Botany

A study of the basic principles of plant life. Topics include: plant cells, tissues, and organs; plant physiology, transport, and reproduction; plant diversity and genetics, as well as a look at how society uses and relies on plants. Related investigations take place during two hours of lab each week. Laboratory topics reinforce classroom learning and include a study of plant structures and plant diversity.

Field botany involves the identification and classification of local plants of the Columbia Basin area. Different biomes are studied with emphasis on the steppe and shrub-steppe vegetation common to this area. Students participate in seven field trips to collect native plants. Following field trips, students identify, press, dry, and mount collected plants in order to assemble a required plant collection. During laboratory sessions students learn to use a taxonomic key to identify and classify collected plants. NOTE: This is a field course with required field trips. Field trips often involve hiking over uneven terrain; students climb up slopes, both on and off trails to collect plant specimens. Any questions concerning these field trips may be directed to the instructor.