Biological forms. Definition of tree; crown structure and branching. Morphology of twigs, leaves, rhytidoma and root system. Germination, growth and development. Juvenile and adult stage. The trees and the environment. Notes on forest vegetation and climatic bands.
Systematics, morphology, ecophysiology, chorology of Gymnosperms and Angiosperms.
- Grossoni P., Bruschi P., Bussotti F., Selvi F. (2018) – Trattato di Botanica forestale. 1. Parte Generale e Gimnosperme. CEDAM Scienze Naturali Wolters Kluwer. Milano.
- Grossoni P., Bruschi P., Bussotti F., Pollastrini M., Selvi F., 2020. Trattato di Botanica forestale. 2. Angiosperme. CEDAM Scienze Naturali Wolters Kluwer. Milano.
It is also advisable, for the recognition of trees, to obtain a field guide among the many available on the market.
Other material available on the platform
http://e-l.unifi.it/
Learning Objectives
Acquisition of fundamental knowledge on the structure and organization of tree species, on their functioning in relation to environmental factors, and on their distribution in relation to the zones and vegetation belts.
Knowledge and recognition of tree species of forest interest.
Transversal skills and autonomy of judgment that allow to connect the acquired knowledge with the contents of other courses.
Prerequisites
Course of Plant Biology
Teaching Methods
Frontal lessons.
Exercises:
in the classroom: Analysis of the morphology of the branch. Recognition of wood species through fresh samples through the use of dichotomous keys.
off-site (forest environments in Tuscany): The vegetation of natural cenoses. Recognition and evaluation of specimens of shrub and tree species.
- Vallombrosa Didactic Forest: Visit to the Experimental Arboretums. Ex situ conservation. The vegetation of natural cenosis. Recognition and evaluation of specimens of shrub and tree species in arboretum and forest. Individual exercises of recognition techniques.
Preparation of herbarium samples.
Further information
None
Type of Assessment
There is only one oral exam to verify the results at the end of the course. The test consists of a practical part (recognition of samples of leaves and twigs of tree plants) and a theoretical part (description of forest taxa covered by the course; general aspects on the structure and functioning of trees and forest vegetation).
During the semester, tests will be carried out via the Moodle platform, the results of which will be the subject of the oral discussion.
In addition to the knowledge of the subject, language properties, the correct use of botanical terms, clarity of presentation, the ability to reason and connect the different topics will be taken into consideration.
Course program
General part:
• The species and binomial nomenclature.
• The germination of seeds.
• The shape of the plants. Tree and shrub. Growth models. Types of branching. Excurrent and decurrent posture.
• Morphology of the branch and leaves. Homoxyl and heteroxyl wood. Sapwood and duramen. The rhytidoma. Architecture of the radical apparatus. Radical symbiosis. Juvenile phase and adult phase.
• Trees and the environment. Ecology of photosynthesis. The phytochrome. The photoperiod. Water stress. Isohydric and anisohydric plants. Responses to low and high temperatures. Dormancy in buds and seeds.
• Forest vegetation. Flora and Vegetation. Vegetation zones and bands. The chorology. Ecological and forest characteristics of the vegetation planes (Mediterranean, temperate and alpine forests).
Special part:
Morphology, ecology, chorology, taxonomy and main characteristics of the various forest taxa.
Gymnosperms: Notes on Cicadofita, Ginkgofita, Gnetofita. Generalities on Coniferophytes (Conifers). Pinaceae: general information. Pinoideae. Pinus: P. cembra, P. mugo, P. uncinata, P. sylvestris, P. nigra, P. heldreichii, P. pinaster, P. halepensis, P. pinea. Exotic pines: P. strobus, P. wallichiana, P. radiata. Piceoideae. Picea: P. abies. Laricoideae. Larix: L. decidua; L. kaempferi (hints); Pseudotsuga: P. menziesii.
Abietoideae. Abies: A. alba. Mediterranean firs. Cedrus: C. atlantica, C. libani, C. deodara. Araucariaceae: outline. Cupressaceae: Cupressoideae: Cupressus. C. sempervirens, C. arizonica and C. macrocarpa. Juniperus. Other Cupressaceae: Chamaecyparis lawsoniana (Cupressocyparis leyilandii); Thuja, Calocedrus;. “Ex Taxodiaceae”: Sequoioideae: Sequoia, Metasequoia, Sequoiadendron. Taxodioideae: Taxodium, Cryptomeria. Taxaceae: Taxus baccata.
Angiosperms: Notes on Arecaceae (Chamaerops), Magnoliaceae (Magnolia, Liriodendron), Altingiaceae: Lyquidambar styraciflua. Platanaceae: Platanus: P. occidentalis, P. orientalis, P. acerifolia. Juglandaceae: Juglans regia, J. Nigra. Fagaceae: Fagus: F. sylvatica (notes on F. orientalis); Castanea: C. sativa; Quercus: Section Quercus: Q. robur. Q. petraea, Q. pubescens, Q. frainetto, Sect. Cerris: Q. cerris, Q. suber, Q. crenata, Q. ithaburensis and Q. troiana. Sec. Ilex: Q. Ilex, Q. coccifera. Exotic oaks: Quercus rubra. Betulaceae: Betuloideae: Betula (B. alba, B. pubescens), Alnus (A. glutinosa, A. cordata, A. incana, A. alnobetula); Coryloideae: Corylus avellana), Carpinus betulus), Ostrya carpinifolia). Salicaceae: Salix (S. alba, S. capraea); Populus (P. alba, P. tremula, P. x canescens, P. nigra. P. deltoides and hybrid poplars). Malvaceae: Tilia: T. cordata, T. platyphyllos, T x vulgaris. Ulmaceae: Ulmus: U. minor and U. glabra. Notes on U. laevis, U. procera, U. x hollandica. Notes on Zelkova. Cannabaceae: Celtis australis. Rosaceae: Prunoideae: Prunus avium. Maloideae: S. domestica, S. aucuparia, S. aria, S. torminalis. Notes on Crataegus. Fabaceae. Mimosoideae: notes on Acacia and Albizzia. Cesalpinioideae: notes on Ceratonia, Gleditsia, Cercis, Faboideae: notes on Robinia, Sophora, Laburnum; Spartium, Cytisus. apindaceae: Acer (A. pseudoplatanus, A. opalus, A. monspessulanum, A. platanoides, A campestre, A. cappadocicum subsp. lobelii). Aesculus hippocastanum. Simaroubaceae: Ailanthus altissima. Oleaceae: Fraxinus (F. excelsior, F. angustifolia, F. ornus). Myrtaceae: Eucalyptus (general). E. globulus, E. camaldulensis.