Course program
The course aims to provide students with a solid understanding of the principles of evolution and plant systematics, with a particular focus on the processes that have shaped plant diversity and distribution across different biomes and major phytogeographic regions of the world.
Students will acquire the tools necessary to understand the evolutionary and systematic relationships among the main groups of vascular plants and will gain the skills needed for plant identification, integrating morphological, phylogenetic, and biogeographic approaches.
The course also provides the knowledge and competencies to assess and apply strategies for the conservation, enhancement, and sustainable use of plant resources, with a particular focus on Italian and Mediterranean flora.
Prerequisites
No specific prior knowledge is required, but a basic understanding of functional-morphological botany and general biology is recommended. Essential knowledge of genetics and ecology, morphological observation skills, and basic digital competencies for consulting databases and resources are also useful. Interest in and willingness to engage in fieldwork are expected.
Books
LITERATURE & TEXTBOOKS
Pasqua G., Abbate G., Forni C. (2025) Botanica generale e diversità vegetale Piccin, Padova.
Bartolucci F. et al. (2024) A second update to the checklist of the vascular flora native to Italy. Plant Biosystem, 158(2), 219–296.
Galasso G. et al. (2024) A second update to the checklist of the vascular flora alien to Italy. Plant Biosystem, 158, 297–340.
de Boer H., Rydmark M.O., Verstraete B., Gravendeel B. (2022) Molecular identification of plants: from sequence to species. Capitoli 1, 10, 19. Advanced Books. https://doi.org/10.3897/ab.e98875
Teaching mode
The course consists of about 18-20 theoretical lessons followed by practical exercises with visits to the botanical garden of Rome and the experimental garden of Sapienza and by one or two botanical excursions.The preparation of a herbarium is also included: Sampling, Preparation of samples, Essiccation, Assembly and storage, Identification of the collected samples
Frequency
The lessons and the practical part of the course provide an overview of the main topics. Attendance at lessons is not compulsory but it is desirable: frequent absences result in a lesser ability to answer exam questions.
Exam mode
Student performance will be assessed through a final oral examination (75%) aimed at verifying the knowledge acquired during the course. During the exam, students will also present the outcome of an individual project (25%) developed as part of the course activities. As an alternative to the project, students may present a personal herbarium containing up to ten specimens of different species belonging to the Italian flora, collected during field excursions. The final examination will begin with a short oral presentation (approximately 15 minutes) of the project or herbarium, followed by an in-depth discussion on the topics covered in the course.
Detailed instructions for both the project and the preparation of the herbarium will be provided during the lessons, together with supporting reference materials.
Bibliography
OTHER RESOURCES
Judd W.S., Campbell C.S., Kellogg E.A., Stevens P.F., Donoghue M.J. (2019) Botanica sistematica – Un approccio filogenetico. Piccin, Padova
Pasqua G. Abbate G. Forni C. Iberite M. (2020) Botanica. Test di verifica. Piccin, Padova
Blasi C. & Biondi E. (2017). La flora in Italia: flora, vegetazione, conservazione del paesaggio e tutela della biodiversità. Roma: Ministero dell’Ambiente e della Tutela del Territorio e del Mare / Sapienza Università Editrice.
Rossi G. et al (a cura di) (2013). Lista Rossa della Flora Italiana. 1. Policy Species e altre specie minacciate. Roma:
Comitato Italiano IUCN / Ministero dell’Ambiente e della Tutela del Territorio e del Mare.
Orsenigo S. et al. (2020). Red list of threatened vascular plants in Italy. Plant Biosystems, 155(2), 310–335.
RIFERIMENTI WEB ufficiali
Acta Plantarum – https://www.actaplantarum.org
Portale della Flora d’Italia – http://dryades.units.it/floritaly/index.php
Portale della Flora di Roma – http://dryades.units.it/Roma/
Muschi ed Epatiche d’Italia – https://dryades.units.it/briofite/index.php
AlgaeBase – https://www.algaebase.org/
Lesson mode
The course includes approximately 32 hours of lectures, 12 hours of laboratory practicals (which may be organized in two sessions if required), and around 20 hours of field-based learning activities, including one full-day field excursion in the Lazio region, a visit to the Botanical Garden of Rome, and a visit to the Herbarium Museum of Sapienza University of Rome.
