Understanding the Vegetative Key: an essential tool for Ecologists for extending the survey season

Description

In many books and courses the focus of plant identification is on flowers, with foliage taking a back seat. This has changed with the (recently updated) Vegetative Key to the British Flora by John Poland, which relies solely on using vegetative characters for identification.  In the time that ‘Poland’ has been available it has been taken to heart by botanists and ecologists as it enables them to make accurate identifications and effectively extends the botanical field season.

Concentrating on the characters used in ‘Poland’ you will discover the often novel features and characters used in this ground-breaking key and find out how easy it can be to make an accurate identification.  Using a hand lens or microscope you will come to marvel at the structures and details to be found in even the commonest species.  Working through the ‘Flora’ together participants will discover a range of characters that regularly crop up in the key and these will be further illustrated with specimens and presentations.

Focusing on practical skills, with group and individual keying out in the classroom (and field); this course is ideal for professional botanists/ecologists.

Knowledge Level

Beginner - Intermediate

Prior Knowledge

No existing knowledge, or experience is essential, but attendees will gain the most from this course if they have some prior understanding of the parts of a plants, have used a key (not necessarily botanical) and are aware of nomenclature and taxonomy.

Field Identification Skills Certificate levels 2 and above.

Learning Outcomes

• Distinguish the major vegetative parts of a range of taxa and identify a range of common plants to species level using the vegetative key.
• Recognise and name the major types of characters e.g. leaf arrangement, leaf forms, hair types, and other key identification structures that are widely used within the vegetative key.

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