Plant Systematics

Systematics is the scientific study of classification, specifically the placement of organisms into groups based on their common descent. This course focuses on the classification of land plants, with a particular focus on herbaceous taxa found in coastal Maine. Through lectures and field, lab, and herbarium work, we will gain familiarity with the practice of systematics and the characteristics of plants that are used to infer their phylogenetic relationships. Lectures will cover the theory and practice of systematics, including botanical nomenclature, plant identification terminology, relationships among the major plant groups and characters with taxonomic significance, herbarium specimen preparation, and bioinformatics. Labs will cover collection methods, specimen preparation, and field characters for about 30 plant families in the region. Evaluation will be based on participation, field and lab quizzes, a 5-minute oral presentation on a plant species chosen by the instructor and a 15-minute oral presentation on a topic in plant systematics chosen by the student, and a collection of at least 30 plant specimens from at least 20 different families prepared and identified by the student. Students should plan to begin collecting specimens over the summer in preparation for the course, following guidance that will be provided to registered students during the spring term. Please note: all collecting must be done in accordance with state and federal laws; there must be NO collecting in Acadia National Park and no importation of specimens from outside the US.

Always visit the Registrar's Office for the official course catalog and schedules.