Biology 3390 (Economic Botany)
Lecture Syllabus:
Fall 2013
|
Date |
Topic Plants
As Living Organisms: This
part of the course will review principles of general botany including brief
introductions to plant productivity, structure, composition and reproduction.
The impact of plant cultivation on human civilization will also be discussed. |
Reading Assignment (Chapter) |
|
August 22 |
Introduction; Features of
Flowering Plants & Their Products |
1 |
|
August 29 |
Features of Flowering Plants
& Their Products (cont.); Variation and Evolution in Flowering Plants |
1 |
|
September 5 |
Variation, Selection &
Evolution in Flowering Plants (cont.); Origin of Agriculture |
1, 2 |
|
September 12 |
Plants As Food Crops: Major food crops will be discussed including: fruits
and nuts (e.g.,
apples, peaches and pecans); grasses (rice, sorghum, wheat, corn); legumes
(soybeans, peanuts, peas); stem, leaf and root crops (onions, potatoes); and
oilseeds (cottonseed, canola and castor oil). Fruits & Nuts |
3, 4 |
|
September 19 |
Grasses; Legumes |
5, 6 |
|
September 26 |
Exam 1; Food from Leaves, Stems & Roots |
7 |
|
October 3 |
Plants As Beverages, Spices and
Medicines: Lectures
will be given on plants as beverages (alcoholic drinks, tea, coffee); herbs & spices
(mints, mustards, vanilla and other herbs); medicinal plants (Cinchona,
Foxglove, Mayapple and Yams); psychoactive plants
(marijuana, opiates, cocaine and tobacco); poisonous & allergy plants
(curare, pyrethrum, poison ivy, ragweed). Stimulating Beverages (Caffeine); Alcoholic
Beverages/Hydrogels, Latexes, Resins |
13, 14 |
|
October 10 |
Student Presentations; Herbs & Spices |
8 |
|
October 24 |
Medicinal Plants; Student Presentations
|
11 |
|
October 31 |
Psychoactive Plants; Guest Lecturer - Dr. Jeff Padberg, UCA
Neuroscientist |
12 |
|
November 7 |
Poisonous & Allergy Plants Plants As Sources of Materials: The use of plant fibers in the making of rope,
cloth, fillings, felt and paper will be discussed. Characteristics of both
soft and hardwoods will be discussed as well as the use of wood, cork and
bamboo as building materials. Fibers |
12 |
|
November 14 |
Exam 2; Wood & Wood Products |
16 |
|
November 21 |
Student Presentations |
|
|
December 5 |
Student Presentations Plants in the Future: The development of new plant varieties using
traditional methods as well as biotechnology will be discussed. The use of
integrated pest management strategies will be reviewed. Biodiversity and its
exploitation and preservation will be discussed. The Green Revolution and Beyond |
19 |