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Bi 435/535 Plant Systematics
Winter 2015
*
Tobias Policha Ph.D (Instructor) tpolicha@pdx.edu. SRTC 238B. (541) 513-8263
Office hour: Tuesday 14:30 – 15:30 SB1 403 or by appointment.
Brett Younginger (TA) obrett@pdx.edu
Office hour: Wednesday 12:00 – 13:00 (SRTC B1-53) or by appointment.
Lectures: SRTC 219, Tue. & Thur. 12:00 - 13:30
Laboratory: SB1 403 Thursday 13:40 - 16:30
Course Objectives:
Plant systematics is the study of plant diversity. We will focus on flowering plants.
Through lectures, laboratories, field trips, and scholarship you will learn:
1. How to describe and classify plant diversity
2. The major features and evolutionary origins of flowering plants
3. What causes variation in plant characteristics
4. Identification of plants using dichotomous keys
5. Recognition of important angiosperm families
6. Recognition of local flora
7. Knowledge of food plants
8. Plant ecology
Required books:
Simpson. MG. 2010. Plant Systematics. 2nd. Ed. Elsevier Press, Burlington, MA.
Hitchcock, C. L. and A. Cronquist. 1973. Flora of the Pacific Northwest. University of
Washington Press, Seattle & London.
Required lab/field supplies:
10X hand lens, probe and/or forceps, razor blade, metric ruler, drawing paper and
pencils/pens, ziploc bags (1qt.&1gal.) for keeping things dry and collecting samples, a
Rite-in-the-Rain notebook and pencils (pen is not water resistant!).
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Optional but recommended books (in order of relevance):
Harris, JG. and MW. Harris. 2001. Plant identification terminology: An illustrated
glossary. 2nd ed. Spring Lake Publishing, Spring Lake, UT.
Pojar and MacKinnon. 2004. Plants of the Pacific Northwest coast. Revised ed. Lone
Pine Publishing, Auburn, WA.
Gilkey, HM. and P. Packard. 2001. Winter Twigs. OSU Press, Corvallis, OR.
Elpel T.J. Any edition. Botany in a day. HOPS Press, Pony MT.
Jensen, E. 2010. Trees to Know in Oregon. Oregon State Extension Service, Corvallis
OR.
Required Field Trips:
Thursday January 15 (Hoyt Arboretum) from 12:00 - 16:30
Thursday March 5 (Hoyt Arboretum) from 12:00 - 16:30
Field trip packing list:
Field notebook (& pencil)
Flora of the PNW, (hand-lens, ruler etc.)
Hiking boots, rubber boots, or tennis shoes (NO SANDALS)
Rain gear (including pants)
Dress in layers
Field guides (optional)
Assessment:
Exams: will cover subjects and vocabulary presented in lecture or lab, whether that
material is in the textbook or not. Furthermore, you are expected to know what is in the
assigned reading, even if we don’t cover that material in lab or lecture. Questions may
be multiple choice, short essay, fill in the blank, or true/false format.
Lab quizzes: There will be four lab quizzes. The lab quizzes will focus on family
recognition and keying, however they may also include questions based on reading
assignments; points will be deducted for misspelling.
UNDERGRADUATES GRADUATE STUDENTS
Assessment # % Each Total Assessment # % Each Total
Midterm Exam 1 25 25 Midterm Exam 1 25 25
Final Exam 1 25 25 Final Exam 1 25 25
Practical Exam 1 11 11 Practical Exam 1 15 15
Quizzes 4 3 12 Quizzes 4 3 12
Labs 9 3 27 Labs 9 2 18
Monograph 1 5 5
100 100
Monograph: Graduate students are required to complete an additional written
assignment. Details will be provided separately.
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SCHEDULE:
Week Date Topic Reading
1 Jan. 6 Introduction to Plant Systematics Simpson 3-16, APG III
2009
1 Jan. 8 Major Plant Groups Simpson 62-68, 82-122
& 140-156
1 Jan. 8 Lab: Major Plant Groups see above
2 Jan. 13 Classification, Systematics, and
Phylogenetics
Simpson 17-48, 585-
600, 611-626 & 681-
689
2 Jan. 15 Field Trip Bring your
2 Jan. 15 Lab: Field Trip Hitchcock
3 Jan. 20 Origin of Angiosperms Simpson 176-
178, Pennisi 2009, Sun
et al 2011
3 Jan. 22 Angiosperm Characteristics Simpson 163-
176, 669-678
3 Jan. 22 Lab: Floral Diversity (Quiz 1) Simpson 165 & 468-
489
4 Jan. 27 Causes of Variation: Pollination and
Dispersal
Simpson 489-494 &
573-580, Waser et al
1996
4 Jan. 29 Causes of Variation: Herbivores and
Pathogens
TBA
4 Jan. 29 Lab: Vegetative Diversity (Quiz 2) Simpson 461-468 &
605-610
5 Feb. 3 Species Concepts and Speciation Simpson 580-582 &
649-665
5 Feb. 5 MIDTERM
5 Feb. 5 Lab: Winter Twigs Simpson 129-131
6 Feb. 10 Magnolids: Magnoliaceae, Lauraceae,
Aristolochiaceae, Piperaceae
Simpson 182-185, 189-
197
6 Feb. 12 Monocots: Liliales, Asparagales, Poales,
Zingiberales
Simpson 200-202, 204,
213-230 & skim 230-
264, Keltch 2002
6 Feb. 12 Lab: Magnolids & Monocots see above
7 Feb. 17 Basal and Core Eudicots:
Papaveraceae, Berberidaceae,
Ranunculaceae, Grossulariaceae,
Saxifragaceae
Simpson 275-281 &
287-291
7 Feb. 19 Core Eudicots and Rosids I:
Caryophyllales and Malpighiales
Simpson 295-312 &
315-326.
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7 Feb. 19 Lab: Eudicots (Quiz 3) see above
8 Feb. 24 Rosids I: Fabids con’d, Fabaceae,
Rosaceae, Cucurbitaceae, Fagaceae,
Betulaceae
Simpson 328-330, 334-
335, 339-347
8 Feb. 26 Rosids II: Malvids and Asterids I:
Lamids Geraniaceae, Brassicaceae,
Anacardiaceae, Sapindaceae, Cornaceae,
Ericaceae, Boraginaceae, Plantaginaceae,
Scrophulariaceae, Lamiaceae,
Phrymaceae, Orobanchaceae,
Solanaceae
Simpson 347-349, 357-
360, 366-371, 372-
380, 389-394 & 402-
416. Olmstead 2002
8 Feb. 26 Lab: Asterids (Quiz 4) see above (and below)
9 Mar. 3 Asterids II: Campanulids Asteraceae
Araliaceae, Apiaceae
Simpson 419-422 &
426-433
9 Mar. 5 Field Trip Bring your
9 Mar. 5 Lab: Field Trip Hitchcock
10 Mar. 10 Plant Family Review
10 Mar. 12 NO LECTURE – set-up for Practical Exam
10 Mar. 12 Lab: PRACTICAL EXAM
FINAL Mar. 19 FINAL EXAM 10:15
MISCELLANEOUS COURSE POLICIES
Classroom Conduct
I expect everyone to follow University rules and guidelines for behavior. Academic
dishonesty, which includes cheating and plagiarism, is a serious offense and will be
treated according to the guidelines in the student conduct code (located at
www.pdx.edu/dos). This doesn't mean you shouldn't talk with other students about what
you are thinking or writing; it does mean that when you write something, it should be in
your own words, not copied from someone else.
I ask that we all do our best to be intellectually honest while also being tolerant of
personal differences. I welcome and encourage intellectual controversy -- I think it is
essential to real learning. At the same time, I ask that we all respect the rights of others
to hold different opinions, even as we challenge the ideas supporting those opinions. I
promise to value each of you as individuals; I view the grade you earn to be a reflection
of the quality of work you have done, but not of you as a person.
Out of respect for other students, and in keeping with departmental policy, you
should plan to arrive at class on time and to stay until class is over. If, on occasion, you
do arrive late, please be considerate of others and enter quietly at a time and in such a
way that you don't disturb other students. If you need to leave early, please sit near an
exit so that you can leave without disrupting the class. I ask that you not interfere with
the ability of other students to learn by making noise, texting, checking email, etc. when
someone else (instructor or classmate) is talking.
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Make-up exams will be allowed only if arranged in advance, and only in cases of
illness or other documented emergencies such as a death in the family. Exams must be
made up no later than the class period following that in which the exam was given.
Electronic devices
Please turn off cell phone ringers during lecture, lab and field trips. Electronic devices
may not be used during a quiz or test. It is understood that many people will use their
phones as cameras in a class like this. This of course is permissible, however if it is
apparent that texting, chatting or other activity is becoming a distraction you will be
asked to refrain from said activity.
Crises happen
If you have problems that interfere with your ability to do the work in this class, please
let me know promptly. I am willing to make special arrangements when the need is real
and when you have done your best to deal with the situation in a timely manner.
If you need help with a crisis you are encouraged to go to Student Health And
Counseling and meet with a counselor during daily walk-in hours. SHAC counselors will
meet with students to determine appropriate next steps for care which may include:
referral to another PSU support resource, referral to group counseling, a follow up
appointment with SHAC Counseling Services, being placed on Counseling Service's
waitlist for individual counseling, and/or referral to a community resource.
Disability Resource Center
It is the University's goal that learning experiences be as accessible as possible. If you
anticipate or experience physical or academic barriers based on disability, please
register with the Disability Resource Center (DRC) (503-725-4150 or drc@pdx.edu) in
order to establish reasonable accommodations. Once you have registered with the
DRC, please schedule a time to talk to me so that we can discuss your needs for the
term.
Please be aware that the accessible tables and chairs in this room should remain
available for students who need to use this furniture.
