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Continuing Education Programs

  • John B. Nelson Botany Boot Camp

Botany Boot Camp

Course Description

Designed for those interested in learning college-level botany in an informal setting, this course will be comprehensive, featuring a heavy focus on the historic and present-day roles of plant taxonomy. It will also include a broad exposure to the terminology of plant structures, and an overview of the process of the formal naming of plants, that is, with scientific names.

The field trip aspect of this course will bolster the learning of plant terminology, as well as on-site identification of local plant life. 

Expected goals for participants:
  1. Knowledge of plant terminology, and an ability to discuss this using scientific terms.
  2. Understanding of the processes involved during the discovery, description, and publication of new plant species.
  3. Ability to recognize and identify a substantial number of local plants.
Class schedule:
  • April 13: Role of plant taxonomy, overview of the history of plant taxonomy, Linnaeus; terminology of plant parts: vegetative parts (roots, stems, leaves, etc.).
  • April 20: Continued overview of the history of plant taxonomy and local botanists; vegetative parts continued (leaf architecture, plant growth).
  • April 27: Vegetative parts completed; introduction to plant reproduction, alternation of generations.
  • May 4: Flowers and floral biology; selected plant families overview.
  • May 11: Floral biology, fruit types; selected plant families.
  • May 18: Selected plant families.

Field Trip Sites*

  • April 18: Sesquicentennial State Park
  • April 25: Riverfront Park
  • May 2: USC Horseshoe
  • May 9: Congaree Creek Heritage Preserve
  • May 16: Congaree Swamp National Park
  • May 23: Belser Arboretum

*Sites subject to change.

Course Fee - $150

 

Meet Your Instructor

John Nelson headshot

John B. Nelson, Ph.D.

John B. Nelson, Ph.D., is a Professor Emeritus in the University of South Carolina Department of Biological Sciences. Dr. Nelson served as the Curator of the A. C. Moore Herbarium for 28 years. His botanical interests include continuing plant inventories of natural areas throughout South Carolina, as well as the taxonomy of North American species of the genus Stachys (in the mint family) and other plant groups

  

Registration and Fees

Dates / Sessions Times Fees
Botany Boot Camp
Please check back for upcoming courses!
Mondays
12 Sessions

Register Online

Notes: Course orientation information will be emailed approximately one week before the course starts.		 10:00 am – 12:00 pm $150.00

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