Advanced Plant Identification

Course content

Critical identification of vascular plants to species, with focus on the Danish flora.

Education

MSc Programme in Biology
MSc Programme in Biology with a minor subject

Learning outcome

Knowledge:

  • Overview over botanical terminology and available tools for identification of Danish plants, experience in critical use of identification literature
     

Skills:

  • To correctly identify Danish plants to species by use of relevant determination keys and taxon descriptions
  • To have a good overview of systematics and species delimitation in Danish vascular plants
  • To understand the appropriate use of vascular plants in bio-indication


Competences:

  • To be able to safely arrive at the correct identity of Danish vascular plants
  • To enable the use of plant identification in conservation surveillance, nature management and dissemination of plant diversity.

Field course day-time excursions and evening exercises. In addition, independent field project work.

For additional recommended literature – see Absalon.

This book has previously been used: “Dansk flora”, 2nd edition, by S. Frederiksen, F. N. Rasmussen & O. Seberg (2012).

The course expands the compulsory courses Diversity of Organisms and Field Course II (biology), but these courses are not a precondition.

Academic qualifications equivalent to a BSc degree is recommended.

The course is based on the use of identification tools in Danish.
Please note that the students pay a supplement to the course expenses covering part of the food costs and transportation. Approximately DKK 750.

Written
Oral
Individual
Collective
Continuous feedback during the course of the semester
Feedback by final exam (In addition to the grade)

Oral, individual and collective feedback during the field course week.
Written, individual feedback by final exam (In addition to the grade)

ECTS
7,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Portfolio
The portfolio consists of documentation of the identification work done in terms of notes and illustrations - photographs or similar - of the diagnostic characters observed and used in the ID process.
Aid
All aids allowed
Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
No external censorship
One internal examiner.
Criteria for exam assessment

In order to obtain the grade 12 the student should convincingly and accurately demonstrate the knowledge, skills and competences described under Learning Outcome.

 

Single subject courses (day)

  • Category
  • Hours
  • Preparation
  • 106
  • Practical exercises
  • 30
  • Excursions
  • 30
  • Project work
  • 30
  • Exam
  • 10
  • English
  • 206