Plant Parts & Dissection

The purpose of this lab is to really get our hands dirty looking at plants and their structures.  So far we have looked at plant structures as a means of identification but we have not taken an in-depth look at plant physiology.  Here we will (i) dissect a flower, (ii) dissect a seed, and (iii) perform other dissections as time allows (possibly rood nodules, vascular bundles, etc.).  We will also chat about the botany we see in the grocery store every time we shop.

the lab activity

1. You will be provided a flower to dissect.  Please view the flower dissection video below in the background info to prepare.  You will be finding many of the structures mentioned in the video.

2. You will be provided seeds to dissect.  Use the video below as your guide.  Please view the seed dissection video below in the background info to prepare.  You will be finding many of the structures mentioned in the video.

3. You many have time for a third dissection (your instructor will let you know).  The following are some possibilities:   (i) what makes stinging nettle sting? (ii) identifying N-fixing root nodules in the family Fabaceae, (iii) and tracing vascular bundles in celery.  There are videos listed below for your reference.  

4. Botany in the Grocery Store - learn about the botanical parts of plants that we eat every day.  Watch the videos in the Background section to prepare.

Skill(s) to Master for Practicum

1. Be able to identify structures (form and function) from both flowers and seeds if given a hand specimen.

2. If given a common edible plant from the grocery store - be able to identify the particular structures that we eat and how they have been modified by centuries of selective breeding.

Background - dissections

background - Botany in the Grocery Store

other resources...

Basic Flower Structures

Basic Flower Types

Inflorescence Types

Dry Fruit Types

Fleshy Fruit Types

Seed Dispersal Methods

Stem