Overview
In this unit, you will learn about Australian plants, their taxonomy, distribution and economic uses. Emphasis will be placed on plant identification, so you can apply this knowledge in vegetation surveys, biodiversity conservation, and selection of plant species for economic development. The specimen collection as well as practical sessions and field visits that are scheduled during compulsory residential school will enable you to gain practical skills in plant identification and vegetation surveys.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Pre-requisites BIOL11099 Living Systems or BIOL11100 Functional Biology or BIOL11102 Life Science Laboratory
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 1 - 2024
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes - in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of 'pass' in order to pass the unit. If any 'pass/fail' tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully ('pass' grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the 'assessment task' section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University's Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback - Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Feedback from SUTE
I found the residential school extremely useful as it dealt with hands-on work on identifying and utilizing native plants.
As this is a practical-oriented unit, field visits and keying are essential part of the unit. This component will be continued and improved, where possible.
Feedback from SUTE
A lot of resources are included in the unit and they need to be tidied up.
The Unit is proposed to be re-organised for 2024 offering. During this process, new materials (electronic resources) will be added and the least relevant material will be removed.
Feedback from SUTE
"Overall, I have learnt a lot from this unit especially on recognizing Australian native plants in the bush. Nothing much to improve"
We will endeavor to maintain this quality, and update/improve the contents, where possible.
Feedback from SUTE
More feedback is sought on quizzes, in class test and specimen collection.
Tutorial sessions will be used to provide feedback on student performances. Specimen collection will be scheduled for Week 11 so as to allow provision of feedback on time.
Feedback from SUTE
Specimen collection could be difficult if the students are located inlands which are often dry.
Students will have up to 11 weeks to plan and collect specimens. They are also encouraged to collect specimens during residential school. Targeting creek lines and wet areas, and looking for both ground cover species and trees/shrubs will help overcome this issue. Students are also encouraged to discuss their difficulties with the lecturers at the start of the Term.
- Define selected botanical terms
- Collect and curate native plant specimens, and use taxonomic keys to identify native plants
- Examine characteristic features of Australian flora, and discuss the uses of native plants in conservation, vegetation management and economic development
- Describe how native flora respond to environmental disturbances, and explain the ways by which this knowledge can be applied in revegetation and restoration programs
- Undertake vegetation surveys, interpret data and explain the use of GIS and remote sensing techniques in vegetation management.
N/A
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
| 1 - Online Quiz(zes) - 15% | |||||
| 2 - Practical Assessment - 45% | |||||
| 3 - Online Test - 40% | |||||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
| 1 - Communication | |||||
| 2 - Problem Solving | |||||
| 3 - Critical Thinking | |||||
| 4 - Information Literacy | |||||
| 5 - Team Work | |||||
| 6 - Information Technology Competence | |||||
| 7 - Cross Cultural Competence | |||||
| 8 - Ethical practice | |||||
| 9 - Social Innovation | |||||
| 10 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | |||||
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes
| Assessment Tasks | Graduate Attributes | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | |
| 1 - Online Quiz(zes) - 15% | ||||||||||
| 2 - Practical Assessment - 45% | ||||||||||
| 3 - Online Test - 40% | ||||||||||
Textbooks
Plant Systematics
Edition: 3rd (2019)
Authors: M.G Simpson
Academic Press
Sydney Sydney , NSW , Australia
ISBN: 9780128126288
Binding: Paperback
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
- Lucid software 3.3 (download from www.lucidcentral.org)
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Harvard (author-date)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
s.george@cqu.edu.au
a.anastasi@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
Australian Plants - Evolution and Diversity
Chapter
Study Guide Module 1
Textbook 'Plant Systematics' Chapters 6, 7 & 8.
Also consult the resources supplied on the Moodle site for this week.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Specimen Collection 1 (Assessment 2, Task 2b)
1. Start collecting specimens. Continue this activity throughout the Term. Please see the Moodle site for further details.
2. Familiarize yourself with the steps involved in collecting, curating, identifying and dispatching the specimens.
3. Access 'Student Forum' each week beginning this week, to learn more from each other.
4. Watch all 10 parts of the YouTube videos (https://tinyurl.com/herbarium-techniques) to get to know 'how to collect specimens' and 'where to go to collect specimens'.
5. Repeat watching these videos until you are confident of implementing these practices in curating your specimens.
6. Review your Life Science Laboratory theory/practical notes that show names of plant parts and floral diagrams.
7. Practice the art and science of drawing floral diagrams.
Please Note: You will have the opportunity to learn more about curating and ID skills during residential school.
Module/Topic
Plant Collection, Identification, Nomenclature and Herbarium Maintenance.
Chapter
Study Guide Module 2
Your Textbook 'Plant Systematics' Chapters 9, 17, 15, 16, 18 and Appendix 1 and Appendix 2 (selected sections only; please see the Moodle site for details).
Also consult the resources supplied on the Moodle site for this week.
Note: Every time you read a Module, please write down the possible questions that may be asked from that Module. In other words, you build your-own question bank!.
Ask your lecturer for assistance, if needed.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Specimen Collection 2
Practice the art and science of collecting and identifying native plants.
1. Choose the right part (s) of the plant for taxonomic purposes.
2. Cut the specimen to right size.
3. Place the specimen in a plant press as demonstrated in YouTube videos.
4. Collect some spare flowers for dissection.
5. Be ready to dissect the spare flowers of the specimen that you have just pressed.
6. Examine different parts of the flowers before drawing the floral diagram.
7. Draw the floral diagram. Consult your text book.
Hint: Commence your dissection using a larger flower such as an hibiscus flower. The reason being, large flowers are easier to dissect, and the larger size flower makes it easier to see different parts of the flower without needing to use a microscope or a hand lens.
You will get the opportunity to work on smaller flowers during residential school.
Please collect specimens of Australian origin only, as our key does not include taxonomic information for non-native plants.
Collect and curate at least ONE plant specimen this week.
Online Botanical Quizzes
This task consists of five quizzes that are distributed across five study weeks.
Online Botanical Quiz 1
This quiz opens on Thursday (12.10 am) of this week and closes on the following Monday (11.59 pm AEST).
Module/Topic
Cyanobacteria
Chapter
Study Guide Module 3
Textbook 'Plant Systematics' Chapter 3.
Also consult the resources supplied on the Moodle site for this week.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Specimen Collection 3
1. Observe different parts of a flower without using visual aids. If this is not possible, use a magnifying lens or a dissection (USB) microscope.
2. Please refer to your Text Book, as it contains photos of 100's of dissected flowers.
3. Draw floral diagrams of two types of flowers that vary in size (e.g., large flower -hibiscus, and small flower - native jasmine; Murraya sp.). Draw floral diagrams and label different parts. Please use correct symbols to represent different parts.
4. Avoid using grasses or tiny flowers at this stage, as they are difficult to see; and you will require a microscope.
5. Continue to collect and curate plant specimens.
Online Botanical Quiz 2
This quiz opens on Thursday (12.10 am) of this week and closes on the following Monday (11.59 pm AEST).
Module/Topic
Green Algae and Diatoms
Chapter
Study Guide Module 4
Textbook 'Plant Systematics' Chapter 3 (selected sections) .
Also consult the resources supplied on the Moodle site for this week.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Specimen Collection 4
- Collect and curate more specimens
- Draw floral diagrams and
- Key-out specimens to family and genus levels.
Online Botanical Quiz 3
This quiz opens on Thursday (12.10 am) of this week and closes on the following Monday (11.59 pm AEST).
Module/Topic
Bryophytes and Ferns
Chapter
Textbook 'Plant Systematics' Chapter 4 (selected sections only)
Also read the resources supplied on the Moodle site for this week.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Specimen Collection 5
- Collect and curate more specimens
- Draw floral diagrams and
- Key-out specimens to family and genus levels.
Continue to collect high quality specimens.
Hint: Collect more specimens than you require so you can discard the ones that do not meet the criteria (specimens having no/incomplete flowers).
Online Botanical Quiz 4
This quiz opens on Thursday (12.10 am) of this week and closes on the following Monday (11.59 pm AEST).
Module/Topic
Vacation Break:
Collect and Curate Plant Specimens for Your Specimen Collection Assignment.
Chapter
Please make use of the Term break to collect as many specimens as you can.
Hint: Try to visit only un/less-disturbed natural sites to minimise the chances of collecting exotic plants, as our plant identification keys do not contain the info for most exotic species.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Gymnosperms and Legumes
Chapter
Study Guide Module 6
Textbook 'Plant Systematics' Chapters 5 to 8 (selected sections only).
Also read the resources supplied on the Moodle site for this week.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Specimen Collection 6
Continue to collect and curate more specimens.
Prepare for the Residential School by:
(i) Revising the botanical terms you have learnt, writing botanical names of some common plants, pronouncing botanical names, learning about ethics in plant collection, and knowing about International Code of Nomenclature (ICN) for Algae, Fungi and Plants.
(ii) Packing your specimens properly to take them to Residential School (please see the Moodle site for details).
Online Botanical Quiz 5
This quiz opens on Thursday (12.10 am) of this week and closes on the following Monday (11.59 pm).
Module/Topic
Myrtaceae, Casuarinaceae, Proteaceae, Poaceae, Asteraceae and Euphorbiaceae.
Chapter
Study Guide Module 7
Textbook 'Plant Systematics' Chapters 5 to 8 (selected sections only)
Also read the resources supplied on the Moodle site for this week.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Please come prepared to collect plant specimens during your residential school.
Residential School
21st to 24th April 2024 inclusive.
On the first day of res school, please assemble near building 8/G07 at 8.00 am.
Field trip
Theme: What Plants Grow Where and Why?
On Day 3 of the residential school, we will go on a field trip to inspect selected plant communities found around Rockhampton region.
While on the trip (and after), ask the questions such as:
'What plant species are found in the areas that I have visit/ed?'
'Why plant species differ from one location to the other?'
'Why are the plants found around Rockhampton are different to those occurring around Cairns, Canberra, Europe or Malaysia?'
' What are the factors that will determine the way plant species are distributed in nature?'
Plant Identification Test (Task 1 of Assessment 2 - Practical Assessment)
This test will be conducted during Residential School (2nd April 2023).
Specimen Collection 7
Continue to work on your specimens to key them out to:
1. Family and
2. Genus.
Module/Topic
Plant Communities and their Habitat Features
(What plant species grows where, and why?)
Chapter
Study Guide Module 8
Read about the unique features of the following plant communities:
Brigalow, serpentine flora, limestone flora, woodlands, coastal heaths, rainforests, grasslands, wetlands, mine sites, mangroves, and agricultural landscapes.
Also consult the resources supplied on the Moodle site for this week.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Specimen Collection 8
Continue to collect, curate and key out plants for your specimen collection assignment.
Module/Topic
Vegetation Survey and Interpretation
Chapter
Study Guide Module 9
Textbook 'Plant Systematics' Appendix 4
Also read the resources supplied on the Moodle site for this week
Peruse the info on various methods of surveying plant communities, and classifying the vegetation into regional ecosystems (REs') which also include land zones (LZ) and vegetation types.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Specimen Collection 9
Ensure that you have collected more than required number of specimens.
Check if your specimens are dry and ready to pack.
Warning: Specimens could go moldy during storage, so please ensure that they are dried well (by changing the newspaper) before packing.
Please do not enclose specimens in plastic folders, as the trapped moisture can ruin the specimens!
Module/Topic
Economic Uses of Plants
Chapter
Study Guide Module 10
Read the Resources supplied on the Moodle site for this week.
Inspect the plants you come across during shopping and try to find the botanical names of the goods you come across.
Also get to know which part of the plant is being sold as the commercial product.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Specimen Collection 10
1. Inspect your curated specimens and ensure that they are all clean (fungus-free), intact and secured to an A3 white paper.
2. Attach the specimen label and the slips containing floral diagrams and keying steps.
PS: If you are not happy with any of the specimens you have collected, replace it with a better quality (fungus-free) specimen, to help to score maximum marks.
Module/Topic
Responses of Plants to Environmental Variables
Chapter
Study Guide Module 11
1. Delineate the responses of plants to environmental and edaphic stresses (fluoride, sulphur, acid rain, drought, salinity, waterlogging and heavy metals), and
2. Assess the possible impacts of accelerated climate change on Australian plants
3. Also read the resources recommended for this week on the Moodle site.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Specimen Collection 11
Checklist
Please check if you have satisfactorily completed the following aspects of Specimen Collection assignment:
- Ensuring that the specimens you are sending are dried and botanically complete (eg specimens with flowers)
- Preparing a list showing the names (genus) of the specimens and the families to which they belong
- Maintaining the quality - no wrinkles or no fungi infested specimens
- Completing the descriptions on the label
- Drawing floral diagrams
- Keying out the specimens to family and genus levels, and
- Packing the specimens using a rigid box and cushioning the specimens with paper balls to avoid damage during transportation.
PLEASE DO NOT ENCLOSE YOUR SPECIMENS IN PLASTIC DOCUMENT PROTECTORS, AS THE TRAPPED MOISTURE CAN RUIN THE SPECIMENS DUE TO FUNGAL GROWTH.
Module/Topic
The Role of Native Plants in Ecosystem Reconstruction
Chapter
Study Guide Module 12
Examine the strategies to be used for successful revegetation, and note the importance of using native plants in mine site restoration programs.
Also consult the resources supplied on the Moodle site for this week.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Specimen Collection 12
Dispatch or hand-in your plant specimens by Friday of Week 12.
See the Moodle site for further details.
Module/Topic
Prepare for Your End of Term Online Test
Chapter
Peruse past exam/test papers and note the presence of three types of questions, e.g.,
- Essay type,
- Short answers and
- 'Differentiate between' two terms.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Every time you read a Module, try to write down possible questions that may be asked from that Module.
This practice will help create your-own question bank.
Online Test (40%) Due: Review/Exam Week Tuesday (4 June 2024) 11:00 am AEST
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Taxonomy is best learnt over certain period of time, as our mind needs time to remember unfamiliar terms.
Furthermore, repeated use of botanical terms will help remember them easily. Thus, we strongly recommend that you
start working on BOTN19001 tasks as soon as possible, and continue to review the work every week.
Feb-March is the best time to collect plant specimens, as most of them will be in flower during this time. Please collect
as many specimens as you can before attending the residential school, so we can assist you in identifying those specimens
during the voluntary sessions to be held during residential school.
1 Online Quiz(zes)
There will be a total of FIVE online weekly quizzes.
Quiz 1: Starts in week 2 on Thursday (12.10 am) and closes on the following Monday (11.59 pm AEST).
Quiz 2: Starts in week 3 on Thursday (12.10 am) and closes on the following Monday (11.59 pm AEST).
Quiz 3: Starts in week 4 on Thursday (12.10 am) and closes on the following Monday (11.59 pm AEST).
Quiz 4: Starts in week 5 on Thursday (12.10 am) and closes on the following Monday (11.59 pm AEST).
Quiz 5: Starts in week 6 on Thursday (12.10 am) and closes on the following Monday (11.59 pm AEST).
These quizzes consist mostly of multiple choice questions, and these will help you familiarise yourself with botanical terms used in the Unit.
There are up to 10 questions in each quiz; duration 30 minutes; attempts allowed 3; no penalty for guessing an answer.
5
Other
Due dates will be on Mondays of Week 3, Week 4, week 5, Week 6 and Week 7 for Quiz 1, Quiz 2, Quiz 3, Quiz 4 and Quiz 5, respectively. Due time is 11.59 pm AEST.
Quiz results will be made available online, one week after the quiz closes.
You will be marked on completeness and correctness of your answers.
Attempts allowed 3; grading method: highest grade.
Please note that the minimum mark will be calculated based on the sum of the marks scored in all FIVE quizzes.
- Define selected botanical terms
- Examine characteristic features of Australian flora, and discuss the uses of native plants in conservation, vegetation management and economic development
- Describe how native flora respond to environmental disturbances, and explain the ways by which this knowledge can be applied in revegetation and restoration programs
- Problem Solving
- Information Literacy
2 Practical Assessment
This assessment includes two tasks. They are:
Task 1: Plant Identification Test (15% of the Unit total)
Using the keys provided, identify the FIVE plant specimens supplied during in-class test.
Task 2: Specimen Collection (30% of the Unit total)
Please submit 15 plant specimens, ensuring that there is no more than one specimen per genus.
The specimens must contain essential plant parts that are used in their identification (e.g., flowers).
Specimens must be pressed well, dried, labelled and keyed-out to family and genus levels.
The specimen sheet must also show proof of using the key via listing of all the steps taken to reach to family and genus levels.
Each specimen sheet must also include a floral diagram (where applicable).
Task 1 (Plant Identification Test) will be conducted on the last day of residential school. Task 2 (Specimen Collection) must be dispatched or handed-in by Friday of week 12. Please see the Moodle site for further details.
Results will be available two weeks after submission.
Task 1:
Accuracy of evidence provided, including drawing and/or labeling of the floral diagrams, writing floral formulas, listing the steps used in keying, and explaining any other features that will help assign the specimen to family and genus levels.
Task 2:
Specimens will be assessed based on the:
- Quality of the specimens - appropriate plant part, pressing, mounting, drying and labeling.
- Quality and accuracy of floral diagrams.
- Correctness of plant identification, including the steps taken to assign the specimen to FAMILY and GENUS.
- Details provided on the specimen labels.
- Collect and curate native plant specimens, and use taxonomic keys to identify native plants
- Examine characteristic features of Australian flora, and discuss the uses of native plants in conservation, vegetation management and economic development
- Describe how native flora respond to environmental disturbances, and explain the ways by which this knowledge can be applied in revegetation and restoration programs
- Undertake vegetation surveys, interpret data and explain the use of GIS and remote sensing techniques in vegetation management.
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Team Work
- Information Technology Competence
- Cross Cultural Competence
3 Online Test
This test will cover the topics dealt in theory, tutorial and residential school sessions.
The questions may consist of 'short answer questions', 'differentiate between two terms/concepts' and 'descriptive questions' (e.g., habitat of a plant community or a concept'.
Your answers are to be your own work and no copying is allowed, as your answers will be checked by 'Turnitin'. Any potential collusion will result in a breach of academic integrity.
Maximum marks: 40% of the unit total.
Duration: 3 hours.
Format: open book.
The online test will be open for a 24 hour period. Once you open the quiz, you will have three hours to complete it.
Review/Exam Week Tuesday (4 June 2024) 11:00 am AEST
The online test will open on Monday 3 June at 11:00 am AEST, and will close 24 hours later. Once you open the quiz, you will have 3 hours to complete.
Exam Week Friday (14 June 2024)
Your answers will be assessed according to the depth of your understanding of the topic, in comparison with the level covered in the Unit and the time allocated for the question.
The questions are assigned with marks. These marks are proportional to the time you are expected to spend in writing the answers. Please make a note these marks, and adjust your answering time according to the allocated marks.
- Define selected botanical terms
- Collect and curate native plant specimens, and use taxonomic keys to identify native plants
- Examine characteristic features of Australian flora, and discuss the uses of native plants in conservation, vegetation management and economic development
- Describe how native flora respond to environmental disturbances, and explain the ways by which this knowledge can be applied in revegetation and restoration programs
- Undertake vegetation surveys, interpret data and explain the use of GIS and remote sensing techniques in vegetation management.
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.
Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.
When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.
Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.
As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.
What is a breach of academic integrity?
A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.
Why is academic integrity important?
A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.
Where can I get assistance?
For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.
What can you do to act with integrity?
