Plant Identification
Workshop
1–2 March 2014 | University of the Sunshine Coast
Learn in laboratory and
bush about our amazing
Australian plants
• Learn to identify the major plant families in Australia
(and know when you have something different).
• Differentiate characters that are of importance to plant
identification during the workshop.
• Construct a floristic picture of vegetation at a family level
and begin to place that into context of the evolution of
the Australian flora.
The major focus of this workshop is to provide familiarity (in the laboratory as
well as the field) with the 25 most species rich plant families in the Australian flora:
•Myrtaceae
•Fabaceae
•Poaceae
•Asteraceae
•Proteaceae
•Mimosaceae
•Orchidaceae
•Cyperaceae
•Ericaceae
•Euphorbiaceae
(sensu latu)
•Goodeniaceae
•Rutaceae
•Chenopodiaceae
•Lamiaceae
• Liliaceae (sensu latu)
•Scrophulariaceae
•Myoporaceae
•Rubiaceae
•Sapindaceae
•Solanaceae
•Sterculiaceae
•Verbenaceae
•Apiaceae
•Malvaceae
• Rhamnaceae, and
• Locally regionally
significant plant
families (Lauraceae,
Meliaceae and
Restionaceae)
Who should attend:
•Students/teachers/natural
historians/conservationists—
anyone who is passionate about
plants and the environment—
be amazed that earth is the only
body in the known universe with
negative entropy!
Key topics include:
• Plant identification
jargon demystified.
• What are the important
features of Australia’s 25 largest
plant families? We will also add
a few locally significant plant
families (Lauraceae, Meliaceae and
Restionaceae) to those 25.
• How do we define
plant communities?
• How is the landscape defined in
terms of geology, soils, topography
and plant communities?
• A link will then be made between
all of those components (plant
communities, geology, soils
and topography).
Bring your covered walking shoes as
you will be walking to nearby Sippy
Creek to see some riparian rain forest
(approximately 15 minute walk).
The cost is $190 for the 2 days.
Catering will be provided.
For registration and payment, visit: www.usc.edu.au/plants
For more information contact: Dr Mike Olsen at [email protected]
Participants will receive a University
Certificate of Attendance.
Plant Identification Workshop
1–2 March 2014 | University of the Sunshine Coast
Workshop location: Building H, University of the Sunshine Coast
• H1.04 Wet lab
Dr Mike Olsen
Day 1: Saturday 1 March 2014
Director, Landscape Assessment,
Management and Rehabilitation
Pty Ltd
9am
Introduction: Presentation of flower parts and the demystifying of
plant jargon with the naked eye and a hand lens. This will be followed by
the review of the initial group of the 10 most species rich plant families
in Australia.
10.15–10.30am Morning tea
10.30am
Laboratory session: to look at key features of the major plant families
that are more readily seen under a stereo microscope than the naked eye.
(Plant collection will be provided).
12.30–1pm
Lunch
1pm
Presentation: of the links between geology, soils, topography and
plant communities.
2.30–2.45pm
Afternoon tea
2.45pm
Field session: in the translocated heath.
4pm
Finish
Day 2: Sunday 2 March 2014
9am
Laboratory session: to review material covered on Day 1 and then,
following questions and feedback from the class, investigation of other
major plant families. These families would be derived from the remaining
25 major plant families and other regionally significant plant families
depending upon the feedback at to which families are of greatest interest.
10.15–10.30am Morning tea
10.30am
Continuation of Laboratory Session.
12.30–1pm
Lunch
1pm
Field Session: walk through wetlands and heathlands of Mooloolah
River National Park after driving to the National Park carpark and riparian
vine forests of Sippy Creek to see these major plant families as functional
plant communities in the local landscape.
2.30–2.45pm
Afternoon tea (in the field at Sippy Creek)
3.45pm
Return to National Park carpark and say farewell after a wonderful 2 days
of shared learning and experiences.
4pm
Finish
For registration and payment, visit: www.usc.edu.au/plants
For more information contact: Dr Mike Olsen at [email protected]
Mike has more than forty
years’ experience in landscape
assessment, particularly with regard
to the native flora and fauna of
Queensland.
He has been commissioned to
undertake surveys and analyses
of vegetation at scales ranging
from individual site environmental
impact assessments to Shire wide
and regional vegetation and natural
landscape projects.
His experience covers such diverse
land management prerogatives
as on-site effluent disposal via
agroforestry schemata, mixed
species high value cabinet
timber plantations for individual
landowners to specialised
assessments and planning initiatives
and considerations regarding local
and regional noteworthy flora
and fauna. These programs have
been extended to similar tasks in
the nearby South-East Asian and
South-West Pacific regions.
He currently works as a consultant
and is one of the principals of
a consultancy firm (Landscape
Assessment, Management and
Rehabilitation Pty Ltd) specialising
in vegetation based studies and
assessments. Recent years has seen
a considerable amount of expert
evidence given to courts in both
Queensland and New South Wales.
CRICOS Provider Number: 01595D