Catalogue Description:

A descriptive study of the structure and development of the cells, tissues, and organs of higher plants including an introduction to the techniques used for anatomical investigations.

Prerequisites:

Botany 105, or its equivalent.

Course Content:

The field of plant anatomy is concerned with the internal structure of the plant body. As such, it combines microscopic studies of the histology, cytology, and ultrastructure of plant organs, tissues, cells, and cellular constituents. Thus, it is more akin to animal cytology and histology than to comparative anatomy of vertebrates.

In order to complete this survey of plant structure, the students will be presented with the opportunity for microscopic investigation of a variety of plant materials by various different techniques in the laboratory. They will be required to make preparations of living materials by hand sectioning and cytochemical staining techniques. Other materials will be macerated, cleared, or stained sections in permanent mounts. Training in plant microtechnique and photomicrography will culminate in student projects presented in the form of oral presentations illustrated by projection slides of the students' original work.

Lecture topics will parallel the laboratory topics, serving as an introduction to the following laboratory period. While orienting the student to the topic of the laboratories, the lectures will also be structured to supplement the assigned reading in the textbook.

Goals:

The overall goals of this program of instruction are the student's development of an understanding of the organization of the plant body. In the process, each student will learn:

1. to recognize cell and tissue types, and their constituent parts.

2. to identify the components and characteristic structure of roots, stems, leaves, flowers and fruits.

3. to understand the origin and development of the cells, tissues, and organs of the plant.

4. to communicate with botanists by using the specialized vocabulary of plant anatomy.

5. to perform the techniques employed in plant anatomy research .

Attendance:

You must attend every class meeting during the first five days of the term. By University policy, your place in the class may be assigned to another student if you are absent during the first week without notifying the instructor-in-charge (D. Walker, Room SC 106, telephone #826-3650) or the Department office (Room SB 223, telephone #826-3245). The roll call will be discontinued after the first week, and attendance will not be used as a factor in the calculation of final grades. However, the subject matter of the class meetings is the basis for the examinations. Therefore, students are encouraged to attend and actively participate in all activities of the class.

Testing:

Grading Policy:

A - Total Final Score greater than 90% of highest score in class
B - Total Final Score greater than 80% of highest score in class
C - Total Final Score greater than 70% of highest score in class
D - Total Final Score greater than 60% of highest score in class
F - Total Final Score lower than 60% of highest score in class

A choice of a CREDIT, or a NO CREDIT, grade may be available if this course is not required for your degree . Students who intend to be graded on a Credit/No Credit basis must select the "Credit/No Credit Mode" during Web Registration. No student will be allowed to choose the CR/NC grading option after the date listed in the academic calendar. You can access it here.

INCOMPLETE grades will only be assigned to students who cannot complete the requirements in this course due to circumstances beyond their own control. The incomplete is a temporary grade that must be changed to a letter grade after the completion of the unfinished work. Failure to complete that work within one year will automatically result in a conversion of the incomplete to a letter grade of F. An incomplete is not a way for a student to avoid a bad grade!

Drop Policy:

If your space in the course is assigned to another student during your absence, you must file an official drop according to University policy.

The last day to drop this class "without serious and compelling reasons" is listed in the academic calendar. You can access it here. Departmental policy defines "serious and compelling reasons" as circumstances beyond the control of the student which prevent the completion of course requirements. An overloaded schedule of classes, or a failing performance in the class, do not qualify as circumstances beyond the student's control.

The deadline to drop classes with "serious and compelling reasons" is listed in the academic calendar. You can access it here.

Note: Enrollees should be aware that if you fail to complete the course without official withdrawl (i.e. you don't show up for the final examination, or you simply stop coming to class, without consulting with the instructor to arrange for an alternative to a letter grade) you will receive a grade of Unofficial Withdrawl. For the purposes of grade point average, a grade of "U" is equivalent to an "F". In fact, a "U" may be worse than an "F" for those students who wish to repeat the course later. Petitions to replace a grade earned in this course with a better grade may be denied if the student has withdrawn from this course unofficially.