Plant Taxonomy (BIOL308)  -  Stephen G. Saupe, Ph.D.; Biology Department, College of St. Benedict/St. John's University, Collegeville, MN 56321; ssaupe@csbsju.edu; http://www.employees.csbsju.edu/ssaupe/

Plant Distribution Project

Overview:  The purpose of this project is to provide an opportunity to learn more about various sources of information available to the plant taxonomist. 

Species Selection/Nomenclature:  Select a plant that grows in Minnesota.  Record the family, binomial and vernacular name for this species.

1. The following are all related to origin of a plant.  Define each:

1. native
    

2. naturalized
    

3. introduced
    

4. alien
    

5. exotic
    

6. weed

2. Which term(s) best describes your species?  This information can be found in various sources including USDA Plants Database (available online), Synonymized Checklist of the Vascular Plants of the United States (available online), or Flora of North America (available online or in the herbarium).
   
    

3. Native species in Minnesota.

1. Examine the map of Minnesota Vegetation at the Time of Settlement in the Bailey Herbarium or the copy of the updated version distributed in class.  Who was the original author (hint) of this map showing the native vegetation of Minnesota?
    

2. How was this map prepared?
    

3. Examine this map and name 3 native plant communities found in our vicinity in central Minnesota.

US Distribution - In which states does your species grow? 

1. Obtain and print two copies of an outline map of the states of the US (available through a variety of web sites including Houghton Miflin EduPlace or Enchanted Learning or NetStates site).  Then, gather data from the USDA Plants Database (available online), Synonymized Checklist of the Vascular Plants of the United States (available online), or Flora of North America (available online or in the herbarium).  Then color (or shade) in the states in which the species is present.  Append the map to your report. 
    
2. Write a description of where the species grows in the United States.
    
3. Compare your distribution map to the distribution described in Gleason & Cronquist (1991) Manual of Vascular Plants of Northeastern United States and Canada (copies available in the Bailey Herbarium).  Is G&C accurate? 

Minnesota Distribution - in which counties in the state does your species grow? 

1. Obtain a copy of a MN country map (available from a variety of sites including Indiana State Univ or University of Texas Library).  Then, gather data from:  (a) the distribution maps in Ownbey & Morely (1991) Vascular Plants of Minnesota, (b) the on-line database from the University of Minnesota Herbarium Vascular Plant Collections page (use public user site); or (c) the Bailey Herbarium.  Append a MN distribution map for your species.
    

2. Write a description of where the species grows in Minnesota? 
    

3. Does our herbarium have any "new" records for the plant?

Last updated:  08/20/2007 / � Copyright by SG Saupe