Botany Beginners 2021
Grasses for the Masses
This virtual course is designed for anyone who wants to learn how to identify the most common native and introduced grasses of the tallgrass prairie region, and possibly a few prominent sedges and rushes. This course is for beginners, and the emphasis is on learning how to learn the plants, and becoming more self-sufficient through guided practice. Once students can learn the names of the plants they are interested in, it can open up a whole new world to explore.
About Botany Beginners
At the University of Northern Iowa’s Tallgrass Prairie Center, we identify plants in order to monitor and troubleshoot prairie plantings and evaluate the results of experiments. Plant identification also allows us to more fully appreciate and understand the beauty and complexity of remnant (original) tallgrass prairies. In recent years, we have trained undergraduate research students and AmeriCorps service members during a 3-week “Botany Boot Camp.” However, with the advent of the COVID19 pandemic in spring 2020, we found it necessary to provide their initial training some other way. In the process we realized that others across the region might also want an introductory plant ID course and the opportunity to practice with some expert guidance.
The inaugural Botany for Beginners 2020 course, led by Green Iowa AmeriCorps Communications Associate Paige Shafer attracted over 550 students from all over Iowa and beyond. We are offering this online grass course this year because of the great significance of grasses for prairie restoration and conservation.
What you will need / What to expect
- The course textbook is Grasses, Sedges, Rushes: an Identification Guide by Lauren Brown and Ted Elliman, with original drawings by Lauren Brown (2020) Yale University Press. It is available on Amazon for $19.40 or directly from the publisher. This new version of the original, well-loved 1979 guide has clear line drawings and text descriptions, and helpful color photos.
- Places to visit for practicing plant ID, for example, roadsides, CRP, and pastures.
- Any 7x to 10x magnifying lens such as a folding pocket loupe (see this one for $8.99). This tool is essential identifying many grasses.
- You may need PPE for sunburn, ticks, chiggers and poison ivy.
- A dedicated listserv will help you connect with other Botany Beginners, compare your plant photos, and collaborate with one another to solve plant ID questions. The Facebook group Botany Beginners will remain active and lightly moderated as well.
- Download the TPC Grass Species Reference Guide with our scheme for narrowing down the range of possible grasses in flower, in Iowa.
Staff and Instructors
Instructor
- Laura Jackson, Director, Tallgrass Prairie Center laura.l.jackson@uni.edu
Assistants
- Pryce Johnson, TPC Botany Training Assistant pryce.johnson@uni.edu
- Anne Phillips, TPC Community Engagement Coordinator anne.phillips@uni.edu
Guest Lecturers
- Justin Meissen, TPC Research and Restoration justin.meissen@uni.edu
- Laura Walter, TPC Plant Materials Program laura.walter@uni.edu
- Kristine Nemec, TPC Iowa Roadside Management kristine.nemec@uni.edu
Cool Season Grasses
JuNe 22, 2021
Lesson One
JuNe 24, 2021
Lesson Two
July 1, 2021
Lesson Three
July 8, 2021
Lesson Four
Warm Season Grasses
August 19, 2021
Lesson Five
august 26, 2021
Lesson Six
September 2, 2021
Lesson Seven
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