UWA Handbook 2025

Unit Overview

Description

This unit provides an introduction to the incredible diversity of the land plants emphasising the flora of Western Australia. Students are provided with a fundamental knowledge of plant systematics regarding taxonomy, classification, plant morphology, practical plant uses and phylogenetic study. The unit is designed to incorporate both new and traditional methods to provide a foundation in the study of the diversity of plants from a phylogenetic perspective. All major groups of plants (from Glaucocystis to angiosperms) are introduced with an emphasis on the most common plant groups found in the Western Australian flora. The theory and practical use of phylogeny are applied directly to the plant groups studied in the unit. Practicals include living and herbarium specimens for first-hand examples of the plant groups and their characteristics.

Credit

6 points

Offering
(see Timetable)

Availability	Location	Mode
Semester 2	UWA (Perth)	Face to face

Details for undergraduate courses

• Level 2 core unit in the Botany; Environmental Science and Ecology; Biodiversity and Evolution; Plant Biology major sequences
• Level 2 elective

Outcomes

Students are able to (1) identify and understand the diversity of the major groups of land plants in a phylogenetic context; (2) understand the importance of phylogeny in modern day plant classification; (3) understand and use plant morphology in the context of plant taxonomy and classification; (4) gain field experience of many of the angiosperm families and some genera common to Australia; and (5) use their skills to identify plants of Western Australia.

Assessment

Indicative assessments in this unit are as follows: (1) a practical test; (2) assignments; and (3) a written examination. Further information is available in the unit outline.

Student may be offered supplementary assessment in this unit if they meet the eligibility criteria.

Unit Coordinator(s)

Dr Pieter Poot and Dr Kosala Ranathunge

Unit rules

Prerequisites

Successful completion of any one Unit(s)

BIOL1130 Frontiers in Biology
or BIOL1131 Plant and Animal Biology
or SCIE1106 Molecular Biology of the Cell
or SCIX1106 Molecular Biology of the Cell

Contact hours

lectures: 2 hours per week
practicals: 3 hour per week
field trip: one day

Note

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Texts

Majer, S and Burrows, G. Botanical Field Guide: Aracaria Guides, Mullumbimby, NSW, 2011.

Recommended
reading

Harris, J. G. and Woolf-Harris, M. Plant Identification Terminology: an Illustrated Glossary: Spring Lake Publishing 1994

Simpson, M. G. Plant Systematics: Elsevier Academic Press 2006

Barrett, R. and Tay, E. P. Perth Plants: a Field Guide to the Bushland and Coastal Flora of Kings Park and Bold Park, Perth, Western Australia: Botanical Gardens and Parks Authority 2005

Other local plant identification guides will be useful, For example:

Blackall, W. E. and Grieve, B. J. How to Know Western Australian Wildflowers, parts 1 to 5: UWA Press 1980

Corrick, M. G. et al. Wildflowers of Southern Western Australia: The Five Mile Press 1996

    Marshall, J. Wildflowers of the West Coast Hills Region: Quality Publishing 1995

Thiele, K. R. and Adams L. G. Families of Flowering Plants of Australia: an Interactive Identification Guide, rev.: Australian Biological Resources Study/CSIRO Publishing 2002 (CD-ROM)

Wheeler, J. et al. Flora of the South West, parts 1 and 2: UWA Press 2002