LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of the course the students: will have learned the basic concepts on the main morphological, structural and functional characteristics of plant organisms in particular of Spermatophytes; they will be able to recognize the most common ornamental species in parks, historic gardens and urban greening; they will have acquired knowledge on plant diversity; they will have the basic knowledge to evaluate which plants can be useful in green design, in compliance with the regulations, referring to the ecological characteristics and the distribution of the species in the different terrestrial environments.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

• learning the biological bases on how the plants ”work"  
• methodology to identify and to name plants;
• use of appropriate plant species in different urban and suburban contexts;
• knowledge of ecosystem services and disservices provided by plants on urban scale (mitigation of atmospheric pollution, risks from  the use of allergenic plants, etc.);
• knowledge of plants to be used in urban design, based on the Ministry of the Environment Guideline.

At the end of the course the students: will learn the basic concepts on the main morphological, structural and functional characteristics of plant organisms in particular of Spermatophytes; they will be able to recognize the most common ornamental species in parks, historic gardens and urban green; they will have acquired the knowledge of plant diversity; they will have the basic knowledge to evaluate which plants can be used in the  design of plant component within infrastructure, in compliance with the regulations, referring to the ecological characteristics and the distribution of the species in the different terrestrial environments.

TEACHING METHODS

The course contents are acquired through frontal teaching and field activities.

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

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

• 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.
• Urban green and mitigation of atmospheric pollution.
• Urban green: ecosystem services and disservices (with particular reference to allergenic plants).
• Green for urban design according to the Ministry of the Environment Guidelines.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Reference text

DUFFY TURNER K. Botany for Designers: A Practical Guide for Landscape Architects and Other Professionals, W. W. Norton & Company

General Botany

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