BIOPL 3450 - Basic Plant Anatomy

(PBS)

Fall. 4 credits.

Forbidden Overlap: May not be taken for credit after BIOPL 3470.
Prerequisite: introductory course in biology or botany or permission of instructor. (Offered alternate years)

A. Gandolfo.

Descriptive course with equal emphasis on development and mature structure. Lecture, laboratory, and reading are integrated in a study guide. The laboratory offers the opportunity to develop the practical skills required to make anatomical diagnoses and to write anatomical descriptions.

Outcome 1: To expose the student to a variety of anatomical data and concepts so that the student will have an appreciation for the content and organization of plant histology and morphology. The student will be making original observations of the materials that is a prerequisite to adequate learning and attaining the skills required for doing original research. This is done by the study of selected taxa among seed plants.

Outcome 2: To allow the student to gain the ability to perform practical diagnosis on anatomical “unknowns”. The student will become an independent observer that is prerequisite to being able to perform new anatomical studies, and to being able to apply anatomical studies to related fields.

Outcome 3: To provide the students with the necessary tools to identify plant anatomical forms, function and evolutionary diversity based on comparative studies of several taxa among vascular plants. This is accomplished by focusing on anatomical and developmental studies of selected taxa.