STANDARD COMPETENCIES:

 

 I.      Recognize and understand terminology, facts, methodologies, and concepts related to the nature of classification and identification of plants.

 II.     Recognize and understand characteristics of the major categories of plants on earth.

 III.    Experience in the classroom, the laboratory, and in the field, the principles, procedures, and techniques of identifying plants.

 IV.     Appreciate plant taxonomy as a science and realize the importance of taxonomic research and plant identification in today¿s society.

 TOPICAL OUTLINE:

 

 I.      The Biological Foundation for the Study of Plant Taxonomy

         A.      The Characteristics of Life.

         B.      The Diversity of Living Things.

         C.      Evolution through Natural Selection.

 II.     Characteristics of Plants

         A.      Terrestrial Adaptations.

         B.      General Plant Structure and Function.

         C.      The Life Cycles of Plants.

 III.    The Principles of Taxonomy

         A.      Binomial Nomenclature.

         B.      The Taxonomic Hierarchy.

         C.      Understanding Taxonomic Keys.

 IV.     Classification of Plants

         A.      Nomenclature.

         B.      Classification Criteria.

         C.      The Division of Plants.

 V.      Nonvascular Plants

         A.      Classification and Characteristics.

         B.      Colorado Mosses and Liverworts.

 VI.     Seedless Vascular Plants

         A.      Classification and Characteristics.

         B.      Colorado Ferns and Horestails.

 VII.    Gymnosperms

         A.      Classification and Characteristics.

         B.      Identifying Colorado Conifers.

 VIII.   Angiosperms

         A.      Flower Structure: Types of Flowers.

         B.      Fruit Structure: Types of Fruits.

         C.      Vegetative Features: Stems, Leaves, and Roots.

         D.      Classes of Flowering Plants: Dicots and Monocots.

 IX.     Dicots

         A.      Characteristics.

         B.      Classification of Dicot Families.

         C.      Identifying Colorado Dicots.

 X       Monocots

         A.      Characteristics.

         B.      Classification of Monocot Families.

 XI.     Identifying Colorado Grasses and Sedges.