BIOL 3762 - Field Botany
Fall 2026 Syllabus, Section 01, CRN 43357,
Credit hours: 4
Course Meeting Times
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Instructor
Santosh Rana Magar
Email: skranamagar@ysu.edu
Course Description
3762. Field Botany. A field-based plant identification using morphological traits, herbarium specimen preparation, and research-based ecological data collection, prioritizing the significance of local plants. Students learn diagnostic plant traits, major families, specimen preparation, and ecological data collection using keys, field guides, and modern biodiversity tools. Two hours lecture, four hours lab. Prereq.: BIOL 2602 (grade C or better in). 4 s.h.
Course Readings
| Group | Title | Author | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Required | Newcomb’s Wildflower Guide. Little Brown & Company | Newcomb, L. (1977) | ISBN-10 : 0316604429 / ISBN-13 : 978-0316604420 |
| Optional | The Herbarium Handbook: Sharing Best Practice from Across the Globe. Kew Publishing, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. | Davies, N. M., Drinkell, C., & Utteridge, T. M. (Eds.). (2023) | |
| Optional | Practical plant identification: including a key to native and cultivated flowering plants in north temperate regions. Cambridge University Press. | Cullen, J. (2006) | |
| Optional | Plant Identification Terminology: An Illustrated Glossary (2nd edn.). University Press of Colorado, USA. | Harris, J.G., & Harris, M.W. (2001) |
The course readings are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances, research developments, current events, and/or to ensure better learning.
Assignments/Assessments
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Schedule of Topics and Assignments
| Day | Date | Reading(s) | Proposed Topic | Due/To Prepare for Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue | 8/25 | Course syllabus; introductory Ohio flora resources | Ch. 1 – Introduction to Field Botany & Ohio Flora: Field botany, floristic knowledge, native/non-native/invasive plants, Ohio flora, field notebooks, botanical observation, and semester project introduction. | Quiz 1 – Introduction to Field Botany |
| Tue | 9/1 | Plant classification and nomenclature materials | Ch. 2 – Plant Classification & Evolution: Major plant groups, evolutionary transitions, taxonomic hierarchy, scientific nomenclature, and importance of taxonomy in invasive-plant documentation. | Quiz 2 – Classification, nomenclature, and major plant groups |
| Tue | 9/8 | Vegetative morphology terminology/handout | Ch. 3 – Vegetative Morphology: Roots, stems, leaves, arrangement, attachment, margins, venation, surface characteristics, and diagnostic vegetative terminology. | Quiz 3 – Vegetative morphology |
| Tue | 9/15 | Reproductive morphology and fruit/seed terminology | Ch. 4 – Reproductive Morphology: Flowers, inflorescences, fruits, seeds, monocots vs. eudicots, and dispersal mechanisms relevant to plant invasion. | Photo-document 5 fruit/seed types with dispersal notes |
| Tue | 9/22 | Major plant groups and Ohio flora resources | Ch. 5 – Major Plant Groups & Local Flora: Bryophytes, ferns, gymnosperms, angiosperms, diagnostic characteristics, ecological roles, and recognition of major Ohio plant groups. | Quiz 4 – Major plant groups and diagnostic traits |
| Tue | 9/29 | Dichotomous key and regional flora exercises | Ch. 6 – Dichotomous Keys, Field Guides & Identification Tools: Use of keys, regional floras, field guides, digital biodiversity resources, and identification of unknown specimens. | Key 3 unknown specimens and document identification pathway; Quiz 5 |
| Tue | 10/6 | Selected Ohio plant-family identification materials | Ch. 7 – Plant Families & Habitat Adaptations: Major Ohio plant families and adaptations associated with forests, wetlands, riparian areas, grasslands, roadsides, and disturbed habitats. | Quiz 6 – Plant families and habitat recognition |
| Tue | 10/13 | Ohio invasive plant resources | Ch. 8 – Native, Non-native & Invasive Plants of Ohio: Introduction pathways, establishment, spread, ecological impacts, invasive-plant identification, occurrence mapping, and biodiversity databases. Launch Ohio Invasive Plant Documentation Project. | Project Phase I: Target invasive species selection and preliminary identification profile |
| Tue | 10/20 | Review materials – Weeks 1–8 | Midterm Exam: Classification, morphology, terminology, plant groups, families, identification, dichotomous keys, and introductory invasion concepts. | Midterm Exam – 50 points |
| Tue | 10/27 | Herbarium collection guidelines | Ch. 9 – Herbarium Science I: Botanical Collection: Herbarium purpose, ethical collecting, field numbers, locality and habitat data, associated species, GPS/location information, and field photography. | Quiz 7 – Herbarium science and botanical collection |
| Tue | 11/3 | Herbarium specimen preparation and labeling guidelines | Ch. 9 – Herbarium Science II: Specimen Preparation & Documentation: Pressing, drying, mounting, labeling, identification verification, databasing, and preparation of voucher specimens. | Herbarium Assignment – Specimen(s), professional label, and field record |
| Tue | 11/10 | Botanical survey and ecological field-data protocols | Ch. 10 – Ecological Field Data & Invasive Plant Assessment: Botanical survey design, species lists, presence/absence, frequency, abundance, habitat data, and basic diversity concepts. | Project Phase III: Standardized occurrence and ecological data submission |
| Tue | 11/17 | Class dataset and data-analysis materials | Ch. 11 – Analyzing & Interpreting Botanical Data: Class invasive-plant dataset, species richness, frequency, abundance, habitat associations, introductory diversity analysis, visualization, and interpretation. | Data Exercise – Figures/tables and short ecological interpretation |
| Tue | 11/24 | Selected invasive-plant management resources | Ch. 12 – Integration: Ohio Invasive Flora: Integration of morphology, taxonomy, herbarium records, distribution, habitat, and ecological data; management and conservation implications. | Final Project Report – Ohio Invasive Plant Documentation / Species Case Study |
| Tue | 12/1 | Final exam study guide/review materials | Ch. 13 – Course Review & Final Examination: Synthesis and practical application of morphology, taxonomy, plant families, identification, herbarium science, and ecological interpretation. | Final Exam – 150 points; Study Guide |
| Tue | 12/8 | No assigned reading | Student Research Presentations & Course Synthesis: Presentations from invasive-plant documentation projects; synthesis of class findings and applications to invasive-species research and management. | Final Presentation – 100 points |
The course schedule, policies, procedures, and assignments in this course are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances, by mutual agreement, and/or to ensure better learning.