BIOL 317
Summer 2016
Plant ID Assignment
A diversity of plants in the families we have learned (as well as other families) can be
found growing wild in the forests, meadows, and shores of the Pacific Northwest, as
weeds in the city and along roadways, and cultivated in parks and gardens. This
assignment will require you to look more closely at the plants you encounter around you
and apply the skills you have learned to observe, describe, and identify them.
Instructions:
1) Find 5 different plants outside of lab, each in a different family you have learned over
the course of the class. Find plants that you have not keyed in lab. At least 3 plants
should be native or naturalized, i.e. not growing in gardens or otherwise cultivated.
Local sites with many native and naturalized plants include Union Bay Natural Area,
Discovery Park, Seward Park, Carkeek Park, etc. There are many state and national
parks farther afield, and weeds are everywhere.
2) Describe the vegetative morphology (including, minimally, habit, leaf type, leaf
arrangement, leaf shape), reproductive morphology (including, minimally, symmetry,
what whorls are present, # of organs in each whorl, any fusion between organs, ovary
position, inflorescence type if applicable, fruit type if fruits are mature), and stage of the
plant (e.g. in flower, in fruit). The description should come from your observation of the
plant, not from a reference book or website.
3) Describe the location where the plant was found (including habitat type, locality
address, GPS coordinates if possible), and record the date of observation.
4) For each plant, take photographs, make a drawing, or press and dry a specimen (in a
heavy book or plant press. Ask your instructor if you would like to borrow a press). This
record should be specific and detailed enough so that another person can identify the
plant from the image or specimen, which means it likely will need to include
reproductive parts. If you plan to make a specimen, be sure to respect people’s private
property and be aware that collecting in National Parks is illegal.
5) Identify each plant as specifically as possible, but at least to family. For any native or
naturalized plants, identify to species to the best of your ability. You may bring in
samples of the plant to lab and key it out then.
Extra credit: You may report on up to 3 more native or naturalized plants for extra
credit. All reports should be of equal quality. Up to 5 pts extra credit for each additional
plant (maximum 15 extra points total).
Due: Part 1: 2 reports by Jul. 28
Part 2: remaining reports by Aug. 16. Revised reports from Part 1 can be
re-submitted for a re-grade if desired.
Turn in an electronic copy (email to [email protected]) or hard copy (during lecture or
lab). For photographs and drawings, you may email digital or scanned versions or turn
in physical copies. For pressed specimens, attach to a piece of paper with tape or glue
to turn in.
Plant ID Assignment Grading Rubric
Each Plant Report (10 points):
Description of plant (5)
- vegetative morphology - habit; leaf type, arrangement, shape; etc.
- reproductive morphology - floral symmetry; number of and fusion in sepals, petals,
stamens, carpels; ovary position; inflorescence type; fruit type; etc.
Description of location and date (1)
- locality address - where is the site?
- habitat type
- observation date
Images/specimens (2)
- vegetative features
- floral features
- other important features
Identification of family (1.5)
- correct identification to family
- correct identification to species (extra 1 pt, for up to 10 pts total on a report)
Appropriate family (0.5)
- each plant is from a different family
- family is one learned in class
Three reports must be on a native or naturalized plant. For each report, up to three, not
meeting this criterion, 1 pt will be deducted.
Sample report:
Hypericaceae Hypericum perforatum Herbaceous; ~30 cm tall; leaves simple, opposite, oblong, ~2 cm long, sessile, with black dots on blade; inflorescence: cyme with ~10-­‐30 flowers; flowers: sepals 5, green, lanceolate, ~5 mm long; petals 5, yellow, oblong, ~1 cm long; stamens many, clustered in 3 groups; pistil 1, compound with 3 carpels, 3 styles, ovary superior; in flower, with immature fruits. Found in weedy edge of lawn by water at south end of University of Washington campus. 47.65 N, 122.31 W. Elevation: 6 m. Observed July 2, 2015. Fig. 1. Flower Fig. 3. Leaves Fig. 2. Flower Fig. 4. Inflorescence Fig. 5. Immature fruits