| JEPSON HERBARIUM PUBLIC PROGRAMS | |
| BASIC BOTANY |
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This workshop will introduce students to the remarkably diverse and species-rich group of organisms known as green plants. It will emphasize features (both reproductive and vegetative) that distinguish green plants from other, more distantly-related groups of photosynthetic organisms. A brief survey of the diversity of green plants will be given, stressing the evolutionary relationships among major groups as they are currently understood. The point of departure for this survey will be the general plant life cycle. From here the workshop will progress from the green algae, through the liverworts, mosses, lycophytes, and ferns, and conclude with the gymnosperms (cycads, conifers, and others). At each stage important morphological features and evolutionary advances will be outlined. Live material from each group will be available for examination of reproductive and vegetative characters.
Course fee $100/$125. This workshop is designed to be a
companion to "Introduction to Morphology and Identification of
Flowering Plants."
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The development of techniques that allow for the rapid acquisition of molecular data, namely DNA sequence data, in combination with new methods of analysis, has revolutionized systematic biology. This workshop is designed to introduce students to these techniques and analytic methods. It will begin with a review of DNA structure and progress to various molecular methods such as DNA extraction, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), gel electrophoresis, and automated DNA sequencing. Students will perform a DNA extraction on plant material as well as separate DNA fragments using (starch) gel electrophoresis. In addition, the workshop will demonstrate how such data are analyzed through the use of various DNA alignment and phylogenetic analysis programs. Lastly, examples of how the new molecular data has altered our view of plant relationships will be discussed. This workshop will include a tour of the Molecular Phylogenetics Laboratory (MPL) to allow participants to view an active DNA sequencing facility.
Course fee $100/$125
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An estimated 5% of California's native vascular plants are still undescribed, with around ten new species, subspecies, and varieties described each year. As a result, and contrary to the myth of taxonomists racing to "scoop" one another on new discoveries, there are actually more potentially undescribed plants on the shelf than there are professional systematists to take them through the steps of formal publication. This workshop is intended for anyone who is generally curious about the process and, in particular, anyone having to deal with a possible new species who wants to know what to do next. As a one-day overview we will briefly cover the basics of: - evaluating whether or not plants that "haven't read the book" deserve formal taxonomic recognition - the elements required for valid publication of the name of new species - composing a species description, and how much needs to be in Latin - the arcana of botanical nomenclature - the type concept: what and why? - submitting a new species for publication. Equally important, we will discuss how to evaluate species as hypotheses, subject to the same possible fates as hypotheses elsewhere in science. Some stand the test of time, while others are variously modified or cast aside in the face of new evidence.
Course Fee $75/$100
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Would you like to learn how to identify wildflowers or refine your skills and expand your botanical vocabulary? If so, join us for this workshop where we will explore plant classification and the detailed morphology of flowers and fruits. Emphasis will be on learning the floral characters needed to identify plants using The Jepson Manual and other identification guides. Participants will also learn the specialized features of groups such as grasses and composites. Throughout the class, participants will be introduced to plant families that are commonly encountered in California.
Course fee $100/$125. This workshop is designed to be a
companion to "Introduction to the Plant Kingdom" and is appropriate
for both beginners and those seeking an in-depth review.
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This course will be an introduction to the flora of the San Francisco Bay region and the techniques used to identify plants of the Bay Area. It is designed for those unfamiliar with plant identification keys who are ready to jump into botanical detective work. Emphasis will initially be on the recognition and keying of plant families encountered in the field. With a working knowledge of common plant families, and comfort in using plant keys, identification is an enjoyable challenge. This is also a great way to appreciate plants and take the time to look at them closely. Although this course will involve no collecting of plants, we will discuss the nature, use, and importance of herbarium collections. There will also be an introduction to reference books valuable for the identification of plants in California. An historical perspective on botanical collecting in California will also be presented. Class will be outdoors except the first morning. Participants in the class may drive up to 75 miles per day and hike up to 3 miles each day. Students must take day 1 before days 2-4, because the introductory information will lay the foundation for the rest of the course.
Course fee $150/$175. Enrollment is limited to 14 participants.
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This workshop is designed to introduce students to ways in which new plant species arise. Topics will include the basic genetic structure of plant populations and mechanisms that allow populations to differentiate and diverge from each other over time. Special reference will be made to the California flora because the unique flora of the state provides many examples of species that are narrowly endemic or have experienced recent diversification events. Aspects of California's geography and geology that contribute to such diversifications, namely the wide variety of habitats, will also be discussed.
Course fee $100/$125
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The collection and storage of plant specimens in herbaria remains an important aspect of systematic botany. Whether such material is used for molecular or morphological studies, all relevant specimens must be still be cited and catalogued. This workshop is designed to lead students through each of the steps of collecting plant material for inclusion in a herbarium. Topics will include the proper handling of specimens, specimen labelling, avoiding various collection bias(es), and the ethics of collecting. Students will practice collecting, pressing, drying, and mounting specimens of fungi, algae, lichens, mosses, conifers, and flowering plants. Methods for preparing difficult to handle specimens such as cacti and other succulents, palms, and conifers will also be discussed. This workshop will include a tour of the University and Jepson Herbaria to familiarize participants with the general organization of a herbarium as well as the manner in which specimens are stored.
Course fee $100/$125
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| WEEKEND WORKSHOPS |
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Species of Arctostaphylos (family Ericaceae, subfamily Arbutoideae) are commonly known as manzanitas in California. The genus has a high degree of endemism and some 80+ taxa are found here, with several species extending out of the California Floristic Province, including the circumboreal A. uva-ursi. Species range from small, prostrate, woody plants to tree-size forms; all are evergreen. Manzanitas are important members of a number of plant communities, especially chaparral. A group considered difficult by many people, manzanitas can be identified (and appreciated!) for their morphological and ecological differentiation. The class will focus on key taxonomic characters during the first day, as well as some background on manzanita evolution, distribution patterns, and ecology. Fresh material from different species will be used. The second day will involve a field trip to several different habitats, learning to identify species by features available, as well as gaining new insights on their ecological and evolutionary patterns. A new Arctostaphylos key, developed by the instructors for the Flora of North America North of Mexico will be distributed to participants.
Course fee ($325/350) includes meals and lodging for the
duration of the workshop. Most participants will be accomodated
indoors. Additionally, there is ample space to camp under the oaks,
just outside the main facilities building.
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The bryophytes are a diverse group of "lower" land plants, with some 23,000 described species worldwide, making it the largest group of land plants except for the flowering plants. The group includes three quite distinct lineages: the mosses, hornworts, and liverworts. The bryophytes are generally considered a "key" group in our understanding of how the modern land plants (the embryophytes) are related to each other phylogenetically and how they came to conquer the hostile land environment. Although the bryophytes display much species diversity, a major limitation in the use of bryophytes as study organisms has been the lack of basic floristic and alpha-taxonomic knowledge of the plants in many regions, of which California and the southwestern United States are the most poorly known in North America. The students will learn some simple but necessary microtechniques in the lab the first day and look at the basic structure of bryophytes along with taxonomically useful characteristics. The second day, after a morning lab session, the class will go into the field and learn to identify at least major bryophyte groups and discuss and observe their general ecology and evolutionary features. Participants should be prepared to hike up to 4 miles on Sunday.
Course fee $175/$200
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Death Valley National Park is a place of extremes; it is the lowest, hottest, and driest place in North America. Ground temperatures of over 200 degrees Fahrenheit have been recorded. At Furnace Creek, the average annual rainfall is around 2 inches; there have been years with no measurable precipitation. It is only 15 miles distance between Badwater (282 feet below sea level) to the summit of Telescope Peak (11,049 feet above sea level). The diverse climate, topography, and geology are responsible for a unique flora that includes nearly 1,000 native plant taxa, of which, 39 are endemic to the Death Valley region. Participants will learn about Death Valley's endemic flora and Mojave Desert plant communities while exploring deep canyons, calcareous outcrops, and desert springs. Participants will also learn how to map new populations of sensitive plant species using GPS technology.
Course fee ($425/$450) includes transportation in 12
passenger vans, meals, and camping fees for the duration of the
workshop. A $10 per vehicle entrance fee will be charged upon
entering the park.
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The centerpiece of the East Bay, Mount Diablo rises over 3,500 feet above the surrounding lowlands. The topographic diversity thus created, combined with an equally impressive geological and microclimatic diversity, has resulted in a rich assemblage of habitats and species, several of which are endemic or nearly so. These floristic treasures are catalogued M. L. Bowerman's classic, The Flowering Plants and Ferns of Mount Diablo, California, recently revised and expanded by Barbara Ertter as a 7-year undertaking by the Jepson Herbarium. On top of a 26% increase in number of species covered, the revised flora includes numerous completely reworked keys, discussions of other species potentially present, and updated introductory chapters. As workshop leader, Dr. Ertter will introduce participants to the new keys and draw attention to various noteworthy aspects of the flora. We will be staying in a group campsite on Mount Diablo, driving to a broad diversity of habitat types. We will mostly take short hikes, combined with keying out time at camp, with the option of an extended hike for those participants who want to stretch their legs.
Course fee ($325/$350) includes meals and campground fees for
the duration of the workshop. Local participants who prefer not to
join us for camping may inquire with Friends staff regarding
alternate arrangements.
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"I am the grass; I cover all" (Carl Sandburg, Grass).
Prominent in plant communities throughout California, the grass
family (Gramineae or Poaceae) is the state's second most diverse
plant family (after Compositae). A species-rich assemblage, its
members include cool-season and warm-season species, annuals and
perennials, natives and exotics, and widespread dominants to rare
endemics. A better understanding of this ubiquitous and diverse
family can be gained through this workshop. Participants will be
instructed in detail on the vegetative and reproductive features of
grasses. Aspects of anatomy, physiology, ecology, and ethnobotany
will also be addressed. Most time will be spent learning to use the
identification keys in The Jepson Manual. Special attention will be
given to difficult couplets and taxa. In addition, participants will
learn how to determine major tribes and common genera by use of
diagnostic characteristics. Sunday, there will be a field trip to a
serpentine prairie to examine grasses in a natural setting.
Course fee $175/$200
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Kern County, California's third largest county, very likely has the highest plant species diversity in the state. This is largely because five major biogeographic regions - the Sierra Nevada, Central Valley, Coast Ranges, Southern California Mountains, and Mojave Desert - all overlap in Kern County. Due to extensive agricultural and urban development in a region of such high biodiversity, Kern County has more endangered species than most counties in the United States. The course will emphasize vascular plant floristics and ecology of the dominant plant communities in the southern Sierra. We will travel to sites in the Greenhorn, Paiute, and Scodie mountains and visit the Kern River Riparian Reserve. Weather permitting, we will take short hikes to explore interesting plant communities.
Course fee ($425/$450) includes meals, campground fees, and
transportation in 12 passenger vans for the duration of the workshop.
Campground has a full range of facilities including showers, flush
toilets, and covered eating space.
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Ever since Linnaeus published his explicitly unnatural plant classification in 1753, there have been efforts to produce a more natural plant taxonomy. This approach was galvanized after the acceptance of Darwin's theory of evolution. The study of phylogeny (inferring evolutionary relationships) has waxed and waned over the years, but it has greatly influenced the way we classify organisms. The field has expanded greatly since the1970s with the growth of cladistics (phylogenetic systematics). By the use of various approaches to data analysis, we have greatly increased our ability to reconstruct the tree of life. In addition, by utilizing the vast amounts of information being produced by comparative DNA sequence studies, we are finding out more about the tree of life than has ever been possible before. Traditional groupings have been confirmed and there have been quite a few surprises. In this workshop, we will examine the most recent evidence concerning the structure of the branch of the tree of life comprising flowering plants, the dominant plant group on land. In our approach we will review some past views of plant taxonomy and the characters that have informed them. We will have a short introduction to phylogenetic systematics and some of the radical proposals for changing the entire classification system. We will also visit a molecular phylogenetics laboratory to see how DNA is sequenced and used in phylogenetic studies. We will then study the most recently published findings on the relationships of the larger flowering plant families and higher level groups. A visit to the UC Botanical Garden will allow us to see many of these plant groups and compare them for ourselves. This course will be at an introductory level; it will cover a lot of information. Therefore, it will be most useful to those with some familiarity with the major plant families and/or plant taxonomy (e.g., the 50 Families in the Field workshop).
Course fee $175/$200
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To visit the pebble plains and limestone endemics of Big Bear Valley and environs is to view one of California's hotspots of endemism. With 16 narrow endemics and more than a dozen other near-endemic taxa, the pebble plains comprise a unique relict-alpine plant community, including one of the most diverse assemblages of native perennial bunch grasses in the state. A large portion of the San Bernardino mountains burned recently; the pebble plains and Cushenbury Canyon with its diverse carbonate-endemic flora is east of the burned area. We will view the area via short hikes and car trips.
Course fee ($425/$450) includes meals and campground fees for
the duration of the workshop. We will camp near Big Bear Lake in a
Forest Service campground with full facilities.
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Fire plays a prominent role in California's landscape dynamics and this course will introduce us to fire's role in the Oak Woodland community. This workshop will also examine other current threats to oak woodland resources, such as firewood harvesting, agricultural conversions, and residential development, and will discuss current efforts to restore oaks through planting, as well as other conservation strategies. Field visits to oak regeneration study areas and long-term monitoring sites will illustrate the complex interactions in oak communities, with special emphasis on the role of fire and the impacts of fire suppression. An evening lecture on the topic of Sudden Oak Death is included to further expand understanding of the complexity of woodland communities and the threat that disease poses.
Course fee ($325/$350) includes meals and lodging for the
duration of the workshop. Indoor accommodations are in bunkhouses
and there is ample space near the facilities for tent camping.
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The Spring Mountains have the greatest relief of any of the 314 mountain ranges in Nevada, rising 9,440 feet from a base elevation of 2,250 feet to 11,690 feet on Mt. Charleston Peak. Environments in this area range from alpine fell-fields to hot desert salt flats, to a 20-mile long swath of desert springs pouring out 30,000 cubic feet of water per second, 24/7. There are 8 endemic plant species at Ash Meadows and another 17 in the Spring Mountains. The Spring Mountains have the most diverse flora (441 genera, 979 species, and 1,100 taxa including varieties and subspecies) of any Nevada mountain. Walk with the author of the soon-to-be published Flora of the Spring Mountains and the author of Atlas of Nevada Conifers, as they help you interpret the magnificent natural history and unique characteristics of this island in the sky. We will base our operations out of a hotel at 6,500 ft. on the mountain - you'll want the creature comforts at night, as we may experience extreme weather and temperatures during the day.
Course fee ($495/$520) includes meals and lodging for the
duration of the workshop. Sleeping accommodations are in double
occupancy hotel rooms.
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The geologic history of Lassen Park as well as its location between two major mountain ranges contributes to a diverse flora of over 800 species. The geologic features and plant communities form a mosaic of forest, lava flow, aquatic, and alpine habitats. The Park has rich assemblages of forest wildflowers, wet meadow plants, and disjunct Cascade alpine species. Twenty-two Sierra Nevada species occur as far north as the Lassen region, and twenty species of Cascade Range plants have their southern limits within the park. In this workshop, participants will hike to explore several areas of botanical interest within the Park. On the first day, we'll have the option of taking a strenuous hike to Lassen Peak summit to view alpine plants or taking an alternate, easier hike to another location. Participants should plan on hikes of up to 5 miles per day.
Course fee ($425/$450) includes meals and campground fees for
the duration of the workshop. A $10 per vehicle fee will be
collected upon entering the park.
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In California, the family Cyperaceae contains about 15 genera and over 200 species. It has the undeserved reputation of being one of our more difficult taxonomic groups. Past Jepson courses have focused on the genus Carex; this course expands the coverage to all the genera of the family in the state. We will study representatives of each of the genera, and we will expand the coverage to anatomical features allowing identification under the compound microscope. Among other advantages to the study of anatomical features is the possibility of identifying plants in sterile condition. We will learn freehand dissection techniques allowing such viewing, and we will use traditional keys to macroscopic features as well as keys focused upon microscopic details. For these reasons, the course will be held in a laboratory on the UC Berkeley campus. Most of the plants used in the course will be fresh and recently collected. No actual field work is anticipated.
Course fee $225/$250
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Over the past several years, the role of vegetation classification and mapping has achieved prominence in many state and federal agencies because of its ability to capture multiple aspects of conservation planning, long-range monitoring of habitat, and natural resource management. In California, the role of mapping using a detailed floristic vegetation classification has been spearheaded by The California Native Plant Society and the California Department of Fish and Game. Join the lead vegetation ecologists from both organizations for four days in Yosemite National Park while we take you through the basic understanding of why vegetation holds a central role for naturalresource management and conservation planning. You will learn the basics of mapping and classification, making use of the recently completed detailed vegetation map and classification of the park. Each day a different aspect of the mapping or classification process will be stressed. You will learn how to critically assess the value of existing vegetation products, work through ways of determining different goals and solutions to typical management or conservation questions, and throughout the process learn about the intricate and detailed vegetation patterns and flora of one of the most diverse and beautiful national parks in the nation. We'll explore many of the vegetation patterns of the park and its immediate environs from the chaparrals and west-side forests up through the subalpine and alpine belts and down to the Great Basin vegetation of the Mono Lake Basin. We expect to take one whole day to explore the intricate vegetation patterns of the alpine zone near Parker Pass. Lectures and GIS examples will be presented in the evening and on some mornings.
Course fee ($500/525) includes meals and lodging for the
duration of the workshop. A $20 per vehicle entrance fee will be
collected upon entering the park. Accomodations will be at White
Wolf Lodge in quad-occupancy "tent-cabins." The Parker Pass site
requires a hike of up to 8 miles. Other days will be shorter walks
and car trips.
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| SPECIAL SERIES |
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This special two day "hands on" mushroom workshop will introduce participants to the necessary skills, techniques, and equipment required to develop their own mushroom farm and produce an edible crop within a short time. Lecture topics will include: a discussion of mushrooms that occur in the San Francisco Bay Area, mushrooms that occur worldwide, new information on their many uses, nutritional and medicinal value, and the environmental conditions needed to grow them. In the laboratory portion of the course, strains of edible and medicinal fungi and special techniques and instruments will be introduced. While working with your own culture, an overview of spawning and cultivation will be conducted. On the second day of the course, participants will have the opportunity to visit mushroom farms in Santa Cruz County. During the field trip several techniques of preparation and cultivation of fungi will be further discussed including the environmental factors of light, temperature, humidity, and air exchange. In addition there will be demonstrations of the equipment needed for the production of fruiting mushrooms. Lastly, participants will be given five culture strains that grow well in California. The cultures have been developed from worldwide collections. These strains include the anti-cancer medicinal fungus ling zhi, a wide temperature range shitake, a high-yield and short-growing-cycle oyster mushroom, the American morel, and the delicious and medicinal fungus maitake. Additionally, we will introduce two new strains of edible mushrooms: tea tree mushroom and Bei Ling gu.
Course fee ($225/$250) includes lunches for both days,
transportation for the Mushroom Farm field trip, and five strains
participants can grow at home.
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Do you have a digital camera that you would like to use more effectively? Digital cameras are revolutionizing how we make and share photographs. This course teaches you the basics of digital cameras and their use through an overview of the fundamentals of photography and photographic terminology, combined with how-to techniques for dramatic close-up and macro photography specific to botany, ecology, and nature images. Through lectures, demonstrations, and project-based learning in the computer lab and in the field, you learn all the tools and functionality of your digital camera, how to organize, name, and find your digital pictures, and create more compelling photographs with lighting, composition, and focus techniques. By the end of the course you should understand the technology and the conceptual process involved in producing (using Photoshop 6.0) dynamic pictures for the Web, presentations, and printing.
Course fee $175/$200. Participants should bring their own
digital camera (quality and brand unimportant), appropriate media
(smart card, flash media, etc.), and appropriate cable or card-reader
to allow uploading images from the camera to the computer. Computers
are PC and have USB ports.
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| BOTANICAL ILLUSTRATION |
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During this weekend, participants will learn how to create accurate pencil drawings of plants and plant parts. No experience is necessary. Experienced illustrators will have the opportunity to hone their techniques. The skills taught will emphasize drawing using scientific methods, field sketching, and reading and interpreting existing scientific illustrations. We will have the opportunity to examine plants in the lab using the dissecting microscope. During a visit to the UC Botanical Garden, we will focus on the illustration of large plant parts and habit sketches.
Course fee $175/$200
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This workshop offers the chance to know wildflowers intimately while sketching and painting them, with individual input from professional illustrator and botanist, Linda Ann Vorobik. The workshop will be conducted at a ranch along the Klamath River near Orleans, Calif. in Humboldt County. The ranch has a native plant nursery, a large organic garden, and ample hiking opportunities to a variety of wildflower subjects. Mornings will include lectures and presentations and days will include short hikes to the field where participants will work on their field sketches with individual input from Linda. Evenings will be spent viewing, learning from, and enjoying the results of the day's labors! Beginning artists will benefit greatly from individual artistic instruction. Both beginning and experienced artists will receive valuable botanical information in addition to artistic critique. Enrollment is limited to 12 students.
Course fee ($425/$450)includes meals and lodging for the
duration of the workshop. Lodging is in fully furnished, triple
occupancy cabins.
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| INSTRUCTORS |
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Linda Beidleman has an M.S. in Biology from Rice University. She is
co-author of Plants in the San Francisco Bay Region and Plants of
Rocky Mountain National Park. She has worked with the California
Native Plant Society, especially as co-supervisor for the CNPS East
Bay plant nursery. Linda teaches short flora courses for the Rocky
Mountain National Park, Aspen Center for Environmental Studies, and
The Colorado College Elder Hostel program.
Copyright 2004 by the Regents of the University of California