All class sessions will include a significant practical component, during which students will participate in activities that will help them meet the course goals. Most activities will involve examining living plant material. The plant material studied each week will depend on availability. Most practical sessions will emphasize the characteristics and value of 1-2 plant families. Students will study the material provided and then key it to species, using identification keys derived from the Flora of Somalia. It is impossible to predict which species will be available each week, so the syllabus focuses on the topics to be discussed.
Students should arrive promptly for all class sections. If illness prevents their attendance, they should ask a fellow student to share information about what was covered. Unfortunately, it may not always be possible to provide the plant materials studied.
Resources for each topic will be posted to https://somalilandbiodiversity.org/plant-taxonomy-resources
