Événement

Aster and Goldenrod Identification Workshop

Have you ever puzzled over the identification of one of those little white asters? How about some of the 25 species of goldenrods native to Pennsylvania? If so, this day of hands-on learning will help you understand how to sort out the sometimes subtle differences among the species in these difficult groups.

Agenda:
9:00 - 12:00 p.m.

I. Using keys and floras for identification

A. Morphology of flowers and inflorescences in Asteraceae

B. Why aren't the asters in the genus Aster anymore?

C. Some tricky points in the aster and goldenrod keys

II. Identification practice with real plants

III. Lunch (Please bring your own lunch and a beverage)

1:00-5:00 p.m.

IV. Identification practice with real plants (cont.)

V. Identification of asters and goldenrods in the field (time permitting)

Instructor:

Dr. Timothy A. Block was appointed the John J. Willaman Chair of Botany at the University of Pennsylvania's Morris Arboretum in 2009 after having served as Director of Botany since 2001. He has been affiliated with the Morris Arboretum for more than 16 years and holds appointments as Adjunct Professor in the Biology Department at Penn, Research Associate at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, and Expert in Botany for the Poison Control Center at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. He is co-author of The Plants of Pennsylvania: An Illustrated Manual published in 2000 with the second edition published in 2007, Trees of Pennsylvania: A Complete Reference Guide published in 2005, and Aquatic Plants of Pennsylvania: A Complete Reference Guide published by Penn Press in 2011.