60
Environmental and Applied Botanics
REGGIO DI CALABRIA
Overview
Date/time interval
Syllabus
Course Objectives
- Forest Botany aims to provide knowledge of the biodiversity of Italian forests, with particular emphasis at the species level. This knowledge represents a fundamental cultural and scientific foundation for consciously addressing the complex issues related to the management and conservation of forest ecosystems.
- The discipline focuses on the morphological, biological, reproductive, and systematic study of species of forestry interest.
- Special attention is devoted to the native woody species of Italian flora, which constitute the key elements characterizing the country’s forest vegetation. Their autoecological, synecological, and chorological characteristics are also analyzed, allowing them to be placed within specific bioclimatic and territorial contexts.
- Non-native woody species that play a significant role in silviculture and in the management of public green areas are also considered.
Course Prerequisites
Plant Biology
Teaching Methods
Lessons
Practical Exercises:
- In-class: Analysis of branch morphology and identification of woody species using fresh samples and dichotomous keys.
Individual Activity:
- Each student is required to compile a herbarium by collecting and identifying samples from at least 30 forest-relevant tree and shrub species.
Assessment Methods
Oral examination with preparation and presentation of a herbarium consisting of at least 30 (THIRTY) forest species. For the preparation of the herbarium, consult the professor and carefully follow the instructions provided.
Texts
RECOMMENDED BOOKS
•Grossoni Paolo, Piero Bruschi, Filippo Bussotti, Federico Selvi, 2018 – Trattato di Botanica Forestale. Vol. I - Parte generale. Gimnosperme. CEDAM. Padova.
•Grossoni Paolo, Bruschi Pietro, Filippo Bussotti, Pollastrini Martina, Federico Selvi, 2020 - Trattato di Botanica Forestale. Vol. II - Angiosperme. CEDAM. Padova.
PRACTICAL PART BOOKS
•Baroni E., 1981. Guida botanica d'Italia. Cappelli, Bologna.
•Banfi E., Consolino F., 2008. Alberi. De Agostini.
•Banfi E., Consolino F., 2000. La flora mediterranea. De Agostini.
BOOKS FOR REFERENCE
•Pignatti S., 2017-2019. Flora d’Italia. (2 ed.) 4 voll. Edagricole.
•Rameau J.-C., Mansion D., Dumé G., 1989, 1993, 2008. Flore forestière française - Tome 1. Plaines et collines. - Tome 2. Montagnes. Tome 3. Région méditerranéenne. Guide écologique illustré. Institut pour le développement forestier.
BOOKS ON THE DENDROFLORA OF CALABRIA (SOUTHERN ITALY)
•Caruso, G. – Alberi di Calabria: Nomenclatura, tassonomia, morfologia, ecologia, biogeografia, caratteristiche tecnologiche e impieghi delle principali essenze arboree native ed aliene presenti nella regione, funghi simbionti epigei ed ipogei. Pubblicazione indipendente, Italia; p. 361. ISBN-13: 979-8268785296.
•Mercurio, R.; Musarella, C.M.; Spampinato, G. – Tipologie Forestali Della Calabria; Youcanprint: Tricase, Italy, 2022; p. 218.
ISBN 9791221426786.
•Spampinato G., 2014 – Guida alla flora dell’Aspromonte. Laruffa Editore. Reggio Calabria.
•Caruso G., 2011 – Guida al riconoscimento di alberi, arbusti, cespugli e liane del Parco Nazionale della Sila. PN Sila Lorica (CS).
TEACHING AIDS
Notes on forest dendroflora provided by the lecturer.
https://www.actaplantarum.org/flora/flora.php?m=0
Contents
1. GENERAL PART
- Trunk. Tree habit. Branching.
- Acrotony and basitony.
- Macroblasts and brachyblasts.
- Buds.
- Xylem. Heteroxylous and homoxylous wood. Annual rings. Ring-porous and diffuse-porous wood. Sapwood and heartwood. Phloem. Bark.
- Morphology and classification of leaves.
- Reproduction: the flower.
- Seed. Dormancy and germination.
- Seedling.
- Fruit and classification of fruits of forest species.
2. GYMNOSPERMS
- Biological cycle.
- Taxonomic and systematic classification.
- FAMILIES, GENERA, AND SPECIES OF FOREST INTEREST: Taxaceae (Taxus); Podocarpaceae (Podocarpus); Cephaotaxaceae (Cephalotaxus, Torreya); Pinaceae (Abies, Picea, Cedrus, Larix, Pinus, Tsuga, Pseudotsuga, Pseudolarix); Taxodiaceae (Taxodium, Sequoia, Sequoiadendron, Metasequoia, Cryptomeria); Cupressaceae (Cupressus, Thuja, Thujopsis, Chamaecyparis, Juniperus); Araucariaceae (Araucaria).
Practical exercise for species identification.
3. ANGIOSPERMS
- Biological cycle.
- Taxonomic and systematic classification.
- FAMILIES, GENERA, AND SPECIES OF FOREST INTEREST: Fagaceae (Fagus, Castanea, Quercus); Corylaceae (Carpinus, Ostrya, Corylus); Betulaceae (Betula, Alnus); Salicaceae (Populus, Salix); Magnoliaceae (Magnolia, Liriodendron); Platanaceae (Platanus); Hamamelidaceae (Liquidambar); Ulmaceae (Celtis, Ulmus, Zelkova); Aceraceae (Acer); Tiliaceae (Tilia); Oleaceae (Fraxinus, Olea); Juglandaceae (Juglans); Myrtaceae (Eucalyptus, Myrtus); Anacardiaceae (Pistacia); Tamaricaceae (Tamarix); Apocynaceae (Nerium); Rosaceae (Sorbus, Pyrus, Crataegus, Prunus, Rubus, Rosa, Malus, Mespilus); Caprifoliaceae (Viburnum, Lonicera); Fabaceae (Robinia, Spartium, Teline, Cytisus, Genista); Mimosaceae (Acacia, Mimosa); Caesalpiniaceae (Ceratonia, Cercis); Ericaceae (Arbutus, Erica); Arecaceae (Chamaerops, Phoenix, Washingtonia).
Practical exercise for species identification.
4. NOTES ON BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION
- Red Lists.
- International environmental conventions.
- Convention on Biological Diversity.
- Washington Convention (CITES).
- EU “Habitat” Directive 43/92.
5. HERBARIUM
- 30 different forest tree and shrub species.
- Samples with diagnostic characteristics.
- Site data.
- Date of collection.
- Location (as precise as possible – GPS/GIS, smartphone).
- Altitude (m above sea level).
- Exposure (N, S, W, E, intermediate).
- Habitat of discovery (e.g., mountain forest, riparian forest, etc.).
- Proper mounting on cardstock (28×42 cm; 250 g/m² thickness).
- Label filled out with: site data, family name, full species name, collector (NAME OF PERSON WHO COLLECTED THE SAMPLE), determiner (NAME OF PERSON WHO IDENTIFIED THE SAMPLE).
More information
EXPECTED LEARNING OUTCOMES:
1. Knowledge and understanding
Acquisition of the basic tools required to recognize and assess the main forest and ornamental woody species of the Italian flora.
2. Applying knowledge and understanding
Development of autonomy in applying the acquired knowledge to address and solve practical problems of particular relevance to forest enterprises, natural resource conservation, land management, and public green areas.
3. Making judgments
Ability to analyze and evaluate the biological and ecological characteristics of different woody species, making informed choices regarding the most suitable ones for specific environmental and/or productive contexts.
4. Communication skills
Ability to effectively communicate acquired knowledge and professional activities, interact with different technical and specialist figures, and contribute to the analysis and development of applied activities related to afforestation, green area management, and natural resource conservation.
5. Learning skills
Ability to apply the acquired knowledge of Forest Botany in specialized forestry courses (general and special silviculture, forest management, geobotany, etc.), and to independently update one’s training through the study of scientific literature and specialized online sources.
Recommended websites and social media pages for further information:
http://www.dipbot.unict.it/tavole/index.html
http://www.dipbot.unict.it/sistematica/Index.html
http://www.atlantebotanica.unito.it/page.asp
https://dryades.units.it/floritaly/index.php
http://www.actaplantarum.org/
https://www.inaturalist.org/
https://identify.plantnet.org/it
http://www.ipni.org/
http://www.societabotanicaitaliana.it/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/341756498227/?fref=ts
https://www.facebook.com/Biologia-Vegetale-Unirc-842681722430914/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/208008232609987/1098380426906092/?notif_t=group_activity¬if_id=1474965530401260
https://www.facebook.com/groups/341756498227/?fref=ts