OVERVIEW

The course is an introduction to botanical sciences and plant ecology.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

On completion of the course students:

will have got basic knowledge on main morphological, structural and functional characteristics of plants, in particular Spermathophytes;

will have got the skill of identifying the main species of Italian landscape and the most important ornamental species living in parks, historic gardens, urban green areas;

will have developed an understanding of plant diversity;

will have learned to evaluate appropriate species for green planning on the basis of the principal ecological characteristics of plants.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

General Botany
learning the biological basis of the plants way of "working"  

Applied Botany
methodology to identify plants and name them

capacity to identify in which environment plants live 

use of appropriate species in different urban and suburban contexts,

TEACHING METHODS

The course contents are acquired through frontal lessons in which the topics are treated.

Field activities and surveys in parks and historic gardens complete the activities carried out in the classroom with direct observation and identification of species.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Contents of the course will be:

Fundamental characteristics of plants and their role in nature.

Structure and function of plant cell; structure and function of plant tissues.

Basic concepts and terminology of plant anatomy: stem, leaf, root.

Plant adaptations to environments.

Introduction to life processes in plants: photosynthesis, respiration, water transport and balance; reproduction and growth .

Introduction to the principles of plant Taxonomy e Systematics.

Major plants groups: key features, functions and rules.

The major families and the most important species of the Italian flora.

The main species used in landscape and urban planning

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

General Botany

VENTURELLI F., VIRLI L., 1995 – Invito alla Botanica, Zanichelli, Bologna

Manuals of plants identifications

SIMONETTI G., GOLDSTEIN M., WATSCHINGER M., 1994 - Alberi d'Europa. Mondadori

BANFI E., CONSOLINO F., 1996 – Alberi. De Agostini

PHILLIPS R., 1984 - Riconoscere gli alberi. De Agostini

SCHAUER T., CASPARI C., 1987 - Guida all'identificazione delle piante. Zanichelli

POLUNIN O., 1977 - Guida agli alberi e arbusti d'Europa (Guide) - Zanichelli

GUIDA PRATICA AGLI ALBERI E ARBUSTI IN ITALIA. SELEZIONE DAL READER'S DIGEST, 1983 Collana "Biblioteca per chi ama la natura". Ed. orig. "Nature lover's library. Field guide to trees and shrubs" curata da E. e J. Harris, ed. italiana curata da A. Chiusoli.

M. FERRARI, D. MEDICI, 2001 - Alberi e arbusti in Italia. Manuale di riconoscimento, Il Sole 24 Ore Edagricole

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

ENRICA ROCCOTIELLO (President)

MAURO MARIOTTI

LESSONS

LESSONS START

Second semester

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Examination includes two written tests and one oral test

A 30 specimens herbarium is compulsory. Species have to be chosen among those studied during the course.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The first test is specifically designed to assess the learning of general botany, the second is related to the recognition of the main species described in the lectures and field trips.

The oral exam will focus on the entire program and aims to test the ability to integrate different aspects - theoretical and practical - discussed during the year.

Exam schedule