LN109 ‑ PLANT MATERIALS II 
Sample syllabus submitted by Professor Dubik, Spring 2006                                                 

Course Description:  A lecture, field and laboratory study of evergreen and deciduous trees, shrubs, vines and ground covers used in the landscapes of Maryland and surrounding states.  Plant materials with outstanding qualities that are commonly used and/or recent plant introductions will also be covered. Landscape use and maintenance are emphasized in lecture; plant identification is stressed in field and laboratory sessions.  (3 semester hours)

Lecture:           Monday ‑ Section 31709             1:00‑2:50 p.m. ‑ Brookside Gardens

                             Wednesday ‑ Section 31369      6:00‑7:50 p.m. - Rm. 238, SA

                                                                                                             

^*Laboratory:   Monday ‑ Section 31710             3:00‑4:35 p.m. ‑ Brookside Gardens

Wednesday ‑ Section 31367      8:00‑9:35 p.m. ‑ Rm. 240, SA

      ^*Laboratory requires off site field trips  - see Grading and Field Trips for information.

 

Course Outcomes: For the plants covered in this course – students will be able

Ø   To correctly identify at least 100 species.

Ø   To know the common and scientific name.

Ø   To use taxonomic features such as bud shape, fruit shape, leaf shape, and twig color while identifying plant material.

Ø   To know the growth rate, mature plant size, plant habit, cold hardiness, leaf retention characteristics, flowering time, and fruiting time.

Ø   To describe the landscape value, ornamental characteristics or special features including fall coloration and bark characteristics.

Ø   To know the native habitat of the plant materials.

Ø   To know the appropriate cultural conditions for proper growth.

Ø   To know appropriate cultivars of species that are useful in certain landscape situations.

Ø   To develop an understanding of each plant’s limitation due to pest and disease activity.

     

Required Text: Manual of Woody Landscape Plants, by Michael A. Dirr, Stipes Publ., and revised 1998. (ISBN 0-87563-795-7)

Optional: Blank CD-rom’s or memory stick/card (min. 256 meg) to down load power point lectures

 

Free 2003 Power Point Viewer –

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/officeupdate/CD010798701033.aspx

 

Additional References:

 

v      ^*Dirr’s Hardy Trees and Shrubs - An Illustrated Encyclopedia, by Michael A. Dirr, Timber Press, 1997.

v      Dirr’s Trees and Shrubs for Warm Climates - An Illustrated Encyclopedia, by Michael A. Dirr, Timber Press, 2002.      

v      Peterson Field Guides to Trees and Shrubs, by George A. Petrides, Houghton Mifflin Co., 1986.

v      ^*Peterson Field Guides to Eastern Trees, by George A. Petrides, Houghton Mifflin Co., 1988.

v      ^*Taylor's Guides, by Houghton Mifflin Co.

v      ^*Street Tree Fact Sheets, Editors Henry D. Gerhold, Willet N. Wandell, Norman L. Lacasse; published by PennState, 1993.  Order from: Publications Office, 112 Agricultural Administration Building, University Park, PA  16802.

v      Woody Plants of Maryland, by Russell G. Brown and Melvin L. Brown, Distributed by The Book Center, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742.

v      Native Plants for Wildlife Habitat and Conservation Landscaping: Chesapeake Bay Watershed, http://nps.gov/plants/pubs/chesapeake/

v      Plant Invaders of Mid-Atlantic Natural Areas, National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

v      ^*Landscape Plants, Their Identification, Culture and Use, by Ferraell M. Bridwell, Delmar Publishers Inc., 1994.

v      ^*The American Horticultural Society, Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, by Christopher Brickell and John Elsley, MacMillan Publishing Company, 1989.

v      Landscape Plants for Eastern North America, by Harrison L. Flint, John Wiley & Sons, 1983.

v      Trees for American Gardens, by Donald Wyman, MacMillan Publishing Co., Third edition, 1990.

v      ^*Shrubs, by Roger Phillips and Martyn Rix, Random House, 1989.

v      Hillier's Manual of Trees & Shrubs, by H. Hillier, A. S. Barnes and Co., 5th ed.

v      The Hillier Gardener’s Guide to Trees & Shrubs, editor John Kelly, published by Reader’s Digest Association Inc., 1995.

v      The Shrub Identification Book, by George W. D. Symonds, William Morrow & Co., 1963.

v      The Tree Identification Book, by George W. D. Symonds, Quill Publ. Co., 1958.

v      Handbook of Landscape Tree Cultivars, by Willet N. Wandell, East Prairie Publishing Co., 1989.

v      Dictionary of Plant Names, by Allen J. Coombes, Timber Press, 1989.

*Color illustrated

 

Suggested Software:

Horticopia A to Z or Horticopia Pro – student version

     1-800-560-6186

http://www.horticopia.com/

 

                                                           GRADING

 

        LECTURE EXAMS:                 Monday                      Wednesday                          Points

           #1                                         February      27            March      1                           200

#2                                         April             3              April         5                           200

#3                                         May             8               May        10                           200

                                                                                                                  Total    600

 LAB EXAMS:        

#1                                         Feb.           20              Feb.      22                             80^*

#2                                         March        27              March    29                           130^*

#3                                         May             1               May        3                            180^*

                                                                                                                  Total    390

 

FIELD TRIPS:

Brookside                                                                 April         5                              

Pope Farm                                                               April       19

McCrillis Gardens                May            8               May        10                             

Saturday Field Trip

   National Arboretum              March        18                                                             50

                  -or-

   Hillwoood                              April           15 

             -or-

        Pacca House                  April          29                       

 

PROJECT                             May           1                 May         3                            100

                              Grand Total                           1140

 

A  =  1026 ‑ 1140

B  =    912 - 1025

C  =    798 ‑   911

D  =    684 ‑   797

F  =        0 ‑   683

^* Approximately

 

LECTURE EXAMS:

NOTE: Lecture exams are not cumulative.

 

LAB EXAMS:

For each misspelled botanical name 0.5 points will be deducted from laboratory exam score(s).  All laboratory exams are cumulative.  These examinations require identification from cut specimens, plant pressings, landscape plants and slides, as well as requiring a command of taxonomic nomenclature.  Students will be held responsible for only those species, varieties, forms and cultivars seen during prior labs.

 

MAKEUP TESTS:

Illness:  Arrangements for a makeup of a lecture test or lab exam must be made within 24 hours of missed exam.  The signature of attending physician or nurse is required.  Time for the makeup will be at the mutual convenience of instructor and student.  Tests not taken earn 0 points.                                                  

FIELD TRIPS:

These are tentative dates and times.  Check with instructor about any modifications.

 

This course requires one Saturday field trip. All field trips will be conducted rain or shine!  Please dress appropriately.

 

The first field trip will be to the U.S. National Arboretum on Saturday, March 18 at 9:00 a.m. Students from Monday’s section or Wednesday’s section are welcome to attend. We will meet in front of the Visitor's Center.  The National Arboretum is located at 3501 New York Ave., N.E., Washington, D.C., 20002-1958, (202) 245-2726.

http://www.usna.usda.gov/

 

The second field trip will be for Wednesday evening section on April 5 to Brookside Gardens.  Brookside Gardens is located at 1500 Glenallan Avenue, Wheaton, MD, 20902,  (301) 949‑8230.  In case of rain we will meet at Wheaton Regional Library.

Wheaton Regional library is located at 11701 Georgia Avenue, Wheaton, MD.

http://www.mc-mncppc.org/parks/brookside/

 

A third field trip will be to Hillwood Museum and Gardens for April 15 at 8:30 a.m.  Hillwood is located at 4155 Linnean Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. 20008. For more information call (202) 686-8500 or check out their website out at http://www.hillwoodmuseum.org/general.html

 

If time permits a fourth field trip will be on April 19 for the Wednesday evening section to Pope Farm Nursery.  Pope Farm Nursery is located at 7400 Air Park Drive, Gaithersburg, MD, 20879.

http://www.mc-mncppc.org/parks/park_of_the_day/sep/parkday_sep3.shtm

 

The last field trip (optional) will be to McCrillis Gardens on the day of the last lecture exam.  McCrillis Gardens is located at 6910 Greentree Road, Bethesda, MD 20817, (301) 929‑6509.

http://www.mc-mncppc.org/parks/brookside/mccrilli.shtm

 

Washington Metro Area Transit Authority

Information: (202) 637-7000 TDD (202) 638-3780

www.wmata.com

 

MAKEUP FIELD TRIPS:

You will be allowed to makeup for the field trips.  If you are not able to attend a field trip on the assigned day, you have the option of making up the field trip by submitting a special project. Possible options include:

1) Handing in three additional plant pressings.

2) Submitting six different dried fruit samples – properly prepared and identified.

     All samples must be appropriately labeled to receive full credit.

3) Three hours of service in Landscape Technology Demo Gardens/Nursery.

4) 15 digital images – see digital project sheet for more info

 

AUDIT POLICY:

Notify the instructor if you are taking the class for audit.

 

OTHER:

If absence from a scheduled exam is necessary for religious observance or participation in a Montgomery College activity, notification must be received by the instructor one week prior to the scheduled exam or the right to a makeup is forfeited.

Course schedule

The first week: Introduction to the course, syllabus, project, field trips, text, etc. and review fundamentals of plant identification.

The following weeks till the end of the semester: Review the plants on the plant list in sequential order.

 

Classroom Policies

Attendance:

Attendance is expected for each of the classes and required field trips.

 

Academic honesty:

Students cheating on lecture or lab exams will receive a failing grade for that exam.

 

Classroom conduct:

The use of cell phones during lectures or exams is not allowed.  Use of portable recording devices is not allowed in class unless students receive approval from the professor.

 

Support services:

Any student who may need an accommodation due to a disability, please make an appointment to see me during my office hour. A letter from Disability Support Services (R-CB122; G-SA175; or TP-ST120) authorizing your accommodations will be needed. Any student who may need assistance in the event of an emergency evacuation must identify to the Disability Support Services Office; guidelines for emergency evacuations for individuals with disabilities are found at:   www.montgomerycollege.edu/dss/evacprocedures.htm.

 

Other resources:

Additional student resources can be found at the Science Learning Center (SLC) on the Germantown campus.  The SLC is located in the SA building, room 202. For hours of operation, call 240-567-1987. http://www.montgomerycollege.edu/departments/scilcgt/

 

Cancellation of classes:

Class cancellation due to extreme weather conditions will be announced on local radio stations like WTOP and WMAL.

  PROJECT:

The project involves collecting 10 different plant specimens.  Students are limited to exterior ornamental plant material.  You may submit more than ten pressings but you will only be graded on your ten best samples.  All samples submitted must have sufficient size and have plant parts present to enable plant identification but small enough to fit on to herbarium paper (16 ½ “x 11 ½ “).

Plant specimens should be pressed and properly identified.  Use the specimen labels provided in class or create your facsimile.  The following information must be typed out on each specimen label and placed in the lower right hand corner of the plant pressing.  Five points will be taken off for samples that are not typed!

EXAMPLE ‑ SPECIMEN LABEL:

 

                                                                     Herbarium of                                                   No. #1

                                                                Montgomery College

 

Botanical Name:  Quercus alba                                                                     September 9, 2004

 

Common Name:  White Oak        

 

Family:  Fagaceae

 

Location:  Wheaton, Maryland.                                                            Habitat: Home landscape

 

Collected and identified by:  Carol von Linne

 

 

 

 

Each of the samples should be submitted between sheet of newspaper with its specimen label. DO NOT COVER pressings with plastic wrap, wax paper, etc.

If permits selected plant samples will be permanently mounted at the college during lab.

 

IMPORTANT!

Ø      Students are required to have two samples from the “Wish List”.  An updated “Wish List” will be given out each semester during class.

 

Ø      Don't forget to identify each sample with a sample number.  Please remember to fill out and hand in the project grade sheet (see attached) with your project. 

 

If you have any questions please ask them and/or refer to the examples of pressings in Room 240 SA.  Have fun!

 

Website – Gives instructions on how to press plants.

http://www.funsci.com/fun3_en/herb/herb.htm

 

Equipment Needed: ^*Plant press, & hand shears

 

^*Sources for plant presses or plant press components:

 

BioQuip Products, 17803 LaSalle Avenue, Gardena, CA, 90248-3602

(310) 324-0620     Fax: (310) 324-7931   e-mail: bioquip@aol.com

Sell plant presses and components

 

Dick Blick Online Store

www.dickblick.com

The part number for the ream of newsprint was

10204-1007 All Purpose Newsprint 12" x 18" 500 Sheet Ream    

Cost approximately $7.99 a ream

 

The part number for the Indian blotter paper was

10212-1005 19" x 24" White Blotter Paper about 65 cents a sheet

Minimum Order — is $4.99

You can cut each sheet in half to fit in your plant press.

Shipping will run about 10.00 for both items.

 

 

Guidelines for Project

 

GOOD PLANT PRESSINGS

 

When you clip a sample from a plant for a pressing, you should include: leaves showing characteristic features, flowers if possible, and enough twig or stem to show lenticels, leaf scars, leaf and flower buds, and pith.  Do not try to press fruits, nuts, or berries in your press or you will make a mess.  To keep the pressings as flat and as clean as possible, any fruit from a specimen should be put in a bag or small container.  If you have a large twig you can take a razor or sharp knife to split it in half and then lay out the cut piece to show the pith.  When you put the sample into your plant press, place it so that both the upper and lower surface of leaves can be seen.  If possible, cut open the flower of a pressing to display its parts (petals, stamens, and ovary ‑ the best keys for identification).  Make sure to number each specimen and write down all the information you will need for the label before you press it.  This will avoid any confusion between different specimens and make it easy for you to mount them when they have dried completely.  Once in the press, specimens need 8 days or longer to dry completely.  A wet or moist pressing will rot, mold, and lose its color when mounted on paper.

 

When making the labels for your specimens, it is a good idea to write them out on index cards before typing.  Under "Herbarium of" type Montgomery College.  Indicate the number of the specimen after No.  The first plant you collect in your life is plant number one, the second number two, etc.  Even if you do not use or mount a plant it is still number two.  Officially, you should keep a record of the plants you collect and keep a tally of the numbers.  There are professionals who are at this moment collecting number 23,456 in their collection, so keep track.  For the technical name, type the genus then the specific epithet. The first letter of the genus is capitalized with all following letters in lowercase.  All of the letters of the specific epithet are lowercase.  THE GENUS AND THE SPECIFIC EPITHET ARE ALWAYS UNDERLINED.  Example:

 

Cornus florida                          The genus and specific epithet

together make the SPECIES NAME.

 

A variety or a cultivar name sometimes follows the genus and the specific epithet (species).  A variety is a group of plants, which display a unique character, which differentiates it from the species.  Most of the seedlings (80%‑90%) of varieties will display the unique characteristics of their parents but some will revert back to the regular species form. 

Example:

 

Cornus florida var. rubra         The variety indicated by var.

and the name underlined.

 

A cultivar is essentially a cultivated variety.  A cultivar, which is brought about through selective cultivation and breeding, then continued through cuttings, grafting, or continual crossing of the parent types which produced the cultivar.  The seeds of cultivars are not true to type (their parents) as varieties are.