Key facts
UNE unit code: BOTY203
*You are viewing the 2026 version of this unit which may be subject to change in future.
- Trimester 1 - On Campus
- Trimester 1 - Online
- Armidale Campus
- Yes
- Yes
- No
- 6
Unit information
Develop botanical skills that add value to roles in a range of life and environmental science disciplines, with hands-on experience in our internationally recognised herbarium, situated in the biodiversity hotspot of the New England.
This unit integrates lectures, practicals, fieldwork, a taxonomically orientated review and plant collection to provide core skills and insights into the fundamental role of plant taxonomy and its importance to science and society.
You will be introduced to the principles and practices of identification, classification and naming of plants, with an emphasis on Australian plant families.
You will also have opportunities to hone skills to use contemporary methods for plant collection and preparation of high-quality herbarium specimens, using metadata to build appropriate databases.
Offerings
For further information about UNE's teaching periods, please go to Principal Dates.
| Teaching period | Mode/location |
|---|---|
| Trimester 1 | On Campus, Armidale Campus |
| Trimester 1 | Online |
*Offering is subject to availability
Intensive schools
| Start | Finish | Duration | Attendance | Offerings | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TBA | TBA | 5 days | Mandatory Intensive School | Trimester 1, Online | The intensive school is mandatory for online students. The ability to enrol in this unit as an online student will be removed approximately three days prior to the commencement of this mandatory intensive school. |
Enrolment rules
Notes
The Intensive School for BOTY203 Online Students is mandatory and held mid-February. This is to prepare students with the knowledge to give them enough time to complete their herbarium collection assignment.
The School of Environmental and Rural Science considers all practical/laboratory/tutorial activities as essential to student learning. Attendance and participation in all practical/laboratory/tutorial classes (sessions) is mandatory - exemptions will not be granted without supporting evidence.
Please refer to the student handbook for current details on this unit.
Unit coordinator(s)
Learning outcomes
Upon completion of this unit, students will be able to:
- demonstrate a broad knowledge of, and skills necessary for the collection and preparation of high quality herbarium specimens and completion of a herbarium collection, including data basing of metadata;
- find, assess and use botanical literature and communicate this knowledge to others in written forms;
- demonstrate skills in plant morphology and plant identification in the field and laboratory leading to description, recognition and identification of major plant groups and some plant families and species and communicate this knowledge to others in written forms;
- demonstrate a broad knowledge of the fundamental role of taxonomy and its importance to science and society and communicate this knowledge to others in written forms; and
- demonstrate an understanding of the utility of voucher specimens for botanical/ecological/biological studies, and functions of a herbarium.
Assessment information
Assessments are subject to change up to 8 weeks prior to the start of the teaching period in which you are undertaking the unit.
| Title | Must Complete | Weight | Offerings | Assessment Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Herbarium - Assurance task | Yes | 50% | All offerings | 15 sheets. No. Words: Equivalent to 1200 |
| Online Quizzes | Yes | 20% | All offerings | |
| Practical Tests - Assurance Task | Yes | 10% | All offerings | This is an invigilated test that is held at the end of the intensive school and also at the end of each on campus weekly practical. The School of Environmental and Rural Science considers all practical/laboratory/tutorial activities as essential to student learning. Attendance and participation in all practical/laboratory/tutorial classes (sessions) is mandatory - exemptions will not be granted without supporting evidence. To pass this unit, you must achieve a minimum cumulative total of 50% in this task, and meet all other passing requirements in the unit. |
| Taxonomy Report | Yes | 20% | All offerings | No. Words: 1000-1500 |
Learning resources
Textbooks are subject to change up to 8 weeks prior to the start of the teaching period in which you are undertaking the unit.
Note: Students are expected to purchase prescribed material. Please note that textbook requirements may vary from one teaching period to the next.
Plant Systematics
ISBN: 9780128126288
Simpson, M.G., Elsevier Science & Technology 3rd ed. 2019
Text refers to: All offerings
Name That Flower
ISBN: 9780522876048
Clarke, I., MUP 3rd ed. 2019
Text refers to: All offerings
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