BASIC HORTICULTURE
BOTANY 2213 Fall 2000
INSTRUCTOR: Monica Macklin Phone: 3831 Office: Science 311
macklin@cherokee.nsuok.edu http://arapaho.nsuok.edu/~macklin
TEXTBOOK AND INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS
Botany for Gardeners, 2nd edition, Brian Capon
Additional materials will be placed on reserve in the library during the semester.
COURSE CATALOG DESCRIPTION
The classification and identification of scientific principles as related to the more important
aspects of horticulture.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
After completion of the course, the students should have an understanding of:
1. basic plant structure
2. how the environment affects plant growth
3. the relationship between soil and plant growth, the nutrients plants require, and fertilization strategies
4. the types of damage inflicted by horticultural pests and methods of control
5. how horticultural plants are propagated
6. the basics of residential landscape design
METHOD OF INSTRUCTION
Information in this class will be presented as lectures, discussions, demonstrations, and student projects. Students are encouraged and expected to participate in the discussions.
ATTENDANCE AND CLASSROOM POLICIES
While I do not intend to force you to come to class (no set number of absence policy), much of the information presented in the class (and found on the exams) will not be contained in the printed information. In addition, some of the textbook chapters will not be covered in class. It is important that you be present in order to know which sections are particularly important. Historically, excessive absences generally have had an adverse effect on exam performance. Eating, drinking, smoking, or chewing tobacco IS NOT permitted in the classrooms by university policy.
If any member of the class feels that she/she has a disability and needs special accommodations, please advise the instructor of such disability at the first class attended.
In the case of inclement weather use common sense when deciding to travel to NSU for class. NSU rarely cancels classes due to weather, however, if necessary announcements will be made on local radio stations.
EVALUATION OF STUDENT PERFORMANCE
Final grades will be determined by the percentage of the TOTAL points accumulated by the student during the semester. The points will come from exams, assignments, and a final landscape project. Please turn in a package of scantron forms during the first week of class.
GRADING SCHEME
The total possible points:
exams 3 at 100 points 300
assignments 100
final exam 200
600 points possible
A class average will be calculated, however, do not expect the final letter grades to differ much from the 90% = A plan. (A= 540, B=480, C=420, D=360).
COURSE OUTLINE
Consider the following a TENTATIVE sequence of topics. If the date of an exam must be changed, then the change will be announced in class.
Week Date Topic
1 Aug 21 Introduction, Nomenclature and Classification, Photosynthesis
2 Aug 28 Plant Structures: Stems, Roots, Leaves
3 Sept 4 Plant Structures: Flowers
4 Sept 11 Labor Day Holiday Modified Plant Structures, Pollination, Fertilization
5 Sept 18 Fruits, Review, EXAM ONE
6 Sept 25 Photosynthesis
7 Oct 2 Respiration, Translocation, Transpiration
8 Oct 9 Propagation
9 Oct 16 Climatic Effects on Plant Growth
10 Oct 23 Growth Regulation, EXAM TWO
11 Oct 30 Soils
12 Nov 6 Plant Nutrition
13 Nov 13 Fertilizers
14 Nov 20 Horticultural Pests
15 Nov 27 Ornamental Plants, EXAM THREE
16 Dec 4 Landscaping
17 Dec 13 FINAL EXAM, 11:00 - 1:00
REFERENCES
The following books and periodicals can be found in the NSU library. This list is provided as an
example of the types of information easily available to you. Many other books and periodicals on
similar topics are in the library. These references will be used to complete assignments during
the semester.
BOOKS
1. Hortus III. L.H. Bailey, editor. The authority for scientific names and typical common names
for horticultural plants.
2. Checklist of United States Trees. E. L. Little. USDA Handbook 541, 1979. The official list
of scientific and common names used by the U.S. Forest Service.
3. How Plants Get Their Names. L. H. Bailey. 1963. An older book explaining the meanings and
origins of the scientific names of cultivated plants.
4. Plant Propagation: Priciples and Practices. H. Hartmann. An exhaustive list of propagation
methods for many horticutural plants.
5. Exotica. A.B. Graf. This books is a good place to start when dealing with unknown tropical
plants. The pictures are black and white only, but almost nothing is left out.
6. Ortho Problem Solver. A large reference book with a host of color photographs covering
insect and disease problems of horticultural plants.
JOURNALS
1. Growers Talks. A monthly commercial greenhouse growers publication that deals mainly with
large growers and the latest in technology and business matters.
2. Horticulture. A non-commercial magazine for the advanced hobbyist.
3. Organic Farming and Gardening. The latest trends and instructions for the organic gardener.
INTERNET RESOURCES
Visit the home page for this course
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