Acer glabrum (Rocky Mountain maple) leaves in fall color (V. Lohr)Horticulture 231- Landscape Plant Materials I

This course has been replaced by Hort 330.

Description: Characteristics, identification, nomenclature, ecology, selection, and use of landscape plants, including flowering annuals, deciduous woody plants, and broadleaf evergreens. 
Prerequisites: None. Introductory plant science, e.g. Biology 120 or Hort 202, is recommended.
Hort 231 and Hort 232 do not need to be taken in order.
PLANT LISTS (list of all Hort 231 + 232 plants taught): 
  1. Annuals
  2. Shrubs with opposite leaves (viburnums) plus Vines
  3. Trees and more shrubs with opposite leaves
  4. More trees with opposite leaves (maples)
  5. Trees and shrubs with compound leaves
  6. Trees and shrubs with alternate leaves
  7. More trees and shrubs with alternate leaves
  8. Even more trees and shrubs with alternate leaves
  9. Evergreen groundcovers
  10. Evergreen shrubs with showy fruit
 
MAJOR LECTURE TOPICS:
Nomenclature, Morphology, Cold hardiness, Climate zones, Juvenility and maturity, Fall color, Effects on energy use, Genetic diversity, Patents and trademarks, Human responses to plants, and Feature plants.

STUDENT LEARNING GOALS & OUTCOMES:

WSU Learning Goal
 Outcome:
By the end of the semester, you will be able to:
 Topic or activity to advance the learning goal
 Ways to evaluate proficiency
1. Critical & creative thinking
 Select plants for different design & environmental constraints, including climate change, and justify the selection
 Lectures/readings on environmental factors
 Homework 6; Class exams
2. Quantitative reasoning
 Explain information on plant growth & functions presented in graphical forms
 Lectures/readings on growth + functions
 Class exams
2. Quantitative reasoning
 Organize information commonly used to identify plants into graphical form
 Lectures/readings on morphology + keys
 In-class assignments; Homework 3
3. Scientific literacy
 Describe the biological basis for plant responses to selected environmental factors
 Lectures/readings on cold, juvenility, fall color
 Class exams; Homework 5
3. Scientific literacy
 Recognize morphological features commonly used to group & to distinguish between plants
 Lectures/readings on morphology; lab activities
 ID quizzes + exams; Homework 3
4. Information literacy
 Find and evaluate the usefulness of different resources on plants
 Class activities and homework
 Homework 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
5. Communication skills
 Describe functional and personal uses of landscape plants
 Class and lab activities
 Homework 1, 2; Class exams
6. Diversity
 Recognize and compare the values of working effectively alone and in groups
 Class and lab activities
 In-class and lab participation
7. Depth of learning
 Identify many woody and herbaceous landscape plants, both native and exotic, by common and scientific names
 Lectures/readings on nomenclature, morphology, plants; lab activities
 ID quizzes + exams; Class exams
7. Depth of learning
 Demonstrate awareness of the dynamic nature of plants
 Lectures/readings on plants; lab walks
 Class exams; Homework 2

GRADING and STUDENT WORK POLICIES:

EVALUATION (subject to change as presented in class):  Points will be weighted as shown below if you pass the Lab ID final exam.

10% - Class/lab work and participation (number to be determined; 2 lowest scores dropped)
15% - Homework (6 assignments; no scores dropped)
25% - Class exams and finals-week exam (3 exams; lowest score dropped)
15% - Lab ID comprehensive quizzes (10 comprehensive quizzes; 2 lowest scores dropped)
15% - Lab ID midterm exam
20% - Lab ID final exam - You must earn at least 60% on this exam to pass the course!
FINAL GRADES:  Grades will be assigned as follows, assuming you earn above 60% on the final ID exam. 
93% or more = A
 77-79.9% = C+
90–92.9% = A-
 73-76.9%
 = C
87-89.9%
 = B+
 70-72.9% = C-
83-86.9%
 = B
 67-69.9% = D+
80-82.9% = B-
 63-66.9% = D


0-62.9% (or below 60% on final ID exam) = F

LATE WORK:
Homework assignments are due at the beginning of class on the due date. They may be turned in late, but you will lose 1% of the possible points for every day (including weekends) past the due date, unless stated otherwise on the homework instructions.  You will receive no comments or explanations for your grade on late homework. The last day to turn in late homework assignments is the last class day.
 
Class/lab assignments or quizzes may NOT be turned in late or made up.  Your two lowest scores will be dropped.
MAKE-UP EXAMS & QUIZZES:
No make-up exams or ID quizzes will be given, because this involves too much extra work for the instructors to prepare and grade. The reason that the low scores on exams and quizzes are dropped is to keep you from being unduly penalized for unforeseen circumstances, such as a death in the family, a court appearance, or a faulty alarm clock.  If you miss an exam or quiz, you will receive a zero, unless there are extenuating circumstances AND Dr. Lohr agrees to an alternative arrangement.

EXTRA CREDIT:

INTEGRITY:
You are on your honor to participate in this class as your own representative. Academic dishonesty (see: WAC 504-26-010 Definition 3 under Standards of Conduct), in any form, including copying from other students on quizzes or copying from books or web pages on assignments, is unacceptable. If you are caught cheating, you will receive a zero on the involved activity and be reported to your Department and to the Office of Student Standards and Accountability.  If you are suspected of cheating, we may assign a zero or have you repeat the activity under conditions of our choosing.
PARTICIPATION EXPECTATIONS and POLICIES:
You are expected to be a positive, contributing member of the class. Much of the work will be done in groups, so you must act in a manner that helps you and others learn.  Come to class prepared.  Assist other students when you can.  Do not disrupt or prevent learning by others, for example by talking during presentations.

    Regular attendance and participation are essential to doing well in this course. The material to be learned depends heavily on presentations and activities in class and lab. There are no good alternative sources of materials for much of the information covered. 

    If you miss a class, ask other students what you missed.  Obtain any handouts from the instructors.  Do the assigned reading for the class topic and review notes from another student.  If anything is unclear, ask the instructors to help you.

    Each Tuesday: Bring your weekly Plant ID Cards.  Be prepared to go outside, regardless of weather!   Be prepared to walk rapidly on wet, muddy, or slippery surfaces. Participation includes being ready for the weather, so that you can think and talk about class topics and not about how cold or wet you are. 

    Use electronic devices wisely.  Computers, tablets, and other electronic devices may only be used for taking notes.  Any other uses must be approved by the instructor.  Turn ringers, buzzers, and noise generators off.  Phones may not be used in class or lab.

SAFETY: “Washington State University is committed to maintaining a safe environment for its faculty, staff, and students. Safety is the responsibility of every member of the campus community and individuals should know the appropriate actions to take when an emergency arises.”  Please become familiar with: WSU Pullman Campus Safety Plan and WSU Emergency Management. Also be sure you have supplied safety alert information at: WSU Alert.
Safety will be enforced in this class.  For example, you may be dismissed from lab if you throw objects such as pine cones or snow balls on lab walks.  I once had to take a student to the emergency room, and I don’t want to do it ever again!
FINAL POLICY NOTES:
DIFFERENT ABILITIES:
Reasonable accommodations approved through the WSU Access Center (335-3417) are available for students who have a documented different ability. Notify Dr. Lohr if you need accommodations.
SYLLABUS CHANGES:
All information in this syllabus, on the class web sites, and in class handouts is assumed to be correct, but is subject to change if something unexpected occurs.  Changes will be presented in class, on the class web sites, and/or in class handouts.
CLASS POLICY VIOLATIONS:
Any violations of class policies or instructors’ instructions could result in losing privileges, such as the use of a computer to take notes, or could result in being banned from specific classes or labs or expelled from the entire course.
 INSTRUCTOR: Dr. Virginia Lohr; lohr@wsu.edu

    Department of Horticulture
    Washington State University
    Pullman, Washington 99164-6414 U.S.A.
    WSU's Disclaimer & Freedom of Expression Policy
    Page updated June 28, 2016