Rhode Island Flora: Understanding and Documenting Local Plant Diversity

This Sophomore Seminar focuses on species level identification of plants in Rhode Island and will cover the dominant plant species in each of the state’s main habitats including coastal wetlands and uplands, freshwater wetlands, peatlands, upland forests, and disturbed areas. Students will learn to identify plants using online interactive keys as well as more technical dichotomous keys and will also cover basic ecological processes in each habitat including the interaction of soils, geology, and hydrology. Materials related to plant morphology, plant taxonomy, plant evolution, understanding phylogenetic trees, and botanical illustration. Instructor permission required.