BI424 Introduction to Botany

Contents and structure

The evolution of plants, protists and fungi, and the relationship between these groups. Morphology, reproduction, life cycles and life forms. Introduction to floristics: ca. 360 taxa (species, genuses and families) and usage of floras and flora keys. The course lays a foundation for understanding of ecological processes at community and ecosystem level, and for identifying common Norwegian nature types.

Learning Outcome

Knowledge

• Understand how life originated on earth, and how plants, fungi and protists have developed through evolution
• Know the general morphology of protists, fungi, non-vascular and vascular plants

Skills

• The student should be able to describe life-cycles of selected protists, fungi and plants, and how these groups adapted to terrestrial life

Competence

• The student should be able to identify about 100 taxa of fungi and non-vascular plants and about 265 taxa of vascular plants (240 species and 20-25 genera/families)
• The student should know how to use floras and flora keys for identification of plants

Entry requirements

None

Recommended previous knowledge

None

Teaching methods

Lectures, group work, field course, laboratory exercises

Compulsory learning activities

Mandatory: Written assignments,

participation in excursions and

approved laboratory report

Assessment

1) Written exam, 4 hours, 67%

2) Floristic exam, 1 hour, 33%

Grading scale: A-E/F (fail)

Examination support material

1) Written exam: no aids allowed

2) Floristic exam: all non-digital aids allowed (except for own herbarium material)

More about examination support material