Plant Systematics

Paper Code: 
BOT 321
Credits: 
4
Contact Hours: 
60.00
Max. Marks: 
100.00
Objective: 

Course Objectives:

This course will enable the students to –

  1. To enable the students identify thrust areas of modern taxonomy without shifting focus from the traditional ones.
  2. To enable students to classify the higher plants based on their taxonomical characters
  3. To introduce various classification (Classical and Modern) methodologies in vogue for Angiosperms
  4. To impart knowledge about the economic importance of higher plants under the taxonomic hierarchy.
  5. To create an exposure on preservation techniques of plants leading to their collection during field trips.

 

Course Outcomes (COs):

     Course

Course Outcome

Learning and teaching strategies

Assessment Strategies

Paper Code

Paper Title

BOT 321

 

Plant Systematics

On completion of this course, the students will be able to:

CO55: Understand plant classification and recognize the importance of herbarium and virtual herbarium and evaluate the important herbaria and botanical gardens

CO56:  Interpret the rules of ICNafp in botanical nomenclature

CO57:  Analyse terms and concepts related to phylogenetic systematics

CO58: Understand the General  characters of the families according to Bentham & Hooker’s system of classification and learn its merits and demerits

CO59: Develop a basic knowledge of taxonomic diversity and important families of useful plants and appreciate its importance for humans.

CO60:  Increase the awareness and appreciation of plants & plant products encountered in everyday life

CO61: Apply the methods of plant identification to understanding the concept of taxonomic evidences (from molecular and numerical data)

Class lectures

Seminars

Tutorials

Group discussions and Workshops

Question preparation

 

 

Class test, Semester end examinations, Quiz, Solving problems in tutorials, Assignments, Presentation, Individual and group projects
 

 

12.00
Unit I: 
Systematics

Systematics:  Goal and essence of taxonomy; systems of classification – artificial, natural and phylogenetic. Current systems of classification – Takhatajan, Cronquist, Thorne, APG System (Judd 2002)

12.00
Unit II: 
Botanical Nomenclature

Botanical nomenclature:  The international code of Botanical nomenclature – Principles, rules and recommendations. Principle of priority; typification; rule of valid and effective publication; author citation; retention and rejection of names; change of rank; nomenclature of fossils, lichens, fungi and hybrid & cultivated plants.

Taxonomic hierarchy:  Concept of genus and family, primitive vs Advanced characters, homology, analogy, parallelism, convergence, horizontal and vertical classification, monophylly and polyphylly.

 

12.00
Unit III: 
Taxonomic Literature

Taxonomic literature: Floras, Monographs, Manuals, Bibliographies, Catalogues, Taxonomic index, Keys for identification.

Introduction to flora of India, endemic & endangered species, Red data Book, role of Botanical survey of India. Herbaria, botanical garden.                           

12.00
Unit IV: 
Plant Families

Diagnostic features, systematics, phylogeny and economic importance of Ranunculaceae, Magnoliaceae, Fabaceae (Papillionaceae, Mimosaceae, Caesalpiniaceae), Rosaceae, Cucurbitaceae, Apiaceae, Apocyanaceae, Asclepiadaceae, Convolvulaceae,Solanaceae, Acanthaceae, Lamiaceae, Chenopodiaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Orchidiaceae, Liliaceae, Araceae and Poaceae

12.00
Unit V: 
Modern Trends in Taxonomy

Modern trends in Taxonomy - Chemotaxonomy:  application of phytochemistry to taxonomy.

Numerical taxonomy:  Operational Taxonomic Units (OTU’s), selection of characters, data processing, clusters analysis.

Biosystematics: Concept and categories, methods in experimental taxonomy.

Computerized systematics:  GIS, Data banking and use of computers in taxonomy.

Molecular approaches to Plant Taxonomy: Applications of DNA markers in plant taxonomy.                                                                                            

Essential Readings: 

Essential Readings:

  • Simpson, M.G. (2019). Plant systematics. Burlington, MA Academic Press
  • Pandey, A.K. & Kasana, S.(2021). Plant systematics. Boca Raton London New York CRC Press Delhi
  • Judd, W.S. (2016). Plant systematics: A phylogenetic approach. Sunderland, Mass: Sinauer.
  • Pullaiah, T., & Karuppusamy, S. (2018). Taxonomy of angiosperms. New Delhi : Regency Publications,
  • Sambamurty, A.V.S.S. (2005). Taxonomy of angiosperms. New Delhi: I.K. International
  • Singh, G. (2010). Plant Systematics: An integrated approach. Enfield (NH: Science Publishers.
  • Grant, W.F. (2014). Plant Biosystematics. Saint Louis: Elsevier Science

 

 

 

 

 

 

References: 

Suggested Readings:

  • Davis, P.H., & Heywood, V.H. (2011). Principles angiosperm taxonomy. New Delhi: SP Publisher.
  • Heslop-Harrison, J. (1969). New concepts in flowering-plant taxonomy. London: Heinemann.
  • Jones, S.B., & Luchsinger, A.E. (1979). Plant systematics. New York: McGraw-Hill.
  • Kocchar, S.L. (2012). Economic Botany in Tropics, 2nd edition. McMillan India Ltd., New Delhi.
  • Kumar, S. (2009). Economic Botany. Campus books International, New Delhi.
  • Dahiya, B.S. (1979). Systematic Botany: (Taxonomy of Angiosperms) for University Students. New Delhi: Kalyani Pub.
  • Verne, G. (1982). Plant speciation. New York: Columbia University Press.

e-Resources:

Journals:

  • Taxon (Journal of IAPT)
  • Journal of Plant Systematics and Evolution (Springer)
  • Blumea - Biodiversity, Evolution and Biogeography of Plants (National Herbarium of the Netherlands)
  • Taxonomy (MDPI)

 

Academic Year: 
2022-2023
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