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BOTANY I - PLANT PHYSIOLOGY AND TAXONOMY BSC104

Course CodeBSC104
Fee CodeS2
Duration (approx)100 hours
QualificationStatement of Attainment

Study Online and Learn Science, Technology, Gardening and more; with a Hot Course from Australian Horticultural Correspondence School.

Botany Open Learning Course -Learn plant anatomy and physiology by studying at home.

COURSE STRUCTURE

The course is divided into 10 lessons as follows:

1. Taxonomic Classification of Plants

  • Plant Taxonomy - Botanical/Horticultural Nomenclature, The Binomial System, Botanical Classification, Plant Families and Species, Hybrids, Varieties and Cultivars
  • Botanical Keys - How to use a botanical key, Key to Plant Groups, Key to Plant Phyla

2.  Cells and Tissues

  • Plant Cells - types of plant cells
  • Plant Tissues - Primary and Secondary Growth
3.  Specific Vegetative Parts of a Plant
  • Stems - Stem Forms
  • Leaves - Leaf Structure and Arrangement
  • Roots - Root Structure (tap root, adventitious roots)
  • Common Botanical Terms
4.  Flowers and Fruit
  • The flower - inflorescence (panicle, umbel, composite head)
  • Fruits - Simple, Aggregate, Multiple
  • Reproductive Growth and Development - pollination, fertilisation, fruit setting
5.  Seed and the Developing Embryo
  • Seed Structure - Seed Coats, Food Storage Organs, Embryo
  • Seed Germination - Germination Requirements, Stimulation, Inhibition
  • Propagation of Plants
6.  Photosynthesis and Growing Plants
  • Photosynthesis - the Photosynthetic Apparatus, Light transformation into energy, the Photosynthetic process, Gas Exchange with the Atmosphere
7.  Respiration
  • Stages of Respiration - the Krebs Cycle, Electron Transport Chain
  • Rate of Respiration
  • Control of ATP Production in Respiration
8.  The Role of Water
  • Osmosis
  • Water Movement from Soil to Root - Development of Root Pressure
  • The Transpiration Stream - Transpiration and Environmental Conditions
9.  Movement of Water and Assimilates through a Plant
  • Mechanisms of Nutrient Uptake
  • Absorption and Transport of Mineral Nutrients
  • Translocation of Sugars
  • Adaptations for Water Storage
  • Food and Water Storage Organs
10.  The Effects of Tropisms and Other Growth Movements
  • Plant Hormones
  • Tropisms - Phototropism, Geotropism, Thigmotropism, Other Growth Movements
  • Chemical Growth Modifications

AIMS

  • Understand the relationship between the scientific principles of this unit and horticultural practices
  • Demonstrate a knowledge of the Plant Kingdom and understanding of the taxonomic hierarchy
  • Identify and describe the different types of plant cells and tissues, their structure and function
  • Determine the role and function of specific vegetative parts of the plant
  • Determine the role and function of the reproductive parts of the plant
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the role and function of the seed in the life cycle of the plant
  • Explain the mechanism and the role of photosynthesis in the metabolism of plants and relate to plant growth in controlled environments
  • Explain the mechanism and the role of respiration in the metabolism of plants
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the role of water in the plant
  • Review the movement of water, solutes and assimilates through the plant
  • Understand the effects of tropisms and other plant movements on growth and development
  • Undertake risk assessments relevant to the learning outcomes in this unit

 

WHAT YOU WILL DO IN THIS COURSE

During this course, students may do the following, and more!

  • Prepare a collection of forty pressed, dried, labelled plants
  • Learn how to key out plants using a Botanical Key
  • Identify the phyla, family, genus and species of ten unknown plants
  • Identify modified plant parts on live plants
  • Describe in botanical terms leaf shapes from a range of different plants
  • Dissect and draw labelled diagrams of several flowers
  • Collect fruits and categorise them by type (pome, drupe, etc)
  • Germinate seeds and describe changes that occur to the seeds over time
  • Observe changes in potted plants under varying levels of sunlight and relate this to photosynthesis
  • Observe transpiration in live plants and relate this to theoretical knowledge
  • Observe and record osmosis in an experimental situation
  • Observe and record phototropism in plants
Botanical Terminology (from this course)

Alternate      Leaves or phyllodes arranged in two rows up either side of the stem, but two leaves do not occur directly opposite each other at the same point on the stem.

Axil           The angle between the phyllode and the stem

Bipinnate      A compound leaf twice divided (like a fern leaf in general appearance).

Bract          A small leaf like structure at the base of the flower stalk.

Calyx          The outer ring of the flower (sepals are in this group)

Chlorophyll The green plant pigment in plant chloroplasts.

Chloroplast The organelle in plant cells in which photosynthesis occurs

Corolla        The inner ring of the flower (includes the petals).

Decurrent      Where the bottom of the phyllode continues down the stem as a raised line, ridge or sheath.

Gland          A projection or insertion on the phyllode margin, nerve or stalks.

Glabrous Smooth, without hairs or protrusions

Glaucous Covered with a whitish fur like layer.

Hypocotyl The section of a seedling located between the roots and the place of attachment of the cotyledons

Lamina  The leaf blade.

Leaflets       The smallest leaf like structures which are part of a bipinnate leaf.

Linear         Long, narrow relatively straight sided.

Lobes          Partial division of part of a leaf or phyllode.

Meristem A plant part in which cells are actively dividing.

Node           Point at which the leaves or phyllodes arise.

Oblique        Uneven or off centred, not symmetrical shape.

Oblong         Longer than it is broad, but more or less straight sided leaf or phyllode.

Panicle        A flowering branch containing several racemes.

Penniveins Feather like veins

Phyllode A leaf with a much reduced or absent lamina, where the petiole and rachis have assumed the functions of the whole leaf.

Pistil  The female part of a flower.

Pubescent   Soft hairy coating

Pungent        Sharp and pointed

Recurved   Bent or curved backwards

Reflexed       Bent sharply backwards or downwards

Resinous       Sticky, having resinous or sap like material.

Scabrous   Rough surface

Sessile        Without a stalk

Stamen         The male part of a flower, consisting of anthers and filaments.