| Department of Biology | Southern Connecticut State University |
| New Haven, CT 06515 | U.S.A. |
| Office: Jennings Hall 226 | Assistant Professor of Botany |
| Tel. (203) 392-6217 | Tropical Plant Ecology |
| Fax. (203) 392-5364 | Ethnobotany |
| E-mail: ramirezc1@southernct.edu | Urban Botany |
Check out a Few Tropical Plants from Bocas del Toro
Course Description
Tropical Plant Taxonomy is an introductory course on plant classification in tropical ecosystems. This course is designed to give graduate and advance undergraduate students the tools to identify plants in their natural environment. Field characteristics at the Family and Genus level (species when known) will be the main focus of this learning experience. Evolutionary trends using phenetics will be a major part of this course. Cladistic analysis will be used whenever possible. A digital photography catalogue will be developed for all the plants collected and properly identified in Panama. Lecture and discussion sessions will include the relevance of classification systems used today in Plant Taxonomy and Plant Evolution in tropical systems. Each student (or group) will conduct an independent taxonomic study on a taxon of her/his choice.
Due to the fact that tropical plants are rapidly disappearing, their identification and classification are critical for effective conservation and management programs. It is important to keep in mind that collecting plants or plant parts for exportation requires a permit from the Government of Panama and that this course is not intended to promote the illegal collection of plants or plant parts for anypurpose. However, these permits can be obtained through the proper channels.
Required Textbook: TBA
General Bibliography (most of these titles are in the ITEC library for consultation)
Flowering Plants of the Neotropics. Smith, N. et al. 2001
Flowering Plants of the World. Heywood, V. H. 1993
A field guide to the families and genera of woody plants of northwest South America (Colombia, Ecuador, Peru), with supplementary notes on herbaceous taxa / Alwyn H. Gentry ; illustrations by Rodolfo Vasquez. 1993.
Plants Systematics: a Phylogenetic Approach. Judd et al. 2002.
Identification of tropical woody plants in the absence of flowers and fruits: a field guide / Roland
Keller. 1996.
Field guide to the palms of the Americas / Andrew Henderson, Gloria Galeano, and Rodrigo Bernal. 1995.
Neotropical plant families : a concise guide to families of vascular plants in the Neotropics / by Paul J.M. Maas, Lubbert Y.Th. Westra ; gymnosperms by Aljos Farjon. 1993.
Flora of Barro Colorado Island. Croat, T. B. 1978.
Individual Projects
Each student will conduct and independent study of a taxon of at least FIVE (5) members (Family or Genus) of his/her choice. This work should include a basic collection both field as published of characters. Digital photography will be an important component of the final product.
Group Projects (if chosen)
Same as above, except that it should include at least EIGHT (8) members belonging to the chosen taxon.
Either individual or group project must contain an up to date review of the taxon studied.
Possible Projects
The Aristolochia in Bocas del Toro.
The Meliaceae on Isla Colon
The Sapotaceae of Bocas del Toro and Seropta Peninsula
Flower Diversity of the Melastomataceae on Isla Colon
Pipers in Eastern Panama
Floristics of Isla Colon
Grading
This course will be graded based on student participation (20%), Project (50%), practical test (10%), and enthusiasm (20%)
Tentative Lectures and Discussion Topics
Lecture 01: Taxonomic Levels
Lecture 02: History of Plant Classification
Lecture 03: Major Taxonomists / Evolutionists of our Times
Lecture 04: Plant Morphology and Taxonomy
Lecture 05: Phenetics
Lecture 06: Phylogenetics / Cladistics
Lecture 07: Who are the most primitive plants
Lecture 08: Cladistics vs. Phenetics: Who is right or wrong?
Lecture 09: Floristic Inventories and Taxonomy in the Tropics (The Lecythydaceae Model)