Plant Biology

This 100% online, 3-week intensive botany course is designed as an introduction to the evolution and diversity of land plants. In lectures we will survey the major groups of the Plant Kingdom including bryophytes, seedless vascular plants, gymnosperms, and angiosperms. During active-learning group workshops and online discussions students will reinforce learning of topics including, plant evolution and diversity, life cycles, plant growth and development and physiology. In virtual labs, students will examine the form and function of plant organs, cells, and tissues though self-guided and faculty-directed activities centered around the textbook (Raven and Eichhorn, Biology of Plants, 8th ed) which contains high quality microscope images of plants. Students will learn to recognize 25 common native plants of the Pacific Northwest through virtual plant walks and through participation in an online biodiversity project in iNaturalist. This course fulfills the botany prerequisite for more advanced field-based and taxonomy focused programs such as, The Fungal Kingdom, Field Plant Taxonomy and Field Ecology.

Our work will be conducted remotely. The faculty will offer alternative assignments if conditions or illness prevent students from accessing our synchronous (scheduled) meetings.