Spring 2001

Instructor: Dr. Darrell Ray Office: 323 Clement Hall

Phone: 587-7495 (office) Email: dlray@utm.edu

Office Hours: 8-10 a.m. MT; 2-4 p.m. T; 8-9 a.m. F, and by appointment

Text: Bell, P.R., and A.R. Hemsley. 2000. Green plants: their origin and diversity, 2

ed. Cambridge.

Objectives: Morphology is an indispensable study for any student interested in plants, and especially those who are interested in a career in botany. Morphology promotes keen observation skills and analytical thinking, for patterns and processes emerge only with close examination and exploration of various groups.

Upon completion of this course, students should be familiar with:

1) the major divisions of photosynthetic organisms from cyanobacteria through

flowering plants

2) some general theories as to the origin and phylogeny of plant groups

3) phylogenetic patterns of tissue development

4) general features of plant anatomy as they relate to a study of morphology

5) plant life cycles, and the significance of changes in the patterns of the alternation of

generations

Grading and attendance: Lecture and lab will be integrated in this course. The final grade will be determined on a 10 point scale (i.e. 90-100% = A). There will be three hour exams (100 points each), periodic lab quizzes (20 points each, 100 points total), a lab final (100 points), and a comprehensive final exam (150 points). Students will also complete two journal critiques on some topic dealing with plant morphology (50 points each, 100 points total). This will give a grand total of 750 possible points for the semester.

It is to your benefit to take the exams on the dates they are given. Makeup tests will only be given under the most extenuating of circumstances, and will be administered on the last study day of the semester before final exams. It is your responsibility to keep up with your grades and attendance, and arrange for the makeup at least 1 week before the end of the semester.

Attendance is vital to success in this course. Please be present and on time at every class meeting. Chronic tardiness is inconsiderate to the instructor and your classmates. Additionally, excessive unexcused absences may result in a failing grade for the course.

LECTURE TOPICS

Proposed Topics	(alternate nomenclature)	Chapter
General features of the plant kingdom		1

Plant tissues (brief review)

*Phylogenetic Survey*
Cyanobacteria		2

Overview of Major Groups of Eukaryotic Algae

Red Algae	(Rhodophyta)	2
Brown Algae	(Heterokontophyta)	4
Green Algae	(Chlorophyta)	3

Bryophytes		5

Tracheophytes
Cryptogams
Psilotales	(=Psilotophyta)	7
Lycopodiopsida	(=Microphyllophyta)	6
Equisetopsida	(=Arthrophyta)	6
Polypodiopsida	(=Pteridophyta)	6

Gymnosperms		8
Cycadopsida	(=Cycadophyta)
Ginkgoopsida	(=Ginkgophyta)
Pinopsida	(="Coniferophyta")
Gnetopsida	(=Gnetophyta)

Angiosperms		9
Magnoliopsida	(=dicots)
Liliopsida	(=monocots)

N.B.: Please note that this schedule is tentative. I reserve the right to alter the course content if necessary to accommodate new or different materials as the need or opportunity may arise.