Introduction to Plant Identification: Recognizing 10 Common Plant Families by Sight

Developing the ability to recognize plant families by sight is helpful for learning new plants, whether in the garden or out in nature. This course is designed for students who want to develop basic family recognition and plant identification skills. We will focus on 10 flowering plant families commonly found in cultivation and in the wild. The first class (virtual) will cover basic terminology for vegetative (roots, leaves, and stems) and reproductive (flowers and fruits) plant parts. The second and third classes will be held in the Arboretum, where we practice using the unique combinations of leaf, flower, and fruit characters to recognize and distinguish among common flowering plant families.

Schedule: 

Thursday, April 3rd, 6-8pm:  Online Zoom lecture in the evening covering the basics of plant identification

Saturday, April 5th & Saturday, April 12th, 9-11am: 2- hour walks in the UW Botanic Gardens collections at the Washington Park Arboretum. For the walks students should bring a 10x hand lens for each session. We will be navigating uneven, sloped, and potentially muddy terrain at the Arboretum. Please bring rain gear if necessary and wear weather-appropriate shoes.

This course is designed for students who want to develop the basic skills needed for recognizing common plant families in the field or garden.