Plant Biology 366/ Integrative Biology 370
Summer 2004- pg 1
FIELD BOTANY
Syllabus & Course Information
Who:
Heidi Leuszler;
Office:
Home:
E.mail:
Website:
Lynne Elrick;
Office:
Home:
E.mail:
When & Where:
Lecture:
Visiting Teaching Specialist; Department of Plant Biology
304 Natural History Building;
333-3260 or 373-3734; be prepared to leave a message
378-4958; be prepared to leave a message;
8 AM - 8 PM only please
hleuszle@uiuc.edu
http://virtual.parkland.edu/hleuszler
Teaching Assistant; Department of NRES
304 Natural History Building;
333-3260; be prepared to leave a message
778-1316; be prepared to leave a message;
8 AM - 10 PM only please
lelrick@.uiuc.edu
Tuesday 8AM – 12PM
304 NHB
Laboratory:
Wednesday 9AM – 12PM
306 NHB
Field:
Thurs; 7:30AM - ~1 PM
Local sites (see schedule & handouts)
Sat; 7:30AM - ~7 PM
19 June
17 July
31 July
Vermillion River Observatory
W-central Indiana
Nachusa
Weekends; Fri ~1 PM thru Sun ~ 9 PM
25-27 June
23-25 July
S. Illinois
N. Illinois
Office hours: by arrangement
Reading day: Thurs, 5 August (after 1 pm)
Final exam: Sat., 7 August 8am-10am
Building Hours:
Natural History Building: M - Sa, 7 AM - 5 PM; Su 12 noon - 5 PM
Biology Library (Burrill Hall): M - Th, 8:30 AM - 9 PM; F, 8:30 AM - 6 PM;
Sa & Su, 1 - 5 PM
Morrill Hall: M - F, 7 AM - 6 PM
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Plant Biology 366/ Integrative Biology 370
Summer 2004- pg 2
Textbooks:
Textbooks should be available at the University Bookstore, or go to http://www.bestbookbuys.com
to find the best deals.
Required:
 Mohlenbrock, R.H. 1986. Guide to the Vascular Flora of Illinois, Revised & Enlarged. S. Illinois Univ.
Press, Carbondale.

Newcomb, L. 1977. Newcomb's Wildflower Guide. Little, Brown & Co, Boston.

Petrides, G.A. 1988. A Field Guide to Eastern Trees. Houghton, Mifflin Co., Boston.

Brown, L. 1979. Grasses, An Identification Guide. Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston.

10x pocket, doublet magnifier; wide-angle (23 mm) lens

Field Notebook (any small notebook with pockets)
Recommended:
 Zomlefer, W.B. 1994. Guide to Flowering Plant Families. Univ. North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill.

Cobb, B. 1984. A Field Guide to Ferns and Their Related Families. Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston.
Copies of the above books may be available in the classroom and the biology library.
Websites:
A variety of websites can be used to help you study the species, in and outside of class.
Digital Flowers web site
http://www.life.uiuc.edu/plantbio/digitalflowers/
Dan Busemeyer’s Gallery of Illinois Plants
http://www.inhs.uiuc.edu/cwe/illinois_plants/
Ken Robertson’s The TallGrass Prairie in Illinois
http://www.inhs.uiuc.edu/~kenr/tallgrass.html
Handouts:
An extremely large number of handouts will be distributed during the summer. It is highly
recommended that they be maintained in a notebook with separators to organize them in a
scheme that is logical to you.
Extra copies of all handouts will be stored in NHB 304 in a file box at the back of the room.
Handouts will also be available on the web at http://virtual.parkland.edu/hleuszler
Camping Expenses:
Students will be liable for campsite rentals and food expenses on the weekend field trips (~$
25 per weekend); $ 60 will be collected (cash or check made out to H. Leuszler)
from all students by Sat. 19 June; refunds or balances due will be processed after the
second weekend field trip, by 30 July.
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Plant Biology 366/ Integrative Biology 370
Summer 2004- pg 3
Tentative Lab Schedule
Wednesday 9:00am- 12:00pm 306 NHB
16 June
UIUC Greenhouses
Preparation for Allerton and Vermillion River Observatory
23 June
Spp, Morph & Taxa 1
Focus on Herbs (Forbs) & Vines; Newcomb
Preparation for IL Paleobotany and Southern Illinois Camping Trip
30 June
Spp, Morph & Taxa 2
Focus on Ferns & Aquatics; Cobb
Preparation for Sand Ridge/ Henry Gleason,
07 July
Spp, Morph & Taxa 3
Focus on Trees & Shrubs; Petrides
Preparation for Collison Marsh
14 July
Spp, Morph & Taxa 4
Focus on Grasses, Rushes, Sedges & Composites; Brown
Preparation for Loda Cemetery Prairie and Shades/ Pine Hills
21 July
Spp, Morph & Taxa 5
Preparation for Forest Glen Seep and Northern Illinois Camping Trip
28 July
Meadowbrook
Preparation for Windfall Prairie and Nachusa Grasslands
04 August
Lab Review-Weed & Tree walk
Grading:
Letter grade assignments will be based on the integration by the teaching staff of the student's
performance in several areas:
1)
Attendance (25% of total grade)
Participation in all classes, labs and field trips is required. Attendance will be routinely
monitored and noted, and a score will be given at the end of the semester based on attendance.
Students are responsible for all material that they may have missed during an absence.
Lecture, Lab & Weekend Field Trips: The rule is simple: if you are not there, you forfeit the points. You
must contact Heidi or the TA prior to an absence if you anticipate one. Given extreme situations, the
teaching staff reserves the right to make allowances for some types of absences if you contact us and fill
out an “absence report” (see below).
Thurs. and Sat. Field Trips: You may make up two field trips throughout the semester, not including
Lecturepts/trips
dayup to get points.
total=Students
120 pts that are absent from field
weekend trips, however, you must
make15
those
Lab15
pts/day
total=
ptsout and submitting an
trips for justifiable and documentable reasons may avoid penalty by 120
filling
Weekend
trips150pts
total=
300
ptscopies will be available from
"Absence Report" (a pair will be distributed for your convenience; additional
the professor at all times). Justifiable reasons would include, but are not limited to, serious illness, death in
the immediate family and being a member of a wedding party. Please contact Heidi or the TA as soon as
you know you must be absent. You will be expected to do a "make-up" in a manner negotiated with the
teaching staff. Failure to make up the lab within one week from the scheduled field trip will result in a
3
zero for attendance of that trip.
Thursday trips- 30 pts/day
Saturday trips- 45 pts/day
total= 240 pts
total= 135 pts
Plant Biology 366/ Integrative Biology 370
2)
Summer 2004- pg 4
Participation (5% of total grade)
Discussions
During certain weeks the classroom sessions will primarily be discussions relating to assigned readings
or videos that have been watched. The quantity and quality of participation in these discussions, in addition to
evidence of preparation, will be noted.
Promptness
Students are expected to be on time for all classes, field trips and assigned meeting times, and to meet
all announced deadlines. Given the group nature of many of our activities, being late will disrupt the work of
many, if not all, the members of the class.
Cooperation
A variety of guidelines as to behavior and conduct on field trips will be announced as the semester
progresses. Such guidelines are necessary to insure the safety, productivity and enjoyment of all on our trips.
Responsibility
During the field trips there will be a variety of responsibilities that will need attending to by the
students. Chores will include, but not be limited to, loading, driving, buying food, cooking, cleanup, tent set-up
& take-down, and etc. A sign-up system will be used to minimize the number of students doing chores they
would find distasteful.
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Plant Biology 366/ Integrative Biology 370
Summer 2004- pg 5
3) Field Notebook (15% of total grade)
Your own field notes will be recorded in a notebook that must be taken into the field with you on
every field trip. This notebook is only to have field information in it, not lecture or lab information. The
entries should be written in an organized, neat fashion. A separate instruction sheet will be given to you with
more information, and details of what to include in your notebook. Your notebooks will be graded several
times throughout the semester.
4)
Mini-Exams (25% of total grade)
There will be 5 mini-exams during the semester testing you on lab skills, lecture information, field
data, and identification skills. Most students will be through within 30 minutes. A sample mini-exam will be
passed around the first week of class to familiarize the students with the format. Questions are typically
matching, short answer, or multiple choice format.
5)
Field Quizzes (15% of total grade)
There will be 4 field quizzes during the semester. One will be given during each of the weekend field
trips; the other two are at the teaching staff’s discretion and will be announced during the semester. Cards will
be distributed and you must write the scientific and common names of any plant that we have seen in the field
at the time of the quiz. More information will be given to you later in the semester.
6)
Final Exam (15% of total grade)
The final exam will be a comprehensive exam with a general format similar to that of the mini-exams
and approximately three-four times the length of a mini-exam. You will be expected to be able to recognize
and name over 300 species by the end of the summer!
Note: If there are significant, documented violations of the above standards, then the professor reserves the right to
penalize the student in question one, or more, letter grades, or by requiring the student to withdraw from the course.
Fortunately, in the history of this course the latter action has never been required.
Grade Decisions:
Throughout the semester, you will receive printouts of your grade so you know where you stand. Keep in mind
that weighting the scores at the end of the semester can alter them during. Final grade assignments will take into account
all of the above factors.
We are not committed to simple cut-off percentage grades (ie: 90%=A) nor to a certain percentage of the
class getting a certain grade. Grades could shift considerably toward either end of the grading scale. It would not be
unusual for the group to work very hard, play very hard, enjoy the summer adventures and develop a feeling of "family"
given the amount of time we will be spending together. On the other hand, it could also go the other way .....
Grade assignments will be final. Any complaints or requests for grade changes should be in the form of a
formal petition to the Department of Plant Biology, who will forward the complaint to the appropriate Capricious
Grading Committee.
Grades will not be posted, but submitted through the normal University channels. Stamped, self-addressed
envelopes will be honored as will be requests via e.mail.
Class Success:
Most important in this class is to pay attention to your health. Listen to your body; it will tell you its limits.
Listen to the teaching staff. We have a lot of field experience, and are here to bring you what information we
can, but we also have to pay attention to University rules, safety and health standards.
Spend time every day reviewing. 15 minutes every day is much more useful than 8 hours before a test. Look to
your classmates to have review sessions, study groups, etc.
Have fun. Field classes are meant to be full of excitement and a place for curiosity. We are learning about
amazing creatures of all types; bring stories, be creative, discover as many things as you can. If you are excited, you’ll
learn more.
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Plant Biology 366/ Integrative Biology 370
Summer 2004- pg 6
FIELD BOTANY
Field & Camping Trip Information
BE ON TIME!
Provisional Dates and Times
Thursday Local Field Trips
Assemble
Depart campus
Arrive field sites
Depart field sites
Arrive campus
7:15 AM
7:30 AM
~9:30 AM
~11:30 PM
~1:00 PM
Saturday Field Trips -- 19 June, 17 July, 31 July
Assemble
Depart campus
Arrive field sites
Breaks* -- 2x ~45 min
Depart field sites
Arrive campus
7:15 AM
7:30 AM
~9:30 AM
~5:00 PM
~7:00 PM
Weekend Field Trips -- 25-27 June and 23-25 July
Friday
Load gear
Assemble
Depart campus
Fast-food dinner -- ~1 hr
Arrive campgrounds; Set-up camp
Taps
11:00 AM
1:00 PM
1:15 PM
~7:00 PM
11:00 PM
Saturday
Reveille
Breakfast; make lunches
Depart campgrounds
Arrive field sites
Breaks* -- 2x ~45 min
Depart field sites
Arrive campgrounds; Dinner, showers & campfire
Taps
6:30 AM
8:00 AM
~9:00 AM
~5:00 PM
~6:00 PM
11:00 PM
Sunday
Reveille; Breakfast; make lunches; Break camp
Depart campgrounds
Arrive field sites
Breaks* -- 2x ~45 min
Depart field sites
Fast-food dinner ?? -- ~30 min
Arrive campus
Unload gear
*Some at picnic sites; some enroute to next field site
6:30 AM
8:00 AM
~9:00 AM
~5:00 PM
~9:00 PM
~10:00 PM
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Plant Biology 366/ Integrative Biology 370
Summer 2004- pg 7
Specific Guidelines for Thursday and Saturday Field-Trips:
Gear to bring
- Containers for two liters of water
- Field notebook
- Mohlenbrock
- Newcomb
- Pencils (mechanical are best)
- Other field guides
- Field lens
- Lunch and snacks
- Wallet
- Sunscreen
- Binoculars
- Wear long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, great walking shoes or hiking boots. Few places will be
appropriate for shorts.
- Rain gear
- A small first aid kit.
General Guidelines for all Field-Trips:
Weather
All field trips will take place regardless of the weather, i.e. bring rain-gear and warm clothing!
Transportation
The dept. provides the class with vans for all field trips. Personal cars are not permitted except in highly
unusual circumstances. Occasionally, we will use our feet to get to a site!
Staging area
We will meet for all field trips at parking lot D1 (across Illinois Street from the north side of the Krannert
Center). Public parking is allowed Saturday and Sunday, but not Friday afternoon for those of you that might be driving
to the staging area. In case of heavy rain, meet in lot D5 (upper) in the Krannert Center just across Illinois Street from
lot D1.
Talk seats
For each day of each field trip the professor will assign a copilot and 2-3 individuals to sit immediately behind
the front seats (the talk seats - the better to get to know you). All other students may sit wherever they wish.
Assignments to the navigator and talk seats will be rotated throughout the field season.
Background material
a) maps, route directions & emergency information (each vehicle);
b) manila folders with background information on each of the sites we’ll be visiting;
c) a natural divisions chart; &
d) topographic maps for each of the sites.
Food
It will be your responsibility to bring food for lunches and snacks on all field trips except the weekend
trips. There will be ice chests to store your food in during the trips (though keep in mind that space will be severely
limited on weekend trips). Bring snacks sealed in individual servings (this is important! We will be hiking hard in the
hot sun, and though you have a lunch, you will find yourself in need of a little food to keep you running and from
getting sick.) We may be able to stop at a convenience store, but it depends on the time.
Water
Barrels of drinking water will be provided. It is imperative that you drink a large amount of water (not soda
and not coffee) while we are on field trips. It will be hot and you will get dehydrated. Your body can process 1 liter of
water per hour in desert conditions, and though that is an unreasonable amount of water to carry with you, you need
to be aware that hydration is important!
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Plant Biology 366/ Integrative Biology 370
Summer 2004- pg 8
Caffeine
Remember that caffeine is a diuretic (makes you need to pee!) so drink carefully to prevent yourself from
being in agony waiting for the next pit-stop. On the long travel legs we will make a 10-min pit-stop every 1.5 to 2 hrs.
Bathrooms
We will be near bathrooms for the majority of the trip, and will make bathroom breaks whenever requested.
Many field sites have only a friendly bush or tree for rest-room facilities. If you feel uncomfortable with this option,
please talk to Heidi or the TA privately.
Guests
We will often have a few extra seats available. If you have friends that are interested in field and/or
environmental biology, then do feel free, after checking with the professor re availability, to invite them to join us. Most
all of our previous field-trips have had 1-3 guests along. In order to ride in the vans, guests must be affiliated with the
University of Illinois. Otherwise, guests must drive themselves to sites.
Conduct on all Field Trips:
Smoking
Not permitted in the University vehicles. Please be respectful of your non-smoking classmates, and do not
leave cigarette butts on the ground at camping areas or any field sites.
Alcohol and recreational drugs
Not permitted under any circumstances.
-
Travel
Always wear your seat belt !! Please don't ruin the professor's day !!
-
We normally allow ~10 min for potty breaks and ~45 min for fast-food dinners -- don't hold-up the group !
-
At fast-food dinner stops, do NOT patronize restaurants with waiters/waitresses taking orders and serving
meals -- don't hold-up the group !
Environmental Impact
The motto "take only pictures and leave only footprints" is wise only to the extent that the number of
footprints is not doing significant damage to the environment! All too often, that condition is not being met, and more
and more habitats are having to be protected from being loved to death. We will attempt to minimize the environmental
impact of this course in a variety of ways:
Do not collect plant material from any site unless given specific instructions to do so. You will be asked to
reinforce your mental images of various plants by referring to illustrations rather than your own collected specimens.
Stay on designated paths. We will only rarely go "cross country". While it can be extremely enjoyable and
rewarding to go "cross country", 20-30 heavy feet doing so can seriously damage many kinds of habitats. We will be able
to visit several dedicated nature preserves, that would otherwise be "off limits" to us, by following the above precautions.
Do not litter. Better yet, pick up three pieces of trash at every site we go to.
Please bring biodegradable toiletries with you on field trips. Detergents in conventional shampoos, soaps,
toothpaste, etc. can cause a great deal of damage.
We will be in many nature preserves and protected areas. If you are seen doing any damage of the above types,
harming plants or animals unnecessarily, or vandalizing these areas in anyway, you risk receiving a grade of “F” in the
course without question. Please conduct yourself in an appropriate manner in these places.
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Plant Biology 366/ Integrative Biology 370
Summer 2004- pg 9
-
In CampGrounds
Stay within the campground at all times !! NO hiking on your own without the professor's permission -- see
"Lost Procedures" below
-
NO TVs , radios, boom-boxes or the like -- be good neighbors to the other campers and the wild-life
-
NO collecting of firewood or kindling -- the forest needs decaying wood; we'll bring our own firewood
-
NO alcohol or recreational drugs
-
Observe the quiet hours (generally 10 PM to 7 AM) -- NO loud talking, singing, yelling & the like -- most
campers want to get a good night's sleep -- sound travels amazingly far in the wild
-
By 11 PM: campfire out; lights out; everyone in their tents
-
Get a good night's sleep -- our pace and time in the field will be most unpleasant and unproductive if you
haven't had a good rest
-
Plan on being on your feet and functioning with 5-10 min of reveille -- if you need more than 5-10 min of
"primp time" better get up before reveille.
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Plant Biology 366/ Integrative Biology 370
Summer 2004- pg 10
Gear for Camping Trips:
Space will be limited -- don't bring everything you own !!
-
-
Department will Provide
Tents & tarps (3-5 people/tent)
Awnings for picnic tables
Cooking gear
Eating utensils
Food except for fast-food dinners (if any) & pit-stop snacks
Ice chests (space will be extremely limited)
Water barrels
You should Bring
Sleeping bag & sleeping pad
For hot-weather sleeping:
-A sheet for lying on top of a sleeping pad/bag may be all that is necessary
For cold-weather sleeping (it went down to 17˚ in Oct of '95):
-Sleeping pad for insulation absolutely necessary
-Warm cap (knit wool?) absolutely necessary
-A dry towel wrapped as a turban works in an emergency
-Layers of clothing
-Extra warm, dry socks
-If you do not own your own sleeping bag &/or pad, then you may rent one from
-
Container(s) for at least two liters of water (a MUST)
-
Daypack
IMPE
Something small enough to be carried all day, but large enough for 2 liters of water, your notebook,
pencils, field books, lunch and snacks, sunscreen, wallet, etc.
-
Flashlight
An extra set of batteries is always a good idea too!
Field clothes -- (in case one set gets soaked)
Includes long pants, long-sleeved shirt, great walking shoes or hiking boots, socks, underwear. Few
places will be appropriate for shorts, though a t-shirt or two is likely a good idea.
-
Other Clothes
Bring stuff that is comfortable in the van, things that can be worn after peeling off your field clothes,
and some lightweight sleeping wear. We may the opportunity to swim while we are up north, so bring along a
swimsuit. Shower shoes are a good idea for showering in the campground. A brimmed hat and sunglasses are
also useful.
-
-
Field gear
Field guides, binoculars, field lens, notebook and pencils,
-
Rain gear
Absolutely necessary
-
Money for fast-food dinner & misc.
-
Toiletries:
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Plant Biology 366/ Integrative Biology 370
Summer 2004- pg 11
Please bring biodegradable soaps, shampoos, toothpaste, etc. as we will be in natural areas and the
detergents in most toiletries can be harmful. Contact solution and glasses cases, a bath towel, and insect
repellent are musts.
Snacks
Bring snacks sealed in individual servings (this is important! We will be hiking hard in the hot sun, and
though you have a lunch, you will find yourself in need of a little food to keep you running and from getting sick.)
-
- A small first aid kit. Some ideas:
bandaids in variety of sizes (waterproof are great)
sterile wound dressings
adhesive surgical tape
thermometer
scissors
safety pins
tweezers
insect repellent
eyedrops
cotton swabs or balls
benadryl or other antihistamine product
antacid
pepto-bismol
exlax
aspirin, ibuprofen, acetometaphin, etc.
antibiotic ointment
small bottle of 30+ sunscreen
witch hazel
tea tree oil
Other Camping Information:
Facilities & Showers
- We normally will be in "group" campgrounds that have pit toilets and spigots for running water
-
Shower facilities are available at a distance (~1 mi). Morning showers will not be allowed due to time
constraints
-
The group vehicles will make a small, but adequate, number of shower runs during dinner preparation &
immediately after dinner for those desiring showers - most everyone will need them after a long, hot day in the
field!
Camp Fire
We normally will have a campfire on Sat evening (weather permitting) with wood provided by the professor.
Under no circumstances should wood be collected from the surrounding forest: a) it is ecologically unsound in that the
forest needs decaying wood for optimum health & diversity; and b) it’s often a violation of State Park regulations!
Sleeping Arrangements
The use of small, personal tents will be strongly discouraged due to space limitations at the campgrounds.
Students have traditionally decided on their own who sleeps in which tents. If there are students who feel
strongly that they wish to sleep in all-female or all-male tents, then please mention that to the professor and she will
insure that suitable accommodations are arranged.
Safety Considerations:
Hydration
Drink water often. You can become dehydrated before you are thirsty.
Sunscreen
We will be out in the field a great deal. It is important to wear sunscreen or long pants/ long-sleeved shirt so
you can enjoy your summer without a nasty sunburn.
Allergies
Please inform your teachers of any allergies you may have, especially serious ones.
Ticks, chiggers, poison ivy, snakes, edible foods and wild things
A few simple rules:
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Plant Biology 366/ Integrative Biology 370
Summer 2004- pg 12
-
Read the handouts on ticks, chiggers, and poison ivy.
-
Don’t be embarrassed to let the teaching staff know you have a tick, have gotten into poison ivy or
whatnot. Heidi & the TA will have first aid supplies all the time and have great skill at removing ticks!
Remember, that your safety is the teaching staff’s concern!
-
Don’t eat anything unless Heidi or the TA tell you it’s okay!
-
Don’t try to pet any wild animals!
Sleep
- Be prepared - come rested! The field days are long and strenuous. Those students lacking the
maturity to refrain from partying the night before a field-trip generally have a most unpleasant day - no energy or
interest in learning by lunch-time and after
- Not only can the lack of rest be unpleasant, it can also be a health hazard! We will be physically active
no matter the weather (with of course extreme exceptions), and your body does have limits!
-
Driving
Drive defensively and conservatively -- NO "hot-roding" or "goofing off"
 We will normally drive near the speed-limit
-
Stay behind the lead car (professor or her designated alternate) at all times
-
Do NOT worry about maintaining visual or CB contact with the lead car (such contact is often impossible in
urban areas). You will have complete directions & maps as to how to reach our destinations, designated
meeting points and a co-pilot to assist you.
-
"Lost" Procedures
Stay with the group, i.e. within ear-shot of the professor, at all times (while hiking, in the campgrounds, at fastfood stops, at potty-breaks, and etc.) unless you have the professor's permission to do otherwise. We will make
a point of trying to give some "free" time each day to get away from the group (and the professor).
-
If you do become lost, then try to find your way back to the last previous point that the group assembled and
remain there for a "reasonable" length of time. Be patient, the group will have gone on ahead of you, and the
professor, or his designated representative, will return to that last assembly point at a time convenient for the
group, e.g. after the next field stop, during the next meal, or at the end of the day.
-
If contact can not be made with the group in the previous way, call the University Police (217-333-8911) to:
1) let them know of the situation; 2) give them a telephone number where we may call you; and/or 3) give
them a message for us as to your intentions, e.g. taking a bus home.
-
Keep these pages, or the telephone number with you at all times !!
12