Plant Biology for Gardeners

Participant Guide

Plant
biology is the study of plant life. As a gardener, it is important to
understand how plants grow and function. We could not survive without plants
and we depend on them for food, fossil fuels, lumber, fibers, medicines, paper,
latex, resin, cork, spices, fragrances, and dyes. After gaining an
understanding of plant structure and function, participants will be able to
translate these skills into more complex gardening topics. (Sourced from
University of Maryland Master Gardener Handbook, pg. 27  https://extension.umd.edu/programs/environment-natural-resources/program-areas/master-gardener-program).

By actively
participating in Plant Biology for Gardeners, you will:

Recognize the parts of a
plant and their functions.

Discover the ways plants
are classified into family groups and the value of scientific names.

Become
familiar with the environmental factors that affect plant germination,
growth, and phenology (spacing, nutrients, light, day length, water, and temperature).

Examine the three basic
processes for plant growth and development: photosynthesis, respiration,
and transpiration.

Consider how plant
characteristics are used in classification, identification, and
dichotomous keys.

Before
Session

READ:

Cornell’s Botany
Language Basics (6-page handout provided)

·
Latin 101 by Dora Galitzki in Garden Design magazine from October 2000. (2-page
handout provided)

·
Plant Biology for Gardeners FAQ

WATCH:

·
Plant Biology for Gardeners, with Barb Neal, CCE
Tioga (9 minutes) https://youtu.be/9HVCo6ViOdw

·
MGV Level 1: Introduction to Plants videos from the University of Wisconsin.
(Collectively ~ 50 minutes) https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrktjgTJbkvVjl-0QrbIM4Ox0AyLaK68C

THINK:

·
What captivates you the most about the lives of plants?

·
Why is a scientific name important? Why might it be important for
gardeners to know how to research and identify a plant’s scientific name?  What more do you want to know about plants in
general or about a specific family, species, or cultivar?

Opening and
Introduction

·
Facilitator reviews housekeeping, ground rules, learning
objectives, and class flow.

Reconnect

·
Partner up to discuss the question listed under the pre-work
THINK prompt.

Cultivating Plant Observation Skills Activity

·
Facilitator leads participants through group activity.

Station-Based Hands-on Activities Part 1

·
Participants divide up into smaller groups and rotate around
to stations to engage in hands-on activities about plant parts and
characteristics.

·      Station-Based Hands-on
Activities Part 2

·
Participants divide up into smaller groups and rotate around
to stations to engage in hands-on activities about plant parts and
characteristics.

Conclusions

·      Facilitator
leads group reflection on key take home
points and any lingering questions.

Program Feedback

·
Share your insight to help us improve the program, report
results, & plan for the future.

Knowledge Check

·
Assess what you now know. Be motived and empowered to share
with your peers and learn more.

After
Session

REFLECT:

•
What happened?

•
What was my response to what happen? How do I make sense of it?

•
How does it relate to other things I know?

•
What can I conclude?

•
What might I do differently next time?

PRACTICE:

·
Using identification keys takes practice. There are many
print publications for plant identification; below are a few online tools. If
you are new to using identification keys, try starting with a plant that you
already know the identification for and attempt to work through one of these
keys or a key from another source.

o Cornell’s
Woody Plant Database  http://woodyplants.cals.cornell.edu/home

o Cornell’s
Turfgrass and Landscape Weed ID http://turfweeds.cals.cornell.edu/

o Cornell’s
online Guide to Viburnums http://www.hort.cornell.edu/vlb/key/index.html

o
The Plant List, a working list of all known species http://www.worldfloraonline.org/

LEARN
MORE:

·
The Patterns Method of Plant Identification: An Easier Way to Identify Plants by Thomas J. Elpel, author of Botany in a Day. http://www.wildflowers-and-weeds.com/Plant_Identification/index.html

·
Botany for Gardeners, Third edition, 2010 by Brian
Capon.

·
Cornell Cooperative Extension Master Gardener Volunteer
Manual - Botany chapter

https://cornell.app.box.com/s/rlbsc1vedf00jxi7dduh6guvncpot4rv/file/75129090182

·
Photosynthesis:
Fun in the Sun. Though way more than you might need to know, this is well
done and helps us appreciate the marvelous system that is the basis for life on
earth. (~14 minutes). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfLLHQDgpjI

·
The
First Flower – Nova https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/flower/

·
Twig Identification PowerPoint. This
lecture will show you how to use the Virginia Tech Twig ID websites. (YouTube
video) https://youtu.be/WZeDrn8SRaQ

·
The Love Life of Plants https://youtu.be/tUZTdtnO3Xw

Campus
Links:

Cornell’s Plant Biology section: https://plantbio.cals.cornell.edu/

Cornell’s Plant Breeding and Genetics section: https://plbrgen.cals.cornell.edu/

Cornell’s Horticulture section: https://hort.cals.cornell.edu/

Looking for Cornell
people and resources? Don’t Google; try the Cornell web search: http://www.cornell.edu/search/index.cfm

Published:
April 2019

Revised:
December 2022, August 2024, June 2026