3 hours. 1 hours lecture and 4 hours lab per week.
Plant Communities
Course Description
The history and ecology of plants and related materials
associated with architectural landscape design.
Athena Title
Plant Communities
Semester Course Offered
Offered fall
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Student learning Outcomes
Students will strengthen and expand their plant materials vocabulary.
Students will understand the role of plants as major landscape design materials.
Students will understand the plant characteristics that affect their use as design elements in the landscape (form, texture, line, color, and scale).
Students will understand the basic cultural requirements of the plants studied.
Students will have the ability to recognize and identify the plant palette of both courses in various environments and in varied microclimates.
Students will have an appreciation of the value of plant communities/associations of the southeastern U.S. in analyzing environmental factors and as landscape settings.
Students will have an appreciation of plant materials as a reflection of a site's condition and history.
Students will have an appreciation of the varied uses environmental designers make of plants (architectural, engineering, functional, as well as aesthetical).
Students will identify by both the common and botanical names approximately 350-400 trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants. Measurement: Exams and lab specimen tests
Students will develop observation skills. Measurement: Students will maintain and turn in sketchbooks containing drawings of plant forms and leaf characteristics for all plants covered
Students will demonstrate an understanding of the ornamental attributes and cultural requirements of the plants presented in class. Measurement: Exams and lab specimen tests
Topical Outline
Laboratory emphasizing the design characteristics of plants during various seasons of the year. Lecutures to focus on terminology, plant nomenclature, design elements, principles of design, and cultural aspects of plant materials. Plant materials presented in class laboratory periods, through field trips and through slides. Field trips around campus may be supplemented by off-campus field trips.
All exams shall be in the field taken on 3 x 5 note cards or test booklets. Correct Latin name with correct spelling is required to receive full credit.
