Course Syllabus/ Fall 2013

120:311 Flora of New Jersey

INSTRUCTORS:

Dr. Andrew Kasper

OFFICE/OFFICE
HOURS:

Boyden 136
Tues. Period 3
Thurs. Period 2 &
by arrangement

COURSE
LOCATION(S):

EMAIL:

akasper@andromeda.rutgers.edu

moodle or Blackboard or other

Boyden 125 (Mon.)

Conklin 448 (Thurs.)

MEETING TIME(S): BOYDEN 125 (12:00 TO 4:20)

Conklin 448 (1:00 to 2:20)

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Study of the native plants of New Jersey: wildflowers, shrubs and trees; emphasis on ferns and fern allies, conifers and
flowering plants; fundamental concepts: biological species, field identification, nomenclature (naming), classification
(hierarchy) and evolutionary processes (homology); extensive field trips are a major portion of the course.

PREREQUISITES:
Plant Kingdom 120: 211, Bio. Seed Plants 120:230, Plant Physiology 120:330 or permission of instructor

REQUIRED TEXT:
Walters, D. R. & D. J. Keil. Vascular Plant Taxonomy (latest edition); field guides will be provided

LEARNING OBJECTIVES/GOALS: FOR EXAMPLE

Upon successful completion of this course, participants will be able to:

1. Have a clear understanding of the major groups of vascular plants at the Phylum level, i.e., what
evolutionary advances warrant the separation of species into major groups, i.e., different phyla
2. Be able to identify and classify prominent native genera and species in the flora of New Jersey;
become proficient in using various manuals and keys for identification
3. Understand the major biological concepts associated with systematics: the concept of species,
hierarchy (genus, family, etc.), variation versus adaptation, recognition of homologous structures,
importance and formation of scientific names (nomenclature), the "type" concept in systematics and the
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role of the International Code of BotanicalNomenclature

4. Learn the basic morphology and life history of the ferns & fern allies, conifers (cone-bearing trees)
and flowering plants: wildflowers, shrubs and flowering trees
5. Have a clear understanding of the flower, its parts, their functions, modifications, role of fruits and
seeds and interaction with pollinators
6. As a writing intensive course, various writing exercises will fine-tune your writing skills: in the
organization of each paper, in good progression of paragraph sequence, use of proper sentence structure
and overall clarity in presentation

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Course Syllabus/Fall 2013

120:311 Flora of New Jersey

SCHEDULE AND COURSE OUTLINE: Dates listed by week; lectures will meet twice every week and recitation will meet every
week, unless otherwise noted. Weekly dates of quizzes and due dates for written projects are listed, but please note there
will be additional smaller assignments throughout the semester. Due dates for these assignments will be regularly updated
on the course Blackboard site.

WEEK
Week 1

Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5

Week 6

Week 7

Week 8
Week 9
Week 10
Week 11

NOTES/READING
ASSIGNMENTS/EXAMS

MEETING TOPIC
Introduction to plant systematics: processes of
identification, description, nomenclature, classification;
concept of homology and phylogeny; overview of Plant
Kingdom; species concept; hierarchy
Field trip for ferns and species of "club mosses"/"ground
pines" (the "lycopods"); introduction to the Phylum
Lycopodiophyta: morphology and field identification
Introduction to the ferns (Polypodiophyta); their
morphology, structures and their functions, homologous
features; life history
Field trip for the ferns: field identification of common
species in the New Jersey flora; morphology, variation
and homologous features
EXAMINATION I (emphasis on lecture material);
introduction to the flowering plants (angiosperms); the
flower, parts, functions, pollination and fertilization
Field trip for identification of common and native
wildflowers, shrubs and trees using various field manuals;
select families: Magnoliaceae, Lauraceae, Fagaceae,
Betulaceae
EXAMINATION II (emphasis on field identification);
outline of the major families of flowering plants
prominent in New Jersey: Ulmaceae, Juglandaceae,
Rosidaceae
Field trip to reinforce field identifications; trees and
shrubs representing major flowering families in New
Jersey: Fabaceae (legumes sensu lato)
LAST DAY TO DROP COUSE WITH "W"; Field trip for field
identification: angiosperm trees and shrubs
EXAMINATION III (emphasis on lecture); introduction to
the conifers; morphological features, functions, the cone
and parts, the strobilus
RUTGERS MODIFIED WEEK for Thanksgiving; pollination,
fertilization, seed development and dispersal in conifers
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Week 12
Week 13
Week 14
Week 15

Field trip for field identification of native and some

introduced conifer species; field characteristics for ease of
identification
Field trip to reinforce field identification of native species
of conifers; introduction of Ginkgo biloba as another
gymnosperms
Field trip (if previous bad weather) or review before last
examination
EXAMINATION IV

DATE OF FINAL EXAM:

GRADING POLICY:
Your grade for this course will be determined based on the categories listed in the table below.
Attendance is mandatory for all lectures and
field trips
Four examinations; each exam treats of 1/4 of
the course; all exams of equal weight

Point Values
11001001000 00

Homework

Point Values

Project(s)

10%
Point Values
Point Values

TOTAL

100%

ATTENDANCE, MAKE-UP, AND LATENESS POLICY:

Attendance at all lectures and field trips is mandatory for this course; be on time for lecture; field trips depart on the dot-as scheduled; be at the designated meeting place for field trips 15 minutes BEFORE departure time for instruction; you will
be left behind if you are late; if you miss 3 lectures (three 1 hour, 20 minute session) or 2 "field days" (3 periods on
Mondays), it is recommended that you drop this course. The last day to drop the course and receive a "W" grade is
November XX.
You will have 4 examinations; some tests will emphasize lecture material and some tests will emphasize field work. You
are responsible for all material (lecture, laboratory, field data and readings) for every test. The lectures and field
work/laboratory are integrated in this course. All examinations are of equal weight. The final grade is an average of all the
exams.
Individual permission from the instructor is necessary for use of computer and i-pad for typing notes in class--NO i-phones
in class. Phones must be turned off and put away (not on the desktop).
It is recommended that you re-write your lecture notes in a second note book the evening of lecture and that you study 2-3
hours for each lecture session. Study the assigned readings. For field trips bring a small (4" X 6" or 5" X 7") hard-back note
book; field guides and hand-lens will be provided; they are required for all field trips. It is recommended that you study 3-4
hours for each field trip and that you re-write your field notes in another note book the evening of the field trip or the very
next day--while the material is fresh in your mind. You ARE responsible for the material and subject matter of the
prerequisite course(s). If you have difficulty with the subject matter, see me immediately; do not wait until the day before
the examination.

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This is a writing intensive course. Papers must follow the guidelines for each individual assignment. Papers must be
typewritten, double spaced, font should be 8-9 points, margins must be 1 inch top, bottom and sides Additional instructions
will be handed out with each assignment, i.e., examples of direct quote and its citation and examples of paraphrasing and
its correct attribution. Late papers will not be accepted.

Academic Dishonesty: The course has a zero tolerance policy for academic dishonesty, including plagiarism and cheating.
Instances of dishonesty will be punished by a zero on the assignment and consultation with the Academic Integrity Officers
to determine if further action is required. If you have any questions about what constitutes plagiarism or cheating, please
ask your instructors or refer to the academic integrity websites for Rutgers and NJIT:

http://academicintegrity.rutgers.edu/academic-integrity-at-rutgers
http://studentconduct.rutgers.edu/
http://www.njit.edu/academics/integrity.php

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