Instructor: Dr. Esther Iglich ( eiglich@mcdaniel.edu)
Reading materials:
- Text: Botany: an introduction to plant biology, 2/e by JD Mauseth mm enhanced
- Web Notes: links inserted in syllabus: check daily for new materials; will include class notes
- Readings from the Journal of Botany, short abstracts from the newsmedia ( NY TImes, ENN, Washington Post ) and web sites of educational derivation.
Week 1
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Jan 26 |
Introduction to botany |
Chapter 1 & 19 |
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Jan 28 |
Producers of the sea: lower algae |
Chapter 21 |
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Biodiversity Lab 1: algal communities; 1. learning to ID algae 2. videomicroscope techniques & digital graphic modifications |
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Week 2
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Feb 2 |
Forests of the sea: the higher algae |
Chapter 21. |
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Feb 4 |
From early land to bogs: Mosses and liverworts |
Chapter 22 |
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Biodiversity lab 2: higher algal communities & algal cuisine 2. Identifying your unknown: growing from seed |
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Week 3
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Feb 9 |
Before and during the time of the dinosaurs:Vascular plants without seeds |
Chapter 23. |
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Feb 11 |
Dealling with the extremes: early gymnosperms 1 |
Chapter 24. |
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Biodiversity Lab 3: Gymnosperms & early land plants 1. adaptations 2. identifications 3. coal balls |
Week 4
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Feb 16 |
The advanced gymnosperms; identification |
Chapter 45. |
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Feb 18 |
Angiosperms: cell structure |
Chapter 3 |
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Analysis of cell structures using microscopic & enzymatic reactions |
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Week 5
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Feb. 23 |
Tissues and primary growth of stems |
Chapter 5. |
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Feb. 25 |
Roots Minitest 3: include from bryophytes through gymnosperms...(not gymnosperm id) |
Chapter 7 |
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Traditional root lab & permaculture: translating cellstructure into home structure |
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Week 6
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Mar 2 |
Stems and leaves |
Chapter 6 |
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Mar 4 |
Structure of woody growth |
Chapter 8. |
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Snowed out |
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Week 7
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Mar 9 |
Flowers and reproduction |
Chapter 9. |
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Mar 11 |
Photosynthesis I: light reaction ** Note: new article to read and submit review on: |
Chapter 10. |
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Lab: 1.videomicro analysis of leaf &woody tissue *2. woody choices:3. dendro aging with cores 4.Fuit ID 5. Stem modifications |
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Week 8
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Mar 23 |
Photosynthesis II: stroma reactions |
Chapter 10 |
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Mar 25 |
C3, C4, Cam and photorespiration Transport processes: xylem |
Chapter 12: 336 |
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Lab: 1. measuring photosynthesis with CO2 analyzers 2. Initating rose callus cultures |
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Week 9
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March 30 |
Transport processes: phloem |
Chapter 12:319. |
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Apr 1 |
Mineral nutrition |
Chapter 13. |
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Lab: Experimental comparasion of plants photosynthesic rates using the plant of your choice (measured with CO2 analyzers) |
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Week 10
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Apr 6 |
Plant hormones |
Chapter 14. |
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Apr 8 |
Development and morphogensis: hormonal action |
Chapter 14 |
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1.Soil analysis: assessing and amending soils for nutrient availability and water holding capacity 2. Carrot callus initiation |
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Week 11
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Apr 13 |
Plant defenses and medicinal botany I |
Chapter 15:419.. |
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Apr 15 |
Plant defenses and medicinal botany II |
Chapter x: p. |
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Lab: Soil analysis and plant nutrition lab |
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Week 12
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April 20 |
Bioengineering of plants Short article on benefits of coffee & chocalate Short article on phosphate proteins in plants Short articles on medicinal botany ; cancer/soy & alzheimers/gingko |
Chapter : see text. |
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April 22 |
The fungi 1 |
Chapter 19. |
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Lab: Hormones |
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Week 13
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April 27 |
The Fungi 2: Zygo through Basidomycetes |
Web Notes: see sections on asco, zygo, basido, deutero |
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April 29 |
Fungi 3: slime molds, chytrids and oomycetes |
Web Notes: see sections on chyrtids, slime molds, oomycetes |
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Fungi lab & results of hormone & quiz on hormones |
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Week 14
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May 4 |
Plant impacts: the impact of plants on earth's functioning: class effort - notes will be the finished product! - we'll do it as a web page? |
Chapter 20. |
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May 6 |
Field trip to the National Arboreturm; |
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Field trip continued....
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Final: week of finals
Requirements of the course:
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a. Weekly quizzes before lab starts: no makeup's. These will cover the previous weeks materials unless noted differently. There will be a final as well worth 100 points which will include identifications of plants observed the last 4 labs. |
6 Weeks of quizzes: none last week.... +6 X 50 points 100 points |
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b.. Correct identification of unknown will include the following:
For each of the criteria include digital or pressed evidence and a final report with pressed plant as evidence/ |
+100 points |
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c. Lab projects: each lab will require a results and discussion write up; sometimes your work will form a part of a larger groups final product, other times it will be an individual effort. In any case it will be graded and potentially returned for revision if necessary. |
50 points each: 1. callus culture 2. your own pigment electrophoresis unit & results 3. photosynthesis results/discussion.4. your protein electrophoresis experiment |
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d. Attendance is required: after one absence points will be deducted for missing lectures and especially for labs. |
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The Internet Directory for Botany
http://herb.biol.uregina.ca/liu/bio/idb.shtml
Welcome to the Internet Directory for Botany, an alphabetical list of botany-related links to databases and other sites. Visit this site to learn more about museums, botany-related organizations, and other resources
Unusual and Noteworthy Plants :http://www.palomar.edu/Wayne/worthypl.html
At this site you'll find all sorts of interesting and unusual information about plants, includingdescriptions of the world's largest and smallest fruits, the world's largest vegetable, and "Supermarket Botany.
The Many Uses of Plants http://www.axis-net.com/pfaf
Looking for a plant to remove those grass-stains from your new pants? Want to know which plants can be used as disinfectants? Fire retardants? This site is a searchable database for the uses of common plants (e.g., which are best as edibles, medicinals, fuels, etc.). As this site's advertisement says, "This is not your grandmother's botanical database."
Background: digital shoot of the fake hydragenas on my desk modified with photoshop
Date: 4/23/99