Identifying Flowering Plants

Overview

This course will introduce students to the fundamentals of flowering plant identification, using floras and keys. These are essential and valuable skills for all field and conservation ecologists. Students will get to know basic terminology in field botany and key characteristics of flowering plants, which are the largest and most diverse group in the plant kingdom.

Programme

The course will provide the knowledge needed to identify the most frequently encountered British species from the common families. The focus will be on the development of practical identification skills and students will be encouraged to complete personal field trips and explore their local, natural environments.

This online learning course will enable students to study from home and participate in an online community of other students fascinated by plant identification. The module is delivered through Blackboard, our online learning environment and can be studied as a stand-alone course, but it is also a core module for the Certificate of Higher Education in Field Ecology at Aberystwyth University.

Assessments 

• 1. Plant Review 500 words (20%)
• 2. Written assignment 1600 words (60%)
• 3. Flowering plant ID quiz (20%)

Reading Suggestions

Reading suggestions will be offered throughout the course. 

Entry Requirements

This course is for everyone. No previous experience is needed and there are no formal entry requirements. 

What Do I Need?

As this is an online course, you would need the following:

• Internet access.
• Access to a laptop or computer with a web camera and microphone; the use of headphones might also benefit.
• Use of the Chrome web browser where possible.