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Natural Science - Year I

Unit 13 Lab: Theophrastus and Plants

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Lab Assignment for Unit 13

This Unit's Homework Page History Lecture Science Lecture Lab Parents' Notes

Natural Science Unit 13 Laboratory Activity: Plant Classification

Goal: Observation of plants in their native habitats. Continue three-week field observations or do stand-along one-week lab

Materials and Equipment: see last week

Procedures:

Return to your field area. Earlier you did a survey of the plant life in your area. Now closely observe the major plant types and identify each one by major group (bryophytes, vascular seedless, conifer, monocot or dicot angiosperm). You should identify at least five different plants; but do more if your field area supports more.

Make a table listing the plant, the major characteristics you observed, and the type of plant. Be sure that your major characteristics include those you used for identification. If you have access to a knowledgeable person or a good plant guide, identify the plant by genus/species or common name.

If weather conditions will keep you from finishing your observations, just let me know; I will accept late labs for field labs.

Obtain 3-5 complete plants of different types. The more plants you use, the easier this lab will be.

  1. Examine each plant and describe its parts. Be as specific as possible.
  2. Point out differences and similarities between the plants.
  3. Devise a classification scheme and group your plants. You may use the characteristics we have already discussed, or others you notice; but the characteristics you use must actually be present in your plant specimens.
  4. Make up a table listing the plants, characteristics, and lay it out to show how your classification scheme works.

Report:

Post your report to the Moodle site for the Plant Classification Lab.

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