
Lecture: Cladistic methodology 2.
3. Flower identification
key
4
3
4
5
6
7
8 April Wed 9.4010.40
13 April Mon 9.4010.40
14 April Tues. 10.5011.50
15 April Wed 9.4010.40
20April Mon 9.4010.40
21 April Tues. 10.5011.50
22 April Wed
27 April Mon 9.4010.40
28 April Tues. 10.5011.50
29 April Wed 9.4010.40
4 May Mon 9.4010.40
5May Tues. 10.5011.50
6 May Wed 9.4010.40
11 May Mon 9.4010.40
12 May Tues. 10.5011.50
13 May Wed 9.4010.40
Lecture: Cladistic methodology 3.
Public Holiday
Lecture: Classification systems 1
4. Key construction
Lecture: Classification systems 2
5. Cladistics
Lecture: Sources of taxonomic
importance 1
Lecture: Sources of taxonomic
importance 2
Public Holiday
Public Holiday
Ericaceae
6. Anatomy
7. Ericaceae
8. Proteaceae
Midterm Test
Proteaceae
Rutaceae, Polygalaceae
9. Asteraceae
Order: Fabales
10. Petaloid monocots
Geraniaceae, Oxalidaceae
Asteraceae, Lamiaceae
Grasses, sedges and reeds
11. Grasses, sedges
and reeds
Practical test.
Week of March 30:
Plant nomenclature, identification and classification (introduction)
Week of April 6:
Cladistic methodology.
Week of April 13:
Classification systems. Modern Approaches to Angiosperm classification.
Week of April 20:
Characters of taxonomic importance
Weeks of April 27 – May 13
Fynbos families
5
Course Policy
 You are responsible for catching up with missed lectures and practicals.
Interview a fellow student to find out what you missed. If you know you will be
absent in advance, make arrangements with someone to copy notes or get
information on assignments.
 Class starts promptly and you should make a concerted effort to be on time, do
your assignments, and participate in all activities.
 Feedback on assignments, practicals and worksheets, and tests will be as prompt
as possible. The lecturer will provide individual written feedback whenever
possible.
 Civility and respect in class is important. Class members will be open-minded and
willing to contribute ideas in an effort to make class time enjoyable and fruitful
for all members.
 Please set your cell phones to the “vibrate” mode or put them off during
lectures and during practicals. If you have to take a call, do so outside, and if it
is not an emergency, call the person back later. We value the contribution you
will make to the class time.
Thank you for enrolling in this module. I wish you success for the second half of
the first semester.
Frans Weitz