UNIVERSITY OF BOTSWANA
DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENES
ACADEMIC YEAR 2024/’25
BIO 218 BIOLOGY OF FLOWERING PLANTS
COURSE LECTURERS: Mbaki Muzila
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course is an introduction to the biology of flowering plants. It deals with the
classification, physiology, reproduction, growth, development, evolution and uses
of flowering plants.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
At the end of the course, students should be able to:
o understand the importance of plants in nature and to man;
o understand and use the basic concepts in the classification of flowering
plants;
o describe the basic plant structure;
o explain the various mechanisms of water and organic substance transport
in plants;
o explain the importance of various minerals to plant growth;
o discuss the various ways in which plants respond to external stimuli;
o understand different methods of plant reproduction and the different ways
of propagation;
o explain interactions between plants and animals, and the role animals play
in the reproduction and dispersal in plants.
COURSE OUTLINE
WEEK1. Introduction, syllabus and scope of the course
Setting the scene: MM
WEEK2. Plants and humans MM
Food plants MM
Medicinal plants MM
Miscellaneous other uses MM
WEEK3. Basic concepts of angiosperm classification MM
Hierarchy in classification MM
Species concept MM
Monocots vs dicots MM
What are flowering plants? MM
WEEK4. Plant structure: organs
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DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENES
ACADEMIC YEAR 2024/’25
BIO 218 BIOLOGY OF FLOWERING PLANTS
COURSE LECTURERS: Mbaki Muzila
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course is an introduction to the biology of flowering plants. It deals with the
classification, physiology, reproduction, growth, development, evolution and uses
of flowering plants.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
At the end of the course, students should be able to:
o understand the importance of plants in nature and to man;
o understand and use the basic concepts in the classification of flowering
plants;
o describe the basic plant structure;
o explain the various mechanisms of water and organic substance transport
in plants;
o explain the importance of various minerals to plant growth;
o discuss the various ways in which plants respond to external stimuli;
o understand different methods of plant reproduction and the different ways
of propagation;
o explain interactions between plants and animals, and the role animals play
in the reproduction and dispersal in plants.
COURSE OUTLINE
WEEK1. Introduction, syllabus and scope of the course
Setting the scene: MM
WEEK2. Plants and humans MM
Food plants MM
Medicinal plants MM
Miscellaneous other uses MM
WEEK3. Basic concepts of angiosperm classification MM
Hierarchy in classification MM
Species concept MM
Monocots vs dicots MM
What are flowering plants? MM
WEEK4. Plant structure: organs
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