BIOL 305L --Plant Diversity and Evolution
Syllabus – Fall 2014
TH 8:00-9:15
Course website: morgan.wells.edu/~jschnurr
Professor: Dr. Jackie Schnurr
Office: 315 Stratton
Phone: 364-3274
Email: jschnurr@wells.edu
Required text: Murrell, Z.E. 2010. Vascular Plant Taxonomy.
Other texts: Campbell and Reece, Biology, (as needed)
Course description: Modern and classical methodologies used to understand
classification of plants. Emphasis will be placed on the identification of seed plants of the
northeastern United States.
Course objectives: At the end of this course, you should be able to:
 Articulate the basics of plant biology.
 Discuss the historical and conceptual basis of plant systematics.
 Be able to identify plants found in local areas based on morphological
characteristics.
 Understand terminology used by taxonomists.
 Be able to use dichotomous keys to identify unknown specimens.
 Collect and preserve plants for use as herbarium specimens.
Attendance: I have no official attendance policy, but please keep in mind that you will
be responsible for any material you may miss. If you miss a lecture, expect to make it up
on your own time – we have no TA for this course. Academic honesty and integrity is
expected.
Grading system:
Exams 45% (Each exam 10%, Final Exam 15%)
Project 25%
Assignments 10%
Practicals 2 @ 10% each
Project: You will be responsible for choosing a habitat on campus and identifying 25
plant species found in that habitat. The final product will either be a physical plant
collection suitable for inclusion in the Wells College herbarium (see Murrell Ch 7) or a
photo atlas of the plants. In either case you will also be responsible for doing some
additional research on each species – is it introduced or native? What is its range? What
habitats is it usually found in? What are some interesting characteristics of that species,
i.e. is it important to medicine or as a food plant? DUE DECEMBER 11!
Lecture Schedule
Date
PART 1:
August 28
Sept 2
Sept 4
Sept 9
Sept 11
SEPTEMBER 16
Sept 18
Sept 23
Sept 25
Sept 30
Oct 2
Oct 7
OCTOBER 9
PART 2:
Oct 16
Oct 21
Oct 23
Oct 28
OCTOBER 30
Topic
OVERVIEW OF BOTANY
Intro to Botany/ Molecular comp of cells
Discussion of Tewksbury/ The Plant Cell
Respiration
Photosynthesis
Photosynthesis
EXAM 1
Early Development /Cells and Tissues
The Root/The Shoot
Nov 4
Nov 6
Nov 11
Nov 13
Nov 18
Intro to Angiosperms
Campbell Ch 30
Learning the language: II
WKM Ch. 11
Evolution of the Angiosperms
EXAM 3
Basal Angiosperms: Nymphaeaceae,
Magnoliaceae, Lauraceae, Berberidaceae,
Ranunculaceae, Papaveraceae
Caryophyllid clade: Caryophyllaceae,
Nyctaginaceae, Chenopodiaceae, Portulacaceae,
Cactaceae, Polygonaceae
Rosids: Saxifragaceae, Hamamelidaceae,
Campbell Ch 30 &35
Nov 20
Nov 25, Dec 2
Dec 4, 9, 11
Reading (if needed)
Murrell Ch 1/ Campbell Ch 5
Handout / Campbell Chapter 6
Campbell Chapter 9
Campbell Chapter 10
Campbell Chapter 10
Campbell Ch 35 & 38
Campbell Ch 35 & 36
Learning the language: I
WKM Ch. 3, Ex. 1
Secondary Growth
Plant Hormones
Review and catch up
EXAM 2
SYSTEMATICS
Systematics
Classification Systems
Bryophytes/ Seedless Vascular Plants
Gymnosperms
Campbell Ch 35 & 36
Campbell Ch 39
Campbell 26 & Murrell Ch 2,4
Murrell Ch 6,8
Campbell Ch 29
Campbell Ch 30, WKM Ch. 10
PRACTICAL: Bryophytes, Seedless
vascular, Gymnosperms
Geraniaceae, Onagraceae, Violaceae,
Salicaceae, Fabaceae, Rosaceae, Urticaceae,
Cucurbitaceae, Fagaceae, Betulaceae,
Brassicaceae, Aceraceae (Sapindaceae)
Asterids: Asteraceae, Ericaceae,
Primulaceae, Asclepiadaceae, Lamiaceae,
Scrophulariaceae, Solanaceae, Apiaceae,
Caprifoliaceae; Monocots: Liliaceae, Poaceae
Murrell Ch. 12
Murrell Ch. 13
Murrell Ch. 14
Murrell Ch. 15/ Murrell Ch. 16
FINAL EXAM: This exam will have both a practical portion and a written portion.
DECEMBER 17 7:30-10AM